过火-
1
The Hen and the Little Girl
In a country home, a mother hen and her cute chicks were living happily. A little girl came to visit the country home, but was
very bored. One night, the girl went into the chicken house. As soon as she went in, there was disorder.
Here and there cries of the chickens could be heard. The father, who was inside, woke up.
The girl went into the chicken house, again, the next day. There was a racket again, as the chickens were frightened. The moon
in the night sky was worried. This time, the little girl's father will not be forgiving.
Finally, the sleeping father woke up.
father's angry face, she began to cry.
to hug the chickens.
When the father heard what his daughter said, a smile quickly appeared on his face.
praised his daughter. He was proud of his daughter that knew how to apologize. The moon in the sky gave a big laugh, too.
2
The Mermaid Princess
In the deep, sea palace, there lived a mermaid princess. Whenever she sang a song with her beautiful voice, everyone envied her.
However, the mermaid princess wanted to go to the outside world.
life above the sea.
Finally,
it
was
the
mermaid
princess'
15th
birthday.
She
went
up
to
the
sea.
The
princess
saw
a
great
ship.
And
she
saw
a
handsome prince standing on the ship. The princess fell in love with him at first sight.
However, as thunder and lightning struck, the ship sank on its side. The prince lost his consciousness and fell deep into the sea.
The princess saved the prince and laid him on the sand. The princess took care of him all night. When the prince opened his
eyes, the mermaid princess hid from him. She thought he might get scared by her tail. Just then, a princess from a neighbor land
came out to see the sea and she saw the prince.
The princess watched from a far the prince who always came out to the sea at night. The princess was very sad. She wanted to
become a human so that she could be with the prince.
She asked the witch.
someone else, you will become a water bubble. You must marry the prince.
On the sand, she drank the medicine that the witch had given her. With the big sudden pain, she turned into a human. Just then,
the prince who came out to the sea saw the princess.
The prince took the princess who could not speak, to his palace. Although she could not speak, she was happy to be living near
the prince. The prince was going to be married to a princess from a neighbor land.
At night, the mermaid princess' older sisters came up to the sea. They gave the mermaid princess a knife and said,
the prince with this knife, you can be a mermaid again. If you don't, you will become a water bubble.
On the night of the wedding, the mermaid princess was going to stab the sleeping prince with the knife. But, she could not kill
the loving prince.
and went up to heaven.
3
The Naked King
Long, long time ago, there lived a very fancy king. The king changed his clothes 12 times a day. He really liked to show off to
his subjects.
One day, two tailors planned a trick.
He doesn't even worry
about his starving people.
The two men went to see the king.
most marvelous king! We have brought the most beautiful cloth in the
whole world.
fine cloth.
After the king heard those words, he became very interested.
those cloths, my clothes will be the best in the whole world. Hurry and show me the cloth.
more greedy.
The tailors pretended that the cloth was real, as they showed it to the king. The king and the fine- spoken subjects could not see
anything before them. But, none of them could show that they could not see it.
The king and his fine-spoken subjects just looked at each other. Then, the tailor quickly spoke in a arrogant manner.
there no honest man here? How can you look at this beautiful cloth and not praise it.
Among the subjects, one of them
made a flattering comment out loud.
I have seen such a
wonderful cloth.
too.
The king gave the money and ordered them to make his clothes. For several days, the tailors pretended to be making the clothes.
The king became worried and told one of his subjects to go and see how the clothes was coming along.
The subject could not say how much the clothes had been completed. As hard as he looked, he could not see it. But, he could
not say that he was unable to see it. Instead, he pretended to be amazed at how beautiful it was coming along.
A few days later, the tailors came back with the King's clothes.
honestly say that he could not see the clothes. He, too, pretended to look over it.
One man said,
The king walked out to the street very proudly and walked with pride. All the people in the land came out to see the king's new
clothes. They were all surprised, though.
Just then, a little girl shouted out,
The king now realized the truth. However, with only his undergarments on, he still walked in a dignified manner. Even though
he was embarrassed, he could not stop walking. Why not? Because he was the king.
4
The Elf of the Rose
There once was a rose bush in full bloom in a big garden. An elf was living in the most beautiful rose in the garden, and she was
so small that people could not see her. She had long blond hair to her toes and beautiful wings.
One day, it got dark before she got home. She had been dancing and flying around so she didn't have time to get back to the
rose bush. Suddenly, the weather got cold, evening dew started to fall, and a strong wind began to blow. She could not stay in
the other flowers because they were all closed up.
am
I
going
to
do
now?
It's
too
cold.
She
got
scared
because
she
had
never
stayed
outside
at
night.
There
was
a
twinkling light from the other side of the garden.
The
elf
flew
to
a
pavilion
on
the
other
side
of
the
garden
in
a
hurry.
But
there
were
already
two
people
in
the
pavilion.
A
beautiful young lady and a handsome man were praying that they would never be apart from each other. They were in love.
my bride, please wait for me until I come back to you!
She pulled off a rose from the bush which was aside her and kissed it. Then she gave him the rose as a token of her love. At that
moment, the rose opened up. The elf went into the rose secretly.
At that moment, a horrible looking man entered the pavillion. He was the brother of the young lady.
my sister?
during a trip, so nobody will suspect me of murdering him.
The elf woke up and found she was in the middle of a dark forest.
the hair of the young lady's brother. She shivered with fear and anger.
When they got in the house, the young lady from the garden was crying. The man looked at his sister and gave her a chilly
smile, and went to bed.
The elf sat down quietly spreading her wings and told the young lady what she saw that day.
not a dream. If you dig under the linden-tree in the garden, you will find your fiance. It is your brother who killed him.
The beautiful young lady woke up. She secretly went out of her room and dug under the linden-tree as the elf had said.
Her lover was lying in the ground, cold dead. She cried out sadly and killed herself right next to her fiance. After some time
passed,
a
flower
called,
'Jasmine'
came
into
bloom
at
the
place
where
the
two
lovers
had
died.
The
Jasmine
had
big
white
flowers on the branch and had a sweet smell.
Incidentally, the young lady's brother was walking down the road and he pulled off a branch of the jasmine and put it near his
bedside. When night fell, two bees with poison stingers came out of the jasmine flowers and bit the brother's ears and mouth,
and then they vanished.
5
The Ugly Duckling
A mother duck was brooding on her eggs near the margin of a pond. A flock of lovely baby ducks was soon born, making sweet
peeping sounds when the eggs were broken. But one egg remained unbroken.
The mother duck continued her brooding. At last, the egg was broken and a baby duck was born. However that baby duck was
very ugly compared to the other baby ducks.
The mother duck was worried, but still she took the baby ducks near the water and taught them how to swim. The ugly duckling
also swam with his brothers and sisters, moving his legs eagerly.
pecked at the ugly duckling with their bills.
The
baby
duck
heard
what
his
mother
said
and
dropped
tears
of
sorrow
saying,
I
will
leave.
Good-bye.
The
ugly
duckling left his nest beyond the pond.
When he entered the forest, other birds were frightened by the baby duck and ran away.
am so awful?
Near the water beside the field, two wild ducks were playing around.
two wild ducks flew up in the air and threw stones at the baby duck.
bird?
water.
the table were also broken. The angry hunter sent out the baby duck with a flourish of his broomstick. And so the after being
cast out from the house of the hunter, the ugly duckling spent a long and cold winter alone.
Finally spring came. The baby duck had a good stretch and flew up in the air vigorously.
Upon the lake, a flock of white and pretty swans were playing around while swimming.
baby duck became sad.
The baby duck tried to run away from the group of beautiful swans.
Come and play around with
us!
lake. There was one more beautiful swan gliding gracefully across the water.
The ugly duckling who overcame all suffering had finally become a beautiful swan. And so he lived happily ever after.
6
Nightingale
A long time ago in China there lived an emperor. The emperor loved to read books. One day, in the book he was reading, it
wrote,
The emperor had never seen or heard of nightingale.
The emperor was very curious as to what nightingale was.
emperor's command. They looked here and there.
One day a little girl said that she knew of nightingale. She said that the bird she had was nightingale. It was a small cute bird. At
once nightingale was brought to the emperor.
The emperor was very happy.
and was impressed and deeply moved.
give
me
nightingale
and
I
will
reward
you
handsomely.
So
nightingale
came
to
live
in
the
palace.
Everyday
Nightingale sang for the emperor.
Emperor was happy every time he heard Nightingale sing. He was so proud of Nightingale that he allowed the servants to hear
it too. However, Nightingale was not happy. Nightingale felt trapped and had no freedom.
One day the neighboring country sent a gift to the emperor. It was a nightingale doll made of jewels and gold. Every time the
doll was wound up it sang beautifully. Furthermore, the emperor if wanted could hear it everyday.
It flew off into the forest of freedom.
The Nightingale doll kept on singing. One day the doll broke. No body was able to fix it. The emperor was heart broken.
The
emperor
became
ill.
He
just
laid
there
waiting
to
die.
Just
then,
from
the
window,
a
beautiful
song
came
flowing
in.
Everyone looked.
Sitting by the window, Nightingale began singing. Shortly after, the emperor became better. Nightingale was happy. Soon, the
emperor's face was filled with happiness once again.
7
The Wild Swans
Once upon a time in a kingdom far away, there were eleven Princes and a single Princess, by the name of Elisa. One day, their
mother died of a disease.
Eventually the King married again. The new Queen hated the twelve children.
