A kind hearted girl: Tara - a folktale in English

 Tara – a kind-hearted little girl - Story about a little girl who was very kind at heart.

Once there lived a little girl named Tara. She lived in a hut near a forest with her mother. Tara was a good-natured girl and was loved by all. Everyday Tara’s mother would go to the forest to collect woods.  One day, Tara accompanied her mother to the forest…… Tara sat on a piece of log watching her mother at work.  

The early morning rays of sun penetrating hard through the tall green trees made her feel warm. She felt very happy to see the fluttering butterflies and the chirping birds flying around the trees. She started singing and playing….

Head, shoulders, knees and toes…. No trees don’t have those!!!!

Eyes, ears, mouth & nose…. No! No! trees don’t have those!!!!!

They have roots & trunk & branches and leaves… those are the parts of trees.

Buds and fruits and flowers in the breeze …. Those are the parts of trees.

Trees, trees, trees… its sprouting up from seeds

Trees, trees, trees… are home for birds and bees

We all need our trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As she kept playing, a cute little rabbit grabbed her attention. Tara immediately got up and went near the rabbit. But the rabbit kept hopping and running around and went a little far away from the sight of Tara’s mother. Tara ran fast chasing the rabbit and finally caught hold of it. But the minute she held the rabbit in her arms, the rabbit vanished and there in the air appeared a beautiful fairy. Tara was surprised and could not believe her eyes. Gaining courage, she asked the fairy: “Who are you?”

The fairy smiled and replied “I am a fairy. A wicked witch once cursed me and transformed me to a rabbit. My friends tried various tricks to get me back to my original form, in vain.  Finally, our mother fairy told me that I can get relived of this curse when an innocent and kindhearted child touches me. So today, when you held me, the spell of the wicked witch got broken and here I am in front of you in my original fairy form. Thank you so much child. Please ask for a wish and I will grant you.”

Tara could not utter a word. She could not believe what she saw or what she heard. 

The fairy smiled at her and said “Alright little one… here… take this magic wand. Whenever you want something important, just swirl this wand in the air and make a wish. Your wish will immediately be granted. But remember child, only one wish will be granted so make sure its a worthy wish.” Saying so the fairy blessed Tara and disappeared.  

Just then Tara heard her mother calling out to her. She immediately ran to her mother and narrated the incident to her. Tara’s mother just smiled at her and said “Tara…. looks like you dozed off and had a wonderful dream. Anyway, come let’s go home, its already late and I have to cook breakfast for us”.  

When they reached home, Tara went into the farms to play till breakfast was ready. She saw a baby elephant lying in the far end. The elephant was badly injured and bleeding and crying in pain. Tara ran to the elephant and looked around for help. She did not know what to do. Suddenly she saw the magic wand in her hand and remembered the fairy’s words. She immediately swirled it in the air and said “Please cure this baby elephant. It is injured and I feel bad to see it crying in pain.” Immediately the elephant’s wound disappeared. The elephant got up and happily ran into the woods. Tara felt very happy that she could help the baby elephant with the magic wand. As she kept looking at the wand, the fairy suddenly appeared before her. “Dear child, I am extremely pleased by your kind deed. Though I told you, you could ask for only one wish, you still went ahead and used it to help save an elephant instead of wishing something for yourself. Here you go…  I grant you with all the riches of the world.” Saying so, the fairy disappeared again. Tara and her mother lived happily in their beautiful house with all the riches.

Moral: One good and kind deed, begets another. God will always bless us for our kind deeds. Illustration: G. Venkata Lasya from Chennai(Class III student). 

Watch the story here: https://youtu.be/BUv0Lye7_xc