2. Cinderella "Yes," said Cinderella.
"Then, you can make three new dresses
T
for us," said her stepmother. "Now, go and
his is the story of a kind and beautiful
do the housework." Cinderella went to the
girl. She lived with her father and moth-
kitchen.
er. They were very happy.
"Girls," the stepmother said, "we need
Then one day, her mother died. She was
some material for our new dresses. Let's go
very sad. A year later, her father married
shopping."
again.
On Saturday night, Cinderella was very
The girl's new stepmother was very
busy. Her two stepsisters got dressed for the
unkind. She had two daughters. They wore
party. And she helped them.
beautiful clothes, but they were not beautiful
"Brush my hair! Find my bag! Clean my
or kind. The girl's new stepsisters were very
shoes! " they shouted at Cinderella. Finally,
unkind.
they were ready.
The two stepsisters were jealous of the
Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters
beautiful girl. They took the girl's beautiful
got in their coach and went to the party.
clothes and gave her an old dress. "You can
Cinderella stood on the steps and waved
do all the housework now," they said.
good bye. Then, she sat down and cried. "I
want to go to the party," she said.
Suddenly, she heard a voice. "Don't cry,
Cinderella." Cinderella looked up and saw a
lovely lady. She had a lovely smile.
"I'm a fairy," said the lady. "And you're a
good girl. You can go to the party."
"But I can't go to the party in this dress,"
said Cinderella.
"I can help you, with my magic wand,"
said the fairy. "Now go and find a big pump-
kin, four white mice and three lizards."
Cinderella ran and found a big pumpkin,
four white mice and three lizards. She gave
them to the fairy. The fairy waved her magic
wand and KAZOOM.
The pumpkin became a beautiful gold
coach.
The white mice became white horses.
And the lizards became handsome men.
"Now," said fairy , "close your eyes."
Cinderella closed her eyes. The fairy waved
her magic wand over Cinderella and
KAZOOM. "Now, open your eyes."
Cinderella opened her eyes and looked at
her dress. It was beautiful. And on her feet
The girl washed the floors. She made the
were a pair of pretty glass shoes. "Oh thank
beds and she cooked the meals. In the
you," she said. " Now, I can go to the party."
evenings, she sat by the fire in the kitchen.
"Yes ," said the fairy. "But you must leave
The cinders from the fire made her feet and
the party before midnight. Because the
dress dirty. And so the stepsisters called her
magic stops at midnight."
Cinderella. Cinderella was very unhappy.
"Yes," said Cinderella. " I understand."
One day, a man from the palace came to
"Now, go and enjoy the party," said the
the house with an invitation. The invitation
fairy.
said, "The king and queen are having a party
Cinderella got in the gold coach and went
at the palace on Saturday."
to the palace. She arrived at the party in her
The two stepsisters were very excited."
beautiful dress. Everybody looked at her.
Can I go to the party ?" asked Cinderella.
"She's very beautiful. Look at her beauti-
"You? You can't go to the party.You don't
ful dress! Who is she?" they asked.
have any nice clothes," said the two stepsis-
The prince saw Cinderella and he
ters.And they laughed at her.
thought, She is the most beautiful girl in the
"Can you make clothes?" Cinderella's
world.
stepmother asked.
"Do you want to dance?" the prince asked.
" Yes," said Cinderella.
58 FA I R Y TA L E S
3. The prince danced with Cinderella all marry the prince . I'm going to be a
night. Her two stepsisters were very jeal- princess."
ous." Who is she" they asked. But, her foot was too big.
"Give me the shoe," said the prince. "It's
not your shoe." Then the prince asked, " Are
there any other girls here?"
"No," said the stepmother and the two sis-
ters.
At that moment, Cinderella came into the
room. She wanted to clean the room. She
didn't know the prince was there.
Cinderella looked at the prince." I'm
sorry," she said and ran out of the room.
"Who is that girl? Bring her here," said the
prince. "May be, it's her shoe."
"It can't be her shoe." said step mother.
"I must ask every girl in the country.
Please, bring her here now," said the prince.
The stepmother went and found
Cinderella. Cinderella put on the glass shoe.
It was her shoe.
The two stepsisters and the stepmother
were angry. But the prince was very happy.
He took Cinderella's hand and said,"You are
the girl I danced with. And you are the girl I
Cinderella and the prince danced and love. Will you marry me? "
danced. And all the ladies were very jealous. "Yes," said Cinderella.
Suddenly, Cinderella looked at the clock. Cinderella married the prince and they
It was one minute to twelve." I must go," she lived together happily.
said and she ran out of the room.
" Wait!" said the prince. "Come back. I
don't know your name." Cinderella didn't
wait. She ran down the stairs. And she left a
glass shoe on the stairs.
Outside, Cinderella looked for her gold
coach. It wasn't there. There was a pumpkin,
four white mice and three lizards ran away.
She looked at her dress. It was the dirty
old dress again.
Quickly, Cinderella ran home.
The prince found the glass shoe. " This is
her shoe ," said the prince. "I must find her.
I want to marry her."
The prince went to every house in the
country. And he asked every girl," Is this
your shoe?" But all their feet were too big.
Finally, he came to Cinderella's house.
Cinderella was in the kitchen. Her stepmoth-
er opened the door. "Come in, Your
Highness," she said. She took the prince into
the living room, then she went and got her
two daughters. The two girls were very excit-
ed.
First, the oldest girl took the shoe." Look!
