Romanian Fairy Tales
Youth Without Age and Life Without Death
There was once a mighty emperor and empress. Both were young and handsome, and as they desired the blessing of children they did every thing that was necessary to secure it, that is they went to the witches and philosophers and asked them to read the stars to find out whether they would have children or not.
Cunning Ileane
There was once an emperor who had three daughters; the oldest was beautiful, the middle one more beautiful, but the youngest, Ileane, was so fair that even the sun stopped to gaze at her and admire her charms.
The Little Purse with two Half-pennies
There was once an old man and an old woman. The old woman had a hen and the old man had a rooster.
The Twins With the Golden Star
There was an emperor, who ruled over a whole world, and in this world lived an old shepherd and shepherdess, who had three daughters, Anna, Stana, and Laptitza.
The Wonderful Bird
There was a good, pious emperor, who had three sons.
Charles Perrault
Little Thumb
Once upon a time there was a fagot-maker and his wife, who had seven children, all boys. The eldest was but ten years old, and the youngest only seven.They were very poor, and their seven children were a great source of trouble to them because not one of them was able to earn his bread.
The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods
Once upon a time there was a king and a queen, who were very sorry that they had no children, - so sorry that it cannot be told.
The Fairy
Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters. The elder was so much like her, both in looks and character, that whoever saw the daughter saw the mother.
Grimm Brothers
The Giant and the Tailor
A certain tailor who was great at boasting but ill at doing, took it into his head to go abroad for a while, and look about the world.
The Bremen Town-Musicians
A certain man had a donkey, which had carried the corn-sacks to the mill indefatigably for many a long year; but his strength was going, and he was growing more and more unfit for work.
Hansel and Grethel
Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two children ...
Cinderella
The wife of a rich man fell sick, and as she felt that her end was drawing near, she called her only daughter to her bedside and said ...
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Italian Popular Tales
The Shepherd Who Made the King's Daughter Laugh
There was once a king and a queen who had an only daughter, whom they loved very dearly.
The Fairy Orlanda
There was once a merchant who had no children. He was obliged to go away for merchandise.
The King who Wanted a Beautiful Wife
There was once a king who wanted to marry. But his wife must be more beautiful than the sun, and no matter how many maidens he saw, none was beautiful enough to suit him.
How the Devil Married Three Sisters
Once upon a time the Devil was seized with a desire to marry.
The Dancing Water, the Singing Apple and the Speaking Bird
There was once an herb-gatherer who had three daughters who earned their living by spinning.
The King of Love
Once upon a time there was a man with three daughters, who earned his living by gathering wild herbs.
The Cloud
Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and many children.
Hans Christian Andersen
The Psyche
A large star beams in the dawn of morning in the red sky - the clearest star of the morning ...
The Garden of Paradise
There was once a king's son; nobody had so many or such beautiful books as he had ...
The Real Princess
There was once a prince, and he wanted a princess, but then she must be a real Princess ...
The Snow Queen
Now we are about to begin, and you must attend; and when we get to the end of the story, you will know more than you do now ...
The Red Shoes
There was once a little girl who was very pretty and delicate, but in summer she was forced to run about with bare feet ...
English Fairy Tales
Catskin
Well, there was once a gentleman who had fine lands and houses, and he very much wanted to have a son to be heir to them.
Rushen Coatie
There was once a king and a queen, as many a one has been; few have we seen, and as few may we see.
The Pied Piper
Newtown, or Franchville, as 't was called of old, is a sleepy little town, as you all may know, upon the Solent shore.
The Well of the World's End
Once upon a time, and a very good time it was, though it wasn't in my time, nor in your time, nor any one else's time, there was a girl whose mother had died, and her father had married again.
The history of Tom Thumb
In the days of the great Prince Arthur, there lived a mighty magician, called Merlin, the most learned and skilful enchanter the world has ever seen.
How Jack went to seek his fortune
Once on a time there was a boy named Jack, and one morning he started to go and seek his fortune.
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American Fairy Tales
The Girl Who Owned a Bear
Mamma had gone down-town to shop.
The Box of Robbers
No one intended to leave Martha alone that afternoon, but it happened that everyone was called away, for one reason or another.
Welsh Fairy Tales
The Fairy Congress
One can hardly think of Wales without a harp.
Celtic Fairy Tales
The Sprightly Tailor
A sprightly tailor was employed by the great Macdonald, in his castle at Saddell, in order to make the laird a pair of trews, used in olden time.
The Horned Women
A rich woman sat up late one night carding and preparing wool, while all the family and servants were asleep.
Hindu Tales
The Hermit's Daughter
Near a town in India called Ikshumati, on a beautiful wide river, with trees belonging to a great forest near its banks, there dwelt a holy man named Mana Kanaka, who spent a great part of his life praying to God.
The Jewelled Arrow
In the city of Vardhamana in India there lived a powerful king named Vira-Bhuja, who, as was the custom in his native land, had many wives, each of whom had several sons.
The Magic Pitcher
Long, long ago there lived far away in India a woodcutter called Subha Datta and his family, who were all very happy together.
Dutch Fairy Tales
When Wheat Worked Woe
Many a day has the story-teller wandered along the dykes, which overlook the Zuyder Zee.
Brabo and the Giant
Ages ago, when the giants were numerous on the earth, there lived a big fellow named Antigonus.
Arabian Nights Entertainments
Adventure Of A Courtier, Related By Himself To His Patron, An Ameer Of Egypt
It is related by an historian that there was an ameer of the land of Egypt, whose mind being one night unusually disturbed, he sent for one of his courtiers, a convivial companion, and said to him...
The Story of the Fisherman
There was an aged fisherman, who was so poor, that he could scarcely as much as would maintain himself, his wife, and three children.
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