The Crane Wife

Once upon a time, in a peaceful village in Japan, there lived a kind farmer. One snowy winter morning, as soft white flakes danced from the sky, the farmer walked through his fields. The snow crunched softly under his feet, and his breath made little clouds in the cold air. Suddenly, he heard a sad, gentle cry. There, lying in the snow, was a beautiful white crane. An arrow was stuck in her wing, and she could not fly. The farmer heart filled with compassion as he looked at the hurt bird. Her feathers were as white as the snow around her, and her eyes were filled with pain. The farmer knelt down carefully, speaking in a soft, gentle voice. He had never seen such a beautiful creature, and he knew he had to help her.