Notes

Moral stories in English for Students

The Honest Woodcutter
Once upon a time, in a small village nestled between rolling hills and flowing rivers, there lived a kind and hardworking woodcutter named Raghav. Raghav had a small family, and he earned his living by cutting wood from the nearby forest and selling it in the village market. He wasn’t rich, but he was content with his life, knowing that his hard work provided for his wife and children.

One day, while Raghav was chopping wood deep in the forest, something unexpected happened. As he swung his axe to chop a thick tree trunk, his axe slipped from his hands and fell into a deep, fast-moving river. Raghav’s heart sank. He had worked hard to buy that axe, and now it was gone. He looked around helplessly, but the river was wide and strong, and there was no way to retrieve it.

He sat down by the riverbank, feeling defeated. “How will I provide for my family now?” he wondered aloud. “Without my axe, I cannot chop wood, and without wood, I cannot make a living.”

As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, a magical figure suddenly appeared before him. It was an old man with a long white beard and kind eyes. “Why do you look so troubled, my son?” the old man asked.

Raghav, surprised but eager for help, explained his situation. He told the old man how he had lost his axe in the river and how difficult it would be to provide for his family without it.

The old man nodded thoughtfully. “Do not worry, Raghav,” he said. “I can help you.” With a wave of his hand, the old man called forth the river’s water. The water parted, and from the river’s depths, he retrieved a golden axe. “Is this your axe?” the old man asked.

Raghav looked at the golden axe, astonished. It was beautiful and gleamed in the sunlight. For a moment, Raghav considered how much money he could get from selling such a valuable axe. But then he remembered his honesty and his love for his family. He shook his head and said, “No, this is not my axe. My axe was a simple one, not made of gold.”

The old man smiled, impressed by Raghav’s honesty. “You are a good and honest man, Raghav,” he said. “But I will test your honesty further.”

The old man waved his hand again, and this time, the river parted again, revealing a silver axe. “Is this your axe?” he asked.

Raghav looked at the silver axe. It was beautiful too, but it was not his. Once again, Raghav shook his head and said, “No, that is not my axe either. My axe was made of steel, plain and simple.”

The old man nodded approvingly. “You are indeed an honest man. HINDI Story for Kids pdf admire your integrity.”

With that, the old man waved his hand once more. This time, the river parted, and Raghav’s own axe, the simple steel one, floated to the surface. The old man handed it to Raghav.

“Here is your axe,” the old man said. “But because of your honesty, I will reward you. Take these three axes as a gift. The golden one will bring you wealth, the silver one will bring you comfort, and your own axe will bring you happiness. Choose wisely.”

Raghav was overwhelmed. He had never imagined he would be rewarded in this way. But he thought for a moment, remembering the importance of honesty and the well-being of his family. He knew that wealth and comfort might bring temporary happiness, but it was true happiness that mattered most.

“I choose my own axe,” Raghav said.

The old man smiled warmly. “You have made the right choice. True happiness lies in the simple things in life—the love of family, the joy of work, and the peace of knowing that you have acted with integrity.”

With that, the old man disappeared, and Raghav was left standing by the river with his own axe, now more grateful than ever.

Raghav returned to his village with the three axes, but he did not keep them. He sold the golden and silver axes, using the money to help those in need in the village. He gave generously to the poor, built shelters for the homeless, and even helped the local school to buy books and supplies for the children.

As the years went by, Raghav’s kindness and generosity made him loved by all. His family flourished, not because of the gold or silver he had gained, but because of the goodwill he had earned from helping others. He continued to chop wood with his trusty steel axe, content with the simple life he had chosen.

One day, the old man appeared to Raghav again, this time with a gift. “You have lived a good and honest life, Raghav,” the old man said. “You have chosen happiness over wealth, and in doing so, you have found true riches. I am here to offer you something.”

Raghav, smiling, replied, “I do not need anything more. I have all I need—my family, my work, and my peace of mind.”

The old man nodded, pleased. “You have indeed found the greatest treasure of all. Happiness cannot be bought, and wealth cannot buy contentment. You have earned what is most valuable—inner peace.”

With that, the old man disappeared once again, leaving Raghav with a heart full of gratitude and a life full of happiness.

And so, Raghav continued to live his life in the village, working with his axe, helping others, and spreading kindness wherever he went. The people of the village respected him not for his wealth, but for his honesty, humility, and generosity.

Moral of the Story: Honesty is the best policy. Wealth and comfort may come and go, but true happiness is found in living a life of integrity and kindness. When you choose to be honest and generous, the rewards that come to you are far greater than anything material wealth can offer.
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