• The Singing Bone

    Grimm's Fairy Tales
    In a kingdom known for its yummy cakes and sunny days, there was suddenly a big, big problem. A wild boar, fierce and grumpy, with tusks like sharp bananas, was stomping through the forests and fields, scaring everyone. Nobody knew what to do!

    The King scratched his head and pulled his beard. Finally, he announced, "Listen everyone! Whoever can stop this wild boar can marry my daughter, the Princess!"

    Two brothers heard the news. The older brother was strong, but a bit grumpy and jealous inside. The younger brother wasn't as big, but he was kind and clever. Both decided to try their luck. To cover more ground, they entered the forest from different sides.

    As the younger brother walked, feeling a little nervous but determined, a little old man with twinkling eyes popped out from behind a big mushroom. "Hello there!" said the little man. "You look like you need some help." He gave the younger brother a special, shiny spear. "Use this," he whispered, "and the wild boar won't stand a chance." Then, poof! He vanished.

    The younger brother held the spear tight. Soon, he heard snorting and crashing. There was the wild boar! Taking a deep breath, the younger brother bravely faced the boar. *Whoosh!* He used the special spear, and just like that, the scary boar was defeated! Hooray!

    Feeling very proud, the younger brother started carrying the huge boar back towards the castle. On his way, he met his older brother near a little bridge over a stream. The older brother saw the defeated boar and the special spear, and a nasty, jealous feeling bubbled up inside him. He wanted the Princess for himself!

    When the younger brother wasn't looking, the older brother did a terrible thing. He pushed his kind brother, and the younger brother fell down, and didn't get up again. The older brother quickly buried him under the soft earth near the bridge, hiding what he had done.

    Then, the older brother grabbed the boar and hurried to the King. "Look, Your Majesty! I defeated the beast!" he lied, puffing out his chest. The King was overjoyed and believed him. Soon, the older brother married the lovely Princess, just as the King had promised.

    Many seasons came and went. The older brother lived in the castle, but he never felt truly happy, always worried his secret would be found out.

    One sunny afternoon, a shepherd was watching his fluffy sheep near the little bridge. As his sheep nibbled the grass, the shepherd saw something white gleaming in the dirt under the bridge. He dug it out. It was a smooth, white bone, shaped just right. "Hmm," thought the shepherd, "this would make a perfect mouthpiece for my horn!"

    He cleaned the bone and carefully carved it to fit his instrument. He lifted the horn to his lips, ready to play a cheerful tune for his sheep. But when he blew, something amazing happened! The bone didn't play a normal note. It sang in a small, clear voice:

    "Oh, shepherd dear, you play upon my bone.
    My brother wicked, left me here alone.
    He took the boar, the prize to claim,
    And won the Princess, playing a false game."

    The shepherd gasped! His eyes went wide. He blew into his horn again, and again the little bone sang its sad, true song. He knew this was incredibly important. He gathered his sheep and hurried straight to the castle.

    He asked to see the King, saying he had something amazing to show him. In the grand hall, before the King, the Princess, and the worried-looking older brother, the shepherd lifted his horn. He blew, and the bone sang its story for everyone to hear.

    The King listened, his face growing serious. He looked straight at the older brother, who had turned pale as a ghost. The King understood everything now. The truth was out!

    The King was very angry about the terrible lie and the awful thing the brother had done. He ordered his guards to take the wicked brother far away from the kingdom, never to return.

    Then, the King sent his men to the little bridge. They carefully dug up the rest of the younger brother's bones. They gave the kind, brave brother a proper, peaceful resting place in the royal garden, planting beautiful flowers all around.

    And though the story was sad for a while, the truth finally came out, all thanks to a little singing bone.

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