"I dropped my ax in the stream, and I can't chop wood any more, and my family will starve," sobbed the man.
Instantly Mercury, for that was the fairy's name, dived down into the water, and came up, dripping wet, holding a beautiful golden ax in his hand.
"Is this your ax?" he asked.
"No, that is not mine."
The good fairy dived into the stream again, and this time brought up a silver ax.
"Is this yours?"
"No, that isn't mine, either." The poor man needed an ax very much, but he would not claim one that did not belong to him, of course.
Once more Mercury plunged into the water, but this time he came up with a common ax in his hand.
"Is this your ax?" he asked.
"Yes! Oh, yes! that is mine!" cried the man, joyfully. "Thank you so much for your kindness. I am sorry you are so wet."
"I don't mind that," said Mercury. "It is indeed a pleasure to meet such an honest man. I will give you both the gold and the silver axes as well as your own, and you can
