Once upon a time, there lived a poor woodcutter in a small village. He was very honest and hardworking. Every day, he went to the nearby forest to cut wood and sell it in the market.
One day, while he was cutting a tree beside a river, his axe slipped from his hand and fell into the water. The river was very deep. The woodcutter became very sad and began to cry because it was his only axe.
Suddenly, a fairy appeared before him. She asked him why he was crying. The woodcutter told her the whole story. The fairy dived into the river and brought out a golden axe. She asked, "Is this your axe?" The woodcutter replied, "No, it is not mine."
Then she brought out a silver axe. Again she asked, "Is this yours?" The woodcutter said, "No, this is not mine either."
Finally, the fairy brought out his old iron axe. The woodcutter became happy and said, "Yes, this is my axe."
The fairy was pleased with his honesty. She gave him all three axes as a reward. The woodcutter thanked her and returned home happily.