Introduction to The Honest Woodcutter
The story of The Honest Woodcutter is one of the most enduring fables about integrity and humility. Rooted in Aesop’s Fables, this simple yet powerful tale has been shared across generations to teach children the value of honesty
Once upon a time, in a small village nestled by a forest, there lived a poor woodcutter. He worked hard every day, chopping wood with his old iron axe to sell in the market. Though his life was simple, he took pride in his honesty and never complained about his struggles.
One sunny afternoon, while chopping a tree near a river, the woodcutter’s axe slipped from his hands and fell into the deep, rushing water. The river was swift, and the axe sank out of sight. The woodcutter collapsed on the riverbank in despair. “How will I feed my family now?” he cried. “That axe was my only way to earn a living!”
Suddenly, a shimmering light appeared above the water, and a water spirit (or fairy, in some versions) emerged. “Why do you weep?” she asked kindly. The woodcutter explained his misfortune, and the spirit smiled. “Wait here. I will retrieve your axe.”
The spirit dove into the river and reappeared moments later, holding a gleaming golden axe. “Is this yours?” she asked.
The woodcutter shook his head. “No, that’s not mine. My axe was made of iron, plain and old.”
The spirit dove again and surfaced with a shining silver axe. “Perhaps this one is yours?”
Again, the woodcutter replied honestly, “No, that’s not mine either.”
Finally, the spirit returned with a rusty, worn-out iron axe. The woodcutter’s eyes lit up. “Yes! That’s my axe!” he exclaimed gratefully.
Impressed by his honesty, the spirit rewarded him. “You could have claimed the golden or silver axe, but you chose truth over greed. For your integrity, I give you all three axes as a gift.”
Overjoyed, the woodcutter thanked the spirit and hurried home to share his good fortune. His honesty had turned his hardship into abundance.
The Greedy Neighbor (Alternate Ending)
In another version of the tale, a greedy neighbor hears about the woodcutter’s reward. He rushes to the river, deliberately throws his own axe into the water, and pretends to cry. When the spirit appears and offers him a golden axe, the neighbor lies, shouting, “Yes, that’s mine!”
The spirit, seeing through his deceit, says coldly, “Your greed has blinded you. You deserve nothing.” She disappears, leaving the neighbor with neither his old axe nor the golden one.
Moral of the Story: Why Honesty Matters
The core lesson of The Honest Woodcutter is straightforward but profound: “Honesty is the best policy.”