40 stories

Adzanumee and her Mother

By and

The woman thought, ‘if only this fine yam were a daughter, how happy I should be.’ To her astonishment the yam answered, ‘If I were to become your daughter, would you promise never to reproach me with having been a yam?’

AfricaEast Africa

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Anansi the Blind Fisherman

By and

Anansi continued his fishing with the help of two men. The latter were exceedingly kind to him, and aided him in every possible way. But instead of being grateful to them, Anansi behaved very badly.

AfricaEast Africa

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Briar Rose

By

The Princess ascended a narrow, winding staircase and reached a little door. A rusty key was sticking in the lock, and when she turned it the door flew open. In a little room sat an old woman with a spindle, spinning her flax busily.

EuropeGermany

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Courtship

By

‘Your last year's Excuse doesn't hold Good now. If you Refused me because I was Poor, I come back to you Rich.’

EuropeEngland

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Elidor, or the Golden Ball

By

There appeared to the boy two little men, saying: ‘If thou wilt come with us, we will lead thee into a land full of sports and delights.’

EuropeWales

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Johnny Reed’s Cat

By

It’s little we know concerning the creatures and their ways, and with whom and what they’re mixed up.

EuropeEngland

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Little Red Riding Hood

By

‘Granny!’ Red Riding Hood cried, ‘What very long arms you have got!’ The Wolf answered, ‘The better to hug you, my child.’

EuropeEngland

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Morning Sunrise

By and

The man bade ‘Morning Sunrise’ lie down on her bed as if she were dead. He then sent the report of her death to each of the three lovers, asking them to come and help him with her funeral.

AfricaEast Africa

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Mr. Fox

By

Mr. Fox saw a diamond ring glittering on the finger of the young lady he was dragging, and he drew his sword, raised it, and brought it down upon the hand of the poor lady.

EuropeEngland

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Oshidori

By

That night Sonjo dreamed a dreary dream. It seemed to him that a beautiful woman came into his room, and stood by his pillow, and began to weep.

East AsiaJapan

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The Ape and her Two Young Ones

By

There was a foolish old widowed She-Ape, who had two young Monkeys of twins. She doted upon one of them, while she only noticed the other to punish him bitterly.

EuropeEngland

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The Ass in a Lion’s Skin

By

Clothed in the Lion's skin, the young Ass strutted forth believing himself a very Lion, and causing men to flee before him in terror.

EuropeEngland

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The Boy and the Skylark

By and

A little bird that's in the air, the hidden trespass shall declare, and openly reveal it.

EuropeEngland

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The Daw in Borrowed Plumes

By

A vulgar Daw tricked herself out in all the gay feathers which fell from the fashionable Peacocks and valued herself above all the birds of the air.

EuropeEngland

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The First Tooth

By and

Through the house what busy joy, just because the infant boy has a tiny tooth to show!

EuropeEngland

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The Frog and the Ox

By

‘And see,’ he said, ‘if I don’t make the biggest swell of the two.’

EuropeEngland

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The Good Thunder

By

Rai-Taro grew up straight and strong, the tallest, gayest boy of all that country-side. He was the delight of his foster-parents, and all the neighbours loved him.

East AsiaJapan

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The Grinding-Stone that Ground Flour by Itself

By and

Spider's cousin, while hunting one morning, had discovered a wonderful stone that ground flour of its own accord. Not being a greedy man, he took away with him only enough for his family's needs.

AfricaEast Africa

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The Hind in the Wood

By

The Hind instantly fled, but as she was crossing a path, Prince Guerrier lodged an arrow in her leg, when her strength failed her, and she fell.

EuropeEngland

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The Juniper Tree

By

The woman felt great terror, and wondered how she could escape the blame. So that nothing should be seen, she set the boy on a chair before the door with the apple in his hand.

EuropeGermany

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