The Honest Woodcutter
Once upon a time, there was a poor woodcutter who lived near a forest. Every day he cut wood and sold it in the market. One day, while cutting a tree beside a river, his axe slipped and fell into the water. The river was deep, and he could not find it.
The poor man sat by the river and cried. Suddenly, a kind angel appeared. She asked, “Why are you crying?” The woodcutter told her about his lost axe.
The angel went into the river and brought out a golden axe. “Is this yours?” she asked.
The woodcutter said, “No, that is not mine.”
She went again and brought out a silver axe. “Is this yours?” she asked.
The woodcutter replied, “No, that is not mine either.”
Finally, she brought out the iron axe. The woodcutter’s face lit up. “Yes! That one is mine!”
The angel was pleased with his honesty. She gave him not only his iron axe but also the golden and silver axes as a reward.
From that day, the honest woodcutter lived a happy life.