The Lion and the Crane

The Bodhisatta was at one time born in the region of Himavanta as a white crane; now Brahmadatta was at that time reigning in Benares.

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How the Raja's Son Won the Pincess Labam

In a country there was a Raja who had an only son who every day went out to hunt. One day the Rani, his mother, said to him, "You can hunt wherever you like on these three sides;

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The Lambikin

Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly.

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Punchkin

Once upon a time there was a Raja who had seven beautiful daughters. They were all good girls; but the youngest, named Balna, was more clever than the rest. The Raja's wife died when they were quite little children, so these seven poor Princesses were left with no mother to take care of...

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The Broken Pot

There lived in a certain place a Brahman, whose name was Svabhavak_ri_pa_n_a, which means "a born miser." He had collected a quantity of rice by begging,

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The Magic Fiddle

Once upon a time there lived seven brothers and a sister. The brothers were married, but their wives did not do the cooking for the family. It was done by their sister,

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The Cruel Crane Outwitted

Long ago the Bodisat was born to a forest life as the Genius of a tree standing near a certain lotus pond.

Now at that time the water used to run short at the dry season in a certain pond,

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Loving Laili

Once there was a king called King Dantal, who had a great many rupees and soldiers and horses. He had also an only son called Prince Majnun, who was a handsome boy with white teeth,

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The Tiger, the Brahman and the Jackal

Once upon a time, a tiger was caught in a trap. He tried in vain to get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when he failed.

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The Shootsayer's Son

A soothsayer when on his deathbed wrote out the horoscope of his second son, whose name was Gangazara, and bequeathed it to him as his only property, leaving the whole of his estate to his eldest son.

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Harisarman

There was a certain Brahman in a certain village, named Harisarman. He was poor and foolish and in evil case for want of employment, and he had very many children,

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The Charmed Ring

A merchant started his son in life with three hundred rupees, and bade him go to another country and try his luck in trade. The son took the money and departed.

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The Talkative Tortoise

The future Buddha was once born in a minister's family, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares; and when he grew up, he became the king's adviser in things temporal and spiritual.

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A Lac of Rupees for a Piece of Advice

A poor blind Brahman and his wife were dependent on their son for their subsistence. Every day the young fellow used to go out and get what he could by begging.

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The Gold Giving Serpent

Now in a certain place there lived a Brahman named Haridatta. He was a farmer, but poor was the return his labour brought him. One day, at the end of the hot hours, the Brahman,

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A Lesson for Kings

Once upon a time, when Brahma-datta was reigning in Benares, the future Buddha returned to life as his son and heir. And when the day came for choosing a name, they called him Prince Brahma-datta.

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Pride Goeth before a Fall

In a certain village there lived ten cloth merchants, who always went about together. Once upon a time they had travelled far afield, and were returning home with a great deal of money

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Raja Rasalu

Once there lived a great Raja, whose name was Salabhan, and he had a Queen, by name Lona, who, though she wept and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes.

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The Ass in the Lion's Skin

At the same time, when Brahma-datta was reigning in Benares, the future Buddha was born one of a peasant family; and when he grew up, he gained his living by tilling the ground.

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The Farmer and the Money Lender

There was once a farmer who suffered much at the hands of a money- lender. Good harvests, or bad, the farmer was always poor, the money- lender rich. At the last,

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The Boy who had a Moon on his Forehead and a Star on his Chin

In a country were seven daughters of poor parents, who used to come daily to play under the shady trees in the King's garden with the gardener's daughter;

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The Prince and the Fakir

There was once upon a time a King who had no children. Now this King went and laid him down to rest at a place where four roads met, so that every one who passed had to step over him.

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Why the Fish Laughed?

As a certain fisherwoman passed by a palace crying her fish, the queen appeared at one of the windows and beckoned her to come near and show what she had.

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Indian Folktales

The section contains Indian folktales. The short stories are taken from different series of Indian folktales available freely online.