She said craftily,
the Queen, as she seemed to care for the health of his daughter. Therefore, the Princess was sent off to the remotest corner of
the country.
The Queen then changed the eleven Princes into swans through her magic power, and sent them away from the royal palace.
The Princes flew away crying sadly.
After some time, the King missed Princess Elisa and sent for her. The Queen had Princess Elisa wear a dirty and worn-out dress.
The King was very surprised to see the dirty Princess Elisa.
have not seen eleven Princes but I have seen eleven swans. Strangely the swans wore golden crowns. You may find them near
the river.
Princess Elisa waited for her brothers near the river hoping to find them. At night, eleven swans swooped down to the ground
and were turned into the form of Princes.
The brothers were trapped under the spell of the wicked Queen, and were forced to become swans and fly around to look for
something to eat during the day. Elisa prayed earnestly,
dreams
that
night,
a
fairy
appeared
and
said,
mantles
for
your
brothers
with
hemp
and
have
them
wear
the
mantles.
However, you should not speak at all until those mantles are made completely.
The Princes thought that Elisa, who did not speak and merely kept knitting, had become strange. One day, a
Prince from a
neighboring kingdom saw the knitting Princess when he was out hunting. The Prince took Elisa to his palace saying to himself,
But Elisa did not say anything, and only kept knitting eagerly. At nightfall of the next day, the hemp was all used up. Elisa
picked some more hemp near a grave but was caught by the Prince. The Prince said,
must be a witch. Take this witch and burn her at the stake!
Princess Elisa was unable to say anything and was imprisoned. Princess Elisa continued knitting without taking rest even in the
prison. Princess Elisa was finally knitting the eleventh mantle, while being carried on a cart going to the burning place. The
villagers threw stones at her while shouting,
At that precise moment, the eleven swans flew in. Princess Elisa threw the finished mantles to the swans. Only then, Princess
Elisa opened her mouth.
They donned the knitted hoods they were turned back into Princes. The Princess told the Prince what had happened up to that
time. Thereafter, the Prince and Princess Elisa lived happily together in their kingdom.
8
The Unwise Hans
In the countryside, there lived three brothers. The first and second brothers were very wise. But the third was not very wise.
People called him unwise Hans. All three of the brothers wanted to marry the princess. The princess had said that she wanted to
marry the wisest man on the land.
So in order to marry the princess, they hurried off on their way. The father of the three brothers gave horses to only two of the
sons. The first brother got a brown horse and the second brother got a white horse. But, no horse was given to Hans. The unwise
Hans left on a goat, instead of a horse.
The older brothers laughed at Hans. Still, Hans left with his brothers. After sometime, Hans picked up a dead crow on the road.
laugh at Hans.
As
Hans
was
going
along
the
road,
besides
the
crow,
he
picked
up
an
old
wooden
clog
and
good
quality
mud.
The
older
brothers no longer paid attention to Hans' strange behavior and hurried off on their horses reaching the castle before Hans.
In front of the castle there stood the princess and many people who wanted to marry her. However, all the people who went
inside of the princess' room came out stuttering and muttering quietly to themselves. Finally the first brother went in.
not right. Please go.
The first brother had forgotten everything that he had memorized. So, he could not say one word. Next the second brother went
in. The princess told him to leave, as well. The second brother could not understand the princess’ question. Hans was the las
t
person to go in.
plate.
Hans showed the old wooden clog that he had hidden. The princess made a smile on her face.
sauce?
Hans showed her the mud that he had picked up on the road, too.
The unwise Hans gave the princess the wisest answers. That's how the princess and the unwise Hans got married. The unwise
Hans became the king of that land.
9
Thumbelina
Once upon a time, there lived a woman who had no children. The woman went to a sorcerer and begged,
pretty baby.
leaf, a lovely baby girl who was as short as a thumb was born.
how
are
you?
The
baby
girl
who
came
out
from
the
flower
said
hello
to
her
mother
with
a
beautiful
voice.
The
woman
was
very
happy
and
wanted
to
give
her
a
pretty
name.
baby
who
is
as
short
as
a
thumb...I
will
name
her
as
Thumbelina.
Thumbelina led a happy life sailing her ship across a pond filled with flowers. But one night, there appeared a horrible-looking
toad when Thumbelina was asleep.
girl
on
his
warty
back
and
went
to
his
pond.
Thumbelina
woke
up
in
the
morning,
and
was
so
surprised
that
she
could
do
nothing but weep silently.
She thought that she would rather die than become the wife of a toad. The fish who saw this unhappy event were sympathetic
towards
the
poor
girl,
and
said,
is
pitiful.
Let's
help
her.
The
fish
cut
the
leaf
of
a
lotus
flower
on
which
Thumbelina was riding, so that she could run away from the toad. She was roaming around the riverside riding on the leaf of a
lotus flower. At that time, a beetle came flying about and spied the top of the head of Thumbelina.
thought that she was an odd creature.
With his friends making fun of him, the beetle began to dislike Thumbelina. He went away with his friends, leaving the girl
alone in the branches. She spent many lonely days eating tree fruits and flowers.
Thumbelina wandered around the forest shivering from cold and hunger.
After some time, it began to snow. Thumbelina was looking for a place to take shelter when she finally saw a twinkling light.
am Thumbelina. Please allow me to take a rest in your house.
dear, please come in.
The field mouse woman loved Thumbelina as if she were her own daughter. One day, a rich mole from a neighboring burrow
came to the house for a holiday. He said,
field mouse woman was very happy about what the rich mole said. But Thumbelina did not like that haughty fellow. Yet she
was unable to reject what the field mouse woman wanted.
Thumbelina was taking a walk sadly in an underground passage, which was actually the house of the mole. At that time, she
found a swallow that had fallen on the ground.
earnestly.
Finally,
spring
came,
and
the
swallow
gained
strength
and
was
about
to
leave
the
underground
passage.
He
said,
She
agreed
and
rode
on
the
back
of
the
swallow
to
the
flower
land,
where
the
Prince
of
the
country
greeted
her
saying,
Thumbelina, would you please marry me and become the Queen of the flower country?
She said,
swallow, please deliver this
news to my
mother.
country.
10
The Terrible King
A long time ago, there lived a terrible king. The terrible king's wish was that all the people would shake in fear at the sound of
his name. The terrible king made the lives of the people in the neighbor land horrible.
The Terrible King
The terrible king viciously took away all the belongings of the neighbor land. He even scared the poor women and children.
The king was not even sorry to the children and women. The terrible king bothered the people of the neighbor land worse and
worse everyday. The palace became more and more magnificent.
ministers could not do that.
The terrible king was becoming angry. It was because he thought that he was the greatest in the whole world. Then the king was
angry.
In a loud voice, the terrible king said that he would win against God. That's why he ordered that a magnificent ship be built in
order to go to the heaven. He said he would ride the ship to go and defeat God. The terrible king rode the ship up to heaven.
From the sky, an angel was sent. However, the terrible king shot over a thousand bullets at the angel.
the angel was bleeding. The blood dropped unto the terrible king's ship. The angel's blood was so heavy that the king's ship
sank.
The terrible king became angry, again.
workers in his kingdom to build it.
The terrible king went up to heaven, once more. God sent mosquitoes to the terrible king. The terrible king just laughed at the
mosquitoes.
The king made another command. He thought that if he wrapped the carpet around his body the mosquitoes would not be able
to bite him. But one mosquito went inside of the carpet. Because of that one mosquito, the terrible king was rolling around
screaming. The terrible king that couldn't even catch one mosquito was a laughingstock for his troops.
11
Last Dream for an Old Oak Tree
Once upon a time, there was a large oak tree in the forest. This oak tree was very old. One day during the hot summer, a mayfly
flew by and alighted on a leaf of the oak tree.
The mayfly nodded and asked,
Then the mayfly smiled and said,
much longer than I do, but we are both happy, aren't we?
Eventually, the mayfly leaned on the oak tree and fell asleep.
respond.
It had died.
Many weeks then passed. Spring, summer and fall went by, and winter came. Finally, the long-awaited day of Christmas came.
The oak tree wanted to rest now.
The oak tree had a dream on Christmas day. In it, pretty flowers were abundant and butterflies were flying in a green forest. In
this dream, the oak tree met the mayfly. The mayfly said,
pleased indeed to see the mayfly.
While the oak tree was sleeping, its roots were cut. It was time for the oak tree to die. The oak tree went to a happy world,
dreaming.
12
The Happy Couple
A long time ago, there was a happy prince and princess in a country. They took care of and loved each other very much, and
their country was happy, too. Therefore they didn't envy anything else. There was one thing they worried about. They wanted to
make sure they could live happily forever like this
One day, one of the subjects found out the couple's worry and told them,
protect you from any unfortunate event. If you always carry the magic charm with you, your fear and worry will disappear.
everything. You can ask him.
The couple visited the old man, and asked for help with their worries and fears. The old man nodded his head as if he knew
everything and said,
underwear. If you keep the piece of the underwear, your fear and worry will go away.
The couple appreciated the old man's kindness and set out on the journey. The couple wandered around everywhere and heard
about a happy knight and his wife of one town. They went to visit the knight.
knight answered.
They had to find an absolutely happy couple, so they continued their journey. They visited a happy couple who were famous for
their happiness in the next town. And they asked the couple if they were really happy. The couple answered.
happy. But we have too many children. A mother with a large brood never has a peaceful day. We worry too much about our
children.
