THE CAREFUL PRINCE
A long time ago in a far off land there lived a king and queen
with their three sons. One day the king decided that it was time for his sons
to go out into the world to seek their fortunes.
"Listen to me, my sons," he said to them. "It is
time for you to set out into the wide world to see what you can make of
yourselves. At the end of five years the one of you who has fared the better
will be king when I am gone."
Now the eldest son was not happy to hear this for he felt it was
his rightful place to be the next king. However, he could see that he could not
change the king's mind and being strong on action, if also a little rash, he
set out immediately, determined he would fare better than his brothers.
The other two sons set out at the same time but went their
different ways. The second eldest was carefree and a little lazy. He liked
nothing better than to while away the hours having fun. To his mind the task
before him was too much like hard work but he did like the idea of being king
so he took leave of his younger brother with good intentions.
The youngest of the princes was not as strong
as his brothers but he was thoughtful, careful and kind hearted. Of all the
three princes he was the one who was least wanted to be king. He was just happy
to be travelling and seeing new things.
And so it was that the eldest son came to a
kingdom that was in mourning because the king's daughter had been taken
prisoner be a terrible troll. Basil, for such was the prince's name, was told
that the hand of the princess and half the kingdom awaited him who freed her.
At least, thought Basil, a chance for gain, and greed overcoming fear he
offered his services to the king. All attempts thus far had failed and the king
was glad to accept for brave princes were few in that land.
Off set Basil to the troll's castle which was
two days ride away. At the end of the second day he sighted the castle but as
he approached he saw that it sat high on a cliff and before the cliff was a
huge ravine. Luckily, a tree had fallen across the gap making a bridge. It was
too narrow for his horse to cross so he tied it to another tree. Then he turned
to cross the ravine.
"I would not do that if I were
you," called a passing huntsman. "That tree is not secure and will
surely topple into the ravine. If you travel east for two days you will reach the
end of the ravine and find a path that leads directly to the castle."
"I have not got two days to spare,"
said Basil, and he walked across the tree to the other side quite safely.
Being strong and lithe Basil was able to
climb the cliff without too much trouble and was soon outside the castle gates.
Showing no fear he walked straight through the gates and was caught by the
troll who put him in the deepest dungeon.
The second son, Bruce, did not travel as fast
as his brother. His good intentions were soon forgotten as he enjoyed himself,
stopping at every inn and tavern to sample their delights. At last he had no
money left and was not welcome at such places anymore. It was at this time that
he too arrived in the kingdom terrified by the terrible troll, a full two years
after Basil. Having heard the king's plight he promptly went and offered his
services. The king once again was joyful and he even gave Bruce provisions for
the journey.
Now Bruce was not particularly brave and he
did not make haste to the troll's castle. Before long, however, his store of
provisions began to get low and he knew he could put it off no longer. By the
by he too came to the ravine and found the fallen tree. Seeing no other way
over he prepared to cross.
"I would not do that if I were
you," called a woodcutter who was working nearby, and he gave the same
advice as the huntsman had given to his brother.
"That is too far to travel," said
Bruce, who even though he was not looking forward to climbing the cliff was too
lazy to take the long safer route.
Unfortunately for Bruce the good living had
taken its toll. He was now very fat and could not keep his balance. He fell off
the trunk and into the ravine. The ravine was very deep and he fell past the
barred windows of his brother's prison. Basil saw him fall but did not
recognise him.
Benjamin, the youngest son, travelled at a
sedate pace. He was carefree and willing to face whatever perils presented
themselves. He had not been travelling for long when he came across a youth
lying by the side of the road. A fallen tree lay nearby and it seemed that it
had hit the youth on falling. When he came to his senses the youth told
Benjamin how he had been cutting down the tree only for it to fall the wrong
way. By good fortune it had only struck the youth a glancing blow, still it had
broken his arm. Benjamin put him on his horse and led him home. The youth's
mother was in despair when she saw her son because they had to live on the
money he earned chopping wood. With his broken arm he could not work.
"Fear not," said Benjamin, kindly,
"for I will stay and chop wood until your son's arm is better."
So for a while Benjamin became a woodcutter.
He always stood well away from a falling tree lest it fall towards him instead
of away from him. Thus he fared well and though not skilled in the work he had
no mishap befall him during his time as a woodcutter. Presently, when the son's
arm was better Benjamin took his leave.
