Lost Stories

These are my lost stories.

My lost childhood.

The things that were supposed to be.

The things I forgot.

The things I remember different.

Everything started with stories that she heard...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Once upon a time, long, long ago a king and queen “You, my queen, are fair; it is true. ruled over a distant land. The queen was kind and But Snow White is even fairer than you.” lovely and all the people of the realm adored her. The only sadness in the queen’s life was that she wished for The Queen flew into a jealous rage and ordered a child but did not have one. her huntsman to take Snow White into the woods to be killed. She demanded that the huntsman return with One winter day, the queen was doing needle work Snow White’s heart as proof. while gazing out her ebony window at the new fallen snow. A bird flew by the window startling the queen The poor huntsman took Snow White into the forest, and she pricked her finger. A single drop of blood fell but found himself unable to kill the girl. Instead, he let on the snow outside her window. As she looked at the her go, and brought the queen the heart of a wild boar. blood on the snow she said to herself, “Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin as white as snow, Snow White was now all alone in the great forest, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.” and she did not know what to do. The trees seemed to whisper to each other, scaring Snow White who began Soon after that, the kind queen got her wish when to run. She ran over sharp stones and through thorns. she gave birth to a baby girl who had skin white as She ran as far as her feet could carry her, and just as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony. They evening was about to fall she saw a little house and named the baby princess Snow White, but sadly, the went inside in order to rest. queen died after giving birth to Snow White.

Inside the house everything was small but tidy.

Soon after, the king married a new woman who was There was a little table with a tidy, white tablecloth and beautiful, but as well proud and cruel. She had studied seven little plates. Against the wall there were seven dark magic and owned a magic mirror, of which she little beds, all in a row and covered with quilts. would daily ask, Because she was so hungry Snow White ate a few “Mirror, mirror on the wall, vegetables and a little bread from each little plate and Who’s the fairest of them all?” from each cup she drank a bit of milk. Afterward, because she was so tired, she lay down on one of the little Each time this question was asked, the mirror beds and fell fast asleep. would give the same answer, “Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all.” This pleased the queen greatly as she After dark, the owners of the house returned home. knew that her magical mirror could speak nothing but They were the seven dwarves who mined for gold in the the truth. mountains. As soon as they arrived home, they saw that someone had been there -- for not everything was in the One morning when the queen asked, “Mirror, mir- same order as they had left it. ror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” she was shocked when it answered: The first one said, “Who has been sitting in my chair?”

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The second one, “Who has been eating from my plate?” During the day the girl was alone, except for the small The third one, “Who has been eating my bread?” animals of the forest that she often played with.

The fourth one, “Who has been eating my vegetables?”

The fifth one, “Who has been eating with my fork?”

Now the queen, believing that she had eaten Snow The sixth one, “Who has been drinking from my cup?” White’s heart, could only think that she was again the first and the most beautiful woman of all. She stepped But the seventh one, looking at his bed, found Snow before her mirror and said: White lying there asleep. The seven dwarves all came running up, and they cried out with amazement. They “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, fetched their seven candles and shone the light on Who in this land is fairest of all?”

Snow White.

It answered: “Oh good heaven! “ they cried. “This child is beautiful!”

“You, my queen, are fair; it is true.

They were so happy that they did not wake her up, But Snow White, beyond the mountains but let her continue to sleep in the bed. The next mornWith the seven dwarves, ing Snow White woke up, and when she saw the seven Is still a thousand times fairer than you.” dwarves she was frightened. But they were friendly and asked, “What is your name?”

This startled the queen, for she knew that the mirror did not lie, and she realized that the huntsman had “My name is Snow White,” she answered. deceived her and that Snow White was still alive. Then she thought, and thought again, how she could rid her“How did you find your way to our house?” the self of Snow White for as long as long as she was not the dwarves asked further. most beautiful woman in the entire land her jealousy would give her no rest.

Then she told them that her stepmother had tried to kill her, that the huntsman had spared her life, and that she had run the entire day through the forest, finally stumbling upon their house.

The dwarves spoke with each other for awhile and then said, “If you will keep house for us, and cook, make beds, wash, sew, and knit, and keep everything clean and orderly, then you can stay with us, and you shall have everything that you want.”

“Yes,” said Snow White, “with all my heart.” For Snow White greatly enjoyed keeping a tidy home.

So Snow White lived happily with the dwarves. Every morning they went into the mountains looking for gold, and in the evening when they came back home Snow White had their meal ready and their house tidy.

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At last she thought of something. She went into her “You, my queen, are fairest of all.” most secret room - no one else was allowed inside - and she made a poisoned apple. From the outside it was Then her cruel and jealous heart was at rest, as well beautiful, and anyone who saw it would want it. But as a cruel and jealous heart can be at rest. anyone who might eat a little piece of it would die. Coloring her face, she disguised herself as an old peddler When the dwarves came home that evening they woman, so that no one would recognize her, traveled to found Snow White lying on the ground. She was not the dwarves house and knocked on the door. breathing at all. She was dead. They lifted her up and looked at her longingly. They talked to her, shook her Snow White put her head out of the window, and and wept over her. But nothing helped. The dear child said, “I must not let anyone in; the seven dwarves have was dead, and she remained dead. They laid her on a forbidden me to do so.” bed of straw, and all seven sat next to her and mourned for her and cried for three days. They were going to “That is all right with me,” answered the peddler bury her, but she still looked as fresh as a living perwoman. “I’ll easily get rid of my apples. Here, I’ll give son, and still had her beautiful red cheeks. you one of them.”

They said, “We cannot bury her in the black “No,” said Snow White, “I cannot accept anything earth” and they had a transparent glass coffin made, from strangers.” so she could be seen from all sides. They laid her inside, and with golden letters wrote on it her name, “Are you afraid of poison?” asked the old woman. and that she was a princess. Then they put the cof“Look, I’ll cut the apple in two. You eat half and I shall fin outside on a mountain, and one of them always eat half.” stayed with it and watched over her. The animals too came and mourned for Snow White, first an owl, then Now the apple had been so artfully made that only a raven, and finally a dove. the one half was poisoned. Snow White longed for the beautiful apple, and when she saw that the peddler Now it came to pass that a prince entered these woman was eating part of it she could no longer resist, woods and happened onto the dwarves’ house, where and she stuck her hand out and took the poisoned half. he sought shelter for the night . He saw the coffin on She barely had a bite in her mouth when she fell to the the mountain with beautiful Snow White in it, and he ground dead. read what was written on it with golden letters.

him and gave him the coffin. The prince had his servants carry it away on their shoulders. But then it happened that one of them stumbled on some brush, and this dislodged from Snow White’s throat the piece of poisoned apple that she had bitten off. Not long afterward she opened her eyes, lifted the lid from her coffin, sat up, and was alive again.

The queen looked at her with an evil stare, laughed Then he said to the dwarves, “Let me have the loudly, and said, “White as snow, red as blood, black coffin. I will give you anything you want for it.” as ebony wood! The dwarves shall never awaken you.”

But the dwarves answered, “We will not sell it for Back at home she asked her mirror: all the gold in the world.”

Not knowing that this new queen was indeed her stepdaughter, she arrived at the wedding, and her heart filled with the deepest of dread when she realized the truth - the evil queen was banished from the land forever and the prince and Snow White lived happily ever after.

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is fairest of all?”

It finally answered:

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Then he said, “Then give it to me, for I cannot live without being able to see Snow White. I will honor her and respect her as my most cherished one.”

“Good heavens, where am I?” she cried out.

The prince said joyfully, “You are with me.” He told her what had happened, and then said, “I love you more than anything else in the world. Come with me to my father’s castle. You shall become my wife.” Snow White loved him, and she went with him. Their wedding was planned with great splendor and majesty.

Snow White’s wicked step-mother was invited to the feast, and when she had arrayed herself in her most beautiful garments, she stood before her mirror, and said: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is fairest of them all?”

The mirror answered: “You, my queen, are fair; it is true.

But the young queen is a thousand times fairer than you.”

As he thus spoke, the good dwarves felt pity for

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Little Red Riding Hood Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived

his pointy ears.A few minutes later, Red Riding Hood knocked on the door. The wolf jumped into bed and pulled the covers over his nose.

Hood, “I’ll be careful.”

in a village near the forest. Whenever she went out, the little girl wore a red riding cloak, so everyone in the But when Little Red Riding Hood noticed some village called her Little Red Riding Hood. lovely flowers in the woods, she forgot her promise to her mother. She picked a few, watched the butterflies One morning, Little Red Riding Hood asked her flit about for awhile, listened to the frogs croaking and mother if she could go to visit her grandmother as it then picked a few more. had been awhile since they’d seen each other.