They could not get a magic charm this time too, and kept going on their trip. It was very hard to find the happiest couple in the
world. One day, the prince couple met a shepherd and his wife in a big field.
The
shepherd
was
playing
a
flute
and
driving
a
herd
of
sheep, and his
wife
took
their
two
children
to
him.
As
soon
as
the
shepherd saw his family, he ran to them directly. He kissed and embraced each of them by turns. They sat in a circle and had
lunch after the wife had prepared it.
The prince couple watched for a while and approached them.
The prince couple thought that they finally found what they were looking for.
your underwear for us?
we would like to help you, but we don't wear any underwear.
In the end, the couple set out on their journey again with nothing. Finally they came back to their home because they were so
tired, and because they couldn't find the magic charm too. As soon as they came back to their country, they visited the old man.
The prince told their story to the old man and asked him.
doesn't even exist?
While you were traveling around, you learned many things about how other people live, didn't you?
The prince thought to himself for a while and said,
prince's wife smiled and nodded her head. The happy couple held their hands and looked in each other's eyes.
The old man said as he watched them.
now on. Then, you'll never be unhappy with whatever comes your way.
13
The Cripple Hans
There once was a rich feudal lord. He and his wife had a big farm. They wished everyone else would live as happily as they did.
On one Christmas Eve, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree stood in their big hall, and firewood was burning vigorously. The
couple invited all the poor children and their parents of the country to their house.
Traditional Christmas meals were served to everyone, and people went back to their homes and talked about the dinner and the
gifts. Kersten and Ole, who were working in a garden, received the gifts for their children and went back home.
are very kind, but that's because they are rich. They are enjoying themselves.
him.
Hans
was
a
very
active
and
smart
boy,
but
he
had
to
stay
in
bed
for
five
years
because of
his
weak
legs.
but
I
received a book for Hans
deeply.
Kersten and Ole were always complaining because they were always busy.
same time, but for other people, the only thing they have is poverty. Why do we have to suffer so much because of Adam and
Eve? If we were Adam and Eve, we would not behave like them.
why.
did
the
book
say?
Hans
read
a
story
to
his
parents
loudly.
'One
woodcutter
couple
always
complained
that
their
unhappiness began because of Adam and Eve. At that time, a King was riding a horse and heard them and said,
palace with me. You can live as luxuriously as I can. You have seven kinds of wonderful dishes and deserts at every meal.
life will be over.
the lid. After a while, they uncovered the lid of the plate.
as
they
did,
and
besides
you
cannot
appreciate
God's
grace
and
gifts.
Hans'
parents
were
surprised
by
the
story
about
the
woodcutter couple, and they told Hans to read the same story every night.
One night, Hans read his parents a story about a man who does not know both sadness and dissatisfaction. 'A long time ago, a
King became ill, and there was only one cure the underwear of a man who never knew both sadness and dissatisfaction. His
subjects visited every king and nobleman of the world searching for the cure, but they could not find it.'
One day, a swineherd was sitting next to a ditch said,
have been living my life happily.
though
the
subjects
tried
to
persuade
him,
the
swineherd
did
not
have
underwear
to
give
to
the
subject
of
the
King.
Hans'
parents laughed loudly as if they had not laughed for a long time.
know
about
sadness
and
dissatisfaction.
He
is
too
poor to
have
any
underwear.
Try
to
imagine
him!
Everyone
has
his
own
burden to carry by himself. But if you listen to other people's stories, you will feel your burden of life is much lighter than
before.
have underwear as a gift rather than a book. But this book is like magic. It gives us the answers to what we always were curious
about.
After
that
day,
the
schoolmaster
visited
Hans,
who
always
stays
in
his
bed
in
the
afternoons,
gave
him
a
lot
of
knowledge that children at school could learn.
The schoolmaster got invited to the feudal lord's mansion and had a meal with them. In the middle of dinner, he told them the
book that they had given to Hans was such a blessed gift for the family. The mistress gave some silver coins to the schoolmaster,
and asked him to give them to Hans. Hans' parents were very happy to get the silver coins.
A few days later, the mistress herself visited Hans with a basket of delicious bread, fruit and juice, and a cage with a black bird.
Hans was so happy for the gift, but his parents were not.
have to do the troublesome work. In the end, a cat will eat the bird anyway.
A cat often visited the room, but it seemed that it was not interested in the black bird. One afternoon, when Hans was reading
the book, the cat was staring at the bird in the cage above a dresser. The cat jumped up to the window frame next to the cage in
a breath. Hans worried about the bird, and he tried to throw his fairy tale book at the cat, but it did not reach the cat.
Hans wielded a bedcover, but it was a vain effort. The cat jumped up to the dresser and dropped the cage to the ground. At the
same
time,
Hans
suddenly
leaped
to
his
feet
from
his
bed,
picked
up
the
cage
and
shooed
the
cat
away.
Hans
saw
himself
holding the cage in his hand. He realized what happened to him and ran out to the road.
own son could walk again.
was so smart, and he could understand so well what he read. His parents were sad that they could not live with their son, but
they were very happy whenever they got a letter with happy news from him.
one of the stories which Hans used to tell us?
14
The Shadow
A scholar who used to live in a cold region took a trip to a place of tropical weather. He stayed in the house all day because it
was too hot to go out.
At night, people came out from their houses to get fresh air. The scholar also went out of his house and looked around here and
there.
own shadow.
Suddenly, his shadow on the house went into the inside the house. The scholar was shocked. Then, the next day.
lose my own shadow? People will laugh at me. Phew. What am I going to do? I feel awful. What am I going to do now?
In a tropical region, everything grew really fast. Fortunately, the scholar's shadow grew a lot in a week.
Then, one evening. Someone visited the scholar.
me,
but
have
we
meet
before?
The
gentleman
answered.
you
recognize
me?
Well,
I
guess
you've
never
imagined that I would show up in front of you with this kind of look. I have been enjoying my own life very much since I left
you.
shadow.
allowed me to live my own life all by myself. Sometimes I gave severe punishments to bad people. People always welcomed
me wherever I was. They just loved me.
A few years later, the shadow visited the scholar again. The scholar was writing a book, but he was so sad because no one read
his book. He felt tired of writing.
go to a spa. I will pay for the trip for you. Instead, you should be my shadow.
After long thinking about the shadow's suggestion, the scholar decided to go on the trip and be a shadow.
There were lots of people in the spa, and a princess was one of them. The princess saw the shadow and thought,
I want to go out with him.
She met the shadow. She liked him very much because he knew everything. The shadow pointed to the scholar and said,
my shadow. If you want to know about something, please ask him.
The princess decided to get married to the shadow.
The shadow met the scholar and said,
have to be my shadow and have to live under my feet forever.
The shadow put the scholar in prison, and then he told the princess.
his shadow. There seems to be no chance of his recovery. I will help him to disappear quietly.
The princess and the shadow finally got married. But the scholar died in prison.
keep your self-esteem.
15
The Rotten Apples and the Wife
There was a poor farmer in the country. He had a wife with a warm heart. The only things they had were a small piece of rice
field, a farm and a horse.
One day, the farmer said to his wife.
We don't need a horse because we have no chance of going far away.
The next day, the farmer went to the market riding on horseback. He found a good cow while he was looking around the market.
'Mm. That cow will be good. We will be able to drink fresh milk everyday.' The farmer smiled and went close to the cow.
for a while. He felt strange because the horse was much more expensive than the cow. The horse looked healthy on the whole.
The owner of the cow laughed loudly and agreed to the deal.
The farmer was very happy, too. 'Everything's okay. Now I have to go back to my house.' As he walked not a long distance with
the cow, he saw a plump, soft-haired goat. Suddenly he wanted to have the goat. 'It would be much easier to raise a goat than a
cow. And goat's milk tastes good.'
heard the farmer.
'Today is my lucky day.' The farmer even hummed to himself. After a while, he saw a young man holding a goose tightly with
his
two
hands.
'That
goose looks
very
healthy.
Its
hair
is
rich.
It
would
be
nice
if we
could
raise
such
a
great
goose
in our
depression.' The farmer wanted to have the goose, so he exchanged his goat with the goose.
After a short time, he met a guy who was holding a cute hen in his arms. 'Cock-a-doodle-do, cock-a-doodle-do!' The hen's voice
sounded very healthy. 'What a nice hen!' This time, he also wanted to have the hen. The farmer approached the guy and asked
him to exchange his goose with the hen. Of course the owner of the hen agreed to his suggestion.
It was already late afternoon when he exchanged his animals several times. 'Oh, I am hungry! I am going to have lunch in a
restaurant.' The farmer held his hen and headed to a restaurant. A young man was carrying a heavy bag on his shoulder in front
of the restaurant.
man said.
'Rotten apples? We had only one apple from our apple trees last year. That's amazing that he has such a lot of apples. If we use
those rotten apples as fertilizer, our trees will bear lots of apples, too.' The farmer exchanged his hen with the rotten apples.
Then, he went into the restaurant and had lunch. And he told his story how he happened to exchange one thing and another, and
finally he got the rotten apples. An rich old man listened to the farmer's story and said,
go back to your house, your wife will be mad at you.
will not be angry about your story today, I will give you a package of gold coins.
After that, the farmer went back to his house with the old rich man. And he told his wife the whole story about how he came
back with the rotten apples. Then, his wife said,
farmer's wife even smiled happily.
