The Three Sisters-An Italian folktale

      The Three Sisters - Part 2

            -An Italian Folktale

   When Nella heard the cause of the Prince's illness, she cried and wept angrily and said to herself, "Who is the wicked soul who has broken the passage and caused so much sorrow?" But as the Demon’s wife now went on speaking Nella was as silent as a mouse and listened.

"And is it possible," said the Demon’s wife, "that the world is lost to this poor Prince, and that no medicine can be found for his crisis?"

"Hark-ye, Granny," replied the Demon, "the doctors are not called upon to find remedies that may pass the bounds of nature. This is not a fever that will yield to medicine and diet, much less are these ordinary wounds which require lint and oil; for the charm that was on the broken glass produces the same effect as onion juice does on the iron heads of arrows, which makes the wound incurable. There is one thing only that could save his life, but don't ask me to tell it to you, for it is a thing of importance."

"Do tell me, dear old Long-tusk," cried the Demon lady; "tell me, if you would not see me die."

"Well then," said the Demon, "I will tell you provided you promise me not to confide it to any living soul, for it would be the ruin of our house and the destruction of our lives."

Disneyland-The Biggest Amusement Park in the World

Disneyland-The Biggest Amusement Park in the World

Disneyland

  Disneyland Park is a theme park located in Anaheim, California. It is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division of The Walt Disney Company. This amusement park is known as Disneyland when it was opened on July 17, 1955. It is still generally referred to by that name, it is the only theme park to be designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney.

   Walt Disney came up with the concept of Disneyland after visiting various amusement parks with his daughters in the 1930s and 1940s.Walt Disney had a vision. There would be a place where children and parents could have fun together. The original plans for the park were only on 8 acres of land next to the Burbank studios where his employees and families could go to relax. The World War II put those plans on hold. During the war, Walt Disney had time to come up with new ideas and thoughts to create his magical park.

An Italian Folktale-The Three Sisters

   This Italian folktale story is collected from the famous ancient Italian folktales collection, named “Stories from Pentamerone”. This book was first published at Naples and it was written by - Giambattista Basile.

        The Three Sisters - Part 1

           - An Italian Folktales

   There was at one time a woman who had three daughters, two of whom were so unlucky that nothing ever succeeded with them, all their projects went wrong, all their hopes were turned to tease. But the youngest, who was named “Nella”, was born to good luck, and I verily believe that at her birth all things conspired to present on her the best and choicest gifts in their power. The Sky gave her perfection of its light; Venus, matchless beauty of form; Love, the first dash of his power; Nature, the flower of manners. She never set about any work that it did not go off to a nicety; she never took anything in hand that it did not succeed to a hair; she never stood up to dance, that she did not sit down with praise.

   On which account she was envied by her jealous sisters and yet not so much as she was loved and wished well to by all others; as greatly as her sisters desired to put her underground, so much more did other folks carry her on the palms of their hands.

   Now there was in that country a charming Prince who was so attracted by Nella’s beauty that he secretly married her. And in order that they might enjoy one another's company without exciting the doubt of the mother, who was a wicked woman. The Prince made a crystal passage which led from the royal palace directly into Nella's apartment, although it was eight miles distant.

Story from the Panchatantra-The Monkey and the Wedge

   This is one of the interesting story from the Panchatantra collection. The Panchatantra is very well known tales or fables collection in India. In every story of the Panchatantra, there must be an educational lesson and we consider as a moral of the story.

The Monkey and the Wedge-A Tale from the Panchatantra 

The Monkey and the Wedge

   There was once a merchant who employed many carpenters and architects to build a temple in his garden. Regularly, they would start work in the morning; and take a break for the mid-day meals, and they return to resume work till evening.
 
   One day, a group of monkey arrived at the site of the building and watched the workers leaving for their mid-day meals.
 
   One of the carpenters was sawing a huge log of wood. Since, it was only half-done; he placed a wedge in between to avert the log from closing up. He then went off along with the other workers for his meal.
 
   When all the workers were gone, the group of monkeys came down from the trees and started jumping around the site, and playing with the instruments of the workers.