Little Red Riding Hood was enjoying the warm “That’s a good idea,” her mother said. So they summer day so much, that she didn’t notice a dark packed a nice basket for Little Red Riding Hood to shadow approaching out of the forest behind her. take to her grandmother.

Suddenly, the wolf appeared beside her.

When the basket was ready, the little girl put on her red cloak and kissed her mother goodbye.

“What are you doing out here, little girl?” the wolf asked in a voice as friendly as he could muster.

“Remember, go straight to Grandma’s house,” her mother cautioned. “Don’t dawdle along the way and “I’m on my way to see my Grandma who lives please don’t talk to strangers! The woods are danger- through the forest, near the brook,” Little Red Riding ous.”“Don’t worry, mommy,” said Little Red Riding Hood replied.

“It’s me, Little Red Riding Hood.”

“Oh how lovely! Do come in, my dear,” croaked the wolf.

When Little Red Riding Hood entered the little cottage, she could scarcely recognize her Grandmother.

“Grandmother! Your voice sounds so odd. something the matter?” she asked.

Is

“Oh, I just have touch of a cold,” squeaked the wolf adding a cough at the end to prove the point.

“Oh Grandma, I was so scared!” sobbed Little Red Riding Hood, “I’ll never speak to strangers or dawdle in the forest again.”

“There, there, child. You’ve learned an important lesson. Thank goodness you shouted loud enough for this kind woodsman to hear you!”

The woodsman knocked out the wolf and carried him deep into the forest where he wouldn’t bother people any longer. Little Red Riding Hood and her Grandmother had a nice lunch and a long chat.

“But Grandmother! What big ears you have,” said Little Red Riding Hood as she edged closer to the bed.

“The better to hear you with, my dear,” replied the wolf.

Then she realized how late she was and quickly excused herself, rushing down the path to her Grandma’s house. The wolf, in the meantime, took a shortcut.

The wolf, a little out of breath from running, arrived at Grandma’s and knocked lightly at the door.

“But Grandmother! What big eyes you have,” said Little Red Riding Hood.

“Oh thank goodness dear! Come in, come in! I was worried sick that something had happened to you in the forest,” said Grandma thinking that the knock was her granddaughter.

“But Grandmother! What big teeth you have,” said Little Red Riding Hood her voice quivering slightly.

The wolf let himself in. Poor Granny did not have time to say another word, before the wolf gobbled her up! The wolf let out a satisfied burp, and then poked through Granny’s wardrobe to find a nightgown that he liked. He added a frilly sleeping cap, and for good measure, dabbed some of Granny’s perfume behind

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“Who is it?” he called in a cackly voice.

could. A woodsman who was chopping logs nearby heard her cry and ran towards the cottage as fast as he could. He grabbed the wolf and made him spit out the poor Grandmother who was a bit frazzled by the whole experience, but still in one piece.

“The better to see you with, my dear,” replied the wolf.

“The better to eat you with, my dear,” roared the wolf and he leapt out of the bed and began to chase the little girl.

Almost too late, Little Red Riding Hood realized that the person in the bed was not her Grandmother, but a hungry wolf. She ran across the room and through the door, shouting, “Help! Wolf!” as loudly as she

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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Alice is sitting with her sister outdoors when she spies a White Rabbit with a pocket watch. Fascinated by the sight, she follows the rabbit down the hole. She falls for a long time, and finds herself in `a long hallway full of doors. There is also a key on the table, which unlocks a tiny door; through this door, she spies a beautiful garden. She longs to get there, but the door is too small. Soon, she finds a drink with a note that asks her to drink it. There is later a cake with a note that tells her to eat; Alice uses both, but she cannot seem to get a handle on things, and is always either too large to get through the door or too small to reach the key.

Alice gets herself down to normal proportions and continues her trek through the woods. In a clearing she comes across a little house and shrinks herself down enough to get inside. It is the house of the Duchess; the Duchess and the Cook are battling fiercely, and they seem unconcerned about the safety of the baby that the Duchess is nursing. Alice takes the baby with her, but the child turns into a pig and trots off into the woods.

Alice next meets the Cheshire cat (who was sitting in the Duchess’s house, but said nothing). The Cheshire cat helps her to find her way through the woods, but he warns her that everyone she meets will be mad.

While she is tiny, she slips and falls into a pool of water. She realizes that this little sea is made of tears she cried while a giant. She swims to shore with a number of animals, most notably a sensitive mouse, but manages to offend everyone by talking about her cat’s ability to catch birds and mice. Left alone, she goes on through the wood and runs into the White Rabbit. He mistakes her for his maid and sends her to fetch some things from his house. While in the White Rabbit’s home, she drinks another potion and becomes too huge to get out through the door. She eventually finds a little cake which, when eaten, makes her small again.

Alice goes to the March Hare’s house, where she is treated to a Mad Tea Party. Present are the March

Hare, the Hatter, and the Dormouse. Ever since time stopped working for the Hatter, it has always been six o’clock; it is therefore always teatime. The creatures of the Mad Tea Party are some of the must argumentative in all of Wonderland. Alice leaves them and finds a tree with a door in it: when she looks through the door, she spies the door-lined hallway from the beginning of her adventures. This time, she is prepared, and she manages to get to the lovely garden that she saw earlier.

She walks on through, and finds herself in the garden of the Queen of Hearts. There, three gardeners (with bodies shaped like playing cards) are painting the roses red. If the Queen finds out that they planted white roses, she’ll have them beheaded. The Queen herself soon arrives, and she does order their execution. Alice helps to hide them in a large flowerpot.

The Queen invites Alice to play croquet, which is a very difficult game in Wonderland, as the balls and mallets are live animals. The game is interrupted by

the appearance of the Cheshire cat, whom the King of Hearts immediately dislikes.

The Queen takes Alice to the Gryphon, who in turn takes Alice to the Mock Turtle. The Gryphon and the Mock Turtle tell Alice bizarre stories about their school under the sea. The Mock Turtles sings a melancholy song about turtle soup, and soon afterward the Gryphon drags Alice off to see the trial of the Knave of Hearts.

The Knave of Hearts has been accused of stealing the tarts of the Queen of Hearts, but the evidence against him is very bad. Alice is appalled by the ridiculous proceedings. She also begins to grow larger. She is soon called to the witness stand; by this time she has grown to giant size. She refuses to be intimidated by the bad logic of the court and the bluster of the King and Queen of Hearts. Suddenly, the cards all rise up and attack her, at which point she wakes up. Her adventures in Wonderland have all been a fantastic dream.

In the wood again, she comes across a Caterpillar sitting on a mushroom. He gives her some valuable advice, as well as a valuable tool: the two sides of the mushroom, which can make Alice grow larger and smaller as she wishes. The first time she uses them, she stretches her body out tremendously. While stretched out, she pokes her head into the branches of a tree and meets a Pigeon. The Pigeon is convinced that Alice is a serpent, and though Alice tries to reason with her the Pigeon tells her to be off.

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Alladin A long time ago, in Persia, a poor boy called Aladdin was playing with his friends in the streets of his city. A stranger came up to him and asked him if he was not the son of Mustapha the Tailor. “I am, sir” replied Aladdin; “but he died a long while ago.” When the stranger heard this, he embraced Aladdin saying, “My boy – I am your long lost uncle.” Aladdin ran home and told his mother all about this newly found relative, and she prepared supper for them all.

The next day, the uncle led Aladdin out far beyond the city gates. They journeyed onwards until late afternoon, but Aladdin did not feel tiered because his uncle told him so many interesting stories. Eventually they reached the foot of a mountain.

“We will go no farther,” said the false uncle – for in truth he was not Aladdin’s relative, but an African magician in disguise. “I will show you something wonderful”; he said. The magician lit a fire and threw some powder on it while saying some magical words.

The earth trembled a little and a large bolder rolled to one side. Aladdin saw a flight of steps leading down into a dark cave. The opening was just large enough for a boy to pass through, but plainly the magician, who was rather fat, would not have managed to enter the cave himself. “Go down”, commanded the magician, “at the foot of those steps you will find an open door leading into three large halls. Pass through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly.

These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on until you come to table upon which stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it to me.”

Aladdin was afraid to disobey the magician, and went down the stares into the cave On the ground he found a ring, and despite the magician’s order not to touch anything, he picked it up and slipped it onto

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his finger. He did not die. Then he passed through the garden where he picked fruit from the trees. Later on, he found the lamp, just as the magician had said, and he went back up the stares to the mouth of the cave. The magician cried out: “Make haste and give me the lamp.” But Aladdin saw through his trick and understood that as soon as he handed over the lamp, the magician would replace the stone and he would be shut inside the cave, never to leave. And so Aladdin called out, “Let me out first, and only then will I give you the lamp”. The magician flew into a terrible rage, and throwing some more powder on to the fire, he said some more magic words, and the stone rolled back into its place.

