The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs
The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.
Page 1
In the whimsical village of Arboria, nestled among the branches of ancient trees and connected by shimmering rainbow bridges, lived a young man named Felix. Known for his kind heart but cursed with misfortune, he was destined for a perilous journey. To break the curse, he had to seek the Devil himself and retrieve three golden hairs from his fiery head.
Page 2
One day, while gathering herbs in the whispering woods below Arboria, Felix stumbled upon a gnarled old woman trapped beneath a fallen branch. "Please, help me, young man!" she cried, her voice raspy. Felix, despite his own troubles, rushed to her aid, lifting the heavy branch with surprising strength. "Thank you," she wheezed, "for your kindness, I shall give you directions to the Devil's domain."
Page 3
The old woman, pulling a small, tarnished mirror from her pocket, handed it to Felix. "This mirror will show you the path to the Devil's gate, but beware – it reflects not only the way forward, but also your own heart. Use it wisely." Felix, studying the mirror's cloudy surface, noticed a faint, shimmering trail leading into the darkest part of the forest. "Remember what Leonardo da Vinci said," the old woman croaked. "'Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.' Keep your intentions secret.
Page 4
Following the mirror's guidance, Felix reached a swift-flowing river, its waters black as ink. A ferryman stood on the opposite bank, his face hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat. "To cross," the ferryman rasped, "you must offer me something of value." Felix, remembering the old woman's words, knew he couldn't offer gold, for it would surely corrupt his quest. He offered, instead, his only possession of true worth: his inherited cloak of woven sunlight.
Page 5
The ferryman, surprised by Felix's selfless act, accepted the cloak. As Felix stepped onto the rickety boat, the ferryman warned, "Beware the Devil's garden! Its golden fruit holds illusions that tempt even the purest souls." Felix, gripping the edge of the boat, nodded grimly. The river's current pulled them swiftly towards the heart of the Devil's domain, each ripple echoing with a promise of danger.
Page 6
Emerging from the river, Felix found himself in a garden of unearthly beauty. Golden fruit hung from silver trees, their light intoxicating. A voice whispered, "Eat, Felix! Taste the power that awaits you!" He reached for a glistening apple, but the image in the mirror shimmered, showing him not power, but a reflection of himself consumed by greed. He recoiled, realizing the fruit was a test of his true nature.
Page 7
Pressing onward, Felix arrived at the Devil's gate, guarded by three monstrous wolves with eyes of burning coal. They snarled, "To pass, you must answer our riddle: What is stronger than evil, more precious than gold, and essential to life?" Felix, remembering the kindness he showed the old woman, the selfless act of giving up his cloak, and his resistance to temptation, found his answer.
Page 8
"Kindness," Felix declared, his voice echoing through the desolate landscape. The wolves, defeated by his virtuous answer, vanished into shadow. The gate creaked open, revealing a fiery path leading to the Devil's lair. Felix, steeling his resolve, stepped forward, knowing that the final trial awaited him.
Page 9
Inside the lair, the Devil lay sleeping, his head ablaze with three golden hairs. Felix, with a deep breath, plucked the hairs one by one. With each hair removed, the Devil groaned and muttered secrets: "The spring has run dry because a toad blocks it... The tree bears no fruit because a mouse gnaws at its roots... The kingdom suffers because the king knows not his own worth..." Felix, memorizing the secrets, fled the lair as the Devil awoke in fury.
Page 10
Returning to Arboria, Felix revealed the Devil's secrets. The toad was removed, the spring flowed again; the mouse was caught, the tree bore fruit; the king was reminded of his true worth, the kingdom prospered. Felix, no longer cursed, found happiness not in seeking power, but in using his newfound wisdom to help others. As Epictetus said, "'Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants'."
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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