akorn - Mighty Old Tales Retold

The Twelve Brothers

There was once upon a time a king and a queen who lived happily together and had twelve children, but they were all boys. Then said the king to his wife, "If the thirteenth child which you are about to bring into the world is a girl, the twelve boys shall die, in order that her possessions shall be great, and that the kingdom shall fall to her alone."

The Wonderful Musician

There was once a wonderful musician, who went quite alone through a forest and thought of all manner of things, and when nothing was left for him to think about, he said to himself, "Time is beginning to pass heavily with me here in the forest, I will fetch a good companion for myself."

The Good Bargain

There was once a peasant who had driven his cow to the fair, and sold her for seven talers. On the way home he had to pass a pond, and already from afar he heard the frogs crying, "Aik, aik, aik, aik."

Faithful John

There was once upon a time an old king who was ill, and thought to himself, "I am lying on what must be my deathbed." Then said he, "Tell Faithful John to come to me."

The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids

There was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids, and loved them with all the love of a mother for her children. One day she wanted to go into the forest and fetch some food.

The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth To Learn What Fear Was

A certain father had two sons, the elder of whom was smart and sensible, but the younger was stupid and could neither learn nor understand anything, and when people saw him they said, "There's a fellow who will give his father some trouble!"

Our Lady's Child

Near a great forest dwelt a woodcutter and his wife, who had an only child, a little girl three years old. They were so poor however, that they no longer had daily bread, and did not know how to get food for her. 

Cat and Mouse in Partnership

A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together.

The Frog King, or Iron Henry

In old times when wishing still helped one, there lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun itself, which has seen so much, was astonished whenever it shone in her face.

The Tale of the Bull and the Ass

...there was once a merchant who owned much money and many men, and who was rich in cattle and camels; he had also a wife and family and dwelt in the country, being experienced in husbandry and devoted to agriculture. Now Allah most high had endowed him with understanding the tongues of the beasts and the birds of every kind, but under pain of death if he divulged the gift to any.