For two days Aladdin remained trapped inside the cave. At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring that he had picked off the ground. Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: “What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things.” Aladdin fearlessly replied: “Deliver me from this place!” whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself back at home. “Alas! child,” said his mother when she noticed him, “I have nothing to eat in the house. We will go hungry tonight.” Aladdin soothed her saying he would sell the lamp to get some money for food. As it was very dirty his mother began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly: “Fetch me something to eat!” The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine.

Aladdin’s mother, when she came to herself, said: “Where did you get this splendid feast?” “Ask not, but eat,” replied Aladdin.

One day the Sultan who ruled the city ordered that everyone was to stay at home and close his shutters while the Princess, his daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink.

The Princess looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home and told his mother that he loved the Princess so deeply that he could not live without her. His mother burst out laughing, but Aladdin at last persuaded her to go to the Sultan and request his daughter’s hand in marriage for her son. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the Sultan.

After waiting several days at the Palace, she was admitted to see the him. She threw herself down foot of the thrown and waited for several minutes until the Sultan said to her: “Old woman, tell me what you want.” She hesitated, then told him of her son’s love for the Princess, only at the last moment remembering to open the napkin that contained the magical fruits.

When the Sultan saw this wonderful present he was thunderstruck, and turning to the his chief adviser, the grand Vizier, he said: “Ought I not to give the Princess to one who values her at such a price?” The Vizier, who was hoping that his own son would marry the princess, begged the Sultan to delay the wedding for three months, during which time he hoped to make him a richer present. The Sultan agreed.

Aladdin waited patiently for his wedding day in three months time, but after two months his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found every one rejoicing, and asked what was going on. “Do you not know,” was the answer, “that the son of the Grand Vizier is to marry the Sultan’s daughter to-night?” Aladdin, who was stunned when he heard the news. but presently he took down the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared,

saying, “What is thy will?” Aladdin replied: “The Sultan has broken his promise to me, and the Vizier’s son is to marry the Princess. My command is that that you bring the princess here so that the scoundral can’t have her.” “Your wish is my command” said the Genie, and in an instant the princess was sitting in Aladdin’s room still wearing her wedding dress. He told her not to be afraid, but she was utterly confused and quite terrified. The next morning, the genie took her back to the palace.

The Princess told her mother how she had been carried by magic to some strange house. Her mother did not believe her in the least, and the Sultan ordered that wedding should take place that evening instead.

The following night exactly the same thing happened. The Sultan was furious and even considered having his daughter’s head cut off. He summoned the Vizier’s son. “Plainly my daughter his hiding from you” he said. “Do you still wish to marry her?”

“Well” said the young man who was very proud and arrogant, “If the princess does not obey her father, the great Sultan, what hope is that she will make me a good wife? I give up my claim over her. Better that she marry the poorest beggar if that’s what she wants.”

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the Sultan, on seeing her poverty felt less inclined than ever to keep his word. The Vizier advised him to set so high a value on the Princess that no man living could come up to it. The Sultan then turned to Aladdin’s mother, saying: “Good woman, a Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your son must first send me forty basins of gold full of jewels. Tell him that I wait his answer.”

When he heard this, Aladdin summoned up his genie and soon eighty slaves, splendidly dressed, were waiting in the alleyway outside his house. The slaves

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were carrying forty golden basins, brimming with jewels.

Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the Princess that very day. But Aladdin refused, saying, “I must build a palace fit for her,” and took his leave. Once home, he said to the genie: “Build me a palace of the finest marble, with four and twenty windows set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones.

At night the Princess said good-bye to her father, and set out for Aladdin’s palace, with his mother at her side, and followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her. “Princess,” he said, “blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you.” After the wedding had taken place Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after which they danced till midnight.

But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic arts discovered that instead of perishing miserably in the cave, he had escaped, and had married a princess. He traveled night and day until he reached the city of Persia where Aladdin lived.

Half mad with rage, he was determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty.

Unluckily, Aladdin had gone hunting for eight days, which gave the magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a basket, and went to the palace, crying: “New lamps for old!” followed by a jeering crowd, laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones.

One of the Palace slaves said to the princess, “There is an old lamp on the cornice there which he can have.”

Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could not take it out hunting with him. The Princess, not knowing its value went and said to the magician: “Give me a new lamp for this.” He snatched

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it amid the jeers of the crowd. Little he cared. He went out of the city gates to a lonely place where he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the magician’s command carried him, together with the palace and the Princess in it, to far off Africa.

Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window toward Aladdin’s palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. The Vizier put the strange disappearance of the palace and his daughter down to black magic, and this time the Sultan believed him. He and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch Aladdin in chains.

“False wretch!” said the Sultan, “Where is my palace and my daughter?”

Aladdin had no answer, but begged to be given forty days to discover the cause of the disaster.

This the Sultan granted. For three days three days Aladdin wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. So the genie asked his will. “Save my life, genie,” said Aladdin, “bring my palace back.” “That is not in my power,” said the genie; “I am only the Slave of the Ring; you must ask him of the lamp.” “Even so,” said Aladdin, “but thou canst take me to the palace, and set me down under my dear wife’s window.” He at once found himself in Africa, under the window of the Princess.

That morning the Princess rose early and opened the window, and at the noise she made Aladdin looked up. She was astonished and delighted to see her dear husband’s face. After he had kissed her, Aladdin said: “I beg of you, Princess, in God’s name, tell me what has become of my old lamp. “Alas!” she said, “I am the innocent cause of our sorrows,” and she told him of the exchange of the lamp.

Aladdin comforted her, and gave her a small bottle

containing a certain powder. “Put on your most beautiful dress,” he said to her “and receive the magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country. He will go for some and while he is gone I will tell you what to do.”

Fatima, sent for her. She showed Fatima the palace, and asked what she thought of it. “It is truly beautiful,” said the false Fatima. “In my mind it wants but one thing.” “And what is that?” said the Princess. “If only a roc’s egg,” replied he, “were hung up from the middle of this dome, it would be the wonder of the world.”

That evening she received the magician, saying, to his great amazement: “I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but let us try some wine of Africa.” The magician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put the powder Aladdin had given her into his cup. When he returned the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, but the Princess cut him short, saying: “Let us drink first, and you shall say what you will afterward.” She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless. Aladdin came into the room, went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his clothes, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to Persia. This was done in an instant.

After this the Princess could think of nothing but the roc’s egg, and when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill mood. She told him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoiled for the want of a roc’s egg hanging from the dome. “If that is all,” replied Aladdin, “you shall soon be happy.” He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a roc’s egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the hall shook.

“Wretch!” he cried, “is it not enough that I have done everything for you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the midst of this dome?

You and your wife and your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes, but that this request does not come from you, but from the brother of the African magician, whom you destroyed. He is now in your palace disguised as the holy woman. He it was who put that wish into your wife’s head. Take care of yourself, for he means to kill you.” So saying, the genie disappeared.

The Sultan, who was sitting in his chamber, mourning for his lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the palace as before! He hastened over to it, and Aladdin received him with the Princess at his side. He told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician, that he might believe. A ten days’ feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; but it was not to be.

The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself. He traveled to Persia to avenge his brother’s death, and disguised himself in skirts and veils so that he looked exactly like a famous holy woman called Fatima. Then he went toward the palace of Aladdin, and all the people, thinking he was the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his blessing. The Princess, who had long desired to see

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Aladdin went back to the Princess, saying his head ached, and requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the heart. “What have you done?” cried the Princess.

“You have killed the holy woman!” “Not so,” replied Aladdin, “but a wicked magician,” and told her of how she had been deceived.

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line of kings.

Cinderella Once upon a time there was a rich man who lived happily for a long time with his wife. Together they had a single daughter. Then the woman became ill, and when she was lying on her deathbed, she called her daughter to her side, and said, “Dear child, I must leave you now, but I will look down on you from heaven. Plant a little tree on my grave, and when you want something, just shake the tree, and you shall get what you want.

I will help you in time of need. Just remain pious and good.” Then she closed her eyes and died. The child cried, and planted a little tree on her mother’s grave.

She did not need to carry any water to it, because her tears provided all the water that it needed.

the whole day sorting them out again. At night when she was tired, there was no bed for her to sleep in, but she had to lie down next to the hearth in the ashes.

