Near a flowing river in the forests of Uttarakhand, there lived a poor woodcutter named Gopal. Every day, he went to the forest to cut firewood and sell it in the village market.

Gopal was very poor, but he was very honest. He never cheated anyone. He always gave the right amount of wood and charged a fair price.

One day, while cutting a tree near the river, Gopal’s axe slipped from his hands and fell into the deep river!

“Oh no!” cried Gopal. “My axe! That was my only axe! Without it, I cannot cut wood. Without wood, I cannot earn money. My family will go hungry!”

Gopal sat by the river and began to cry. Suddenly, a bright light appeared! A magical water spirit rose from the river.

“Why are you crying, young man?” asked the spirit gently.

“My axe fell into the river,” said Gopal. “It was my only tool. I am a poor man.”

The spirit dove into the water and came back holding a shining golden axe. “Is this your axe?” he asked.

Gopal looked at the golden axe. It was beautiful and worth a fortune! But it was not his.

“No, sir,” said Gopal honestly. “That is not my axe.”

The spirit dove again and returned with a gleaming silver axe. “Is this yours?”

“No, sir. My axe was just a simple iron one.”

The spirit smiled and dove once more. This time, he brought Gopal’s old iron axe.

“Yes! That is my axe!” said Gopal happily.

The spirit was very impressed. “You are truly honest, Gopal. Many people would have taken the golden axe. Because of your honesty, I give you all three — the golden axe, the silver axe, AND your iron axe!”

Gopal could not believe his luck! He thanked the spirit and went home. He sold the golden and silver axes and bought a new house for his family.

But he kept his old iron axe — the one he had earned through honest work. That was the one he was most proud of.