The Kind Heart
In the kingdom in the Orient a long, long time ago, there ruled a good and wise Emperor,
beloved by his people. He had three sons, all heirs to the throne.
One day, the emperor decided to go on a hunting trip and asked his sons to accompany him.
The youngest prince was overjoyed that he was given the chance to go into the forest with his father.
He ran to his old teacher to ask for his permission.
The old teacher said “Yes, you may go, but listen to my words. You must not kill one living
thing, and when your father asks why, just say it is spring and it is cruel to kill the mother animals
from their young.”
The little prince promised not to forget his teacher’s advice.
When the hunt was over, the three princes went with their father proudly and showed them
their bags. The two bags were heavy with birds, but the third bag was empty.
“And why have you nothing in your bag?” asked the Emperor to his youngest prince.
“The youngest prince replied, “Because it is spring, and it is cruel to take away the mother animals
from their young.”
The Emperor looked long at his son and murmured to himself. “He has a kind heart. This boy will
make a good and kind leader someday.”
Many years later, the good Emperor became very ill. He knew that his days on earth were already
numbered. He wanted to know which of his three princes would be an ideal successor.
He asked his old minister to think of a plan so he could make a choice.
One day, the Emperor summoned his three princes and asked them a question.
“Son if you were to be changed into a bird, what kind of bird would you like to be?”
war.
The first prince answered, “Father, I would like to be a hawk- a bird brave and strong, a bird of
“The second prince replied, “Father, I would like to be an eagle. King of the birds and feared by
all birds.”
The youngest prince answered, “Father I would like to be a starling- a plain and common bird
but kind and good. It is a bird that does not seek to harm others. It does not make others tremble
with fear when they see it. “
The old minister bent down and whispered into the emperor’s ears.
“There is your answer Your Majesty,” The old minister said. “He is the best heir to the throne, a ruler
who would know how to be kind and just to the people. He will inspire love among his subjects and
not fear. The two princes only wanted to rule.”
Not long afterwards, the youngest prince was chosen by the Emperor as his heir. Like the father,
he was loved by his people because he ruled wisely and well.
Answer the following questions with complete sentences:
1. Describe the emperor.
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2. Where did the emperor and his sons go one day?
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3. Why was the bag of the third prince empty?
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4. What bird was chosen by the first prince and why?
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5. Who was chosen to be the next emperor and why?
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