The Frog Princess - A Russian Story
: Tales Of Folk And FairiesThere was once a Tsar who had three sons, and they were all dear to
him, but the youngest, Ivan, was the dearest of them all.
When the Princes grew to manhood the Tsar began to talk and talk to
them about getting married, but it so happened not one of the Princes
had ever seen the girl he wished to have for a wife. There were many
in the kingdom whom they might well have loved, but not one of them
meant m
"Very well, then," said the Tsar at last, "we will leave it to chance.
Take your bows and arrows and come with me into the courtyard. You
shall each shoot an arrow, and in whatever places your arrows fall,
there shall you take your brides."
The Princes were not greatly pleased with this plan, but still they
dared not say no to their father. They took their bows and went with
him into the courtyard.
First the eldest son shot his arrow, and he aimed it toward the east,
where the sun rises. The arrow fell upon the balcony of a great
nobleman's house.
Well and good! The nobleman had a daughter, and she was so stately and
handsome that the Prince was very glad to take her for a wife.
Then the second Prince shot an arrow and aimed it toward the west,
where the sun is in its glory. He was no less lucky than his brother,
for his arrow fell into the court of a rich merchant, and he also had
a daughter who was a beauty. So the second son took her for a bride,
and he was well content.
Last of all Prince Ivan shot his arrow, and he aimed neither toward
the east nor the west, but straight up into the sky above him. Then a
sudden gust of wind arose and caught the arrow and blew it away so
that it fell in a great swamp. In this swamp were no rich nor
beautiful ladies, but only a poor, green, croaking frog.
When the young Prince Ivan saw where his arrow had fallen he was in
despair. "How can I marry a frog," said he, "and have her rule with me
as my Princess?"
"It is a great pity," said the Tsar; "nevertheless what I have said I
have said, and where your arrow fell there must you take your bride."
So Prince Ivan was married to the frog, and the Tsar built a castle on
the edge of the swamp for them to live in.
Now the Tsar was growing old, and he began to consider in his mind to
which of his sons he would leave his kingdom. Gladly would he have
left it to his youngest son, who was his favorite, but it did not seem
right that a frog should ever rule over the kingdom as Queen.
At last he called the three Princes before him and said, "My sons,
to-morrow let your wives bake me some soft white bread. I will eat of
it, and in this way I will know which of you has the cleverest wife,
and he who has the cleverest wife shall inherit my kingdom."
After they had heard him the three Princes went away to their own
homes, and Prince Ivan was very sad.
"What ails you, my dear husband," said the frog, "that you hang your
head and are so downcast?"
"It is no wonder I am downcast," answered Prince Ivan. "My father
has commanded that you shall make him a loaf of soft white bread
to-morrow, and well I know that your webby fingers can never make
bread that he would taste or even so much as look at."
"Do not be too sure of that," answered the frog. "Sleep in peace, and
I promise that to-morrow I will provide a loaf that even the Tsar will
be glad to eat of."
The Prince did not believe this, but grief is heavy, so no sooner was
he in bed than he fell into a deep sleep.
Then the frog arose from beside him and went into a far-off room and
took off her frog-skin; for she was really a Princess who had been
enchanted. She combed her hair and washed herself and then she went
out on the balcony of the castle and cried, "Nurses dear, nurses dear,
bring me a loaf of bread such as I used to have in the palace of my
own dear father, the King."
After she had called this three times three crows appeared, carrying
among them a fine napkin embroidered with gold, and in this napkin was
a loaf of bread. They laid the napkin before the Princess and bowed
three times, croaking solemnly, and then they flew away again into the
night.
The Princess took up the bread and went back into the room and put on
her frog-skin again; after that she returned to her chamber and lay
down beside her husband.
The next day when the Prince was ready to set out for the Tsar's
palace, the frog brought him the loaf of bread still wrapped in the
napkin.
"Take this, dear husband," said she, "and carry it to your father, the
Tsar, but do not open it on the way lest the dust should spoil the
fineness of the bread."