Folktales (or folk tales) are stories passed down through generations, mainly by telling. Different kinds of folktales include fairy tales (or fairytales), tall ...

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Chinese Folk-Lore Tales

Chinese Folklore Tales

Chinese Folk-Lore Tales - Chinese Folktales

This story book contains 11 Chinese folktales. Author: Rev. J. Macgowan, D.D. Editor: Andrew Lang Published: 1910 Publisher: Macmillan And Co., Limited, London



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The Chinese Fairy Book

The Chinese Fairy Book

The Chinese Fairy Book - Chinese Falktales

The Chinese Fairy Book contains 74 Chinese folktales, sorted into several categories. Author: Various Editor: Dr. R. Wilhelm Published: 1921 Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York



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A Chinese Wonder Book

A Chinese Wonder Book

A Chinese Wonder Book - Chinese Folktales

This story book contains 15 Chinese folktales. Author: Norman Hinsdale Pitman Editor: Andrew Lang Published: 1919 Publisher: E. P. Dutton & Co., 681 Fifth Avenue, New York



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Folk-Lore and Legends: Oriental

Folk-Lore and Legends: Oriental

Folk-Lore and Legends: Oriental

It contains 13 folktales from the Orient. Author: Charles John Tibbitts Published: 1889 Publisher: W. W. Gibbings, London



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The Oriental Story Book

The Oriental Story Book

The Oriental Story Book - A Collection of Tales

It contains 7 long Oriental folktales. Author: Wilhelm Hauff Translator: G. P. Quackenbos Published: 1855 Publisher: D. Appleton and Company, 346 & 348 Broadway, New York



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One Thousand and One Nights

The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights

One Thousand and One Nights (Arabic: كتاب ألف ليلة وليلة‎ Kitāb alf laylah wa-laylah) is a collection of West and South Asian stories and folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the A...

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The Demon with the Matted Hair

This story the Teacher told in Jetavana about a Brother who had ceased striving after righteousness. Said the Teacher to him: "Is it really true that you have ceased all striving?"—"Yes, Blessed One," he replied.

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The Ivory City and it's Fairy Princess

One day a young prince was out practising archery with the son of his father's chief vizier, when one of the arrows accidentally struck the wife of a merchant,

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How the Wicked Sons were Duped

A very wealthy old man, imagining that he was on the point of death, sent for his sons and divided his property among them. However, he did not die for several years afterwards;

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The Pigeon and the Crow

Once upon a time the Bodhisatta was a Pigeon, and lived in a nest- basket which a rich man's cook had hung up in the kitchen, in order to earn merit by it.

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The Lion and the Crane

The Bodhisatta was at one time born in the region of Himavanta as a white crane; now Brahmadatta was at that time reigning in Benares.

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Who was the culprit?

A faulty man is he whose behavior encourages the crime.

Vikram was walking fast. Vaitaal said - "Vikram, Walk slowly. There is still
time, till then I tell you another story, just to pass time.

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Characteristics of the Blood

Vikram was walking fast. He had to reach the Yogee in time. Vaitaal said -
"Vikram, Now listen to the story. The king of Adhak Desh was very brave and
mighty.

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Whom to Blame?

Vikram continued his journey, Vaitaal said - "Vikram, Now listen to a story. A
Braahman lived in Maheshpur kingdom. His name was Kamal Kishor.

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Story Books

This is archive page of all the short story books published on this blog.



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Pind Daan

Vikram was continuing his journey, and Vaitaal was telling him a story -
"Vikram, A Braahman lived in Kaashee Nagaree. He had a beautiful daughter
Leelaa.

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Volatility

Vikram pulled Vaitaal from the tree, put him on his shoulder and continued his
journey again. Vaitaal said - "Vikram, You don't feel bored, that is why I tell
you another story,

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The Caravan

In a beautiful distant kingdom, of which there is a saying, that the sun on its everlasting green gardens never goes down, ruled, from the beginning of time even to the present day, Queen Phantasie.

