Narrative Text 1 "The Honest Woodcutter"
2 min read
Synopsis:
A poor woodcutter loses his axe in a river. A fairy offers him a golden axe instead, but he refuses. His honesty is rewarded when he finds his own axe, along with the fairy’s gift.
Narrative text:
Once upon a time in a small village, there lived a humble woodcutter named John. Every day, he would travel to the nearby forest to chop wood, which he sold to support his family. John was known for his honesty and hard work, always earning just enough to provide for his wife and two children.
One sunny morning, while chopping wood by the river, John accidentally dropped his axe into the water. Panic washed over him as he realized that without his axe, he could not work or feed his family. He sat by the riverbank, feeling defeated, when suddenly a beautiful fairy emerged from the water.
“Do not weep, honest woodcutter,” the fairy said. “I can help you. I will retrieve your axe.”
With a wave of her hand, the fairy plunged into the river and soon resurfaced with a golden axe.
“Is this your axe?” she asked.
“No, that’s not mine,” replied John, shaking his head. “My axe is made of iron.”
The fairy, impressed by John’s honesty, dove back into the river and returned with a silver axe.
“Is this your axe?” she asked again.
“No, that’s not mine either,” John said. “Mine is just an ordinary iron axe.”
Finally, the fairy emerged with John’s iron axe. “Is this the one?” she asked.
“Yes! That’s my axe!” John exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy.
The fairy smiled and said, “Because of your honesty, I will reward you. You can keep all three axes.” With that, she vanished, leaving John in awe.
John returned home with his axe and the two new ones. He told his family about the fairy and his good fortune. They were overjoyed, but John remained humble. He knew that his honesty had brought him this unexpected gift.
From that day on, John continued to work hard, using the golden and silver axes to help others in the village. He shared the wood he chopped, ensuring that no one went cold during the harsh winters.
As time passed, John’s kindness and integrity spread throughout the village. People admired him not just for his skills, but for his character. They learned that honesty is not only the best policy but also a path to greater rewards.
Moral and Life Lesson
The story of the honest woodcutter teaches us that integrity and honesty are invaluable traits. By staying true to oneself, we can build trust and respect in our communities. Moreover, honesty can lead to unexpected rewards, as seen in John's life. In a world where it might be tempting to take shortcuts, we should always choose the path of truth.