Outline.
A wood-cutter
cutting a tree --- axe falls into the river --- weeps --- a god --- dives ---
shows a golden axe --- “not mine” --- a silver axe --- “not mine” --- his iron
axe --- takes it --- reward.
The Story.
A poor wood-cutter
was felling a tree on the bank of a river. By chance his axe fell into it and
he began to weep. Mercury, a kind god, happened to pass that way. He asked him
what the matter was. When he learnt the whole story, he took pity on the poor old
man. He jumped into the river, and showed him a golden axe. “Is it yours?” he
asked. “No, sir,” replied the wood-cutter; “mine was not so beautiful.” He
dived again and brought out a silver axe. “Is it yours?” he asked again. “No
sir,” replied the honest man. “Mine was not so bright.” He dived for the third
time and brought out the iron axe which had been lost. “Oh! Yes, that is mine,”
exclaimed the wood-cutter, as soon as he saw it. Mercury was greatly pleased
with the wood-cutter. And he gave him all the three axe as a reward for his honesty.