The Three Wishes

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s a classic ‘be careful what you wish for’ tale that ends safely and often humorously. Great for bedtime reflection without heavy emotions.

Story Synopsis

A poor woodman lives simply with his wife, working hard each day. One morning, deep in the forest, he helps someone in need (or encounters a mysterious figure), and his kindness leads to an astonishing reward: he is granted three wishes. At first, the couple is thrilled. Three wishes could change everything—warmth, food, security, comfort. But the gift arrives in ordinary life, and ordinary life includes hunger, fatigue, and little annoyances. In a careless moment, the first wish slips out as a joke about food. The wish comes true instantly, surprising them—and setting the tone. They argue about wasted chances and start thinking from a place of frustration rather than wisdom. The second wish is made in anger, trying to “fix” the first mistake, and it creates a new problem. Now the couple must use the third and final wish to undo the trouble and return to peace. The story ends with a gentle, memorable moral: a calm mind is part of good fortune. Magic can’t replace thoughtful choices, and gratitude often matters more than grand rewards.

Story Excerpt

Once upon a time, long ago, a poor woodman lived with his wife at the edge of a great forest. Every day he went out with his axe to cut wood, because that was how they earned their bread. One morning, his wife packed him a little wallet of food and hung a bottle at his side so he could have something to eat and drink in the woods. “ Work safely, ” she said. “ I will, ” the woodman promised, and he walked under tall trees where the light came in green and soft. That day he had his eye on a huge old oak. Its trunk was wide, and its branches reached high. “ This tree, ” he thought, “ will make many good planks. ” He stood close, lifted his axe, and swung it up over his head. He meant to strike hard. But before the axe even touched the bark, he heard the smallest, saddest voice. “ Please, ” the voice begged, “ please don’t cut this tree. ” The woodman froze. In front of him stood a fairy, bright as a sunbeam in the shade. The woodman’s eyes went wide. For a moment…

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