akorn - Mighty Old Tales Retold

The Skillful Hunter

There was once a young fellow who had learned the trade of locksmith, and told his father that he would now go into the world and seek his fortune.

The Jew Among Thorns

There was once a rich man who had a servant who served him diligently and honestly: He was every morning the first out of bed, and the last to go to rest at night; and, whenever there was a difficult job to be done, which nobody cared to undertake, he was always the first to set himself to it. 

The Shroud

There was once a mother who had a little boy of seven years old, who was so handsome and lovable that no one could look at him without liking him, and she herself worshipped him above everything in the world.

Hans the Hedgehog

There was once a countryman who had money and land in plenty, but no matter how rich he was, one thing was still wanting in his happiness -- he had no children. 

The Two Travelers

Hill and vale do not come together, but the children of men do, good and bad. In this way a shoemaker and a  tailor met with each other in their travels.

The Poor Miller's Boy and the Cat

In a certain mill lived an old miller who had neither wife nor child, and three apprentices served under him. As they had been with him several years, he one day said to them, "I am old and want to sit in the chimney corner, go out, and whoever brings me the best horse home, to him I will give the mill..."

Stories About Snakes

There was once a little child whose mother gave her every afternoon a small bowl of milk and bread, and the child seated herself in the yard with it. When she began to eat however, a snake came creeping out of a crevice in the wall...

Wise Folks

One day a peasant took his good hazel stick out of the corner and said to his wife, "Trina, I am going across country, and shall not return for three days. If during that time the cattle dealer should happen to call, and want to buy our three cows, you may strike a bargain at once, but not unless you can get two hundred talers for them; nothing less, do you hear?"

Sweet Porridge

There was a poor but good little girl who lived alone with her mother, and they no longer had anything to eat.

The Willow Wren and the Bear

Once in summertime the bear and the wolf were walking together in the forest, and the bear heard a bird singing so beautifully that he said, "Brother wolf, what bird is it that sings so well?"