Because she was always dirty with ashes and dust, they gave her the name Cinderella.

The stepmother already had two daughters by her first husband. They were beautiful to look at, but in their hearts they were proud, arrogant, and evil. After the wedding was over, the three moved into the man’s house, and times grew very bad for his poor child.

“No,” said the oldest one, “and we would be ashamed if you were to be seen there, and people learned that you are our sister. You belong in the kitchen. Here is a basin of lentils. Sort the good ones from the bad ones, and if there is a single bad one in the lot when we return, you can expect the worst.”

The time came when the king announced a ball.

It was to last, in all splendor, for three days, and there his son, the prince, would choose a wife for himself.

The two proud sisters were invited. “Cinderella,” they cried, “Come here. Comb our hair. Brush our shoes, and tighten our laces. We are going to the prince’s ball.”

Cinderella did the best that she could, but they rewarded her only with curses. When they were ready, The snow fell over the mother’s grave like a white they said with scorn, “Cinderella, wouldn’t you like to cloth; then after the sun had retired from it a second go to the ball?” time, and the little tree had become green a second time, the man took another wife.

“Oh, yes. But how can I go? I don’t have a dress.”

“What is that useless creature doing in the best room?” asked the stepmother. “Away to the kitchen With that, they left. Cinderella stood and watched with her! And if she wants to eat, then she must earn it. until she could no longer see them. Then she sadly She can be our maid.” went into the kitchen and spread the lentils out over the hearth. There was a very, very large pile of them.

Her stepsisters took her dresses away from her and “Oh,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll have to sit here sorting made her wear an old gray skirt. “That is good enough lentils until midnight, and I can’t close my eyes, no for you!” they said, making fun of her and leading her matter how much they hurt. If only my mother knew into the kitchen. Then the poor child had to do the most about this!” difficult work. She had to get up before sunrise, carry water, make the fire, cook, and wash. To add to her She kneeled down in the ashes next to the hearth misery, her stepsisters ridiculed her and then scattered and was about to begin her work when two white peas and lentils into the ashes, and she had to spend pigeons flew in through the window. They lit on the

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hearth next to the lentils. Nodding their heads, they they could not, they began telling her about the ball. said, “Cinderella, do you want us to help you sort the They said, “Cinderella, it was so grand at the ball. The lentils?” prince, who is the best looking man in the whole world, escorted us, and he is going to choose one of us to be “Yes,” she answered “The bad ones go into your his wife.” crop, the good ones go into the pot.’

“Yes,” said Cinderella, “I saw the glistening lights.

And peck, peck, peck, peck, they started at once, It must have been magnificent.” eating up the bad ones and leaving the good ones lying.

In only a quarter of an hour there was not a single bad “Now just how did you do that?” asked the oldest one. lentil among the good ones, and she brushed them all into the pot.

“By standing up there on the pigeon roost.”

Then the pigeons said to her, “Cinderella, if you would like to see your sisters dancing with the prince, just climb up to the pigeon roost.” She followed them and climbed to the top rung of the ladder to the pigeon roost. There she could see into the hall, and she saw her sisters dancing with the prince. Everything glistened by the glow of a thousand lights. After she had seen enough, she climbed back down. With a heavy heart she lay down in the ashes and fell asleep.

When she heard this, her envy drove her to have the pigeon roost torn down immediately.

Cinderella had to comb their hair and get them ready again. The youngest sister, who had a little sympathy in her heart, said, “Cinderella, when it gets dark you can go and look through the windows from the outside.”

“No!” said the oldest one. “That would only make The next morning the two sisters came to the her lazy. Here is a sackful of seeds. Sort the good ones kitchen. They were angry when they saw that she had from the bad ones, and do it well. If tomorrow there sorted the lentils, for they wanted to scold her. Because are any bad ones in the lot, then I will dump the whole sackful into the ashes, and you will have to go without eating until you have picked them all out again.”

Cinderella sadly sat down on the hearth and spread out the seeds. The pigeons flew in again, and said, “Cinderella, do you want us to help you sort the seeds?”

“Yes,” she answered “The bad ones go into your crop, the good ones go into the pot.

Peck, peck, peck, peck, it went as fast as if twelve hands were at work. When they were finished, the pigeons said, “Cinderella, would you like to go dancing at the ball?”

“Oh, my goodness,” she said, “how could I go in these dirty clothes?”

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“Just go to the little tree on your mother’s grave, shake it, and wish yourself some beautiful clothes. But come back before midnight.”

So Cinderella went and shook the little tree, and said: “Shake yourself, shake yourself, little tree.

Throw some nice clothing down to me!”

She had scarcely spoken these words when a splendid silver dress fell down before her. With it were pearls, silk stockings with silver decorations, silver slippers, and everything else that she needed.

Cinderella carried it all home. After she had washed herself and put on the beautiful clothing, she was as beautiful as a rose washed in dew. She went to the front door, and there was a carriage with six black horses all decorated with feathers, and servants dressed in blue and silver. They helped her into the carriage, and away they galloped to the king’s castle.

The prince saw the carriage stop before the gate, and thought that a foreign princess was arriving. He himself walked down the steps, helped Cinderella out, and escorted her into the hall. Many thousand lights shone upon her, and she was so beautiful that everyone there was amazed. The sisters stood there, angry that someone was more beautiful than they were, but they had no idea that it was Cinderella, who they thought was lying at home in the ashes. The prince danced with Cinderella and paid her every royal honor. He thought to himself, “I am supposed to choose myself a bride. I will have no one but her.”

However long she had suffered in ashes and sorrow, Cinderella was now living in splendor and joy. As midnight approached, before the clock struck twelve, she stood up, bowed, and said that she had to go, in spite of the prince’s requests for her to stay. The prince escorted her out. Her carriage stood there waiting for her. And she rode away just as splendidly as she had come.

Back at home, Cinderella returned to the tree on her mother’s grave, and said: “Shake yourself, shake yourself, little tree!

Take the clothing back from me!”

The tree took back the clothes. Cinderella put on her old ash-dress again, went home, dirtied her face, and lay down in the ashes to sleep.

The next morning the two sisters came in looking out of sorts, and without saying a word. Cinderella said, “Did you have a good time yesterday evening?”

“No. A princess was there who danced with the prince almost the whole time, but no one knew who she was nor where she came from.”

“Was she the one in the splendid carriage drawn by six black horses?” asked Cinderella.

“How did you know that?”

“I was standing in the front door when she rode by the house.”

“In the future do not leave your work,” said the oldest one, giving Cinderella an evil look. “What were you doing, standing in the front door?”

Cinderella had to get her sisters ready a third time.

Her reward was a basin filled with peas, which she was supposed to sort. “And do not dare to leave your work,” shouted the oldest one, as she was leaving.

Cinderella thought, “If only my pigeons will come again,” and her heart beat a little faster. The pigeons did come, just as they had the evening before, and said, “Cinderella, would you like us to help you sort the peas.”

“Yes,” she said “The bad ones go into your crop, the good ones go into the pot.”

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Once again the pigeons picked out the bad ones, and soon they were finished. Then they said, “Cinderella, shake the little tree, and it will throw down even more beautiful clothes. Go to the ball, but be careful to come back before midnight.” Cinderella went and said:

The prince had rushed after her. He found the golden slipper on the stairway, pulled it loose, and picked it up. But by the time he arrived below, she had disappeared. The people whom he had ordered to keep watch came and said that they had seen nothing.

was wearing the slipper, he said that she was to be his bride. He escorted her to his carriage and was going to drive away with her. When he arrived at the gate, the two pigeons were perched above, and they called out:

Cinderella was glad that it had not been worse. She returned home, lit her simple oil lamp, hung it in the chimney, and lay down in the ashes. Before long the Then a dress fell down that was even more two sisters returned, and called out, “Cinderella, get up magnificent and more splendid than the other one, and light the way for us.” made entirely of gold and precious stones. With it were stockings decorated with gold, and slippers made of Cinderella yawned and acted as though she had gold. Cinderella put them on, and she glistened like the been asleep. While lighting their way, she heard one sun at midday. A carriage with six white horses pulled of them say, “God knows who the cursed princess is. I up at the door. The horses had tall white plumes on wish that she were lying beneath the earth! The prince their heads, and the servants were dressed in red and danced only with her, and after she left, he did not want gold. to stay any longer, and the whole party came to an end.”

The prince bent over and looked at the slipper.

Blood was streaming from it. He saw that he had been deceived, and he took the false bride back.

“Shake yourself, shake yourself, little tree.

Throw some nice clothing down to me!”

