But temptation gnawed at them. One night, after the girl had shut herself in the weaving room, the old woman could resist no longer. She crept to the sliding door, made a small hole in the paper screen, and peeked inside.
“We promised,” the old man reminded her. tsuru no ongaeshi story
The weaving stopped.
But poverty weighed heavily on them. Winter was harsh, and soon they had barely a handful of rice left. Seeing their worry, the girl said, “Father, Mother, do not fret. I can weave. But you must promise me one thing: you must never look into the room while I am weaving.” But temptation gnawed at them
The old woman took her inside, gave her warm broth, and offered her a place by the fire. The girl was so polite and graceful that the old couple grew fond of her instantly. When she learned they had no children of their own, she asked, “If you will have me, let me stay and be your daughter.” “We promised,” the old man reminded her
At that moment, the crane turned and saw the old woman’s eye at the hole. A single tear rolled down its beak.
The old couple promised. The girl went into a small back room, and from behind the closed door came the soft, rhythmic click-clack of a loom. She wove all day and all night. When she finally emerged, exhausted, she held up a bolt of cloth—so brilliant and exquisite that it shimmered like moonlight on water. “Take this to the village market,” she said. “Sell it for a high price.”