Title: The folk tale of the honest and truthful woodcutter

Language: Yachem

Description: This folk tale narrates the life of a poor and hardworking woodcutter who earned his living by cutting and selling firewood. One day, while chopping trees near a riverbank, he accidentally dropped his iron axe into the deep waters. Without his axe, the man knew he would lose his only means of survival and sat by the river in despair. Suddenly, the calm waters stirred, and a radiant river goddess appeared before him. She dove into the water and returned with a shining golden axe. Presenting it to the woodcutter, she asked if this was his lost tool. The man, though tempted by its beauty, replied truthfully that it was not his.

The goddess disappeared again into the river and emerged with a silver axe, brighter than the first. She asked once more if this was the axe he had lost. The woodcutter, firm in his honesty, denied it again, saying it was not his. Finally, the goddess reappeared carrying his old, worn out, and unremarkable iron axe. Overjoyed, the man exclaimed that it was indeed his very own axe.

Greatly moved by his sincerity and integrity, the river goddess rewarded him generously. She returned his iron axe and, as a mark of honor for his honesty, also granted him both the golden and the silver axes. The tale teaches that honesty and truthfulness, even in times of hardship, are virtues that bring unexpected rewards and blessings.

Format & Duration: Video: 2 mins, 11 secs
Date of Recording: 9/14/2025
Date of Upload: 30 September 2025
Performer: L. Bendang Aventh
Creator: Lenity B. Aventh
Publisher: Tetso College, Dimapur
Note: NA

Cite this work

Aventh, Lenity B     . 2025  . The folk tale of the honest and truthful woodcutter.   (Narrated by L. Bendang Aventh)  . Sovima: NEIIPA, Tetso College  . (https://neiipa.in/audio/the-folk-tale-of-the-honest-and-truthful-woodcutter/)  . Accessed: (09-Oct-2025)