4.0
The ants have plenty. The grasshopper is starving. He begs for food. The ants point out that he could have stored up food for winter.
A fly torments a bald man who slaps his head trying to kill the fly. The fly escapes the slap and once again torments him. This time feeling wiser the man does not slap his head.
A bat uses whatever best choice he has at the time to save himself from predators.
The beasts and the birds are preparing for a conflict. Each group invites the bat to join with them. After the conflict is settled the bat wishes to be friends but neither group will have him.
A bear and a fox have different views of the bear’s attitude towards what he eats.
It’s the intention rather than the action that makes a good choice.
Two friends decide not to move in together because of their very opposite professions.
A fable about a dog who attacks his own shadow to get a larger piece of meat
A dog won’t allow oxen to eat the hay upon which the dog is resting.
A donkey wishing to sing like the grasshoppers inquires about their diet. To sing like them he changes his diet to theirs and perishes.
When a lion threatens to eat the fox and the donkey, the fox betrays his companion in an effort to rescue himself. In the end, the one who tried to keep himself out of danger was the first to be eaten.
First a farmer chases cranes out of his field. When they keep returning he shoots rocks at them with a sling shot. If words don’t work you must fight.
A fable about a farmer who cares for a snake that then turns to bite him
A fable about a father whose sons were not able to get along.
A young fawn asks his mother why she is afraid of barking hounds. He points out how much faster, larger, and well armed with horns she is. Her answer shows her lack of courage.
Flies are drawn to spilled honey. After over-eating they find they cannot pull their feet out of the honey and fly away. When you are greedy, you may not know when you have enough and pay a very high price.
A carter prayed for help when his wagon became stuck. Hercules gave him some advice about helping himself and praying.
A herdsman loses a calf. He bargains with the deities. He will sacrifice a lamb if they will help him find the calf. Next he discovers a lion eating his calf and adds a full-grow bull to the sacrifice just to escape the lion with his own life.
Once a Miser hid his gold at the foot of a tree. Every week he would dig it up and delight in how much was there. A robber noticed, dug up the gold, and took it away. When the Miser discovered his gold was gone a neighbor told him to come look at the hole in the ground as it would do just as much good as looking at the gold.
A child trudges up to bed.
Epaminondas has a difficult time knowing how to carry his grammy’s gifts home to his mammy. Each time he tries what his mammy told him, but things keep turning out wrong for him.
A poem about the orange tree.
A poem about waiting for a train at the Live Oak, Florida Junction written in the 1800s.
Cannetella doesn’t wish to be married, but agrees to do so if her father finds a man to fit her outrageous demands. Her insistence leads her to trouble, when her husband treats her poorly. She manages an escape, but her husband pursues her, using magic to try to capture her once more.
One of seven daughters is the only to obey her father’s orders. She is left alive to escape, but finds herself living as the daughter of an ogre. A prince asks for her hand, but the ogre forbids her to speak unless he addresses her with the special words.
A thoughtless fairy enchants a fountain without considering the effects of the enchantment. Beyond destroying the town, the mistake takes effect against the young wards of another fairy. The fairies try to discover a way to undo the mistake and reunite the young lovers.
A young prince is offered whatever he likes best, but to his father’s dismay, he chooses a princess who is trapped by an enchantment. On his way to reach her he meets with three men, each with a special skill. Together the four men are able to work together against the magician’s spell.
A simple boy is driven into the world by his mother’s treatment of him. He meets with an ogre, who treats him well and assists him. The ogre allows him to visit his family, but his ignorance leads him into trouble twice. The third visit brings more wisdom, and the rewards that come with his new knowledge.
A fisherman and his wife wish for sons. An old woman tells the wife how to get the sons she wishes for. When the twins grow, they wish to go into the world. The first brother goes on adventures, until the signs of distress bring his brother to his aid.
A king who has not been able to have children makes a promise, only to find that he has given up his only child. The prince determines to find a way out of the promise, and completes several tasks with the help of the princess.
