Story

The Tinderbox

15 minAges 7-9

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The story

Introduction

Have you ever wished you had something truly magical? Something that could make wishes come true? Well, gather 'round, because today we're off on an adventure with a brave soldier, some very special dogs, and a hidden treasure. We'll discover a secret tinderbox that sparks not just flames, but incredible surprises! Get ready for a tale of courage, enchantment, and a princess who longs for a friend. It's time for 'The Tinderbox'!

The Soldier and the Peculiar Witch

Our soldier, after many brave adventures, was finally marching home from a long, long war. He carried a big rucksack and felt quite tired, but his heart was full of hope. Along a dusty country lane, he suddenly saw a most peculiar old witch! She had a long, pointy nose and eyes that sparkled like mischievous stars. She grinned widely, showing no teeth at all. 'Good day, soldier,' she croaked. 'Fancy being rich?' The soldier, rather taken aback, asked, 'Rich? How so?' The witch pointed to a gnarled, ancient tree. 'Under its roots, there's a deep, dark hole. Climb down for me. You'll find three rooms, each with a dog guarding a treasure chest. Bring me the old tinderbox from the very last room, and all the gold and silver you find is yours!' Our soldier, after many brave adventures, was finally marching home from a long, long war. He carried a big rucksack and felt quite tired, but his heart was full of hope. Along a dusty country lane, he suddenly saw a most peculiar old witch! She had a long, pointy nose and eyes that sparkled like mischievous stars. She grinned widely, showing no teeth at all. 'Good day, soldier,' she croaked. 'Fancy being rich?' The soldier, rather taken aback, asked, 'Rich? How so?' The witch pointed to a gnarled, ancient tree. 'Under its roots, there's a deep, dark hole. Climb down for me. You'll find three rooms, each with a dog guarding a treasure chest. Bring me the old tinderbox from the very last room, and all the gold and silver you find is yours!' The soldier, though wary of the peculiar offer, couldn't deny the allure of such a fortune. 'Dogs?' he questioned, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes. 'What kind of dogs?'

Down the Tree and the Three Big-Eyed Dogs

“Oh, just some rather *special* dogs!” chuckled the old witch. “Below, you’ll find three rooms. In the first, a dog with eyes like teacups guards copper pennies. Put him on my blue-checked apron, and he won’t harm you! The next room holds a dog with eyes like mill-wheels, watching over silver pounds. Finally, in the deepest room, a dog with eyes as vast as the Round Pond protects countless gold sovereigns!” The soldier, usually penniless, couldn’t resist. “Right then! Lower me down!” he declared. The witch tied a rope around him, lowering him gently into the hollow tree. Down, down, down he went, through the dark passage. Thump! He landed softly. There, in the first room, sat a dog with eyes like two enormous teacups! It blinked slowly. Remembering the witch’s instructions, the soldier carefully lifted the huge dog onto the blue-checked apron. He opened the chest and gasped. It was overflowing with shiny copper coins! He filled his pockets and knapsack until they bulged. He walked into the second chamber. This dog was even bigger, its eyes truly like two giant mill-wheels. Again, the soldier carefully lifted the enormous creature onto the apron. He peered into the chest; it was piled high with sparkling silver coins! He scooped up handfuls, tucking them into every available space. “Just one more room!” he murmured. He pushed open a grand wooden door, and there, in the deepest chamber, sat the biggest dog of all! Its eyes were indeed as vast and deep as the Round Pond. The soldier, now used to big dogs, bravely lifted this colossal creature onto the apron too. Phew! He then opened the final, most magnificent chest. And there, shining brighter than anything, were piles of glorious gold sovereigns! He filled his cap, his boots, and every last corner of his knapsack. He was now a very rich soldier.

