The woodcutter, Aldin, lived in a time while the forests were still young. He made fine things from wood. While others strove to make lasting monuments from stone, Aldin perceived these as cold, lifeless works. He preferred the fruit of the forest and endeavored to preserve the warmth and beauty that one found in the once-living material. As he grew in fame as a workman he searched the forests for that special tree that would yield the most magnificent wood to crown his greatest achievement, a mansion fit for a king.
And so, Aldin roamed the forests in his land looking for that special tree. When he found one with exceptional beauty, he looked further for one better, for none seemed the best of all. He had a gift that he discovered in his early days as a woodcutter. By touching a tree’s trunk with the palms of his hands he could picture the nature of the wood inside, whether it be sound or rotten, special or plain.
In his present search, the craftsman discovered many fair trees, but he searched for the purest and most magnificent of them all. That alone would suffice for his task.
Aldin delved deep into the forest, further than he had ever gone, until he discovered a grove of trees unlike any he had seen before. These had a silvery bark, golden leaves, and a sweet aroma. As he touched their trunks one at a time Aldin felt drawn further into the grove. Each tree seemed purer than the last. Surely, he thought, at the center of this grove must be the purest one of all–fit for my finest work, the cornice of my palace.
The woodcutter trekked a day’s journey into the grove for it was as vast as it was wonderful. When the sun rose on the second day he spied a tree whose beauty took his breath away. He touched its silvery bark and saw into its heart. He knew no other tree could compare.
Approaching the tree and the woodcutter said, “Oh beautiful tree, I hesitate to cut you down but when I do so I will take every care to preserve your beauty so that all who see you in the work I do, will marvel at your beauty for endless time.”
The tree shook dropping three of its golden leaves, as the woodsman drew his ax. As Aldin swung at the base of his prize, his ax head separated from its handle which struck the tree. Being without the head, it did no harm. The woodsman stared through wide-opened eyes at the ax head lying on the ground and addressed it. “Now that has never happened before. I checked you before I began this journey. It’s almost like you knew this tree is so beautiful that you refuse to hurt it. But, my friend, my intent is to preserve beauty and to bring it to where all can marvel at it.”
He picked up the ax head and fit it back on the handle securing it soundly and again swung at the tree. This time the ax handle shattered as he swung. “What the…” he exclaimed. “I don’t understand this at all. It’s as if someone or something does not want me to cut down this tree. But now that I found it I can’t give up.” He looked up. “Whoever you are, don’t you understand what I’m trying to do? I mean to honor this tree, not desecrate it.”
He shook his head and with nothing else he could do, he picked up the pieces of his ax and returned to his home where he fitted his ax head with a new handle securing it tightly. He picked up his trusted ax, the one to which he gave the name, Trueblood. “My trusty blade,” he said, “you have never failed me whether in battle or in work. Come with me now.” Gathering up a saw as well he headed back to find his perfect tree.
However, when he returned to the place where he had left the tree, he found no grove, no tree. He held up Trueblood. “I am too good a woodsman to misplace a grove of trees. There must be something magical happening here. All the more reason For me to make something special from its wood. I will do as I did before, follow the trail of the purest trees until I find that purest one again.”
And so, Aldin searched until at last, he found his quest. He laid down his equipment and drawing back Trueblood he prepared for his first swing. The tree shuddered and a loud crack of thunder boomed in his ear.
“Stop!” A voice sounded from behind the woodcutter. “If you cut down that tree, you slay me as well.”
Aldin turned around a saw a fair creature, crowned with a laurel wreath and clothed with long sinewy fibers that covered its slender body. It moved as a tree does in a brisk breeze. The woodsman recognized this to be a nymph for he had seen one before on the day he had become lost in an unusually thick forest. That day the nymph led him to safety. He knew enough about them that this one caused him no fear.
“Why, fair lady?” He replied. “I have cut down fine trees before, and never more than I need. Nothing goes to waste. I preserve the trees’ beauty in the creations I make. The Creator made such things and gave us men the ability to gather and use them to make items of beauty.”
The nymph took a step forward. “True, and I can see you have a noble heart and desire to do good, but this tree is special. It is the life of this forest. It is my tree. If you cut it down, taking its life, you take mine as well, and with me so goes this forest.”
Aldin shook his head. “Nay, fair lady. I’ve no desire to do that. It’s just that this tree is so beautiful, and I can do such good with its wood. If only there were another like it.”
The nymph smiled, “Good woodsman, there is the first of this tree’s seedlings in a valley on the far side of this mountain. That tree is old and tired of this life, but its wood is still sound for its heart is good. It would gladly give itself for your work.”
“Is it as fine as this tree?”
“Nothing can be, but it is close.”
“Then lead me there if you please. “ The woodsman bowed.
Several days later, Aldin brought home his prize-the master tree’s fully grown first seedling. He handled each piece of this tree with reverence. Not a part of its wood went to waste. From it, the craftsman carved the most magnificent cornice seen in that part of the world. Its beauty became more spoken of than all the stone palaces built by kings and queens. The woodsman’s fame lived on long after he ceased to walk the paths of men on this earth.