The Honest Woodcutter
Once there was a poor woodcutter who worked hard every day. One day, his axe fell into a river. He sat sadly by the riverbank. Suddenly, a magical spirit appeared and asked, “Why are you sad?”
The woodcutter explained, and the spirit dove into the river, bringing out a golden axe. “Is this yours?” asked the spirit. “No,” said the woodcutter. Then the spirit brought a silver axe. “This yours?” “No,” he replied. Finally, the spirit gave him his own iron axe. “Yes! That’s mine,” he said.
The spirit was so impressed by his honesty that she gave him all three axes as a reward.
Moral: Honesty is always the best policy.
