The Tale of the Guardian Woodcutter🔊

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a humble woodcutter named Adam. Adam was renowned across the land, not only for his skills but also his virtue of kindness.

One day while chopping wood near the river, he found a shiny, golden fish trapped in his net. The fish pleaded, "Kind man, if you let me go, I may grant you three wishes." Hearing this, Adam's heart swelled with compassion, and he gently set the fish back into the river.

"Thank you, kind man," said the fish before it disappeared into the river. Mirroring the sunset’s hues, the river appeared as a vein of molten gold, and Adam waited for his granted wishes. He remained patient as days turned into weeks, convincing himself that good things come to those who wait.

While everything around Adam changed, his life remained static. The villagers reaped the rewards of their harvest; children grew older; he stayed the same desolate woodcutter. Soon, he began to lose his faith in happiness and the magic of wishes. His life became monotonous, each day slicing another piece of hope, leaving him hollow.

One fine day, Adam saw a couple of villagers approaching him. They seemed worried. "Our river has run dry, our crops are failing, and we don’t have enough wood for the coming winter," they mumbled. Adam felt a flicker of hope amidst the despair; perhaps this was his opportunity to glitter like gold, his chance to change not just his life but the lives of many.

Adam approached the river, whispering his wishes. He first wished for the river to flow perennially, providing a bountiful harvest and fresh water for his village. As soon as the wish left his lips, the dried riverbed began to gurgle. A stream of fresh, clear water started flowing, astonishment gripping the faces of spectators.

The second wish Adam made was for an abundance of trees, enough to provide the village with plenty of wood without causing harm to their forest. Once again, as the words tumbled from his lips, the ground quaked slightly, and instantly, tiny saplings began to sprout, quickly growing into large, sturdy trees.

His last wish was a humble one. Adam wished for eternal happiness for his fellow villagers, ensuring their faces were always adorned with smiles. No sooner said than done, the air rippled, and a sense of joy spread through the villagers, their eyes lighting up with newfound hope and cheer.

Adam, the humble woodcutter, became a legend. His story traveled through every house, every village, and across kingdoms. The tale of a man who used his wishes not for himself but for the ones he loved, spread far and wide, sparking hope and kindness.

In his twilight years, when life began its final countdown, Adam sat by the river, watching the golden sunset, the villagers' laughter echoing in his ears. He had not gained riches for himself, but he had the wealth of love and respect from his village, and that, to him, was priceless.

And thus, the humble woodcutter named Adam, who was once echoed through the valleys as a maker of magical changes, peacefully receded into the river of time, leaving behind an immortal tale of selflessness and kindness.