• The Selfish King

    Riches and stables and tables they have;
    Gold by the load,
    Crowns stack in big mounds.

    Once you learn to share it;
    the curse is reversed,
    and happiness will be then found.

    Once upon a time when witches and warlords existed, a royal family ruled the earth. They were arrogantly selfish, wretched and malicious, keeping all their riches to themselves while their kingdom wasted away and rotted.

    The peasants starved and begged the king for food. He resisted, too greedy to feed his people and their children. Many died under his rule, but he did not care. He did not want to waste his gold unless it was for himself.

    One dreary thunderous night, a witch showed up at the castle. She appeared disheveled, seeking for the king. Ignorant as the king was, he held back, disgusted with her appearance.

    Displeasure flickered in her eyes as she cast a wicked curse on the king and the royal family for there selfishness and hatred. The curse indicated that they would never find true happiness unless they give into their selfish deeds. The king and the royal family laughed, and hung her for her lies.

    The king died and many generations past, none of which could find true happiness. Another generation past and a new king took the throne. Weary and distraught, he set out on a quest valiantly to find his true happiness.

    He searched far and wide to all corners of the earth, collecting all the magnificent riches he could find. The king discovered statues made from pure gold, diamonds the size of his fist, paintings as beautiful as a starry,midnight sky. He found crowns adorned with emeralds, rubies and topaz. But none of these fine-crafted presents filled his barren heart with the joy he longed so much for.

    The king cried and gave up, ending his search for happiness once and for all.
    He returned to his castle and headed to his private garden, seeking refuge and peace. Resting under the shade of a tree, he became lonely. The beauty o the garden reminded him of the beauty his heart could not have.

    The king gazed beyond his garden and into the kingdom he owned. There he spotted a woman, so beautiful it made his heart stop.

    He rushed out of his garden and called out to the woman loudly, but she could not hear him. He approached her closely, but she could not see him. The king was confused, how is this possible? The only thing thing that would make him happy, could neither see or hear him. The king thought and remembered the ancient curse set on his family many, many years ago:

    Riches and stables and tables they have;
    Gold by the load,
    Crowns stack in big mounds.

    Once you learn to share it;
    the curse is reversed,
    and happiness will be then found.

    The king decided to give all of his riches away, “Fetch all my presents gathered from my trip. Ready my finest horse and bring me five of my strongest men.”
    The king and is men traveled to each home in the kingdom, handing out riches from the king.

    At the last house, the king stopped for one last time. He knocked on the crumbling door. The door opened and the same beautiful lady stepped outside. She could now see him. The woman bowed her head low, blush rising to her cheeks. She greeted the king with a soft smile.

    The king jumped for joy, rejoicing loudly. His heart swelled with the happiness he so longed for.

    Coming down on one knee he asked for her hand in marriage. His eyes dancing with excitement and his lips curled up in a dazzling smile. Undeniable impossible to refuse, the woman replied happily, “Yes!”

    He realized that true happiness does not come from riches, but from love coming out of the heart.

    They king and his bride wed,had a hansom son and lived happily ever after and the witches curse broken and never heard of again.


    Emeralds and diamonds and rubies you seek,
    beds and jewelry and horses so sleek;

    None of which could bring the king more joy,
    than the love of his life and a little baby boy.

    The lesson he learned from that terrible curse,
    was to be a kind man and share you purse.

    But happiness doesn't come from riches alone,
    but in your heart, where you feel safe and at home.