How to find out a True Friend facts for kids

How to find out a True Friend is an exciting Italian fairy tale. It was collected by Laura Gonzenbach in her book Sicilianische Märchen. Later, Andrew Lang included it in his famous collection, The Crimson Fairy Book. This story teaches us about loyalty and the true meaning of friendship.

The Prince's Journey

Once upon a time, a king and queen really wanted a child. They promised St. James that if they had a son, he would go on a special trip, called a pilgrimage, when he turned eighteen. They soon had a son. When the prince was twelve, his father, the king, passed away.

As the prince's eighteenth birthday got closer, his mother, the queen, was very sad. She didn't want him to leave for a whole year. She tried to stop him, but the prince promised he would come back safely.

Finding a Companion

The queen gave her son some apples. She told him he needed a travel buddy. But she also gave him a clever test. He should invite anyone who wanted to join him to eat. Then, he should cut an apple into two different-sized pieces. If someone didn't choose the smaller piece, he should not travel with them.

The prince met three young men. Each said they were also going to the shrine of St. James. The first two men wanted the bigger part of the apple. So, the prince pretended to be sick to get rid of them. The third young man, however, chose the smaller piece. This showed he was humble and fair.

A Promise of Friendship

The prince and the third young man decided to travel together. They made a serious promise. If one of them died during the journey, the other would carry his body to the shrine. It took them a whole year to reach the shrine. At one point, they rented a house to rest before continuing their long trip.

A King's Deception

The king of the land where they rested saw both young men. He thought they were both handsome, but the prince was even more so. The king decided he wanted his daughter to marry the prince. To stop the prince from leaving, the king invited both of them to dinner. He secretly put poison in the friend's food.

The king hoped this would make the prince stay. But the prince immediately decided to continue his journey. The king offered his daughter's hand in marriage, but the prince still left. He kept his promise and carried his friend's body with him.

A Miracle at the Shrine

The friend was not truly dead, only in a deep sleep. When the prince finally reached the shrine, he prayed with all his heart. He asked that his friend be brought back to life. And just like that, his friend woke up!

They returned to the king's palace. The prince then married the king's daughter. After some time, the prince said he needed to go back home. The king, who still disliked the friend, sent him away with a message. He told the friend that the prince would wait for him. Then, the king tricked the prince into leaving, promising that the friend would catch up on a good horse.

When the friend returned, the king sent him after the prince on foot. The friend was very tired when he finally caught up. The prince took care of him like a brother and brought him home. However, no doctor could make the friend feel better.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Later, the prince's wife gave birth to a beautiful daughter.

One day, a strange old man arrived. The queen brought him to see the sick friend. The old man said that the friend could be cured. He said it would take a very difficult and painful sacrifice involving the prince's daughter. The prince was horrified by this idea. But he remembered his promise to treat his friend like a brother. So, with a heavy heart, he agreed.

The friend was immediately restored to health. But the little daughter lay in her cradle as if she had passed away. Then, the old man returned. He revealed that he was actually St. James of Lizia! He then brought the little girl back to life. This showed the prince's incredible loyalty and the power of true friendship.