The Most Beautiful Baby

Long ago, there lived a wise old king. He had a kind face and a big, deep voice.

One morning, his drummer walked through the town. Dum, dum, dum! "Hear this! Hear this! The king wants to see the most beautiful baby in the land! Come to the palace tomorrow!"

The next morning, the palace garden was full of mothers. Each one held her baby close.

The king sat down. "Hmm-hmm. Let us begin."

The first mother came from the river village. "Your Majesty, look at my baby's smile. It is like the first sun of the morning. And listen! Ha-ha-hee! Have you ever heard a sweeter laugh? My baby is the most beautiful!"

The king smiled. "Hmm. A lovely laugh."

The second mother came from the hills. From her arms came a soft sound. "Goo... goo... gaa!" "Your Majesty, my baby sings like a little bird. Every morning, coo, coo, coo. My baby is the most beautiful!"

The king nodded. "Hmm. A lovely song."

The third mother came from the city. From her arms came a happy clap. Pat-a-pat! "Your Majesty, when my baby claps and giggles, the whole house lights up. My baby is the most beautiful!"

Then came more mothers, and more, and more. One baby blew bubbles. Bloop, bloop! One baby wiggled happy toes and squealed. Eeee! One baby gave a slow, sleepy smile.

And every mother said the very same thing.

The king's helper scratched his head. "Your Majesty, what will you do? They all say the same thing!"

The king stood up. The garden went quiet. Only the birds chirped.

"Dear mothers," he said gently. "I asked for the most beautiful baby. And each of you brought one."

The mothers looked at each other.

"Every mother looks at her baby with love," said the king. "And love always sees the most beautiful baby. So every one of you is right. Today, every baby wins!"

The mothers laughed. The babies gurgled. Goo-goo, ha-ha, eeee!

The king gave each baby a little silver bell. Ting-a-ling! And all the mothers went home happy. Each one was holding the most beautiful baby in the world.