Mercury And The Woodman – This article will tell you the story of mercury and the woodman on Aesop’s fables summary and a moral lesson in English. What is the woodman in the fable making use of their time? Also, what is the moral lesson of the story?
Here, we give you an inspiring moral story for kids. This would be one of the best moral stories for kids as they love animals. Most stories for children like this serve as a foundation for learning and ethical lessons.
Fables, like this one, are typical stories about animals that convey moral lessons for you and your kids. We have therefore prepared a variety of fable stories that you can read and share with your loved ones.
Stories for kids like this are best designed to engage learners in reading. This exhibits the morality of animals as it illustrates the ways of animals. You may now explore the beautiful fable story by Aesop.
SEE ALSO: 140+ Best Aesop’s Fables Story Examples With Moral And Summary
Who is Aesop?
Before exactly reading the story, let us know a little about the author first.
Aesop is a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with several fables now collectively known as Aesop’s Fables.
Now, enjoy reading Aesop’s story with understanding and an open mind.
Mercury And The Woodman
A poor Woodman was cutting down a tree near the edge of a deep pool in the forest. It was late in the day and the Woodman was tired. He had been working since sunrise and his strokes were not so sure as they had been early that morning. Thus it happened that the axe slipped and flew out of his hands into the pool.
The Woodman was in despair. The axe was all he possessed with which to make a living, and he had not money enough to buy a new one. As he stood wringing his hands and weeping, the god Mercury suddenly appeared and asked what the trouble was. The Woodman told what had happened, and straightway the kind Mercury dived into the pool. When he came up again he held a wonderful golden axe.
“Is this your axe?” Mercury asked the Woodman.
“No,” answered the honest Woodman, “that is not my axe.”
Mercury laid the golden axe on the bank and sprang back into the pool. This time he brought up an axe of silver, but the Woodman declared again that his axe was just an ordinary one with a wooden handle.
Mercury dived down for the third time, and when he came up again he had the very axe that had been lost.
The poor Woodman was very glad that his axe had been found and could not thank the kind god enough. Mercury was greatly pleased with the Woodman’s honesty.
“I admire your honesty,” he said, “and as a reward you may have all three axes, the gold and the silver as well as your own.”
The happy Woodman returned to his home with his treasures, and soon the story of his good fortune was known to everybody in the village. Now there were several Woodmen in the village who believed that they could easily win the same good fortune. They hurried out into the woods, one here, one there, and hiding their axes in the bushes, pretended they had lost them. Then they wept and wailed and called on Mercury to help them.
And indeed, Mercury did appear, first to this one, then to that. To each one he showed an axe of gold, and each one eagerly claimed it to be the one he had lost. But Mercury did not give them the golden axe. Oh no! Instead he gave them each a hard whack over the head with it and sent them home. And when they returned next day to look for their own axes, they were nowhere to be found.
The fable, “Mercury And The Woodman,” is from read.gov.
Story Analysis of Mercury And The Woodman
| What is the title of the story? | The title of the story is “Mercury And The Woodman“. |
| Who are the characters of the story? | The characters of the story are Mercury and the woodman. |
| What is the theme of the story? | The theme of the story is honesty. |
| What is the setting of the story? | The setting of the story is one day near the edge of a deep pool in the forest. |
| What is the moral of the story? | The moral of the story is honesty is the best policy. |
| Who is the author of the story? | The author of the story Aesop. |
Mercury And The Woodman Moral Lesson
- Honesty is the best policy.
- Truth is the better strategy.
- The great searcher of our hearts will not rush to reward or penalize us.
- Few people can bear the power of honesty.
Mercury And The Woodman Summary
A woodman lost an axe. Mercury recovered a gold and silver axe that the workman refused. Mercury then recovered the real axe and gave him the others.
Summary from fablesofaesop.com
What is the Solution of the Story “ Mercury And The Woodman“?
Back in the story, the woodman lost his axe in the pool, so he wept for it is the source of his living. Later, the god Mercury appeared and offer him, then the god find his axe first its gold but he refused, next is the silver still he refused, lastly his wooden axed.
So he is happy about it and the god gave him a reward.
More Lessons for Children
Aside from Aesop’s fable Mercury And The Woodman, here are more lessons for yourself and your children.
- The Dog And The Oyster Story With Moral Lesson And Summary
- The Astrologer Story With Moral Lesson And Summary
- Three Bullocks And A Lion Story With Moral Lesson And Summary
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Thanks for reading. God bless
