英语阅读:The Grateful Crane（美丽的仙鹤）

　Yohyo and Otsu were happy together, although Yohyo earned onlyalittle money and they were very poor. One night, just beforeNewYear’ Eve, they were sitting together as usual, when Otsunoticedthat her husband was worrying about something.

　　“My dear husband,” she said. “What are you worrying about?Pleasetell me.”

　　“Well…” sighed Yohyo. “It is nearly New Year’ Eve, but Icannotmake any pretion for the feast because I have no money. Ihave noteven enough money to buy rice and cakes. How I wish I hadsomemoney…”

　　Otsu listened to him silently.

　　“Yohyo, I will weave for you,” she said. “You can take thecloththat I weave5 and sell it at the market to earn somemoney.”

　　“But, please do not look into the other room, while I amworking,promise me that you will not look in?”

　　Yohyo promised, and Otsu went into the other room and begantoweave some cloth. She was working for hours ang Yohyo get tiredofwaiting, but he was patient. At last Otsu came out with a pieceofbeautiful cloth in her hands. It was the most beautiful cloththatYohyo had ever seen.

　　The next morning he set off to the market in the town, andsoldthe piece of cloth for a lot of maney. Yohyo had never had somuchmoney in his life. He was very excited and he bought manythingswith it. Soon, in his excitement, he had spent all the money,so hewent home and asked Otsu to weave another piece of cloth. Sogreedydid he become, that he did not notice that the more sheworked, thethinner Otsu became. However, as she loved Yoho verymuch, she wovenew cloth for him every time he asked for it.

　　One day Yohyo asked for some cloth once again, and Otsu said,asusual, “I will weave for you but remr your promise-don’t lookintothe other room while I am working.”

　　Yohyo promised and sat down to wait but he soon got tierdofwaiting for her. He could hear the sound of weaving, and hebeganto ask himself why he could not look in at Otsu, while shewasworking. Once he began to have doubts he could not stophimselffrom looking in.

　　He thought, “Otsu won’t be angry with me if I look in only foramoment.”

　　Finally, he could wait no longer. He crept to the entrance oftheother room and looked in. Otsu was not there at all! Instead,hesaw a very thin crane which wass pulling off its feathersandweaving them into the cloth. Yohyorecognised it as the verysamecrane whose life he saved so many months ago.

　　He crept away again and sat thinking quietly. He feltveryanxious-what would Otsu do, now that he knew her secret?

　　At last the sound of weaving stopped, and Otsu came out oftheroomwith two pieces of cloth in her hands.

　　“Yohyo,” she said, sadly. “You have broken your promise to me.Nowthat you know that I am a crane, I cannot stay here any longer.Takethese pieces of cloth, sell one, and keep the other. Perhapsit willremind you of me.”