next morning taro jumped out of bed earlier than usual and made his way to the forest he chopped and cut, chopped and cut as the sun climbed, and soon he was so warm that he had to take off his jacket. his mouth was dry , and his face was wet with sweat , my poor old father! he thought . if only he was as warm as I! and with that he began to chop even f faster, thinking of the extra money he must earn to buy the sake to warm the old man bones . then suddenly taro stopped chopping. what was that sound he heard ? could it be , could it possibly be rushing water? taro could not remember ever seeing or hearing a rushing stream in that part of the forest . he was thirsty . the axe dropped out of his hands and he ran in the direction of the sound .