The Raven

There was once upon a time a queen who had a little daughter who was still so young that she had to be carried. One day the child was naughty, and the mother might say what she liked,
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The Peasant's Wise Daughter

There was once a poor peasant who had no land, but only a small house, and one daughter. Then said the daughter, we ought to ask our lord the king for a bit of newly-cleared land. When the king heard of their poverty,
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The Three Little Birds

About a thousand or more years ago, there were in this country nothing but small kings, and one of them who lived on the Keuterberg was very fond of hunting. Once on a time when he was riding forth
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The Water of Life

There was once a king who had an illness, and no one believed that he would come out of it with his life. He had three sons who were much distressed about it, and went down into the palace-garden and wept.
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The Spirit in the Bottle

There was once a poor woodcutter who toiled from early morning till late at night. When at last he had laid by some money he said to his boy, “You are my only child,
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The Devil's Sooty Brother

A discharged soldier had nothing to live on, and did not know how to make his way. So he went out into the forest and when he had walked for a short time, he met a little man who turned out to be the devil.
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Bearskin

There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made,
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The Willow-Wren and the Bear

Once in summer-time the bear and the wolf were walking in the forest, and the bear heard a bird singing so beautifully that he said, “Brother wolf, what bird is it that sings so well?”
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Sweet Porridge

There was a poor but good little girl who lived alone with her mother, and they no longer had anything to eat. So the child went into the forest, and there an aged woman met her who was aware of her sorrow,
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Wise Folks

One day a peasant took his good hazel-stick out of the corner and said to his wife, Trina, I am going across country, and shall not return for three days. If during that time the cattle-dealer should happen to call and
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Stories About Snakes

There was once a little child whose mother gave her every afternoon a small bowl of milk and bread, and the child seated herself in the yard with it. But when she began to eat,
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The Poor Miller's Boy and the Cat

In a certain mill lived an old miller who had neither wife nor child, and three apprentices served under him. As they had been with him several years, he one day said to them,
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The Two Travelers

Hill and vale do not meet, but the children of men do, good and bad. In this way a shoemaker and a tailor once met on their travels. The tailor was a handsome little fellow who was always merry and full of enjoyment.
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Hans the Hedgehog

There was once a country man who had money and land in plenty, but however rich he was, his happiness was still lacking in one respect – he had no children. Often when he went into the town with the other peasants
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The Shroud

There was once a mother who had a little boy of seven years old, who was so handsome and lovable that no one could look at him without liking him, and she herself worshiped him above everything in the world.
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The Skillful Huntsman

There was once a young fellow who had learnt the trade of locksmith, and told his father he would now go out into the world and seek his fortune. Very well, said the father, I am quite content with that,
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The Two Kings' Children

There was once upon a time a king who had a little boy in whose stars it had been foretold that he should be killed by a stag when he was sixteen years of age, and when he had reached that age the huntsmen
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The Cunning Little Tailor

There was once on a time a princess who was extremely proud. If a wooer came she gave him some riddle to guess, and if he could not find it out, he was sent contemptuously away.
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The Bright Sun Brings It to Light

A tailor’s apprentice was traveling about the world in search of work, and at one time he could find none, and his poverty was so great that he had not a farthing to live on.
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The Blue Light

There was once on a time a soldier who for many years had served the king faithfully, but when the war came to an end could serve no longer because of the many wounds which he had received.
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The King's Son Who Feared Nothing

There was once a king’s son, who was no longer content to stay at home in his father’s house, and as he had no fear of anything, he thought, I will go forth into the wide world, there the time will not seem long to me,
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Donkey Cabbages

There was once a young huntsman who went into the forest to lie in wait. He had a fresh and joyous heart, and as he was going thither, whistling upon a leaf, an ugly old crone came up, who spoke to him and said,
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The Old Woman in the Wood

A poor servant-girl was once traveling with the family with which she was in service, through a great forest, and when they were in the midst of it, robbers came out of the thicket,
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The Devil and His Grandmother