The Prince took the loaf and rode away with it, but he could not
forbear from peeping into the napkin to see what was there, and what
he saw filled him with admiration and wonder. Quickly he rode on his
way, and soon reached the Tsar's palace.
The two older brothers were there, and each brought a loaf of fine
white bread that his wife had made.
When Prince Ivan entered his brothers could not forbear from smiling.
"Come!" said they, "show us quickly what kind of bread the Frog
Princess has made. Does it smell of reeds and rushes?"
The young Prince made no answer but gave what he carried to his
father.
When the Tsar saw the fineness of the napkin and the beautiful
embroidery upon it he was very much surprised. But he was still more
surprised when he opened the napkin and saw what it contained. Never
before had he seen such bread. Not only was it soft and light and
fine, but it was molded along the sides in cunning scenes, castles and
cities, moats and bridges, and upon the top was the imprint of the
royal eagle, perfect even to the claws and feathers.
The Tsar could not admire it enough. Still he was not willing to leave
the kingdom to Prince Ivan and so make a queen of a frog.
"This is very beautiful, but a loaf of bread is soon eaten and
forgotten," said he. "I now wish each one of you to bring me a carpet
to lay before my throne, and he who brings me the finest carpet, him
will I make my heir."
The Princes returned to their own homes, and the youngest one was very
sad and sorrowful.
"What ails you, my dear husband?" asked the frog. "Why are you so
downcast, and why do you hang your head. Was not the Tsar pleased with
the bread you carried to him?"
"He was well pleased," answered the Prince; "but now he has commanded
each one of us to bring him a carpet, and to him who brings the finest
carpet he will leave his kingdom. No wonder I am sad, for where, in
this swamp, can I find a carpet such as I require?"
"Do not trouble yourself about that," answered the frog. "Do you go
and lie down and go quietly to sleep. I will supply you such a carpet
as you need."
The Prince did not believe her, but because grief is heavy he lay down
and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Again as before the frog stole away to a distant chamber and laid
aside her frog-skin. Then she went out on the balcony and cried aloud
three times; "Nurses dear, nurses true, bring me a carpet such as lay
before my bed in my own home."
At once the three crows appeared, carrying among them a carpet rolled
up and covered with a piece of embroidered velvet. They laid the roll
before the Princess, bowed three times, and then flew away again.
The Princess carried the carpet back into the chamber and put on her
frog-skin again, and then she went back and lay down quietly beside
the Prince.
The next morning when the Prince was ready to set out, the frog
brought the roll of carpet to him.
"Here," said she; "carry this to your father, but do not open it upon
the way lest the dust spoil its beauty."
The Prince took the carpet and rode away. When he reached the Tsar's
palace his two brothers were already there, and each had brought with
him a piece of carpet so fine and rich that it was difficult to say
which of the two was the more beautiful.
When the older brothers saw Ivan they began to laugh. "Come!" said
they. "Let us see what kind of a carpet he has brought from his swamp
home. No doubt it is very wonderful."
The Prince laid the roll of carpet upon the floor and opened it out
and when they saw it every one was struck with wonder. The elder
Princes had not a word to say. Never before had they seen such a
carpet. Not only was it as thick and soft as eiderdown, but it shone
with wondrous colors that changed as one looked at them, and it was
embroidered with gold in strange designs.
The Tsar was filled with admiration. All the same he still was
unwilling to have a frog reign in his kingdom.
"This is all very well," said he, "and never before have I seen such a
beautiful carpet. But now I wish you all to appear before me to-morrow
with your wives. Let the Princesses wear their most beautiful dresses
and their finest jewels, and whichever of you has the wife best fitted
to be Queen, to him will I leave the kingdom."
When the Prince Ivan heard this he was in despair. How could he ever
bring the frog to court and present her to the Tsar as though she were
a beautiful Princess?
When he went home the frog at once asked him why he was so sad and
woebegone. "Is not the kingdom to be yours?" she asked.
