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."