The Honest Woodcutter

Jack was a 29-year-old woodcutter who lived near a dense jungle and a flowing river. Every day, he would cut wood to sell at the market. One day, Jack accidentally dropped his axe into the river. He needed the axe to make a living, and now it was gone. Jack felt a sense of dread and worry.

As Jack stared helplessly at the river, he noticed something glimmering under the water. It was a golden axe! Jack hesitated, realizing that this was not his axe. He thought about taking it but knew it would be wrong.

- I can't take something that doesn't belong to me, Jack said to himself. Jack decided to leave the golden axe where it was and continued to search for his own axe.

Jack searched up and down the river, but he couldn't find his own axe. He felt defeated and sat down on a rock to rest. Just then, an old man with a long beard appeared. The old man asked Jack why he looked so sad.

- I've lost my only axe, Jack explained. The old man listened carefully and then smiled. He waved his hand, and the golden axe floated up from the river. - Is this your axe? the old man asked.

- No, that's not my axe, Jack replied honestly. The old man waved his hand again, and a silver axe appeared. - Is this your axe? he asked again. - No, that's not my axe either, Jack said.

Finally, the old man waved his hand one more time, and Jack's own wooden axe appeared. - Is this your axe? the old man asked. - Yes, that's my axe! Jack exclaimed with relief.

The old man smiled and said, - Because you were honest, you can keep all three axes. Jack was overjoyed and thanked the old man. He realized that honesty truly is the best policy.