The Two Sisters
There once was a powerful king who had two daughters. Although the king was wise and just, he also had a foul temper and little patience. All too often he lost his temper over an unimportant matter, raging through the corridors of the palace like a wildfire. The people living in the surrounding villages had heard stories about the king and grew fearful of his legendary temper. As a result, the villagers were reluctant to tell the king about their needs.
As the king grew older, he decided it was time to choose a successor. His oldest daughter, Priscilla, was exactly like her father, for she also had a short temper and was often seen following her father on his many tirades, yelling at the servants. His younger daughter, however, was the opposite. Her name was Annabelle, and she was quiet, thoughtful, and compassionate. Although she followed her father during his tirades, too, it was to say a kind word to the servants afterward.
One day, the king called his two daughters to the throne room. “It is time I chose which one of you will wear the crown,” he said. “Annabelle, you are adored not only by the servants, but also by the people in this land. However, leaders must be strong and unforgiving, not kind. They must be feared, not loved. A lion’s power lies in our fear of him. That is why I have chosen Priscilla to rule this land when I am gone.”
Priscilla smiled and gave Annabelle a conceited, smug look. Although Annabelle was kind, she was also proud. Annabelle said, “I respect your decision, Father. However, I still think I would make a good leader. There is a fishing village on an island that suffered greatly during last week’s storm and needs help. I would like to stay at the village and help there for as long as I am able.”
The king gave his permission and Annabelle set sail to the island the following morning. Now that her sister was gone, and, knowing that she would rule the land after her father, Priscilla became even worse. She yelled at the servants all throughout the day, screamed at the cooks during meals, and even shrieked at the farmers working in the fields as she rode past in the royal carriage. When the villagers found out that Priscilla would be the next ruler, they became worried because they did not want another ruler like the king.
Things were much different on the island for Annabelle. When she arrived, she gathered the villagers so they could look at the damage caused by the storm together. Many of the fishing boats had been smashed, and the docks had sunk or been washed away. Nearly half of the houses were now missing roofs.
“Many hands make for light work,” Annabelle told the eager villagers, “so we will all help our neighbors quickly clean up the village together in a dash.”
Annabelle worked with the villagers to clean up the damage. First, she worked with the fishers to cut down trees and build new fishing boats. Then, she organized the villagers to rebuild the docks and replace the roofs on the houses. Before long, the village on the island was thriving.
Meanwhile, things at the palace had gotten worse for the king. Priscilla was a panther that prowled through the palace, frightening everyone. The king’s servants told him the villagers were unhappy, but the villagers were too fearful to explain why. Worse yet, he heard rumors that many villagers were even threatening to revolt against the king. At the same time, the king heard news that the fishing village was flourishing, and that the villagers who lived there were happy.
The king called his daughters back to the throne room. “It takes a brave person to admit when they are wrong,” he said. “I thought that rulers must be feared, and I thought they did not need to be kind. I thought that being compassionate and kindhearted were signs of weakness. However, Annabelle has shown me the value of kindness and love. That is why I want Annabelle to be the next ruler.”
The villagers rejoiced when they heard the good news. Annabelle would forever be known as the kindest yet strongest leader the kingdom had ever known. As for Priscilla, she learned from her sister how to lead.