Honesty Pays

Once there lived a poor but honest farmer. He had to maintain a family consists of seven members. But he never chose to do any mischief to others for earning. So he has to live with great difficulty.

One day, the farmer was walking through a field. Suddenly, he saw a purse on the ground. He was about to overcome it. Suddenly a thought peeped into his mind. He thought in himself,

“If I take this purse with me, I will be able to send it to the real owner. There may be important things in it. ”

Thinking it, he took the purse and opened it. It was full of gold bars. The farmer was spellbound for a while. The farmer carried it home and showed it to his wife. His wife was a greedy woman. She advised him to use it for them. The honest farmer did not agree with that. His aim was to find out the owner of the purse and give back it to him. At last the farmer found out the real owner of the valuable purse. He went to him and gave him the purse. The rich man gave the farmer a big thanks but no reward. The farmer's wife rebuked him for his foolishness. The farmer did not change his stand and kept saying, ''Honesty is the best policy''.

After a few days, the rich man called the farmer to his house. He appointed the farmer as the overseer/caretaker of his lands. The farmer became very glad at this. He soon went back to his home and told the good news to his wife.

Farmer's wife also became very pleased. Finally, she too realized that there is no alternative of honesty.

An Honest Wood-Cutter

Once upon a time, there was a poor wood-cutter. He lived near to a jungle. He lived from hand to month. But he was very industrious and honest. He earned his livelihood by selling wood in the market.

One day he was cutting wood in a jungle. There was a river nearby. Suddenly his only axe slipped out of his hand and fell into the deep water of the river. That axe was the only means of his earning. He had not enough money to buy another new one. So, he became very much grieved at his grave loss. He began to weep bitterly and thought in himself how I will cut wood now. If I do not cut wood, my family will have to starve". His cry drew the attention of the water-goddess. She appeared before the wood cutter and asked him why he was crying. The wood-cutter told her about his loss. The water-goddess took pity on him. But she wanted to judge the man first. She dived into the water and brought a golden axe. Then she asked the wood cutter.

                         "Is it your axe?"

            The wood-cutter replied, "No".

Then the goddess dived again and brought a silver axe. She said to the wood-cutter.

            "I hope, it is your axe, isn't it?"

The poor wood-cutter answered, "No, it is not mine. My axe was simple and made of iron, not of silver or gold."

After that, the goddess dived into the water with a smiling face. This time she brought the actual axe of the wood-cutter. The poor wood-cutter became very delighted to see his own axe. He became very grateful to the goddess and thanked her whole kindheartedly. The goddess praised the wood-cutter by giving him all the three axes.

We all should bear in mind that honesty is all the way rewarded by all. It is a great virtue. 

Moral: “Honesty is the best policy."