"No," answered the Prince, "for now my father, the Tsar, has demanded
something else of us." He then told her how the Tsar had bidden him
and his brothers bring their wives to court, and had said that
whichever of the Princesses was the finest and most beautiful should
reign as Queen, and her husband should be the Tsar.
"Do not trouble over that," said the frog. "Only go to bed and sleep
quietly. The kingdom shall still be yours."
Then the Prince went to bed, but he only closed his eyes and pretended
to go to sleep, for he had grown very curious as to how the frog had
been able to provide him with the wonderful loaf and the carpet.
The frog kept very still until she thought the Prince was asleep. Then
she arose quietly from his side and slipped away, but the Prince also
arose and followed her without her being aware of it. She went to the
far-off chamber, and there she laid aside her frog-skin; and when the
prince saw her in her human form he was amazed at her beauty, and his
heart melted within him for love of her, for her hair was like spun
gold, her eyes as blue as the sky, and her skin as white as milk.
Never had he seen such a beauty.
The Princess went out on a balcony as she had before, and cried aloud
three times, "Nurses dear, nurses true, bring me fine clothes and
jewels to wear, richer than ever were seen before."
At once the three crows appeared, carrying with them jewels and fine
robes all encrusted with gems and embroidery. These they laid at the
Princess's feet and bowed three times, croaking hoarsely, and then
they flew away.
The Princess took the robes and jewels back into the chamber to hide
them, and while she was doing this Prince Ivan returned to his bed and
lay down and closed his eyes as though he were asleep. When the frog
came back she looked at him carefully, but he kept so still she never
guessed that he had stirred from where he lay.
The next morning the frog bade Ivan ride away alone to the palace of
the Tsar. "I will follow you," she said, "and when you hear a great
noise, say, 'That is my little Froggie, driving up in her basket made
of rushes.'"
The Prince promised to do this and then he rode away to the palace of
the Tsar.
His brothers were already there, and their two wives were with them,
both so handsome and so magnificently dressed that each looked finer
than the other.
When Ivan came in they all began to laugh. "Where is thy dear frog?"
they asked. "Is she still asleep among her reeds and rushes, or is she
too hoarse to come?"
Even as they spoke there was a great noise outside,--a roaring and
rumbling like thunder.
The palace shook until it seemed as though it would fall about their
ears. Every one was terrified. Only Prince Ivan was calm.
"There is my little Froggie now," he said; "she is driving up in her
little basket of rushes."
At once the noise ceased, the doors were flung open, and a magnificent
Princess swept into the room. Never was such a beauty seen before. Her
golden hair fell almost to the floor and was bound about with jewels.
Her robes were stiff with embroidery and gems. The other Princesses
paled before her as stars pale before the rising moon.
Prince Ivan took her by the hand and led her to the Tsar. "This is my
dear Princess," said he, "and surely it is she and she only who should
reign over this land."
Well, there were no two ways to that. The Tsar could hardly contain
himself for joy over the beauty of Prince Ivan's bride. A great feast
was spread, and the Tsar himself led the Princess to the table. She
sat at his right hand and drank from his jewelled cup, and all was joy
and merriment. Only the older brothers and their wives were sad, for
they knew they had missed all chance of gaining the kingdom.
Now while they were still at the table, all eating and drinking,
Prince Ivan arose and made some excuse for leaving the room. He went
quietly and mounted his horse and rode back to his own castle.
There he made haste to the room where his wife had left her frog-skin.
He hunted about until he found it, and then he threw it into the fire,
for he did not intend that she should ever hide herself away in it
again.
At once a clap of thunder sounded, and the Princess stood before him.
Her eyes were streaming with tears, and she wrung her hands in grief.
"Alas and woe is me!" she cried. "Why did you burn my frog-skin? A
little longer, and I would have been free. Now I must go away and
leave you forever."
"But where are you going?" cried the Prince in despair. "Wherever it
is I will follow and find you."
