akorn - Mighty Old Tales Retold

Eve's Various Children

When Adam and Eve were driven out of Paradise, they were compelled to build a house for themselves on unfruitful ground, and eat their bread only by the sweat of their brow. Adam dug up the land, and Eve span. Every year Eve brought another child into the world...

The Goose Girl at the Well

There was once upon a time a very old woman, who lived with her flock of geese in a desolate place among the mountains, and had a little house there. The house was surrounded by a large forest, and every evening the old woman took her crutch and hobbled into it. 

Master Pfriem (Master Cobbler's Awl)

Master Pfriem was a short, thin, but lively man, who never rested a moment. His face, of which his turned up nose was the only prominent feature, was marked with smallpox and pale as death, his hair was gray and shaggy, his eyes small, but they glanced perpetually about on all sides. He saw everything, criticized everything, knew everything best, and was always in the right. 

Death's Messengers

In ancient times a giant was once traveling on a great highway, when suddenly an unknown man sprung up before him, and said, "Halt, not one step farther!"

The Duration of Life

When God had created the world and was about to fix the length of each creature's life, the ass came and asked, "Lord, how long shall I live?"

The Moon

In days gone by there was a land where the nights were always dark, and the sky spread over it like a black cloth, for there the moon never rose, and no star shone in the obscurity. 

The Owl

Two or three hundred years ago, when people were far from being so crafty and cunning as they are today, an extraordinary event took place in a little town. By some mischance one of the great owls, called horned owls, had come from the neighboring woods into the barn of one of the townsfolk...

The Bittern and the Hoopoe

"Where do you like best to feed your flocks?" said a man to an old cowherd.
"Here, sir, where the grass is neither too rich nor too poor, or else it is no use."

The Flounder

The fishes had for a long time been discontented because no order prevailed in their kingdom.

The Willow Wren and the Bear

In former days every sound still had its meaning and application.