As a child treks across the land in search of someone to tell his sad story to, he meets a gruff mountain man who can't stand unhappy stories, a too busy to be bothered farmer, and finally, the old woman who tells stories herself, who is willing to listen. The act of telling the story leads the child to look at the other side and make what was dark lighter and full of hope and positivity.
The true potency of needing to express one's unhappiness and the power of having someone else listen and help is a strong message for young readers. Like a favorite teacher or mentor, they may not be around forever, just for a short but meaningful time.