Aesop's Fables

the woodman and_the serpent

one wintry day a woodman was tramping home from_his work when he_saw something 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 thc serpent raised its 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 .'