Mercury and the Woodcutter

Mercury and the Woodcutter is a classic moral story for children based on a well-known fable. The story is about a poor but honest woodcutter who accidentally drops his axe into a river while cutting wood near the water. As he becomes very sad about losing his only tool, the god Mercury appears and offers to help him.

Mercury dives into the river and brings out a golden axe, but the woodcutter honestly says it is not his. Then Mercury brings a silver axe, and again the woodcutter says it does not belong to him. Finally, Mercury brings out the woodcutter’s old iron axe. The woodcutter happily recognizes it as his own. Because of the woodcutter’s honesty, Mercury rewards him by giving him all three axes.

This simple and interesting story teaches children an important value about honesty and good character.