In a cozy little cottage, beside a big, rustling forest, lived a woodcutter and his son, Leo. The woodcutter worked very hard, but they didn't have much money. Leo wanted to go to school and learn many things, but school cost too much.

One day, his father said, "Leo, I'm sorry, but we need more wood. Can you help me in the forest today?"

Leo, though a little sad about school, was happy to help. He grabbed a small axe and skipped into the forest. Chop, chop, chop went his axe. Suddenly, he heard a tiny voice. "Help! Let me out!"

Leo looked around. "Who said that?" The voice came again, "Down here! By the big oak tree!"

Leo searched near the roots of the giant oak tree and found a dusty glass bottle, sealed tight. Inside, something small and dark was wiggling. "Are you in there?" Leo asked.

"Yes! Yes! Let me out!" cried the voice.

Leo was curious. He pulled out the stopper. WHOOSH! A huge, smoky spirit puffed out of the tiny bottle, growing taller and taller until it towered over the trees. The spirit stretched and roared, "Aha! I am free! And now, little boy, I am going to break your neck!"

Leo was scared, but he was also clever. "Wait a minute!" he said. "You? Break my neck? You're so big, you couldn't even fit back into that tiny bottle!"

The spirit scoffed. "Of course, I can! I just came out of it!"

"I don't believe you," said Leo, shaking his head. "Prove it."

The spirit, eager to show off, grumbled, "Fine!" And WHOOSH! He squeezed and squished and shrunk himself right back into the bottle.

Quick as a flash, Leo popped the stopper back in. "Ha! Got you!" he said.

"Oh no! You tricked me!" wailed the spirit from inside. "Please, please let me out! I promise I won't hurt you. I'll even give you a reward!"

Leo thought for a moment. "A reward, you say? A really good one?"

"The best!" promised the spirit. "Something that will make you rich!"

Leo decided to trust him one more time. He carefully opened the bottle again. The spirit came out, much more politely this time, and stayed a normal size.

"Thank you," said the spirit. "Here is your reward." He handed Leo a small, strange piece of cloth. It looked like a tiny silver rag.

"This is it?" asked Leo, a little disappointed.

"Ah, but it's magic!" said the spirit. "Rub one end of this cloth on any iron or steel, and it will turn into pure silver. Rub the other end on any wound, and it will heal instantly." And with a final puff of smoke, the spirit disappeared.

Leo was amazed. He touched the cloth to his little axe. Zing! The axe head shone bright silver! He ran home and showed his father. They sold the silver axe and had enough money for Leo to go to school, and much more!

Leo studied hard and became very clever. And if anyone ever got a cut or a scrape, Leo would gently touch it with the other end of his magic cloth, and they would be all better. He became a famous doctor, helping many people, and he and his father lived happily and comfortably, all thanks to a clever boy and a spirit in a bottle.

1405 Views