akorn - Mighty Old Tales Retold

Legend 8 - 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 her first husband, then both her children, then one by one all her relations, and at length, that very day, her last friend, and now she was quite alone and desolate. 

Legend 7 - Our Lady's Little Glass

Once upon a time a wagoner's cart which was heavily laden with wine had stuck so fast that in spite of all that he could do, he could not get it to move again. Then it chanced that Our Lady just happened to come by...

Legend 6 - 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. 

Legend 5 - God's Food

There were once upon a time two sisters, one of whom had no children and was rich, and the other had five and was a widow, and so poor that she no longer had food enough to satisfy herself and her children.

Legend 4 - 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 sadness. 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 there in heaven!"

Legend 3 - The Rose

There was once a poor woman who had two children. The youngest had to go into the forest every day to fetch wood. 

Legend 2 - 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 at all. 

Legend 1 - St Joseph in the Forest

There was once upon 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. The mother, however, was so strange, that it was the eldest daughter that she loved, and she could not bear the youngest.

The Golden Key

In the winter time, when deep snow lay on the ground, a poor boy was forced to go out on a sled to fetch wood. 

The Boots of Buffalo Leather

A soldier who is afraid of nothing, troubles himself about nothing. One of this kind had received his discharge, and as he had learnt no trade and could earn nothing, he traveled about and begged alms of kind people.