The Magic Lake – An English Folk Tale about Happiness and Self-Discovery

Summary: In this English folk tale, a young princess finds a magic lake that grants wishes. She quickly realizes that material things cannot bring her happiness and learns to find joy in her actions. A story about self-discovery and the importance of kindness.

Long ago, in a distant kingdom, there lived a princess known for her beauty and kindness. Her golden hair shone like the sun's rays, and her laughter sounded like the babbling of a brook. Yet, despite her gifts, the princess often felt sad. She looked at the grand halls of the palace, the jewels, and the luxurious dresses, but found no comfort in them.

Every morning, she sat by her window, gazing at the forest beyond the royal gardens. She felt that somewhere out there, beyond the trees, something magical was hidden—something that could make her truly happy. One day, she decided to venture into the forest. Telling her servants she wanted to walk alone, she donned a simple dress and slipped away from the palace unnoticed.

The forest was warm and quiet. The princess walked along a narrow path, listening to the birds' songs and the rustling leaves. Soon, she came upon a beautiful lake. The water was so clear that the sky was perfectly reflected in it, and the stones at the bottom shimmered in all the colors of the rainbow. The princess knelt by the shore to get a closer look when she suddenly heard a voice:

“Who has come to me?”

The princess looked up and around but saw no one. The voice spoke again, this time louder: “I am the Magic Lake. I can grant you one wish, but only one. Think carefully before you make it.”

The princess was amazed. She had heard legends of magical places but never believed in them. Now she stood before a living wonder. “One wish?” she repeated. The lake answered softly: “Yes. But know this: wishes do not always bring happiness.”

The princess thought deeply. She remembered how often she had felt unhappy and thought, “If I had more wealth, I would be happy.” She said, “I want a beautiful necklace that shines as brightly as the sun.”

As soon as she spoke the words, a beam of light rose from the water, and before her appeared a magnificent necklace. The princess put it on and was delighted—until she returned home. But after just a few days, she realized the necklace did not bring her the joy she had hoped for. It was merely an object.

The next day, she returned to the lake and said, “This necklace is beautiful, but I need more. I want a palace that is the most magnificent in the world!” The lake granted her wish, and on a hill beyond the forest, a huge, gleaming palace appeared. The princess moved in but soon discovered she felt even lonelier than before. The new palace did not make her happy.

On the third day, she returned to the lake again. This time, her voice was filled with sorrow. “Why am I still unhappy?” she asked. “You grant my wishes, but they do not bring me joy.” The lake answered gently: “Because happiness cannot be found in things. It is born when you do good and share joy with others.”

The princess returned to her kingdom with newfound understanding. Instead of seeking happiness in wealth, she began helping others: building homes for the poor, feeding the hungry, and teaching children. Little by little, her heart filled with a joy she had never known before. She realized that true happiness comes from giving a part of yourself to others.

From that day on, the princess no longer sought magic. She knew that the greatest magic was a kind heart and sincere actions.

Moral of the Story: This English folk tale teaches that happiness does not come from the outside. It is born in the heart when we do good and share joy with others.

Questions for Discussion:

• Why did the princess initially believe that things would make her happy?
• What changed in her understanding after meeting the Magic Lake?
• How did her actions help her find true joy?