When Cinderella arrived, the prince was waiting for her at the stairway. He escorted her into the hall. If everyone had been astounded at her beauty yesterday, today they were even more astounded. The sisters stood in the corner, pale with envy. If they had known that this was Cinderella, who they thought was at home lying in the ashes, they would have died of jealousy.

The prince wanted to know who the foreign princess was, where she was from, and where she was going. He placed his people in the street to keep watch. To prevent her from running away so fast, he had the stairway covered with pitch. Cinderella danced with the prince again and again. Filled with joy, she did not think about midnight. Suddenly, in the middle of a dance, she heard the clock strike. She suddenly remembered what the pigeons had warned her. Frightened, she rushed to the door and ran down the stairs. Because they were covered with pitch, one of her golden slippers stuck fast, and in her fear she did not think to pick it up. She reached the last step just as the clock struck twelve. The carriage and the horses disappeared, and Cinderella was left standing there in the dark street dressed in her ash-clothes.

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“It was as though they suddenly blew out all the lights,” said the other one. Cinderella knew exactly who the foreign princess was, but she did not say a word.

Now the prince decided that since nothing else had succeeded, he would let the slipper help him find his bride. He had it proclaimed that he would marry the person whose foot fit the golden slipper. But it was too small for everyone. Indeed, some could not have gotten their foot inside, if it had been twice as large. Finally it came time for the two sisters to try on the slipper. They were happy, for they had small, beautiful feet, and each one believed that she could not fail. “If only the prince would come here sooner!” they thought.

“Listen,” said the mother secretly. “Take this knife, and if the slipper is too tight, just cut off part of your foot. It will hurt a little, but what harm is that? The pain will soon pass, and then one of you will be queen.”

Then the oldest one went to her bedroom and tried on the slipper. The front of her foot went in, but her heel was too large, so she took the knife and cut part of it off, so she could force her foot into the slipper. Then she went out to the prince, and when he saw that she

“Rook di goo, rook di goo!

There’s blood in the shoe.

The shoe is too tight, This bride is not right!”

The mother then said to her second daughter, “Take the slipper, and if it is too short for you, then cut off your toes.” So she took the slipper into her bedroom, and because her foot was too long, she bit her teeth together, and cut off a large part of her toes, then quickly pulled on the slipper. When she stepped out wearing it, the prince thought that she was the right one, and wanted to ride away with her. But when they came to the gate, the pigeons again called out:

shall be my wife.” She pulled the heavy shoe from her left foot, then put her foot into the slipper, pushing ever so slightly. It fit as if it had been poured over her foot.

As she straightened herself up, she looked into the prince’s face, and he recognized her as the beautiful princess. He cried out, “This is the right bride.” The stepmother and the two proud sisters turned pale with horror. The prince escorted Cinderella away. He helped her into his carriage, and as they rode through the gate, the pigeons called out: “Rook di goo, rook di goo!

No blood’s in the shoe.

The shoe’s not too tight, This bride is right!”

“Rook di goo, rook di goo!

There’s blood in the shoe.

The shoe is too tight, This bride is not right!”

The prince looked down and saw that her white stockings were stained red, and that blood and had come up high on them. The prince took her back to her mother and said, “She is not the right bride either. Is there not another daughter here in this house?”

“No,” said the mother. “There is only a dirty cinder girl here. She is sitting down there in the ashes. The slipper would never fit her.” She did not want to call her, but the prince insisted. So they called Cinderella, and when she heard that the prince was there, she quickly washed her hands and face. She stepped into the best room and bowed. The prince handed her the golden slipper, and said, “Try it on. If it fits you, you

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...then she started the reading journey...

Iara Iara, also referred to as the “Mother of waters,” is an entity of Brazilian folklore of a fascinating beauty.

Being a mermaid, she bewitches men easily by having the upper half of his body in the shape of a beautiful and seductive woman. On the other side, the bottom of its body shaped fish is not very noticeable, being submerged in water. So no one can resist her gorgeous face and her sweet songs.

Her power is so strong that she just invite the men to go to into her direction, believing experience an amazing experience with a lovely woman. However, the intentions of Iara are malignant and fatal, and what she really wants is to attract them to death. Are few who survive the mermaid spell and if they can not return to a normal life, they go crazy. Only a shaman or healer can heal them permanently.

The Princess and the Pea Legend has it that before becoming a mermaid, Iara was a beautiful Indian hardworking and courageous.

Iara stood out among the rest to be the best, and consequently aroused the envy of some of the tribe especially that of his fellow men, which did not conform with the situation. His father was a shaman and admired everything she did further contributing to the revolt of his brothers. Taken by envy and jealousy, her brothers decided to kill Iara.

Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess; but she would have to be a real princess. He travelled all over the world to find one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted. There were princesses enough, but it was difficult to find out whether they were real ones. There was always something about them that was not as it should be. So he came home again and was sad, for he would have liked very much to have a real princess.

One night, when Iara lay in her bed, she heard her brothers entering her cabin with the intention to killing her. Quick and warrior, she fought back and ended killing them. Realizing the gravity of the situation and afraid of the attitude of her father, Iara desperately fled through the woods. Iara’s father made a relentless search for his daughter. They located her and as punishment for her act, she was throwed at Negro Solimões River.

The fishes brought her body to the surface and under the full moon light she turned into a beautiful mermaid with long hair and green eyes.

One evening a terrible storm came on; there was thunder and lightning, and the rain poured down in torrents. Suddenly a knocking was heard at the city gate, and the old king went to open it.

Since then Iara remains in the water attracting men and killing them. It is believed that in each phase of the moon, Iara appear with different scales and loves to lie on sandbars in rivers to play with the fish. Also according to legend, is seen combing her long hair with a golden comb, looking in the mirror waters.

Well, we’ll soon find that out, thought the old queen. But she said nothing, went into the bed-room, took all the bedding off the bedstead, and laid a pea on the bottom; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them on the pea, and then twenty eider-down beds on top of the mattresses.

she had felt the pea right through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down beds. Nobody but a real princess could be as sensitive as that.

So the prince took her for his wife, for now he knew that he had a real princess; and the pea was put in the museum, where it may still be seen, if no one has stolen it.

There, that is a true story.

It was a princess standing out there in front of the gate. But, good gracious! what a sight the rain and the wind had made her look. The water ran down from her hair and clothes; it ran down into the toes of her shoes and out again at the heels. And yet she said that she was a real princess.

On this the princess had to lie all night. In the morning she was asked how she had slept.

“Oh, very badly!” said she. “I have scarcely closed my eyes all night. Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard, so that I am black and blue all over my body. It’s horrible!”

Now they knew that she was a real princess because

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The Carnation and the Rose

Hansel and Gretel

The Carnation fought with the Rose

Once upon a time a very poor woodcutter lived in a tiny cottage in the forest with his two children, Hansel and Gretel. His second wife often ill-treated the children and was forever nagging the woodcutter.

“Don’t cry, trust me! I swear I’ll take you home even if Father doesn’t come back for us!” Luckily the moon was full that night and Hansel waited till its cold light filtered through the trees.

The Canation was sick and the rose was visiting The stud had a fainting And the Rose began to cry

“There is not enough food in the house for us all.

There are too many mouths to feed! We must get rid of the two brats,” she declared. And she kept on trying to persuade her husband to abandon his children in the forest.

“Now give me your hand!” he said. “We’ll get home safely, you’ll see!” The tiny white pebbles gleamed in the moonlight, and the children found their way home. They crept through a half open window, without wakening their parents. Cold, tired but thankful to be home again, they slipped into bed.

under a balcony The Carnation was injured and the Rose, shattered

The Rose made a serenada The Carnation was spying And the flowers made a​​ party Because they are getting married

“Take them miles from home, so far that they can never find their way back! Maybe someone will find them and give them a home.” The downcast woodcutter didn’t know what to do. Hansel who, one evening, had overheard his parents’ conversation, comforted Gretel.

“Don’t worry! If they do leave us in the forest, we’ll find the way home,” he said. And slipping out of the house he filled his pockets with little white pebbles, then went back to bed.

All night long, the woodcutter’s wife harped on and on at her husband till, at dawn, he led Hansel and Gretel away into the forest. But as they went into the depths of the trees, Hansel dropped a little white pebble here and there on the mossy green ground.

At a certain point, the two children found they really were alone: the woodcutter had plucked up enough courage to desert them, had mumbled an excuse and was gone.

Night fell but the woodcutter did not return.

Gretel began to sob bitterly. Hansel too felt scared but he tried to hide his feelings and comfort his sister.

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Next day, when their stepmother discovered that Hansel and Gretel had returned, she went into a rage.

