content: then the old woman showed her husband the sparrow 's tongue , saying : " here is the tongue i cut off ! horrid little bird , why did it eat all my starch ? " " how could you be so cruel ? oh ! how could you so cruel ? " was all that the old man could answer . he was too kind - hearted to punish his be shrew of a wife , but he was terribly distressed at what had happened to his poor little sparrow .
answer: he was too kind - hearted .
question: why did the man not punish his wife ?
target: why did the man not punish his wife ?
references: why did the man not punish his wife ?