short story with moral: THE HONEST WOOD-CUTTER

There was a wood-cutter. He lived in a village near a river. He used to go everyday to cut woods. One day  he went out to cut wood. He climbed a tree on the bank of river.

The wood-cutter began to cut wood. All of a sudden his axe fell down into the river. He began to cry for help.

After some time, Mercury, the god of water appeared there. He asked the wood-cutter, 'Why are you crying ?' The wood cutter told him the whole story.

Mercury dived  into the water. He brought out a golden axe. He offered it to the wood cutter. But he did not take it. The god again jumped into the water. This time, he brought a silver axe. The wood-cutter did not accept it too. The third time, the god brought an iron axe. It was wood-cutter's axe. He accepted it. The god was pleased with him at his honesty. He gave him  the other two axes as a reward.

Moral : Honesty is the best policy.

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