In the end, the old rich man had to give them a package of gold coins. Therefore the farmer became very rich.
16
The Anemone
It was winter with cold air and strong wind. A seed was still lying down in the bulb under the ground covered with snow. One
day, it was raining, and the raindrops that soaked into the thick ground, touched the bulb and told stories of the world above the
ground. Soon, the sunlight passed through, shone on the frozen ground and tickled the bulb
far away. There was snow on the ground, and the well was frozen hard at night.
bulb, the thin skin of the bulb was split. It was where the sunlight reached before. Green stems, a flower bud and leaves began
to grow through the ground under the snow. There was still snow on the ground, but the flower could come out because the
sunlight already passed through the ground.
world. As the sunlight touched and kissed the bud, it started to open. It was a flower white as snow with thin green stripes. The
flower lowered her head with a pleasant look and with modesty.
As soon as they saw the flower, the rays of sunlight said,
the first flower. Soon, snow will melt away, and the cold wind will stop. When we have control here, the whole world will turn
green. And you will find your friends soon.
be easy to break her down, but she was dazzlingly beautiful and kept singing for the coming summer.
But still it was far away from summer. The cloud hid the sun, and the strong wind blew hard. The cloud and the wind shouted to
the flower.
early. You are such a fool of summer which bloomed in winter.
It got colder, and there was not a single ray of sunlight in the dark sky even though many days had passed. She could freeze and
die. But her faith that summer would come soon grew stronger and stronger. Even when cold snowflakes came down heavily,
and ice-cold winds blew hard, she just lowered her head, and stood there in her white dress.
Then, children came out and shouted when they found the Anemone.
they said. 'Anemone' means 'a fool of summer' in Danish.
The Anemone was so happy that she did not even know that they had pulled her up.
One girl picked up and kissed the flower.
She brought it to her house and put it in a vase. Anemone had the illusion that summer came because the air was so fresh and
warm.
There
was
a
custom
that
young
people
used
to
give
and
take
their
poems
with
the
first
Anemone
of
the
year.
The
girl's
boyfriend was staying in a big city for his studying. Inside of the envelope it was as dark as inside of the bulb. The letter set out
for the journey in a mail bag, and the Anemone got to the final destination in the end after several times of being squeezed and
squashed.
The boy who received the letter was so happy, kissed the Anemone and put her in a drawer of his desk with the letter. There
were many letters in the drawer, but only one letter had the Anemone. The Anemone was veut happy. She stayed in the drawer
even after summer and long winter passed by.
When summer came again, the boy took out the letter again. This time, he crumpled it harshly and threw it away on the floor of
his room. The Anemone fell down to the floor from the impact. That's because the girl had another boyfriend. Even though the
flower was dry and faded, she felt sad when she was treated that way.
The next morning, the sunlight came through the window and shone on the faded the 'fool of summer'. Then, a maid came into
the room and found the flower. She put it in one of the books in the desk. The flower stayed inside the book with poems again,
but those poems were much greater and more valuable than before.
Many
years
passed,
and
the
book
sometimes
was
taken
out
from
the
bookcase
and
read
by
someone.
It
was
the
book
of
a
famous Danish poet. One day, a man was reading the book and shouted.
was also a fool of summer who was ahead of his own age.
Everybody used to laugh at him long ago, but he is the best poet of
Denmark now. You look nice with this book!
The Anemone was put in the book again. She was happy and proud of herself about how she was kept in that book of the poet.
He was also a fool of summer who was standing firmly in the middle of cold winter dreaming summer just like the Anemone.
17
The Feather Pen and the Inkstand
There was an inkstand on the desk in a poet's room. Some strange sounds came out of the bottle.
come out of that inkstand.
The inkstand was proud of herself when she heard that.
other writing materials.
of paper.
The inkstand had no idea what was inside of her. But she thought she had everything.
you had a chance to think abort who you really are, you would have found out that the only thing that you can do is drop ink.
The feather pen said that he was the one who wrote on the paper. The inkstand and the feather pen had an argument.
the poet can write his poems only because of me.
They kept arguing.
The feather pen laughed at the inkstand.
At that moment, the poet came back from a concert. He opened the inkstand to write a poem. He started to write about the
fantastic violin performance of that night.
violin.
The poet had a different opinion from those of other people. He wrote that the wonderful violin performance was because of the
player's ability. Neither the inkstand nor the feather pen could recognize that their abilities were all precious until then. They are
a gift from God.
18
The Candles
Once, there were two candles. One candle was made from beeswax and the other was made from animals' fat.
much
brighter than other candles, and I can last longer than all of us can. That's why I should stand on a silver candle holder.
beeswax candle was proud of herself and said. The candle made from animals' fat envied the beeswax candle. 'The beeswax
candle must live a great and splendid life.'
One day, there was a party in this house.
hostess of the party.
Then,
a
master
came
in.
have
to
light
up
a
candle.
After
saying
this,
he
took
the
beeswax
candle.
party
must
be
wonderful!
At that time, one little boy appeared with his torn basket at the kitchen door. In the basket, there were five or six potatoes and
one apple. A mistress of the house gave them to this poor boy.
fat candle into the boy's hand. The little boy was very happy and went back to his house.
'Where am I going?' The candle finally arrived at a poor and small hut. Three children and a mother were living in that small
room with a low-ceiling. The candle stood on an iron candlestick.
party, she must be standing on a great silver candle holder at this time.' The Candle made from animals' fat envied the beeswax
candle very much.
The mother prepared dinner by boiling potatoes and peeling the apple. The three children and the mother had dinner happily.
The animal fat candle shone their table brightly.
family. The animal fat candle felt happy as he enjoyed shining brightly for this family.
19
Little Ida's Flowers
A long time ago, there was a kid named 'Ida'. She liked flowers very much. One day, her flowers were all faded away.
flowers are all dry and dead. What happened to them?
at
night,
flowers
dance
and
run
around
from
place
to
place. That castle
over there
is
the place of
the
party.
He
kept
talking.
tonight. Then, one flower will tell the news to the others.
Have you seen the flowers shake their leaves when the wind blows?
Then, a legal expert with no sense of humor listened to the conversation between the man and Ida.
and fake stories to a little kid? Tusk, tusk!
Ida laid down the flowers and covered them with a blanket. After a while, the sound of a piano came out of her room. Ida went
into the room.
The moonlight was bright, and the flowers were dancing to the melody. They danced with a teddy bear and the flowers asked
the teddy bear.
canary? Then, we will wake up in summer again.
At that moment, the door opened, and the very beautiful flowers came into the room dancing. Ida thought to herself, 'They are
so beautiful! They must be from the castle. 'Two roses with crowns and other flowers exchanged greetings and danced. After a
while, they said good-bye to each other.
The next morning, Ida thought,
look more depressed than yesterday.
me?
Ida came close to the dry flowers.
you?
20
The Little Match-Girl
It was a Christmas Eve with heavy snow. A little girl was selling matches on the street.
But
no
one
looked
at
her.
She
had
lost
her
parents
a
few
days
ago,
and
she
was
selling
matches
without
a
coat
in
the
cold
weather. She didn't even sell one box. The girl was so hungry that she couldn't even open her mouth.
Then, a carriage came close to her. Trying to keep away from the carriage, she slipped and fell on the ice, and she lost her shoes.
She had to walk on the snowy street with bare feet.
Over a window, she saw a family gathered under a warm and bright light. They seemed so happy. The snow began to fall more
heavily.
Even
though
she
was
hungry
and
felt
pain
in
her
feet,
she
couldn't
go
back
home
because
she
couldn't
sell
any
matches.
bought the girl's matches.
to skip my meal today because I couldn't sell any of these matches.
She lit a match to warm up her body. Even though it was a small light, it made her a little warmer. She felt as if she was sitting
right next to a fireplace.
Suddenly, a table full of delicious food came up in front of her.
As she lit another match, a Christmas tree appeared.
She lit the last match. Then, her grandmother appeared.
tight in her arms and rose up to the sky.
The next day, she was dead and found in the street.
People felt pity for the girl and buried her in the ground in the sunlight.
21
Big Klaus and Little Klaus
A long time ago, two farmers of the same name,
one horse. So, people in the village called the first Klaus with four horses 'Big Klaus' and the second Klaus with one horse
'Little Klaus'.
The two Klauses lent each other their horses to plow the soil. The little Klaus lent his one horse for six days to the big Klaus,
but the big Klaus lent his four horses to the little Klaus just for one the diligent and warm-hearted little Klaus did not
complain. The little Klaus shouted to the horses courageously.
However, the big Klaus heard this sound and got angry.
again,
I
will
kill
your
horse.
But
the
little
Klaus
unconsciously
repeated
calling
them
'my
horses'
while
he
was
joyfully
working. The big Klaus killed the little Klaus' horse as he said he would.
The little Klaus felt sad and removed the horse's skin. He carried it to the market to sell it. While he was heading to the market,
it got dark. The little Klaus knocked on a door of a farmer's house near by.
tonight?
closed the door.
He crawled into the barn secretly. The little Klaus was surprised. He could look into the farmer's house through a small window.
There were wine and roasted meat on the table, and the wife of the farmer and a priest were having dinner happily.
In fact, the owner of the house hated the priest so much that the farmer's wife invited and served food to the priest secretly
while her husband went out. But then, the farmer came back to his house suddenly. The surprised farmer's wife hid the priest in
a box in a corner of the room, and she hid the food in the fireplace.
