Once upon a time, a poor woodcutter was chopping wood by the river when his axe slipped from his hands and fell into the deep water. He felt very upset about losing it. Suddenly, the god of the river appeared and asked him what had happened. The woodcutter explained his misfortune. The god then dove into the river and came back with a golden axe. The woodcutter replied, “This is not mine.” The god then brought up a silver axe, but again the woodcutter said, “This is not mine either.” Finally, the god dove once more and returned with the woodcutter’s old iron axe. The woodcutter exclaimed, “This is mine!” The god was so pleased with his honesty that he rewarded the woodcutter with both the golden and silver axes, in addition to his own iron axe.
Moral: Honesty is always rewarded.