The mountain pass lay ahead of him like a gloomy invitation to trouble, terror and doom! However, the fresh air blew softly and the sun shone in the diamond-clear sky and the boy marched happily towards his fate. Between the mountains, the boy noticed two paths: one cold as ice, and crooked; the other straight and clear and beautiful. On the former grew nettles and things that hurt, spikes and thorns; on the latter, daisies grew and butterflies flittered to and fro. The boy thought the choice would be an easy one. He would choose the one which looked like the entrance to Heaven rather than the one which looked more like the entrance of Hell. But the fox suddenly appeared quick as a bolt of lightening! The fox gave the boy this counsel: “Listen to me, young one! Travel the difficult path and all will be well. Travel the easy way and you will fail!” The fox’s emerald-green eyes twinkled as he said this for he knew that humans prefer ease to hardship! The boy was amazed at this counsel. Although he agreed to do as he was told, he secretly desired to follow the beautiful path for he had spotted some fairies playing on the path and wished to see more of their antics. How could a handsome young boy like him resist it? As the boy turned to go, the squirrel-brown fox disappeared. The instant the boy stepped foot on the wrong path, the beautiful fairies, the dainty daisies turned into his very worst nightmares! There was a sudden low grumble and a terrifying avalanche fell crashing down upon him. Luckily, the boy managed to duck and swerve and ran out of harm’s way. He ran back up the path where he saw the clever little fox, with a smug expression on his red and white striped face. So the fox stretched out his tail again, and the young man sat himself down, and away they went over stock and stone till their hair whistled in the wind. And shortly the castle for the golden bird was at last in sight. |
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