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High up in the thin, clear air there flew an angel bearing a flower from the garden of heaven. As he kissed it, a tiny leaf drifted down into the muddy soil in the middle of the wood; it very soon took root there, and sprouted, and sent up shoots among the other plants. "That's a funny kind of slip," said the plants. And neither the thistle nor the stinging nettle would have anything to do with the stranger. "It must be some low kind of garden plant," they said, grinning and making fun at it. But it grew and grew, and like no other plant its long branches spread far about. "Where do you think you're going?" said the tall thistles, who have thorns on each of their leaves. "You're taking a good deal of space. That's a lot of nonsense-we can't stand here and support you!" When winter came, the snow covered the plant, but from it the blanket of snow received a glow as if the sun were shining from below. Then the spring re...

There was a time when animals and people lived on the earth harmoniously side by side. Each respected the other, and they went out of their way to be friendly and useful to each other. The elephant being the King of the animals decided one day that there should be a King of the Rivers and Marshes. He thought it would be useful to have somebody responsible for alerting people to the coming of the first rains, so that they would have time to get ready and start preparing their tools and seeds. The king of the animals sent out his trusted town cryer, the cockerel, with a message that any animal who wished to be considered should attend the King’s court the following morning. The cockerel dutifully made his way all round the animal village, passing the King’s messages to all and sundry. The next morning the elephant came into his court yard after having partaken of his breakfast, and found a number of candidates for the post had gathered there. The cat was there, and the monkey. Toad and f...

Once there was a man who was   strong. When he gathered firewood, he hauled twice as much as anyone else in the village. When he hunted, he carried home two antelopes at once. This man’s name was Shadusa, and his wife was named Shettu. One day he said to her, “Just look at these muscles. I must be the strongest man in the world. From now on, just call me Master Man.” But Shettu said, “Quit your foolish boasting. No matter how strong you are, there will always be someone stronger. And watch out, or someday you may meet him.” The next day, Shettu paid a visit to a neighboring village. On the walk home she grew thirsty, so she stopped by a well. She threw in the bucket— splash —then she pulled on the rope. But though she tugged and she heaved, she could not lift the bucket. Just then a woman walked up with a baby strapped to her back. Balanced on her head was a calabash, a hollow gourd for carrying water. “You’ll get no water here today,” said Shettu. “The bucket won’t ...

Master Maid Once there was a lad named Leif. Now, Leif was a likeable fellow, and handsome to boot. But he never wanted to listen to anyone, and he always had to do things his own way. “My son, it’s good to make up your own mind,” his father told him. “But it’s also good to know when others know more than you.” Now, Leif didn’t want to hear that either, so he said, “Father, I’m going out into the world, where I can do things just as I like.” His father begged him not to go, but the more he pleaded, the more he was set on it. Finally his father said, “Your stubbornness is bound to land you in trouble. But at least take this piece of advice: Whatever you do, don’t go to work for the troll.” So where do you think Leif went? Right to the house of the troll! Leif knocked on the door, and the troll himself answered it. He was huge monster, and a good deal uglier than anyone you’d care to meet. “Pardon me, sir,” said Leif. “I’m looking for work.” “Are you, now?” said the ...

Young Peter Black was a good man, but everyone said he had one big fault: he loved to tell wild stories. Peter was the sexton at the Church of St. Thomas the Believer, there in the little town of Tabby-on-Thames. He stayed in the cottage behind the church, right next to Father Allen’s house. Many were the jobs he’d held before that, but with his wild stories, he’d managed to lose everyone. Father Allen had warned him. “Peter, this is the last job you’re likely to get in this town. If you want to keep it, your wild stories must stop!” One night Peter couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned and at last got up to make himself some tea. But when he glanced out of his window, he saw the windows of the church ablaze with light. “What in the world . . . ?” muttered Peter. “There shouldn’t be anyone there, this time of night. And how would they get in, anyway?” Peter pulled on a coat, crossed the yard, and quietly unlocked the back door. As he crept through the vestry, he heard...

Once there was a man named Ulf who had three grown-up daughters. Each had married a troll and gone to live inside a hill. Ulf had not seen any of them since their weddings. One day he decided to visit the eldest. He walked till he came to the hill where she lived. A door in the hillside flew open. “Welcome!” said his daughter, and she let him in. “Husband, look!” she told the troll. “My father’s here! Will you go and buy some meat for the stew?” “Why buy what is already owned?” said the troll. He picked up a mallet and hit himself on the back of the head. Thunk! His head flew off into the stew pot, and a new head grew on his shoulders. “Ah!” said Ulf. When he got home, he told his wife, “I have learned something wonderful!” “What have you learned?” she asked. But Ulf just smiled and said, “I know what I know.” A few days later, Ulf’s wife told him, “We need meat for the stew. Will you go buy some?” “Why buy what is already owned?” said Ulf. He picked up a mallet and knocked hi...

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. ‘But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shall suffer from hunger,’ said the cat; ‘and you, little mouse, cannot venture everywhere, or you will be caught in a trap someday.’ The good advice was followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not know where to put it. At length, after much consideration, the cat said: ‘I know no place where it will be better stored up than in the church, for no one dares take anything away from there. We will set it beneath the altar, and not touch it until we are really in need of it.’ So the pot was placed in safety, but it was not long before the cat had a great yearning for it, and said to the mouse: ‘I want to tell you something, little mouse; my cousin has brought a little son into the wo...

A poor man had twelve children and had to work day and night in order just to feed them. Thus when the thirteenth child came into the world, not knowing what to do in his need, he ran out into the highway, intending to ask the first person whom he met to be the godfather. The first person who came his way was our dear God, who already knew what was in his heart, and God said to him, "Poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at his baptism, and care for him, and make him happy on earth." The man said, "Who are you?" - "I am God." - "Then I do not wish to have you for a godfather," said the man. "You give to the rich, and let the poor starve." Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God divides out wealth and poverty. Then he turned away from the Lord, and went on his way. Then the devil came to him and said, "What are you looking for? If you will take me as your child's godfather, I will give him an abundance o...