Stifling her anger in front of the children, she locked her bedroom door, reproaching her husband for failing to carry out her orders. The weak woodcutter protested, torn as he was between shame and fear of disobeying his cruel wife. The wicked stepmother kept Hansel and Gretel under lock and key all day with nothing for supper but a sip of water and some hard bread. All night, husband and wife quarreled, and when dawn came, the woodcutter led the children out into the forest.

Hansel, however, had not eaten his bread, and as he walked through the trees, he left a trail of crumbs behind him to mark the way. But the little boy had forgotten about the hungry birds that lived in the forest.

When they saw him, they flew along behind and in no time at all, had eaten all the crumbs. Again, with a lame excuse, the woodcutter left his two children by themselves.

“I’ve left a trail, like last time!” Hansel whispered to Gretel, consolingly. But when night fell, they saw to their horror, that all the crumbs had gone.

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“I’m frightened!” wept Gretel bitterly. “I’m cold “You can do the housework,” she told Gretel and hungry and I want to go home!” grimly, “then I’ll make a meal of you too!” As luck would have it, the witch had very bad eyesight, an “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to look after you!” when Gretel smeared butter on her glasses, she could Hansel tried to encourage his sister, but he too see even less. shivered when he glimpsed frightening shadows and evil eyes around them in the darkness. All night the “Let me feel your finger!” said the witch to two children huddled together for warmth at the foot Hansel every day to check if he was getting any fatter. of a large tree.

Now, Gretel had brought her brother a chicken bone, and when the witch went to touch his finger, Hansel When dawn broke, they started to wander about held out the bone. the forest, seeking a path, but all hope soon faded.

They were well and truly lost. On they walked and “You’re still much too thin!” she complained. walked, till suddenly they came upon a strange cottage “When will you become plump?” in the middle of a glade.

One day the witch grew tired of waiting...

“This is chocolate!” gasped Hansel as he broke a lump of plaster from the wall.

“Light the oven,” she told to Gretel. “We’re going to have a tasty roasted boy today!” A little later, “And this is icing!” exclaimed Gretel, putting hungry and impatient, she went on: “Run and see if another piece of wall in her mouth. Starving but the oven is hot enough.” Gretel returned, whimpering: delighted, the children began to eat pieces of candy “I can’t tell if it is hot enough or not.” Angrily, the broken off the cottage. witch screamed at the little girl: “Useless child! All right, I’ll see for myself.” But when the witch bent “Isn’t this delicious?” said Gretel, with her down to peer inside the oven and check the heat, mouth full. She had never tasted anything so nice.

Gretel gave her a tremendous push and slammed the oven door shut. The witch had come to a fit and proper “We’ll stay here,” Hansel declared, munching a end. Gretel ran to set her brother free and they made bit of nougat. They were just about to try a piece of the quite sure that the oven door was tightly shut behind biscuit door when it quietly swung open. the witch. Indeed, just to be on the safe side, they fastened it firmly with a large padlock. Then they “Well, well!” said an old woman, peering out stayed for several days to eat some more of the house, with a crafty look. “And haven’t you children a sweet till they discovered amongst the witch’s belongings, a tooth?” huge chocolate egg. Inside lay a casket of gold coins.

“Come in! Come in, you’ve nothing to fear!” went on the old woman. Unluckily for Hansel and Gretel, however, the sugar candy cottage belonged to an old witch, her trap for catching unwary victims. The two children had come to a really nasty place.

“You’re nothing but skin and bones!” said the witch, locking Hansel into a cage. I shall fatten you up and eat you!”

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now, my dear children!” The two children hugged the woodcutter.”

“Promise you’ll never ever desert us again,” said Gretel, throwing her arms round her father’s neck. Hansel opened the casket.

“Look, Father! We’re rich now . . . You’ll never have to chop wood again.”

And they all lived happily together ever after.

“The witch is now burnt to a cinder,” said Hansel, “so we’ll take this treasure with us.” They filled a large basket with food and set off into the forest to search for the way home. This time, luck was with them, and on the second day, they saw their father come out of the house towards them, weeping.

“Your stepmother is dead. Come home with me

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Thumbelina Once upon a time . . . there lived a woman who had no children. She dreamed of having a little girl, but time went by, and her dream never came true.

She then went to visit a witch, who gave her a magic grain of barley. She planted it in a flower pot. And the very next day, the grain had turned into a lovely flower, rather like a tulip. The woman softly kissed its halfshut petals. And as though by magic, the flower opened in full blossom. Inside sat a tiny girl, no bigger than a thumb.

The woman called her Thumbelina. For a bed she had a walnut shell, violet petals for her mattress and a rose petal blanket. In the daytime, she played in a tulip petal boat, floating on a plate of water. Using two horse hairs as oars, Thumbelina sailed around her little lake, singing and singing in a gentle sweet voice.

Then one night, as she lay fast asleep in her walnut shell, a large frog hopped through a hole in the window pane. As she gazed down at Thumbelina, she said to herself: “How pretty she is! She’d make the perfect bride for my own dear son!”

She picked up Thumbelina, walnut shell and all, and hopped into the garden. Nobody saw her go. Back at the pond, her fat ugly son, who always did as mother told him, was pleased with her choice. But mother frog was afraid that her pretty prisoner might run away. So she carried Thumbelina out to a water lily leaf in the middle of the pond.

“She can never escape us now,” said the frog to her son.

“And we have plenty of time to prepare a new home for you and your bride.” Thumbelina was left all alone.

She felt so desperate. She knew she would never be

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able to escape the fate that awaited her with the two horrid fat frogs. All she could do was cry her eyes out.

However, one or two minnows who had been enjoying the shade below the water lily leaf, had overheard the two frogs talking, and the little girl’s bitter sobs. They decided to do something about it.

So they nibbled away at the lily stem till it broke and drifted away in the weak current. A dancing butterfly had an idea: “Throw me the end of your belt! I’ll help you to move a little faster!” Thumbelina gratefully did so, and the leaf soon floated away from the frog pond.

But other dangers lay ahead. A large beetle snatched Thumbelina with his strong feet and took her away to his home at the top of a leafy tree.

“Isn’t she pretty?” he said to his friends. But they pointed out that she was far too different. So the beetle took her down the tree and set her free.

It was summertime, and Thumbelina wandered all by herself amongst the flowers and through the long grass. She had pollen for her meals and drank the dew.

Then the rainy season came, bringing nasty weather.

The poor child found it hard to find food and shelter.

When winter set in, she suffered from the cold and felt terrible pangs of hunger.

One day, as Thumbelina roamed helplessly over the bare meadows, she met a large spider who promised to help her. He took her to a hollow tree and guarded the door with a stout web. Then he brought her some dried chestnuts and called his friends to come and admire her beauty. But just like the beetles, all the other spiders persuaded Thumbelina’s rescuer to let her go. Crying her heart out, and quite certain that nobody wanted her because she was ugly, Thumbelina left the spider’s house.

As she wandered, shivering with the cold, suddenly she came across a solid little cottage, made of twigs and dead leaves. Hopefully, she knocked on the door.

It was opened by a field mouse.

“What are you doing outside in this weather?” he asked. “Come in and warm yourself.” Comfortable and cozy, the field mouse’s home was stocked with food. For her keep, Thumbelina did the housework and told the mouse stories. One day, the field mouse said a friend was coming to visit them.

“He’s a very rich mole, and has a lovely house. He wears a splendid black fur coat, but he’s dreadfully shortsighted. He needs company and he’d like to marry you!”

Thumbelina did not relish the idea. However, when the mole came, she sang sweetly to him and he fell head over heels in love. The mole invited Thumbelina and the field mouse to visit him, but . . . to their surprise and horror, they came upon a swallow in the tunnel. It looked dead. Mole nudged it with his foot, saying: “That’ll teach her! She should have come underground instead of darting about the sky all summer!”

`Thumbelina was so shocked by such cruel words that later, she crept back unseen to the tunnel.

And every day, the little girl went to nurse the swallow and tenderly give it food.

In the meantime, the swallow told Thumbelina its tale. Jagged by a thorn, it had been unable to follow its companions to a warmer climate.

“It’s kind of you to nurse me,” it told Thumbelina.

But, in spring, the swallow flew away, after offering to take the little girl with it. All summer, Thumbelina did her best to avoid marrying the mole. The little girl thought fearfully of how she’d have to live underground forever. On the eve of her wedding, she asked to spend a day in the open air. As she gently fingered a flower, she heard a familiar song: “Winter’s on its way and I’ll be off to warmer lands. Come with me!” Thumbelina quickly clung to her swallow friend, and the bird soared into the sky. They flew over plains and hills till they reached a country of flowers. The swallow gently laid Thumbelina in a blossom. There she met a tiny, whitewinged fairy: the King of the Flower Fairies. Instantly, he asked her to marry him. Thumbelina eagerly said “yes”.

