Once upon a time, there was a poor woodcutter who lived near a forest. Every day, he would go into the woods to cut trees and sell the wood to earn money.
One day, as he was cutting a tree near a river, his axe slipped from his hands and fell into the deep water.
“Oh no! That was my only axe,” cried the woodcutter. He sat on the riverbank, worried and sad.
Suddenly, a kind water fairy appeared. She asked, “Why are you crying?”
The woodcutter explained everything honestly.
The fairy smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” She dove into the river and came out holding a golden axe.
“Is this your axe?” she asked.
The woodcutter looked surprised but said politely, “No, that’s not mine.”
The fairy went back into the water and brought up a silver axe. “Is this your axe?” she asked again.
The woodcutter shook his head. “No, that is not mine either.”
Finally, she brought up a simple iron axe – the woodcutter’s original one.
The woodcutter’s eyes lit up with joy. “Yes! That’s my axe!” he said happily.
The fairy was pleased with his honesty. She said, “You are a good and honest man. As a reward, you may keep all three axes – gold, silver, and iron!”
The woodcutter thanked her again and again. He went home not just with his own axe, but also with the golden and silver ones.
Moral of the Story: Honesty is always rewarded.
Why This Story Matters for Students
- It teaches the value of honesty in a simple way.
- It shows that truthfulness brings unexpected rewards.
- Easy to remember and retell in school competitions or essays.
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