How A King's Son Grew Up As A Guardian Boy

Once upon a time there was a king who was gentle and kind to his subjects reigned, so that there was no one in the kingdom who did not bless him, and begged the Heavenly Father to extend his days of life would have.

The king had lived in a happy marriage for many years, but had no children was given to the spouses. Great was therefore his and all Subjects rejoiced when the queen gave birth to a little son, but the mother was not to enjoy this happiness for long. Three days after At the birth of their son, their eyes closed forever - the son was an orphan, and the widower king. The king felt severe grief over his death his dear wife, and his subjects mourned with him; you saw nowhere is there a happy face anymore. The king accepted, at the request his subjects, three years later another wife, but with the With his new choice, luck was not in his favor again: he had a pigeon buried, and got a hawk for it; Unfortunately, many people do Wittwern like that. The young woman was an evil, hard-hearted woman who neither showed good things to the king and his subjects. The son of the previous one Queen couldn't stand her in front of her eyes because she had to take care of them Government will fall to this stepson, whom the subjects will kill loved for the sake of his departed mother. The treacherous queen So he made the evil decision to secretly take the little boy to one place create it where the king could not find it again; to kill it, to that she didn't have the courage. A worthless old woman helped for good things Paying the queen to carry out the evil deed. During the night the child was delivered to the wicked woman, and from her up Secretly taken far away and given to poor people as a foster child hand over. On the way the old woman took off the child's good clothes and... wrapped it in rags so that no one would notice the fraud. The queen had she vowed with a heavy oath not to tell anyone the place, where the king's son was taken. The child thief ventured during the day not to wander because she feared persecution; that's why it took a long time until she found a hidden place suitable for the stay royal child. Into a lonely forest farmstead, stranger Having rarely set foot on people, the stolen king's son was considered cared for, and the landlord received the money for raising the child Sum of one hundred rubles. It was fortunate for the king's son that he was good people came who cared for him as if he were theirs biological child. The lively boy was often fun for them, especially when he called himself a king's son. They probably looked from the plentiful payment they had received that the boy was not a legitimate one He is an offspring and of noble descent from his father or mother Whatever it was, her thoughts didn't rise so high that she... would have believed to be true, whose the child in his simple mind boasted.

One can easily imagine how great the terror was in the house King's was the morning when it was discovered that the little son was in the Night was stolen, and in such a wonderful way that no one could find it had heard, and that not the slightest trace of the thief remained was. The king wept bitterly for days for the son he had married The less he was with him, the more tenderly he loved the memory of his mother his new wife was happy. Although it took a long time Investigations were carried out everywhere to find the missing child to get on the trail, a great reward was also promised to everyone who could give any information about it, but everything was in vain, the little boy seemed to have been blown away. No one could keep the secret enlighten, and some believed that the child was caused by an evil spirit or kidnapped by witchcraft. Into the lonely forest farm where the... King's son was alive, none of the seekers had directed his steps, and nor could the announcements reach that point. -- While now While the king's son was mourned at home when he died, he grew up in silence Walde grew up and prospered happily until he reached the age that he was already could do business. Then he showed wonderful wisdom the day, so that his foster parents had to admit to each other often enough that Here the egg is much smarter than the hen.

