Rapunzel

Once upon a time, a husband and wife longed for a child. At last, a baby girl was born with golden hair. But a wicked enchantress, who lived next door, snatched the baby away, named her Rapunzel, and locked her in a tall tower deep in the forest. The tower had no door and no stairs — only one small window at the very top.

The Girl in the Tower

As Rapunzel grew, her hair grew longer and longer, until it reached all the way down the tower. Whenever the enchantress wanted to visit, she would call out, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" and climb up the golden braid like a rope. Rapunzel was lonely, but she had a beautiful singing voice, and she sang to the birds and the forest every day.

One day, a prince was riding through the forest when he heard the sweetest song he had ever known. He followed the sound to the tower and watched in wonder as the enchantress called, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" When the enchantress left, the prince tried it himself. Down came the golden hair, and up he climbed. Rapunzel was frightened at first, but the prince was kind and gentle, and they soon became the best of friends. He visited her every day, bringing books and stories.

Freedom at Last

But one day Rapunzel slipped and said, "Why are you so heavy to pull up? The prince is much lighter!" The enchantress was furious. She cut off Rapunzel's long hair and sent her far away into the desert. Then she waited in the tower. When the prince called, she let down the cut hair, and when he reached the top, she pushed him! He fell into thorn bushes and hurt his eyes so badly he could not see.

The blind prince wandered the land for years, until one day he heard a familiar sweet voice singing in the desert. It was Rapunzel! She ran to him, and her tears of joy fell on his eyes — and like magic, he could see again! They returned to his kingdom and were married. Rapunzel's hair grew back long and golden, and they lived happily ever after.

Songs for the Birds

Rapunzel's days in the tower were long, but she made them sweet. Each morning she brushed her golden hair until it shone like sunlight. She taught the little birds to sing with her, and they brought her shiny pebbles and blue feathers as gifts. She pressed flowers between the pages of the few books she had, and she dreamed of the wide world beyond the forest — of oceans she had never seen and cities full of music.

"One day I will be free," she whispered to a sparrow. "One day I will walk in a meadow and pick my own flowers." The sparrow chirped as if to say, "Be patient, little one." And Rapunzel was patient. She kept her heart hopeful and her voice joyful, not knowing that her songs were already traveling through the trees to someone who would change her life forever.

Moral of the Story

Hope and love can overcome any prison. Never give up, even in the darkest times.