It's my shoe," she said and walked around
the room in the glass shoe. But her foot was
too big.
"Give me the shoe," said the prince. " It's
not your shoe."
Then the youngest sister took the shoe."
Look!" she said." It's my shoe. I'm going to
FA I R Y TA L E S 59
4. THE EMPEROR'S NEW
CLOTHES
T
his is the story of a very vain emperor.
He didn't think about his country or his
people. He only thought about clothes.
The emperor loved clothes. He always
bought the finest and most expensive
clothes. And he always wore the latest fash-
ions. Every week, he bought some new
clothes. In fact, he spent all his money on
clothes.
One day, two men decided to trick the
emperor. They were called Victor and Hugo.
Victor and Hugo knew the emperor loved
clothes and they wanted to make lots of
money. So they made a plan.
"Let's tell the emperor that we are famous
tailors," said Victor.
"Yes. And let's tell him, we can make him
some beautiful new clothes, "said Hugo.
"The most beautiful clothes in the world,"
said Victor.
The next day, the two men went to the
palace to meet the emperor. "Your majesty,"
said Victor, "we are famous tailors. And we
want to make some beautiful new clothes for "Only clever people will be able to see this
you." magic material. Stupid people won't be able
"Yes," said Hugo. "We want to make you a to see it," they told their friends and neigh-
very special suit. We will use a magic mate- bors.
rial that only very clever people will be able All week, the emperor waited to see the
to see." material. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... .
"We know you are a very clever man. So He counted the days. He wanted to see the
we know that you will love this material," magic material but he was worried. Maybe, I
said Victor. won't be able to see it. Then, people will
"So," said the emperor, "stupid men won't think I am stupid, the emperor thought, i
be able to see this magic material?" can't go and see it.
"That is correct," said Victor. Then, the emperor had an idea. I won't go
The emperor believed the two men. and see the material. I'll send the prime min-
"Excellent," he said. "What do you need?" ister. He's very clever. He'll be able to see it,
"We need some gold thread and some sil- he thought.
ver thread," Hugo replied. "And we need The prime minister was not worried. I'm a
some money, of course," very clever man. I'll be able to see the mate-
The emperor gave the two men two bags rial, he thought. The prime minister walked
of gold coins, some gold thread and some into the room. He saw the two tailors but he
silver thread. couldn't see any material.
The emperor was very excited. "When can Oh no' he thought. I can't see the materi-
you start?" he asked. al. I must be stupid. Nobody must know that
"We can start tomorrow," Victor replied. I'm stupid.
That afternoon, the two men began to "It's beautiful, isn't it?" said Victor.
make the material for the emperor's new "Yes, it is. It's very beautiful," said the
clothes. Clack... Whirr.... Clack ... Whirr. prime minister.
They worked all afternoon and all evening. The two men smiled and said, "Thank
Then, late at night, when everybody was you." "Do you think the emperor will like it?"
asleep, Hugo carried the bags of gold and the asked Hugo.
bags of thread out of the palace. He took "He'll love it," said the prime minister.
them to a safe place and hid them. Then, the prime minister left the room, and
The next day, the emperor began to tell he went to find the emperor.
everybody about the magic material. Soon "Your Majesty, the material is wonderful.
everybody in the palace knew about it. And, It's the most beautiful material in the world,"
they told their friends outside the palace. the prime minister told the emperor.
And soon everybody in the country knew The emperor was very happy. "Tell the tai-
about the magic material. lors that I am coming to see it," he said. "And
tell all my ministers to come here immedi-
ately. They must all come and see the mate-
rial."
60 FA I R Y TA L E S
5. All the ministers went to see the material The emperor was ready for the parade. All
with the emperor. They all stood and looked his people were in the streets. They were
at the loom. very excited. Everybody wanted to see the
"Where is it?" asked the emperor excited- emperor's new clothes.
ly. "Hurry up and show us." The emperor walked proudly through the
"It's here," said Hugo. "Can't you see it?" streets in his underwear.
The emperor couldn't see it. The ministers The people clapped and said, "The emper-
couldn't see it. Nobody could see it. or looks very smart. His new clothes are
wonderful. The material is beautiful. It's the
most beautiful material in the world."
Then, suddenly, a boy shouted, "The
emperor isn't wearing any clothes." There
was silence. Then all people began to laugh.
"Ha ... Ha ... Ha .... The emperor isn't
wearing any clothes. Poor man! He's walking
through the streets in his underwear," they
said.
"It's very beautiful," said the ministers,
looking at the empty loom.
Oh dear, thought the emperor. Everybody
can see it, But I can't see anything. I must be
stupid. Then the emperor smiled and said,
"It's beautiful. I love it. Tonight, you will
make me a suit. And tomorrow, there will be
a parade through the town, and I will wear
the suit.
The next morning, the suit was ready. The It was true. And the emperor knew it was
two tailors took it to the emperor. true. The boy is right, he thought. I'm not
"Please, take off your clothes, Your wearing any clothes. He wanted to run back
Majesty," said Victor. to his palace but he couldn't. He was the
"Now, try on the trousers first," said Hugo. emperor. He walked slowly through the town
"Do they fit?" asked Victor. in his underwear.
"Yes," replied the emperor. I am vain, he thought. And this is my pun-
"Now, try on the shirt," said Hugo. ishment.
"Does it fit?" asked Victor. Finally, the emperor arrived back at the
"Yes," replied the emperor. "It fits me per- palace. He called for his guards. "Find those
fectly." tailors and bring them here," he said.
