In a cozy little cottage, not too far from a sparkling river, lived a kind man with his four sons. As the boys grew, their father said, "My sons, it's time for you to go out into the world and learn a special skill. Then you can make your own way."

So, the four brothers said goodbye and went off in different directions.

The first brother met a man who was a master at sneaking. He learned to be so quiet and quick that he could take an egg from under a bird without the bird even noticing! He became a super-sneaky, but very gentle, thief.

The second brother found a wise old man who studied the sky. He learned to look through a special telescope and could see things miles and miles away, even the tiniest ladybug on a distant leaf. He became a fantastic stargazer.

The third brother went to live with a skilled hunter. He practiced with his bow and arrow every day until he could hit a tiny button on a moving coat from a hundred paces away. He became an amazing marksman.

The fourth brother apprenticed himself to a master tailor. He learned to sew so perfectly that if a shirt was torn into a hundred pieces, he could stitch it back together so you’d never even know it had been damaged. He became a wonderful tailor.

After a few years, the four brothers met up and decided to go home. Their father was overjoyed to see them. "Well," he said, "show me what you can do!"

The stargazer looked up at a tall tree far away. "Father," he said, "I see a bird's nest on the highest branch, and there are five eggs in it."

"Let's see if that's true," said the father.
The super-sneaky thief climbed the tree so quietly that the mother bird didn't even ruffle a feather. He gently took one egg and brought it down.

Then the marksman said, "Watch this!" He took his bow and arrow, aimed carefully, and with one shot, he hit all four remaining eggs in the nest, breaking them. (This was just for show, of course!)

"Oh dear!" cried the father. "What a mess!"
"Don't worry," said the tailor. He took out his needle and thread, climbed the tree, and carefully sewed the broken eggshells back together, and even sewed the little chick inside one of them back to health! (Well, maybe not the chick, but he sewed the shells perfectly!)

Just then, news spread through the land: the King's daughter, Princess Rose, had been carried off by a fierce dragon! The King promised that whoever rescued her could marry her and would receive half his kingdom.

The four brothers looked at each other. "This is a job for us!" they said.

The stargazer took out his telescope. "I see her!" he exclaimed. "She's on a rocky island far out at sea, and the dragon is guarding her!"

They found a boat and set sail. When they got close to the island, the super-sneaky thief said, "I'll go. The dragon is asleep." He crept onto the island, quiet as a whisper, and gently led Princess Rose back to the boat without waking the snoring dragon.

They quickly sailed away, but just as they thought they were safe, the dragon woke up! ROAR! It spread its huge wings and flew after them, breathing fire!

"Quick!" shouted the marksman. He took aim with his bow and arrow. TWANG! The arrow flew straight and true and hit the dragon right in its heart. The giant dragon tumbled out of the sky and CRASH! It landed right on their boat, smashing it into a thousand pieces!

Everyone was thrown into the water. "Oh no!" cried the princess.
"Don't worry!" said the tailor. He pulled out his magic needle and thread. Zip, stitch, sew! He worked so fast, pulling the broken planks together, that in no time at all, the boat was whole again, and they all climbed back in, a bit wet but safe.

They sailed back to the palace, and the King was overjoyed to see his daughter. "You are all heroes!" he declared. "But who should marry the princess and get half the kingdom? You all helped!"

The brothers talked it over. They had all used their special skills.
The King thought for a moment and then smiled. "Since you all worked together and each of you was just as important, you shall not have half the kingdom, but you will each receive a large part of it to govern wisely. And you will all be my honored guests and friends for life!"

And so, the four clever brothers, each with their amazing skill, lived happily and were always ready to help anyone in need.

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