"Seek me beyond the seven mountains, beyond the seven seas, in the
kingdom of Koshchei the Deathless, for it is in his house I will be,"
answered the Princess. Then she turned into a great white swan and
flew out through the window and far, far away; so far the Prince could
no longer see her.
Then Prince Ivan was filled with grief; and he neither stayed nor
tarried but set out at once in search of his Princess.
He journeyed on and journeyed on a short way and a long way, and then
he met an old man with a grey beard that hung down far below his belt.
"Good day, good youth," said the old man.
"Good day, grandfather," answered Ivan.
"Whither do you journey with so sad a face?" asked the stranger.
"I journey over land and over sea in search of the kingdom of Koshchei
the Deathless," answered Ivan.
"Then you have a long journey before you," said the old man. "But why
do you seek the kingdom of Koshchei the Deathless, that terrible man?"
"I seek it that I may find what is lost." Then Ivan told the old man
his story, all about his frog bride and how she had turned into a
Princess,--how he had burned the frog-skin and how she had flown away
as a swan, and that now life would be nothing but a burden to him
until he could find her again.
The old man shook his head. "Alas! alas! You should never have burned
the frog-skin!" he said. He then told Ivan that the name of the
Princess was Vasilisa the Fair. "Her mother was the sister of Koshchei
the Deathless," said the stranger, "and when she was born it was
foretold that before she was eighteen Koshchei should lose his life
because of her. It was for this reason that he changed her into a frog
and set her in the midst of the lonely swamp. In a month and a day
from now the Princess would have been eighteen, and the danger to
Koshchei would have been over. Then he would have allowed her to lay
aside her frog-skin and take back her human shape. But now he is angry
and has carried her away to his castle, and only by the grace of
Heaven will you be able to find her and set her free."
The old man then gave Prince Ivan a little ball. "Take this," he said,
"and roll it before you as you go. It will show you which way to
travel, and with its help you may reach the kingdom of Koshchei."
Ivan took the ball and thanked the old man and journeyed on. He rolled
the ball before him, and in whichever direction it rolled he followed.
He went along and went along, until after a while he came to a forest,
and there he saw a bear.
Prince Ivan would have shot it, but the bear cried to him, "Do not
shoot me, Prince. Take me with you as a servant, and the time may come
when I can help you."
"Very well," said the Prince. "Come with me"; so he journeyed on with
the bear at his heels.
Presently he saw a wild duck and would have shot it, but the duck
called to him, "Do not shoot me, dear Prince. Take me with you, and I
will be a faithful servant. The time may come when you will need me."
"Very well," answered the Prince. "You also may come with us as a
companion."
So the Prince journeyed along with the bear at his heels and the duck
flying overhead.
After a while they came to the edge of a river, and there lay a great
fish, gasping out its life in the sunlight.
"Now at last I shall have a good meal," said the Prince.
But the fish cried to him in a human voice, "Throw me back into the
river, Prince, that I may live. The time may come when I can do you a
good turn also."
So the Prince had mercy on the fish and threw it back into the water.
After that he and his companions traveled on a long way. They
journeyed over seven mountains and crossed seven seas, and so they
came at last to the kingdom of Koshchei the Deathless.
There the Prince saw a little hut. It stood on hen's legs and turned
this way and that, whichever way the wind blew. There was no getting
at the door. Then the Prince cried, "Little hut, stand the way my
mother built you with your back away from me and your door before me."
At once the hut whirled round and stood with the open door in front of
him.
Prince Ivan entered in, and saw a bony-legged Baba Yaga lying on the
stove with her grey hair over her face.
"Who are you? And what seek you here in the kingdom of Koshchei the
Deathless?" she cried.
"Do not ask questions but rise up and give me food and drink," said
the Prince; "for I am both hungry and thirsty."
The Baba Yaga arose and served him food and drink. He ate and gave
part to the bear and the duck. Then he told the Baba Yaga why he had
come there--that he was wandering in search of his dear wife, Vasilisa
the Fair.
