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Story Time: The Honest Woodcutter

Join us as we explore the beloved tale of The Honest Woodcutter, cherished by children worldwide. Uncover the moral lesson that shapes your child’s character.

*** You have the option to download the PDF file from this location.- Download

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“Title: The Honest Woodcutter

Once there was a woodcutter named Jack. He worked in the forest, cutting trees every day.

One day, while working near a river, Jack’s axe slipped from his hand and fell into the river. Jack couldn’t swim, so he felt sad.

A god saw Jack’s sadness and asked what happened. Jack explained, and the god promised to help. The god reached into the river and pulled out three axes: one golden, one silver, and one plain iron. He asked Jack if any of them were his.

Jack said no to the golden and silver axes, and yes to his plain iron axe. The god smiled and said, “You are an honest and good-hearted person, Jack. As a gift for your honesty, you can keep all three axes. “Jack thanked the god and promised to always be honest. And so, Jack lived happily ever after, knowing that honesty is always rewarded.

The moral of the story is: Always tell the truth, and good things will come your way.

The end.”

A very popular folk tale is the story of the honest woodcutter. This is a short exemplary story. The main character of this story is a poor woodcutter. Also, a god is found in this story as another character. Writers around the world have fictionalized this story in different ways. These stories are childhood stories that have been passed down from mouth to mouth since ancient times. The most basic example from the story of the honest woodcutter is honesty. But with this story, you can teach many more ideal children.

Morals that children can get from the story of the honest woodcutter:
  • Honesty is rewarded:

Example: Jack’s honesty about his axe leads to him receiving not only his own axe back but also two additional axes as a reward from the god.

  • Good deeds attract divine intervention:

Example: The god notices Jack’s sadness and offers help, indicating that Jack’s goodness attracts divine attention and assistance.

  • Kindness and sincerity lead to positive outcomes:

Example: Jack’s sincerity in admitting which axe is his leads to a positive outcome of receiving all three axes as a reward.

  • Integrity is valued and appreciated:

Example: The god praises Jack’s honesty and good-heartedness, showing that integrity is highly valued and appreciated.

  • Material possessions are less important than honesty and integrity:

Example: Jack values his plain iron axe over the golden and silver ones, demonstrating that material possessions are less important than honesty and integrity.

  • Help comes to those who are truthful and sincere:

Example: The god offers assistance to Jack after seeing his sincerity and honesty about losing his axe.

  • Being truthful builds trust and goodwill:

Example: Jack’s honesty builds trust between him and the god, leading to goodwill and a generous reward.

  • Always admit mistakes and seek help when needed:

Example: Jack admits his mistake of losing his axe and seeks help from the god, showing the importance of admitting mistakes and seeking assistance when needed.

  • Integrity brings happiness and contentment:

Example: Jack lives happily ever after, knowing that his integrity and honesty have brought him contentment and happiness.

  • Honesty is the best policy in all situations:

Example: The moral of the story explicitly states that telling the truth leads to positive outcomes, emphasizing the importance of honesty in all situations.

This little story gives your child many examples that he can take in life. That’s why we brought this story as a 5-page booklet for children. This learning page allows you to enjoy an old folk tale in a new way.