The Honest Woodcutter: A Story of Integrity and Truth
Once upon a time, in a small village nestled beside a dense forest, there lived a humble woodcutter named Thomas. He was known for his honesty and hard work. Every day, Thomas would go to the forest to chop wood, sell it in the market, and provide for his family. Though his earnings were meager, he was content with his simple life.
One day, while chopping wood near a river, Thomas accidentally dropped his axe into the deep waters. Panicked, he knelt by the riverbank, unsure of how to retrieve it. His axe was his only tool for earning a livelihood, and without it, he would be helpless.
As he despaired, a magical water spirit appeared from the river. "Why are you so troubled, dear woodcutter?" asked the spirit.
"I dropped my axe into the river, and without it, I cannot work to support my family," Thomas replied.
The spirit, moved by Thomas’s honesty, dove into the river and emerged with a shining golden axe. "Is this your axe?" the spirit asked.
Thomas shook his head. "No, that’s not mine. My axe is old and made of iron."
The spirit dove back into the river and this time, emerged with a silver axe. "Is this your axe?" the spirit asked again.
Once more, Thomas shook his head. "No, that’s not mine either. My axe is simple and worn from years of use."
The spirit smiled, impressed by the woodcutter's honesty. Finally, she returned with the old, iron axe. "Is this your axe?" she asked.
Thomas nodded gratefully. "Yes, that is my axe."
Because of his truthfulness, the spirit rewarded him with all three axes—the gold, the silver, and his old iron axe. Thomas returned to his village, thankful for his good fortune, and continued to live a life of honesty and integrity.
The moral of the story is: "Honesty is always rewarded."