La gaita maravillosa / The Magic Bagpipes

Érase que se era (once upon a time: "there was that there was"; ser — to be) un padre con tres hijos (/there was/ a father who had three sons: "with three sons").

Los dos mayores eran inteligentes y aplicados (the elder two were intelligent and diligent), pero el tercero era algo simplote (but the third was somewhat simple-minded) y le gustaba más jugar que estudiar (and enjoyed playing more than studying; gustar más — to like more).

El muchachito creía (the young lad thought; creer — to believe; think) que ni sus padres ni sus hermanitos le querían (that neither his parents nor his brothers loved him; querer — to like/love), pues siempre le estaban regañando (as they were always scolding him; siempre — always; constantly; regañar) o burlándose de él por su ignorancia (or mocking him for his ignorance).