"Good. Now put on the jacket," said Hugo. The guards looked for the tailors every-
The emperor looked in the mirror. He where but they couldn't find them.
looked very hard but he couldn't see the suit. And that day, the emperor stopped think-
He could only see his underwear. ing about clothes. And he began thinking
The ministers came in. They were about his country and his people. He became
shocked. The emperor is only wearing his a good emperor.
underwear, they thought.
"Are you ready?" the prime minister asked
the emperor.
"Of course, I'm ready," said the emperor.
Then the emperor gave victor and Hugo two
more bags of gold coins. They thanked him,
and then they quickly left the palace.
FA I R Y TA L E S 61
6. Goldilocks & The Three
Next, Goldilocks goes into the living room.
Bears She sees three chairs. First, Goldilocks sits
on the very big chair. "I don't like this chair.
It's too big," she says.
This is the story of Goldilocks and the Next, Goldilocks sits on the big chair.
three bears. Look! Here are the three bears. There is a big cushion on the chair. " I don't
Father Bear is big. And Baby Bear is small. like this chair. It's too big," she says.
And here is their house. It is in a forest. Then, Goldilocks sits on the small chair. "
The three bears like porridge. Every morn- I like this chair," she says.
ing, Mother Bear makes porridge. But Baby Bear's chair is not very strong. It
This morning the porridge is very hot. breaks. " Oh dear!" says Goldilocks.
''Let's go for a walk,'' says Father Bear. Then, Goldilocks goes into the bedroom.
''We can eat the porridge later.'' She sees three beds. First, Goldilocks sits on
Here is Goldilocks. Goldilocks is not a good the very big bed. "I don't like this bed. It's
girl. She is a naughty girl. too hard," she says.
Goldilocks is walking in the forest. Look! Next, Goldilocks sits on the big bed. "I
She can smell the porridge. don't like this bed. It's too soft," she says.
Then, Goldilocks sits on the small bed. "I
like this bed," she says. Look! Goldilocks is
asleep now.
Goldilocks sees a house. And she climbs
through the window.
Now, Goldilocks is in the kitchen. She sees
three bowls of porridge on the table. There is The three bears come home. They are
a very big bowl. There is a big bowl. And very hungry. They go into the kitchen.
there is a small bowl. Father Bear looks at his bowl of porridge.
First, Goldilocks tries the very big bowl. " There isn't much porridge in my bowl," he
"Ouch! This porridge is too hot," she says. says.
Next, Goldilocks tries the big bowl. "This Mother Bear looks at her bowl of porridge.
porridge is too cold," she says. "There isn't much porridge in my bowl," she
Then, Goldilocks tries the small bowl. says.
"Mmm! This porridge is nice," she says. And Baby Bear looks at his bowl of porridge.
Goldilocks eats all Baby Bear's porridge. "There's no porridge in my bowl," he says.
62 FA I R Y TA L E S
7. Father Bear is very angry. Mother Bear is Hansel & Gretel
angry too. And Baby bear is very upset. "
Let's look in the living room," says Father
I
Bear.
The three bears go into the living room. n a faraway land, a poor woodcutter
"Look!" says Father Bear. "There is por- lived with his family. He had two
ridge on my chair." lovely children. The boy was called
"Look at my chair!" says Mother Bear. "My Hansel and the girl was called Gretel.
cushion is on the floor." They lived in a small house near a forest.
"Look at my chair!" says Baby Bear. "It's They were very happy together.
broken." Then, one day their mother died and
Father Bear is very angry. Mother Bear is the woodcutter got married again. His
angry too. And Baby Bear is very upset. " new wife didn't like the two children.
Let's look in the bedroom," says Father Bear. Everyday, the woodcutter went to
The three bears go into the bedroom. work in the forest. The two children
"Look!" says Father Bear. "There is por- stayed at home with their stepmother.
ridge on my bed." He is very angry. Their stepmother was very unkind to
"Look at my bed!" says Mother Bear. "It's them. "Gretel, wash the floors. Hansel,
untidy." She is angry too. bring the firewood now," she shouted.
"Mother, Father look! There's a girl in my The two children did all the housework.
bed," says Baby Bear. He is very upset. One day, the woodcutter was ill. He
Baby Bear: Wake up! could not chop wood. He was ill all win-
ter. The family had no money and there
wasn't enough food.
One night, the nasty stepmother had
a plan. Hansel and Gretel woke up. They
heard their stepmother's plan.
Father Bear and Mother Bear come and
look at the girl. They are very angry. Father
Bear opens his mouth and growls.
Goldilocks wakes up. And she sees the
three bears.
Goldilocks screams. She jumps out of the
bed. She runs out of the house. And she runs
through the forest and far away.
The three bears never see Goldilocks
again. And Goldilocks is never naughty
again.
FA I R Y TA L E S 63
8. "We don't have enough food. We can't In the morning, their stepmother gave
feed the children any more," she said. them two slices of bread for breakfast.
"What can I do? I'm ill. I can't work," said Hansel had an idea. He put the bread in his
the woodcutter. pocket.