Little Bear learns to do his work.
Little Bear learns to overcome his fear of water.
Little Bear helps an otter baby find his family.
Little Bear looks in a schoolhouse window and scares the children.
Little Bear causes his father to lose a fish.
Little Bear wants to be rid of caterpillars.
A little bear is so happy about his surprise party that he goes into hibernation sleep early, but happy.
A poor man’s good heart wins him power and riches over Prince Wicked.
Monkeys are unable to discern how much to water trees.
A nursery rhyme about the stereotypical relationship between cats and birds.
A king and his wife make a bet, but the result is unfair to the queen, who is banished to the forest. There a farmer takes her in and she raises her son until he is eighteen. He leaves in search of adventure, only to find himself at his father’s castle. He is given seemingly impossible tasks, which he completes with the help of a fairy. Finally, the king is taught the error of his ways.
A prince and his mother set off into the world after the king’s death. The son is brave and clever, while his mother is a coward. She tricks him to help a robber in order to save her own life. The prince rescues a princess, and in turn is rescued by the princess. They are wed, and would live happily, but curiosity leads them both into trouble once more.The prince must find his way back to the princess and avenge himself against the robber and the wrongs committed by his mother.
A king has two daughters, though one is ugly and cruel and the other beautiful and kind. A prince is supposed to be promised to the former, but falls in love with the latter. The bitter sister and the king send away the younger princess to a tower where she is trapped. The prince tries to see his princess, but is harmed by the plans of the elder sister.The princess escapes her tower and sets off to save the prince she loves.
A spoiled young boy torments an old woman, who curses him to fall in love with the silent princess. He decides he must go into the world and seek this princess, or die. He comes to learn that many others have lost their lives trying to get the silent princess to speak. Luckily, he befriends a nightingale who helps him in his challenges.
An old woman who has nothing finds a snake in her water jar, and wishes for death. Instead, she discovers a necklace, which earns her wealth. The king buys the necklace, but finds it replaced with the son he so desires.The prince and princess are wed, but she wishes to know the secret of the prince. He warns her of the consequences, which come to pass when he reveals the secret. The princess must work to break the enchantment to get back her prince.
Many are enchanted by the mountains but none leave alive. A family loses their seven sons to the mountain until the youngest sets out to try to do what his brothers could not. He manages to break the enchantment, and meets Zoulvisia. Out of kindness, he brings an old woman back to the palace, despite the misgivings of others. The woman is a witch, and Zoulvisia reveals secrets to her that put their lives in danger. The prince and Zoulvisia plan her escape.
When a little dog named Duchess gets an invitation to tea at the home of Ribby the cat, she becomes dreadfully afraid that Ribby is going to serve her mouse pie. Duchess bakes a delightful veal and ham pie and comes up with a very clever plan to substitute her own pie for Ribby’s. However, both of their pies become mixed up and each becomes dreadfully afraid that they have eaten a patty-pan.
Mr. Tod, a fox, and Tommy Brock, a badger, are both troublesome neighbors and “disagreeable people.” Mr. Tod has a habit of taking up lodging in other people’s houses. Mr. Brock visits a rabbit friend, who turns out to be Mr. Bouncer Bunny from The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, and then steals his son Benjamin Bunny’s children with plans to cook and eat them. Mr. Tod however finds that Mr. Brock has taken up residence in one of his homes, and after many comical efforts to rouse him, they fight it out. Meanwhile, Benjamin and his cousin Peter have come to rescue Benjamin’s children, and the fight gives them a chance to sneak off with the baby bunnies.
This book tells the story of a wood-mouse named Mrs. Tittlemouse and her efforts to keep her house in order despite numerous unwanted visitors.
In The Tale Of Pigling Bland, farmer Piperson decides it’s time to turn his pigs into bacon, Pigling Bland and Pig-Wig must use their wits to outsmart him.
