The Woodman and the Serpent

One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when he saw
Someting black lying on the snow. When he came closer he saw it was a Serpent
to all appearance dead. But he took it up and put it in his bosom to warm while he
hurried home. As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent down on the hearth
before the fire. The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again. Then
one of them stooped down to stroke it, but the Serpent raised it head and put out
its fangs and was about to sting the child to death. So the Woodman seized his axe,
and with one stroke cut the Serpent in two. “Ah,” said he,
“No gratitude from the wicked.
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