Aesop's Fable-The Ass’s Brain

   This fable is collected from Aesop's fables... This is a very interesting story from Aesop's fables. In every Aesop's fables, there must a lesson for us. We consider that as the moral of the story at the end.

The Ass's Brain - A Fable from Aesop

The Lion, the Fox and the Ass

   One day, the Lion and the Fox went for hunting together. Whole day, they were traveling here and there, but they could not find anything for their fist. They became tired and sat under a tree shadow. Suddenly, they find out an Ass was eating grass far from them. The clever Fox had an idea to fetch the Ass gently. They were discussing about the matter. The Lion gave an advice to the Fox and sent a message to the Ass, proposing to make an alliance between their two families.
 

   The Ass came to the place of meeting with great enthusiasm and overjoyed at the prospect of a royal alliance. But when the Ass came there, the Lion simply jumped on the Ass, and said to the Fox:

"Here is our dinner for today. Watch you here while I go and have a rest and a short while I am coming. Woe betide you if you touch my prey."

Story from the Panchatantra

Story from the Panchatantra - The Fish that were too Clever

This is one of the interesting tales from the Panchatantra collection. The Panchatantra is very well known tales or fables collection in India. In every tales of the Panchatantra, there must be an educational lesson and we consider as a moral of the story.

 The Fish that were too Clever

 Once upon a, two fish lived in a pond. Their names were Satabuddhi (having the understanding of a hundred) and Sahasrabuddhi (having the understanding of a thousand). The two of them had a frog for a friend, whose name was Ekabuddhi (having the understanding of one).

They would enjoy friendly conversation on the bank for a time, and then they would return to the water. One day when they had gathered for conversation and fun, some fishermen came by just as the sun was setting. The fishermen were carrying nets in their hands and many dead fish on their heads.

When the fishermen saw the certain pond where the fishes and the frog live in, they said to one another, "There seem to be a lot of fish in this pond, and the water is very low. Let us come back here tomorrow morning!" After saying this, they went home.

These words struck the three friends like a thunderbolt, and they took counsel with one another.

The frog said, "Oh, my dear Satabuddhi and Sahasrabuddhi, what shall we do? Should we flee from here or stay here?"

Hearing this, Sahasrabuddhi laughed and said, "Oh, my friend, don't be afraid of words alone! They probably will not come back. But even if they do come back, I will be able to protect myself and you as well, through the power of my understanding. I know many pathways through the water."

Aesop's Fables-The Crow and the Fox

 Aesop's Fables - The Crow and the Fox

The Crow and the Fox

   Once a fox saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree.

"That's for me," said the fox, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. 

"Good Day, Mistress Crow," the fox cried. "How well you are looking today; how glossy your feathers; how bright your eyes."

   The clever fox continued, "I feel sure your voice must surpass that of the other birds, just as your figure does. Let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds."

A Fairy tale Story-Donkey Skin

This fairy tale story is collected from the book named, Old-Time Stories told by Master Charles Perrault. This fairy tale story book was translated by A. F. Johnson and published from New York, Dodd Mead and Company, 1921.

Donkey Skin

  Donkey Skin (Part 2)

  -A Fairy tale story

One day the young prince, seeking adventure from court yard to court yard, came to the vague hallway where Donkey Skin had her humble room. By chance he put his eye to the key hole. It was a feast-day and Donkey Skin had put on her dress of gold and diamonds which shone as brightly as the sun. The prince was breathless at her beauty, her youthfulness, and her modesty. Three times he was on the point of entering her room, but each time renounced.

   On his return to his father's palace, the prince became very thoughtful, sighing day and night and refusing to attend any of the balls and carnivals. He lost his appetite and finally sank into sad and deadly grief. He asked who this beautiful maiden was that lived in such dirtiness and was told that it was Donkey Skin, the ugliest animal one could find, except the wolf, and a certain cure for love. This he would not believe, and he refused to forget what he had seen.

   His mother, the queen, begged him to tell her what was wrong. Instead, he moaned, wept and sighed. He would say nothing, except that he wanted Donkey Skin to make him a cake with her own hands.

"Oh! Heavens," they told the queen, "this Donkey Skin is only a poor, drab servant."

"It makes no difference," replied the queen. "We must do as the prince says. It is the only way to save him."

