Once upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman who where very, very poor. One day the old woman said:
“Why don’t you go to the forest, old man, and cut down a lime tree for us to use for firewood?”
“Very well,” said the old man, he took an axe and went to the forest. He found a lime tree and was about to chop it down, but the lime tree said in a human voice:
“Please, old man, don’t chop me down, and I’ll do you a good turn too some day”
The old man was so frightened that he dropped his axe. He stood there and thought for a while and then went home.
He told the old woman what had happened, and she said:
“What a fool you are, husband! Go back at once and tell the lime tree that you want a horse and a cart. Haven’t we had enough of walking!”
“Maybe so,” said the old man, and, putting on his hat, back he went to the forest. He came up to the lime tree and said:
“Lime tree, lime tree, my old woman wants you to give us a horse and a cart.”
“Very well, you shell have them! Go home now,” said the lime tree.
The old man went home, and what should he see there standing beside his hut but a cart with a horse harnessed to it.
“See that, old man?” said the old woman. “Now you and I are as good as anyone. Except for our hut. Out hut is so old it might cave in any moment! Go and ask the lime tree to give us a new one.”
Back went the old man to the forest and he asked the lime tree to give them a new hut.
“Very well, you shell have it!” said the lime tree. “Go home now.”
The old man went home, and he could hardly believe his own eyes, for where once was their old hut stood a new one. The two old people were as happy as children, but the old woman said:
“Now, why don’t you go to the lime tree, husband, and ask it for some livestock and fowl? Once we have that we’ll need nothing else.”
Back went the old man to the forest and he asked the lime tree for some livestock and fowl.
“Very well, you shell have them!” said the lime tree. “Go home now, old man.”
The old man went home, and there was livestock and fowl in plenty in the yard. The old man was overjoyed.
“We don’t need anything now!” he said.
“That’s what you think!” said his wife. “Go back again and ask the lime tree for some money.”
Back went the old man to the forest and asked the lime tree for some money.
“Very well, you sell have it!” said the lime tree “Go home now.”
The old man went home, and he found his wife at the table busy counting and stacking golden coins.
“We are rich now, old man!” the old woman said. “But rich people must be feared. So go and ask the lime tree to make everyone fear us.”
Back went the old man to the forest and begged the lime tree to do as the old woman asked.
“Very well!” said the lime tree. “Go home now”
The old man went home, and who should be there guarding the house but many policemen and as many soldiers!
But even this did not satisfy the old woman.
“We have nothing to wish for now but for all the people in the village to work for us!” said she.
Back went the old man to the forest, and he begged the lime tree to let the old woman have her wish. The lime tree was silent for a while and then said:
“Go home, old man, and I’ll do one last thing for you!”
The old man went home, and there stood their old hut with his wife beside it. Their rich new house was gone and everything else with it. That is how the lime tree punished them for the old woman’s greed and for her wanting to make others slave for her.
