Once upon a time there was a very poor but compassionate old man and his old wife.

One cold, snowy day, on the way to sell firewood in town the old man rescued a crane caught in a trap.

That night, when the old man was telling the story of the rescued crane to his wife, they heard a knock at the door.

Wondering who was there, they opened the door and a beautiful young girl was standing in the heavy snow.

'I am sorry to bother you, but I'm lost.'

'I would appreciate it if you would let me stay.'

'Come in.'

'You are welcome to stay, but I'm sorry we have no bed or food for you.'

The next day the girl started weaving behind a sliding door and asked them not to look inside.

Three days later she had woven a beautiful fabric.

'Uncle and aunty, please sell this fabric in the town and buy thread for me', she asked them as she showed them the fabric.

'What a wonderful fabric.'

They were both impressed with her skill.

When the old man was selling her fabric, a lord was passing by and bought it for a lot of money.

After the old man sold that fabric, the girl continuously made many beautiful fabrics one after another.

One day, the old wife couldn't help peeking behind the door to watch the young girl as she did.

The old wife couldn't believe what she saw.

There was no girl, but a skinny crane pulling its own feathers by its beak and weaving them into the fabric.

At night, the girl told the old man and his wife: 'I can't keep my secret anymore: I am the crane you rescued on that snowy day.'

'I really wanted to express my gratitude to you.'

'By transforming myself into a human being and weaving the fabric, this was the only way I could do something for you.'

'But you two found out who I am, so now I must leave.'

The beautiful girl turned into a crane and flew far away.

'Please, don't go, stay with us.'

The old man and his wife were crying and watching the sky as the crane flew away.