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The History of Caliph Stork

Once upon a time, on a fine afternoon, the Caliph Chasid was seated on his sofa in Bagdad: he had slept a little, (for it was a hot day,) and now, after his nap, looked quite happy.

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The History of the Spectre Ship

My father had a little shop in Balsora; he was neither rich, nor poor, but one of those who do not like to risk any thing, through fear of losing the little that they have.

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Story of the Hewn-off Hand

I was born in Constantinople; my father was a Dragoman of the Ottoman Porte, and carried on, besides, a tolerably lucrative trade in essences and silk goods.

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Fatima's Deliverance

My brother Mustapha and my sister Fatima were almost of the same age; the former was at most but two years older. They loved each other fervently, and did in concert, all that could lighten,

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Little Muck

In Nicea, my beloved father-city, lived a man, whom people called “Little Muck.” Though at that time I was quite young, I can recollect him very well, particularly since, on one occasion,

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The Story of the False Prince

There was once an honest journeyman tailor, by name Labakan, who learned his trade with an excellent master in Alexandria. It could not be said that Labakan was unhandy with the needle;

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The Cobbler Astrologer

In the great city of Isfahan lived Ahmed the cobbler, an honest and industrious man, whose wish was to pass through life quietly; and he might have done so,

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The Legend of the Terrestrial Paradise of Sheddád, the Son of 'A'd

It is related that ’Abd Allah, the son of Aboo Kilábeh, went forth to seek a camel that had run away, and while he was proceeding over the deserts of El-Yemen and the district of Seba,

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The Tomb of Noosheerwân

The caliph Hâroon-oor-Rasheed went to visit the tomb of the celebrated Noosheerwân, the most famous of all the monarchs who ever governed Persia.

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Ameen and the Ghool

There is a dreadful place in Persia called the “Valley of the Angel of Death.” That terrific minister of God’s wrath, according to tradition,

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The Relations of Ssidi Kur

Glorified Nangasuna Garbi! thou art radiant within and without; the holy vessel of sublimity, the fathomer of concealed thoughts, the second of instructors, I bow before thee.

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The Two Cats

In former days there was an old woman, who lived in a hut more confined than the minds of the ignorant, and more dark than the tombs of misers. Her companion was a cat,

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Legend of Dhurrumnath

During the reign of a mighty rajah named Guddeh Sing, a celebrated, and as it is now supposed, deified priest, or hutteet, called Dhurrumnath, came,

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The Traveller's Adventure

It is related that a man, mounted upon a camel, in the course of travelling arrived at a place where others from the same caravan had lighted a fire before proceeding on their journey.

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The Seven Stages of Roostem

Persia was at peace, and prosperous; but its king, Ky-Kâoos, could never remain at rest. A favourite singer gave him one day an animated account of the beauties of the neighbouring kingdom of Mazenderan:

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The Man Who Never Laughed

There was a man, of those possessed of houses and riches, who had wealth and servants and slaves and other possessions;

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The Fox and the Wolf

A fox and a wolf inhabited the same den, resorting thither together, and thus they remained a long time. But the wolf oppressed the fox;

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The Shepherd and the Jogie

It is related that during the reign of a king of Cutch, named Lakeh, a Jogie lived, who was a wise man, and wonderfully skilled in the preparation of herbs.

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Arabic Folktales

The section contains Arabic folktales. The short stories are taken from different books of Arabic folktales available freely online.

Folktales (or folk tales) are stories passed down through generations, mainly by telling. Different kinds of folktales include fairy tales (or fairytales), tall ...

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The Perfidious Vizier

A king of former times had an only son, whom he contracted in marriage to the daughter of another king. But the damsel, who was endowed with great beauty, had a cousin who had sought her in marriage, and had been rejected;

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Dolph Heyliger

New York was New Amsterdam when Dolph Heyliger got himself born there,—a graceless scamp, though a brave, good-natured one,

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The Knell at the Wedding

A young New Yorker had laid such siege to the heart of a certain belle—this was back in the Knickerbocker days when people married for love—that everybody said the banns were as good as published;

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Roistering Dirck Van Dara

In the days when most of New York stood below Grand Street, a roistering fellow used to make the rounds of the taverns nightly, accompanied by a friend named Rooney.

