There was a rich merchant who had an only son whom he loved passionately. He gave to his son whatever he wanted. His son wanted a beautiful house in the midst of a large garden. The house was built for him, and the grounds were laid out into a fine garden. One day as the…
Category: Asia
The Story of the Rakshasas (Folk-Tales of Bengal, 1912) by Rev. Lal Behari Day
There was a poor half-witted Brahman who had a wife but no children. It was only with difficulty he could supply the wants of himself and his wife. And the worst of it was that he was rather lazily inclined. He was averse to taking long journeys, otherwise he might always have had enough, in…
The Indigent Brahman (Folk-Tales of Bengal, 1912) by Rev. Lal Behari Day
There was a Brahman who had a wife and four children. He was very poor. With no resources in the world, he lived chiefly on the benefactions of the rich. His gains were considerable when marriages were celebrated or funeral ceremonies were performed; but as his parishioners did not marry every day, neither did they…
Phakir Chand (Folk-Tales of Bengal, 1912) by Rev. Lal Behari Day
There was a king’s son, and there was a minister’s son. They loved each other dearly; they sat together, they stood up together, they walked together, they ate together, they slept together, they got up together. In this way they spent many years in each other’s company, till they both felt a desire to see…
PERSEVERE AND PROSPER (FAIRY TALES FROM ALL NATIONS) by Dr. G. Weil
He that seeketh shall find, and to him that knocketh shall be opened,” says an old Arab proverb. “I will try that,” said a youth one day. To carry out his intentions he journeyed to Bagdad, where he presented himself before the Vizier. “Lord!” said he, “for many years I have lived a quiet and…
THE STORY OF THE MAN WHO DID NOT WISH TO DIE (Tales of Old Japan) by YEI THEODORA OZAKI
Long, long ago there lived a man called Sentaro. His surname meant “Millionaire,” but although he was not so rich as all that, he was still very far removed from being poor. He had inherited a small fortune from his father and lived on this, spending his time carelessly, without any serious thoughts of work,…