how did the sprite of the dog help the farmer next
Answers
The spirit of the dog asked the farmer in his dream to cut down the pine tree over his grave and make a mortar for rice pastry and a mill for bean sauce. ... He advised him to take the ashes of the mill and sprinkle them on the withered trees so they would bloom again.
Then the wicked people had burnt the farmer's mill. Now the good man dreamed again. This time the spirit asked him to take the ashes of the mill. He asked the old man to sprinkle them on withered trees. The old man awoke. He went to his wicked neighbour and humbly asked for the ashes. Thus he filled his basket with the ashes.
The farmer's favourite cherry tree was bare. He sprinkled a pinch of ashes on it. All at once the tree sprouted blossoms. The kind farmer heard that the daimio was to pass along the high road. He set out to see him.
The old man quietly got up on a bare tree. When the daimio's palanquin drew near, the old man scattered the ashes. In a moment the tree burnt into blossoms. The happy daimio stopped and called the old farmer. He gave him many rewards. Thus the spirit of the dog had helped the farmer again.