A German Folktale Story-Gaffer Death

This German folktale story is collected from the German folktale story book, named- “Folk-lore and Legends: Germany”. This German folktale story book contains 30 German folktales, which was written by- Charles John Tibbitts. It was fast published by-W.W. Gibbings, London in 1892.

Gaffer Death

   Gaffer Death
   -A German Folktale Story

   There was once a poor man who had twelve children, and he was obliged to hard work day and night that he might earn food for them. When at length, as it so happened, a thirteenth child came into the world. The poor man did not know how to help himself, so he ran out into the highway, determined to ask the first person he met to be godfather to the boy.

There came stalking up to him Death, who said, "Take me for a godfather."

"Who are you?" asked the father.

"I am Death, who makes all equal," replied the stranger.

Then said the man, "You are one of the right sorts: you seize on rich and poor without difference; you shall be the child's godfather."

The Death answered, "I will make the boy rich and renowned throughout the world, for he who has me for a friend can want nothing."

The man said to the stranger, "Next Sunday will he be baptized, mind and come at the right time."

   The Death accordingly appeared as he had promised and stood godfather to the child.

   When the boy grew up his godfather came to him one day and took him into a wood, and he said - "Now shall you have your godfather's present. I will make a most famous physician of you. Whenever you are called to a sick person, I will take care and show myself to you. If I stand at the foot of the bed, say boldly, 'I will soon restore you to health,' and give the patient a little herb that I will point out to you, and he will soon be well. If, however, I stand at the head of the sick person, he is mine; then say, 'All help is useless; he must soon die.'"

Then Death showed him the little herb and said, "Take attention that you never use it in opposition to my will."

Fairy tale story-Donkey Skin

This fairy tale story is collected from the book named, Old-Time Stories told by Master Charles Perrault. This fairy tale story book was translated by A. F. Johnson and published from New York, Dodd Mead and Company, 1921.

Donkey Skin-Charles Perrault

    Donkey Skin (Part 1)
A Fairy tale story, by-Charles Perrault

   Once upon a time there was a king who was the most powerful ruler in the whole world. Kind and just in peace and terrifying in war, his enemies feared him while his subjects were happy and content. His wife and faithful companion was both charming and beautiful. From their union a daughter had been born.

   Their large and magnificent palace was filled with courtiers, and their stables boasted steeds large and small, of every description. But what surprised everyone on entering these stables was that the place of honor was held by a donkey with two big ears. However, it was quite worthy of this position, for every morning, instead of dung, it dropped a great load of gold coins upon the trash.

   Now heaven, which seems to join good with evil, suddenly tolerable a bitter illness to attack the queen. Help was sought on all sides, but neither the learned physicians nor the quacks were able to arrest the fever which increased daily. Finally, her last hour having come, the queen said to her husband: "Promise me that if, when I am gone, you find a woman wiser and more beautiful than I, and you will marry her and so provide an inheritor for throne."

   Confident that it would be impossible to find such a woman, the queen thus believed that her husband would never remarry. The king accepted his wife's conditions, and shortly thereafter she died in his arms.

Why Dogs Wag their Tails - Filipino folktale

   This Filipino folktale is collected from the book named "Philippine Folk Tales", written by- Mabel Cook Cole. This book was published in 1916. There are total 61 Filipino folktales in this story book. We gave a of those stories for you.
  

 Why Dogs Wag their Tails

  - A Filipino Folktale

   A rich man in a certain town once owned a dog and a cat, both of which were very useful to him. The dog had served his master for many years and had become so old that he had lost his teeth and was unable to fight any more, but he was a good guide and companion to the cat who was strong and cunning.

   The master had a daughter who was attending school at a convent some distance from home, and very often he sent the dog and the cat with presents to the girl.

   One day he called the faithful animals and told them to carry a magic ring to his daughter. “You are strong and brave,” he said to the cat “You may carry the ring, but you must be careful not to drop it”

   And to the dog he said: “You must accompany the cat to guide her and keep her from harm.”

Filipino Folktale - The Poor Fisherman and His Wife

   This Filipino folktale is collected from the book named "Philippine Folk Tales", written by- Mabel Cook Cole. This book was published in 1916. There are total 61 Filipino folktales in this story book. We gave a of those stories for you.

