Once upon a time, in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow fell like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window set in an ebony frame, and sewed. While she was sewing and watching the snow fall, she pricked her finger with her needle, and three drops of blood dropped […]

There was a woman once, and she had three daughters. The first daughter squinted with both eyes, yet the woman loved her as she loved salt, for she herself squinted with both eyes. The second daughter had one shoulder higher than the other, and eyebrows as black as soot in the chimney, yet the woman […]

Once there was a prince, and his name was John. One day his father said to him, “See, John; I am growing old, and after a while the time will come when I must go the way of everybody else. Now I would like to see you married before I leave you.” “Very well,” said […]

Did you ever hear of a boggart? No! Then I will tell you. A boggart is a small imp that lives in a man’s house, unseen by any one, doing a little good and much harm. This imp was called a boggart in the old times, now we call such by other names–ill-temper, meanness, uncharitableness, […]

Hans Hecklemann had no luck at all. Now and then we hear folks say that they have no luck, but they only mean that their luck is bad and that they are ashamed of it. Everybody but Hans Hecklemann had luck of some kind, either good or bad, and, what is more, everybody carries his […]

“Yes, Peter is clever.” So said his mother; but then every goose thinks her own gosling a swan. The minister and all of the people of the village said Peter was but a dull block. Maybe Peter was a fool; but, as the old saying goes, never a fool tumbles out of the tree but […]

Hans and Claus were born brothers. Hans was the elder and Claus was the younger; Hans was the richer and Claus was the poorer–that is the way that the world goes sometimes. Everything was easy for Hans at home; he drank much beer, and had sausages and white bread three times a day; but Claus […]

“Hey, Robin! ho, Robin!Singing on the tree,I will give you white bread,If you will come to me.” “Oh! the little breeze is singingTo the nodding dairies white,And the tender grass is springing,And the sun is warm and bright;And my little mate is waitingIn the budding hedge for me;So, on the whole, I’ll not acceptYour kindly […]

He“I prithee, tell me wh’re you live?Oh Maid, so sweet and rare!”She“I am ye miller’s daughter, sir,And live just over th’re”He“Of all ye Maids I ever saw,You are beyond compare.”She“Oh; Thank you, sir! Oh; thank you, sir!Your words are very fair.”He“So I w’ld ask you something, now;If I might only dare.”She“Now, you may ask me […]

There was an old woman, as I’ve heard say,Who owned but a single goose.And the dame lived over toward Truxton way,And the animal ran at loose.It cackled up and it cackled down,Disturbing the peace of all the town:Gentle and simple, knight and clown,From the dawn to the close of the day. Another old woman, of […]

A peacock sat on ye garden wall(See picture here to ye right),An ye folk came crowding-great and smallFor it chanced that none in ye town at allHad ever seen such a sightIf you’d have been there perhaps you’d have heardYe folk talk thus, as they looked at ye bird: “O crickety!–Law!–O jimmeny me!–I never yet […]

There was a Cochin Chinaman,Whose name it was Ah-LeeAnd the same was just as fine a manAs you could wish to see,For he was rich and strong,And his queue was extra long,And he lived on rice and fish and chiccory. Which he had a lovely daughter,And her name was Mai-Ri-An,And the youthful Wang who sought […]

Mistress Polly PoppenjayWent to take a walk one day.On that morning she was dressedIn her very Sunday best;Feathers, frills and ribbons gay,–Proud was Mistress Poppenjay. Mistress Polly PoppenjaySpoke to no one on her way;Passed acquaintances aside;Held her head aloft with pride;Did not see a puddle layIn front of Mistress Poppenjay. Mistress Polly PoppenjayHarked to naught […]

Once, when Saint Swithin chanced to beA-wandering in Hungary,He, being hungered, cast aroundTo see if something might be foundTo stay his stomach. Near by stoodA little house, beside a wood,Where dwelt a worthy man, but poor.Thither he went, knocked at the door.The good man came. Saint Swithin said,“I prithee give a crust of breadTo ease […]

A little lamb was gamboling,Upon a pleasant day,And four grey wolves came shambling,And stopped to see it playIn the sun.Said the lamb, “Perhaps I mayCharm these creatures with my play,And they’ll let me go away,When I’ve done.” The wolves, they sat asmiling atThe playful thing, to seeHow exceedingly beguiling thatIts pretty play could be.See it […]

1 You may bring to mind I’ve sung you a song,Of a man of Haarlem town.I’ll sing of another,–‘t will not take long–,Of equally great renown. 2 “I’ve read,” said he, “there’s a land afar,O’er the boundless rolling sea,Where fat little pigs ready roasted are:Now, that is the land for me. 3 Where tarts may […]

An Angel went a walking out one day, as I’ve heard said,And, coming to a faggot-maker, begged a crust of breadThe faggot-maker gave a crust and something rather queerTo wash it down withall, from out a bottle that stood near.The Angel finished eating; but before he left, said he,“Thou shalt have two wishes granted, for […]

O! a shepherd and a shepherdess,They dwelt in Arcadee,And they were dressed in Watteau dress,Most charming for to see. They sat upon the dewy grass,With buds and blossoms set.And the shepherd played unto the lass,Upon a flageolet. It seemed to me as though it wasA very pleasant thing;Particularly so becauseThe time of year was Spring. […]

A wise man once, of Haarlem town,Went wandering up, and wandering down,And ever the question asked: “If all the world was paper,And if all the sea was ink,And if the trees were bread and cheese,What would we do for drink?” Then all the folk, both great and small,Began to beat their brains,But they could not […]

Great and rich beyond comparingWas the Rajah Rhama Jaring,As he went to take an airingWith his Court one summer day.All were gay with green and yellow;And a little darky fellowBore a monstrous fun umbrella,For to shade him on the way. Now a certain fly, unwittingOf this grandeur, came a-flittingTo the Royal nose, and sittingTwirled his […]