The Magic of the Tinderbox

The soldier, now laden with gold, climbed out of the hollow tree. He still had the old witch's tinderbox in his pocket, but he didn't think much of it then. He was too busy feeling his boots and cap, heavy with glittering gold sovereigns! He waved goodbye to the three big-eyed dogs, who wagged their tails happily as he left. He walked back down the path, whistling a merry tune. As he reached the top, there stood the old witch, looking very cross indeed. "Give me my tinderbox!" she cackled, her voice like dry leaves rattling. The soldier shook his head. "No, you tricked me," he said. "Tell me what it's for, and perhaps I will." But the witch just stamped her foot and tried to snatch it. The soldier, feeling brave and a little bit annoyed, wouldn't let her. He quickly pushed her away, and she tumbled into a ditch, never to be seen again. The soldier felt a little bit sorry, but mostly, he was just relieved. He had his gold, and he had the mysterious tinderbox. Then, the soldier, now very rich, made his way to a big, bustling city. He found the grandest flat in the finest part of town, with tall windows and soft carpets. He bought himself new clothes – splendid uniforms with shiny buttons and hats with feathers. He ate the most delicious food, like roast beef and Yorkshire puddings, and his favourite jam tarts. He had lots of new friends who always wanted to share his meals and laugh at his jokes. He bought a fancy carriage with swift horses and would drive through the streets, waving to everyone. He went to the theatre and bought all the best seats. He thought this was the most wonderful life ever! But, as often happens when you spend money like water, his gold sovereigns began to dwindle. First, he noticed his pockets felt a little lighter. Then, he couldn't buy new uniforms quite so often. Soon, his grand flat felt a bit too grand, and he moved to a smaller one, a little further from the city centre. His new 'friends' didn't visit as much anymore. "Where have they all gone?" he wondered. Eventually, he had to move into a tiny attic room, high up in an old house, with hardly any furniture and a leaky roof. He had no money left for anything, not even a nice cup of tea or a warm biscuit. All his gold was gone. One cold, dark evening, the soldier shivered in his tiny room. He had no fire, and his candle had burned down to a stub. "Oh dear," he sighed, "I wish I had a light." He rummaged through his old knapsack, hoping to find a stray coin, and his hand brushed against something cold and metal. It was the tinderbox! The very same one the witch had given him. He hadn't thought about it in ages. "Perhaps," he thought, "I can use this to light my candle." He took out the tinderbox, clicked the lid open, and struck the flint. *Flick!* A tiny spark flew out. And then, *woosh!* The air in the little room swirled, and suddenly, there stood the first dog! The one with eyes as big as teacups! It sat right there on his floor, its giant eyes gazing up at him, its tail wagging gently. "What does my lord command?" barked the dog, its voice deep and rumbly like a faraway thunder. The soldier gasped. "Good heavens!" he exclaimed. "You're real!" He stared at the dog, then at the tinderbox. "Did... did you come from this?" he asked, pointing a trembling finger. The dog just wagged its tail again. "I need some money," the soldier stammered, "I haven't eaten properly in days!" *Woosh!* Before he could blink, the dog disappeared! And *woosh!* just as quickly, it was back, holding a huge sack in its mouth. It dropped the sack at the soldier's feet. It was full of shining gold sovereigns! Just like the ones from the tree! The soldier couldn't believe his eyes. He picked up a coin, feeling its weight. It was real! The tinderbox wasn't just for lighting candles; it was magic! He grinned. Now he understood why the witch had wanted it so badly. He ate a good meal, paid his rent, and bought himself some warm clothes. He struck the tinderbox again. *Flick!* And the dog with eyes like teacups appeared. "My lord?" it rumbled. "I'd like a nice, warm blanket," the soldier said. *Woosh!* A blanket appeared! He learned that if he struck the tinderbox once, the dog with eyes like teacups would appear. But what if he struck it twice? Or three times? He felt a tingle of excitement. This old tinderbox was going to change everything!

