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The Stolen Necklace

A kind and wise woman wrongly accused of theft is proven innocent when the king discovers a magpie took the queen's necklace.
Honesty
Forgiveness
Regret
The Stolen Necklace
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a busy kingdom, there lived a kind and wise woman who chose to live simply, spending her days helping others. She was well-known and respected and often visited the royal palace, where everyone liked her because she brought good luck.

One sunny day, while she was with the queen, the queen gave her a beautiful necklace, sparkling with precious stones, saying, “Please hold this for me while I take a quick bath here in the palace.” The woman put the necklace carefully on her mat and began to meditate quietly.

While she was deep in thought, a naughty magpie flew through the window. It saw the shiny necklace, picked it up in its beak without anyone noticing, and hid it in a small crack in the palace wall.

When the queen returned, refreshed from her bath, she asked for her necklace. The woman began to look for it but was sad to find it missing. She explained to the queen, “I put your necklace right here on my mat. I haven’t moved since. It seems it has disappeared!”

The king, upon hearing the news, was angry and decided that the woman must be questioned. Despite the kind woman’s honesty, she was tested many times to make her confess to a theft she did not commit. Yet, she stayed firm and truthful.

Days turned into weeks, and the woman stayed sad in a small room in the palace. Meanwhile, the king sat in his garden one afternoon, thinking about what had happened. Just then, he saw the same magpie flying towards a crack in the garden wall. Curious, he watched as the bird pulled out the very necklace that had been lost.

Realizing his big mistake, the king was filled with regret. He immediately ordered for the woman to be brought before him. With tears in his eyes, he apologized sincerely for the misunderstanding and praised her for her honesty and courage.

“I am very sorry for the trouble we have caused you,” the king said, his voice full of regret.

The wise woman, with a gentle smile, accepted the king’s apology but did not want any reward. She chose to continue her simple life outside the palace, helping others as she always had.

Once upon a time, in a busy kingdom, there lived a kind and wise woman who chose to live simply, spending her days helping others. She was well-known and respected and often visited the royal palace, where everyone liked her because she brought good luck.

One sunny day, while she was with the queen, the queen gave her a beautiful necklace, sparkling with precious stones, saying, “Please hold this for me while I take a quick bath here in the palace.” The woman put the necklace carefully on her mat and began to meditate quietly.

While she was deep in thought, a naughty magpie flew through the window. It saw the shiny necklace, picked it up in its beak without anyone noticing, and hid it in a small crack in the palace wall.

When the queen returned, refreshed from her bath, she asked for her necklace. The woman began to look for it but was sad to find it missing. She explained to the queen, “I put your necklace right here on my mat. I haven’t moved since. It seems it has disappeared!”

The king, upon hearing the news, was angry and decided that the woman must be questioned. Despite the kind woman’s honesty, she was tested many times to make her confess to a theft she did not commit. Yet, she stayed firm and truthful.

Days turned into weeks, and the woman stayed sad in a small room in the palace. Meanwhile, the king sat in his garden one afternoon, thinking about what had happened. Just then, he saw the same magpie flying towards a crack in the garden wall. Curious, he watched as the bird pulled out the very necklace that had been lost.

Realizing his big mistake, the king was filled with regret. He immediately ordered for the woman to be brought before him. With tears in his eyes, he apologized sincerely for the misunderstanding and praised her for her honesty and courage.

“I am very sorry for the trouble we have caused you,” the king said, his voice full of regret.

The wise woman, with a gentle smile, accepted the king’s apology but did not want any reward. She chose to continue her simple life outside the palace, helping others as she always had.

There is a kind woman. She lives in a busy kingdom. Every day, she helps other people. Everyone likes her because she is nice.

One day, the woman goes to the palace. The queen gives her a shiny necklace. The queen says, “Hold this for me. I will take a bath.” The woman puts the necklace on her mat. She sits and thinks quietly.

While the woman is thinking, a bird flies in. The bird sees the necklace. It picks up the necklace and hides it in a crack in the wall.

The queen finishes her bath. She asks for her necklace. The woman looks for it but cannot find it. She says, “I put the necklace here. Now, it is gone!”

The king is mad. He thinks the woman took the necklace. He asks her many questions. The woman says, "I did not take the necklace. I am telling the truth." The king does not believe her.

One day, the king sits in the garden. He sees the bird. The bird goes to the crack and pulls out the necklace. The king sees this and knows he made a mistake.

The king is very sorry. He says to the woman, “I am sorry. You are honest and brave.” The woman smiles. She forgives the king and goes back to her simple life. She continues to help other people every day.