The old witch shook her head. "It will be a hard thing to rescue her,"
she said. "Koshchei is very powerful. Only in one way can you overcome
him. Not far from here stands a tree. It is as hard as rock, so that
no ax can dent it, and so smooth that none can climb it. On the top of
it is a nest. In the nest is an egg. A duck sits over the egg to guard
it. In that egg is a needle, and only with that needle can you kill
Koshchei the Deathless."
The Baba Yaga then led Prince Ivan to the door and pointed out to him
where the tree grew, and Prince Ivan hurried on toward it, with his
two faithful servants, the bear and the duck.
But when he reached the tree he looked at it with despair. It was
indeed very smooth and high,--as smooth as glass, and when he tried
his hunting knife upon it the knife bent and crumpled in his hand.
"Master, now is the time that I can help you," said the bear. He went
to the tree and clasped it and shook it, so that its roots cracked,
and it fell with a mighty noise.
At once the duck that was guarding the egg caught it up in its claws
and flew away with it. But Ivan's duck pursued so fiercely that the
other was forced to drop the egg in order to defend itself.
Unfortunately they had both flown over a river, and into this river
the egg dropped and was lost to sight.
Ivan sat down upon the bank of the river and wept. "Alas, alas!" he
cried. "Now truly is my dear wife lost to me, for never can I recover
the egg from the river."
Hardly had he spoken when the fish he had thrown back into the river
appeared, bearing the egg in its mouth.
Now Ivan's grief was turned to rejoicing. He broke the egg and took
out the needle. Then, with the little ball to lead him, he soon made
his way to Koshchei's palace.
The Deathless One rushed out to meet him, but Ivan attacked him with
the point of the needle. It was in vain Koshchei tried to protect
himself. Ivan drove the needle into him deeper and deeper, and
presently Koshchei sank down dead before him, no better than a lump of
clay.
Prince Ivan strode across him and on into the castle. From room to
room he went, and in the deepest dungeon he found the Princess
Vasilisa, his own dear wife. She threw herself into his arms, weeping
with joy.
Then they went to Koshchei's treasure room and took from it all the
most precious jewels,--all that the faithful bear could carry they
loaded upon his back and carried away with them.
After that they journeyed back to their own kingdom, and if any one
was glad to see them it was the Tsar himself.
He built for them a castle close to his own, where they could not even
see the swamp. There Ivan and his frog princess lived in the greatest
love and happiness, and after the old Tsar's death they themselves
ruled over the kingdom as the Tsar and Tsaritsa.
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A fox, though young, by no means raw, Had seen a horse, the first he ever saw: "Ho! neighbour wolf," said he to one quite green, "A creature in our meadow I have seen,-- Sleek, grand! I seem to see him yet,-- ... The Foxes And The Sun
Yurok (near Klamath River, Cal.) Once upon a time, the Foxes were angry with Sun. They held a council about the matter. Then twelve Foxes were selected - twelve of the bravest to catch Sun and tie him down. They made ropes of sinew; then the twelve... The Frankish Migration Saga
We have already stated that the Frankish chronicles, unlike those of the other Teutonic tribes, wholly ignore the traditions of the Franks, and instead present the scholastic doctrine concerning the descent of the Franks from Troy and the Moeotian m... The Frog Princess - A Russian Story
There was once a Tsar who had three sons, and they were all dear to him, but the youngest, Ivan, was the dearest of them all. When the Princes grew to manhood the Tsar began to talk and talk to them about getting married, but it so happened not ... The Frolic Of The Flames
For many and many a moon the people of the village lived at the foot of the great fire-mountain. On summer evenings, the children watched the light, and when a child asked, "Father, what makes it?" the father said, "That is the home of the Great Spi... The Frost-king Or The Power Of Love
THREE little Fairies sat in the fields eating their breakfast; each among the leaves of her favorite flower, Daisy, Primrose, and Violet, were happy as Elves need be. The morning wind gently rocked them to and fro, and the sun shone warmly down... The Funeral Fire
