# Workman's Lost Axe: Mercury's Golden Test of Honesty ## Quick Navigation - [Find Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners.md): Discover language exchange partners worldwide - [Language Exchange](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners/exchange.md): Practice with native speakers worldwide - [Moments](https://www.hellotalk.com/moments.md): Share your language learning journey - [Topics](https://www.hellotalk.com/topics.md): Explore trending topics and discussions - [Chat & Messaging](https://www.hellotalk.com/features/chat.md): Text, voice, and video conversations - [Voice Rooms](https://www.hellotalk.com/features/voiceroom.md): Join live audio conversations - [Live Streaming](https://www.hellotalk.com/features/live-streaming.md): Interactive classes and language sessions - [Certified Teachers](https://www.hellotalk.com/features/certified-teachers.md): Learn from professional language instructors - [Immersive Learning](https://www.hellotalk.com/features/immersive-learning.md): Learn everywhere with instant translations - [Translation Tools](https://www.hellotalk.com/features/translation.md): Instant translation between any languages - [AI-Powered Apps](https://www.hellotalk.com/aiapps.md): Access specialized learning tools - [Language AI Apps](https://www.hellotalk.com/aiapps.md): Discover our AI-powered language learning applications - [All Features](https://www.hellotalk.com/features.md): Explore all learning features and tools - [Download](https://www.hellotalk.com/download.md): Get HelloTalk on iOS and Android ## Author - **Name**: 芳发妮 - **Username**: @a_eva77 ## Content A workman, felling wood by the side of a river, let his axe drop—by accident into a deep pool. Being thus deprived of the means of his livelihood, he sat down on the bank and lamented his hard fate. Mercury appeared and demanded the cause of his tears. After he told him his misfortune, Mercury plunged into the stream, and, bringing up a golden axe, inquired if that were the one he had lost. On his saying that it was no this, Mercury disappeared beneath the water a second time, returned with a silver axe in his hand, and again asked the Workman if it were his. When the Workman said it was not, he dived into the pool for the third time and brought up the axe that had been lost. The Workman claimed it and expressed his joy at its recovery. Mercury, pleased with his honesty, gave him the golden and silver axes in addition to his own. The Workman, on his return to his house, related to his companions all that had happened. One of them at once resolved to try and secure the same good fortune for himself. He ran to the river and threw his axe on purpose into the pool at the same place, and sat down on the bank to weep. Mercury appeared to him just as he hoped he would; and having learned the cause of his grief, plunged into the stream and brought up a golden axe, inquiring if he had lost it. The Workman seized it greedily, and declared that truly it was the very same axe that he had lost. Mercury, displeased at his knavery, not only took away the golden axe, but refused to recover for him the axe he had thrown into the pool. ## Images 1. [View Image 1](https://cdn-cn.hellotalk8.com/ht-cn-1312929133/mmnt/1/250404/0/106418299/0/0/80f164d89e721e24add15a5dd7089c65.jpg) ## Learning Language **English** ## Topics #279 ## Metadata - **Posted**: 4/4/2025 - **View on HelloTalk**: [https://www.hellotalk.com/moments/DwZSMWpmTUu5DD.md](https://www.hellotalk.com/moments/DwZSMWpmTUu5DD.md) ## Engagement - **Comments**: 1 --- ## Language Exchange Partners - [English Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners/exchange/english.md): Connect with native English speakers - [Spanish Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners/exchange/spanish.md): Connect with native Spanish speakers - [French Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners/exchange/french.md): Connect with native French speakers - [Japanese Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners/exchange/japanese.md): Connect with native Japanese speakers - [German Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners/exchange/german.md): Connect with native German speakers - 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