The Glass Mountain
The Mystery of the Missing Millet
Once upon a time, many years ago, there lived a wealthy merchant. His residence was a grand one, boasting an enormous garden which required an entire team of gardeners to maintain. The merchant took great pride in his verdant oasis. One crisp spring morning, during his usual stroll around the garden, he noticed with dismay that some of his prized millet crop had gone missing. Angered, he vowed to severely punish the culprit.
The merchant summoned his three sons, informing them of his discovery and instructing them on their task. The sons were to stand guard, each one in turn over the successive nights, in hopes of catching the thief upon their return.
The Brothers Stand Guard
The eldest son took the first watch, armed with a loaded pistol, a sharp sword, food, and wine to sustain him throughout the night. Unfortunately, the allure of the wine in the warm spring night proved too tempting. The son drank and soon fell into a deep slumber, leaving the millet unprotected.
The following morning, the father found the eldest, still sleeping soundly, with more millet missing. The second son was assigned the task next; armed in the same manner as his elder brother, he too succumbed to the warm night air, leaving the garden unguarded.
John’s Wiser Approach
It was now the youngest son, John’s turn. Unlike his brothers, John brought only a coil of rope and some thorn branches. He laid the branches on the ground so that if he dozed off, the pricks would awaken him. At midnight, John noticed a rustling sound coming from the millet patch. To his surprise, he found a splendid silver pony nibbling at the millet. Moving quietly, he slipped the rope around its neck, capturing it without much resistance.
The next morning, John revealed the apparent thief to his father. The slender, silvery pony was such a sight that the father decided to keep the animal, entrusting John with its care.
The Princess atop the Glass Mountain
Months passed and news arrived of a beautiful princess cursed by a wicked wizard, trapped atop a steep Glass Mountain. Rumor had it that if anyone could ascend the mountain three times on horseback, they could break the spell. Many had tried and failed, slipping on the slippery glass surface.
Hearing this, the three brothers decided to attempt the climb. The elder brothers, on their father’s finest horses equipped with spiked shoes, both tried and failed. John, however, believing in his silver pony, cautiously embarked on the treacherous ascent. To his amazement, the pony skillfully navigated the slippery path, reaching the peak where the beautiful princess awaited.
The Spell is Broken
John triumphantly rode his pony around the castle thrice, and as he approached the main door, it swung open to reveal the princess, now freed from her spell. The princess seemed to recognize the pony, and John realized the creature was indeed magical. It belonged to the princess and had left the castle in search of a brave and wise rescuer.
Returning home, word of John’s heroic feat had already spread, and he was welcomed with great applause. By the end of that same year, John and the princess married and went to live in her castle atop the Glass Mountain. Their happiness, much like their love for each other and their companion, the silvery pony, was forever after.