OK, so I just thought of a story that my Dad told me when I was a little girl. I would be whining that I didn't want to eat my peas or something like that, and he always had a story with a moral to tell me, so here is one. The only reason I thought of it is since we are on the subject of getting lost...
it goes something like this... There once was a spoiled Prince that lived in a castle. He had always lived in the kingdom and had never ventured out and therefore yearned to go out and see the world. So, he told his parents, the King and Queen, " Father, Mother, It is time that I now go out into the world and see great things. I would like to experience the world and explore. I will leave in the morning." So, his parents reluctantly said goodbye to him and wished him well. His father, who was very wise, said to him," Remember to be kind to everyone you meet." Now, the Prince, who was not only young, but very spoiled, had this idea that he was so high and mighty that everywhere he went people would bow down to him and do as he said. So, in the morning, he got on his horse and rode out of the castle with some provisions of food and water. As he rode out of the kingdom, the peasants bowed to him, and he stobbishly sat on his horse nodding to all the people as he rode by. He enjoyed every minute of all the attention. He was used to getting his way and having everyone at his beck and call. Sometimes just for the fun of it, he would kick or push the peasants to the ground!
When he got out of the kingdom and rode into the forest, he realized that he was indeed on a road that was completely new to him. He kept riding and soon was lost. He tried to retrace his steps but the more he tried the more lost he became. Some robbers were waiting in the bushes and ambushed him, taking everything he owned, even his food. " I command you to stop and give me my possessions!" he cried out in vain. He had never been treated like that before. Night fell and he was alone. Many days passed and he was starving. He came upon a little house and a little peasant lived in the house. He said, " Please give me some food, I am so hungry!" So, the peasant, seeing it was the Prince, said, "Oh, My Goodness! Your Highness, all I have are some humble little potatoes..." The Prince didn't care - he was famished and ate them. They were the best potatoes he had ever eaten! So, the peasant fed him until he was feeling strong again.
Since the peasant knew every inch of the forest, he told the Prince exactly which path to take to get back to the castle. And which one to stay away from to avoid the robbers. The Prince was so grateful to the peasant, he promised to come back to get him to have him live in the castle and give him fine clothes, good food and a nice bed. The peasant said, " OH, thank you, your Highness, but I am just a peasant. I am happy right here and I do not need such things. But thank you anyway."
So, the Prince went back to the castle. On his way back, as he entered the kingdom, the prince bowed down to each of the peasants he met! From that day on, he treated the people with as much compassion as his father.
Moral of the story: If you don't eat your peas, your father will try to teach you a lot of lessons about life. Glenda