Squirrel Nutkin goes along with a group of squirrels to Owl Island to gather nuts. However, while all the other squirrels are busy collecting nuts, Nutkin is often playing or making mischief. While the other squirrels present the island’s resident owl, Old Brown, with gifts to earn his permission to gather nuts, Nutkin dances and taunts the owl with sing-song rhymes. Eventually, after Nutkin annoys Old Brown many times, the owl captures Nutkin and tries to skin him alive. Nutkin escapes but not without getting his tail bitten off.
An innocent squirrel accused of stealing nuts is forced down a hole in a tree, where he meets a friendly chipmunk.
Catherine is living a happy life, until one day her Destiny steps in and asks a fateful question. Things change for Catherine, and she finds herself wandering the world, always looking for a new place to work. After some time has passed, her life is not so bad, but not so good either. She and her lady come up with a plan to try to appease her Destiny. A ball of silk is the offer made, and Catherine finds just how important a ball of silk can be.
A shoemaker sets out to earn money in another town. He is successful, but meets with a band of robbers who wish to take all he has earned. He devises a trick to prevent the robbers from getting the better of him. The robbers soon realize that they have been deceived, and seek out the shoemaker for revenge. He again outwits them, and so it goes on.
A merchant’s son spends his inheritance frivolously. He is lucky enough to get a present from a friend - a flying trunk. He uses the trunk to meet a princess, and to try to impress her. He tells the sultan and sultana a story, which pleases them. He puts on a fireworks display to impress all the people, but doesn’t consider the consequences.
A goblin is bound to a grocer because of the jam and butter that the grocer provides. However, the goblin discovers a new world in the book belonging to the student. An emergency makes the goblin realize what is important to him.
A hard-working man disappears at sea for several days. Upon his return others notice the wonderful advantages he has, and the news spreads that he was with a mermaid. One day a boy arrives: it is the mermaid’s son.The boy is miraculous. He is bigger and stronger than any others. He leaves his father to earn his way in the world. He meets with a squire and agrees to do the work of twelve men for the food of twelve men. However, the squire soon wishes this man gone, and tries to find a way to be rid of him.
A father asks for his daughters to bring him lunch in the woods, but the birds eat up the trails he has left. The daughters each in turn find a small house with a little old man and three beasts. There they are tested.
A young man is betrayed by his jealous older brother and left in the forest. He uses trickery to get out of his trouble, and still more trickery in order to make his way in life. When the king hears of his reputation he is called to the castle and given three tasks to complete.
A king advertises that he will wed his daughter to one who can make a ship that will float on both land and sea. Three brothers each have their hand at building such a ship, but the kindness of the youngest allows him success, as he befriends a holy hermit. The group journeys to the kingdom, picking up friends along the way. Unfortunately, the king changes the rules when they arrive, but the man's new friends help him to meet the king’s demands.
A man decides to visit each of his three daughters, who are married to trolls. On each visit he sees the trolls perform marvelous tasks, then returns home with money. Additionally, on each trip he loses the money because of his own ignorance. He sets out to prove to his wife the lessons he has learned.
A king decides he must marry the most beautiful woman and sends his servant to find her. He is somewhat deceived, and is angry when he makes this discovery. His new wife is spotted by four fairies, who make some changes in her. At this, the king wonders at the mistake he has made. The woman’s sister makes her way to the palace, and is jealous of her sister’s new situation. She sets out to make some changes in herself.
An older couple wishes that they had an heir. They have a bull calf that they adore, named Peter. They devise a plan to teach Peter to talk so that he may become their heir. They ask the clerk to help them in their endeavours. After a large investment, they are disappointed that they still have not seen Peter or evidence of his improvement. The clerk arrives to explain what has happened, and the man sets off in search of his “son.” All ends happily for everyone involved.
A king is determined to have a child, so his queen sees an old woman who helps her to bear a child through enchantment. There are limitations—the king and queen cannot see their child until she is fourteen. The king decides to break this rule of the contract, and the princess dies. He is then forced to put her body in the church with a sentinel standing guard. However, finding a sentinel starts to become a challenge when those who volunteer disappear. A young smith who wishes to show his bravery is the first to last the night, and his drunken bravery earns him rewards.