A little further on his travels Benjamin met
an old woman who was making slow progress due to the two large buckets of water
that she was carrying.
"Good day to you good woman,"
Benjamin greeted her. "Let me carry those for you for I can see that you
are weary."
The old woman was grateful for the offer and
Benjamin carried the buckets while she rode his horse. She told him how the
stream had used to run right past her cottage but she had angered a passing
witch who had dammed up the stream up in revenge thus making it flow on a
different course.
"Fear not," said Benjamin,
"for I will free the dam."
What the witch had created with a wave of her
wand took Benjamin days to remove. Huge boulders stood in the old stream bed
diverting the water from its true course. Benjamin toiled hard removing the
boulders, always taking care lest on should fall on him. At last the final
boulder had been removed and the stream gurgled happily along its old path. The
old woman could now easily collect water again and Benjamin resumed his journey.
So it was with Benjamin. Whenever he came
upon someone in trouble he stayed a while to help. Thus almost five years had
passed when he reached the kingdom where his two brothers had ended up. The
king had given up all hope by this time and was near to death from grief.
"Fear not, Your Majesty," said
Benjamin, "For I will free the princess."
At once Benjamin set off towards the troll’s
castle and soon he came to the ravine. He noticed the fallen tree but as he
looked at it a peddler passed by.
"I would not try to cross that
way," he advised. "That tree trunk is unsafe and must surely
topple."
"I was of the same mind myself,"
agreed Benjamin. "Is there another way to cross?"
"If you travel for two days along the
ravine you will come to its end and there you will find a path that leads up to
yonder castle."
Benjamin thanked the peddler and started
along the ravine, having first toppled the tree into the depths so that no
passer-by would be tempted to cross it and so fall to their death. Just as the
peddler had said, at the end of the second day Benjamin came upon the path
leading up to the troll's castle. Not wanting to announce his arrival he left
his horse at the bottom of the path and then stealthily made his way up to the
castle. The gates were open but fearing a trap he kept to the shadows so the
troll would not see him. In this way he came upon the troll without being seen.
Quickly drawing his sword he chopped off the troll's head and placed it in a
sack.
Benjamin did not know that his brother was a
prisoner in the dungeon and so he started to search the castle for the
princess. He found her in the topmost room of a high tower. On seeing her he
was struck by her great beauty and loved her deeply from that first moment.
Unlike her father the princess had never given up hope of being rescued and as
he had been weak and so near death she was so radiant and full of joy.
Just as they were about to leave the castle
they heard a loud banging from below.
"Troll! Where is my food?" bellowed
a voice.
Benjamin went to see who it was that was
shouting so and to his surprise he found his brother, Basil.
The troll had been
feeding him well so that he might feast off him later on. So fat was he now
that he could hardly pass through the door of his cell.
They had only one horse between them and
naturally Benjamin offered it to the princess. However, Basil said that he
could not walk being so fat so he rode the horse. Whilst riding along Basil was
thinking how he could be rid of his little brother. With Benjamin out of the way
he would have the princess, half her father's kingdom and having fared so well
would follow his father as king. At last he hit upon a plan and he awaited the
right moment to carry it out.
"That night as the others slept Basil
picked up a rock and hit Benjamin on the head with it as he lay there. Then he
was able to tie up his hands and feet. Next he started to tie up the sleeping
princess but at this she woke up.
"Scream and I will lop off your
head," he told her. With that he placed her on the horse, mounted behind
her and rode off leaving his brother to the wolves.
Presently Benjamin awake. His head throbbed
madly and it was some seconds before he realised that his hands and feet were
bound. By good foresight rather than fortune he carried a spare knife in his
boot. With a little trouble he was able to free himself and then he set off at
a run.
The next day he came to a stop outside a
small town where a signpost warned of a plague. The town stood by a river and
in the centre stood the only bridge for miles around. Better to find another
way than to risk catching the plague, thought Benjamin, as he gave he town a
wide berth. Even now when he desperately wanted to make good speed he took no
chances.
This action added a week to his journey. When
he finally reached the palace where dwelt the princess, there was great
rejoicing, much to his surprise. He had believed that his brother would have
been made out to be the hero. Such was nearly the case but Basil had not taken
care. Wishing to travel as quickly as possible he had ridden through the
plagued town and over the bridge. Some days later, whilst celebrating his false
deeds of heroism he took ill and died. The princess was then able to tell her
father the truth but she had believed it to have been too late for her saviour.
