Fairy Tale - The story if mother (part-2)

  The story of a mother – part 2

 A Fairy tale by - Hans Christian Andersen

   Then the mother came to a large lake, where there was neither a ship nor a boat. The lake was not frozen sufficiently to bear her; neither was it open, nor low enough that she could wade through it; and across it she must go if she would find her child! Then she lay down to drink up the lake, and that was impossible for a human being, but the afflicted mother thought that a miracle might happen still then.
   "Oh, what would I not give to come to my child!" said the weeping mother. She wept still more, and her eyes plunged down in the depths of the waters, and became two precious pearls. but the water bore her up, as if she sat in a swing, and she flew in the rocking waves to the shore on the opposite side, where there stood a mile-broad, strange house, one knew not if it were a mountain with forests and caverns, or if it were built up; but the poor mother could not see it; she had wept her eyes out.
   "Where shall I find the Death, who took away my little child?" said the mother.
   "He has not come here yet!" said the old serious woman, who was appointed to look after Death's great greenhouse. "How have you been able to find the way of this place? And who has helped you?"
   "OUR LORD has helped me," said the mother. "He is merciful, and you will also be so! Where shall I find my little child?"
   "No, I do not know and you cannot see!" said the woman, “Many flowers and trees have drooped this night; Death will soon come and plant them over again! You certainly know that every person has his or her life's tree or flower, just as everyone happens to be settled; they look like other plants, but they have pulsations of the heart. Children's hearts can also beat; go after yours, perhaps you may know your child's. But what will you give me if I tell you what you shall do more?"
   "I have nothing left to give you," said the afflicted mother, "but I will go to the world's end for you!"
   "No, I have nothing to do there!" said the old woman. "But you can give me your long black hair; you know yourself that it is fine, and that I like! You shall have my white hair instead of your long black hair!"

A Folk Tale - The Seal-Catcher

       The Seal-Catcher

    - A Folk tale from Scotland

    
   There was once a man who lived at the very north of Scotland. He made his living by catching fish of all sizes and types, but he had a particular liking for killing those wonderful animals, half-dog, half-fish, called Seals. No doubt he liked killing the seals so much because he got a fancy price for their skins. 

   Now one day the fisherman stabbed a seal with his hunting knife, but he failed to kill it completely. The seal let out a loud cry of pain and slipped off the rocks and into the sea, taking the knife with it.

   After that the fisherman returned home. Later that night, a stranger came to visit him in his cottage. The man said that he had been sent by his master who wanted to buy a large number of seal skins. The fisherman was very glad to hear this news. The two men both mounted the stranger’s horse, and rode off at great speed, their faces cutting through the sharp, salty air. Finally they reached a great cliff that overhung the sea, and the stranger told the fisherman that they had arrived.

   “But where is the person who want to buy seal skins?” asked the astonished seal-catcher.

   “Soon you shall see!” replied the stranger, and with that the stranger seized the fisherman with irresistible force, and they both plunged over the cliff and headlong down into the sea. After sinking down and down, nobody knows how far, they at last reached a pearly gate which opened onto a palace. The rooms of the palace were filled not with people, but with seals those could speak and feel like human. And the seal-catcher was surprised to find that he had been changed himself into the form of a seal.

Tales from the Panchatantra - The Brahmin's Gift

The Brahmin's Gift

   The Panchatantra is the ancient story collection in India and it is very well-known collection of children stories. There will be a good lesson and a moral of the story at the end in every story. Here we will read an interesting story that is collected from the Panchatantra. 
     
      The Brahmin's Gift

   Once, there lived a pious Brahmin (Priest) in a small village. He used to perform religious services. One day he was rewarded with a goat for his services by a wealthy man. The Brahmin was very happy to get a goat as the reward. He happily carried the goat over his shoulder and began the journey towards his home. On the way, three frauds saw the Brahmin taking the goat. All of them were lazy and wanted to cheat the Brahmin. They wanted to take away the goat from the Brahmin.

   They said each other,” This goat will make a delicious meal for all of us. Let's somehow get it”.

   They discussed the matter among themselves and made a plan to get the goat from the Brahmin. After deciding the plan, they got separated from one another and took different hiding positions at three different places on the way of the Brahmin.