The king's son had already lived in the forest farm for over ten years, when he felt a desire to get among the people. He asked his foster parents for permission to earn their own living, saying: "I have enough understanding and strength to survive without yours Help feed. With the lonely life here, I'm running out of time long." The foster parents were very reluctant to do so at first, but they had to finally give in and fulfill the young boy's wish. The Wirth himself went along to accompany him and find a suitable position for him to locate him. In a village he found a wealthy man Bauerwirth, who needed a guardian boy, and there was the foster son It was precisely this kind of service that they soon agreed upon. The The contract was for one year, but it was expressly stipulated that the boy should be allowed to do the service at any time abandoned and returned to his foster parents. Likewise, he could Wirth, if he wasn't happy with the boy, got rid of him before the end of the year, but not without the prior knowledge of the foster parents. The The village where the king's son had found this job was not far away large country road on which many people passed every day, Hohe like low ones. The royal guardian boy often sat close to the country road, and talked to passers-by, of whom he He discovered some things that had remained unknown to him until then. Then happened one day an old man with gray hair and long white hair Beard came along the way when the king's son was sitting on a stone Jew's harp struck; Meanwhile the animals were grazing, even if one of them Wanted to get too far away from the others, the boy's dog drove it back. The old man looked at the boy and his herd for a while, then took a few steps closer and said: “You don’t seem to me To have been born a guardian boy." The boy replied: "Maybe, I know just so much that I was born to be a ruler, and here's this for now Learn the business of ruling. If things are going well with the four-footed animals, so be it I'll continue to try my luck with the bipeds." That one The old woman shook her head in astonishment and went on her way. A Another time a magnificent carriage drove past with a woman in it sat with two children: on the coachman's box and in the back on one Lackey. The king's son just had a basket of freshly picked ones Strawberries in the hand, which the proud German woman looks in the eyes fell, and whetted her appetite. She ordered the coachman to stop, and called imperiously out of the carriage window: “You snotlout! bring those Give me some berries, I'll give you a few kopecks for white bread in return!' The royal guardian boy acted as if he didn't hear anything, and he didn't believed that the order was directed at him, so that the woman gave a second and a had to call out a third time, but that was just spoken into the wind. Then she called to the footman behind the carriage: “Go and slap this one Snotlout to make him obey." The footman fell down to get him to execute the received command. Before he even arrived, the guardian boy was there jumped up, grabbed a strong club, and shouted to him Lakai to: "If you don't want a bloody head, do it Don't go a step further or I'll smash your face!" The lackey went back and reported what he had encountered. Then the lady shouted angrily: "Rascal! do you want to be afraid of the snotty boys? Go and take the basket away from him by force, I want to show him who I am, and will also have his parents punished for not making him better “Hoho!” shouted the guardian boy who gave the order had heard, “as long as there is still life stirring in my limbs, I shall Let no one take by force what is my rightful property. I “Stomp to pulp anyone who tries to steal my strawberries!” So As he spoke, he spat into his hand and swung the club around his head, that it rushed. When the footman saw this, he had not the slightest desire to try the thing; But the woman drove under serious threats of this, assuring that they will not let this insult go unpunished become. Other guardian boys who saw the incident from afar and had listened to it, told it to their housemates that evening. There Everyone became afraid that one might come too close to them too the noble woman is brought to justice for her foolish rebelliousness the boy complained and an investigation would take place. The king's son scolded his host and said: “I will not speak for you; what you "You can eat out what you've eaten." The king's son replied: "I'll deal with it, that's my business. God himself has a mouth in my head and a tongue in my mouth I can and will speak for myself if necessary not ask you to be my advocate. Had the woman up Properly asked for the strawberries that I had given them to her, but How was she allowed to call me a snotty spoon? My nose is still flat “It was as clean of snot as hers.”

The woman had gone to the king's city, where she was in no hurry had to do when the court heard about the outrageous behavior of to weigh down guardian boys. They also went straight to the examination, and the order was given to bring the boy and his host before him to bring judgment. When the bailiffs came to the village to... To carry out the order, the king's son said: "My host has this nothing to do; what I have done, I must do too "Now they wanted to tie his hands behind his back and... take him to court as a prisoner, but he drew a sharp knife out of his pocket, quickly took a few steps back and pointed the tip of the knife on his heart, and cried out: "No one shall take me alive." tie! Before your hand binds me, I'll plunge the knife into my heart! You can then bind my body and do whatever you want with it; As long as I still have breath, no one should give me a rope or something put on a shackle! I would like to appear in court and provide information "I won't let myself be taken away as a prisoner." His boldness frightened the bailiffs so much that they didn't dare to get close to him; they feared that it would become a burden on them, if the boy killed himself in his defiance. And there he them If they wanted to follow willingly, they had to be content. On the way The bailiffs wondered more and more every day about the intellect and the wisdom of their prisoner, for he knew better in all things More informed than themselves. The astonishment was even greater Judge, when she heard the course of events from the boy's mouth heard; He spoke so clearly and succinctly that people agreed with him and him had to be absolved of all guilt. Also the king to whom the The noble woman now turned and took care of the whole thing at her request had to agree with the judges and the boys leave unpunished. Now the noble woman wanted to burst with anger behaved like a cat snorting angrily at a dog, like that A snotty farm boy should be right with her! She complained her distress to the queen, who she knew was much harder was as the king. “My husband,” said the queen, “is an old one Nightcap, and his judges are all sheepheads! A pity, that you brought your case to court, and not to me straight away came; I would have settled your deal differently and proved you right. Now that the matter has been decided by the court and confirmed by the king I am no longer in a position to put things better in public to give a turn, but we have to see how we can do it without making a fuss about it The boys can be punished." Then it fell to the woman At the right time, there is a very evil landlady in her area was settled, with whom no servant wanted to stay anymore; he also gave Wirth himself agrees that things are worse with them than in hell. If you can give the wise little boy to this farm as a guardian boy could, it would certainly be a more severe punishment for him than any judgment could award him. »I want the thing Set it up as you wish," said the queen, letting one called a trustworthy servant and told him what he had to do. Would have her soul punished that the guardian boy was the one she had rejected If she was a king's son, she would have had him killed without further ado, without herself to take care of the king or the judge's verdict.

