25. As Precious As Salt

A king asked his three daughters how much they loved him. The youngest replied that she loved him as much as salt in food, which he took as an insult. He was furious and expelled the princess from the palace. She went to the royal orchard, where she found a young man lying under a fig tree. This was a lazy boy who could not be persuaded to take up any work. She taught him how to make a living. He went to the market and found work as a wood-cutter. He found gold in the cave where he stored the wood. He and the princess became very rich and built a palace. The princess—disguised as a beggar woman—invited the king to a feast. The king came, but was served food without salt, which he found disgusting. The princess invited him for another dinner, in which she served delicious food seasoned with salt. The king complimented her and she revealed herself to him. The girl and the young man got married and lived happily ever after.