Morgan and the Magic Harp: A Famous British Folktale Retold

Chapter 1: The Little Cottage and a Big Dream

Once upon a time, nestled deep in the rolling green hills of a cozy English village, there lived a humble man named Morgan and his sweet wife. They shared a tidy little cottage with a thatched roof, surrounded by blooming wildflowers and a garden full of fresh vegetables. Though they did not possess rich treasures or shiny gold, their hearth was always warm, and their home was filled with simple joys.

Morgan was a cheerful soul with one burning passion in his heart: he loved to sing! Whenever he chopped firewood, fetched water from the well, or tended to his garden, a merry melody would bubble up from his chest. However, poor Morgan was not blessed with the sweet voice of a nightingale. Truth be told, his singing sounded a bit like a squeaky wooden wheel rolling down a bumpy dirt road!

Because of this, some of the villagers often chuckled and made unkind jokes about his singing whenever he passed by.

Villager: "Oh dear, Morgan is singing again! Quickly, close the windows before the milk turns sour!"

Hearing such remarks deeply wounded Morgan's heart. Over time, he grew terribly insecure, hiding his song away and humming only in quiet whispers when no one else was around.

Chapter 2: Three Mysterious Visitors in the Night

One chilly autumn evening, dark storm clouds gathered over the village, and a cold wind howled through the trees. Inside his cozy cottage, Morgan sat comfortably by the crackling fireplace. He was sipping a warm cup of hot cocoa, quietly humming to himself while his wife rested in the cozy room nearby.

Suddenly, a heavy knock echoed at the door. Knock, knock, knock!

Morgan set his cup down, pulled open the heavy wooden door, and was surprised to find three weary travelers standing on his doorstep. Wrapped in long, dusty cloaks, they looked tired, freezing, and frail.

First Traveler: "Good evening, kind sir. We are wanderers who have journeyed from far across the distant mountains."

Second Traveler: "Alas, our journey has been long, and we have run out of all our food supplies. We are terribly hungry and shivering from the bitter night air."

Third Traveler: "Will you have pity on three starving wanderers and spare a small morsel of food for us?"

Morgan's heart overflowed with compassion. He stepped aside immediately and motioned for them to step inside.

Morgan: "Of course, of course! Come in out of the bitter wind, my friends! You are my guests tonight, and no traveler shall ever leave my home hungry."

Morgan invited the three men to sit by the warm fire. He rushed to the pantry and brought out a loaf of freshly baked crusty bread, sweet creamy butter, and three large mugs of steaming hot chocolate milk.

Chapter 3: A Magical Wish Granted

The three wanderers ate heartily, their faces softening with comfort and relief as they enjoyed Morgan's generous hospitality. When they had finished every crumb, they smiled brightly at their kind host.

First Traveler: "We are very pleased to be hosted by you, dear Mr. Morgan. You shared your precious food with strangers without asking for anything in return. How do we repay you?"

Morgan: "Ah, no need! I am happy to entertain you, especially when you are in financial shortage and running out of food."

Second Traveler: "Come on, Mr. Morgan, please state your wish!"

Morgan stroked his chin thoughtfully. He looked into the flickering flames of the fireplace, a dreamy smile spreading across his face.

Morgan: "Well, actually I have a wish. I want to have a magic harp that when I play, everyone becomes dancing and happy to hear it."

Third Traveler: "Well, if that is your wish, we will grant it!"

In a flash of golden light, the three travelers vanished into thin air! In their place sat a magnificent golden harp with silver strings that sparkled like morning dew. Morgan gasped in total astonishment. It turned out that the three travelers were fairies disguised as wanderers! In ancient lore, when fairies visit a home, good hospitality brings wonderful luck, while poor treatment brings trouble.

Chapter 4: The Joyful Village Dance

Morgan: "Wow, this harp is really beautiful! They must be three angels who repaid my kindness. This harp must have a lovely voice too!"

Morgan sat down and played the magic harp. It sounded so beautiful! As he plucked the silver strings, he began to sing along. Suddenly, Morgan's wife rushed into the room, her eyes wide with joy.

Morgan's Wife: "Oh, Morgan! What is this marvelous music? I can't stop my feet from dancing!"

She began to twirl around the room in absolute delight. They finally danced together to the magical sound of the harp. Before long, people passing by Morgan's house heard the beautiful music. They stopped, giggled, and joined the dance right outside! Morgan's neighbors also rushed out of their houses. Morgan and his wife moved to the front yard to dance with all their neighbors under the stars. The entire village was filled with laughter and happiness.

Chapter 5: The Trap of Revenge

The next day, Morgan was visited by a guest—a neighbor who had frequently mocked his singing voice in the past. They sat down together, drinking a cup of coffee while chatting. However, deep inside his heart, Morgan still harbored a bitter grudge against people who had insulted his voice.

Morgan: "Now, when you hear me sing on the harp, you will no longer be able to make fun of my voice!"

The Guest: "Ah, no way! Your voice must be the same as your old voice!"

Morgan, who listened to the explanation from his guest, immediately wanted revenge. He took his magic harp and began to play while singing at full volume. Instantly, the guest leaped up and started dancing uncontrollably!

However, Morgan accelerated the tempo of his harp, plucking faster and faster so that the guest became overwhelmed and started screaming.

The Guest: "Stop, Morgan! Please stop! I am exhausted from dancing to this fast tempo! Mercy!"

The guest was tired of dancing, but Morgan didn't stop playing the instrument. Morgan actually laughed with joy seeing his guest who was exhausted from dancing. The guest couldn't stop his body from moving, even though he begged Morgan to stop. Finally, the guest grew limp and helpless. His face turned pale with sweat pouring down, and he fell completely unconscious on the floor! Morgan laughed out loud because his revenge had finally been repaid.

Chapter 6: The Vanishing Harp and a Bitter Lesson

In the morning, Morgan woke up and walked into his living room, only to be shocked that the magic harp he had just received was nowhere to be found! Morgan continued searching everywhere for his lost harp, but it still could not be found.

Apparently, the three fairies who gave Morgan the harp took back what they had given him. They were very angry with what Morgan had done to his guest. Morgan's guest had become unconscious and fallen ill as a result of Morgan's cruel revenge. Now, Morgan had lost his magic harp forever.

Moral of the Story

Such is the story of The Magic Harp, a classic folk tale from England. The lesson that we can take from this story is that we must remain good and kind people. Bad actions should be rewarded with kindness, not revenge. We must never become vengeful human beings, for using our blessings to harm others will only bring bad rewards and cause us to lose the magic in our lives.

Step into Morgan's story and play it yourself! Help Morgan welcome his three mysterious guests, play the magic harp until the whole village dances, and discover what happens when kindness turns into revenge. Tap, hold, and drag your way through the tale right here on this page.

More folklore from England:

• Jack and the Beanstalk: A Short English Fairy Tale with a Moral
• The Giant of Lilliput: Gulliver's Travels Story for Kids
• Morgan and the Magic Harp: A Famous British Folktale Retold
• The Ugly Duckling: A Classic Fairytale and Moral Story for Kids