"Hitherto, sir, my lair has been in the mountains, and of snow or frost
I have taken no heed; but now I am growing old, and this severe cold is
more than I can bear. I pray you to let me enter and warm myself at the
fire of your cottage, that I may live through this bitter night."

When the priest heard what a helpless state the beast was reduced to, he
was filled with pity and said:

"That's a very slight matter: make haste and come in and warm yourself."

The badger, delighted with so good a reception, went into the hut, and
squatting down by the fire began to warm itself; and the priest, with
renewed fervour, recited his prayers and struck his bell before the
image of Buddha, looking straight before him.

After two hours the badger took its leave, with profuse expressions of
thanks, and went out; and from that time forth it came every night to
the hut. As the badger would collect and bring with it dried branches
and dead leaves from the hills for firewood, the priest at last became
very friendly with it, and got used to its company; so that if ever, as
the night wore on, the badger did not arrive, he used to miss it, and
wonder why it did not come. When the winter was over, and the springtime
came at the end of the second month, the badger gave up its visits, and
was no more seen; but, on the return of the winter, the beast resumed
its old habit of coming to the hut. When this practice had gone on for
ten years, one day the badger said to the priest, "Through your
reverence's kindness for all these years, I have been able to pass the
winter nights in comfort. Your favours are such that during all my life,
and even after my death, I must remember them. What can I do to requite