Crane's Magic Gift

[Music] this is an old Japanese folk [Music] tale evening draws on in the snow country an old man is on his way home the firewood he carries did not sell what's that something white is stirring near the Bamboo Grove could it be a [Music] bird how sad a crane caught in a snare [Music] the kindhearted old man sets the crane free [Music] the night is cold the old couple must work hard even at night although the New Year holiday is just around the corner [Applause] someone is knocking at the door who can it be paying a call so late at night my what a lovely girl she must have lost her way in the snow [Music] come in child out of the [Music] cold the girl thanks them the Aged couple who have no children beg her to stay with them forever [Music] morning Dawns bright and clear the sunshine sparkles on the snow as usual the neighborhood children gather around the old couple's house to play [Music] the children are delighted to find such a lovely new playmate [Music] the old lady is dozing off she must be very tired massaging her foster mother's back the lovely Maiden says tomorrow let me do the weaving but please promise me one thing please promise not to look in while I'm working at the loom the [Music] what beautiful cloth the two have never seen such a marvelous piece of cloth but the girl looks strangely thin and weary after her hard work at the [Music] loom someone comes over the [Music] hill it is a merchant from the town he comes from time to time to buy cloth woven by the old lady today she shows him the Magnificent roll of cloth woven by the young girl what a splendid fabric it will sell at a very high price in town but the old couple do not wish to sell the beautiful present from their adopted daughter the merchant lays down several large gold coins and insists that he must have the cloth they have never seen such a great sum of money but as for the girl she does not understand the value of gold to her the coins are unpleasantly cold and heavy New Year's Day is close at hand and people pound steamed rice into cakes to celebrate the New Year [Music] holiday The Children Play battledore and shuttlecock [Music] why Here Comes The Merchant again he sold the fabric for such a high price that he is anxious to buy more the old couple refuses the Merchant's offer weaving seems to weaken their daughter for some strange reason but the merchant will not give up he for forces them to accept an advance this time the money is double the previous [Music] amount they are very upset they know it's wrong to ask their da to work at the loom anymore the young girl senses their predicament [Music] she makes up her mind to weave another piece of cloth realizing that it will help to ease the life of her aged foster parents once more she makes them promise not to look in while she is at the loom in the snow country children play in little houses made of [Music] snow the children want their beautiful friend to join them [Music] she cannot come out the children are disappointed the old lady gives them cakes to cheer them [Music] up the maiden is still weaving they are now very worried because it's late at night we must go into the room and stop her working says the old man but they cannot break their [Music] promise morning comes but the sound of the Loom goes on the poor child must be tired and very weak the old lady is desperate stop your work and come out she cried eyes the merchant comes for the cloth but the cloth is not ready yet let's go in and see how much more she has to weave says the merchant they try to stop him they must keep their promise oh it won't disturb her if we just take a [Music] look the merchant forces his way to the door they are astounded a crane is at the loom the very crane the old man Freed From The Snare [Music] where has she gone their lovely foster child there she is far far away in the [Music] sky oh don't go away come back come back to us again [Music]