The Woods Man and The Golden Axe

Once upon a time, a woodsman was cutting down a tree near a river. His axe flew out of his hands and fell into the deep river water.

"Oh, what shall I do? That axe is how I earn my living. Without it I will starve!"

As he stood by the water's edge trying to see his axe in the murky water, a woods fairy appeared and asked him the reason for his distress.

“Why are you crying?” the fairy asked.

“I lost my axe, in this river!” said the woodsman.

"Oh, is that all? I can get your axe for you."

Then, the fairy dove into the river and brought up a golden axe.

"Is this the one you lost?"

The woodsman shook his head.

"No, it is not. I wish that it was. Mine was not so fine as that one. But, mine was a good, sturdy axe, well-suited to my work."

The fairy just replied with her smile.

Then, the fairy dove in a second time, and came back up with a silver axe.

"Is this the one you lost?" the fairy asked.

"No, that is not mine either," said the woodsman.

Once more the fairy dove into the river, and this time brought up the missing axe.

The woodsman said happily. “Thank you! Thank you! That’s it!”. "Now I can return to work. You have been very kind to me."

"You are an honest man," said the fairy. "You shall be rewarded for your good heart. You may keep all three axes." The fairy dove back into the water before the astonished man had time to say a word.

One day letter, the woodsman told his story to his friends. One of them was very jealous and greedy. He thought he might get a couple of gold and silver axes for himself.

So he went to cut a tree at the edge of the same river, and of course he managed to drop his axe into the water. The fairy appeared as before, and on learning that his axe was lost. She dove into the river and brought up a golden axe.

The greedy man didn’t wait for the fairy to ask, he just shouted, "That's mine! That’s mine! Give it to me!". He reached out to take the shining tool.
"This is not your axe and you know it," said the fairy. "You are a liar, greedy man. You will get no axe at all from me."

The fairy dove back into the river, leaving the Woodsman.

Remember everyone, honesty is the best policy. THANK YOU.