The Woodman and the Serpent
By Marietta Merced
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One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when he saw something black lying on the snow.
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When he came closer he saw it was a Serpent to all appearance dead.
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But he took it up and put it in his bosom to warm while he hurried home.
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As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent down on the hearth
before the fire.
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The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again.
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Then one of them stooped down to stroke it, but the Serpent raised its head, put out its fangs, and was about to sting the child to death.
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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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