Now she was overjoyed.
Benjamin and the princess were married but he
did not take half of her father's kingdom. Instead he took her home and on the
death of his own father became king. He ruled wisely and carefully for many
years.
WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY
THE WOODCUTTER'S SON
Once upon a time there lived a woodcutter, his wife and their son,
Peter. The woodcutter worked hard all day long cutting down trees, chopping
them into logs and transporting the logs to his customer. For this woodcutter
was no ordinary woodcutter. He only had one customer and that was the king. The
palace used a lot of logs on its many fires, especially in winter, and the
woodcutter was kept busy from dawn to dusk. Being the royal woodcutter was a
heavy responsibility.
As soon as Peter was old enough he used to help his father. At
first he was only able to drive the horse and cart to the palace to deliver the
wood but later when he became stronger he helped with the cutting too. With
father and son working together they easily delivered enough for the palace
needs each day. The working day was not quite so long now.
Now Peter had a good friend, Jake, who was the son of the local
baker. When they had time they went fishing and hunting together. One day they
were sitting on the river bank waiting for the fish to bite.
"Well, this is the last time we will be doing this for a
while," Jake told Peter.
"Why?" asked Peter.
"I am leaving home," replied Jake. "In a couple of
days I am off on my travels. I am going to see the world and seek my
fortune."
"I didn't know that," said a surprised Peter.
"It just happened, Peter. I suddenly knew I did not want to
be suck here for the rest of my life. Taking over the bakers shop is not want I
want to do. I want to see things and be somebody."
"Everybody is somebody, Jake," Peter said.
"No, most people are nobodies. Look at you. You deliver wood
to the palace every day and yet the king does not even know your name. You are
nobody to him, just the person who brings the wood. You have never seen him
when you deliver. Only the servants speak to you."
"It was the same for my father."
"That is what I mean, Peter. Do you want to end up like your
father? Just chopping wood all day and every day?"
"Well, I don't think so," said Peter who was feeling
unsure about himself now.
"Right then. Come along with me. Together we will rule the
world."
"I cannot go with you," Peter told him. "Father is
too weak now to manage on his own. I cannot leave now. Maybe in a few
years."
True to his word Jake set out to make his fortune a few days later
and Peter did not see him again for many years.
Soon after Jake had left Peter's father fell very ill and Peter
had to take over all the work. This did not really trouble him because his
father could not manage much these days anyway. His father did recover his
health but was never able to work again. Peter had to stay now to look after
his parents.
One day, five years later, the king was hunting deer in the
forest. The king and his companions had been out all day but had nothing to
show for it. It was starting to grow dark and the king was just about to call a
return to the castle when a magnificent stag suddenly broke from cover. The
king's party gave chase on their horses. So fast was the chase and so poor was
the light that they never saw the old woman as they dashed past. She was
knocked over by one of the horses and hit her head on a tree trunk.
The king's party arrived back at the castle empty handed because
the stag got away. Little did they know that they had more than that to worry
about, but they did for at that moment someone was plotting against them. The
old woman they had knocked over was a witch, not a wicked one but a very angry
one when she awoke with a large bump on her head. She knew who was to blame and
meant to teach them a lesson. Looking through her book of spells she found one
that was perfect and she cast the spell.
Just as the witch cast her spell Peter was halfway through the
palace gates on his way home after delivering his wood for that day. Although
he could not know it at that time it was very good fortune for him. The witch
had planned it that way. She was teaching the king a lesson and doing Peter a
good turn all in one spell. This was because Peter had helped her once and she
was now repaying his kindness.
The next day there was total confusion at the palace of the king.
No one inside the palace grounds could leave them and no one outside could
enter. There was an invisible wall all around the palace. The king was very
worried and had his wise advisor think of a solution. It was a serious problem
for if food could not be brought into the palace how were those who lived there
to survive.
Peter was hard at work chopping trees into logs, unaware of the
rouble at the palace. At the end of the day, when he had enough logs, he loaded
them onto his cart and set off towards the palace. He was surprised at the
crowds outside the palace gates. He had to stop his horse because he could not
pass.
"Make way there," he cried. "I have wood for the
palace fires."
