Long, long ago, in a certain place, there lived a poor old man and old woman.
The New Year was almost upon them, yet they had not even the money to buy rice cakes.
So the old man decided to take the straw hats he had woven himself and sell them in town.
But it was a cold day with snow falling, and not a single hat was sold.
As the old man trudged home dejected, he saw six stone Jizo standing by the roadside.
Snow had piled up on the heads of the Jizo.
"You must be cold. Please, take these."
The old man placed his unsold hats on the heads of the Jizo.
But he had only five hats, so on the last Jizo he placed the hat from his own head.
When he told his wife at home, she was delighted and said, "That was a very good thing you did."
That night, from outside the house, came the sound of something heavy being dragged along.
When the two opened the door, they found rice, mochi, fish, and vegetables piled before the house, and in the falling snow they saw six Jizo, each wearing a straw hat, walking away home.
And thanks to them, the two were able to welcome a wonderful New Year.
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