The farmer had hardly received the queen's order when he too dismissed the guardian boy from his service. He thanked his luck that he... had gotten away with even the easiest purchase. The queen's servant led Now the boy himself goes to the farm, where they return him had earned his will. The treacherous landlady shouted Joy that the queen has given her a guardian boy, and her at the same time she was free to do whatever she wanted with him, because that The boy is very stubborn and cannot be steered into anything good. She knew of the new millstone not yet, and hoped in their old way to grind with him. But the infernal woman would soon realize that This fence was too high for her to get over, after all the boy had a very tough mind, and not a hair's breadth granted his rights. If the landlady speaks a bad word to him for no reason gave, she received a dozen in return; if they hold your hand If the boy picked up a stone or a stone He picked up a log, or whatever was at hand, and shouted, “Dare Don't take a step closer or I'll punch you in the face in two, and pound your body to pulp!” She had such speeches Housewife of no one in her life, but least of all of her belongs to servants; But the innkeeper was secretly happy when he saw her He heard the argument and didn't stand by his wife because the boy was there did not neglect his duty. The landlady now looked for the guardian boy to tame him through hunger and refused him food, but the boy took the loaf by force where he found it and milked himself from it the cow so that his stomach did not feel the gnawing of hunger. The less The more the landlady could cope with the guardian boy, the more she sought to cool their tempers on the husband and servants. As the king's son This hopeless life, which was one day like the next, unites itself After watching for weeks, he decided to give the landlady all hers To repay wickedness in such a way that the world would get rid of dragons completely. To carry out his purpose, he caught A dozen wolves and locked them in a cave where he kept them every day reproached an animal from his herd so that they would not starve. Who I could describe the landlady's anger when she lost her property saw dwindle, because the boy brought one less head of cattle every evening home when he had gone out to pasture in the morning, and All the answers to all questions were: "The wolves have it." torn apart!” The landlady screamed like a madwoman and threatened that To throw the boy to the wild animals, but the boy replied with a laugh: "They will like your angry meat better!" Then he left his wolves in the cave without food for three days, Then in the night, when everyone was asleep, he drove the herd out of the stable instead the twelve wolves came in, whereupon he closed the door locked so that the wild beasts could not get out. As the thing As far as it was okay, he got on his feet because he was the one Shepherding had long since become distasteful, and now he also had strength felt enough within himself to undertake larger work.

Oh dear time! What happened in the morning when the landlady came to the house? went to the stable to let the animals out and milk the cows. The ones from Wolves, enraged by hunger, jumped at them and tore them down and they devoured them, with their clothes, skin and hair, so that Nothing was left of her but her tongue and heart, these two were not even suitable for wild beasts because they were too poisonous. Neither Both the servants and the servants were saddened by this misfortune, rather it was Everyone was grateful to the fate that had freed them from the infernal woman.

The king's son had roamed the world for a few years, and soon this He soon tried that trade, but he didn't last long in any place, because the memories of his childhood are like vivid dreams to him had in mind, always reminding us that through his birth he was one belong to a higher class. From time to time he met again with the old one man who had already set his eyes on him when he was still was a guardian boy. When the king's son was eighteen years old, he joined a gardener to learn gardening. Especially to that one Something happened at some point that gave his life a different turn should. The ruthless old woman who stole him on the queen's orders and... brought to the forest farm as a foster child, confessed on her Deathbed the clergyman for the crime she committed, because her under The soul groaning under the burden of sin did not find rest until it had uncovered evil deeds. She also named the farm on which she had brought the child, but couldn't say anything further about whether the child lived or died. The priest did hastened to bring the king the good news that one Trace of his missing son was found. The king betrayed No one, what he found out, immediately had a horse saddled and set out with three faithful servants. After a few days They reached the forest farm; Wirth and Wirth confessed the truth according to the fact that they had a child so long ago Gender was handed over as a foster child, and that she was at the same time had received a hundred rubles for raising it. From this they had Of course, she immediately concluded that the child would be of noble birth could, but it never occurred to them that the child of royal blood, they just had fun with it if the child had called himself a king's son. On it The innkeeper himself led the king into the village, where he took the boy had brought shepherd boys, although not on his own initiative, but rather at the request of the boy, who no longer had time in the lonely place like to live. How frightened the innkeeper, and even more so the king than himself in the village the boy who must have grown into a youth, could not be found and no further information could be obtained about him. The people only knew how to say so much that the boy responded to someone's complaint distinguished lady brought to court, but was acquitted by the court had been released. But later be a servant of the queen appeared who took the boy away and took him to another area gave service. The king hurried there and found the servants, in which his son had been for a short time, but after that he was escaped and nothing more was heard from him. How should you? Now continue searching at random and who was able to find the right one to show the way?