For several nights after the interment of a Chippewa a fire is kept burning upon the grave. This fire is lit in the evening, and carefully supplied with small sticks of dry wood, to keep up a bright but small fire. It is kept burning for several h... The Galah And Oolah The Lizard
Oolah the lizard was tired of lying in the sun, doing nothing. So he said, "I will go and play." He took his boomerangs out, and began to practise throwing them. While he was doing so a Galah came up, and stood near, watching the boomerangs come f... The Galloping Hessian
In the flower-gemmed cemetery of Tarrytown, where gentle Irving sleeps, a Hessian soldier was interred after sustaining misfortune in the loss of his head in one of the Revolutionary battles. For a long time after he was buried it was the habit of t... The Geographical Position Of Ancient Teutondom The Stone Age Of Prehistoric Teutondom
The northern position of the ancient Teutons necessarily had the effect that they, better than all other Aryan people, preserved their original race-type, as they were less exposed to mixing with non-Aryan elements. In the south, west, and east, t... The Ghormuhas
Ghormuhas have heads like horses and bodies and arms like men and their legs are shaped like men's but they have only one leg each, and they eat human beings. One day a young man named Somai was hunting a deer and the deer ran away to the country... The Ghost Of San Geronimo
The castle of San Geronimo, San Juan de Porto Rico, was founded a century ago. It occupies a rocky point at the east end of San Juan Island, and year by year had been strengthened until, when the American ships appeared in the offing, it was thoug... The Ghosts Of Craig-aulnaic
Two celebrated ghosts existed, once on a time, in the wilds of Craig-Aulnaic, a romantic place in the district of Strathdown, Banffshire. The one was a male and the other a female. The male was called Fhuna Mhoir Ben Baynac, after one of the mou... The Giant Bear
In the far north there was a village where many warlike Indians lived. In one family there were ten brothers, all brave and fearless. In the spring of the year the youngest brother blackened his face and fasted for several days. Then he sent for h... The Giant Dog
There was once a man who had a giant dog. It could swim in the sea, and was so big that it could haul whale and narwhal to shore. The narwhal it would hook on to its side teeth, and swim with them hanging there. The man who owned it had cut hole... The Giant Gods
Gods and demi-gods as vast as their mountains are celebrated in the traditionary chants of the Hawaiians. While the largest island in the group seems to have been their favorite residence, it was the easiest thing imaginable to move, since they ha... The Giants' Mountain And The Temple
In the time long since gone by, when the world was young, the men of a large province desired to build a temple, a temple which might be seen by men from afar. Their ground, however, was low, and there was no lofty mountain on which they might rear ... The Girl Who Always Found Helpers
There were once upon a time, six brothers and a sister. The brothers were married. They were merchants, and their business often took them to a distance from home. On such occasions the wives were left alone with their sister-in-law. For some reas... The Girl Who Became A Bird
The father of Ran-che-wai-me, the flying pigeon of the Wisconsin, would not hear of her wedding Wai-o-naisa, the young chief who had long sought her in marriage. The maiden, however, true to her plighted faith, still continued to meet him every ev... The Girl Who Found Helpers
Once upon a time there were seven brothers, and they were all married, and they had one sister who was not married. The brothers went away to a far country for a whole year, leaving their wives at home. Now the wives hated their sister-in-law and di... The Girl Who Married The Fire Spirit
Many men wished to marry the chief's pretty daughter, but she laughed at them all. One day as she sat quite close to the fire, a spark snapped upon her dress and burned a tiny hole in it. She pointed at the fire and called it a bad name in her anger... The Girl Who Married The Pine-tree
Upon the side of a certain mountain grew some pines, under the shade of which the Puckwudjinies, or sprites, were accustomed to sport at times. Now it happened that in the neighbourhood of these trees was a lodge in which dwelt a beautiful girl an... The Girl Who Rejected Her Cousin