There was a great war, and the king had many soldiers, but gave them small pay, so small that they could not live upon it, so three of them agreed among themselves to desert. One of them said to the others,
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Ferdinand the Faithful

Once upon a time lived a man and a woman who so long as they were rich had no children, but when they were poor they got a little boy. They could find no godfather for him, so the man said he
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The Iron Stove

In the days when wishing was still of some use, a king’s son was bewitched by an old witch, and shut up in an iron stove in a forest. There he passed many years, and no one could rescue him.
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The Four Skillful Brothers

There was once a poor man who had four sons, and when they were grown up, he said to them, “My dear children, you must now go out into the world, for I have nothing to give you, so set out, go abroad and learn a trade,
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One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes

There was once a woman who had three daughters, the eldest of whom was called One-Eye, because she had only one eye in the middle of her forehead, and the second, Two-Eyes, because she had two eyes like other folks,
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Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie

“Good-day, father hollenthe.” “Many thanks, pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I be allowed to have your daughter?” “Oh, yes, if mother malcho milchcow, brother high-and-mighty, sister kasetraut, and fair katrinelje are willing,
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The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces

There was once upon a time a king who had twelve daughters, each one more beautiful than the other. They all slept together in one chamber, in which their beds stood side by side,
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The Six Servants

In olden times there lived an aged queen who was a sorceress, and her daughter was the most beautiful maiden under the sun. The old woman, however, had no other thought than how to lure mankind to destruction,
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The White Bride and the Black One

A woman was walking about the fields with her daughter and her step-daughter cutting fodder, when the Lord came towards them in the form of a poor man, and asked, “Which is the way into the village?”
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Iron John

There was once upon a time a king who had a great forest near his palace, full of all kinds of wild animals. One day he sent out a huntsman to shoot him a roe, but he did not come back. Perhaps some accident has befallen him,
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The Three Black Princesses

East india was besieged by an enemy who would not retire until he had received six hundred dollars. Then the townsfolk caused it to be proclaimed by beat of drum that whosoever was able to procure the money should be burgomaster.
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Knoist and His Three Sons

Between werrel and soist there lived a man whose name was knoist, and he had three sons. One was blind, the other lame, and the third stark-naked. Once on a time they went into a field, and there they saw a hare.
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The Maid of Brakel

There were once upon a time a king and a queen who lived happily together and had twelve children, but they were all boys. Then said the king to his wife, if the thirteenth child which you are about to bring into the world,
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Domestic Servants

Whither do you go. To walpe. I to walpe, you to walpe, so, so, together we’ll go. Have you a man. What is his name. Cham. My man cham, your man cham. I to walpe, you to walpe, so, so, together we’ll go.
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The Lambkin and the Little Fish

There were once a little brother and a little sister, who loved each other with all their hearts. Their own mother, however, was dead, and they had a step-mother who was not kind to them,
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Simeli Mountain

There were once two brothers, the one rich, the other poor. The rich one, however, gave nothing to the poor one, and he gained a scanty living by trading in corn, and often did so badly that he had no bread
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Going A-Travelling

There was once a poor woman who had a son, who much wished to travel, but his mother said, how can you travel. We have no money at all for you to take away with you. Then said the son, I will manage very well for myself.
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The Donkey

Once upon a time there lived a king and a queen, who were rich, and had everything they wanted, but no children. The queen lamented over this day and night, and said, I am like a field on which nothing grows.
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The Ungrateful Son

A man and his wife were once sitting by the door of their house, and they had a roasted chicken set before them, and were about to eat it together. Then the man saw that his aged father was coming,
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The Turnip

There were once two brothers who both served as soldiers, one of them was rich, and the other poor. Then the poor one, to escape from his poverty, doffed his soldier’s coat, and turned farmer.
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The Old Man Made Young Again