   As soon as, the Brahmin arrived at a lonely place, one of the frauds came out from his hiding place and asked Brahmin in a shocking manner, “Sir, what are you doing? I don't understand why a pious man like you needs to carry a dog on his shoulders?"

   The Brahmin was surprised to hear such words. He screamed, “Can't you see? It's not a dog but a goat, you stupid fool".

   The fraud replied,” Sir, I beg your pardon. I told you what I saw. I am sorry, if you don’t believe it.”

   The Brahmin was very angry on that and started his journey once again.

Fairy Tale - The story of a mother (part-1)

The story of a mother - part 1

  a fairy tale by - Hans Christian Anderson

    A mother sat there with her little child. She was so downcast, so afraid that it should die! It was so pale, the small eyes had closed themselves, and it drew its breath so softly, now and then, with a deep respiration, as if it sighed. The mother looked still more sorrowfully on the little creature.
   Then a knocking was heard at the door, and in came a poor old man wrapped up as in a large horse-cloth, for it warms one, and he needed it, as it was the cold winter season! Everything was covered with ice and snow outside, and the wind blew so that it cut the face.
   As the old man trembled with cold, and the little child slept a moment, the mother went and poured some ale into a pot and set it on the stove, that it might be warm for him; the old man sat and rocked the cradle, and the mother sat down on a chair close by him, and looked at her little sick child that drew its breath so deep, and raised its little hand.
   "Do you not think that I shall save him?" said the mother. "Our Lord will not take him from me!"
   And the old man-it was Death himself-he nodded so strangely, it could just as well indicate yes as no. And the mother looked down in her lap, and the tears ran down over her cheeks. Her head became so heavy-she had not closed her eyes for three days and nights. But now she slept only for a minute, when she started up and trembled with cold.
   "What is that?" said the mother and looked on all sides. But the old man was already gone, and her little child was gone-he had taken her child with him. The old clock in the corner burred, and burred, the great leaden heavy ran down to the floor, suddenly! Then the clock also stood still.
   But the poor mother ran out of the house and cried loudly for her child.

A Folk tale from the Arabian Nights

  Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves – Part 2

       (Tales from Arabian Nights)

   Meanwhile, seeing the body of Kassim disappear, the leader realized that there were tow people who knew the secret. So he ordered one of his men to disguise himself and go into the town to find out.  
   The thief, befriended the shopkeepers. One day, the cobbler told him, ”Would you believe sir, I recently sewed up a man’s body!” the thief pushed a gold coin into the old man’s hand and told, “Oh! Please sir, lead me to his house.”
   Although the old man was blindfolded when he went Ali Baba’s house, he could still make out the way. The thief immediately put a cross on the door.
   A little later, Marjinah returned from the market and saw the cross mark on Ali Baba’s door. Sensing that something was wrong, she marked a cross on all the doors in the street.

A Fairy tale story

    The real Princess

A Fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen

   There was once a Prince who wished to marry a Princess; but then she must be a real Princess. The Prince was traveled all over the world in hopes of finding such a lady. But there was always something wrong with him. Princesses he found in plenty; but whether they were real Princesses. It was impossible for him to decide, for now one thing, now another, seemed to him not quite right about the ladies. 
   At last he returned to his palace alone with quite depress, because he wished so much to have a real Princess as his wife.
   One evening a fearful thunderstorm arose, it thundered and lightened, and the rain poured down from the sky in torrents: besides, it was a very dark night. All at once there was heard a violent knocking at the door. The King, the Prince's father went out himself to open the door.
   It was a Princess who was standing outside the door. What with the rain and the wind. She was in a miserable condition; the water trickled down from her hair, and her clothes clung to her body. She said that, she was a real Princess.

A Folk tale from the Arabian Nights

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves – Part 1

        (Tales from Arabian Nights)

   A long time ago, there lived two brothers – Kassim and Ali Baba, in a certain far away kingdom of Persia. Kassim, the elder brother was very greedy and crooked. By unfair means he had earned a lot of money. Whereas Ali Baba was a poor woodcutter and could hardly meet his end.

   One day as was his usual routine, Ali Baba was chopping wood in the forest. Suddenly he heard the hoofs of horses and voices of few men. Startled he turned around, curious to see who they would be.