"You must take the children into the forest The two children went to the forest with
and leave them there," said his wife. their father. They followed their father far
"I can't do that. I love them," said the into the forest. Hansel broke the bread into
woodcutter. small pieces. He walked behind his father
"But we don't have enough food," said his and his sister, and he dropped the pieces of
wife. "Take them tomorrow." bread on the ground. Some birds followed
The children listened to their nasty step- Hansel. They ate the bread. Hansel didn't see
mother's plan. Gretel began to cry. Hansel them.
hugged his sister. "Don't cry, Gretel. I have a Hansel, Gretel and their father walked and
plan too," he said. walked. "You must be tired, " said their
That night, when his parents were asleep, father. "Let's stop here. I'll go and collect
Hansel went into garden. He collected some some wood. Then, we'll go home. You wait
small white stones. Then, he went back to for me here."
bed. This time, the children didn't sleep. Hansel
The next day, Hansel and Gretel went into looked for the pieces of bread. But he could-
the forest with their father. They collected n't find them. "Now, we really are lost," said
wood for the fire. The white stones were in Gretel. And she began to cry.
Hansel's pockets. He began to drop the "Don't worry," said Hansel. "I'll look after
stones on the path. you."
The children followed their father far into The children were lost. They walked one
the forest. They walked and walked. "You way. Then, they walked another way. But
must be tired" said their father. "Let's stop they couldn't find their house.
here. I'll go and collect some more wood.
Then, we'll go home. You wait for me here."
Hansel and Gretel were very tired. They
sat on the ground and waited for their father.
Soon, they went to sleep. When they woke
up, it was dark.
"I'm frightened," said Gretel. "Father isn't
coming back. It's cold and dark. And we are
lost."
"Don't worry, Gretel," said Hansel.
Hansel pointed to the path. "Look, Gretel.
Look at the white stones. We can follow
them, and we can go home," he said.
"Well Done, Hansel," said Gretel. "We're
not lost. We can go home."
The two children followed the white stones
and they soon arrived home.
Their father was happy to see them. He
hugged them both. Their stepmother was not
happy to see them.
That night, the nasty stepmother said to
her husband, "You must take the children
into the forest again and leave them there."
"I can't do that. I love them," said the
woodcutter.
"But, we don't have enough food," said his
wife. "Take them tomorrow."
Hansel woke up. He heard the plan. He
lay in bed and waited. He heard his father
and stepmother go to bed. He got up and
went to the door. He wanted to collect some
more stones. But he couldn't open the door.
It was locked. So Hansel went back to bed.
64 FA I R Y TA L E S
9. Suddenly, they saw a very strange house.
"Wow! Look at that house," said Hansel.
It really was a very strange house. There
were chocolate cookies on the roof. There
were biscuits and nuts on the walls. And it
had a big chocolate door.
"Mmm," said Gretel. "I'm very hungry.
Let's eat some biscuits."
"Okay," said Hansel. "I'm very hungry,
too."
The two children ran up to the house.
Hansel pulled a biscuit off the wall and gave
it to Gretel. Then, he took a piece of choco-
late.
Suddenly, the chocolate door opened, and
an ugly old woman came out. "Hello. Who's
eating my house?"
"We're very sorry," said Hansel.
""That's okay. You must be hungry," she
said. "Come inside and have some break-
fast."
Hansel and Gretel were very hungry. They
went inside with the old woman. There was a
lot of nice food on the table. There were
cakes, biscuits, apples, and oranges. "Eat all
you can," said the old woman. "I like big
strong children." "You stupid girl! You can't do anything
The two children ate and ate. The ugly old right!" said the witch. The witch went to
woman sat and watched them. This ugly old check the oven. She opened the oven door
woman was a witch. And this witch ate little and Gretel pushed her in.
boys for dinner. Quickly, Gretel shut the oven door. Then,
The witch put Hansel into a cage. She she went and unlocked the cage. "Well done,
locked the door of the cage. Then, she locked Gretel, "said Hansel. "Quick, let's go home."
the door of the house. She didn't want Gretel "No," said Gretel. "The witch has some
to leave the house. treasure. She also has a map. Follow me! I'll
"You're very thin, little boy. I'm going to show you."
feed you lots of lovely food. Then, you're Gretel took Hansel to the witch's bed-
going to be fat. And I'm going to eat you for room. They found the treasure and the map.
dinner," the witch said to Hansel. "Now, we can go home," said Gretel.
Then, the witch looked at Gretel. "You're Hansel and Gretel took a large box of
going to do all my housework," she said. treasure with them. They looked at the map
Everyday, the witch said to Gretel, "Give and walked home.
Hansel some more food." The woodcutter was very happy to see his
Every day for seven days, Gretel gave children. He hugged them both. "I looked
Hansel a chicken and chips, cakes, and pies. everywhere for you. But I couldn't find you,"
On the seventh day, the witch said, "Give me he said.
your arm, Hansel." "Where's our stepmother? Asked Gretel.
Hansel knew that the witch couldn't see "She was very unkind to you. I told her to
very well. He didn't give his arm. He gave her leave," said the woodcutter.
a chicken bone. The witch felt the bone. She "Hurray! "said Hansel and Gretel. And
was very surprised. "You're very thin. Eat they danced around the room. They were
some more." very happy.
On the tenth day, the witch was very Hansel and Gretel told their father about
angry. Hansel was still thin. And she was the biscuit house with the chocolate door.
very hungry. And they told him about the ugly old witch.
"I'm going to eat your brother today," she Then, they showed him the treasure.
said to Gretel. " Go and prepare the oven." The woodcutter and his two children were
Gretel went and prepared the oven. She never hungry again. And they lived together
made it very hot. Then, she went to the witch very happily.
and asked, "Can you come and check the
oven?"
