The Woodman and the Serpent故事

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The Woodman and the Serpent故事
            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."