At the time when our Lord still walked this earth, he and St. Peter stopped one evening at a smith’s and received free quarters. Then it came to pass that a poor beggar,
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The Three Sluggards

A certain king had three sons who were all equally dear to him, and he did not know which of them to appoint as his successor after his own death. When the time came when he was about to die,
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The Shepherd Boy

There was once upon a time a shepherd boy whose fame spread far and wide because of the wise answers which he gave to every question. The king of the country heard of it likewise,
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The Star Money

There was once upon a time a little girl whose father and mother were dead, and she was so poor that she no longer had a room to live in, or bed to sleep in, and at last she had nothing else but
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The Stolen Farthings

A father was one day sitting at dinner with his wife and his children, and a good friend who had come on a visit ate with them. And as they thus sat, and it was striking twelve o’clock,
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Poison in Mind

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law.
In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all.
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The Sparrow and His Four Children

A sparrow had four young ones in a swallow’s nest. When they were fledged, some naughty boys pulled out the nest, but fortunately all the birds got safely away in the high wind.
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Snow-White and Rose-Red

There was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage. In front of the cottage was a garden wherein stood two rose-trees, one of which bore white and the other red roses.
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The Glass Coffin

Let no one ever say that a poor tailor cannot do great things and win high honors. All that is needed is that he should go to the right smithy, and what is of most consequence, that he should have good luck.




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Lazy Harry

Harry was lazy, and although he had nothing else to do but drive his goat daily to pasture, he nevertheless groaned when he went home after his day’s work was done. It is indeed a heavy burden,




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The Griffin

There was once upon a time a king, but where he reigned and what he was called, I do not know. He had no son, but an only daughter who had always been ill, and no doctor had been able to cure her.




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Strong Hans

There were once a man and a woman who had an only child, and lived quite alone in a solitary valley. It came to pass that the mother once went into the wood to gather branches of fir, and took with her little Hans,




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The Hut in the Forest

A poor wood-cutter lived with his wife and three daughters in a little hut on the edge of a lonely forest. One morning as he was about to go to his work, he said to his wife, let our eldest daughter bring me




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The Goose Girl at the Well

There was once upon a time a very old woman, who lived with her flock of geese in a remote clearing in the mountains, and there had a little house. The clearing was surrounded by a large forest,




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Eve's Various Children

When Adam and Eve were driven out of paradise, they were compelled to build a house for themselves on barren ground, and eat their bread in the sweat of their brow. Adam dug up the land, and Eve spun.




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The Nix of the Mill-Pond

There was once upon a time a miller who lived with his wife in great contentment. They had money and land, and their prosperity increased year by year more and more. But ill luck comes like a thief in the night.




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The Poor Boy in the Grave

There was once a poor shepherd-boy whose father and mother were dead, and he was placed by the authorities in the house of a rich man, who was to feed him and bring him up.




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The True Sweetheart

There was once upon a time a girl who was young and beautiful, but she had lost her mother when she was quite a child, and her step-mother did all she could to make the girl’s life wretched.




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The Spindle, The Shuttle, and The Needle

There was once a girl whose father and mother died while she was still a little child. All alone, in a small house at the end of the village, dwelt her godmother, who supported herself by spinning, weaving, and sewing.




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Talent Hunt

A man brought a rabbit, a frog and a chicken to a talent agent’s office.
As the agent watched with disinterest, the frog drank from a glass of water while the rabbit danced around the chicken and performed somersaults.




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How to open door?

A king put his court to a test for an important post. Powerful and wise men stood around him in great numbers.
“You wise men,” said the king, “I’ve a problem, and I want to see who out of you is in a position to solve it.”




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Who is teaching whom?

A letter arrived to the old professor’s home where he had retired after teaching and graduating many generations of scholars. The letter came from James, an average student who had struggled to pass the professor’s classes




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Strange Creature

One day, Arjuna saw a strange creature in the forest, a creature he had never seen before. It seemed like a fusion of nine animals, its head was that of a rooster, its neck was that of a peacock,




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Don't Wait for the parrot to die!