"It will do you no good," shouted a voice from the
crowd. "no one can pass through the gates, either in or out."
Peter could not believe his ears and got down from the cart to
check this out. To the complete amazement of the onlookers who had been trying
to get into the palace all day, Peter passed straight through without any
trouble. There was a great cheer as he passed through them again to come out
and once again as he drove his horse and cart through. Still the others could
not enter.
Everyone at the palace were overjoyed to see him. For the next few
weeks Peter was the most important person in the land. He was the only contact
between those imprisoned in the palace and the outside world. He had to ensure
that all supplies were delivered to the gates every day so he could carry them
through. He was the saviour of the kingdom.
Being so important to the palace life now Peter was in regular
attendance with the king with whom he discussed many things. The king soon came
to look on him as a good friend. He was also friendly with the queen but his
favourite person in the palace was the king's daughter, Rebecca. She was the
most beautiful person he had ever seen with the kindest nature. When not
working or talking with the king he was always in her company. He was deeply in
love with her but dare not say so for he knew he would never be her equal. He
was happy to be with her but sad because he felt they would never be truly
together. He feared that when life when back to normal, as it surely must, he would
no longer be welcome in the palace as a guest.
One day the king and Peter were talking when the king decided he
had waited long enough for the curse on the palace to wear off.
"Peter, my boy," he said kindly. "You are our only
chance. Go out and search. Find the cause of this curse and remove it. Do this
and I will grant you anything you want."
Peter knew what he would ask for and he trusted the king to keep
his word so he set off to solve the king's problem. He had heard tell of a
witch who lived deep in the forest and he thought that she would be the person
to help him. He knew not where to look but just kept wandering along the forest
paths, trusting to luck that he would find the witch. For many hours he tramped
along until he had to stop for a rest.
"Hello, my dear," said a voice. "You would not have
a morsel of food to spare would you?"
Peter was startled at the sudden appearance of the old woman but
he was not frightened for he knew he had met her somewhere before.
"I only have a little bread and cheese," he told her,
"but you are welcome to share them."
After they had eaten the old woman said, "You are looking for
an answer to the king's plight are you not?"
"I am but how did you know?" asked Peter.
"I am the cause. It was a punishment for his horses knocking
me over."
"How can the spell be broken?" Peter guessed she was the
witch he was looking for.
"Nothing simpler. He just has to apologise to me," came
her reply. "However, he must not know that I am a witch. If he does not
say he is sorry the spell will last a full year."
With that the witch vanished and Peter hurried back to the palace,
all the time thinking of what to tell the king. No sooner had he passed through
the palace gates than he was ushered into the presence of the king.
"Well Peter, what did you discover?" questioned the
king.
"I am afraid I did not find out anything, Your Majesty,"
said Peter. "I will be going out again tomorrow."
A short time later while still talking to the king Peter tried his
luck.
"While I was out searching today I came across an old woman
who told me she had been knocked down by one of your horses," he told the
king.
"Really! Then if you see her again you must give her my
apologies," said the king.
"There will be no need for that." The old woman stood in
front of the king. "I heard it myself and the spell is now broken."
And so it was, for all the villagers came pouring into the palace
grounds cheering on the way.
"I believe Peter can now ask for anything that he
wishes," spoke the witch.
"That is true," agreed the king. "I gave my word.
What is it that you want in all the world, Peter?"
"Well, Your Majesty, I would ask for the hand of Rebecca, if
she will have me."
"I do not think you need to worry about," laughed the
king, for he knew that his daughter loved Peter as much as he loved her.
The wedding was a grand affair. The whole village was in
attendance including Peter's parents who now lived in the palace. It was indeed
a happy day except for one person. This was a miserable figure in dirty old
clothes who sat huddled outside the palace gates. Peter spied him from a window
and even though it was his wedding day he went out to talk to him. He was
socked to see that it was his old friend Robert. Far from making his fortune he
was penniless, hungry and very sick. Peter took him in and took care of him.
Within a few days he was on the way to recovery and was later given the job as
palace baker as the current one was very old and due to retire.
From then on all lived happily ever after.
WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS
There is a saying which goes "Everything comes to him that waits." To rush out and try to achieve everything you want is not always the best choice. This is what Robert did and look what happened to him. Peter, on the other hand, was patient and waited for his chance. To him came everything in the end. How fast you move is not the important thing, it is where you end up.
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