The poor old fisherman

The Poor Fisherman and His Wife
  - Filipino folktale

   Many, many years ago there was a poor fisherman and his wife lived with their three sons in a village by the sea. One day the old fisherman set his snare (trap or web) in the water not far from his house.At night when the poor fisherman went to look at it, he found that he had caught a great white fish. This startled the old fisherman very much, for he had never seen a fish like this before, and it occurred to him that it was the priest of the town. 

   The poor fisherman man to his wife as fast as he could and cried, “My wife, I have caught the priest.” 

“What?” said the old woman, terrified at the sight of her frightened husband. 

“I have caught the priest,” said the old fisherman again. 

   They hurried together to the river where the snare was set, and when the old woman saw the fish, she cried: “Oh, it is not the priest but the governor.” 

“No, it is the priest,” insisted the old fisherman, and they went home trembling with fear.

Fable from the Panchatantra-The Donkey and the cunnung Fox

   This is one of the interesting fable from the Panchatantra collection.The Panchatantra is very well known fables collection in India. In every story of the Panchatantra, there must be an educational lesson and we consider as a moral of the story.

The Donkey and the cunning Fox

  The Donkey and the cunning Fox

   - A Fable from the Panchatantra

   Once there was a foolish donkey lived in a town. The town was situated near a forest. In that forest there lived a lion as the jungle king and his minister, a cunning fox. Once, the king lion was badly wounded in a ferocious fighting with an elephant. He became unable to hunt for his hunger. So the lion asked his minister, the cunning fox to bring some good meal for him. As the fox used to share the victim, that king lion hunted for his meals. So the fox then set out to search for food.

   While traveling here and there, the fox met a donkey. The donkey looked foolish, nervous and hungry. The fox asked him, "Hello! You seem to be new to this forest. Where do you actually come from?"
 
"I come from the nearby town", said the foolish donkey. "My master, the dhobi makes me work all day, but doesn't feed me properly. So I have left my home to find a better place to live in and eat properly."

"I see", said the cunning fox. "Don't worry. I am a senior minister in this forest kingdom. Come with me to the king's palace. Our king needs a bodyguard, who has the experience of town life. You will live in the palace and eat a lot of green grass growing around the whole jungle."

The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts-Fable of Aesop

   This is a very interesting fable of Aesop. In every fable of Aesop, there must be a lesson for us at the end. We consider that as the moral of the story.

The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts

The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts

    - A Fable of Aesop

   One day, a great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts in the jungle. When the two armies were collected together for the upcoming battle. But the Bat was hesitated which group to join.

   The Birds that passed his roost and said, “Come and join with us." But the Bat said, "I can’t join with you. Because, I am a Beast."

   Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him, they looked up and said, "Come with us." But the Bat said, "I am a Bird. How can I join with you?"

The Dog in a foreign country-Fables from the Panchatantra

   This is one of the interesting fables from the Panchatantra collection.The Panchatantra is very well known fables collection in India. In every story of the Panchatantra, there must be an educational lesson and we consider as a moral of the story.

The Dog in a Foreign Country

The Dog in a Foreign Country

- Fables from the Panchatantra



   In a certain place there once lived a dog. That dog had a spotted body. So the other dogs named, Tschitranga. A long-lasting famine set in that place. The other dogs and the other animals began to leave their families to another place, because they had no food to live.

   Tschitranga, whose throat was thin with hunger and he was driven by fear to another country (city). There in a certain city he went to a certain house. Day after day where, due to the carelessness of the housekeeper, many good things to eat were left lying about and he ate his fill. However, in leaving that house, other ferocious dogs surrounded him on all sides and split into him on all parts of his body with their teeth.

   Then the dog, reconsidered his situation and said, "It is better to stay at home, even during a famine you can live there in peace, and no one bites you to pieces. I will return to my own city."

Around the World in Eighty Days

   Around the World in Eighty Days (Part-3)

              By - Jules Verne

Around the World in Eighty Days

   The first part of the trip was without incident. Then as they crossed the Tropic of Cancer the sea changed. A typhoon was soon raging. The “Tankadere” was lifted like a feather. Mountains of water surrounded them. The storm raged through the night. Then things became calmer.

