The Prince thought she must be mocking him, but when she held the
acorn to his ear, he heard quite plainly a little dog's bark.
"Inside this acorn," she said, "is the prettiest little dog in the
world. But be sure you do not open the fruit until you are in the
King's presence."
The Prince thanked her, and having bidden her a sorrowful farewell,
mounted his wooden steed and rode away.
Before he reached the castle, he met his two brothers, who made fine
fun of the wooden horse, and also of the big ugly dog which trotted by
his side.
They imagined this to be the one their brother had brought back from
his travels, hoping that it would gain the prize.
When they reached the palace, everyone was loud in praise of the two
lovely little dogs the elder brothers had brought back with them, but
when the youngest opened his acorn and showed a tiny dog, lying upon a
white satin cushion, they knew that this must be the prettiest little
dog in the world.
However, the King did not feel inclined to give up his throne just
yet, so he told the brothers that there was one more task they must
first perform: they must bring him a piece of muslin so fine that it
would pass through the eye of a needle.
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