The Magic Worm: A Tale of Kindness and Gratitude

The story will teach your children the importance of treating all creatures with respect and kindness. So, gather your little ones and get ready for an enchanted bedtime tale.

A stable and riding school formerly stood in a quaint town among the gentle hills. Children in the village could learn to ride and care for the stable's horses at the riding school.

A peculiar beast showed up at the stable one day. It writhed like a worm, but had no legs and was long and skinny. John, the stable worker, was a good man who was mystified by the worm. This was the first time he'd ever seen a worm like this.

John heard a worm and it told him, "I am no ordinary worm; rather, I am a mystical one. In return for kindness, I am able to grant wishes to anyone who ask for them." John was dubious, but he decided to give the worm the benefit of the doubt. The worm probed, "What is your wish?"

After some reflection, John declared, "I want for a beautiful and kind horse that I can ride and care for." Surprised, John watched as the worm wriggled its way into the shape of a stunning horse. The horse's snowy coat flowed freely, and its mane and tail were long and flowing as well.

John praised the worm for his kind present. He affectionately cared for the equine companion he named Snowflake. He rode her around the fields and then taught the local kids how to ride at the riding school.

When word of the worm's power spread, the people flocked to him to make their own wishes. Their hopes for love, fortune, and happiness were all granted by the worm. The people, however, became increasingly materialistic and self-centered as time went on. Over time, they came to take the worm's magic for granted and even treat it with disdain.

The worm eventually got sick of their greed and decided to take back the presents it had given to them. The peasants' dreams slowly came true, but not in the way they had hoped. Lost were the horses, the love, and the fortune. Dismay and hopelessness spread throughout the hamlet.

Only John's desire was granted, because he had been the only one to show the worm nothing but kindness and gratitude. For the rest of their time together, he had shown Snowflake nothing but love and affection.

John saw a worm and heard it say, "You're the only person who's kept being gracious and appreciative during this whole thing. As a token of my appreciation, I'll grant you one last desire." John paused and then replied, "I hope the people of the village can learn the value of generosity and appreciation."

John's wish was fulfilled by the worm, and the town was remade. The town elders admitted their mistake and the worm accepted their apologies. They learned to be respectful and appreciative of all living things.

The worm left after realizing the hamlet had come around to its way of thinking. The enchantment, however, remained in the minds and hearts of the peasants, who taught it to their children and their children's descendants.

Because of this, the town thrived, and its inhabitants were able to coexist peacefully with the wildlife that surrounding them. John and Snowflake's continuous riding the fields together is a testament to the transformative potential of acts of generosity and appreciation.

Kindness and gratitude produce success and happiness, whereas greed and selfishness bring calamity. And remember, as the storyteller often says: "Treat all creatures with respect and care; you never know when one may carry the power of magic."