The Donkey Cabbages

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

Best for older kids: it’s adventurous but satisfying, with problems solved through bravery and smart choices. Bedtime-friendly when read calmly and focused on restoration and fairness.

Story Synopsis

A young hunter walks through the forest and meets an old woman who begs for help. He gives her what he can, and she rewards his kindness by pointing him to a hidden castle with food on the table and a garden full of cabbages—but she warns him that the cabbages are enchanted. At the castle, the hunter discovers the secret: some cabbages turn whoever eats them into a donkey, while another kind can undo the spell. Soon a greedy king hears rumors of the magic and tries to seize it for himself, causing trouble and forcing others into humiliation. The hunter is not simply strong—he must be careful and clever. He learns when to act, when to wait, and how to use the magic without becoming cruel. Step by step, he outwits the palace, rescues those who have been wronged, and makes sure the stolen power cannot be used to harm again. The story is full of classic fairy-tale beats—tests, transformation, and justice—ending with a sense that kindness and wise choices can set a broken situation right.

Story Excerpt

There was once a young hunter who walked boldly into the forest with a light, whistling heart. The trees stood close together, and the path was soft with fallen leaves. As he went along, an ugly old woman stepped out from behind a trunk and called to him. “ Good day, dear hunter! You look so merry and contented, ” she said. “ But I suffer hunger and thirst. Give me a trifle, if you can. ” The hunter felt sorry for her. He reached into his pocket and gave her all the small coins he could spare. The old woman’s eyes brightened. “ Listen, dear hunter, ” she said, and her voice grew strangely sure. “ Because you have a kind heart, I will make you a present. Go on your way. In a short time you will come to a tree where nine birds sit, quarreling over a cloak they hold in their claws. Take aim and shoot into the middle of them. They will drop the cloak, and one bird will fall. Take the cloak — this is a wishing - cloak. When you throw it on your shoulders, you only have to wish yourself to a place, and in the twinkling of an eye you will be there. “ And take the heart from the bird that falls and swallow it whole. Then, early every morning when you wake, you will find a gold piece under your pillow. ” The hunter thanked her, though inside he wondered, These are splendid promises — if they are true. He had not gone far — only a little way — when he heard…

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