When the farmer came into the barn to tie his horses, he found the little Klaus in his barn.
here?
outside.
The wife of the farmer served a cup of soup and pretended that nothing had happened. The little Klaus could not stop thinking
about the delicious food that he saw before. 'I wish I could eat the delicious food.' He stepped on the bag with the horse's skin
under his feet while he was thinking like this.
bag asked us to look in the fireplace.
delicious food in the fireplace!
After having the delicious food and wine with the little Klaus, the farmer said,
juggler?
box.
The farmer was surprised when he opened the box as the small Klaus had told him to do.
with the appearance of a priest in the box!
the juggler in it. I will give you a package of gold coins for it.
devil away for me.
The little Klaus took the box away and left for his town. The little Klaus said loudly on purpose,
throw this box into a river.
in panic.
package
filled
with
gold
coins.
When
the
little
Klaus
came
back
to
town
with
packages
of
gold
coins,
the
big
Klaus
was
astonished.
pretending that nothing had happened.
As soon as the big Klaus heard the little Klaus, he killed his four horses and removed their skin. He went to the market to sell
them, but no one wanted to buy his horse skin at an expensive price. The big Klaus was very angry when he found out that he
was fooled and came back to town.
will throw you into a river.
pray for a moment.
Then, a very old man fell over the bag when he was passing by the church with a number of cows.
I have to go to Heaven now.
Klaus.
you untie this bag and stay here instead of me, you can go to Heaven.
delightfully.
take care of my cows for me.
After a while, the big Klaus went out of the church and went to the river with the bag. He had no idea what was in the bag and
threw it into the river as hard as he could. The big Klaus felt happy and went back to his house, but he saw the little Klaus
driving a herd of cattle.
The
big
Klaus
was
astonished
and
said,
What
happened?
The
little
Klaus
smiled
and
answered.
you
for
throwing me into the river very much. I got these cows from a young lady at the bottom of the river.
As soon as the big Klaus heard the story, he asked the little Klaus to throw him into the river.
your last day.
possible.
with a splash and sank down in the river. At last, the greedy and stupid big Klaus could never go back to his house.
22
Grand mother
Grandmother is very old. Her face is crumpled, and her hair is white as snow. But her eyes are twinkling like two stars. When
she looks at us with her generous and gentle face, we feel very happy. She tells us many good old stories. She has a lot of
knowledge because she began her life even before my father and mother.
Grandmother often reads a hymnbook with a sliver clamper in her spare time. A dry rose is put between the leaves of the book.
The rose is not as beautiful as a rose in a glass vase, but she sometimes smiles and cries quietly when she looks at the rose.
When her tears fall down on the dry rose, it comes to life again, and its' peaceful and beautiful scent fill the whole room. The
walls turn into a green forest, and the sunlight of summer shines through thick leaves of the trees, she changes into a beautiful
girl with rose-colored and full cheeks and curly blond hair. A tall and healthy young man sits beside her and gives a rose to the
girl. Then, she smiles beautifully.
The girl became a Grandmother and could not smile that beautifully, but she can smile graciously while she is recollecting her
memories of the past. The handsome young man is gone, and the rose is dry and put between the leaves of the book. The girl
became an old lady looking at the dry rose.
The Grandmother is passed away now. She fell asleep leaning her head on a chair. Her breath became quiet, and her face was
full of happiness and peace. It seemed as if a ray of sunlight was shining on her face.
In a black casket, and in a white cloth, she was closing her eyes, but her wrinkles were gone so that she looked much younger.
Her hair was shining, and she was smiling peacefully. The hymnbook with the dry rose was put beside her head. Then, she was
buried.
People planted a rose tree on her grave next to the fence of a church. Moonlight was shining on the grandmother's grave. She
was not in her grave. However, the dead people know much more than the living. They know that if they suddenly come up in
front of us, we should be very terrified.
Dead people live a better life than we do. That's why they never come back. The leaves of the hymnbook, and the rose all
returned to dust with her old memories. But the new roses come to bloom every year on her grave, nightingales sing beautiful
songs, and an organ plays beautiful tunes.
The memory of the grandmother looking young, and having soft and generous eyes will remain forever. Someday, we may meet
our warm-hearted grandmother. Even though she now became a pile of dust, we will always remember grandmother as a young
and beautiful lady when she kissed the red and fresh roses.
23
Ingel who Trod on the Loaf
Once, there was a little baby girl. Her name was Ingel. Ingel's family was very poor, so her parents adopted her out to a rich
family.
Fortunately, the mistress loved and treated Ingel like her own daughter. Ingel grew up not only beautifully but also she had too
much vanity.
One year later after Ingel came to the house, the mistress called Ingel and spoke to her in a soft voice.
own mother and father in your old house.
She
put
on
her
best
clothes
and
best
shoes.
She
who
had
prettied
beyond
recognition
wanted
to
boast
herself.
When
Ingel
reached the entrance to the village, a woman who bore firewood was taking a rest sitting on a rock by a roadside. She was
Ingel's mother. 'I can't believe that woman with such a shabby outfit is my mother.' Ingel passed by the woman turning her head
to another side and pretended as if she did not see her.
A mud puddle came in sight after walking further.
good idea.
She thought that she could pass the puddle by stepping on the bread, keeping her shoes clean.
When
she
stepped
one
foot
on
the
bread
and
lifted
the
other
foot,
the
bread
sank
in
the
puddle.
help
me!
Ingel
was
swamped by the puddle.
After sinking for a long time, she arrived at the bottom of the deep swamp. There was an old evil lady in the swamp. When the
old evil lady saw Ingel, she giggled creepily and said,
The
old
evil
lady
forced
Ingel
to
help
her
in
her
work.
The
old
evil
lady
worked
for
the
destruction
of
mankind.
She
was
making shoes, which if one wore them, one soon wanted to steal something. Hats, which when one put it on, one wanted to be
cruel to other people, and vests which made one lie once one wore them.
Ingel was hungry, but the old evil lady did not give food to Ingel at all. On the bottom of her shoe, some of the bread was still
stuck on it. Ingel stretched out her hands and tried to grab the bread on the bottom of her shoe. But her body was hard as rock,
and she could not reach there.
It was painful, so she shed tears.
her own mother and tried to step on the bread. She regretted her silly behavior for the first time.
When her warm tears began to fall down to the bread under her shoe, the bread came off from it like magic. Ingel took the hard
bread off and she lived barely by eating the bread little by little everyday. Ingel was determined to stop the old evil lady's work
at any cost.
At that time, a ray of light appeared from somewhere and shone through the dark swamp.
head, she turned into a bird and flew up to the sky in the twinkling of an eye. Even the old evil lady could not stop her.
Ingel who became a bird now, flew in the sky happily and sang merry songs. Ingel flew around the house of her mother and
father. She did not go anywhere but just stayed there.
24
The Shower and the Buckwheat
A long time ago, there was a big field in a village. The Barely and wheat were planted in that field. The buckwheat was also in
the field.
The grains grew very well in summer with mild sunshine.
wheat.
My
flowers
are
as
beautiful
and
white
as
those
of
apple
trees!
The
buckwheat
boasted
about
herself.
She
paid
no
attention to any of the barely, wheat, trees or flowers of the riverside.
Right at that moment,
patter, pitter patter!
Everyone lowered their heads, shut their buds and waited for the shower to pass by, but the buckwheat did not.
was surprised to see Buckwheat was raising her head and said.
Besides, if your eyes are struck by the lightning, you'll be blind forever. God is inside of the lightning. We cannot look at him
directly.
'Flash!' At that moment, a very big lightning flashed. It looked like the whole world was on fire.
shouted simultaneously and closed their eyes.
After a while, the shower stopped, and the sun shone gloriously. A beautiful rainbow appeared from the opposite side of the
mountain. The grains slowly and carefully raised their heads after crouching themselves. They raised their moistly wet bodies
and looked at the beautiful rainbow.
what
a
beautiful
rainbow!
you're
right.
It
is
such
a
beautiful
rainbow!
Rainbows
after
showers
were
always
beautiful. Everyone felt cool and fresh, but buckwheat did not.
face from the heavy rains. On top of that, because she lost her sight from the lightning, she could never look at a rainbow again.
25
The Old House
There was a very old house in a street. A boy liked this house very much. An old man was living in that house.
The old man always looked out of the window. That's why they made a friendship with each other. The next Sunday morning,
the boy visited the old house, and he talked to the old man.
giving me such a nice gift and visiting me.
The old man and the boy were so happy together. But the toy soldier started to complain.
am too lonely and bored in this house.
that?
his house. When the winter came, the old man died. A few days later after the old man's death, the old house was cleared away
and a new house was built in that place. After many years, the little boy grew into a young man, and he married. He moved to
the old man's house with a beautiful garden.
was the toy soldier that he and the old man had been searching for.
The boy, now a grown-up, looked at the toy soldier carefully and smiled.
26
The Teapot
There was a teapot made of china, and she liked to boast about herself. She had one beautiful long mouth and a large grip on
her front and rear, and she was particularly proud of them. But she hushed up about her ugly lid that was broken, cracked and
glued loosely.
Teacups,
a
cream
pitcher
and
a
sugar
bowl
teased
the
teapot
about
her
broken
and
scarred
lid
all
the
time.
Whenever
she
listened to their teasing while she was boasting about herself, she suddenly felt depressed.
