APrince and a Princess were still celebrating their honeymoon. They wereextremely happy；only one thought disturbed them， and that was how toretain their present happiness. For that reason they wished to own a talismanwith which to protect themselves against any unhappiness in their marriage.
Now， they had often been told about a man who lived out in the forest， acclaimed by everybody for his wisdom and known for his good advicein every need and difficulty. So the Prince and Princess called upon him andtold him about their heart's desire. After the wise man had listened to them hesaid， “Travel through every country in the world， and wherever you meet a completely happily married couple， ask them for a small piece of the linen they wear close to the body， and when you receive this， you must alwayscarry it on you. That is a sure remedy！”
The Prince and thePrincess rode forth， and on their way they soon heardof a knight and his wife who were said to be living the most happily marriedlife. They went to the knight's castle and asked him and his wife if theirmarriage was truly as happy as was rumored.
“Yes， of course，” was the answer， “with the one exception that we have no children！”
Here then the talismanwas not to be found， and the Prince and Princesscontinued their journey in search of the completely happily married couple.
As they traveled on， they came to a country where they heard of an honest citizen wholived in perfect unity and happiness with his wife. So to him they went， and asked if he really was as happily married as people said.
“Yes， I am，” answered the man. “My wife and I live in perfect harmony； ifonly we didn't have so many children， for they give usa lot of worries and sorrows！”
So neither with him wasthe talisman to be found， and the Prince and thePrincess continued their journey through the country，always inquiring about happily married couples； butnone presented themselves.
One day， as they rode along fields and meadows， theynoticed a shepherd close by the road， cheerfullyplaying his flute. Just then a woman carrying a child in her arm， and holding a little boy by the hand，walked towards him. As soon as the shepherd saw her， hegreeted her and took the little child， whom he kissedand caressed. The shepherd's dog ran to the boy， lickedhis little hand， and barked and jumped with joy. In themeantime the woman arranged a meal she had brought along， and then said， “Father， come and eat now！” The man sat down andtook of the food， but the first bite he gave to thelittle boy， and the second he divided between the boyand the dog. All this was observed by the Prince and the Princess， who walked closer， and spoke to them， saying， “You must be a truly happilymarried couple.”
“Yes， that we are，” said the man. “God be praised； no prince or princess couldbe happier than we are！”
“Now listen then，” said the Prince. “Do us a favor， and you shall never regret it. Give us a small piece of the linengarment you wear close to your body！”
As he spoke， the shepherd and his wife looked strangely at each other， and finally he said， “God knows we would beonly too happy to give you not only a small piece， butthe whole shirt， or undergarment， if we only had them， but we own not as muchas a rag！”
So the Prince and thePrincess journeyed on， their mission unaccomplished.Finally， their unsuccessful roaming discouraged them， and they decided to return home. As they passed the wise man's hut， they stopped by， related all their travelexperiences， and reproached him for giving them suchpoor advice.
At that the wise mansmiled and said， “Has your trip really been all in vain？ Are you not returning richer in knowledge？”
“Yes，” answered the Prince， “I have gained thisknowledge， that contentment is a rare gift on thisearth.”
“And I have learned，” said the Princess， “that to be contented， one needs nothing more than simply - to be contented！”
Whereupon the Princetook the Princess' hand； they looked at each other withan expression of deepest love. And the wise man blessed them and said， “In your own hearts you have found the true talisman！ Guard it carefully， and the evil spirit ofdiscontentment shall never in all eternity have any power over you！”
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