The Wise Little Girl
This story is from Russia.
It tells us about what is important in life.
Two brothers are riding their horses.
The rich brother has a big strong horse.
The poor brother has an old horse.
The next day, there is a new baby horse.
The rich brother says, "It is the color of my horse. It is mine."
The poor brother says, "It has long legs like my horse. It is mine!"
The king hears of the two brothers.
He gives them a question.
"The man who answers the question will get the horse," he says.
The king asks, "What are the fastest, fattest, softest, and most valuable things in the world?"
The two brothers think very hard.
The rich brother thinks and says, "The fastest is the king's horse. The fattest is the king's cow."
The king smiles.
Then the rich man says, "The softest is the king's bed. The most valuable is the king's child."
"I like your answers," says the king.
"What do you say?" he asks the poor man.
The poor man has no ideas.
But his daughter has an idea.
The wise little girl says, "The fastest is the cold, north wind. The fattest are the fields which give us our food."
Then the girl says, "The softest is a child's kiss, and the most valuable is honesty."
The king gives the baby horse to the wise little girl.