“The story is told of a woman who bought a parrot to keep her company, but she returned it the next day.
“This bird doesn’t talk,” she told the owner. “Does he have a mirror in his cage?” he asked.




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The Pending Coffee

We were in a small coffee shop. Two customers arrive. “5 coffees. 2 for us, 3 pending”.
“What’s a pending coffee?” I ask to waiter. Waiter told me “Wait and see”.




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Which Way is Success?

A man asked the guru, “Which way is success?”
The sage spoke not, but pointed to a place off in the distance.




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Power of Prayer

Several years ago, a small farming community was experiencing a terrible drought.
The leaders of the community called a prayer meeting in hope of everyone attending and holding a group prayer for rain.




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Unbelievable Power

An Eastern chemistry professor tried an experiment.
He held up a vial labeled ‘Violet Perfume” and asked his students to raise their hands as soon as they could detect the odour.




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Best Shot

My father had consented to let me buy my first gun, a 22 calibre rifle.
Four days I studied the mail-order catalogue and finally selected a fully automatic model that would fire 15 shots without reloading.




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Two Choices

Jerry is the manager of a restaurant. He is always in a good mood.
When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would always reply:




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The Sea Hare

There was once upon a time a princess, who, high under the battlements in her castle, had an apartment with twelve windows, which looked out in every possible direction, and when she climbed up to it and looked




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The Master Thief

One day an old man and his wife were sitting in front of a miserable house resting a while from their work. Suddenly a splendid carriage with four black horses came driving up, and a richly-dressed man descended from it.




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The Drummer

A young drummer went out quite alone one evening into the country, and came to a lake on the shore of which he perceived lying there three pieces of white linen. What fine linen, said he, and put one piece in his pocket.




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The Ear of Corn

In former times, when God himself still walked the earth, the fruitfulness of the soil was much greater than it is now. Then the ears of corn did not bear fifty or sixty, but four or five hundred-fold.




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Old Rinkrank

There was once upon a time a king who had a daughter, and he caused a glass mountain to be made, and said that whosoever could cross to the other side of it without falling should have his daughter to wife.




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The Crystal Ball

There was once an enchantress, who had three sons who loved each other as brothers, but the old woman did not trust them, and thought they wanted to steal her power from her. So she changed the eldest into an eagle,




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Maid Maleen

There was once a king who had a son who asked in marriage the daughter of a mighty king, she was called Maid Maleen, and was very beautiful. As her father wished to give her to another, the prince was rejected,




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St. Joseph in the Forest

There was once on a time a mother who had three daughters, the eldest of whom was rude and wicked, the second much better, although she had her faults, but the youngest was a pious, good child.




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The Twelve Apostles

Three hundred years before the birth of the Lord Christ, there lived a mother who had twelve sons, but was so poor and needy that she no longer knew how she was to keep them alive. She prayed to God daily that he would




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The Rose

There was once a poor woman who had two children. The youngest had to go every day into the forest to fetch wood. Once when she had gone a long way to seek it, a little child, who was quite strong,




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Poverty and Humility Lead to Heaven

There was once a king’s son who went out into the world, and he was full of thought and sad. He looked at the sky, which was so beautifully pure and blue, then he sighed, and said, how well must all be with one up




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The Three Green Twigs

There was once upon a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain.




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The Aged Mother

In a large town there was an old woman who sat in the evening alone in her room thinking how she had lost first her husband, then both her children, then one by one all her relatives, and at length, that very day,




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The Hazel-Branch

One afternoon the Christ-child had laid himself in his cradle-bed and had fallen asleep. Then his mother came to him, looked at him full of gladness, and said, have you laid yourself down to sleep, my child.




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Cat and Mouse in Partnership

A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together.