FA I R Y TA L E S 65
10. Jack and The Beanstalk Jack gives Susie to the old man. The old
man gives the beans to Jack.
Jack goes home. He shows the beans to
J
his mother. His mother is very angry. "We
ack is a little boy. He lives with his moth-
er. They have a small house. And they have no money," she says.
have a cow. Her name is Susie. Here is ''And you sell our cow for these beans?''
their house. And here is their cow, Susie. She throws the beans out of the window.
One day, a giant comes to their house. That night, Jack and his mother have no
The giant takes their money. food. Jack is hungry and unhappy. His moth-
Now Jack and his mother are unhappy. er is hungry and unhappy. They go to bed.
They have no money for food. And Susie has The next morning, Jack gets up. He looks
no milk. They must sell Susie. out of the window. And he sees a giant
beanstalk. ''Wow!'' says Jack. ''It's very tall.
I can't see the top.''
Jack is very excited. He goes into the
garden. He climbs the beanstalk.
Jack climbs and climbs and climbs. Finally
he sees a big castle. It's a giant castle.
In the door of the castle, there is a small
hole. Jack walks through the hole and into
the castle. Inside, he sees a big, tall woman.
She is a giant.
'' He-LLO,'' Jack shouts. '' I'm very hungry.
Please, can I have some breakfast?"
The giant woman looks at Jack.
"Breakfast? You want some breakfast? You
can't have breakfast here,'' she says. "My
husband is here. He eats little boy for
breakfast.''
At that moment, they hear a loud
voice.'' I'M HUNGRY. I WANT MY BREAK-
FAST.''
'' Quick,'' says the woman. ''Hide in
the cupboard.'' Jack hides in the cup-
board.
The big, fat, ugly giant walks into the
room.
'' Yummy, yummy, yummy- oh! I smell a
boy! '' The giant shouts.
'' There is nobody here ,'' says his wife. ''
Jack takes Susie to the market. He wants Sit down and eat your breakfast.'' The big,
to sell Susie. At the market, Jack meets an fat, ugly giant sits down. He eats his break-
old man. ''Hello,'' says the old man. fast.
''Hello,'' says Jack. Then, he puts a big bag on the table. In
''Are you selling your cow?" asks the old the bag, there are some gold coins. The giant
man. counts the gold coins. '' .... one thousand
''Yes,'' says Jack. and twenty, one thousand and twenty one,
''How much is she?'' asks the old man. one ...... snorr rr rr ........'' The giant is
''How much money can you give?'' asks asleep.
Jack. Jack watches the giant from the cupboard.
''I can give five beans,'' says the old man. Those are our gold coins, he thinks. Then, he
'' Five beans!'' says Jack. carefully opens the cupboard door. He walks
'' Yes,'' says the old man. ''They are magic slowly and quietly to the table. He wants to
beans. You can grow a giant beanstalk with take the gold coins but .......
them.'' Suddenly, the giant wakes up.
Jack is excited. He wants the magic beans. '' Yummy, yummy, yummy- oh! I smell a
''Okay,'' says Jack. ''Here's the cow." boy!'' the giant shouts.
Jack runs and jumps into the big pot.
66 FA I R Y TA L E S
11. There is soup in the pot. Jack hides in the Jack and the hen. They run out of the castle.
pot and waits. They run across the clouds. Finally, they
The giant's wife comes into the room. She come to the beanstalk.
is carrying a hen. Jack throws the bag of gold coins. It falls
"There is no boy in the castle,'' she says to down and down and down into Jack's garden.
her husband. Then, she puts the hen on the The big, fat, ugly giant is coming. Quickly,
floor.'' Look! Here's your favourite hen.'' Jack puts the golden harp onto the hen's
The big, fat, ugly giant and his wife watch back. Then, Jack takes the hen by the legs.
the hen. Jack watches the hen. Look! There
is an egg. It is a golden egg. The giant is
happy.
"Please, bring my golden harp,'' he says.
His wife brings the golden harp. The
golden harp plays. It plays a beautiful
tune.
"I'm hungry," shouts the giant. ''I
want some soup.'' His wife brings the
big pot to the table . She gives the giant
some soup. Splash! Jack falls into the
giant's bowl.
The giant sees Jack.
'' Yummy, yummy, yummy - oh! I smell
a boy!'' the giant shouts.
Quickly, Jack climbs down the beanstalk.
The giant is behind him. They climb down
and down and down.
''Mother! Mother!'' Jack shouts. '' Bring
the axe. Bring the axe.''
Jack's mother brings the axe. Jack jumps
to the ground. Quickly, he takes the axe.
Jack chops the beanstalk.
Crash! The beanstalk falls to the ground.''
Help!'' shouts the giant. Crash! The big, ugly
giant falls to the ground.
'' Hurray.'' Shouts Jack. '' The giant is
dead.''
Now, Jack and his mother are happy.
The giant reaches for Jack. Jack jumps off Every day, there is another golden egg. And
the table and onto the hen's back. First, Jack every day, people come and listen to the
takes the golden harp. Next, he takes the golden harp.
bag of gold coins. Then, the hen runs across Jack and his mother give food and money
the floor with Jack. to their friends and neighbours. Nobody in
''Ha-ha,'' laughs Jack. '' You can't catch their village is hungry now. And everybody is
me.'' The hen is very frightened. It runs very happy.
fast. The giant cannot catch the hen.
