In a bright, sunny kingdom, there was a little problem. A big problem, actually! The King's daughter, Princess Lily, was sick. So sick, that no doctor could make her better. The King was very sad. He announced, "Whoever brings the magical feather from the Griffin bird to cure my daughter will marry her and become a prince!"

The King had three sons. The eldest, a proud fellow named Peter, said, "I'll get that feather!" He packed a fancy cake and a bottle of fine wine. Soon, he met a little old man on the road. "Could you share a crumb of cake and a sip of wine?" asked the old man.
"Certainly not!" huffed Peter. "This is for me!" And he marched off, but he never found the Griffin and soon got lost.

Next, the second brother, whose name was Paul and who thought he was very clever, set off. He also packed a tasty cake and good wine. He met the same little old man. "A little food and drink for a tired traveler?" asked the man.
"Go away!" said Paul. "I have important things to do!" He too, marched off, got even more lost than Peter, and never saw a feather.

Finally, the youngest son, Tom, decided to try. Everyone called him 'Simple Tom' because he was quiet and kind, not boastful like his brothers. He packed a simple bread roll and a bottle of water.
He met the little old man. "Oh, kind sir," said Tom, "I don't have much, but please share my bread and water."
The old man smiled. "Because you are kind," he said, "I will help you. Go straight ahead until you reach the Griffin’s rocky castle. Don’t be afraid. The Griffin’s wife is kind. Tell her I sent you."

Tom walked and walked and finally saw a huge, rocky castle. He knocked. A lady with kind eyes opened the door – it was Mrs. Griffin!
"The little old man sent me," Tom whispered.
"Oh, you poor boy!" she said. "My husband, the Griffin, eats humans! But I will help you. Hide under his big table. He’ll be home for dinner soon."

Soon, WHOOSH! The giant Griffin flew in. "I SMELL A HUMAN!" he roared.
"Nonsense, dear," said Mrs. Griffin calmly. "You just smell the stew."
While the Griffin ate, Mrs. Griffin said, "Husband, I had a strange dream. I dreamt of a ferryman who can never leave his boat. How can he be free?"
The Griffin, sleepy after his meal, grumbled, "Silly! He just needs to give his oar to the next person who wants to cross."
"And," Mrs. Griffin continued, "I dreamt of a castle where the well of wine has run dry. How can they fill it?"
"Easy!" yawned the Griffin. "There’s a big toad sitting under a stone by the well. Move the toad, and the wine will flow."
"One more thing, dear," she said. "A tree that used to give golden apples now gives none. What’s wrong?"
"A mouse is nibbling its roots. Find the mouse, and the apples will grow," mumbled the Griffin, and fell fast asleep, SNORING loudly.

Quickly, while the Griffin snored, Mrs. Griffin gently plucked a shiny feather from his wing. She gave it to Tom. "Go now, and be safe!" she whispered. Tom thanked her and tiptoed out.

On his way back, Tom came to a river. The ferryman looked so tired. "I can tell you how to be free," said Tom. "The Griffin said you must give your oar to the next person who wants to cross." The ferryman was overjoyed and gave Tom a bag full of gold.

Next, Tom reached a castle where everyone looked gloomy. "Our wine well is dry!" they cried.
"The Griffin said there's a toad under a stone by the well. Move it!" said Tom. They did, and wine gushed out! They gave Tom a donkey laden with more gold.

Then, he saw a sad tree with no fruit. "The Griffin said a mouse is nibbling its roots," Tom explained. They found the mouse, and golden apples appeared! Tom got another donkey piled high with treasure.

Tom finally arrived home, not so simple anymore, with his donkeys and gold. He rushed to Princess Lily and touched her with the Griffin’s feather. Instantly, she smiled, her cheeks turned rosy, and she was well!
The King was overjoyed. Tom married Princess Lily, and they lived happily. His two older brothers felt very silly for being so unkind, and Tom, who was always kind, even shared some of his treasure with them.

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