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Jack and the Beanstalk Once upon a time there lived a poor widow who had an only son named Jack. She was very poor, for times had been hard, and Jack was too young to work. Almost all the furniture of the little cottage had been sold to buy bread, until at last there was nothing left worth selling. Only the good cow, Milky White, remained, and she gave milk every morning, which they took to market and sold. But one sad day Milky White gave no milk, and then things looked bad indeed.

“Never mind, mother,” said Jack. “We must sell Milky White. Trust me to make a good bargain, “and away he went to the market.

For some time he went along very sadly,-but after a little he quite recovered his spirits.

“I may as well ride as walk,” said he; so instead of leading the cow by the halter, he jumped on her back, and so he went whistling along until he met a butcher.

“Good morning,”said the butcher.

“Good morning, sir,” answered Jack.

“Where are you going ?” said the butcher.

“I am going to market to sell the cow.”

“It’s lucky I met you,” said the butcher. “You may save yourself the trouble of going so far.”

With this, he put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out five curious-looking beans.

“What do you call these ?” he said. “Beans,” said Jack.

“Yes,” said he, “beans, but they’re the most

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wonderful beans that ever were known.If you plant them overnight, by the next morning they’ll grow up and reach the sky. But to save you the trouble of going all the way to market, I don’t mind exchanging them for that cow of yours.”

“Done!” cried Jack, who was so delighted with the bargain that he ran all the way home to tell his mother how lucky he had been.

But how disappointed the poor widow was.

“Off to bed with you!” she cried; and she was so angry that she threw the beans out of the window into the garden. So poor Jack went to bed without any supper, and cried himself to sleep.

When he woke up the next morning, the room was almost dark; and Jack jumped out of bed and ran to the window to see what was the matter. The sun was shining brightly outside, but from the ground right up beside his window there was growing a great beanstalk, which stretched up and up as far as he could see, into the sky.

“I’Il just see where it leads to,” thought Jack, and with that he stepped out of the window on to the beanstalk, and began to climb upwards. He climbed up and up, till after a time his mother’s cottage looked a mere speck below, but at last the stalk ended, and he found himself in a new and beautiful country. A little way off there was a great castle, with a broad road leading straight up to the front gate. But what most surprised Jack was to find a beautiful maiden suddenly standing beside him.

“Goodmorning, ma’am,” said he, very politely..

“Good morning, Jack,” said she; and Jack was more surprised than ever, for he could not imagine how she had learned his name. But he soon found that she knew a great deal more about him than his name; for she told him how, when he was quite a little baby, his father, a gallant knight, had been slain by the giant who lived in yonder castle, and how his mother, in order to save Jack, had been obliged to promise never to tell the secret.

“All that the giant has is yours,” she said, and then disappeared quite as suddenly as she came.

“She must be a fairy,” thought Jack.

As he drew near to the castle, he saw the giant’s wife standing at the door.

“If you please, ma’am,” said he, “would you kindly give me some breakfast? I have had nothing to eat since yesterday.”

Now, the giant’s wife, although very big and very ugly, had a kind heart, so she said: “ Very well, little man, come in; but you must be quick about it, for if my husband, the giant, finds you here, he will eat you up, bones and all.”

So in Jack went, and the giant’s wife gave him a good breakfast, but before he had half finished it there came a terrible knock at the front door, which seemed to shake even the thick walls of the castle.

“Dearie me, that is my husband!” said the giantess, in a terrible fright; “we must hide you somehow,” and she lifted Jack up and popped him into the empty kettle.

No sooner had the giant’s wife opened the door than her husband roared out: “Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman;

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Be he alive, or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread!”

I smell the blood of an Englishman; Be he alive, or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread!”

“Nonsense!” said his wife; “you must be mistaken.

It’s the ox’s hide you smell.” So he sat down, and ate But his wife told him he was mistaken, and after up the greater part of the ox. When he had finished he breakfasting off a roasted bullock, just as if it were a said: lark, he called out: “Wife, bring the little brown hen!”

The giantess went out and brought in a little brown hen, “Wife, bring me my money-bags.” So his wife which she placed on the table. brought him two full bags of gold, and the giant began to count his money. But he was so sleepy that his head “Lay!” said the giant; and the hen at once laid a soon began to nod, and then he began to snore, like golden egg. “Lay!” said the giant a second time; and the rumbling of thunder. Then Jack crept out, snatched she laid another golden egg. “Lay!” said the giant a up the two bags, and though the giant’s dog barked third time; and she laid a third golden egg. loudly,he made his way down the beanstalk back to the cottage before the giant awoke.

“That will do for to-day,” said he, and stretched himself out to go to sleep. As soon as he began to snore, Jack and his mother were now quite rich; but it Jack crept out of the oven, went on tiptoe to the table, occurred to him one day that he would like to see how and, snatching up the little brown hen, made a dash for matters were going on at the giant’s castle. So while his the door. Then the hen began to cackle, and the giant mother was away at market, he climbed up, and up, began to wake up; but before he was quite awake, Jack and up, and up, until he got to the top of the beanstalk had escaped from the castle,and, climbing as fast as he again. could down the beanstalk, got safe home to his mother’s cottage.

The giantess was standing at the door, just as before, but she did not know Jack, who, of course, was The little brown hen laid so many golden eggs that more finely dressed than on his first visit.

Jack and his mother had now more money than they could spend. But Jack was always thinking about the “If you please, ma’am,” said he, “will you give me beanstalk; and one day he crept out of the window some breakfast?” again, and climbed up, and up, and up, and up, until he reached the top.

“Run away,” said she, “or my husband the giant will eat you up, bones and all. The last boy who came This time, you may be sure, he was careful not to here stole two bags of gold--off with you!” But the be seen; so he crept round to the back of the castle, giantess had a kind heart, and after a time she allowed and when the giant’s wife went out he slipped into the Jack to come into the kitchen, where she set before him kitchen and hid himself in the oven. In came the giant, enough breakfast to last him a week. Scarcely had he roaring louder than ever: begun to eat than there was a great rumbling like an earthquake, and the giantess had only time to bundle “Fee, fi, fo, fum.

Jack into the oven when in came the giant. No sooner I smell the blood of an Englishman; was he inside the room than he roared: Be he alive, or be he dead.

I’ll grind his bones to make my bread!”

“Fee, fi, fo, fum.

But the giantess was quite sure that she had seen

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no little boys that morning; and after grumbling a great deal, the giant sat down to breakfast. Even then he was not quite satisfied, for every now and again he would say: .

“Fee, fi, fo, fum I smell the blood of an Englishman;” And once he got up and looked in the kettle. But, of course, Jack was in the oven all the time!

When the giant had finished, he called out: “Wife, bring me the golden harp!” So she brought in the golden harp, and placed it on the table. “Sing!” said the giant; and the harp at once began to sing the most beautiful songs that ever were heard. It sang so sweetly that the giant soon fell fast asleep; and then Jack crept quietly out of the oven, and going on tiptoe to the table, seized hold of the golden harp. But the harp at once called out:”Master! master!” and the giant woke up just in time to catch sight of Jack running out of the kitchendoor.

With a fearful roar, he seized his oak-tree club, and dashed after Jack, who held the harp tight, and ran faster than he had ever run before. The giant, brandishing his club, and taking terribly long strides, gained on Jack at every instant, and he would have been caught if the giant had not slipped over a boulder.

Before he could pick himself up, Jack began to climb down the beanstalk, and when the giant arrived at the edge he was nearly half-way to the cottage. The giant began to climb down too; but as soon as Jack saw him coming, he called out: “Mother, bring me an axe!” and the widow hurried out with a chopper. Jack had no sooner reached the ground than he cut the bean-stalk right in two. Down came the giant with a terrible crash, and that, you may be sure, was the end of him. What became of the giantess and the castle nobody knows.

But Jack and his mother grew very rich, and lived happily ever after.

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The Pink Boto

The Fox and the Grapes

The Pink Boto apears on a full moon night at tradicional Brazilian’s June parties. A dolphin colored pink, exits the Amazon River turned into a handsome man. Young, well-dressed, lined in a white suit, and a white hat, to cover his face and hide the big and pointy nose as well as his blowhole.

Once upon a time there was a fox strolling through the woods.

He search for beautiful young unaccompanied girls nearby communities. He is gallant so he seduces and enchants the womens. The beautiful man takes the girl to the riverbank, where the invites for a swim.