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The Party from Gibbet Island

Ellis Island, in New York harbor, once bore the name of Gibbet Island, because pirates and mutineers were hanged there in chains. During the times when it was devoted to this fell

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Miss Britton's Poker

The maids of Staten Island wrought havoc among the royal troops who were quartered among them during the Revolution. Near quarantine, in an old house,—

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The Devil's Stepping-Stones

When the devil set a claim to the fair lands at the north of Long Island Sound, his claim was disputed by the Indians, who prepared to fight for their homes should he attempt to serve his writ of ejectment.

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The Springs of Blood and Water

A great drought had fallen on Long Island, and the red men prayed for water. It is true that they could get it at Lake Ronkonkoma, but some of them were many miles from there,

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The Crumbling Silver

There is a clay bank on Little Neck, Long Island, where metallic nodules are now and then exposed by rain. Rustics declare them to be silver,

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The Cortelyou Elopement

In the Bath district of Brooklyn stands Cortelyou manor, built one hundred and fifty years ago, and a place of defence during the Revolution when the British made sallies from their

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Van Wempel's Goose

Allow us to introduce Nicholas Van Wempel, of Flatbush: fat, phlegmatic, rich, and henpecked. He would like to be drunk because he is henpecked,

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The Weary Watcher

Before the opening of the great bridge sent commerce rattling up Washington Street in Brooklyn that thoroughfare was a shaded and beautiful avenue, and among the houses that attested

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The Rival Fiddlers

Before Brooklyn had spread itself beyond Greenwood Cemetery a stone could be seen in Martense's Lane, south of that burial-ground, that bore a hoof mark.

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Wyandank

From Brooklyn Heights, or Ihpetonga, "highplace of trees," where the Canarsie Indians made wampum or sewant, and where they contemplated the Great Spirit in the setting of the sun across the meeting waters,

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Mark of the Spirit Hand

Andover, New Jersey, was quaint and quiet in the days before the Revolution—it is not a roaring metropolis, even yet—and as it offered few social advantages there was more gathering

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The First Liberal Church

In 1770 the brig Hand-in-Hand went ashore at Good Luck, New Jersey. Among the passengers on board the vessel, that it would perhaps be wrong to call ill fated, was John Murray, founder of Universalism in America.

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Duty

Vikram again pulled Vaitaal from the tree, put him on his shoulder and
continued his journey. Vaitaal said - "Vikram, You don't feel bored, that is
why I tell you a story,

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Truth

Vikram came straight to the cremation ground. The Yogee asked him - "Come
Vikram, Have you brought that dead body?" Vikram told him everything what
happened with him.

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Rip Van Winkle

The story of Rip Van Winkle, told by Irving, dramatized by Boucicault, acted by Jefferson, pictured by Darley, set to music by Bristow, is the best known of American legends.

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Catskill Gnomes

Behind the New Grand Hotel, in the Catskills, is an amphitheatre of mountain that is held to be the place of which the Mohicans spoke when they told of people there who worked in metals,

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The Catskill Witch

When the Dutch gave the name of Katzbergs to the mountains west of the Hudson, by reason of the wild-cats and panthers that ranged there, they obliterated the beautiful Indian Ontiora,

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The Revenge of Shandaken

On the rock platform where the Catskill Mountain House now stands, commanding one of the fairest views in the world, old chief Shandaken set his wigwam,—for it is a mistake to suppose

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Condemned to the Noose

Ralph Sutherland, who, early in the last century, occupied a stone house a mile from Leeds, in the Catskills, was a man of morose and violent disposition, whose servant,

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Big Indian

Intermarriages between white people and red ones in this country were not uncommon in the days when our ancestors led as rude a life as the natives, and several places in the Catskills commemorate this fact.

