We have had stories about 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6, and today we come to a story about 5. There are all kinds of instruments to make music: the pipes we play, the piano or the violin. But there is also an instrument that you don't hear very often or see these days but which people used to play a lot in the olden days—it is called a harp. A harp has strings and you pluck the strings with your fingers. And I want to tell you a story of such a harp; it was a harp with five strings, one for each finger of the hand.

Once upon a time there was a King who owned such a harp with five strings. But this was a harp with magic power. When the King's soldiers had to go and fight against enemies, the King would take his harp and play a tune on it and the soldiers heard the tune and they felt strong and brave and they went out and fought so bravely that the enemy was soon driven away. And when the fight was iver and the soldiers came back tired from the battle and sore from wounds, the King would again play the harp with five strings, but he played another tune— and when the tired and sore soldiers heard this tune, they felt fresh and their wounds and cuts did not hurt them any more. It was a wonderful harp!

So every time the enemies came to fight against the King who had the magic harp they were driven away and lost their battles. And the enemies thought and thought how they could get a hold of that harp with the five strings! And what they did was this: They came again and fought against the King and his soldiers. But while the King and his men were in the battle and fighting, some of the enemies ran quickly to the King's palace and stole the wonderful magic harp.

And when the King and his men came back, they saw that the harp with the five strings had gone! But the King knew that only the enemies could have taken the harp and he went quickly after them. As he came to the castle of the enemy he already heard their shouting and singing from afar; they were feasting because they had taken the harp!

And the King walked into the castle and he came into a big hall and there were men and women eating and drinking and singing and his magic harp was hanging on the wall. But the men in the hall also saw the King and they drew their swords to kill him. But before they could do anything, the King called out to his harp; "Come to me, my harp!" And the harp with the five strings knew his voice and it leaped from the wall and it flew through the air and came into his hands.

And as soon as the harp was in his hands the King plucked the strings and he played a tune that was called: "The Music of Tears." And when the men who had their swords ready to kill the King heard the music of tears they could not do anything but cry and sob and weep!

The King made them weep for a time and they he played another tune that was called: "The Music of Laughter." And as soon as they heard the music of laughter all the people in the hall burst out laughing and they laughed and slapped their sides and they could not stop. The swords fell from their hands and they simply fell to the floor.

And then once more the King plucked the strings of his harp for another tune and that was called: "The Music of Sleep." And when he played that tune all the people in the hall could not keep their eyes open; the soft music made them sleepy and soon they were all sound asleep. And when they were all in deep slumber the King went away with his magic harp of five strings and no one ever tried to steal it again.