While the king was still full of concern that all traces were here Lost, an old man stepped in front of him - the same one who had already seen several met the king's son once - and said he was a young man, the kind you look for, meet every now and then, and have him initially as a shepherd and later in various other activities seen; and he hopes to find the trace of the missing person. The king ensured the old man a rich reward if he could track down his son could bring, ordered one of the servants to get off his horse and said to mount the old ones so that they could move forward more quickly. But this one said with a smile: “Mine can do as much as your horses can run.” Legs too; they have traveled through a larger part of the world than "Some horse." After a week they actually came to the king's son on the trail and found him on a stately mansion, where he, as told above, learned gardening. The king was limitless Joy when he found his son again, whom he had known for many years had wept for death. Tears of joy streamed down his cheeks as he watched hugged his son, pressed him to his chest and kissed him. But he should go heard a message from his son's mouth that brought him joy His rediscovery diminished and caused him new distress. The Gärtner had a young, blooming daughter who was shyer than all of them Flowers in the magnificent garden, and as pious and blameless as one Angel. The king's son had given his heart to this girl, and he confessed openly to his father that he had never met a lady of nobler status of free origin, but rather make the gardener's daughter his wife If he wanted to, he should also have to give up his kingdom. »Just come first "Go home," said the king, "then let's get things done." Put things in order.” Then the son asked his father for something precious took out the golden ring and put it on the maiden's head in front of everyone Finger and said: “With this ring I will betroth you, and soon or long I'll come back to take you home as a bridegroom." That But King said: “No, not like that - the matter should be dealt with in another way go!" -- pulled the ring back from the girl's finger and slashed him in two pieces with his sword. He gave half to his son, the other the gardener's daughter, and said: "God has you Created against each other, the two halves of the ring become more right Time melts into one another on its own, so that no eye can see the spots can discover where the ring was cut through. Now save everyone from his half to you, until the time is fulfilled."

The queen wanted to explode with rage when her stepson, whom she thought of always thought he was lost, suddenly returned, as rightful heir to the throne, as the king only had two from his second marriage daughters were born. When after a few years the king's eyes opened had closed, his son was made king. Although it's for him Even though his stepmother had done him a serious injustice, he didn't mean any harm retaliated with evil, but left the punishment to the judgment of God. There now the stepmother had no more hope, one of her daughters to bring him to the throne through a son-in-law she at least a royal maiden from her own clan kings, but he replied briefly: "I don't want to! I have "I have long since chosen my bride." When the widowed queen found out that that the young king would marry a girl of low birth, She incited the highest councilors of the empire to unanimously oppose it to lift. But the king stood firm and did not give in. After you After arguing back and forth for a long time, the king finally gave in Announcement: “We want to give a big party and all the king’s daughters and invite the other noble virgins, as many of them as there are, and if I find one of them to be my chosen bride beauty and breeding surpasses, I want to marry her. But it is If this is not the case, my chosen one will also be my wife.”

