One day Raven was sitting on a cliff near the sea when he saw a large whale passing close along the shore. “I have an idea!” said he. “I’m going to try something new.” Then he called out to the whale, “When you come up again, shut your eyes and open your mouth wide, and […]
Continue ReadingThe Story of Little Tsar Novishny, the False Sister, and the Faithful Beasts
Once upon a time, in a certain kingdom, in a certain empire, there dwelt a certain Tsar who had never had a child. One day this Tsar went to the bazaar (such a bazaar as we have at Kherson) to buy food for his needs. For though he was a Tsar, he had a mean […]
Continue ReadingThe Sick Stag
A stag, where stags abounded, Fell sick and was surrounded Forthwith by comrades kind, All pressing to assist, Or see, their friend, at least, And ease his anxious mind— An irksome multitude. “Ah, sirs!” the sick was fain to cry, “Pray leave me here to die, As others do, in solitude. Pray, let your kind […]
Continue ReadingThe Cookooburrahs and the Goolahgool
Googarh, the iguana, was married to Moodai, the opossum and Cookooburrah, the laughing jackass. Cookooburrah was the mother of three sons, one grown up and living away from her, the other two only little boys. They had their camps near a goolahgool, whence they obtained water. A goolahgool is a water-holding tree, of the iron […]
Continue ReadingThe Ears of the Hare
Some beast with horns did gore The lion; and that sovereign dread, Resolved to suffer so no more, Straight banish’d from his realm, ’tis said, All sorts of beasts with horns— Rams, bulls, goats, stags, and unicorns. Such brutes all promptly fled. A hare, the shadow of his ears perceiving, Could hardly help believing That […]
Continue ReadingEllen's Luck
Ellen was a good girl, and beautiful to look upon. One Sunday she was walking by an open gutter in a town in North Wales when she found a copper. After that day Ellen walked every Sunday afternoon by the same drain, and always found a copper. She was a careful girl, and used to […]
Continue ReadingThe Bear
Once on a time there was a king who had an only daughter. He was so proud and so fond of her, that he was in constant terror that something would happen to her if she went outside the palace, and thus, owing to his great love for her, he forced her to lead the […]
Continue ReadingMolly Whoppie
Once upon a time there was a man and a wife had too many children, and they could not get meat for them, so they took the three youngest and left them in a wood. They travelled and travelled and could see never a house. It began to be dark, and they were hungry. At […]
Continue ReadingThe Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor: The Fifth Voyage
Not even all that I had gone through could make me contented with a quiet life. I soon wearied of its pleasures, and longed for change and adventure. Therefore I set out once more, but this time in a ship of my own, which I built and fitted out at the nearest seaport. I wished […]
Continue ReadingThe Adventures of a Fisherman's Son
Long ago, there was a man and woman who lived in a little mud hut under the palm trees on the river bank. They had so many children they did not know what to do. The little hut was altogether too crowded. The man had to work early and late to find food enough to […]
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