   Two days of better weather followed. Of course, the storm had slowed them. Just three miles from Shanghai they saw smoke. The American steamship was leaving port.

“Send a signal! Lower the flag to half-mast,” shouted Mr. Fogg. The signals from the ”Tankadere”  were spotted. A payment of 550 Pound was made to the boat’s captain John Bunsby. The three than boarded the “General Grant”.

   On arrival at Yokohama, Mr. Fogg and Mrs. Aouda went in search of the “Carnatic” and Passepartout. To their joy they discovered he had been on board. He had arrived just as the ship was leaving Hong Kong. They spotted him working for food money. As they hurried back to the “General Grant” he told his tale of woe. Not mentioning Mr. Fix’s part in it. Mr. Fix had headed for the Consulate. The arrest warrant was there. But Mr. Fogg had now left the British soil. It was useless!

   So on 14th November, somehow still on schedule, the three of them set off to America. Mr. Fix joined them.  The “General Grant” was a huge paddle-steamer. With a combination of steam and sail it moved swiftly. This trip was uneventful from the nautical point of view. But Passepartout had to sort things out. Passepartout still believed in Mr. Fogg. He blamed Mr. Fix for causing trouble for him. Mr. Fogg and Mrs. Aouda were not aware of Mr. Fix’s profession. Nor did they know he was “tailing” Mr. Fogg.

Native American Folktale-The Kind Hawk

   In the land of present United States, We can find a large number of tribal communities of native people. The Native Americans have their own unique history and culture. This story is one of the very interesting and famous Native American Folktale story.

                 The Kind Hawk

              - A Native American Folktale

The Kind Hawk

   A long time ago, in a happy village, there lived a little boy. His mother loved him so much that she dressed him in a pretty shirt and decorated moccasins.

   One day the boy wandered away from the village over the plain land. Then a band of fierce Navaho Indians swooped down and tied him off. The Indians carried him to their camp, where they took off his shirt and moccasins away, and gave them to their Chief's son. Then they made the boy work all day and gave him so little to eat. In a few weeks, the boy grew thin and sick.

   Now, near the Indian camp was a high bluff on which lived a kind-hearted Hawk. It often flew over the camp, and saw the boy working hard there and never playing with the other children. So one day, when all the Indians (Navahos) were gathered together at the Chief's lodge, the Hawk flew down and hovered over the boy's head.

"Oh, do not kill me!" begged the boy the hawk.

"I am not going to hurt you," answered the Hawk to the little boy, "I am sorry for you. Jump on my back, and hold on to my wings, and I'll carry you away."

Jules Verne-Around the World in Eighty Days

  Around the World in Eighty Days  (Part-2)

                  By - Jules Verne

Around the World in Eighty Days

   The train left on time on 20th October. In the same compartment was one other person. Sir Francis Cromarty. As Passepartout slept, Fogg and Sir Francis chatted. All was uneventful until the morning of 22nd October.

"All Change! All change! Why are we stopping?” asked Sir Francis.

“We have to. The railway is not completed yet, fifty miles before it connects again.”, said the driver.

“The newspaper said the railway was open right through,” they said.

   All were furious, but they could do nothing.

“I will carry on by foot,” said Phileas Fogg.

   Passepartout rushed off around the area.

“Mr. Fogg,” he called, “I think we have found a means of transport. An elephant, just down from here.”

   However, elephants are expensive in India. After much haggling Mr. Fogg had to pay 2,000 pounds. Not to hire, but to buy the elephant. An experienced guide was found, he soon had the elephant completely fitted out.

   Phileas Fogg paid for the elephant from the famous bag. The party, that included Sir Francis Cromarty, covered twenty five miles that day before setting down for a night’s rest. At 6 am the journey started. All went well until late into the afternoon. The elephant suddenly stopped and was uneasy.

“What is the matter?” asked Sir Francis.

“A procession is coming this way. We must keep out of sight. Hide in the trees!” said the guide.

Aesop's Fables-The Young Crab and His Mother

   This is a very interesting story from Aesop's fables. In every Aesop's fables, there must a lesson for us. We consider that as the moral of the story at the end.