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The Wonderful Musician

There was once a wonderful musician, who went quite forlorn through a forest and thought of all manner of things, and when nothing was left for him to think about, he said to himself,




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The Pack of Ragamuffins

The cock once said to the hen, it is now the time when the nuts are ripe, so let us go to the hill together and for once eat our fill before the squirrel takes them all away. Yes, replied the hen, come,




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Why the Owl is not King of the Birds

Why is it that Crows torment the Owls as they sleep in the daytime? For the same reason that the Owls try to kill the Crows while they sleep at night.
Listen to a tale of long ago and then you will see why.
Once upon a time, the people who lived together when the world was young took a certain...

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The Crab and the Crane

In the Long Ago there was a summer when very little rain fell.
All the Animals suffered for want of water, but the Fishes suffered most of all.
In one pond full of Fishes, the water was very low indeed.




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Granny's Blackie

Once upon a time a rich man gave a baby Elephant to a woman.
She took the best of care of this great baby and soon became very fond of him.




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The Ox Who Envied the Pig

Once upon a time there was an Ox named Big Red. He had a younger brother named Little Red. These two brothers did all the carting on a large farm.
Now the farmer had an only daughter and she was soon to be married.




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The King's White Elephant

Once upon a time a number of carpenters lived on a river bank near a large forest. Every day the carpenters went in boats to the forest to cut down the trees and make them into lumber.




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The Princes and the Water-Sprite

Once upon a time a king had three sons. The first was called Prince of the Stars. The next was called the Moon Prince and the third was called the Sun Prince. The king was so very happy when the third son was born




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The Banyan Deer

There was once a Deer the color of gold. His eyes were like round jewels, his horns were white as silver, his mouth was red like a flower, his hoofs were bright and hard. He had a large body and a fine tail.




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The Elephant Named Girly-Face

Once upon a time a king had an Elephant named Girly-face. The Elephant was called Girly-face because he was so gentle and good and looked so kind. “Girly-face never hurts anybody,” the keeper of the Elephants often said.




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The Wise and the Foolish Merchant

Once upon a time in a certain country a thrifty merchant visited a great city and bought a great supply of goods. He loaded wagons with the goods, which he was going to sell as he traveled through the country.




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The Foolish, Timid Rabbit

Once upon a time, a Rabbit was asleep under a palm-tree.
All at once he woke up, and thought: “What if the world should break up! What then would become of me?”




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The Quarrel of the Quails

Once upon a time many quails lived together in a forest. The wisest of them all was their leader.
A man lived near the forest and earned his living by catching quails and selling them.




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The Sandy Road

Once upon a time a merchant, with his goods packed in many carts, came to a desert. He was on his way to the country on the other side of the desert.
The sun shone on the fine sand, making it as hot as the top of a stove.




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The Ox Who Won the Forfeit

Long ago a man owned a very strong Ox. The owner was so proud of his Ox, that he boasted to every man he met about how strong his Ox was.
One day the owner went into a village, and said to the men there:




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The Merchant of Seri

There was once a merchant of Seri who sold brass and tinware. He went from town to town, in company with another man, who also sold brass and tinware. This second man was greedy, getting all he could for nothing,




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How The Turtle Saved His Own Life

A king once had a lake made in the courtyard for the young princes to play in. They swam about in it, and sailed their boats and rafts on it. One day the king told them he had asked the men to put some fishes into the lake.




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The Future Buddha as a Wise Judge

A woman, carrying her child, went to the future Buddha’s tank to wash. And having first bathed the child, she put on her upper garment and descended into the water to bathe herself.




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The Mosquito and the Carpenter

Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta gained his livelihood as a trader. In these days in a border village in Kasi there dwelt a number of carpenters.




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The Golden Mallard

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a Brahmin, and growing up was married to a bride of his own rank, who bore him three daughters named Nanda, Nanda-vati,




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The Tortoise That Refused to Leave Home

Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a village as a potter’s son. He plied the potter’s trade, and had a wife and family to support.




