Collection of Aesop's fables illustrated by Milo Winter
(Image Source: Pixibay)
Plot points
- A woodcutter goes into the forest to begin the day's work
- He toils all day long to fell many trees and begins working on the last he intends to cut for the day
- Struggling to swing the last few strokes at the tree, he lets his grip relax and the axe fly into a nearby pool
- The woodcutter is distraught, for the axe was his only means at providing for himself
- Suddenly, the god Mercury appears beside the pool and asks why the man wails so loudly
- Upon hearing the woodcutter's story, Mercury dives into the pool and resurfaces with a golden axe
- The woodcutter claims the axe is not his own and Mercury dives again
- This time the god surfaces with an axe of silver, again the woodcutter claims it is not his
- A third time the god dives, but this times returns with the rugged axe of the woodcutter
- The god is impressed by the woodcutter's honesty and awards the man with all three axes for his candor
- Upon hearing this tale, many woodcutters from town attempt to recreate the fortune of the first by hiding their axes in the woods and wailing loudly
- At each instance, the god appears and goes through the same motions
- The woodcutters, however, greedily claim the first, golden axe was their own
- As punishment for their avarice, Mercury promptly beats the living daylights out of them and sends them home bruised and axe-less
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