Once there was a beaver who happened upon a massive tree while he was searching for wood to add to the dam. He thought that such a tree was worth an entire forest, and to take it down would be a beaver’s greatest accomplishment.

He set to work on the enormous trunk, promising his family that they would never have to work again once he felled this tree.

The other animals thought his attempt was a fool’s errand. Surely the tree of over 200 years could withstand the efforts of a tiny beaver.

But the beaver was relentless. Day and night he worked. He spent little time at home, and neglected his duties of building up the lodge and dam.

At first, his mate visited often and begged him to come home, for their kits were growing fast. But the beaver refused to rest until the tree was felled, and he hardly noticed when his mate stopped visiting.

Months went by and the beaver gnawed at the trunk, removing chip by chip until the tree was ready to fall. It creaked and swayed in the wind, but still the beaver chewed, determined to fell the tree by his own efforts.

And then the great tree finally gave way, falling with a loud whistling crack, right on top of the beaver who was too stubborn to know when to walk away.