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The Baker's Dozen

Baas [Boss] Volckert Jan Pietersen Van Amsterdam kept a bake-shop in Albany, and lives in history as the man who invented New Year cakes and made gingerbread babies in the likeness of his own fat offspring.

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The Devil's Dance-Chamber

Most storied of our New World rivers is the Hudson. Historic scenes have been enacted on its shores, and Indian, Dutchman, Briton, and American have invested it with romance.

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The Culprit Fay

The wood-tick's drum convokes the elves at the noon of night on Cro' Nest top, and, clambering out of their flower-cup beds and hammocks of cobweb, they fly to the meeting,

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Pokepsie

The name of this town has forty-two spellings in old records, and with singular pertinacity in ill-doing, the inhabitants have fastened on it the longest and clumsiest of all.

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Dunderberg

Dunderberg, "Thunder Mountain," at the southern gate of the Hudson Highlands, is a wooded eminence, chiefly populated by a crew of imps of stout circumference, whose leader,

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Anthony's Nose

The Hudson Highlands are suggestively named Bear Mountain, Sugar Loaf, Cro' Nest, Storm King, called by the Dutch Boterberg, or Butter Hill, from its likeness to a pat of butter; Beacon Hill, where the fires blazed to tell the country that the Revolutionary war was over; Dunderberg, Mount...

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A Trapper's Ghastly Vengeance

About a mile back from the Hudson, at Coxsackie, stood the cabin of Nick Wolsey, who, in the last century, was known to the river settlements as a hunter and trapper of correct aim,

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The Galloping Hessian

In the flower-gemmed cemetery of Tarrytown, where gentle Irving sleeps, a Hessian soldier was interred after sustaining misfortune in the loss of his head in one of the Revolutionary battles.

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Storm Ship on the Hudson

It was noised about New Amsterdam, two hundred years ago, that a round and bulky ship flying Dutch colors from her lofty quarter was careering up the harbor in the teeth of a north wind,

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Why Spuyten Duyvil is so Named

The tide-water creek that forms the upper boundary of Manhattan Island is known to dwellers in tenements round about as "Spittin' Divvle."

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Chief Croton

Between the island of Manhattoes and the Catskills the Hudson shores were plagued with spooks, and even as late as the nineteenth century Hans Anderson,

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Niagara

The cataract of Niagara (properly pronounced Nee-ah-gah-rah), or Oniahgarah, is as fatal as it is fascinating, beautiful, sublime, and the casualties occurring there justify the tradition that

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The Deformed of Zoar

The valley of Zoar, in western New York, is so surrounded by hills that its discoverers—a religious people, who gave it a name from Scripture said, "This is Zoar; it is impregnable.

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Horseheads

The feeling recently created by an attempt to fasten the stupid names of Fairport or of North Elmira on the village in central New York that, off and on for fifty years,

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Kayuta and Waneta

The Indians loved our lakes. They had eyes for their beauty, and to them they were abodes of gracious spirits. They used to say of Oneida Lake, that when the Great Spirit formed the world

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The Drop Star

A little maid of three years was missing from her home on the Genesee. She had gone to gather water-lilies and did not return. Her mother, almost crazed with grief, searched for days,

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The Prophet of Palmyra

It was at Palmyra, New York, that the principles of Mormonism were first enunciated by Joseph Smith, who claimed to have found the golden plates of the Book of Mormon

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A Villain's Cremation

Bramley's Mountain, near the present village of Bloomfield, New York, on the edge of the Catskill group, was the home of a young couple that had married with rejoicing and had taken up

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The Monster Mosquito

They have some pretty big mosquitoes in New Jersey and on Long Island, but, if report of their ancestry is true, they have degenerated in size and voracity;

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The Green Picture

In a cellar in Green Street, Schenectady, there appeared, some years ago, the silhouette of a human form, painted on the floor in mould. It was swept and scrubbed away,

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The Nuns of Carthage

At Carthage, New York, where the Black River bends gracefully about a point, there was a stanch old house, built in the colonial fashion and designed for the occupancy of some family of hospitality and wealth,

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