On all such occasions, she comforted herself by saying this,
own weakness but also an excellent talent at the same time. The teacup has his grip, and the sugar bowl has his cover, but I have
both. Besides, I have even a mouth that they don't have. Even if sugar bowl and cream pitcher stimulate people's appetite, I am
the one who bestows favors on thirsty people. I am the Queen of a tea table!
One day, a very beautiful and elegant hand picked up the teapot. But by mistake, the hand dropped the teapot to the floor. Her
mouth and grip, which the teapot used to be proud of, and her lid were all broken into pieces, and people made such a fuss as
they cleaned up the hot boiling water.
The teapot began to be treated as old and useless from that moment. She was shocked by the fact that everyone laughed at her
instead of at the careless hand which dropped the teapot. The people gave her away to a beggar.
teapot moaned and cried about her situation.
Even though the teapot had never imagined before, her new and different life began. One day, the teapot got filled with soil. She
got another shock from it on that day, but someone planted a flower seed in her. The seed took root in the teapot and began to
grow.
The teapot felt the seed as her heart. She came to life and breathed. While her heart was beating energetically, the seed pushed
out new buds, and they bloomed. The teapot could forget her past, troubles and worries as she watched the flowers.
But
the
flowers
did
not
even
say
thank
you
to
the
teapot.
They
seemed
as
if
they
didn't
know
that
the
teapot even
existed.
Whoever looked at the flowers were all impressed by their beauty. The teapot just felt happy by watching them.
One day, someone moved the flowers from the teapot to a better flowerpot. The teapot was broken in two pieces and thrown
away in the corner of a garden, but the teapot lived her life keeping her memories to herself.
27
The Jumper
A
long
time
ago,
there
were
a
flea,
a
grasshopper
and
a
paper
doll.
can
jump
higher
than
anyone
else.
The
flea
said
arrogantly.
without saying a word.
The flea and the grasshopper decided to compete with each other for the highest jump. They invited other people to their game.
Even the king came to see their contest.
First, the flea introduced himself like a gentleman.
the world.
The grasshopper with his green cape stepped to the front and greeted the people.
My brothers are all wearing green capes and we can sing beautiful songs as well.
the audience. The people enjoyed his song very much and clapped.
Finally, the paper doll came to the front. He was so shy that he didn't say a word and just bowed.
small for the audience to watch how high he jumped.
he could, but no one could see him.
The grasshopper was next. He put all of his strength in his hind legs and jumped up. When he came down, he landed on the
king's face.
The paper doll got ready for the last turn. The king said to the paper doll in a loud voice.
rude grasshopper dared to land on my face. If you make a fool of me like your two friends, you shall no longer live!
The audience worried about the paper doll and said,
doll made up his mind and stepped to the front. The cool breeze blew gently.
The paper doll rose up in the air with the breeze.
he landed on the ground safely, the king was pleased with the paper doll very much and allowed him to marry his princess as he
promised.
28
The Young Thief and His Mother
Long ago, there were a mother and a son living in a house. She worked hard everyday, but they were always poor.
One day, her son stole his friend's bag.
him.
The next time, he stole an overcoat. She praised him again when he stole it.
A few years later, he grew up to be a young man. He stole jewelry and brought them to his mother.
she did not scold her son again.
Then, because he was elated by his mother, he started to steal more expensive things. One day, the police caught him. Before
putting him in jail, he begged the police to meet his mother. They took him to his mother.
As
soon
as
he
saw
his
mother,
he
bit
her
earlobe.
What's
the
matter
with
you?
She
finally
scolded
him.
Her
son
answered.
She collapsed as she looked at her son heading to prison.
regretted that she always praised him, whatever he did.
29
The Intimate Couple
There once was a top and a small ball in a big toy box. The top said to the ball.
don't you marry me?
The next day, the owner showed up. He painted the top with red and yellow colors and drove an iron nail into it.
perfect!
jump up and down, and I can dance.
But the ball with the great leather jacket ignored him again.
comparison between you and me.
much. Please marry me.
then there is nothing I can do about it.
The next day, the owner brought the ball outside. The ball jumped very high and down. But this time, the ball didn’t come dow
n
after she jumped up. The owner searched everywhere, but he couldn't find the ball. The top sighed and said,
followed the swallow. I hope she is happy with him.
But the top could never forget her. A few years passed. The top was all painted with a golden color. When he spun powerfully
with a buzz, he looked wonderful.
One day, he spun so hard and fast that he flew away. The top landed on the roof. The roof was full of all sorts of things.
leather jacket.
marry you.
30
The Beauty of a Shabby Little Dandelion
Spring has come for the flowers and trees, in the forest and fields. Spring has also come on the wild flowers under the fence and
on a small apple tree. There were red bursting flower buds hanging on the fresh apple tree branches.
The apple Tree Branches were proud of themselves knowing that they were very beautiful. A Countess admired the branches, so
she broke one of them off, held it in her hand, and she went back to her splendid castle in her wonderful carriage. The Countess
put the branch among the fresh and green beech trees, and she smiled with satisfaction.
The apple Tree Branch held up his head and looked at many kinds of people who came in and out. They all showed different
reactions
to
the
Apple
Tree
Branch.
All
the
people
reacted
differently
when
they
saw
the
Apple
Tree
branch.
Some
were
expressionless without a word, some overpraised the beauty of the Apple Tree Branch, and others gazed at him with a satisfied
look.
Seeing these various reactions from people, the Apple Tree Branch realized that people have as diverse personalities as plants
and flowers do and that they are all different. The Apple Tree branch looked at the fields and a garden through the open window.
There were shabby flowers and plants as well as beautiful ones in the garden.
'Those grasses are so pathetic. It's not their fault they have such ugly and squalid names. However, everything is different in this
world.' The apple Tree Branch sympathized and looked at the little flowers blooming next to the fields and streams.
At that time, the Sun kissed the Apple Tree Branch, a dandelion in the field, the abundant beautiful flowers, and the shabby
flowers and said,
of view. What do you think the poorest plant is?
that people trample it down carelessly. It is not different from a weed at all.
At that time, children ran across the field, rolled about on the lawn, and picked and kissed the dandelions. They made necklaces
and garlands of them. They looked wonderful with the golden flowers and green stems.
The seeds stuck to the stalks of the dandelions, and they were as beautiful as white feathers. When the children blew out with a
puff, the seeds of the dandelions fluttered away as if they had wings.
said to the Apple Tree Branch.
At that time, an old lady dug in the ground of the field and picked the roots of the dandelions. She will make tea, take it to the
doctor who makes medicine, and earn money with the roots of the dandelions.
same, just as people can't be the same.
Later some people came into the room. The Countess who brought the Apple Tree Branch to the castle was one of them. She
brought a stalk of dandelion seeds much more carefully than when she brought the Apple Tree Branch.
tree branch is more beautiful, but this humble dandelion has a different kind of beauty. Even though the apple tree branch and
the dandelion look different from each other, they are all beautiful.
The Sun smiled and kissed the shabby dandelion and the Apple Tree Branch. The Apple Tree Branch blushed his own petals
with shame.
31
The Happy Family
There was a butterbur leaf in a country of the south. A lot of butterbur trees with big leaves looked very nice. A snail was living
on a back of a butterbur leaf. The snail ate the butterbur leaves and lived peacefully moving from one leaf or stem to another.
Two snails were living on a back of the butterbur leaves. These two had never been out of the butterbur wood, but they knew
that there was a different world out of the forest.
Birds
always
felt
impatient
when
they
saw
the
snails.
why
are
you
that
lazy?
Try
to
walk
faster.
When
the
birds
complained, one snail said,
like staying here that much, do as you want.
that could fly everywhere freely.
hide her head and legs?
They were just lonely because they were only two. One day, they found a little snail crying
on the back of a butterbur leaf.
The little snail cried and said he was searching for his dad, mom and his brothers for a few days.
be your dad.
always living.
A few days later, the little young snail ate delicious food and recovered slowly. Even his mom and dad were surprised that the
baby snail could crawl very quickly and play far away from the leaf.
walk slowly.
When it rained, funny sounds came from the splashing raindrop on the butterbur leaf.
doesn't it?
The
baby
snail
is
old
enough
to
marry
now.
His
Mom
and
Dad
searched
for
his
bride
crawling
from
one
butterbur
leaf
to
another. A ladybug heard it and visited them.
Mom and dad snails were happy to hear that and asked.
wonderful castle with 700
hallways. She is the queen ant.
ladybug's kindness. After a while, a fly taught them there was a young woman snail right next to her.
The
snail
family
decided
the
woman
snail
would
be
the
baby
snail's
bride.
The
night
of
the
wedding,
six
fireflies
shone
beautiful bluish light on the ceremony. The snail family lived together happily and peacefully ever after.
32
A Piggy Bank
Once there were lots of toys in a room. There was a saving box on the dresser, and it was a small piggy bank. The piggy bank
was full of bronze, gold and silver coins.
The piggy bank knew that he had many coins inside of him. That's why he was always proud of himself in front of his friends.
this proudly. Then, the other toys looked up the piggy bank with envious eyes.
One night, the beautiful moonlight poured into the room through a window. The toys in the room were so happy.
gentlemen, let's play together on this beautiful night.
Everyone except the piggy bank joined the party.
that he was not interested in the party. He thought it would make him less valuable to join in such an unimportant party.
bank ignored their invitation. Therefore, the other toys enjoyed their party without the piggy bank.
