Atondido Stories
The Quest of Cleverness
Once long ago there lived a king who had a stupid son. His fa-
ther sent him to school for many years hoping that he might
learn something there. His teachers all gave him up as hopeless-
ly stupid, and with one accord they said, “It is no use trying to
teach this lad out of books. It is just a waste of our valuable
time.”
At length the king called together all the wisest men of his
kingdom to consult with them as to the best way to make the
prince wise and clever. They talked the matter over for a year
and a day. It was the unanimous opinion of the wise men of the
kingdom that the lad should be sent on a journey through many
lands. In this way he might learn many of the things which his
teachers had not been able to teach him out of books.
Accordingly the prince was equipped for his journey. He was
given fine raiment, a splendid black horse upon which to ride,
and a great bag full of money. Thus prepared, he started forth
from the palace one bright morning with the blessing of the
king, his father, and of all the wise men of the kingdom.
The prince journeyed through many lands. In one country he
learned one thing, and in another country he learned another
thing. There was no country or kingdom so small or poor that it
did not have something to teach the prince. And the prince,
though he had been so insufferably stupid at his books, learned
the lessons of his journey with an open mind.
After long wanderings the prince arrived at a city where
there was an auction going on. A singing bird was being offered
for sale. “What is the special advantage of this singing bird?”
asked the prince.
“This bird, at the command of its owner, will sing a song
which will put to sleep any one who listens to it,” was the reply.
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