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How a Parrot Told Tales of His Mistress and Had His Neck Wrung

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came into the world as a young parrot. His name was Radha, and his youngest brother was named Potthapada. While they were yet quite young,




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The Monkey's Heart

Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life at the foot of the Himalayas as a monkey. He grew strong and sturdy, big of frame, well to do, and lived by a curve




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The People Who Saw the Judas Tree

Once on a time Bramadatta, the King of Benares, had four sons.
One day they sent for the charioteer and said to him, “We want to see a Judas tree. Show us one!”




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The Timid Hare and the Flight of the Beasts

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, the Bodhisatta [the future Buddha] came to life as a young lion. And when fully grown he lived in a wood. At this time there was near the Western Ocean




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The Language of Animals

Once upon a time when a king named Senaka was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was Sakka. The king Senaka was friendly with a certain naga king. This naga king, they say, left the naga world and ranged




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Sulasa and Sattuka

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, there was a beautiful woman of the town, called Sulasa, whose price was a thousand pieces a night. There was in the same city a robber named Sattuka,




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How an Ungrateful Son Planned to Murder His Old Father

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was King of Benares, there was in a family of a certain village of Kasi an only son named Vasitthaka. This man supported his parents, and after his mother’s death,




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The Fisherman and His Wife

There was once upon a time a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pig-stye close by the sea, and every day he went out fishing. And he fished, and he fished. And once he was sitting with his rod,




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The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage

Once upon a time a mouse, a bird, and a sausage became companions, kept house together, lived well and happily in peace, and wonderfully increased their possessions. The bird’s work was to fly every day




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The Bremen Town-Musicians

A certain man had a donkey, which had carried the corn-sacks to the mill indefatigably for many a long year. But his strength was going, and he was growing more and more unfit for work. Then his master began to consider




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The Louse and the Flea

A louse and a flea kept house together and were brewing beer in an egg-shell. Then the little louse fell in and burnt herself. At this the little flea began to scream loudly. Then said the little room-door,




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The Tailor in Heaven

One very fine day it came to pass that the good God wished to enjoy himself in the heavenly garden, and took all the apostles and saints with him, so that no one stayed in heaven but saint Peter.




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The Wedding of Mrs. Fox

There was once upon a time an old fox with nine tails, who believed that his wife was not faithful to him, and wished to put her to the test. He stretched himself out under the bench, did not move a limb,




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The Elves

A shoemaker, by no fault of his own, had become so poor that at last he had nothing left but leather for one pair of shoes. So in the evening, he cut out the shoes which he wished to begin to make the next morning,




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Herr Korbes

There were once a cock and a hen who wanted to take a journey together. So the cock built a beautiful carriage, which had four red wheels, and harnessed four mice to it.




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The Dog and the Sparrow

A sheep-dog had not a good master, but, on the contrary, one who let him suffer hunger. As he could stay no longer with him, he went quite sadly away. On the road he met a sparrow who said, brother dog,




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Frederick and Catherine

There was once upon a time a man who was called Frederick and a woman called Catherine, who had married each other and lived together as young married folks. One day Frederick said, I will now go and plough,




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The Little Peasant

There was a certain village wherein no one lived but really rich peasants, and just one poor one, whom they called the little peasant. He had not even so much as a cow, and still less money to buy one,




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Jorinda and Joringel

There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and dense forest, and in it an old woman who was a witch dwelt all alone. In the day-time she changed herself into a car or a screech-owl,




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The Wolf and the Man

Once upon a time the fox was talking to the wolf of the strength of man. How no animal could withstand him, and how all were obliged to emply cunning in order to protect themselves from him.




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The Wolf and the Fox

The wolf had the fox with him, and whatsoever the wolf wished, that the fox was compelled to do, for he was the weaker, and he would gladly have been rid of his master. It chanced that once as they were




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The Fox and the Cat

It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thought to herself, he is clever and full of experience, and much esteemed in the world, she spoke to him in a friendly way. Good-day, dear Mr. Fox,




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Clever Grethel

There was once a cook named Gretel, who wore shoes with red heels, and when she walked out with them on, she turned herself this way and that, was quite happy and thought, you certainly are a pretty girl.




