• The Hut in the Forest

    Grimm's Fairy Tales
    Imagine a cozy little cottage, tucked right at the edge of a big, whispering forest. A kind woodcutter lived there with his wife and their three daughters.

    One sunny morning, the woodcutter went deep into the forest to chop wood. "Daughters," said his wife, "one of you must take your father his lunch."

    The eldest daughter, let's call her Lily, packed a basket. "I'll go!" she said, and off she skipped. But the forest was twisty and turny. Soon, Lily didn't know which way was home. As it started to get dark, she saw a tiny light. It came from a little hut.

    She knocked. An old man with a long white beard opened the door. Inside, by the fire, sat a fluffy hen, a proud rooster, and a spotted cow.
    "May I stay the night?" Lily asked.
    The old man stroked his beard. "My pretty hen, my handsome rooster, and you, my beautiful spotted cow, what do you say?"
    "Cluck-cluck-yes!" chirped the hen and rooster. "Moo-yes!" said the cow.
    "Alright," said the old man. "But first, make us some supper, little girl."
    Lily cooked a tasty stew, but she only made enough for herself! She ate it all up, not even offering a crumb to the old man or the animals. Then she said, "I'm tired. Where can I sleep?" The old man pointed to two beds. Lily chose the softest one, fluffed up the pillow, and fell asleep, not even saying goodnight.
    When morning came, Lily was gone! Poof! Vanished.

    The next day, the second daughter, Daisy, went to find her father. She got lost too and found the same little hut. The old man, the hen, the rooster, and the cow were all there.
    "May I stay?" asked Daisy.
    Again, the old man asked his animals, and again they said, "Cluck-cluck-yes!" and "Moo-yes!"
    "First, supper," said the old man.
    Daisy, just like her sister, cooked only for herself and didn't share. She also picked the best bed and didn't care about the others.
    And in the morning, Daisy was gone too! Double poof!

    Finally, it was the youngest daughter's turn. Her name was Rose, and she had a kind heart. She also got lost and found the little hut.
    "May I please stay the night?" Rose asked politely.
    The old man asked his animals. "Cluck-cluck-yes!" and "Moo-yes!" they all agreed.
    "First, supper," said the old man.
    Rose cooked a big, delicious pot of soup. "There's plenty for everyone!" she smiled. She gave a bowl to the old man, then carefully gave some tasty bits to the hen, the rooster, and the cow. The animals clucked, crowed, and mooed happily.
    "Now, for bed," said the old man. Rose made up one bed neatly for the old man. Then she made the other bed. "This one is for you, sir," she said. "I can sleep by the fire."
    "Oh no," said the old man, "you take the bed." But Rose insisted he have it.
    Rose curled up on a rug by the warm fire and fell fast asleep.

    When Rose woke up, she blinked. She wasn't in a little hut anymore! She was in a beautiful, sunlit room in a magnificent castle!
    Standing before her was not an old man, but a handsome young prince! The hen, rooster, and cow were now smiling servants.
    "You broke the spell!" said the prince. "An evil witch turned me and my castle into that little hut. Only true kindness could change us back."
    Rose, with her kind heart, had done just that. The prince asked Rose to be his wife, and she said yes! They lived happily ever after in the grand castle, always remembering to be kind to everyone, even the smallest creatures.

    1308 Views