The little Prince and his Violin

Prince Andrew was a very happy little boy.  His father, the King, wanted to give him the best, because one day he would become the King of Lapier.  Prince Andrew was just like any other little boy, except he had every toy ever made in his father's Kingdom. He had so many toys that the King had to make him his own play castle.

 When dignitaries from other countries came to visit the King and Queen, they brought Prince Andrew special toys from their lands. This went on for several years, until the Prince was seven years old and he had so many toys that he did not know which one to play with first. He was so bored and tired of all his toys that he became very sick with an incurable disease.

The King and Queen immediately called in the doctors, but they couldn't heal an incurable disease. Finally, with no one else to ask , the King called for his wise men The wise men told the King that the little Prince's problem was not that serious. They explained to the King, " Prince Andrew's sickness is TOO MANY TOYS and he is sick of them. If he would give some away he would feel much better."
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 The King didn't understand.  He was only trying to make his little prince happy.  They were the best toys the world could give.  But he wanted he son well again so the King, on the advice of the wise men, sent out invitations to all the children in His Kingdom to come to the Palace and each one to take a toy.

Still this did not heal the little Prince.  The King was very upset with the results, so he called the wise men in again.  This time they told the King that the little Prince should go down into the village and personally give away the rest of his toys. 

This idea excited the little Prince, so he packed up the rest of his toys and went down into the village knocking on each door. He felt so good giving away his toys, watching the children laughing and playing together. How much he wished that he could play with them. But he was the Prince and he wasn't allowed to play with them.

The little Prince continued to knock on doors, until he came to the door of a little crippled boy, who could not play like other children.  Prince Andrew asked,"What toy would you like me to give you?"  The little crippled boy responded,"I would love your violin."  


"Oh, no.  he thought, not my violin  It was the toy that he loved the most.  I can't give this up" Then he remembered the Wise men's instruction.  ALL the toys had to be given away. Slowly, he reached into his toy bag and brought out his favorite violin. "May I first play it one more time?"


"Of course you can," said the little crippled boy.  The little Prince picked up the violin and started to play the most beautiful song. He was always the happiest when he played his violin.  If only he had remembered to play his violin, he would not have gotten so sick. But it was too late. He had to give his violin away. Then the most amazing thing happened.  As soon as he handed his most precious toy to the little crippled boy, the little Prince didn't feel sick any more. He ran home to his Father. "Father, Father, I am well,  I am not sick any more, daddy." 

"My son, I know that it must have been so hard to give up all your toys. But just think how happy you have made the children."

"But daddy, giving away my favorite violin was really the hardest, yet it has made me the happiest."said prince Andrew joyfully


"Son, you have just learned the most valuable lesson as the future King, "It is more blessed (happy) to give than to receive."  From that day on, Prince Andrew every year would go through his toys and give away the ones that he wasn't playing with anymore.  It seemed like the more that he gave away, the more that he received.


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