One wintry day a woodman was tramping home from his work whenhe saw something black lying on the snow. When he came closer hesaw it was a serpent to all appearance dead. But he took it upand put it in his bosom1 to warm while he hurried home. As soon ashe got indoors he put the serpent down on the hearth2 before thefire. The children watched it and saw it slowly come to lifeagain. Then one of them stooped down to stroke it, but thcserpent raised its head and put out its fangs3 and was about tosting the child to death. So the woodman seized his axe4, and withone stroke cut the serpent in two. "Ah," Said he, 
No gratitude5 from the wicked. 