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 the 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.”