A snow-man learns about the world and his future from the yard dog.
A man and woman wish for a child. One winter they decide to create a snow child, and are shocked to see their creation miraculously come to life. They treat the child, Snowflake, as their own and shower her with love and affection. Unfortunately the arrival of spring brings changes that cause unhappiness.
Three brothers and one sister work hard to build a palace. They are happy until a visitor tells them what their palace is missing. Each sets out in turn to bring back the water of life, the tree of beauty, and the talking bird. Unfortunately each of the brothers is unsuccessful, and all seems lost until the sister manages to make her way to the mountaintop.
Jehosophat disobeys Mother by sloshing through muddy water when she told him not to. He is overcome with guilt and eventually apologizes to her for disobeying her orders.
4.1
A Fox saw a Rooster sitting high beyond his reach in a hen-coop. He began to talk to the Rooster saying that King Lion had declared no beast may hurt a bird but all must live in friendship. When he saw a Dog coming toward him he ran saying the Dog may not have heard of King Lion’s decree.
The Traveler is ready to leave on the journey when he sees his Dog in the doorway stretching. He snaps at the dog to get ready, blaming the dog for delaying them. Moral: The one who is late sometimes blames the tardiness on others who are already ready.
A strong pot and a fragile pot are afloat in a stream, and if the stream’s currents should cause them to bump each other, the fragile pot will be hurt.
A wolf refuses to believe that there are limits to what he can do.
"In youth I have known one with whom the Earth"
4.2
A short story where Mother Nature writes a letter to Father Winter to send her a blanket (of snow) to protect the flowers from Jack Frost’s cold winds.
A monkey steals a string of beads, but the chief of the guards recovers them.
A woodpecker does a favor for a lion, who does not thank him. Later, the lion refuses to do a favor for the woodpecker, saying he already did him a favor by not eating him.
A nursery rhyme about a dog.
The Toyman makes the three children whistles from a weeping willow and they serve as a bird call for Orioles.
Mother teaches the three children how to garden and describes it as a fairy story to peak their interest. When their hard work is finished, the reap the benefits from their personal gardens.
Mother and the children continue to watch the life of the Orioles and other neighboring bird families.
A fairy tale about a music contest between the god Pan and Apollo.
4.3
A Man lost in a wood on a cold night was promised lodging for the night by the Satyr. The Satyr asked the Man why kept blowing on his hands. The Man replied that his breath warmed them. Once home with the Satyr he was given a hot bowl of food. He raised the spoonful and blew on it. The Satyr asked why he was now blowing on the food. The man replied that he was cooling the food which was too hot. Immediately the Satyr threw him out because he would not have anything to do with a person who could blow hot and cold.
A Kid perched on top of a house saw a Wolf passing by. He began to shout angrily at the Wolf. Moral: It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.
A story about an abused brother that gets his reward for his kind-hearted nature through magic.
Two deer look after great herds of deer, and one doesn’t follow his father’s advice and loses many of the herd.
A nursery rhyme that also serves as a tongue twister about Peter Piper.
This story continues the adventure of the circus from the previous chapter. Marmaduke gets lost and meets many different characters in the circus. He meets Tody the Clown who helps him find the Toyman.
4.4
The story involves King Solomon, a butterfly and their wives and the question of keeping up appearences in front of one’s spouse.
An elephant and a dog become friends, but one day the dog is sold. The elephant refuses to eat or bathe without his pal, and soon the two are reunited for the rest of their days.
How greed destroys abundance.
The narrator finds it increasingly difficult to conceal an act of violence from the authorities.
A shallow princess is taught a lesson by a beautiful prince.
4.5
Why the kangaroo is very fast on land.
The story continues in its description of the cows and horses in the barnyard with anecdoctes from the children.
The three children ask Mother to show them another story. She shows them the Orioles as they return from the south in mid-May to build their nest.
