The Honest Woodman

Adapted by: Esperanza Diaz-Cruz

Once, a poor woodman named caloy went to the

forest which was on the side of a deep river. He was
working all day long and he was tired. Suddenly his axe
slipped from his hand and fell into the water. Oh!, I
have lost my axe, “ he cried. “I have nothing to use to
earn my living! What shall I do? The river is very deep
and I am afraid to dive into it. Who can help me?”
Faye, a good fairy, heard the poor man’s cries and
appeared before him. “What’s the matter, poor
woodman?” she asked. “Why are you so sad?” Caloy
told her what happened and f
Faye promised to help him.
She divedinto the river and brought up a golden
axe. “ Is it yours?” she asked.
“No, that is not mine,” answered Caloy.
Faye dived again and this time brought up a silver
axe.
“Is it yours?” she asked, and Caloy again answered
“No.”
So Faye dove a third time and this time brought up
the axe that had slipped from Caloy’shand. “That’ is
my axe,” he cried. “Now I can work again.”
Happy with Caloy’s acts, Faye gave him the two
axes as a reward.