A rocking horse put on a knitting ball tail and danced. A rubber ball rolled over, and a toy car drove round everywhere in the
room. Everyone seemed so happy.
The piggy bank looked down at them playing and watched with an askance look. Then, the playing was over and the tea party
began. The piggy bank couldn't stand not eating when
he saw the food, and he came closer step by step to the edge of the
dresser.
He smelled delicious cookies. He suddenly stuck his head towards the toys gathered.
of him scattered noisily.
The other toys were surprised at the piggy bank's fall while they were enjoying the tea party. Everybody looked at the piggy
bank with surprise.
party.
33
The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweeper
There was a very old cupboard in a living room. Various patterns were carved on the cupboard, one of them in the middle, was
a man with a strange look; he had goat's legs, a small horn on his head and a long beard on his chin. The children who used to
come in and out the room called him 'Goat Leg Billy'.
Goat Leg Billy was always looking down at a desk under a mirror. There was a lovely shepherdess made of china on the desk.
The Shepherdess was holding a stick and wearing gold shoes and a skirt with red rose ornaments. She was also wearing a pretty
golden hat. She was very beautiful.
Right next to her, there was a Chimney Sweeper made of china with a cute and flushed face, and he was holding a ladder. They
were engaged because both were close to each other, made of china and they matched each other very well as a good couple.
There was another doll made of china, and this big old Chinese guy was three times bigger than the others. He could nod his
head up and down, and he insisted that only he had the right to make decisions about the Shepherdess. One day, Goat Leg Billy
asked him to be allowed to get married with the Shepherdess, the Chinese doll nodded his head and said yes.
old cupboard makes a creaking sound, you two have to get married.
asleep.
The Shepherdess cried and looked at her beloved Chimney Sweeper.
outside world with me!
Chimney Sweeper said.
they used a ladder to step down on the ground and looked up to the old cupboard. The patterns of the cupboard and Goat Leg
Billy were shouting at them.
The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweeper were astounded to hear their voices. The old Chinese doll already woke up and was
shaking
his
body
with
anger.
He
fell
down
to
the
ground.
the
old
Chinese
guy
is
coming
after
us.
The
Shepherdess
plumped down to the ground with fear.
me? Do you know how really big the outside world is? We may never be able to come back here again.
Shepherdess said with no hesitation.
will use that hole to go out.
here!
Even though it was steep and long, the Chimney Sweeper pulled and pushed her. When they finally reached the end of the
chimney, they got tired and sat down. They could see the sky of twinkling stars over their heads and the huge outside world.
The Shepherdess never imagined that the outside world would be this big. She started to cry because she was so shocked.
Chimney Sweeper tried to calm her down by telling her that the angry old Chinese guy and Goat Leg Billy were following them,
but it did not work. They had to crawl down through the chimney and go back to the fireplace.
From the dark fireplace, they looked up at the room. It was very quiet, and the old Chinese guy was lying down in the middle of
the floor. He was broken into three pieces when he tried to chase them and fell down from the table. His back and head came
off from his body.
the table where she was standing before.
After that, the old Chinese guy could move his body again as she wished. He looked like new when he was fixed and nailed on
his back. But he could not nod his head ever again.
guy.
The
Chimney
Sweeper
and
the
Shepherdess
waited
for
his
answer
nervously.
At
last
the
China
lovers
could
stay
together
because the old Chinese guy could not nod his head any more, and he could not say
happily ever after until they were broken into pieces.
34
The Swineherd Prince
Long ago, there was a handsome prince in a country. He loved a princess of his neighboring country, but she was haughty and
stubborn.
The prince gave her a beautiful rose and a bird as a gift.
things?
But the prince could not give her up. He tried to come up with a good idea for a long time.
myself as a swineherd.
The prince made a small and beautiful pot in front of the pigpen. The pot could even sing.
One day, when the princess passed by the pigpen, the pot began to sing a beautiful song. She really wanted to have this pot.
She hesitated for a moment, but she really wanted to have it, and answered.
At
that
moment,
the
king
saw
them
kissing.
are
you
doing?
The
king
was
so
angry
that
he
expelled
her
and
the
swineherd from his palace.
She was so sad.
While she was walking with the swineherd, rain began to fall. The rain washed the dirty swineherd's face, and he turned into the
beautiful prince. She fell in love with him at first sight and said,
But the prince said no.
said good-bye to the princess and went back home.
35
The Feather
It was a cold and dark night when the sun set in the west. All of the chickens in the hen house sat on perches, closed their eyes
and got ready to sleep.
However,
one hen
was
sitting
up
and
pecking
at her
own
feathers. This
hen
was quite
famous
for
laying
eggs
everyday.
In
addition, she sometimes made other chickens laugh with jokes.
As she pecked her feathers, one of her white feathers fell down to the ground suddenly.
to feel sorry for it. That means I lost as much weight as one feather.
were sleeping, so none of them could see it.
There was an owl sitting on a branch next to the hen house. Owl's eyes have keen sight at night. The owl muttered to himself.
heard it clearly. I heard what the hen said with my sharp ears.
his neighborhood.
true? That's ridiculous.
The pigeon burned to tell the story to her friends, so she told it to a barnyard duck in her neighborhood.
some surprising news.
The barnyard duck was shocked by the story.
be running a fever.
swallow.
The swallow was surprised, too.
The swallow flew to the sky full of bright moonlight.
The next morning had broken.
hen house and chattering. The Chickens felt strange and asked the sparrows.
attractive. But do you really think she will be beautiful after pulling all of her feathers out? So, the angry hen pulled out all the
other hen's feathers. As a result, five chickens died at the same time.
Then, one hen replied to the sparrow.
one who pulled out her feather last night. The small thing that she pulled her feather out became such huge and shocking news
while passing through several of her animal friends.
where she is living.
gust of wind blew, and it carried the hen's feather, which she pulled ort last night, to somewhere else.
36
The Old Street Lamp
There once was an old street lamp standing on a remote corner of a town. The street lamp was worn out because he stayed up
all night for several years to shine in a dark street. That's why he had to be replaced by a new lamp. It was the last night that the
street lamp shone over the side street. He was an old kerosene lamp.
The old street lamp burned himself as hard as he could since he thought it was his last night.
stood here.
sad memories, with those he could hardly keep from tears.
Suddenly the old street lamp sensed that there who were looking up at him.
from your job.
of a herring glowed in the dark, and the tree fragment was bright in the dark when he was wet.
The old street lamp looked down and said,
three were angry about it.
said this and went back.
The Next day, a janitor came to clear the old street lamp away.
would become if he were broken to pieces. The old street lamp worried about this very much.
There were a good old man and a woman. They were living around the old street lamp. They used to turn on and put out the old
street lamp at night and dawn.
The old street lamp happened to go to the old man and woman's house. The old man and woman did not want to live apart from
the old street lamp which they used to take care of for a long time, so they asked the janitor to give them the old street lamp.
One day, one of their neighbors came and asked.
lamp for a long time, so we don't want to throw it away.
heart aching.
The old woman cleaned the old lamp in her spare time. Then, the old lamp slowly became clean. The lamp felt better.
looks much better.
The old woman bought a candle. That night, she lit up the clean old street lamp.
can.
iron ornament glitteringly.
37
The Worthwhile Job
There were five brothers who wanted to do something important. They had their own certain jobs that they wanted to do. Each
thought his job was the best.
The oldest brother wanted to be a brick burner and make bricks. But the second laughed at him.
worthless job.
The
second
oldest
brother
wanted
to
be
a
bricklayer,
and
he
thought
the
bricklayer
was
much
more
important
than
a
brick
burner. He
wanted
to
have a
much
more
valuable
job
than
his
older
brother
did.
Then,
the
third
brother
laughed
at his
two
brothers after he listened to their dream jobs.
hat.
His dream was to be an architect and to leave his name in posterity. The third oldest brother said he would build great buildings.
He wanted to leave great buildings for the next generation after he died. After listening to his brothers, the forth said that he
wanted to design better buildings than his third brother.
He did not like normal materials. He wanted to have buildings made of rare materials so that he could have better buildings than
his third brother did
.
The last promised to himself that he would never follow his brothers' paths. He wanted to correct his brothers' mistakes. As time
went by, the oldest brother became a brick burner. The second brother became a bricklayer. The third one became an architect,
and the forth became an architectural designer. They all passed away after they did what they really wanted to do.
one left is me.
The last one lived longer than any of his brothers, and he became a critic.
The last still insisted that he had the most worthwhile job among his brothers. After he died, even though he could go to Heaven
only with his brothers' help, he murmured to himself continuously in front of the Gate of Heaven.
your job is, they are all of the same importance.
38
The Flying Trunk
There
once
was
a
rich
merchant.
He
had
a
son
who
didn't
want
to
do
anything
except
play
and
waste
money.
The
rich
merchant died and left his money to his son, but he wasted it and soon, he had nothing left in his pocket.
The Flying Trunk
When he had no money, no one welcomed him. Even his closest friends avoided him. The son was so sad that he decided to
move to another town.
One of his friends gave him a big old trunk. But he had nothing to put in the trunk. The only things he had were a pair of
wooden shoes and stripped pajama. When he had nothing more to put in the trunk, he put himself in.
He floated in the sky for a while, and when the trunk opened its zipper a little, he carefully looked down. He saw the round
rooves of the towers. He arrived at the country where Trook people live. The trunk slowly landed next to a small pond in a
forest. He hid the trunk and came out of the forest.