   Seeing so many men on horses, Ali Baba was sure that they could be thieves and getting scared he immediately climbed a tree. Perched on the top of the tree, he saw the men on the horses approaching fast. They stopped and alighted from their horses. He saw a bearded tall man, who looked like their leader, leading the crowd to a massive boulder. He shouted, ”Open Sesame.” Lo and behold! The boulder gave away. The men entered the hole.

    Ali Baba counted the men as they entered. In totally they were forty men who carried with them something bundled in cloth. He did not move from his position. He was scared and curious too. He thought to himself, ”Who could be these people be? They seem to carrying heavy bundles with them. What could it be? Are thy robbers?”

Hans Christian Andersen

   Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author and poet. He was born in Odense April 2, 1805. Hans Christian Andersen's own life was like a fairy tale. He was born the son of a poor cobbler and he died a rich and famous man, celebrated around the world, the intimate of kings and queens. Although today Hans Christian Andersen is generally known as a writer of stories for children, but during his lifetime he was also celebrated for his other literary works- including six novels, five travel journals, three autobiographies and for many poems and plays.
   When Hans Christian Andersen was 11, his father died. He was leaving the family more destitute than ever, and he was sent off to factory work. In 1819, at the age of 14, he left home and traveling alone to Copenhagen to make his fame and fortune. In his early days, Hans Christian Andersen wanted to become an opera singer. For this reason, he went to Copenhagen to become an opera singer. His voice was too weak. For this, he was accepted as a dance student at the Royal Theater. The Director of the Royal Theater took him under his shelter and remained his friend until the end of his life. 

A Tale from the Arabian Nights

  Aladdin and the Magic Lamp – part 3

  (A tale from the Arabian nights)

   After a long time, from far away in Africa the wicked magician remembered Aladdin. He used his magic arts and discovered that Aladdin was instead of perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living in great wealth and honor. He knew that the poor tailor's son could only have achieved this by means of the magic lamp. He wanted to destroy Aladdin and retrieves the genie of the magic lamp. 
   One day he came to the city of Aladdin, he heard people talking everywhere about a marvelous palace. He used a trick and disguising himself as a merchant, he went to the city crying few old and new lamps in his shoulder. At that time, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave the magician plenty of time. The magician went to the palace and crying, "New lamps for old!" 

What is Fairy Tales

    Fairy tales are a type of folk tales and almost always engage some elements of magic and a conquest over evil force. The fairy tale has its origin from the ancient times. A very significant literature type, fairy tales are present in all cultures and nations worldwide. A fairy tale is one type of story that typically features fantasy characters, such as fairies, evil spirits, witches, demons, giants, mermaids, talking animals, midgets, knights and heroes, and usually magic or fascinations.
    In every culture demons and witches were recognized as real elements in ancient times. In generally, a fairy tale is a story with fantasy and magic, along with few unbelievable characters and in the end, there will a happy ending. It is similar like folk tales, but it contains more fantasy and totally based on the imaginations. Fairy tales may merge into legends, where the description may be is grounded in a historical truth. Like legends or epics, they usually do not contain more than superficial references to religion and actual places, people, and events; they take place once upon a time rather than in actual times. Some times a fairy tale is constructed by the author’s imagination only; there is no historical ground for that.

A Tale from the Arabian Nights

Aladdin and the Magic Lamp - part 2

  (A Tale from the Arabian Nights)

     One day Aladdin walked to the market he saw sultan’s daughter passing by on her elephant. Her name was jasmine.  The princess was so lovely. She had long hair as black as the night. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips were red. The princess looked so beautiful and Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He vowed to make her his bride. When Aladdin reached home he told his mother about princess Jasmine. He told her mother, he loved the princess so deeply that he could not live without her, and wanted to merry the princess. On hearing this, Aladdin’s mother burst out laughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carry his request. Aladdin’s mother wrapped the jewels; Aladdin had brought from the cave, in a silk cloth to gift to the sultan. 
     The grand-vizier (minister) and the lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of the Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day for a week, and stood in the same place. When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan asked to his vizier about the woman and told him to call the lady next day.

Fables from the Panchatantra - The little Mice and the big Elephant

   This is one of the interesting fables from the Panchatantra collection.In every story of the Panchatantra, there must be an educational lesson and a moral of the story.

The Little Mice and the Big Elephant

The Little Mice and the Big Elephants

   Once upon a time, a village was ruined by an earthquake. The houses and roads got totally damaged. The village was totally crushed. Due to this, the villagers were forced to leave their houses and to settle somewhere else. Finding the place vacant, the mice began to live in the destroyed houses. Soon their number grew into hundreds and thousands.

