Dino Kids
The Wizard of Alderley Edge
A farmer will not sell his white horse to a mysterious old man, until he is shown a cave of sleeping knights deep under the hill.
Long ago, a farmer set off early one morning to go to the market in Macclesfield. He was leading his beautiful white horse, and he hoped to sell her for a good price. His path went over a high, wooded hill called Alderley Edge.
As he walked under the tall trees, an old man stepped out onto the path. He had a long white beard and a long gray cloak, and he leaned on a wooden staff. “That is a fine horse,” said the old man. “I would like to buy her from you.” He named a price, but the farmer shook his head. “I can get more than that at the market,” said the farmer.
The old man only smiled. “Go to the market, then,” he said, “but nobody there will buy her.” “When you come back this way tonight, I will be waiting for you.”
All day long, the farmer stood in the busy market with his white horse. Everyone said she was the loveliest horse they had ever seen. But strangely, nobody offered to buy her, not even for a single penny.
So in the evening, the farmer led his horse back up the hill. There, under the trees, stood the old man with his staff, just as he had promised. “Follow me,” said the old man, and the farmer followed. They came to a great rock in the side of the hill. The old man tapped it with his staff, and with a deep rumble, the rock swung open like a door. Behind it was a long cave, lit by the soft glow of candles.
The farmer gasped. All along the cave, knights in shining armor lay fast asleep. Beside each knight slept a beautiful white horse, except for the very last one. “My last knight needs a horse,” said the old man, “and that is why I wanted yours.” “These knights are sleeping until the day England needs them, and then they will wake and help.”
The farmer gave the old man his white horse, and she lay down quietly beside the last sleeping knight. Then the old man gave the farmer a bag full of shining treasure, much more than any market would pay. The farmer thanked him and stepped out of the cave, and the rock closed behind him with a rumble.
He hurried home to tell his family, and they could hardly believe it. The next day he went back to look for the rock, but he could never find it again. People say the knights are still sleeping under Alderley Edge, waiting for the day they are needed.
A traditional tale, retold for young children by Dino Kids (CC0).
Hear this story read aloud
In the Dino Kids app, “The Wizard of Alderley Edge” is read aloud, the sentence being read lights up, and there are three reading speeds for little ears. Parents can also record it in their own voice. Free, no ads, no in-app purchases.
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