A king had three daughters. Because they were good and beautiful, he loved them all sincerely. He did not know which one he should appoint as queen. As his birthday approached he summoned his daughters and said to them, "My dear children, I sincerely love all three of you, and for a long time have not known which one of you I should name to be the heir to my throne. But I have now decided that the one shall become queen who brings me a birthday present that is most necessary in human life. Go and make your plans accordingly and with utmost diligence."
The old king's birthday arrived, and the two oldest daughters brought him presents that were very necessary but at the same time extremely expensive. However, the youngest daughter brought him nothing more than a little pile of salt in a decorated container. When the king saw her present, he became very angry, and he drove her out of the castle, forbidding her to allow herself ever to be seen by him again. With deep sorrow, the rejected daughter went out into the unknown world, comforted only by her faith in her own good sense. After walking a good while she came to an inn. There she found a female innkeeper who thoroughly understood cooking. She entered an apprenticeship with her and soon exceeded even the innkeeper in mastering the art of cooking.
News spread far and wide of the excellent cook in this inn, and everyone who came that way and who still had a few kreuzers left in his pocket stopped to be served a roast or something even more elegant.
The king heard of the cook's reputation, and he hired her as court cook. Now it came to pass that the oldest princess was getting married, and the famous cook was assigned the preparation of the wedding feast, with no expenses to be spared. Thus on the wedding day one elegant dish after another was served until the table almost cracked.
Everything was excellently prepared, and everyone praised the cook. Finally the king's favorite dish arrived. Quickly taking a spoon he tasted it.
"This has not been salted!" he cried out angrily. "Have the cook brought before me!"
They quickly ran for the cook, who undaunted entered the hall.
"Why did you forget to salt my favorite dish you careless girl?" snapped the king. The cook answered, "You drove away your youngest daughter because she thought that salt was so necessary. Perhaps you can now see that your child was not so wrong."
When the king heard these words, he recognized his daughter, begged her for forgiveness, asked her to be seated at his side, and accepted her once again as his dear child. Then the wedding became doubly joyful. The king lived happily with his children for many years thereafter.
(By Haineu Newme; Extracted from the book ‘Retelling Naga Narratives: More than thrice told tales’, Edited by Richard Carbo, John Coakley, Abraham Lotha. Published by Heritage Publishing House)
