Three Feathers

Once upon a time, a King had three sons. The two elder ones were clever and wise, but the youngest, called Simpleton, was not. When the King grew old, he asked his sons to bring him the most beautiful carpet in the world, and the one who brought it to him would be King after he passed away. He blew three feathers into the air and sent each of his sons in the direction of the feather they followed. The two elder ones went east and west, but Simpleton was stuck where the feather fell. Feeling sad, Simpleton discovered a trap door, went down some steps, and found a door with a fat toad behind it.

The toad asked him what he wanted, and Simpleton said he wanted the most beautiful carpet in the world. The toad gave him the carpet from a box and Simpleton thanked her. When the King saw Simpleton's carpet, he was astonished and said that the kingdom belonged to the youngest. But the elder sons would not give up so easily, so the King set a new challenge. He said the one who brought the most beautiful ring would inherit the kingdom. The two elder sons went east and west again, but Simpleton's feather flew straight up and fell near the door into the earth. Simpleton went down to the fat toad again and asked for the most beautiful ring. The toad gave him a ring that sparkled with jewels and was so beautiful that no goldsmith on earth would have been able to make it. When Simpleton showed the ring to his father, the King declared that the kingdom belonged to him.

But the elder sons would not give up, so the King set a third challenge. He said the one who brought the most beautiful woman home would inherit the kingdom. The king threw three feathers in the air again, and Simpleton's feather flew straight up and fell near the door into the earth. Simpleton went down to the fat toad again and asked for the most beautiful woman. The toad gave him a yellow turnip with six mice harnessed to it. Simpleton was confused, so the toad told him to put one of her little toads into the turnip. When he did, the little toad turned into a beautiful maiden, the turnip into a coach, and the mice into horses. Simpleton kissed her and took her to the King.

The elder sons brought peasant women to the King, but the youngest brought the beautiful maiden. The King declared that the kingdom belonged to Simpleton, but the elder sons protested again. They demanded that the one whose wife could jump through a ring hanging in the center of the hall should have the preference. The King agreed, and the peasant women jumped through the ring, but the beautiful maiden did too. The elder sons accepted that Simpleton should be King, and he ruled wisely and well.