Stories

Arion and the Dolphins

October 13, 2017 • Greek Myths

Long ago in ancient Corinth there lived a young man called Arion who played the lyre so wonderfully well that his songs could charm people and beast alike.

Young Arion set off to Ionia to participate in a music contest . The prize for the winner was a bag of silver but wealth did not draw Arion, but like any Greek hero, he wanted to win fame. His friend warned him of pirates and shipwrecks and implored the Gods to keep him safe on the high seas.

Arion played beautifully in Ionia, and sure enough, the prize and fame were his. He booked passage back with the same merchant who had conveyed him across the sea, and headed for home full of stories and pride

Anansi Goes Fishing

October 13, 2017 • African Tales

In the country of Ashanti, not far from the edge of the great West African forest, there was a man named Anansi,^ who was known to all the people for miles around. Anansi was not a great hunter, or a great worker, or a great warrior. His specialty was being clever. He liked to outwit people. He liked to live well, and to have other people do things for him. But because all the people of the country knew about Anansi and had had trouble with him, he had to keep thinking of new ways to get something for nothing. One day Anansi was sitting in the village when a man named Osansa came along. I have an idea,' Anansi said. 'Why don't we go and set fish traps together? Then we shall sell the fish and be quite rich.' But Osansa knew Anansi's reputation very well, and so he said : 'No, I have as much food as I can eat or sell. I am rich enough.

A Pride of African Tales

October 13, 2017 • African Tales

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Hansel and Gretel

September 04, 2017 • European Fairy Tales

Once upon a time a very poor woodcutter lived in a tiny cottage in the forest with his two children, Hansel and Gretel. His second wife often ill-treated the children and was forever nagging the woodcutter.

"There is not enough food in the house for us all. There are too many mouths to feed! We must get rid of the two brats," she declared. And she kept on trying to persuade her husband to abandon his children in the forest.

Rapunzel

September 04, 2017 • European Fairy Tales

There were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a child. At length the woman hoped that God was about to grant her desire. These people had a little window at the back of their house from which a splendid garden could be seen, which was full of the most beautiful flowers and herbs. It was, however, surrounded by a high wall, and no one dared to go into it because it belonged to an enchantress, who had great power and was dreaded by all the world.