Atondido Stories
The Story of the Princess Who Learned to Say "Please"
There was once a king who had a beautiful daughter. When it
was time for her to get a husband, the king set a day and invited
all the neighboring princes to come and see her.
One of these princes decided that he would like to have a
look at the princess before the others. So he dressed himself in a
shepherd's costume: a broad-brimmed hat, a blue smock, a green
vest, tight breeches to the knees, thick woolen stockings, and
sandals. Thus disguised he set out for the kingdom where the
princess lived. All he took with him were four loaves of bread to
eat on the way.
He hadn't gone far before he met a beggar who begged him,
in God's name, for a piece of bread. The prince at once gave him
one of the four loaves. A little farther on a second beggar held
out his hand and begged for a piece of bread. To him the prince
gave the second loaf. To a third beggar he gave the third loaf,
and to a fourth beggar the last loaf.
The fourth beggar said to him:
"Prince in shepherd's guise, your charity will not go unre-
warded. Here are four gifts for you, one for each of the loaves of
bread that you have given away this day. Take this whip which
has the power of killing any one it strikes however gentle the
blow. Take this beggar's wallet. It has in it some bread and
cheese, but not common bread and cheese for, no matter how
much of it you eat, there will always be some left. Take this shep-
herd's ax. If ever you have to leave your sheep alone, plant it in
the earth and the sheep, instead of straying, will graze around it.
Last, here is a shepherd's pipe. When you blow upon it your
sheep will dance and play. Farewell and good luck go with you."
The prince thanked the beggar for his gifts and then trudged
on to the kingdom where the beautiful princess lived. He
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