The giant is very angry. He runs after
FA I R Y TA L E S 67
12. THE MILLER, HIS SON AND you laughing? Asked the miller.
"Because it's a hot day and you're walking
THEIR DONKEY with your donkey. Why don't you ride it?"
Old John thought about it for a moment
and then said, "You're right. It's stupid. Get
T
his is the story of old John the miller, his on the donkey, Jack."
son and their donkey. John the miller So Jack got on the donkey, and then they
lived with his family in a cottage near a continued on their journey.
forest. A little later, a group of men walked
In winter, life was difficult for the miller towards them. "Young people today have no
and his family. He couldn't work very much, respect for old people," said one of the men.
so he didn't have much money. And his fam- "You are right," said another.
ily were cold and hungry. "That's not true," said a third. Then, the
When spring finally came, the family was men saw Jack, the miller and the donkey.
happier. However, the miller had no money to They stopped talking and looked at Jack sit-
buy food for his family. And they were still ting on the donkey.
hungry. "Look at him," said one of the men. "I told
One day, the family sat down for lunch. you, didn't I? Young people have no respect
"What's for lunch, Mum?" asked the miller's for old people these days. That young boy is
son, Jack. sitting comfortably on the donkey and the old
"It's potato soup again," replied his moth- man is walking."
er. "Yes, "said another. "Young people are
Isn't there anything else to eat?" very selfish these days." Then, he said to
"No, there isn't. I'm sorry," she said. And Jack, "Get down from that donkey and let
they ate lunch in silence. your poor old father ride it. He must be very
Later that day, the miller and his wife sat tired."
and talked. "We don't have any food," said Old John looked at Jack. "Perhaps they're
the miller' wife. "What are we going to do?" right," he said. "Let me ride the donkey for a
"I'll sell the donkey," said the miller. "Then while."
we'll have enough money to buy some food." So Jack got off the donkey and his father
"That's a good idea," said the miller's wife. got on it. Then, they continued on their jour-
"I'll take it to the market and sell it," said ney.
the miller. A little further along the road, they met a
Old John decided to take the donkey to group of women. One of the women stopped
the market the next day. So, he and his son, and stood in the middle of the road, "You lazy
Jack, got up early the next morning and old man," she cried. "You're sitting comfort-
began to walk to the town with the donkey. ably on the donkey and that poor boy is
"It's a lovely day for a walk," the miller walking. Look at him! He's tired. He can't
said to his son. walk as fast as the donkey."
"Yes, Father, it is". "She's right, look at the poor boy," said
The old miller and his son were happy. another.
"This afternoon, we'll have enough
money to buy some food," said
the miller.
"Can we buy some fruit at the
market? Asked Jack.
"Yes, of course," his father
replied.
The miller and his son walked
along happily. Soon, they met
three girls. When the three girls
saw the old miller and his son,
they began to laugh and whisper
to each other.
"Look at those two!" they are
walking with their donkey. How
silly!" they whispered.
"What's the matter? Why are
68 FA I R Y TA L E S
13. The kind old miller was upset. He did not full of people. Everybody came to the town
want people to think that he was selfish. So, on market day. The miller and his son walked
he said to his son, "Jack, sit behind me. We through the streets, carrying the donkey.
will both ride the donkey." They were very hot and tired but they didn't
So Jack got on the donkey and they con- stop for a rest. They wanted to get to the
tinued on their journey to the market. market square as quickly as possible.
The donkey walked very slowly towards Suddenly, somebody shouted, "Look!
the town. It was midday and they were near- There are two people carrying a donkey."
ly there. The miller was pleased. "The mar- Everybody ran to see this strange sight
ket is very busy at lunch time. We'll sell the and people began to laugh at the miller and
donkey for a god price," he said. his son. Slowly, they carried the donkey
Then, they met a shepherd with his sheep. through the streets of the town towards the
"Excuse me," said the shepherd. "Is that market square. Everybody watched them
your donkey?" and clapped loudly.
"Yes, it is," said the miller. Soon, they came to a bridge. They had to
"It can't be yours, "said the shepherd. walk across the bridge to the market square.
"Why?" asked the miller. A crowd of people followed them onto the
"Because you're being very cruel to the bridge. They laughed and shouted. "Be care-
poor animal. Do you want to kill it? ful. Don't drop the donkey."
"What do you mean? Asked the miller. The donkey was very frightened. It didn't
"It's a very hot day and you're too heavy like the noise and it didn't like the crowd of
for the donkey," the shepherd replied. "The people. The donkey started to kick. It kicked
poor animal is very tired." so hard that it fell off the pole.
The old miller was very upset. He did not Everybody stopped laughing. "Look!" they
want people to think that he was cruel to the shouted. "The donkey is going to fall in the
donkey. The miller looked at his donkey. It river."
looked very tired and hot. Oh dear, he The donkey fell in the river and the old
thought. I can't sell the donkey if it isn't miller was very upset. "Come on, Jack. Let's
healthy. We must carry it. go home. We don't have anything to sell here
"Very well," said the miller. "We will carry now," he said.
the donkey." So the miller and his son got off So the old miller and his son, Jack walked
the donkey and said goodbye to the shep- slowly home. I was very stupid today,
herd. And the shepherd continued on his thought the miller. Now, I have no donkey
journey. and no money from the sale. And he was
Old John tied donkey's legs together. very angry with himself.
