Who Was King?
"Once upon a time," began Outa Karel, and his audience of three looked up expectantly. "Once upon a time, Oom Leeuw roared and the forest shook with the dreadful sound. Then, from far away over the vlakte, floated another roar, and the little l... Who Was The Thief?
"Yes, my baasjes, so was Oom Jakhals: he always made as if he forgot all about what he had done, and he made as if he thought all the others forgot too, quick-quick. He is maar so schelm." Here Outa took full advantage of the pinch of snuff he h... Whooping Cough Charm
Children suffering from whooping cough were taken to a seventh son, or lacking a seventh son of sons only, to a fifth son of sons only, who made a cake, and gave it to the sufferers to be eaten by them, and they would recover. The visit was to be... Why All Men Love The Moon
Thunder and Lightning were going to give a feast. It was to be a most delightful banquet, for all the good things that could be imagined were to be brought from every corner of the world. For many days before the feast these good things were com... Why Dogs Cannot Speak
Formerly dogs could speak. Now they cannot. The reason is that a dog, belonging to a certain man a long time ago, inveigled his master into the forest under the pretext of showing him game, and there caused him to be devoured by a bear. Then the dog... Why Has Jackal A Long Black Stripe On His Back?
The Sun, it is said, was one day on earth, and the men who were travelling saw him sitting by the wayside, but passed him without notice. Jackal, however, who came after them, and saw him also sitting, went to him and said, "Such a fine little chi... Why King Congo Was Late
As in all the Spanish Americas, there were churchly feasts and celebrations in Cuba whose origin has been forgot. Why did the slaves serenade their masters on New Year morning, jingling huge tambourines, and in the villages how came it to be thoug... Why Odin Was Given Antenor's Place As Leader Of The Trojan Emigration
So long as the Franks were the only ones of the Teutons who claimed Trojan descent, it was sufficient that the Teutonic-Trojan immigration had the father of a Frankish chief as its leader. But in the same degree as the belief in a Trojan descent spr... Why Possum Has A Large Mouth
There had been a long dry season, and the Deer had grown very thin. Meeting Possum one day, he could not help noticing how well-fed and contented the other appeared. "How is it that you are so fat in a time of drouth and famine?" inquired the Dee... Why Spuyten Duyvil Is So Named
The tide-water creek that forms the upper boundary of Manhattan Island is known to dwellers in tenements round about as Spittin' Divvle. The proper name of it is Spuyten Duyvil, and this, in turn, is the compression of a celebrated boast by Anthony ... Why The Apaches Are Fierce
Pima (Arizona) Elder Brother, Coyote, and Earth Doctor, after the flood vanished, began to create people and animals. Coyote made all the animals, Elder Brother made the people, and Earth Doctor made queer creatures which had only one leg, or immen... Why The Aspen Leaves Tremble
"It is very strange," whispered one reed to another, "that the queen bee never guides her swarm to the aspen-tree." "Indeed, it is strange," said the other. "The oak and the willow often have swarms, but I never saw one on the aspen. What can be... Why The Bear Has A Short Tail
One cold morning when the fox was coming up the road with some fish, he met the bear. "Good-morning, Mr. Fox," said the bear. "Good-morning, Mr. Bear," said the fox. "The morning is brighter because I have met you." "Those are very good fi... Why The Cat Always Falls Upon Her Feet
Some magicians are cruel, but others are gentle and good to all the creatures of the earth. One of these good magicians was one day traveling in a great forest. The sun rose high in the heavens, and he lay down at the foot of a tree. Soft, green m... Why The Cock Cannot Fly
When the Creator had finished creating the world, and had returned to the sky, he sent down the cock to see whether the world was good or not, with orders to come back at once. But the world was so beautiful, that the cock, unable to tear himself aw...

Hadassah's Guest The White Stone Canoe The Maiden Wiser Than The Tsar Crickets Horse And Hattock Idas And Marpessa Beowulf And Grendel Y Fuwch Frech The Freckled Cow

AristÆus The Bee-keeper The Children Of LÎr DeirdrÊ The [horned] Owl The Stepmother And Her Stepdaughter The Enchanted Crow Why The Cock Cannot Fly The Position Of The Private Parts