子守りをしたきつね

A babysitting fox

A babysitting fox
ある山の中に、とても貧しい村がありました

In one mountain there was a very poor village.

In one mountain there was a very poor village.
村の人たちは、食べ物がなくて、赤ちゃんを山に捨てなければなりませんでした

Villagers had to throw their babies into the mountains because they had no food.

Villagers had to throw their babies into the mountains because they had no food.
そして、赤ちゃんを捨てたことを隠すために「狐が赤ちゃんを連れて行った」と言いました

He then said, "The fox took the baby" to hide his abandonment.

He then said, "The fox took the baby" to hide his abandonment.
村の人たちは、狐のことを「子取り狐」と言いました

The villagers called the fox "a fox"

The villagers called the fox "a fox"
村に、子どもが4人の家がありました

There was a house with four children in the village.

There was a house with four children in the village.
お父さんとお母さんは一生懸命働いていましたが、お父さんは病気で亡くなりました

Dad and Mom worked hard, but Dad passed away from illness

Dad and Mom worked hard, but Dad passed away from illness
お母さんは、赤ちゃんを背中に背負って畑を作りました

Mom puts a baby on her back and creates a field

Mom puts a baby on her back and creates a field
畑ができたので、子どもたちをお風呂に入れようと思って、山で芝を刈り始めました

With the field set up, I started cutting the grass in the mountains, thinking about putting my kids in a bath.

With the field set up, I started cutting the grass in the mountains, thinking about putting my kids in a bath.
そのとき、背中の赤ちゃんが泣きました

That's when the baby on my back cried

That's when the baby on my back cried
お母さんは赤ちゃんを下ろしてあやしました

Mom took the baby down and snatched it

Mom took the baby down and snatched it
赤ちゃんが笑ったので、お母さんは安心して芝を刈り続けました

The baby laughed, so mom kept mowing the grass in peace

The baby laughed, so mom kept mowing the grass in peace
しかし、お母さんは赤ちゃんを山に置いたまま帰ってきてしまいました

However, the mother returned home with her baby in the mountains.

However, the mother returned home with her baby in the mountains.
お母さんは急いで山に行こうとしました

Mom quickly tried to go to the mountains

Mom quickly tried to go to the mountains
でも「赤ちゃんがいなければ、生活が楽になる」と考えてしまいました

But I thought, "If I don't have a baby, my life will be easier."

But I thought, "If I don't have a baby, my life will be easier."
それでも「狐に赤ちゃんを取られたくない」と走って山に行きました

Still, I ran to the mountains, saying, "I don't want the fox to take my baby."

Still, I ran to the mountains, saying, "I don't want the fox to take my baby."
しかし、赤ちゃんはいませんでした

But there was no baby

But there was no baby
お母さんが泣いていると、赤ちゃんの笑う声が聞こえました

As mom was crying I heard the baby laughing

As mom was crying I heard the baby laughing
お母さんが走って行くと、狐たちが赤ちゃんをあやしていました

As my mother ran, the foxes were shaking the baby

As my mother ran, the foxes were shaking the baby
お母さんは赤ちゃんを抱いて「狐でも赤ちゃんを育てているのに、私は何という母親だろう」と思いました

The mother held the baby and thought, "Even a fox raises a baby, what a mother I am."

The mother held the baby and thought, "Even a fox raises a baby, what a mother I am."
そして、もっと頑張って働きました

And I worked harder

And I worked harder
村の人たちも、山で畑を作るようになりました

The villagers also began to build fields in the mountains.

The villagers also began to build fields in the mountains.
そして、村は少しずつ豊かになりました

And the village gradually grew richer

And the village gradually grew richer
村の人たちは「子取り狐」を「子守り狐」と言うようになりました

Villagers have come to call "child fox" "baby fox"

Villagers have come to call "child fox" "baby fox"