He went place to place and found the tallest tower of the area.
He asked about the tower to one of the people on the road.
them that the princess will be very miserable because of a young man.
The son rode in the trunk and went to the princess' room. She was sleeping peacefully. The sleeping princess was very beautiful.
She woke up from the noise that the son made.
from the God of the Trooks.
talked with him.
He told a funny story to the king and queen when they came to see the princess. He said that he was 'the messenger of the God'.
The king and queen were happy and they decided to make him the groom of the prince.
and had a big party. They danced and enjoyed fireworks all night long. The son rode in the trunk and enjoyed the fireworks.
When it was dawn, he hid the trunk again and went into the street. He wanted to know what people said about him. The Trook
people were all saying,
back to the pond.
When he got back to the woods, his flying trunk was badly burned and only a pile of ashes was left. A small spark was in the
trunk, and it had started the fire. Unfortunately, he could never fly again, and he could not be the son-in-law of the king.
39
The Great Rooster
There once were two roosters in a town. One was living in a henhouse, and the other was living on top of a high roof. One day,
an eggplant and a cucumber in the field talked about the two roosters.
Don't you think he is great when you see him?
move by himself.
all alone with no children and no hens.
arguing.
At that moment, a strong wind came and blew. Both the cucumber and the eggplant could not talk anymore. As it got dark, the
wind grew stronger. With it came with rain, and a severe rainstorm started to fall.
because they felt they would pull out. In the henhouse, all the chickens got together and were shivering.
But the rooster on the top of the roof was very busy while he was showing the directions of the rainstorm.
east. Shriek, it's from the south!
the branches of the trees were breaking into pieces-, he didn't seem to care how severe the rainstorm was.
the roof top broke and fell on the ground with a big noise, 'boom!'.
The rainstorm stopped and the next morning came.
shivering all night long, came out of the house first and told everyone the morning had come.
40
The Pea Blossom
Five grains of green peas were growing together side by side in a shell. The green pea grains grew little by little with warm
sunshine. Because of the green shell, they thought the whole world also would be green.
shell. Autumn was just around the corner, and the green shell turned yellowish.
One boy came close and picked the green pea shell.
green pea grains murmured together nervously, and looked forward to the shell being opened.
The boy grasped the shell tightly and spread his hand out. Then, the shell was opened, and the grains jumped and popped out of
the shell.
The first green pea fell down on a roof and became food for a pigeon. The second green pea did too. The third green pea fell
into a sewer and lived in the mud. The fourth green pea remained in the boy's hand and was locked in the boy's treasure box.
The youngest green pea jumped out as hard as he could and went the farthest. It landed in the corner of a windowsill of a house
in a street. It was full of dust and moss.
An ill girl and her mother lived in the house. They were so poor that her mother had to work all day. The ill girl had to stay in
her bed all the time by herself.
Small leaves and dust from here and there covered the youngest pea. In spring, a small bud began to come out of his body. One
day, the ill girl saw the new bud on the windowsill of her attic.
mother came close to the window and looked at it carefully.
were glittering with joy.
Her mother put some soil on the windowsill and she made a stick stand for the green pea. She helped the green pea stretch its
roots and vines. The girl stretched her body to look out at the green pea's vines. She kept stretching her back, and in the end, she
can get out of her bed and stand. Her cheeks became full of fresh red color.
Then, one morning, the girl shouted out with joy.
pea flower.
of green pea
helped my daughter to stand up and walk.
next to the window of bright and warm sunshine.
41
The Snow Queen
A long, long time ago, devils lived together in the same place. One day, the devils made a magic mirror. It changed beautiful
faces to ugly faces and smiling faces to crying faces.
Evil went up to the clouds right away, but God was already aware of the devil's wicked plan.
dare you try to put me to the test!
into pieces, and the devils became blind and fell down to hell.
The broken pieces of the mirror fell down to the world of mortals. One of the pieces got into a boy's eyes. His name was Kai,
and he was living in a small town.
he never knew her before.
Even
when
autumn
passed
into
winter,
Kai
went
through
the
whole
season
as
a
bad
boy.
One
day,
a
white-horse
carriage
appeared in front of Kai.
beautiful woman inside the carriage asked the boy.
Kai forgot everything. The woman was the Queen of Snow. The carriage soared into the north sky.
Because Kai did not come
back, Gelda searched everywhere in town, but she could not find him. Time
went
by, and when
winter passed into spring, Gelda started on a journey to search for Kai. A small boat arrived at a big flower garden next to a
riverside.
There was a small hut in the middle of the garden, and there lived an old lady who could use magic.
Kai?
The old lady gave her delicious food and asked Gelda to live with her. Gelda was enchanted by her magic and lived with the old
lady. Time went by, and winter came back again. Gelda suddenly was reminded of Kai when she was exposed to the cold wind.
have
to
search
for
Kai,
why
am
I
here?
Gelda
escaped
while
the
old
magician
lady
went
out.
Gelda
met
a
crow,
while
walking north. The Crow said something to Gelda after it listened to her.
Prince of a Castle in a forest.
Gelda
shouted
when
she
stepped
in
to
the
Prince's
room.
wake
up!
I
came
here
to
find
you.
is
so
loud
at
midnight?
The Prince listened to what Gelda said, and let her sleep in a comfortable bed. The next day, he gave a great carriage to Gelda
and said,
again.
While traveling north, her carriage was taken away by bandits, but she saved her life with the help of the daughter of a bandit.
And she heard from a pigeon that Kai had flown to Lapland in a carriage of the Queen of snow. She took a reindeer from the
daughter of a bandit, and arrived at Lapland.
There was a house in the middle of a field. Gelda warmed herself up in an old lady's house. The old lady knew about Kai.
is living in the Castle of Snow, but you cannot step in the castle because there is a frightening ice monster in front of the gate.
God sincerely. Then he will save you.
The ice monster tried to attack Gelda, but she prayed to God holding her cross in her hand. Then, angels appeared, and made
the monster motionless. Gelda found Kai playing with a cold piece of ice.
hugged him and cried, her tears ran down to Kai's face. Then, the color in his face started to come back.
here.
came out of his eyes.
of Snow flourished her ice stick, the castle disappeared.
Gelda told Kai all the stories about what had happened to her. Kai was grateful to Gelda. They got back home safely with the
reindeer and lived happily ever after.
42
The Flint
A soldier was walking down a country road. He was coming back from a battle. He was wearing a knapsack on his back and a
big sword on his waist. When he was walking down the road so tired, he found a witch. The witch was sitting right next to a big
tree. The witch started to talk as soon as she saw the soldier.
have a lot of money.
waist up with a rope. There are three rooms if you go down, and each room has a dog. The dogs will be quiet as soon as they
see this apron. A box in the first room is full of bronze coins. In the second room, a box is full of silver coins, and a box in the
third room is full of gold coins. Take as much as you want
such a small and unimportant flint?
The soldier tied a rope to his waist and put the apron on his knapsack. Then, he entered the tree hole and went down. Soon, he
found a wide place with lights everywhere. The soldier came into the first room carefully. A black dog was sitting on a big box.
It was rolling its eyes as big as oranges.
black dog became very nice as the witch said. He put the coins in the box into his knapsack.
The soldier went to the next room carefully. There was a white dog that was bigger than the black one, and it was sitting down
on a big box. It was rolling its eyes that were bigger than apples. The soldier made the white dog sit on the apron and opened up
the box. Lots of glittering silver coins were in the box. He took out the bronze coins from his knapsack and filled it with silver
coins.
In the third room, a big yellow dog was sitting on a box. It was rolling its eyes which were as big as watermelons. The soldier
held the dog and put it on the apron. The box was full of dazzlingly shining gold coins and gold nuggets. The soldier took the
silver coins out from his knapsack and filled his knapsack, hat and all his pockets with the gold coins and nuggets.
The soldier put the tinder-box in his knapsack, came out of the room and pulled on the rope which was on his waist. The witch
pulled the rope. The soldier stood by the witch under the tree.
pretended as if he did not have her tinder- box.
You are a liar! There must be a box inside of this tree.
was so scared by his sword on his waist.
The soldier went to a big town and lived proudly like a rich man. He became poor again because he spent all his money on an
expensive house, great clothes, delicious food, and for making friends and enjoying his new life. Because he had no money, he
was driven out from the nice house and moved to an attic under the roof of a house.
He couldn't even afford to buy a match at
night. Suddenly, the flint came up in his mind. He tried to make sparks with the flint.
and showed up again in a short time. The black dog held and carried a bag full of money. The soldier realized that if he hit the
flint once, the black dog show up. Twice for the white dog, three times for the yellow dog. And they did whatever he wanted
and asked for.
The soldier became rich again, and his friends soon came and visited him . One day his friends talked about a princess.
that they want to move the princess to a tall tower.
That would never happen.
to the story with deep interest. He wanted to meet the beautiful princess desperately even if it was just once.
After his friends all went back, he hit the flint twice. Then, the white dog showed up.
Right after he said that the white dog brought the beautiful sleeping princess. He fell in love with her at first sight. He couldn't
stand the days he did not meet her. He ordered the black, white and yellow dogs to bring the princess to him every night by
turns.
The king and the queen became aware of this fact that the princess disappeared every night.
bewitched by something and goes out the castle every night.
who bewitches the princess every night right away.
过火-
过火-
过火-
过火-
过火-
过火-
过火-
过火-
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