A POOR LITTLE GIRL Once, a rich lady, having no child of her own, decided, to adopt a girl child. For this, she gave advertisements in various newspapers. Many poor women came to sell their daughters to her. The rich lady gave some money to all girls and asked them to go to the market and buy their favourite things. . On returning, all the girls showed the rich lady, the things they had bought. Most of them had bought ribbons, clothes and other things for themselves but one poor girl had bought a prayer book and a needle. The lady got impressed with the poor girl and adapted her sayi ... read more

Once, there was a farmer’s wife. And one night she woke up and dreamt that it was day. And she took her basket on her arm and walked away from the farm, high, high, high onto the moor. And there the moon shone full and round. And silhouetted against the moon she saw a creature running towards her – long eared, fast: a hare. And quickly it ran. And behind the hare there came a black hound. And behind the hound, a horse with a rider tall in the saddle and a black hat upon his head. And the hunter came closer. And she saw as he came closer that there were horns, one on each side of his head ... read more

Once upon a time, there was a farmer called Ah Niu. Ah Niu was not a rich farmer but he was very happy. He worked in the fields with his only cow from dawn until dusk. This provided Ah Niu with vegetables to eat and extra crops which he would sell to the local villagers on market day so that he might buy other foods. Ah Niu and his cow worked very hard, but they were contented with their simple life and they did not complain as they had everything they needed. But one year, everything changed. The rains did not come and the farm land began to dry up and turn to dust. Because there w ... read more

The Donkey on Wheels "THERE was once a poor little donkey on wheels. It had never wagged its tail, or tossed its head, or said, "Hee-haw!" or tasted a tender thistle. It always went about, anywhere that anyone pulled it, on four wooden wheels, carrying a foolish knight, who wore a large cocked hat and a long cloak, because he had no legs. Now, a man who has no legs, and rides a donkey on wheels, has little cause for pride; but the knight was haughty, and seldom remembered his circumstances. So the donkey suffered sorely, and in many ways. One day the donkey and the knight were on the tab ... read more

In the Moonlight HE picked a buttercup, and held it up to her chin. "Do you like butter?" he asked. "Butter!" she exclaimed. "They are not made into butter. They are made into crowns for the Queen; she has a new one every morning." "I'll make you a crown," he said. "You shall wear it to-night." " But where will my throne be ?" she asked. "It shall be on the middle step of the stile by the corn-field." So when the moon rose I went out to see. He wore a red jacket and his cap with the feather in it. Round her head there was a wreath of buttercups; it was not much like a crow ... read more