once upon a time
there lived a king who owned the most special
apple tree in the world
the tree bore apples made of gold
every day the gardener would count
apples and hand it over to the king
an apple is missing
the king was angry when the
gardener informed him about the missing apples
the thief will not be spared
that night the gardener put his
eldest son on the security of the apple tree
but around midnight the eldest son fell asleep
next morning again one apple was missing
I will post my second son on the security duty today
night fell and the second son of the gardener
two fell asleep
around midnight
next morning again one apple was missing
the third and the youngest son of the gardener
offered to guard the tree that night
come on apple thief
show yourself
as the clock struck 12
he heard a rustling noise in the air
and a bird came flying that was of pure gold
and as it was snapping at one of the
apples with its beak
the gardener's sun jumped up and shot an arrow at it
but the arrow did the bird no harm
only it dropped a golden feather from its tail
and then flew away
the golden feather was
brought to the king in the morning
and the council was called
everyone agreed that it was worth more than
all the wealth of the kingdom
one feather is of no use to me
I must have the whole bird
who is brave enough to bring me that golden bird
the gardener's eldest son took upon this task bravo
and the eldest son set out to find the golden bird
and when he came to a wood
and by the side of the woods he saw a fox sitting
so he took his bow ready to shoot at it
do not shoot me for I will give you good counsel
I know what your business is and that you want to find
the golden bird
so
hear me well you will reach a village in the evening
you will see two inns opposite to each other
one of which is very pleasant and beautiful to look at
the other one is very shabby to look at
choose the shabby one to rest for the night
but the sun thought to himself
what can such a beast as this know about the matter
so he shot his arrow at the fox
but he missed it and the fox ran into the woods
then he went his way
and came to the village where the two inns were
and in one of these were people
singing and dancing and feasting
but the other looked very dirty and poor
he thought to himself
I would be very silly if I went to that shabby house
so he went into the smart house and
ate and drank at his ease
and forgot the bird and his country too
time passed on
and as the eldest son did not come back
the second sun set out
and the same thing happened to him
he met the fox
he gave him the advice
that when he came to the two inns
his eldest brother called to him in the beautiful inn
and he went in
and forgot the golden bird and his country
in the same manner
time passed on again and the youngest son too
wished to seek for the golden bird
please father let me go
but his father was afraid
I already lost my two sons
but you won't lose me father
trust me
at last the gardener agreed
and as he came to the wood
he met the fox and heard the same good council
go
to the boarhouse if you wish to reach the golden bird
thank you old wise fox
sit upon my tale and you will travel faster
soon they reached the village
the sun went to the shabby inn
and rested there all night
in the morning came the fox again
with another good advice
now go straight forward till you come to a castle
before which lies a whole troop of soldiers fast asleep
take no notice of them
go into the castle
and you will find a room
where the golden bird sits in a wooden cage
close by it stands a beautiful golden cage
but don't try to change the cage
otherwise you will repent
it then the fox stretch out his tail again
and the young man sat himself down
and reached before the castle bank
and the sun went in and found the chamber
just as Fox had told him
it will be a very droll thing to bring away
such a fine bird in this shabby cage
but as soon as he opened the door to change the cage
the bird let out a loud scream
alerting the sleeping soldiers
he was taken prisoner
the next morning the court sat to judge him
and when all was heard it sentenced him to die
merciful king
please spare my life
you will be spared on one condition
bring me the golden horse
which could run as swiftly as the wind
and I will spare your life
and also give you the golden bird
he set out on his journey when his friend
the fox met him
you see now what has happened on account
of your not listening to my counsel
but you are a good lad
hence I will still help you
to find the golden horse
you must go straight on till you come to the castle
where the horse stands in his stall
by his side we'll lie the groom fast asleep and snoring
take away the horse quietly
but be sure to put the old leathern saddle upon him
and not the golden one that is close by

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