In the old days, a chief's daughter was expected to marry the son of her uncle, and so keep the chieftainship in the family. But there was once a proud princess who behaved very badly to her cousin when he came wooing, according to the custom. "I... The Girl With The Golden Hair
There was once, I do not know where, in the world an old man who had twelve sons; the eldest of whom served the king for twenty-four years. One day the old man took it into his head that all his sons should get married, and they all were willing t... The Girl Without Hands
There was once, I don't know where, a king whose only son was an exceedingly handsome and brave fellow, who went far into the neighbouring country to fight. The old king used to send letters to his son into the camp, through an old faithful servan... The Glass Hatchet
In a remote land there dwelt, in former days, a wealthy count. He and his consort most ardently wished for a child, to whom they might bequeath their riches; but a long time passed ere their wish was gratified. At length, after twelve weary ye... The Gloddaeth Ghost
The following tale was told the Rev. Owen Jones, Pentrevoelas, by Thomas Davies, Tycoch, Rhyl, the hero in the story. I may say that Gloddaeth Wood is a remnant of the primaeval forest that is mentioned by Sir John Wynn, in his History of the Gw... The Gloucester Leaguers
Strange things had been reported in Gloucester. On the eve of King Philip's War the march of men was heard in its streets and an Indian bow and scalp were seen on the face of the moon, while the boom of cannon and roll of drums were heard at Malden ... The Goala And The Cow
Once upon a time a young man of the Goala caste was going to his wedding; he was riding along in a palki, with all his friends, to the bride's house and as he was passing by a pool of water he heard a voice saying, "Stop you happy bridegroom; you ar... The Goala's Daughter
There was once a man of the Goala caste who had an only daughter and she grew up and was married, but had no child; and after twenty years of married life she gave up all hope of having any. This misfortune preyed on her mind and she fell into a mel... The Goat Sucker
A curious notion prevailed respecting this bird, arrived at, presumably, in consequence of its peculiar name--the goat sucker--viz., that it lives on the milk of the goat, which it obtains by sucking the teats of that animal. ... The Goblin Bird
Two brothers one day set out from their father's hut, to seek their fortune. The name of the elder one was Maszilo, the younger one was called Mazziloniane. After a few days' journeying they reached a plain, from which branched two roads; the on... The Goddess Who Came To Live With Mankind
(A LEGEND OF THE SHILLONG PEAK) Shillong Peak is the highest mountain in the Khasi Hills, and although it bears such a prosaic name in our days, the mountain was a place of renown in the days of the Ancient Khasis, full of romance and mystery, ... The Goddesses Ka Ngot And Ka Iam
(A LEGEND OF SHILLONG PEAK) Ka Iam and Ka Ngot, the twin daughters of the god of Shillong, were two very beautiful beings; they were lively and frolicsome, and were indulged and given much freedom by the family. Like all twins they were never h... The Gods And The Six Regions
In ancient times, Po-shai-an-ki-a, the father of the sacred bands, or tribes, lived with his followers in the City of Mists, the Middle Place, guarded by six warriors, the prey gods. Toward the North, he was guarded by Long Tail, the mountain lion; ... The Golden Apple-tree And The Nine Peahens
Once there was a king who had three sons. In the garden of the palace grew a golden apple-tree, which, in one and the same night would blossom and bear ripe fruit. But during the night a thief would come and pluck the golden apples, and none could d... The Golden Duck
Deep in the bosom of a wood once stood a little cottage, inhabited by a poor widow. Her name was Jutta, and she had formerly lived in easy circumstances, but through various misfortunes, without any fault of her own, she had fallen into poverty.... The Golden Fleece
When Jason, the son of the dethroned King of Iolchos, was a little boy, he was sent away from his parents and placed under the queerest schoolmaster that ever you heard of. This learned person was one of the people, or quadrupeds, called Centaurs.... The Golden Slipper
There was once upon a time an old man and an old woman, and the old man had a daughter, and the old woman had a daughter. And the old woman said to the old man, "Go and buy a heifer, that thy daughter may have something to look after!" So the old ...