A Royal Rescue and a Happy Ending

The soldier, his heart thumping like a drum, struck the tinderbox twice! Whoosh! A dog with eyes like mill-wheels appeared, its fur like copper, carrying a satchel of silver coins. 'More money?' the soldier chuckled. 'This is amazing!' Then, with a mischievous twinkle, he struck it a third time. BOOM! A third dog, the biggest of all, with eyes like enormous tower windows, rumbled into view. As tall as a pony, its fur like midnight velvet, it carried a chest overflowing with sparkling gold! With his three magical doggy friends, the soldier became incredibly rich. He moved into the grandest house near the palace, bought the finest clothes, ate delicious food, and had a carriage pulled by white ponies. He shared his money freely, and everyone wanted to be his friend. But even with all his riches, the soldier couldn't forget the beautiful Princess, locked away in her tower. He longed to see her again. So, one night, the soldier took out his trusty tinderbox. He struck it once. The first dog appeared. 'My dear friend,' the soldier whispered, 'Please, bring the Princess here to me, just for a little while.' Whoosh! The dog vanished and returned moments later, gently carrying the sleeping Princess in its mouth! Her golden hair tumbled over its paw. The dog laid her carefully on a velvet cushion. The soldier looked at her, his heart full of happiness, and gave her a quick, gentle kiss on the cheek. But just then, the Princess stirred and opened her eyes! She gasped! Seeing a strange man, she cried out in fright! Quick as a flash, the dog scooped her up and carried her back to her royal bed in the palace, tucking her in. The next morning, the Princess told her mum and dad, the King and Queen, about her strange dream. 'I dreamt a dog carried me to a strange room,' she said, 'and a kind soldier kissed my cheek!' The Queen was very suspicious. 'A dream, you say?' she muttered. 'I don't think so!' That day, the Queen called her cleverest lady-in-waiting. 'You must sit by the Princess's bed tonight,' she commanded, 'and see if this 'dream' happens again!' So, the lady-in-waiting sat quietly, pretending to sleep, but watching carefully. Sure enough, that night, the soldier struck the tinderbox once more. The dog appeared. 'Bring the Princess to me again!' he asked. And off the dog went! The lady-in-waiting saw the dog gently lift the Princess and disappear. She grabbed a piece of chalk, followed the dog, and watched it enter the soldier's grand house. After the dog returned the Princess, the lady-in-waiting made a big chalk mark on the soldier's front door! 'Aha!' she whispered. 'Now we'll catch him!' The very next morning, the Queen sent her royal guards to find the chalk mark. 'Arrest whoever lives behind that door!' she ordered. But the soldier, you see, was very clever. He had woken early and peeked out his window. He saw the chalk mark and chuckled. Before the guards could arrive, he grabbed his own chalk and, running up and down the street, put a chalk mark on every single door! Every single one! When the guards returned, they were bewildered. 'Your Majesty!' they exclaimed, 'We found chalk marks everywhere! Every door is marked! We don't know who to arrest!' The King and Queen scratched their heads. 'How can this be?' the King grumbled. But the Queen was not one to give up easily! 'I have another plan!' she declared. She sewed a tiny, silk bag, filled it with fine flour, and tied it secretly to the Princess's back. 'If she is taken again,' the Queen explained, 'the flour will sprinkle out and leave a clear trail for us to follow!' That night, the soldier, perhaps a little too confident, struck the tinderbox for the third time. The dog appeared. 'One last time, my faithful friend,' he said, 'bring the Princess!' And off the dog went. As it soared through the air, carrying the sleeping Princess, a little trail of white flour drifted down from the tiny bag, dusting the pavement like fairy dust. All the way from the palace, across the town, and right up to the soldier's grand front door! The next morning, it was very easy indeed to follow the flour trail! The royal guards, with a cheer, followed the white path straight to the soldier's house. They burst in, and before he knew what was happening, they grabbed the poor soldier! 'You are under arrest for kidnapping the Princess!' they shouted. He was dragged away to the deepest, darkest dungeon, and told he would be executed the very next day! The soldier sat in his cold, stone cell, feeling terribly sad and scared. He realized he had forgotten one very important thing: his tinderbox! It was still back in his grand flat. Just then, a small boy peered through the bars. 'What's happening, mister?' the boy asked. The soldier had an idea! 'Little lad,' he whispered, 'I'm about to be executed tomorrow. Could you do me the greatest favour? If you run to my flat, you'll find a tinderbox. Bring it to me, and I'll give you a whole gold coin!' The boy's eyes lit up! He promised and off he ran. True to his word, the brave little boy found the tinderbox. Just as the guards were leading the soldier to the gallows the next morning, the boy slipped it into his hand. The soldier felt a surge of hope! As he stood before the crowd, with the King and Queen watching, he made a final request. 'Please,' he said, 'may I have one last puff of my pipe?' The King, wanting to seem kind, agreed. The soldier took out his pipe, then carefully, the tinderbox. He struck it once! Whoosh! The dog with eyes like saucers appeared. He struck it twice! WHAM! The dog with eyes like mill-wheels arrived. And then, with all his might, he struck it three times! THUMP! The enormous dog with eyes like tower windows roared into view! All three dogs stood before him, their giant eyes glowing, ready to obey. 'My faithful friends!' the soldier cried, 'Save me from these guards and this unkind King and Queen!' And just like that, the dogs sprang into action! The first dog tossed the guards high like rag dolls! The second picked up the King and Queen, making them dance a silly jig on the gallows! And the third, biggest dog, let out such a tremendous bark that everyone else ran away screaming in terror! The crowd cheered for the brave soldier! 'He should be our King!' they shouted. 'He's kind and clever, and he has magic on his side!' The King and Queen, still doing their silly jig, quickly agreed, too frightened to say no. So, the soldier, once so poor, became the new King! He married the beautiful Princess, and they had the most magnificent wedding. The three magical dogs became their most loyal companions, always ready for a game or to help solve a problem. And, of course, they all lived happily ever after.

Outro

And that's the end of our magical tale about the brave soldier and his wonderful tinderbox! Thank you so much for joining us on this adventure today. We truly hope you've enjoyed it. Remember, you can always let Sonacasts know if you have any feedback – we love hearing from you! Why not try imagining your very own magical story? What wondrous things would happen next? Until our next adventure, goodbye for now, and keep dreaming big!