There was once a woodcutter, working hard in the forest, getting wood to sell for some food. As he was cutting a tree, his ax accidentally fell into the river. The river was deep and was flowing really fast – he lost his ax and could not find it again. He sat at the bank of the river and wept.
While he wept, the God of the river arose and asked him what happened. The woodcutter told him the story. The God of the river offered to help him by looking for his ax. He disappeared into the river and retrieved a golden ax, but the woodcutter said it was not his. He disappeared again and came back with a silver ax, but the woodcutter said that was not his either. The God disappeared into the water again and came back with an iron ax – the woodcutter smiled and said it was his. God was impressed with the woodcutter’s honesty and gifted him both the golden and silver axes.
Moral of the Story
Honesty is the best policy.