The Ringing of the Bells – A German Fairy Tale About Harmony

Short Description:

The Ringing of the Bells is a fairy tale about a boy who finds peace and joy in the simple sounds of nature through a wise conversation with a shepherd.

In a small mountain village lived a boy named Jakob. He was lively and curious but often seemed sad. He felt that everything in the village was boring and monotonous, and that joy was somewhere far away, beyond his familiar life. Every day he watched the shepherd, who tended his sheep behind the village. The old man was always calm and smiling, and this irritated Jakob. — How does he manage to be so content? He just sits on the hill all day, — thought the boy.

One day, Jakob decided to approach the shepherd. The man was sitting on a stone, watching his herd. Around him, the bells of the sheep rang, creating a gentle melody. — Hello, — said the boy. — Why are you always so calm? Isn’t it boring to sit here all day? The shepherd smiled: — Why should I be bored? Listen to the ringing of the bells. They tell me that everything is alright. Do you want to know how to understand them? Jakob nodded and sat down next to him.

The shepherd pointed to one of the sheep. — Do you see that sheep with the little bell? She always goes first. Her bell is a call to the others. Jakob listened. Her bell rang clearly and rhythmically, as if it really led the herd. — And this one, — the shepherd continued, pointing to another sheep, — is the laziest. She walks slowly, and her sound seems to say, "Wait for me!"

Jakob began to distinguish that each bell had its own sound. The sounds blended into a melody that became more and more pleasant. — Why do you listen to them? — he asked. The shepherd looked at the boy and answered: — Each sound reminds me that everything is going its course. Joy can be found in what already is. You don’t have to search far for it.

The words of the shepherd surprised Jakob. He sat there for a long time, listening to the bells, the wind in the grass, and the quiet murmuring of a stream nearby. For the first time, he felt at peace. — Thank you, — he said. — Now I understand that there is music even in silence. — Joy is not in what’s around you, but in how you look at the world, — added the shepherd. — The ringing of the bells teaches us to see simple happiness.

From that day on, Jakob often visited the shepherd to listen to the sounds of the hills. He no longer felt sad. He was content with the harmony he found in the sounds of his village.

The Moral of the Story:

The story teaches us that we can find joy and peace in simple things if we learn to notice the beauty around us and listen to our hearts.

Questions for Children:

1. Why did Jakob initially think life in the village was boring?
2. What did the shepherd teach Jakob through the ringing of the bells?
3. How do you find joy in the simple things around you?