The Three Wishes

A poor man took his ax into the big green forest. He was looking for a tree to cut down.

He found a hollow tree and struck it hard with his ax. The bark split right open.

Out ran a tiny fairy with a long white beard. His eyes flashed like sparks. "You chopped into my house!" the fairy cried.

"I am sorry," said the man. "I did not know." He agreed to chop a different tree. "Then your next three wishes will come true!" said the fairy.

The man ran all the way home to tell his wife. She listened to every word. "We must be very careful what we wish for!" she said.

They sat by the fire and thought of gold and a fine big house. But they talked so long their tummies began to rumble.

"Oh, I wish we had a pudding!" said the man. He had forgotten all about the fairy's gift. Thump, bump! A great black pudding fell down the chimney onto the hearth.

"Oh no!" cried the wife. "You used up one wish on pudding! I am so disappointed, I wish that pudding were on your nose!" Pop, the pudding stuck fast to his nose.

The man pulled and pulled, and his wife pulled and pulled. But the pudding would not come off.

Because the pudding would not budge, the man used the very last wish. "I wish the pudding off my nose!" he said. Pop, the pudding landed back on the hearth.

All three wishes were gone, but the pudding was still there. It was the most delicious pudding they had ever tasted. They ate it all up together by the fire.

The man smiled and patted his full tummy. The fire crackled softly as they drifted off to sleep. The best gift is right in front of you.