         The Young Crab and His Mother 

The Young Crab and his Mother

   One day a mother crab and her son, a little crab were walking on a beach. 

"Why in the world do you walk sideways like that?" said a Mother Crab to her son. "You should always walk straight forward with your toes turned out." 

"Show me how to walk, mother dear," answered the little Crab obediently, "I want to learn." 

   So the old Crab tried and tried to walk straight forward. But she could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted to turn her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.

Around the World in Eighty Days-Jules Verne

Jules Verne

   Jules Verne, the Father of Science fictions

   Jules Gabriel Verne was a French poet, novelist and play writer. He is best known for his adventure novels and his profound influence on the literary type of science fiction.

   Jules Verne was born in the seaport of Nantes, French in 8th February, 1828.  Jules Verne was trained to follow in his father's footsteps as a lawyer, but quit the profession early in life to write for magazines and the stage. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the Voyages Extra-ordinaries, a widely popular series of exactly researched adventure novels including Around the World in Eighty Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, A Trip to the Moon, The Mysterious Island and much more.

   Jules Verne is generally considered a major literary author in France and most of Europe, where he has had a wide influence on the literary activist and the way of thinking. His name is markedly different in English region, where he has often been labeled a writer of different fiction or children’s books, not least because of the highly edited and altered translations in which his novels are often reprinted.

   Around the World in Eighty Days is one of the world famous novels. Before Jules Verne no one can imagine that the whole world can be travel in eighty days. That time lot of critics considered this novel as a bogus-boo. But after his dead the world realized that it is possible with the help of modern inventions like airplanes and high speedy ships.
 

                  Around the World in Eighty Days - Part 1

                            By- Jules Verne

Around the World in Eighty Days

    
   In the year 1872 and remarkable wager is about to be made. On the 2nd October Phileas Fogg left home at 11.0 am and want to his club. He had lunch and dinner, and then moved to the drawing room, all at the usual times. The same times, in fact, as every other day. Phileas Fogg was a very regular, precise and orderly man. Later he was playing cards with his usual five partners.

   Their conversation was about a recent robbery. The Bank of England had lost 55,000 pounds. Some of the players thought the robber would escape. Others thought that a reward offered would encourage detectives to capture him. After all they had a fairly good description of a “gentleman” seen at the Bank.  

“The odds are in favor of the thief. After all the world is big enough.”, someone remarked.

“It used to be”, Phileas Frogg said quietly. “The earth can be covered much quicker now than a hundred years ago.”

“You have a funny way of saying the earth has shrunk. Because you can now go around it in three months!”, came the comment.

“Eighty days according to the Morning Chronicle.”, stated Fogg.

“Possibly, but not allowing for bad weather and mishaps.”

Jonathan Swift - The Gulliver's Travels

      The Gulliver's Travels - Part 2

                         - Jonathan Swift

   The Emperor ordered his soldiers to search Gulliver for any dangerous thing on his person. Gulliver picked up the two royal soldiers and helped them climb on him for search. Lo! They found everything strange on him. His handkerchief was a great floor covering! His snuff box was a huge silver chest! They found the comb as big as railing in front of the royal palace! His watch could be lifted by two men on a pole on their shoulders to be shown around. The watch made a noise like a water-mill! They called Gulliver the Great Man Mountain.

The Gulliver's Travels

   Gulliver’s sword and pistol dangling from his belt attracted their attention. At the Emperor’s request, the pistol was fired. It terrorized the little men.  Both these weapons were taken away from him. Other possessions of Gulliver such as comb, knife, kerchief, notebook, snuff box were returned to him. His spectacles which were hidden inside his pocket remained with him. 

   By then, the little men from the land of Lilliput realized that he meant no harm to them. When he was resting, they would come and dance on his hand. Little boys and girls would come and play hide and seek in his hair without any fear.

   One day, the Emperor invited Gulliver to see his palace. When he reached the inner court, the Empress offered her hand to be kissed. Gulliver once again requested the Emperor to set him free. The Emperor asked Gulliver,  “To do his utmost to destroy the fleet of the Island of Blefuscu which is preparing to invade us.”