Now a magnificent celebration was prepared in the royal palace, which was supposed to last two weeks so that the king would have time to examine virgins to see whether one of them is preferred over the other Gardener's daughter earns. All the royal women in the area were there asked her daughters to the festival, and there was the purpose of the invitation It was common knowledge that every girl hoped that the lucky ticket would be hers will fall. The festival was already coming to an end, but still The young king had not found anyone who was according to his wishes. At the On the last days of the festival, the highest councilors appeared early in the morning Reich again before the king and said - at the suggestion of the Queen Dowager -- if the king has not made a choice by evening an uprising could break out because all subjects wished that the king should marry. The king replied: “I will "I will comply with the wishes of my subjects and explain myself this evening." Then, without the knowledge of the others, he sent a trustworthy servant to the gardener's daughter, with the order to bring her here secretly, and to keep hidden here until evening. As now on the king's evening The castle shone with lights, and all the royal maidens in theirs The festival awaited the moment that would bring them good or bad luck was supposed to bring, the king entered the hall with a young lady His face was so covered that the tip of his nose was barely visible. What Allen But what was immediately noticeable was the stranger's simple suit: she was in dressed in fine white linen, and neither silk nor velvet nor gold could be found on her, while everyone else was in velvet from head to toe and were wrapped in silk. Some twisted their mouths in derision, others wrinkled their noses indignantly, but the king acted as if he noticed it not, loosened the maiden's head covering, then stepped in front of her widowed queen and said: "Here is my chosen bride, I want to take as my wife, and I invite you and everyone here “The widowed queen called out angrily: “What better could you expect from a man who grew up with the herd! If you want to go there again, take it only the maid, who may well know how to feed pigs, but herself not suitable to be a king's wife - such a peasant woman can only dishonor the throne of a king!” These words woke the king anger, and he replied sternly: " I am king and can do what I want." want; but woe to you that you are now imposing on me my former pastoral status recalled memory; at the same time you reminded me who cast me into this state. However, there is no sensible person If I buy a pig in a poke, I want it all before my wedding make it clear that I could not have found a better wife anywhere than this girl, who is pious and pure like an angel from heaven." With these words he left the room and soon came then back with the same old man he met from his pastoral status knew, and who later led the king on his son's trail had. This old man was a famous magician in Finland understood many secret arts. The king said to him: “Dearest Wizard! reveal to us the inner being of those here through your art virgins present, so that we can recognize which among them are the "The most worthy thing is to become my wife." The magician took a bottle with wine, discussed it, asked the virgins, in the middle of the hall to meet together, and then sprinkled a few on everyone's head Drops of magic wine, whereupon they all fell asleep on their feet. O about the miracle that has now occurred! After a short time you saw They were all transformed so that none of them had their human form anymore had, but instead all sorts of wild and tamed animals appeared, some were in snakes, wolves, bears, toads, pigs, Cats, others transformed back into hawks and other birds of prey. But in the middle of all these animal forms was a magnificent one rose bush, which was covered with flowers, and on top of it Two pigeons sat on branches. This was the one chosen by the king to be his wife Gardener's daughter. Then the king said: “Now we have one Seen every core and I won't let myself through the shiny one Blind the bowl!” The Queen Dowager wanted to burst with anger, but what could it help her since the matter was so clear. Then he smoked Magicians with magic herbs until all the virgins wake up woke up and took human form again. The king caught it lover who emerged from the rose bush and asked about hers half a ring, and when the maiden took it from her bosom, he also pulled took out his half ring, and placed both halves on his palm; Instantly they merged together, so that not one eye saw a tear or discovered any feature of the places where the cutting edge of the sword that once separated the ring. »Now it's mine too “The will of my father who has gone home has been fulfilled!” said the boy King, and left that same evening with the gardener's daughter trust. Then he invited everyone present to the wedding banquet, but the... princely maidens had experienced the miracle that took place during went with them during their sleep and went home full of shame. Around The joy of the subjects was so great that their queen was seen from within and from On the outside he had an impeccable image of humanity.

When the wedding feast was over, the young king left one day gathered all the chief justices of the empire and asked them which ones A wicked man who secretly has a king's son deserves punishment steal away and have them raised on a farm as guardian boys, and who also shamefully blasphemed the young man after that Happiness returned to its former state. All judges replied as if with one voice: "Such an evildoer must face death Suffer the gallows." Then the king said: "Very well! Call them widowed queen in court!” The dowager queen was summoned and the verdict passed is announced to her. When she heard it, she turned pale like a whitewashed wall, threw himself on his knees before the young king and asked for mercy. The king said: “I give you life, and would never have brought you to trial if you hadn't thought of it would be to shame myself afterwards with the very suffering I suffered I have had to suffer through your iniquity; but is in my kingdom of your staying no more. Get your things together today to leave my city before sunset. Servants will serve you until accompany you across the border. Beware of ever stepping foot on mine again Territory, since everyone, even the humblest, is free to do so like beating a mad dog to death. Your daughters, mine too Father's daughters who have gone home are allowed to stay here because their souls clean from the iniquity you have committed against me."

When the widowed queen was taken away, the young king let her in build two pretty houses near his town, one of which one to his wife's parents, and the other to the farm owner was given, who lovingly raised the helpless king's son had. The king's son, who grew up as a guardian boy, and his son Wives born of lower sex then lived happily ever after their end, and ruled their subjects as lovingly as parents ruled theirs Children.