Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress. He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for…
Author: patrick
ORIGIN OF THE DIFFERENCE IN MODES OF LIFE BETWEEN HOTTENTOTS AND BUSHMEN (South-African Folk-Tales, 1910) by James A. Honey
In the beginning there were two. One was blind, the other was always hunting. This hunter found at last a hole in the earth from which game proceeded and killed the young. The blind man, feeling and smelling them, said, “They are not game, but cattle.” The blind man afterwards recovered his sight, and going…
THE WIDOW HO (CHINESE FOLK-LORE TALES, 1910) by REV. J. MACGOWAN, D.D.
One day in the early dawn, a distinguished mandarin was leaving the temple of the City God. It was his duty to visit this temple on the first and fifteenth of the moon, whilst the city was still asleep, to offer incense and adoration to the stern-looking figure enshrined within. This mandarin was Shih-Kung, and…
THE COYOTE AND THE BEETLE (Zuñi Folk Tales, 1901) by Frank Hamilton Cushing
In remote times, after our ancients were settled at Middle Ant Hill, a little thing occurred which will explain a great deal. My children, you have doubtless seen Tip-beetles. They run around on smooth, hard patches of ground in spring time and early summer, kicking their heels into the air and thrusting their heads into…
THE GOLDEN BIRD (Grimm’s Kinder und Hausmärchen) by The Brothers Grimm
A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted, and about the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at this, and ordered the gardener…