The Search For Happiness (An Original Children's Story)

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Long ago, in an old town, there lived a very wealthy man who had everything he had ever wanted in life. He owned ten big houses, lands and farms, fifty horses, and many things that other people could ever wish to have. But despite all of this, he was not truly happy.

He had travelled to different parts of the world just to look for the thing that could make him happy. He had spent a lot of money on material things and all sorts of entertainment, but he still couldn't find happiness in his heart. This saddened him for he was getting old, and he knew that no matter how wealthy he was, it will still be of no use once he's gone.

One day, one of his most trusted servants caught an accident, leaving a five-year-old daughter behind. The servant's wife had long left him to raise the child on his own, and he had no other family or relatives around. The little girl had nowhere to go, so the wealthy man decided to take the child in his home out of pity.

Weeks passed by and the little girl still wouldn't stop crying. She barely came out of her room, she seldom ate, and she wouldn't talk to anyone. The wealthy man always left her to his servants while he travelled to anywhere that was far enough for him not to hear the cries. He fed her, gave her beautiful clothes, gave her a comfortable home -- but he never really cared about her.

One day when he came home, he was greeted by the sound of loud screams from the girl's room. This angered him and he rushed to see what was happening, "What does she want now? She has everything she could ever need," he thought. But as soon as he opened the door, the little girl ran to embrace him tightly.

"Father!," she cried. "Father, I'm scared."

All of his anger faded away all of a sudden, and the man found himself light-hearted as he began consoling the little girl.

"Hush, now. I am here. I will protect you."

Tears fell from his eyes as he came to a realization. He couldn't believe that after all those years, the thing that he had been searching for had been right inside his home. He felt loved. He felt special. He was happy.

The next day, the man had given a feast to celebrate his joy. He proudly introduced the little girl to the whole town as his own daughter. Since then, he had given all of his fatherly love, time and attention to the child. He taught her everything he knew, and brought her with him when he travelled to different lands.

The little girl still missed her real father and cries about it from time to time, but she was also happy to have a second one who loved her as much as a real father would. She knew that she was very lucky because she didn't have to face the world on her own. The wealthy man and the little girl had found each other under the most tragic circumstances, but they had helped each other in finding real happiness. And that's how the wealthy man became the happiest man alive.