The Three Feathers | A Classic Fairy Tale for Kids | Bedtime Story with Audio

The Three Feathers – A Magical Tale of Wisdom and Fairness

Once Upon a Time…

There was a wise and fair king who had three sons. As he grew older, he needed to choose a successor to inherit his kingdom. However, he did not want to choose based on age alone—he wanted to see which son was the wisest and most deserving.

To test them, the king summoned his three sons and released three feathers into the air. He said,
“Follow where your feather lands, and bring back the most precious treasure you can find. The one who brings the greatest treasure will become the next king!”

The Three Journeys

The first feather floated to the east, and the eldest son followed. The second feather drifted to the west, and the middle son set off. The third feather fell straight down near the castle gate, much to the youngest son’s disappointment.

His older brothers laughed at him. “Your feather landed right here! You have no adventure to go on!”

But the youngest prince, Dummling, did not give up. He looked around carefully and noticed a small hidden trapdoor in the ground. When he opened it, he discovered a magical underground kingdom.

Inside, he met an enchanted toad who asked, “Why have you come?”

Dummling explained his father’s test, and the toad gifted him the most beautiful golden carpet ever seen.

The Brothers’ Treasures

Meanwhile, the eldest and middle brothers were lazy and arrogant. They thought, “Why search for something valuable? Let’s just buy a simple rug from the market and go home!”

When they returned, they proudly presented their ordinary carpets. But when Dummling unrolled his golden carpet, the king was amazed!

However, he wanted to be sure and gave them a second challenge—to find the most beautiful ring.

Once again, Dummling returned to the enchanted toad, who gave him a shimmering diamond ring. His brothers, thinking it was easy, bought cheap rings from traders.

When the king saw the treasures, he was even more impressed with Dummling!

The Final Test

To decide once and for all, the king gave one last task—whoever could bring back the most beautiful woman to be his queen would be declared the heir.

Dummling returned to the toad, who gifted him a tiny golden nut. When he opened it, out stepped the most beautiful maiden anyone had ever seen!

His brothers, in desperation, brought ordinary farm girls, thinking they would win. But the king saw the truth—Dummling had proven himself wise, patient, and deserving.

The New King

The king joyfully announced,
“Dummling shall be my heir! For he alone has shown true wisdom, patience, and courage!”

His brothers were shocked, but the people cheered, for they knew the kingdom would be in good hands.

And so, Dummling became a great and just king, ruling with wisdom and kindness for many years.

Moral of the Story

👑 Wisdom is more valuable than strength or arrogance.
💡 Patience and careful thinking lead to success.
💖 True greatness comes from humility and determination.

Comprehension Questions

1️⃣ Why did the king set a challenge for his three sons?
2️⃣ Where did Dummling’s feather land?
3️⃣ What did Dummling find in the underground kingdom?
4️⃣ How did his brothers try to cheat in the challenges?
5️⃣ What lesson does this story teach us about wisdom and fairness?

Important Note:

The story of The Three Feathers is a classic fairy tale originally written by the Brothers Grimm and first published in the 19th century.

We are not the original writers of this story. We have rewritten it in simple words to make it easier for our audience to read and understand. Our aim is to present the story in a way that is easy to imagine and to clearly convey the moral lesson it offers. Visit us more often for more such amazing bedtime stories for kids.