    There was a big lake located near the ruined village. A group of elephants used to visit the lake for drinking water. This was the only way available for them to reach the lake. On their way to the lake, the elephants killed hundreds of mice daily under their heavy feet. For this reason, the population of the mice was affected. The problem was getting bigger and bigger day by day.To find out a solution for this problem, the mice held a meeting. They decided that a request should be made to the king of the elephants about this problem.

A Tale from the Arabian Nights

   Aladdin and the Magic Lamp – part 1

     (A tale from the Arabian nights)

   There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin. He was a careless and idle boy who would do nothing but play all day long in the streets with little idle boys like himself. After the death of Aladdin’s father his mother was looked after him. He was so irresponsible that way his mother always shouted at him.
    They were very poor as Aladdin did not like to work at all. One day as he played in the street with his friends, there came to him a strange looking man.
    “I am your uncle son! What is your name?” said the man.
    “Aladdin sir,” replied the boy.
    “Take me home, I have brought rich gifts for all of you. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming." - told the stranger.     
    Aladdin was greatly surprised but the word “gifts” made him happy. On reaching home Aladdin quickly told his mother about the stranger.
    His mother said,"Indeed, son, your father had a brother, but I always thought he was dead."

The Arabian Nights

    The Arabian Nights stories are some of the world’s great treasures. These stories are existed for thousands of years. It generally consists of tales from Persia and Arabia. The Arabian Nights is also known as The 1001 Arabian Nights.
    The Arabian Nights include fairy tales, romances, farces, legends and parables. These tales use a sweeping variety of settings and places, including Baghdad, Persia, Cairo and Damascus, as well as China, India and Turkey.
    The stories are fanciful, sometimes are brutal tales. The suggestion of the Arabian Nights is that a fantastically valuable jewel exists, when it comes into contact with people, it actually changes their lives. The jewels are the magnificently powerful art of these stories. There may not be any better examples in the world of how art, trickery, magic and skill can spin together and form a world that every reader wants to be interested. In spite of the situation presented in any particular Arabian Nights story, the theory contained in the story is that life is always worth living and that human effort, along with human weakness, is a wonderful and fascinating thing to behold. These stories form a strong connection between the ancient civilizations of the East and those of the West.

Arabian Folk Tales

          In ancient times the Arab people were leading the world in science, education, medical science and culture. Traditional written Arabic was inaccessible for non Arab people before. So it takes time to translate the Arabic folk tales to other languages from Arabic.

    The Arabian folk tales share many features. These folk tale stories display the social structures and values of the Arabs. It displays the position and roles of men and women in Arab society. Their faith on God is usually expressed through the hero, who uses his belief to complete the mission. In these stories the powerful kings or the heroes also depicted and supernatural elements are a very important and common component of most Arabic folk tales.

Aseop's Fable

This fable is from Aesop's fables... 

 

  The Lion and the Mouse

       
     Once there was a lion taking a rest. At this time a naughty little mouse began running up and down upon the lion. For this reason the lion woke up. The lion placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to eat him. 

     The lion caught the mouse and holding him in his large claws. The lion growled in anger- “How dare you wake me up! Don't you know that I am King of the Beasts? Anyone who disturbs my rest deserves to die!"

    The scared mouse, shaking and trembling, begged the lion to let him go. “Please don't eat me Your Majesty! I did not mean to wake you, it was a mistake. I was only playing. Please let me go  and I promise to do something for you in return some of this day.I will be your friend forever. Who knows but one day I could save your life?” 

    The lion looked at the tiny mouse and laughed. “You save my life? What an absurd idea!” he said mockingly.

The Panchatantram

      The Panchatantram or Panchatantra is one of the earliest collections of fables, written in India more than two thousand five hundred years ago. The Panchatantra means “Five Principles”, it is known in Europe as the Fables of Bidpai. The original Panchatantram were in Sanskrit language and it is an ancient Indian organized collection of animal fables in verse and prose, in a story format.

      Some of the tales in the Panchatantra can be traced as far back as 1500 BC to the ancient Sanskrit text from the Rig Veda. The original Sanskrit work, which some scholars believe was composed in the 3rd century BCE, is attributed to Vishnu Sharma.