ANH VĂN THIẾU NHI – TRUYỆN CỔ TÍCH ANH NGỮ
( KO CÓ BẢN DỊCH)
The Princess of the Golden Island
Long ago, the king and queen of the Golden Island died. Their little
daughter, Majka, was left to rule the kingdom. She was only a child. The
leaders had to choose someone to rule until she grew up.
The princess's uncle said, "I will rule the country until Majka grows up.
Then she can rule." But the evil uncle secretly planned to keep the
kingdom for himself.
He sent his servants to take care of Majka. An old man named Yust was
his best servant. Yust had no love for anyone. He watched Majka day and
night.
The servants dressed the princess in old clothes. They gave her terrible
food. She got very little to eat. Her uncle wanted Majka to get sick and
die. The princess was hungry and lonely, but she never complained. She
was beautiful and good.
One day Yust fell asleep in the garden. He lay in between two ant hills.
The big gray ants began to bite him. They were angry because the old
man was in their way.
Majka saw the ants biting Yust. She pushed them away so the old man
could sleep. Many of the ants bit her hands, but she stayed to protect the
old man. When Yust woke up, he learned of Majka's kindness. Yust was
surprised. He showed no love to Majka, but she was kind to him anyway.
Her kindness won his heart.
Yust kissed the princess's hands. Then he gave her a small harmonica. He
told her, "A good fairy gave this to me long ago. It has magic power, but
only in the hands of a good person. Take it, child. In my hands it only
plays. In your hands it will do magic."
When Majka played the harmonica, sweet sounds filled the air. Little
animals jumped from the trees to listen. They wanted to be her friends.
Birds flew to be near her.
Old Yust loved Majka, and she loved him. She called him "grandfather."
Majka's uncle knew nothing about this. He was waiting for her to die.
Yust told him, "She is getting thinner every day. Soon she will get sick
and die." The uncle believed his servant.
The princess grew up. The leaders of the kingdom called a meeting. They
said, "It is time for the princess to rule the country."
Majka's uncle was angry. "There is a law in our country," he said.
"Anyone who wants to rule must show patience, courage, and love. Your
princess must pass all three tests to become our ruler."
The day of the tests arrived. The princess entered the room. Her uncle
said the first test was patience. "Here are many poppy seeds. They are
mixed with gravel. You must seperate the seeds from the gravel in one
hour."
Everyone left the room. The little princess was alone. She began to cry. A
large black bird flew in the window. She told him the problem. The bird
flew out to the garden. "All birds, come to help! Help our little princess!"
said the bird.
Many birds flew into the room and began to work. Their beaks picked the
poppy seeds out of the garden. They finished before the end of the hour.
Then they flew away.
When the hour was over, the uncle and the leaders came in. They were
very surprised! The poppy seeds and the gravel were seperated. "I am
happy to see your patience." Majka's uncle said angrily. "Now I will give
you the test of courage."
He told the servants to bring in a box full of snakes. "Fight them," said
the uncle. "In an hour we will return."
Majka looked at the snakes. They were ready to jump on her. The magic
harmonica was on a table. She played a beautiful song on it. The snakes
stood up like sticks and stopped moving.
The uncle returned in an hour with the other leaders. He was surprised
and angry to find the princess alive. She was sitting in her chair. Around
her were the snakes. None were moving.
"You won again," shouted the uncle. "Now come the test of love, the last
test. You must show the greatest love in the world."
How could the princess pass this test? The room was silent. Everyone
was worried.
Majka fell at her uncle's feet. She said, "I love you, uncle! I love my
father's brother with a true love. I give you the kingdom. I do not want to
rule!"
The evil uncle could not believe his ears. He was so surprised that he fell
dead on the floor.
In this way, Majka became the queen. She ruled the happy people of the
Golden Island of many, many years.