Once upon a time, there lived a poor woodcutter.
He lived in a small cottage with his wife.Every morning, he would go to the forest to cut firewood.
He would sell it in the town-market in the evening. With the money he got after selling it, he would buy
food for himself and his wife. The woodcutter was content, but his wife wanted to lead a better life. So she often prayed to God.
One fine morning, the woodcutter reached the forest. However, he found it difficult to decide which tree to cut. Finally he selected a tall tree with a fat trunk.
He was about to strike it with his axe when he heard a voice say, ” Do not cut the tree, Sire. Have pity on me.” He turned around but saw none.
Suddenly he realised that it was the tree that was speaking. The tree said, “If you spare me, I will grant you three wishes.”
The woodcutter was very excited. He rushed back home and told about his adventure in the woods to his wife. His wife was overjoyed and she served him hot porridge.
“Oh! Just porridge? I wish fresh hot bread were to fall through the chimney,” he said.
Lo and behold! Fresh hot bread began falling from the chimney.
“You have wasted one wish. I wish these hot breads were to hang down your nose,” said the woodcutter’s wife.
And indeed the next moment, the fresh hot loaves were hanging from her husband’s nose.
The woodcutter’s wife tried to calm him, ” Do not worry, dear husband. We still have one wish. We can wish for all the good things and then we can lead comfortable lives,” she said.
” But how can I be comfortable with these hot loaves hanging from my nose,”said the woodcutter. “I wish they go up the way they came.”
And the loaves indeed went up the chimney the moment he uttered those words.
Listen to and read the story “The Three Wishes” and then answer the following questions:
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Where did the poor woodcutter live?
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Where did he go every morning?
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Where did he sell the firewood?
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What did he buy from the money he got after selling firewood?
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Was the woodcutter’s wife content with her life?
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Describe the woodcutter’s adventure in the forest?
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What did the tree grant the woodcutter and why?
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What did the woodcutter’s wife serve him when he gave her the good news?
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What was the woodcutter’s first wish?
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How did the woodcutter’s wife react when she saw fresh hot bread falling down the chimney?
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What was their third wish?
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Did the woodcutter and his wife use the three wishes wisely?
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What do you learn from this story?
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Find the meaning of the words underlined in the story?