At the bottom of the river he impregnates her. The next morning the boy go back to become a Boto and the girl returns to his community pregnant.

Still nowadays, especially in the Amazon region, is common to say that a child of a single mother is son of the Boto.

He came upon a grape orchard. There he found a bunch of beautiful grapes hanging from a high branch.

“Boy those sure would be tasty,” he thought to himself.

He backed up and took a running start, and jumped.

He did not get high enough.

He went back to his starting spot and tried again.

He almost got high enough this time, but not quite.

He tried and tried, again and again, but just couldn’t get high enough to grab the grapes.

Finally, he gave up.

As he walked away, he put his nose in the air and said: “I am sure those grapes are sour.”

MORAL: It is easy to scorn what you cannot get.

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The Ant and the Grasshopper

The Lion and the Bee

Once there lived an ant and a grasshopper in a Where shall I go?” wailed the grasshopper. Suddenly grassy meadow. he remembered the ant.

All day long the ant would work hard, collecting grains of wheat from the farmer’s field far away. She would hurry to the field every morning, as soon as it was light enough to see by, and toil back with a heavy grain of wheat balanced on her head. She would put the grain of wheat carefully away in her larder, and then hurry back to the field for another one. All day long she would work, without stop or rest, scurrying back and forth from the field, collecting the grains of wheat and storing them carefully in her larder.

“Ah - I shall go to the ant and ask her for food and shelter!” declared the grasshopper, perking up. So off he went to the ant’s house and knocked at her door.

“Hello ant!” he cried cheerfully. “Here I am, to sing for you, as I w arm myself by your fire, while you get me some food from that larder of yours!”

The ant looked at the grasshopper and said, ‘All summer long I worked hard while you made fun of me, and sang and danced. You should have thought of winter then! Find somewhere else to sing, grasshopper!

The grasshopper would look at her and laugh. ‘Why There is no warmth or food for you here!’ And the ant do you work so hard, dear ant?’ he would say. ‘Come, shut the door in the grasshopper’s face. rest awhile, listen to my song. Summer is here, the days are long and bright. Why waste the sunshine in labour MORAL: It is wise to worry about tomorrow today. and toil?’

The ant would ignore him, and head bent, would just hurry to the field a little faster. This would make the grasshopper laugh even louder. ‘What a silly little ant you are!’ he would call after her. ‘Come, come and dance with me! Forget about work! Enjoy the summer!

Live a little!’ And the grasshopper would hop away across the meadow, singing and dancing merrily.

Summer faded into autumn, and autumn turned into winter. The sun was hardly seen, and the days were short and grey, the nights long and dark. It became freezing cold, and snow began to fall.

The grasshopper didn’t feel like singing any more. He was cold and hungry. He had nowhere to shelter from the snow, and nothing to eat. The meadow and the farmer’s field were covered in snow, and there was no food to be had. “Oh what shall I do?

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Rapunzel T here were once a man and a woman who If he was to have any rest, her husband knew he had long, in vain, wished for a child. At length it must once more descend into the garden. Therefore, in appeared that God was about to grant their desire. the gloom of evening, he let himself down again; but when he had clambered down the wall he was terribly These people had a little window at the back of afraid, for he saw the enchantress standing before him. their house from which a splendid garden could be seen, which was full of the most beautiful flowers “How can you dare,” said she with angry look, and herbs. It was, however, surrounded by a high “descend into my garden and steal my rampion like a wall, and no one dared to go into it because it thief? You shall suffer for it!” belonged to an enchantress, who had great power and was dreaded by all the world.

“Ah,” answered he, “let mercy take the place of justice, I only made up my mind to do it out of necessity.

One day the woman was standing by this window My wife saw your rampion from the window, and felt and looking down into the garden, when she saw such a longing for it that she would have died if she had a bed which was planted with the most beautiful not got some to eat.” rampion, and it looked so fresh and green that she longed for it. She quite pined away, and began to The enchantress allowed her anger to be softened, look pale and miserable. and said to him: “If the case be as you say, I will allow you to take away with you as much rampion as you will, Her husband was alarmed, and asked: only I make one condition, you must give me the child which your wife will bring into the world; it shall be “What ails you, dear wife?” well treated, and I will care for it like a mother.”

“Ah,” she replied, “if I can’t eat some of the rampion, which is in the garden behind our house, I shall die.”

The man in his terror consented to everything.

When the woman was brought to bed, the enchantress appeared at once, gave the child the name The man, who loved her, thought: “Sooner than of Rapunzel, and took it away with her. let your wife die, bring her some of the rampion yourself, let it cost what it will.”

Rapunzel grew into the most beautiful child under the sun. When she was twelve years old, the enchantress At twilight, he clambered down over the shut her into a tower in the middle of a forest. The tower wall into the garden of the enchantress, hastily had neither stairs nor door, but near the top was a little clutched a handful of rampion, and took it to his window. When the enchantress wanted to go in, she wife. She at once made herself a salad of it, and placed herself beneath it and cried: ate it greedily. It tasted so good to her - so very good, that the next day she longed for it three “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, times as much as before.

Let down your hair to me.”

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Rapunzel had magnificent long hair, fine as spun gold, and when she heard the voice of the enchantress, she unfastened her braided tresses, wound them round one of the hooks of the window above, and then the hair fell twenty ells down, and the enchantress climbed up by it.

After a year or two, it came to pass that the king’s son rode through the forest and passed by the tower.

Then he heard a song, which was so charming that he stood still and listened. It was Rapunzel, who in her solitude passed her time in letting her sweet voice resound. The king’s son wanted to climb up to her, and looked for the door of the tower, but none was to be found. He rode home, but the singing had so deeply touched his heart, that every day he went out into the forest and listened to it.

Once when he was thus standing behind a tree, he saw that an enchantress came there, and he heard how she cried: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down your hair to me.”

Then Rapunzel let down the braids of her hair, and the enchantress climbed up to her.

“If that is the ladder by which one mounts, I too will try my fortune,” said he, and the next day when it began to grow dark, he went to the tower and cried: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down your hair to me.”

Immediately the hair fell down and the king’s son climbed up.

At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man, such as her eyes had never yet beheld, came to her; but the king’s son began to talk to her quite like a friend, and told her that his heart had been so stirred that it had let him have no rest, and he had been forced

to see her. Then Rapunzel lost her fear, and when he asked her if she would take him for her husband, and she saw that he was young and handsome, she thought: “He will love me more than old Dame Gothel does”; and she said yes, and laid her hand in his.

“I will willingly go away with you, but I do not know how to get down. Bring with you a skein of silk every time that you come, and I will weave a ladder with it, and when that is ready I will descend, and you will take me on your horse.” She said.

They agreed that until that time he should come to her every evening, for the old woman came by day.

The enchantress remarked nothing of this, until once Rapunzel said to her: “Tell me, Dame Gothel, how it happens that you are so much heavier for me to draw up than the young king’s son - he is with me in a moment.”

“Ah! you wicked child,” cried the enchantress.

“What do I hear you say! I thought I had separated you from all the world, and yet you have deceived me!”

In her anger she clutched Rapunzel’s beautiful tresses, wrapped them twice round her left hand, seized a pair of scissors with the right, and snip, snap, they were cut off, and the lovely braids lay on the ground. And she was so pitiless that she took poor Rapunzel into a desert where she had to live in great grief and misery.

On the same day that she cast out Rapunzel, however, the enchantress fastened the braids of hair, which she had cut off, to the hook of the window, and when the king’s son came and cried: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down your hair to me.”

She let the hair down. The king’s son ascended, but instead of finding his dearest Rapunzel, he found the enchantress, who gazed at him with wicked and venomous looks.

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“Aha!” she cried mockingly, “you would fetch your dearest, but the beautiful bird sits no longer singing in the nest; the cat has got it, and will scratch out your eyes as well. Rapunzel is lost to you; you will never see her again.”

The king’s son was beside himself with pain, and in his despair he leapt down from the tower. He escaped with his life, but the thorns into which he fell pierced his eyes.

He wandered quite blind about the forest, ate nothing but roots and berries, and did naught but lament and weep over the loss of his dearest wife.

Thus he roamed about in misery for some years, and at length came to the desert where Rapunzel, with the twins to which she had given birth, a boy and a girl, lived in wretchedness. He heard a voice, and it seemed so familiar to him that he went towards it, and when he approached, Rapunzel knew him and fell on his neck and wept. Two of her tears wetted his eyes and they grew clear again, and he could see with them as before. He led her to his kingdom where he was joyfully received, and they lived for a long time afterwards, happy and contented.

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and then she went for new adventures .l