Once upon a time there lived a king who had three sons. In his garden he had a beautiful apple tree on which golden apples grew. But every morning there was one apple missing from the tree.

 

The king ordered his sons to guard the tree.One night the eldest son goes to the garden to try to catch him. He sleeps under the tree all night. In the morning another apple is missing. The next day the middle son tries to catch the thief. He sleeps all night. The third day the youngest son is on guard and watches carefully all night.

 

He loads the gun with peas because he doesn't want to hurt the thief. He sees a beautiful golden bird picking the ripe apple. He shoots. The bird flies away and three golden feathers fall on the grass. The prince brings the golden feathers to the king. The king wants to have the golden bird. He promises the kingdom to the son who brings him the bird.

 

The first year the eldest prince gets a horse, some food and some money. He looks for the bird in a forest. After a while he gets hungry, stops at a clearing and starts eating. Suddenly a big bear comes by and asks the prince for some food. The prince chases him away. »you will have trouble!« growls the bear as he goes away. In an hour the prince gets caught by wild robbers who take his money and force him to join them. He doesn't return home.

 

The second year the second son leaves home to search fofindr the bird. He stops at the same clearing and while he is eating, the bear comes and asks for food. The prince chases him away. An hour later the robbers take everything from him and force him to join them. He doesn't return home.The third year the youngest prince goes on his journey, seraching for the bird. In the middle of the forest he sits down to eat his meal. While he is eating, the bear comes and asks for food. The youngest son is kind and generous. He offers the bear all his food. The hungry bear eats the food and wants to eat the horse as well. The prince gives it to him.

 

The bear is now satisfied and promises to help him. » Cut a hazel switch and sit on my back, I'll take you to the golden birds,« he says. The prince rides on the bear to a big rock. »Hit the rock with the hazel switch and a cave will open up. It will be full of golden birds in golden cages. Grab the first bird and run away before the guard catch you,« the bear tells the prince. The prince does as he's instructed, the rock opens and there is a big cave with beautiful golden birds in golden cages. He forgets the bear's advice and chooses the most beautiful one at the back of the cave.

 

Guards catch him and they promise him the chosen bird if he brings them the fastest horse in the world. He leaves the cave.The bear is angry because the prince didn't obey him. But he takes him to another rock. Again he tells him to take the first horse at the door of the cave. The rock opens but the prince doesn't take the first one. He chooses the most beautiful one at the back. The guards catch him and they promise him the horse if he brings them a mermaid.

 

The bear is very angry but he agrees to help the prince again. »There is a beach not far away from here and a town near it. Buy some trinkets in the town and sell it at the sea shore. When three mermaids come to you to buy something, choose the prettiest maid, take her hand and wish to be with the horse,« says the bear and disappears.

 

The prince goes to the coast and starts selling all sorts of jewellery, such as silver mirrors, colourful combs, pearls and scarves. Three mermaids come up from the sea. He speaks only with the most beautiful one. In the end he shakes hand with the mermaid and wishes that they are both in the horses' cave. They appear in the cave and the prince gets the horse. Before he exits the cave, he shakes hands with the mermaid again and wishes that they are both in the birds' cave. There he gets the most beautiful golden bird.

 

When the prince and the mermaid shake hands for the third time, he wishes to be with the bear. Immediately they find themselves next to the bear: himself, the mermaid, the horse and the golden bird. The bear wishes them luck and goes his own way. His last advice is not to save anyone from hanging.

 

On the way to the king's castle they pass a town where two robbers are about to be hanged. The prince realizes that are his brothers. He pays with golden coins for them and saves their lives. He continues his journey home, but the brothers catch up with him. They realize he has succeded in his task, so they beat the prince, take the bird¸ the horse and the mermaid and leave their kind brother dead on the ground. They travel to the castle and give the presents to the king.

 

The king is very happy to welcome his sons back. But the bird stops singing, the horse becomes wild and the mermaid starts crying. Meanwhile, the bear finds the youngest prince lying on the road. The bear digs up a healing root and squeezes a drop of its juice to the prince's mouth. The young man jumps to his feet, hale and hearty again. The bear returns to his forest and the prince to his castle. But nobody recognizes the king's son in a tattered traveller, so they don't let him in. He goes to the horse in the stable. Everyone is astonished when the wild horse immediately turns tame and gentle.

 

Then the prince wants to see the bird. When he enters the room where the cage with the golden bird is hung, the bird starts to sing loudly and sweetly. The mermaid hears the bird singing and rushes into the room. She runs to the prince and kisses him. The king recognizes his youngest son and learns about the wicked brothers treachery. He hangs them as they deserve.

 

The prince marries the mermaid. They get the kingdom and live happily ever after. The apple-tree in their garden gives them golden apples every year and the golden bird sings beautiful melodies to them.

 

 

A Slovenian Folk Tale