Old King Cole

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s cozy and uplifting, with music as the theme. The mood is merry but not frantic, and it ends with belonging—great for bedtime when kids need warmth and reassurance.

Story Synopsis

Before he was a king, Cole is just a poor young man with two companions: a stubborn little donkey and an old fiddle. He doesn’t complain. He pats the donkey’s neck, tucks the fiddle under his arm, and sets out into the world. Wherever Cole travels, he brings music. In village squares he plays bright tunes, sings with a smile, and helps people forget their worries for a moment. His kindness becomes as famous as his fiddling. As the story unfolds, Cole’s gentle spirit and joyful songs earn him friends and support. His life changes, yet he never loses the simple thing he loves most: making others feel lighter. By the end, even as a king, he calls for his fiddlers and shares his happiness with everyone around him.

Story Excerpt

Old King Cole was a merry old soul. And a merry old soul was he. Long ago, before he wore a crown, Cole was just a poor man with a kind smile. His father sold apples from a cart. When his father was gone, Cole was left with only two things : a little donkey and an old fiddle. Cole did not cry and fuss about it. He patted the donkey’s neck. “ We’ll go along together, ” he said softly. The donkey could be very stubborn. It did not always like to listen. But Cole climbed on anyway, tucked the fiddle under his arm, and rode out into the wide world. When Cole came to a village, he stopped in the open square. He lifted his fiddle and played a bright, dancing tune. He sang a merry song, too. People smiled. Someone handed him a piece of bread. Someone else gave him warm soup. At night, if no one had a bed for him, Cole did not mind. He would curl up in a barn, or even on the village green. Sometimes he used the donkey’s warm neck like a pillow. “ Good night, ” he would whisper. And he slept, peaceful and safe. Years and years went by like that. Cole’s head grew bald. His face grew wrinkled. His eyebrows turned white as snow. But his eyes still twinkled, and his laugh still sounded friendly. Cole never pulled the donkey this way or that. He just let it choose the road. “ Where do you want to go today? ” Cole would ask. The donkey…

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