a young woodcutter named taro lived with his mother and father on a lonely hillside all day long he chopped wood in the forest though he worked very hard he earned very little money this made him sad for he was a thoughtful son and wanted to give his old parents everything they needed one evening when taro and his parents were sitting in a corner of their hut a strong wind began to blow it whistled through the cracks of the hut and everyone felt very cold suddenly taro father said I wish I had a cup of sake it would warm me and do my old heart good this made taro sadder than ever for the heart warming drink called sake was very expensive how do I earn more money ? he asked himself. how do I get a little sake for my poor old father? he decided to work harder than before.