The Honest Woodcutter

In a quiet village nestled near a dense forest, there lived a poor but hardworking woodcutter named Ethan. Every day, he ventured deep into the woods to chop firewood, which he sold in the market to support his family. Despite his struggles, Ethan was known for his honesty and kindness, earning the respect of everyone in the village.

One fine morning, while Ethan was cutting wood near a sparkling river, his axe slipped from his hands and plunged into the water. Panic washed over him as he realized he couldn’t afford a new axe. Ethan fell to his knees and prayed, “Oh, forest spirits, I have always respected this land. Please help me retrieve my axe.”

To his surprise, the river began to shimmer, and a radiant figure emerged. It was a water nymph, her gown glistening like sunlight on the waves. She held a golden axe in her hands and said, “Is this your axe, honest woodcutter?”

Ethan shook his head. “No, ma’am. That is not mine. My axe is simple and made of iron.”

The nymph smiled and dived back into the river. A moment later, she returned with a silver axe. “Is this your axe?” she asked again.

Ethan looked at her and replied, “No, ma’am. Mine is far humbler than that.”

Finally, the nymph brought up Ethan’s old iron axe. His face lit up, and he exclaimed, “Yes! That’s my axe. Thank you!”

The nymph was impressed by Ethan’s honesty and gifted him all three axes as a reward. Ethan humbly accepted her kindness, promising to use the gifts wisely.

The Twist
News of Ethan’s encounter spread quickly through the village. A greedy merchant named Victor overheard the tale and hatched a plan. He borrowed an old axe and hurried to the river, intentionally dropping it into the water.

“Oh, great forest spirits!” Victor shouted, feigning despair. “Please return my precious axe!”

The nymph appeared once again, holding a golden axe. “Is this your axe?” she asked.

Victor’s eyes gleamed with greed. “Yes! That’s mine!” he lied.

The nymph’s smile faded, and her eyes turned sharp. “A liar is not welcome here,” she said sternly. She waved her hand, and instead of retrieving the old axe, she summoned a swarm of fish to chase Victor out of the forest.

The Ending
When Victor returned to the village, he was soaked and humiliated. The villagers laughed at his foolishness and praised Ethan for his honesty. Ethan used the golden and silver axes to start a tool-making business, employing other villagers and improving everyone’s lives.

The Moral
Honesty and integrity are priceless virtues. Those who stay true to their principles will find rewards beyond material wealth, while greed and deceit lead only to shame and failure.