akorn - Mighty Old Tales Retold

The Gnome

There was once upon a time a rich King who had three daughters, who daily went to walk in the palace garden, and the King was a great lover of all kinds of fine trees, but there was one for which he had such an affection, that if anyone gathered an apple from it he wished him a hundred fathoms underground. 

The Young Giant

Once upon a time a countryman had a son who was as big as a thumb, and did not become any bigger, and during several years did not grow one hair's breadth. Once when the father was going out to plow, the little one said, "Father, I will go out with you."

The Goose Girl

There was once upon a time an old Queen whose husband had been dead for many years, and she had a beautiful daughter. When the princess grew up she was betrothed to a prince who lived at a great distance. 

The Singing, Soaring Lark

There was once a man who was about to set out on a long journey, and on parting he asked his three daughters what he should bring back with him for them. The eldest wished for pearls, the second wished for diamonds, but the third said, "Dear father, I should like a singing, soaring lark."

The Poor Man and the Rich Man

In olden times, when the Lord himself still used to walk about on this earth among men, it once happened that he was tired and overtaken by the darkness before he could reach an inn. Now there stood before him two houses facing each other...

The Fox and the Geese

The fox once came to a meadow in which was a flock of fine fat geese, at which he smiled...

The Gold Children

There was once a poor man and a poor woman who had nothing but a little cottage, and who earned their bread by fishing, and had always lived from hand to mouth. But it came to pass one day that the man was sitting by the shore, and casting his net, that he drew out a fish entirely of gold.

Hans Married

There was once upon a time a young peasant named Hans, whose uncle wanted to find him a rich wife.

Hans in Luck

Hans had served his master for seven years, so he said to him, "Master, my time is up; now I should be glad to go back home to my mother; give me my wages."

Gambling Hansel

There was once upon a time man who did nothing but gamble, and for that reason people never called him anything but Gambling Hansel, and as he never ceased to gamble, he played away his house and all that he had.