TRUTHFULNESS HAS ITS REWARD

Once there lived a poor wood-cutter. But he was very honest. Every day he went out to cut wood in the jungle. He earned his livelihood by selling wood in the market. One day while he was cutting wood beside a river, suddenly his axe slipped out his hand and fell into deep water. The axe was the only means of his livelihood and at this grave loss. He became very much grieved and begun to weep bitterly.

His bitter cry drew the attention of the water-goddess. She rose up and asked him, “Why do you weep, good man?” The woodcutter told her of his serious loss. The water-goddess took pity on him. She dived into the water and brought one golden axe and asked him. “Is this your axe?”

“No”, replied the woodcutter.

 Then the goddess again dived into the water and brought a silver axe. This time also the woodcutter said that it was not his axe. So the water goddess dived for the third time and brought the actual axe of the woodcutter. The wood cutter was very glad to get back his axe but his joy knew no bounds when the water goddess gave him all three axes.

HAPPINESS LIES IN CONTENTMENT

One there lived a happy cobbler who passed his days in working and singing from morning till night. A rich neighbor of his was a banker who one day said to him. “How much a year do you earn?” The cobbler laughed and said, “How much a year sir; I never reckoned in that way, living as I do from hand to mouth; each day some how brings its meal and I am happy.

 The banker said, “ I have resolved to place you above the fear of want. Take these thousand pounds, preserve them carefully and use them to time to need. “ The cobbler who had never seen so much money at a time in his life before, hurried home and buried his treasure in the earth, but alas! He buried his happiness with it too because at night he could not enjoy a sound sleep. He would remain alert whole night.

 He would think of the money. Thus he lost his sleep and happiness. One day he went to the banker and told him that this money had snatched away his sleep. So he told the banker to take his money back and finally the cobbler returned the money to the banker. Again he was able to enjoy sound sleep and mental peace and happiness.

 Thus it was proved that true happiness lies in contentment.