In a small village in India, there was a hard - working and kind - hearted woodcutter. Every day, he would go to the forest outside the village to cut firewood and then carry it to the market to sell, so as to support himself and his family.
On this day, the woodcutter came to the forest early as usual. He swung his axe and cut at the thick trees. Before long, he had cut a large bundle of firewood. When he was about to go home with the firewood on his back, he passed by a clear brook.
The woodcutter, with the firewood on his back, carefully stepped on the stones in the river to cross it. However, because the firewood was too heavy, he accidentally dropped his axe into the river with a "plop". This axe was his most precious thing. Without it, he couldn't cut firewood and earn money to support his family. The woodcutter was very worried. He stood by the river, looking at the bottomless river water, not knowing what to do.
Just then, a strange light suddenly shone on the river surface. A fairy slowly rose from the water. The fairy looked at the woodcutter and asked kindly, "Why do you look so sad?" The woodcutter answered honestly, "My axe has fallen into the river. It is my tool for cutting firewood. Without it, I can't work and my family will go hungry."
The fairy smiled slightly after hearing the woodcutter's words, and then dived into the water. Soon, the fairy emerged from the water, holding a glittering golden axe in his hand. The fairy asked the woodcutter, "Is this your axe?" The woodcutter looked at the golden axe and shook his head, saying, "No, this is not my axe. My axe is very ordinary and not so magnificent."
The fairy nodded and dived into the water again. After a while, the fairy took out a silver axe. The fairy asked the woodcutter, "Is this silver axe yours?" The woodcutter still shook his head and said, "This is not my axe either. My axe is made of iron."
The fairy dived into the water for the third time. This time, he took out the woodcutter's shabby iron axe. The woodcutter saw his own axe and said happily, "This is my axe. Thank you so much!" The fairy was moved by the woodcutter's honesty. He said to the woodcutter, "You are a very honest person. To reward your honesty, I will also give you this golden axe and this silver axe."
The woodcutter took the three axes and returned home excitedly. He told his family about his experience, and his family was happy for him. Since then, the woodcutter exchanged the golden axe and the silver axe for a lot of money, and his life became wealthy. However, he still maintained his hard - working and honest qualities and continued to live a happy life.
