Looking for a Bride facts for kids

"Looking for a Bride" is a short and interesting fairy tale collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. It is also known as "Choosing a Bride" or "Brides on Their Trial". This story was first added to their collection, Grimms' Fairy Tales, in the second edition. It's a simple tale that teaches a lesson about making smart choices.

The Story of Choosing a Bride

This fairy tale tells the story of a young shepherd who needed to choose a wife. He had three sisters he was considering marrying, but he couldn't decide which one was the best choice for him.

A Tricky Choice

The shepherd felt quite stuck. He wanted to pick the right person, but all three sisters seemed nice. He didn't know how to tell them apart or which one would make the best partner.

The Cheese Test

To help her son, the shepherd's mother came up with a clever idea. She told him to give each of the three sisters a piece of cheese. The way they handled the cheese would show their true character.

The first sister took her cheese and didn't cut off all the rind (the hard outer part). So, she ended up eating some of the rind along with the cheese.

The second sister was a bit too careful. When she cut off the rind, she also cut away a good portion of the tasty cheese. This meant some good food went to waste.

The third sister was just right. She carefully and neatly pared off only the rind, making sure not to waste any of the good cheese. She was thoughtful and efficient.

The Smart Choice

Based on this simple test, the shepherd knew who to choose. He married the third sister. Her careful and sensible way of handling the cheese showed that she was practical and wise. This story teaches us that small actions can reveal a lot about a person's character.