The Sad King (a story)

Many tears ago in a distant and far off land Lived a rich and powerful King. He had many loyal servants and devoted subjects. He had a queen who was the most beautiful women in all the land. he had everything that money could buy. Yet the King was unhappy, incomprehensibly depressed. his sadness was great he would set in the window of his bed chamber all day and night, looking over his kingdom and sigh.

One day in drug himself in his lethargy and in thrown of his court. All his subjects and servants mused, hoping he was coming out of his sadness. The gathered in the silence of the court awaiting the words of the king. And the waited, and they waited.

Soon the Queen came and sat at her husbands side. She took his hand and inquired,"My Love, My King, My Husband? is there anything I may do to please thee, to see you smile again?" the king looked upon his loving wife and said,"My Love, My Queen, My wife. You have done some much and I love thee so. It sorrows me more knowing that even in your grace and beauty I still remain in this eternal sadness, my cruse is yours as well and that is unbearable to me."

The King then turned and addressed his court,"I hereby set forth a decree that ANYONE who can lift this cures of sadness from me as so I may enjoy life once again with joy, laughter, contentment, and gratitude; will be rewarded land, gold, a wife, live-stock, a castle, and servants. And I shall grant them Title of Notability a Count and they shall be know through out the land forever and ever. I say this and so it shall be."

So it was posted through out the land that if anyone could make the King happy once again they would be granted riches,, Fame, and Nobility. They came from far an near. Clowns, jesters, Singers, Poets, dancers and all sorts. One by one they lined in by the thousands to bring the King Happiness. Still he did not smile and dismissed them one by one. This continued for almost five years. and the kings rose from his thrown and the court became silent. The King looked over the court and shook his head.
"This is Pointless! These Marry and Amusing Spectacles are fine, very fine indeed, yet they do not bring me joy. The very best talent in the world I have seen, yet I am still cured with sadness. The best physicians, and Sages, even the Priest of far have come to treatment and I waken again to my depression. Dismiss them all. Get me my robe, prepare my horses and my carriage. I am going out."

So the King for the first time in year ventured out of his palace to view his land up close rather then from his chamber window. He thought,"maybe the air will be me good." He viewed out his carriage as he past the people and houses. in the hamlets and farms he peered out up on the smiles and greeting from his people as he pasted by. They where happy to see him, yet he was not happy at all.

Every morning the King would drag himself out to the carriage and would travel through his land, hoping to find something anything that would life his sadness. Days became years and the King was growing from his youth, not yet an old man, yet still he watched his son grow into a young man. Oh how he regretted missing the joys of his sons childhood. Another sigh as he gazed out the carriage. "Maybe I should cast myself off the cliff into the ocean and end this suffering." he said to himself. before ordering that he be taken to the coast.

As the carriage moved along the woodland roads of his kingdom heading in the distance of the coast to the cliff ranges of the kings intended tomb. He sat with droopy eyes starring out in a trans-like state, sinking in his bog of self-pity. Then to his surprise he notice an old man walking in the other direction and this toothless man was Grinning from ear to ear, his attire rags, no shoes and homeless by all appearance. The king sat up and yelled out,"HALT!!!" the carriage stopped on his command. The kind throw open the carriage door and begun walking toward the Poor, Homeless yet blissful man. Two Palace Guards followed the king, has the king pursued the Poor Blissful Man. "You there! Stop! I NEED to talk to you!"

The old man stopped and turn toward the King who was eagerly approaching him with two palace guards. "Oh my." said the poor man. "Your Highness, Forgive give me that I am not about to bow properly." and he bowed his head down. The guards aggressively approached the poor man, one saying, "You will bow to your King!"
"Enough! be gone you disrespectful men in my uniform, have not no respect for your elders! Go!" The Guards stopped and went back to the carriage as their king had dismissed them.
Then old man said,"I am sorry your Highness, my knees are old and I would have trouble getting up if i did."
"No Sir, It is I who am sorry." said the King.
"Pardon me your Highness?" said the Poor old man still possessing a genuine smile.
"Yes. Well in all sorrow I am. Sir you Must tell me the Secrete. Why is it that you are so happy, you are poor, you ware rags, you are smiling in sincerity, yet you are gleaming with a blissful state? How?"
The old man smiled a grin from ear to ear, a toothless smile, yet it still could make the heavens sing. And the words he said where like magic to the Kings ear,"When I wake each morning I greet the day with a smile, as I do all whom I meet all through the day. I helped a Farmer on his way to market, he offered to pay but I could not see what for. I helped to set a pig who was caught in a vine. I help a blind women find her way to the church. Many things I do for others is a daily joy, its what I do everyday. So, even though I grow old, my bones hurt most all the time, it takes me awhile when I rise from my bed as it does when I retire every night, and still then I say Good Night with a smile."
The king had never hear anyone speak in such away. and he just had to ask,"Does this contentment this happiness originate in you?" and the man answered,"in me and through me. Happiness comes from within not from without. as a young man i learned that trying to be happy was like a dog chasing his tell he never gets a hold of it. It was giving a smile and being a servant to all men that I found happiness. Its in giving that one receives."
The King Feel on his knees and tears flowed out like rain. The Guards where alert and where about to run over to his aid when the King pointed toward them as to stay, and they did had he indicated.
With tears streaming down the Kings face he said to the old man,"Truly, it is I who must bow before you Sir, for you are the riches man in all the land, No your riches are not Gold, but in Happiness. And your castle is Contentment. Oh how I want to dwell in your Kingdom!"

The Man approached the king and placed his hand upon him,"And what are you willing to do?"

"Anything", Replied the King.

"Then Go be of service to everyone you meet. treat them with kindness, accept no reward, no praise. be the servant and you too shall be king of happiness. Raise and be content love others and be of service to your fellows." the man said unto the king.

The king rose up and Smiled a big smile, even his eyes smiled shining his new hope.
"Dear Sir, It written that anyone who could bring me happiness will receive Gold, Land, a castle, a wife, live-stock, fame, and a Title of Nobility. You are entitled to this, i am grateful and happy, I am indebted to you."

"No your highness, i respectfully decline. As you said my Wealth is Happiness, my Castle is Contentment. My reward was seeing you smile again. And besides, you just dubbed my the King of Happiness." Said the old man.

"I did." the King Smiles. "And so it is so it shall always be be, you are the King of Happiness Sir. So say I the King."

So the King of Happiness Continued on his way walking, Smiling, and gleaming with Blissfulness. The King Decided he would walk and set his rode in the carriage and placed his crown in a carrier bag he put over his shoulder. He sent the carriage back to the palace. The two place Guard stood looking at each other. "Come on you can walk with me." the king said to the guards.

So the King walk with the King of Happiness, and the two Palace Guard.

The King lived humbly for the rest of his days, spend much time with his son and his wife, Happy, peaceful and content.

The King of Happiness, walked to his long lost daughters home where he died with a smile on his face, the whole kingdom knew he was the "King of Happiness" and what he had done. On his Head Stone was engraved "Here lies the King Of Happiness Whose Riches where not Gold, and whom Castle was not made of stone. His wealth made of Bliss and his Palace made of Contentment. Shall the "king of Happiness" Forever be in the Presents of the Prince of Peace."