One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when
he saw something black lying on the snow.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.As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent down on the hearth before the fire.But he took it up and put it in his bosom to warm while he hurried home.When he came closer he saw it was a Serpent to all appearance dead."Ah," said he,
"No gratitude from the wicked."