Then, he tied the donkey's legs to a pole. The I was very stupid today. "I tried to please
miller and his son lifted the pole onto their everyone," the miller said to his son. "And if
shoulders and carried the donkey to the you try to please everyone, you don't please
town. The donkey was very heavy and it was anyone at all."
not an easy journey.
Finally, the miller and his son arrived at
the town. It was busy and the streets were
FA I R Y TA L E S 69
14. Snow White Everything in the house was very small.
There were seven cups and seven small
plates. There were seven small forks and
I
seven small spoons. And there were seven
n a faraway land, there was a king and small loaves of bread.
queen. They had a beautiful baby girl. Snow White was very hungry, so she ate
She had beautiful black hair and snow- some bread. Then, Snow White was tired, so
white skin. So the queen called her Snow she went upstairs. And upstairs, there were
White. She loved her daughter very much. seven little beds. Snow White lay down and
Then one day, the queen died. Snow went to sleep.
White was two years old.
The king married again. His new wife was
beautiful, but she was also very cruel.
The new queen had a magic mirror. Every
day, she stood in front of the mirror and
asked:
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who is the most beautiful of all ? "
The mirror always answered:
"You, my queen.
"you are the most beautiful of all."
Every year, Snow white became more
beautiful. She was also kind and good.
Everybody in palace loved her.
The queen was not interested in snow
white. Because Snow White was not her
daughter. Then, one day, the queen asked
the mirror :
" Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
Who is the most beautiful of all ?"
And this time, the mirror answered:
" You are beautiful. It is true .
But Snow White is more beautiful
than you ."
The queen was very angry. "Snow White
must die," she said.
The queen called for the hunter. "Take
Snow White into the forest and kill her," she Seven dwarfs lived in the house. That
said. And she gave the hunter a bag of gold night, they came home. They found Snow
coins. White. She was still asleep on the beds. They
The hunter took Snow White into the for- were very surprised. "Who is she? What is
est. But he couldn't kill her. "You can't go she doing here? they asked.
back to the palace," he said to her. "The Suddenly, Snow White woke up. "Don't be
queen wants to kill you. You must stay in the frightened," said the dwarfs. Snow White
forest." Then he left Snow White in the for- wasn't frightened. She told the dwarfs about
est. the cruel queen.
The hunter killed a deer. He took the "you can't go home," said the dwarfs.
deer's heart to the palace and gave it to the "you must stay here with us."
queen. "this is Snow White's heart," he said. The next morning, the dwarfs went to
The queen was happy, "Snow White is work. Before they went, they said to Snow
dead. Now, I am the most beautiful of all," White, "Stay in the house. And don't open
she said. the door."
Snow White walked further into the forest. "Okay," said Snow White.
It was very dark and she was very fright- At the palace, the queen was happy. She
ened. She wanted to go home. went to her mirror and asked:
Then, she saw a house. She went and "Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
knocked on the door. Nobody answered, so Who is the most beautiful of all?"
she opened the door and went inside. And this time, the mirror answered:
"You are beautiful. It is true.
But there is a girl more beautiful than you.
Snow White isn't dead.
70 FA I R Y TA L E S
15. She lives in a house with seven beds." A few days later, a prince found the glass
The queen was very angry. "A house with box, and he saw Snow White. He opened the
seven beds? I know that house! The hunter glass box and picked her up. She can't stay
didn't kill Snow White. She is at the house of here. I must take her to the palace with me,
seven dwarfs. I must go there and kill her." he thought.
The queen went to the garden and got The piece of poisoned apple fell out of her
some red apples. She poisoned an apple. mouth. Snow White opened her eyes and she
Then, she put all the apples into the basket. saw the handsome prince. They sat and
She dressed in the clothes of an old woman. talked.
Then, she went to the dwarf's house. The dwarfs came home from work. They
found Snow White with the prince. They were
very happy because Snow White was alive
and well.
"I want to take her to the palace," said the
prince, "And I want to marry her." Snow
White and the dwarfs were very happy.
On Snow White's wedding day, the queen
stood in front of the magic mirror and asked:
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
Who is the most beautiful of all?"
And this time, the mirror answered:
"You are beautiful. It is true.
But there is a girl more beautiful than you.
To you this secret I must tell,
Snow White is alive and well."
The queen was very angry. She broke the
mirror. It was the magic mirror that made
her beautiful. So when the mirror broke, the
queen became old and ugly. That day, she
left the palace. And no one ever saw her
again.
Snow White married the prince. They lived
together happily. And the seven dwarfs often
visited Snow White at the palace.
The queen knocked on the door. "Red
apples! Lovely red apples! Would you like
some lovely red apples?" she called.
Snow White didn't want to open the door.
But she wanted to buy some apples for the
dwarfs. She opened the window and called to
the old woman.
The old woman said, "Don't be frightened.
Come and taste this apple."
So Snow White went outside. She took the
poisoned apple and began to eat it. "Mmm…
it's delicious," she said. Then she fell to the
ground.
The queen laughed and left. "now, Snow
White is dead. I am the most beautiful of all,"
she said.
That night, the seven dwarfs came home.
They found Snow White on the ground.
"She's dead," said the youngest dwarf.
"Maybe, she's not dead. Maybe she's
sleeping," said another dwarf.
They made a glass box for her. "She can
lie in this box and we can come and see her
every day," said the oldest dwarf. They were
all very sad.
FA I R Y TA L E S 71
16. THE TOWN MOUSE & THE "Please have some more ," says Country
Mouse.
COUNTRY MOUSE "No, thank you. I'm full," says Town
Mouse. He doesn't like corn very much.
