The Good Fairy – A German Folk Tale about the Magic of Kind Deeds
The German folk tale "The Good Fairy" tells the story of a girl who helps animals and receives the help of a fairy in return for her kind actions.
Brief Description:
The Good Fairy is a German folk tale about a girl who, through her care and kindness to animals, earns the help of a magical fairy. The story teaches that good deeds are always repaid in kind.
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Anna. She lived at the edge of the forest and went there every day to collect berries and mushrooms for her family. Anna was very kind, and everyone in the village knew that she would never pass by anyone in need of help.
One day, while walking in the forest, Anna heard a faint squeak. She looked around and saw a little rabbit caught in the bushes. Its leg was injured. — Poor rabbit, let me help you, — said Anna. She carefully freed its leg, bandaged it with her ribbon, and took the rabbit to a stream so it could drink water. The rabbit looked at Anna gratefully and then ran off into the forest.
Shortly after, Anna heard a pitiful hiss. It was a snake, stuck under a fallen branch. Though Anna was scared, she gathered all her courage and helped the snake get free. — Thank you, kind girl, — hissed the snake. — Remember, kindness always comes back.
By evening, Anna found an owl with a damaged wing. She gently brought the owl to her little house and cared for it for several days until it recovered. The owl flew away, but before it left, it said: — You will not go unrewarded for your kindness.
A few days later, Anna went into the forest again, and suddenly she saw a beautiful woman in a sparkling dress standing before her. It was a fairy. — Anna, I have seen how you help those who are weaker, — said the fairy. — For your kindness, I want to grant you one wish. Tell me, what do you dream of? Anna thought for a moment. Instead of asking for gold or beautiful dresses, she said: — I want my family to always be healthy and happy. The fairy smiled and replied: — Your wish will come true because your heart is full of kindness.
From that day on, Anna and her family’s lives became better. Their house was always filled with joy, and Anna continued to help everyone in need. The rabbit, the snake, and the owl occasionally visited her, as if saying thank you for her good deeds.
The Moral of the Story:
The tale teaches that kindness and care for others always come back. Sincere and selfless acts make the world better and fill life with happiness.
Questions for Children:
- Which animals did Anna help in the forest?
- Why did the fairy decide to grant Anna’s wish?
- What lesson does this story teach us?
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