Once upon a time, in a busy kingdom, there lived a kind and wise woman who chose to live simply, spending her days helping others. She was well-known and respected and often visited the royal palace, where everyone liked her because she brought good luck.

One sunny day, while she was with the queen, the queen gave her a beautiful necklace, sparkling with precious stones, saying, “Please hold this for me while I take a quick bath here in the palace.” The woman put the necklace carefully on her mat and began to meditate quietly.

While she was deep in thought, a naughty magpie flew through the window. It saw the shiny necklace, picked it up in its beak without anyone noticing, and hid it in a small crack in the palace wall.

When the queen returned, refreshed from her bath, she asked for her necklace. The woman began to look for it but was sad to find it missing. She explained to the queen, “I put your necklace right here on my mat. I haven’t moved since. It seems it has disappeared!”

The king, upon hearing the news, was angry and decided that the woman must be questioned. Despite the kind woman’s honesty, she was tested many times to make her confess to a theft she did not commit. Yet, she stayed firm and truthful.

Days turned into weeks, and the woman stayed sad in a small room in the palace. Meanwhile, the king sat in his garden one afternoon, thinking about what had happened. Just then, he saw the same magpie flying towards a crack in the garden wall. Curious, he watched as the bird pulled out the very necklace that had been lost.

Realizing his big mistake, the king was filled with regret. He immediately ordered for the woman to be brought before him. With tears in his eyes, he apologized sincerely for the misunderstanding and praised her for her honesty and courage.

“I am very sorry for the trouble we have caused you,” the king said, his voice full of regret.

The wise woman, with a gentle smile, accepted the king’s apology but did not want any reward. She chose to continue her simple life outside the palace, helping others as she always had.

Once upon a time, in a lively kingdom full of silly knights and giggling princesses, there lived a kind and wise woman who preferred comfy slippers to fancy shoes and always made everyone smile. She was so well-loved that she often visited the royal palace, where her visits were said to bring good luck, kind of like a lucky charm.

One sunny day, while she was with the queen, who couldn’t decide between a bubble bath or a mud mask, the queen said, "Hey, could you hold my necklace for a bit? I’m going to take a quick bath." This wasn’t just any necklace—it was shinier than a disco ball. The woman carefully placed it on her mat and started to meditate, probably dreaming of chocolate and cozy pillows.

While she was deep in thought, a cheeky magpie zipped through the window like it was late for a party. "Ooh, shiny!" it squawked, snatching the necklace in its beak. No one noticed as the bird hid it in a small crack in the palace wall, laughing like it had just pulled off the trick of the year.

When the queen came back, looking like she’d just stepped out of a fairy tale, she asked for her necklace. The woman blinked, looked around, and gasped. "It was right here on my mat! It’s... gone!"

The king, who loved a bit of drama, stormed in upon hearing the news. "By my royal crown, we must solve this mystery!" he declared, waving his royal stick around like he was trying to swat a fly. Despite the woman’s honesty and calm explanations, she was tested and questioned more times than a contestant on a quiz show. But she stayed true and honest, her heart as pure as fresh snow.

Days turned into weeks, and the woman found herself living in a small room in the palace, feeling like she’d been grounded for something she didn’t do. Meanwhile, the king sat in his garden one afternoon, thinking hard about the missing necklace like it was the toughest puzzle ever. Suddenly, he saw that same mischievous magpie fluttering towards a crack in the garden wall. The king watched with wide eyes as the bird pulled out the very necklace that had been lost!

Realizing his big mistake, the king smacked his forehead. "Oh, what a royal blunder!" he exclaimed. He quickly called for the woman. With a heartfelt apology, he admitted his mistake. "I’m so very sorry for all the trouble. You’ve been as brave and honest as a true hero."

The woman, always gentle and kind, smiled and said, "No worries, Your Majesty. We all make mistakes. Besides, I’ve had enough palace excitement to last a lifetime."

And so she did, heading back to her simple life, spreading kindness like peanut butter on bread. The magpie flew off to find another shiny adventure, probably planning its next big trick. The king, queen, and everyone in the palace learned a lesson about trust and honesty, thanks to the wise woman who lived simply but with a heart as golden as the sun.

In a kingdom busy, vibrant, and bright,
Lived a wise woman, spreading delight.
Beloved by all, from the town to the throne,
Her kindness and luck were widely known.

One day in the palace, under the sun's glow,
The queen to the woman a necklace did show.
"Keep this with you while I bathe," said the queen.
The woman nodded, her manner serene.

She placed it on her mat, and meditated nearby,
But a magpie swooped in, quick as the eye.
It grabbed the shiny prize and flew out of sight,
Hiding the jewels tight in the wall out of light.