It is very quiet now. The birds are asleep
in their nests. The farmers are asleep in their
houses. And the rabbits are asleep in the
field.
"It's very quiet ," says Town Mouse.
"Yes, it is," says Country Mouse. "There's
no noise! It's wonderful."
"What do you do here? asks Town Mouse.
"Aren't you bored?"
"I'm never bored," says Country Mouse.
"In the winter, I play in the farmhouse. It's
very warm there. And in the summer , I play
in the field."
The country is very boring! thinks Town
Mouse. I'm lucky, I live in the town. Then,
Town Mouse has an idea. "Come to the town.
Come and stay with me," he says.
"That's very kind of you," says Country
Mouse. "Thank you."
The next day, Town Mouse and Country
Mouse get on a bus. And they go to the town.
The town is very noisy. There are a lot of
cars. There are a lot of people. And there are
H
ere is Country Mouse. Country Mouse a lot of shops and cafes.
lives in a field. It is a big cornfield. He The people are shouting. The dogs are
has a nice house in the middle of the barking. And the cars are beeping their
cornfield. Look! His house is in the tree. horns.
Every day, Country Mouse eats corn . He Town Mouse is smiling. He is very happy.
eats corn for breakfast. He eats corn for He likes the town.
lunch. And he eats corn for dinner. Country Mouse isn't smiling. He isn't
And every day, Country Mouse plays in the happy. He doesn't like the town. The town is
field with his friends. The country is nice and noisy and dirty. Country Mouse hates the
quiet. And Coutry Mouse is very happy. town.
One day, a mouse from the town visits the Town Mouse and Country Mouse walk
country. He walks through the cornfield. He along the streets. "I don't like the town,"
walks and thinks. The country is boring. Country Mouse thinks.
What can you do in the country? Nothing! The two mice walk to Town Mouse's
thinks Town Mouse. house.
In the town, you can buy nice clothes. You Town Mouse's house is beatiful. It is very
can eat good food. You can visit museums. big. And it has a big garden. In the garden,
And you can go to the cinema . I love the there are a lot of beatiful flowers. " It's a
town, he thinks. beatiful house," says Country Mouse. "You
Country Mouse sees him. Country mouse are very lucky."
is very kind and friendly. He invites Town "Thank you," says Town Mouse. "Let's go
Mouse to dinner. "Do you want to come for inside."
dinner at my house?" They walk up to the path to the big front
"That's very kind of you. Thank you,"says door. They go inside. Town Mouse lives in the
Town Mouse. kitchen. In the kitchen there are a lot of
That evening, Town mouse and Country cupboards. And in the cupboards, there is a
Mose have dinner in the little tree house. lot of food. There is some bread. There are
They eat corn for dinner. some jars of honey and jam. There are some
"Mmm. I love corn," says Country Mouse. nuts and biscuits and cakes. And there is a
"Do you like corn?" beatiful big piece of cheese.
"It's okay," says Town Mouse. "Wow!" says Country Mouse. "There is a
lot of food."
"Yes," says Town Mouse, "I'm hungry.
Let's eat."
72 FA I R Y TA L E S
17. big black boots are angry. They shout at the
big grey cat. And the big grey cat runs out
of the house.
The two mice sit behind the cupboard and
wait. They are very frightened. Soon,the
kitchen is quiet again.
"It's okay now," says Town Mouse. "Let's
eat. I'm very hungry."
Country Mouse is not hungry. "No, thank
you. I can't eat now. I'm going home," says
Country Mouse.
Country Mouse runs out of the kitchen. He
runs down the steps. He runs along the path.
He runs out of the garden. And he gets on a
bus. The bus is going to the country.
Town Mouse watches Country Mouse.
Then, he goes inside his house. He sits in his
kitchen and eats his cheese. He is happy. He
has a beatiful big house. He has beatiful
clothes. And he has a lot of good food. "Life
in the town is good ,he thinks. I'm very
lucky."
Finally, Country Mouse arrives home. He
is happy. He sits in his cornfield and eats his
corn. "Life in the country is good, he thinks.
I'm very lucky."
Suddenly the kitchen door opens. The The two mice like different things.
mice see a pair of big black boots and...Oh
no! There is a cat. It is a big white cat.
"Miaow," says the cat.
The mice are frightened. They hide next to
a jar of honey. But the big white cat doesn't
smell the mice. The big black boots and the
cat walk out of the kitchen.
The two mice watch and wait. The door
closes. "Phew!" says Town Mouse. Country
Mouse doesn't say anything. He is fright-
ened.
"It's okay, now," says Town Mouse. "I'm
very hungry. Let's eat." Country Mouse is
not hungry now. He is frightened.
"Don't be frightened." says Town Mouse.
"Come and eat." Town Mouse eats some
cheese. "Mmm.
This cheese is good," he says.
Suddenly, the door opens. A big grey cat
walks in. The big grey cat is hungry. It
miaows.
Country Mouse is very frightened. The cat
can smell the mice.
The cat sees the mice. The cat opens its
mouth wide. Look at its sharp white teeth!
The cheese and the jars fall to the floor.
There is a loud noise. The mice run across
the floor. The cat runs after the mice. They
run and hide behind the cupboard.
The big black boots and the big white cat
hear the noise. They come into the kitchen
again. The white cat is angry. Who is this big
grey cat? This is my house, thinks the white
cat. Then he runs after the big grey cat. The
FA I R Y TA L E S 73