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The Death of the Little Hen

Once upon a time the little hen went with the little cock to the nut-hill, and they agreed together that whichsoever of them found a kernel of a nut should share it with the other.




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Gambling Hansel

Once upon a time there was a man who did nothing but gamble, and for that reason people never called him anything but gambling Hansel, and as he never ceased to gamble, he played away his house and all that he had.




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The Fox and the Geese

The fox once came to a meadow in which sat a flock of fine fat geese, on which he smiled and said, I come in the nick of time, you are sitting together quite beautifully, so that I can eat you up one after the other.




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The Poor Man and the Rich Man

In olden times, when the Lord himself still used to walk about on this earth amongst men, it once happened that he was tired and overtaken by the darkness before he could reach an inn.




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Old Hildebrand

Once upon a time lived a peasant and his wife, and the parson of the village had a fancy for the wife, and had wished for a long while to spend a whole day happily with her. The peasant woman, too,




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Doctor Knowall

There was once upon a time a poor peasant called crabb, who drove with two oxen a load of wood to the town, and sold it to a doctor for two talers. When the money was being counted out to him,




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The Jew Among Thorns

There was once a rich man, who had a servant who served him diligently and honestly. He was every morning the first out of bed, and the last to go to rest at night, and whenever there was a difficult job




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The Flail from Heaven

A countryman was once going out to plough with a pair of oxen. When he got to the field, both the animals, horns began to grow, and went on growing, and when he wanted to go home they were so big




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The Three Army-Surgeons

Three army surgeons who thought they knew their art perfectly were traveling about the world, and they came to an inn where they wanted to pass the night. The host asked whence they came,




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The Seven Swabians

Seven swabians were once together. The first was Master Schulz, the second, Jackli, the third, Marli, the fourth, Jergli, the fifth, Michal, the sixth, Hans, the seventh, Veitli.




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The Three Apprentices

There were once three apprentices, who had agreed to keep always together while traveling, and always to work in the same town. At one time, however, their masters had no more work to give them,




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The Lazy Spinner

In a certain village there once lived a man and his wife, and the wife was so idle that she would never work at anything; whatever her husband gave her to spin, she did not get done,




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The Fox and the Horse

A peasant had a faithful horse which had grown old and could do no more work, so his master would no longer give him anything to eat and said, I can certainly make no more use of you,




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The Lord's Animals and the Devil's

The Lord God had created all animals, and had chosen out the wolf to be his dog, but he had forgotten the goat. Then the devil made ready and began to create also, and created goats with fine long tails.




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The Beam

There was once a sorcerer who was standing in the midst of a great crowd of people performing his wonders. He had a cock brought in, which lifted a heavy beam and carried it as if it were light as a feather.




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The Old Beggar-Woman

There was once an old woman, but you have surely seen an old woman go a-begging before now. This woman begged likewise, and when she got anything she said, may God reward you.




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Odds and Ends

There was once on a time a maiden who was pretty, but idle and negligent. When she had to spin she was so out of temper that if there was a little knot in the flax, she at once pulled out a whole heap of it,




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The Story of Schlauraffen Land

In the time of Schlauraffen I went forth and saw Rome and the lateran hanging by a small silken thread, and a man without feet who outran a swift horse, and a keen sharp sword that cut through a bridge.




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The Ditmarsch Tale of Wonders

I will tell you something. I saw two roasted fowls flying, they flew quickly and had their breasts turned to heaven and their backs to hell, and an anvil and a mill-stone




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A Riddling Tale

Three women were transformed into flowers which grew in the field, but one of them was allowed to be in her own home at night.
Then once when day was drawing near, and she was forced




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