The children watch the growth of baby chicks until a hawk comes to prey on them. The Toyman shoots the hawk and buries him next to the dead crow as a warning to evil-doers.
4.6
A wolf overhears a child’s Nurse threaten to throw him out the window if he cries. The child cries, but when the Nurse sees the wolf she calls the dogs to chase the disappointed wolf away. The moral being, “Enemies’ promises were made to be broken.”
A Woodman took a Serpent that appeared to be dead home to warm it. As the Serpent came to life again a child reached out to touch it. The Serpent was about to sting the child when the Woodman cut the Serpent in two.
A village is preparing for a visit from Zeus. Everyone is too busy or too tired to extend any kindness to two beggars except Philemon and Baucis. This poor old couple has time for the strangers and are rewarded in a very unusual way for their generosity. This story is a translation of "Philemon and Baucis" from Metamorphoses by the Roman poet Ovid.
The author discusses the many wonders of nature that can be witnessed while traveling between Mandarin and St. Augustine, Florida.
A part of a collection of short stories about three children in the revolutionary times. In this story the rain keeps the children indoors until they turn the thought of a flood into an imaginative game in which they are pirates on a ship.
A camel refuses to work and only says “humph” in response to requests for work...so a Dijnn gives him a “humph” as punishment for laziness.
The description of the first and second cousins of chickens: ducks and geese. These are part of the barnyard friends that are playmates to the three children.
The story continues with the description of the beloved Toyman. He is a hired hand of the barnyard that makes toys for the children by the fire and takes them on fun adventures. In this short story the Toyman takes the children fishing.
Three soldiers desert a king’s army and end up enthralled to a dragon.
4.7
A father teaches his sons the value of working together.
Jupiter and Venus argue if a living being can change its nature. Jupiter changes a cat into a maiden and has her marry. Venus lets loose a mouse during the wedding to see how she reacts. The maiden pounces on the mouse.
The Rooster uncovers a precious pearl beneath the hay in the barnyard. Knowing it was a treasure in the world of people, he was not excited about what he had found for himself.
As a Lion lay dying his subjects drew near. When the lion seemed on the point of death several animals decided to pay him off for old grudges. Moral: Only cowards insult dying majesty.
A nursery rhyme about the days of the week.
A poor beggar boy is left with nothing but a beautiful pear tree when his father dies. A fox sees the pear tree and promises to bring him good luck if he does what he is told. His life is transformed and the fox asks only for a coffin when he dies because he is the one responsible for the former beggar’s good fortune.
Billy Beg and His Bull encounter many adventures in their escape from the king’s new queen.
A king sees a monkey lose many peas in order to gain one more, and realizes he should not start a war with a remote, small country.
On Jehosophat’s birthday, he receives a pony and a dog-cart. Wienerwurst and a bad dog get into a fight and both dogs are injured, but Wienerwurst recovers.
A grandfather and his grandson grow rice in the rice fields and one day they set fire to the fields to save the people below from impending death.
4.8
The Hart admires his antlers and dislikes his slim and slight legs. When escaping from a hunter, his legs swiftly carry him away, but his antlers get caught in a tree. This allows the hunter to come up on him. Sometimes we don’t appreciate what is most important. What is most valuable, the beautiful antlers or the skinny legs?
A story of a girl who marries a black bull after jesting about it to her sister. However the bull takes the form of a prince and they live happily ever after.
A man is cursed by a wicked fairy and is doomed to be only a head to the world. However, he is very powerful and is able to complete impossible deeds to impress the sultan and marry his daughter.
In this story the circus comes to town and the three children enjoy the spectacle.
How an emperor learned to appreciate old people.
The author laments the loss of his mother.
4.9
A Serpent takes his anger out on a file which scratched him. He could do not harm and had to give up his anger.
A part of a collection of short stories about three children in the revolutionary times. Marmaduke is at first left out of the baseball game and is very upset by it. However, he practices and he impresses the other boys when they let him join in.