SooldMoritookalarge, sharpneedlefromhersewingboxandattachedittothevestofherlittleson.
AndagainTinyFingerasked, "Willyougivemeawoodenbowlandachopstick? ImustgouptherivertogettoKyoto. Iwillusethebowlforaboatandthechopstickforanoar."
SoKentahurriedtothekitchenandreturnedwithasmallricebowlandachopstick. HecarriedthemtoTinyFingerandtoldhimtobecareful, andtousethebowlandstickwell.
ThedayforhisdeparturearrivedandTinyFingersaidgood-bytohisparents. AsTinyFingerrowedawayfromtheshoreoftheriverYodo, hisparentswatchedwithsadeyes. Theywavedtohim, andsoonthelittleboyandthetinyboatwereoutofsight.
IntheriverYodothelittlewoodenboatbobbedupanddownlikeacork. ButTinyFingerwasastrongboy, and, usingallhisstrength, herowedwiththechopstick. Oh, butitwasadangeroustripforsosmallaboat, andtheoarseemedsoheavy, eventhoughitwasonlyachopstick. Butthatwasnatural, foryoumustrememberthatTinyFingerwassmall, andthatthechopstickwaseventallerthanhewas. Sometimesthewindblew, andthelargewavesalmostwreckedthelittleboat. Andsometimeslargefishappearedfromthebluewavesandattackedthestrangelittletravelerinhissmall, funnycraft. However, TinyFingerdidnotlosecourage, andherowedformanydaysandnights, keepinghisboatskimmingoverthewater.