The Honest Woodcarver

Once upon a time, there was a woodcarver who lived in a small village. He was known for his exceptional talent in carving beautiful and intricate designs on wood. The woodcarver was a kind and honest man who always charged a fair price for his work.
One day, a wealthy merchant came to the woodcarver’s shop and asked him to make a statue of a goddess. The merchant promised to pay the woodcarver a large sum of money if he completed the statue within a week. The woodcarver agreed to the task and started working on the statue.
As he worked on the statue, the woodcarver realized that he had made a mistake. He had carved the statue with four fingers instead of five. The woodcarver knew that the mistake would be noticed by the merchant, and he would not get paid for his work.
The woodcarver was faced with a difficult decision. He could either try to hide the mistake and hope that the merchant wouldn’t notice it, or he could be honest and tell the merchant about the mistake. The woodcarver knew that being honest was the right thing to do, so he decided to tell the merchant about the mistake.
The merchant was surprised by the woodcarver’s honesty. He had never met someone who was willing to admit their mistakes and take responsibility for them. The merchant was so impressed with the woodcarver’s honesty that he paid him double the amount that he had promised.
The woodcarver was overjoyed by the merchant’s generosity. He realized that being honest had not only saved him from losing his payment but had also earned him respect and admiration.
From that day on, the woodcarver became known as the Honest Woodcarver. His reputation spread far and wide, and people came from all over to have him make their statues and carvings. The Honest Woodcarver lived a happy and contented life, knowing that his honesty had earned him more than just money.

Moral

1. Honesty is the best policy: The story teaches us that honesty is always the best policy. The honest woodcarver was rewarded for his honesty, and the dishonest woodcarver was punished for his deceitful actions.
2. Greed can lead to downfall: The story also teaches us that greed can lead to downfall. The dishonest woodcarver’s greed for money led him to steal the valuable wood, which ultimately resulted in his punishment.
3. Good deeds are always rewarded: The story also highlights the fact that good deeds are always rewarded. The honest woodcarver’s good deed of returning the valuable wood to its rightful owner was rewarded with a bag of gold coins.
4. One’s actions have consequences: The story also teaches us that one’s actions have consequences. The dishonest woodcarver’s actions led to his punishment, while the honest woodcarver’s actions led to his reward.
5. Trustworthiness is important: The story also emphasizes the importance of trustworthiness. The honest woodcarver was trusted with the valuable wood, and he proved himself to be trustworthy by returning it to its rightful owner.

Origin of the Story: Nigeria