When the queen returned, ready and dressed,
The necklace was gone, the woman distressed.
"I placed it right here," she said in dismay,
But the queen’s jewel had vanished away.

The king, upon hearing, was filled with rage,
The honest woman he put in a cage.
Tested she was, yet her truth did not bend,
Her integrity strong, she'd not pretend.

Weeks passed by, in her lonely room,
The king sat pondering in the garden's bloom.
He spied the magpie with the necklace in beak,
Realized his mistake, his outlook bleak.

With sorrow in heart, to the woman he strode,
"Forgive us," he cried, on her mercy he owed.
Her smile was gentle, her spirit unbowed,
She forgave the king, her head humbly bowed.

No reward she took, nor gold, nor crown,
Back to her simple life in the humble town.
Helping others, her heart always true,
In the bustling kingdom where the good luck flew.

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Word Finder

  1. Kingdom

    A country ruled by a king or queen.

  2. Wise

    Having knowledge, experience, and good judgment.

  3. Precious

    Highly valued and important; worth a lot.

  4. Meditate

    To focus the mind for relaxation or reflection.

  5. Noticing

    Seeing or becoming aware of something.

  6. Disappeared

    Vanished; no longer visible or present.

  7. Questioned

    Asked about something, usually to find the truth.

  8. Confess

    To admit to something, usually a wrongdoing.

  9. Regret

    Feeling sad or sorry about something done.

  10. Misunderstanding

    A failure to understand something correctly.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where did the woman put the queen's necklace while the queen took a bath?
  2. What did the magpie do with the necklace?
  3. How did the king react when he first heard about the missing necklace?
  4. What did the king see in the garden that made him realize his mistake?
  5. How did the woman respond to the king's apology?

Word Finder

  1. Kingdom

    Big land ruled by a king.

  2. Palace

    Large house where a king lives.

  3. Necklace

    Jewelry worn around the neck.

  4. Quietly

    Without making any noise.

  5. Crack

    Small opening in something solid.

  6. Mad

    Very angry or upset.

  7. Truth

    What is real or correct.

  8. Believe

    Think something is true.

  9. Mistake

    Something done wrong.

  10. Forgives

    Stops being mad about something.

  1. Kingdom

    A country ruled by a king or queen.

  2. Wise

    Having knowledge, experience, and good judgment.

  3. Precious

    Highly valued and important; worth a lot.

  4. Meditate

    To focus the mind for relaxation or reflection.

  5. Noticing

    Seeing or becoming aware of something.

  6. Disappeared

    Vanished; no longer visible or present.

  7. Questioned

    Asked about something, usually to find the truth.

  8. Confess

    To admit to something, usually a wrongdoing.

  9. Regret

    Feeling sad or sorry about something done.

  10. Misunderstanding

    A failure to understand something correctly.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where does the kind woman live?

    1. In a small village
    2. In a busy kingdom
    3. In a forest
    4. In a big city
  2. Who gives the woman the necklace?

    1. The king
    2. A friend
    3. The queen
    4. The bird
  3. What does the bird do with the necklace?

    1. Takes it to a tree
    2. Puts it in a crack in the wall
    3. Drops it in the river
    4. Gives it to the queen
  4. Why is the king mad at the woman?

    1. She broke a vase.
    2. She lost the necklace.
    3. She shouted at the queen.
    4. She took the necklace.
  5. How does the king find out the woman is honest?

    1. The queen tells him
    2. The woman finds the necklace
    3. He sees the bird with the necklace
    4. The woman confesses
  1. Where did the woman put the queen's necklace while the queen took a bath?
  2. What did the magpie do with the necklace?
  3. How did the king react when he first heard about the missing necklace?
  4. What did the king see in the garden that made him realize his mistake?
  5. How did the woman respond to the king's apology?
  1. Why did the king initially order that the woman be questioned about the missing necklace?
  2. How did the woman react to the accusations against her, and what does this reveal about her character?
  3. What role did the magpie play in the fable, and how did its actions affect the outcome of the story?
  4. Describe the sequence of events that led to the discovery of the necklace.
  5. How did the king express his regret and what was the woman's response to his apology?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why did the woman put the necklace on her mat while she meditated?
  2. What do you think made the magpie take the necklace?
  3. How did the woman's honesty and courage help her during the difficult time when she was accused of theft?
  4. Why is it important to be careful before making judgments, like the king did with the woman?
  5. What can we learn from the woman's choice to continue living simply and helping others?

Fable Quotes

"No legacy is so rich as honesty."
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."
"Regret is an odd emotion because it comes only upon reflection."
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