A certain father had two sons, the elder of whom was smart and sensible, and could do everything, but the younger ...

There was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids, and loved them with all the love of a mother ...

There was once a peasant who had driven his cow to the fair, and sold her for seven thalers ...

There was once a wonderful musician, who went quite alone through a forest and thought of...

There were once on a time a king and a queen who lived happily together and had twelve children ...

The cock once said to the hen, "It is now the time when our nuts are ripe, so let us go to the hill together and ...

Little brother took his little sister by the hand and said, "Since our mother died we have had no happiness; our step-mother beats us every day ...

There was once a man whose wife died, and a woman whose husband died, and the man had...

There was once on a time a poor man, who could no longer support his only son ...

A long time ago there lived a king who was famed for his wisdom through all the land ...

In a village dwelt a poor old woman, who had gathered together a dish of beans and wanted to cook them ...

There was once on a time a Fisherman who lived with his wife in a miserable hovel close by the sea ...

One summer's morning a little tailor was sitting on his table by the window; he was in good spirits, and sewed with all his might. Then came a peasant woman down the street...

Once on a time a mouse, a bird, and a sausage became companions, kept house together, lived well and happily with each other ...

There was once a widow who had two daughters---one of whom was pretty and industrious, whilst the other was ugly and idle ...

There was once a man who had seven sons, and still he had no daughter, however much he wished for one ...

In a certain country there was once great lamentation over a wild boar that laid waste the farmer's fields ...

There was once a poor woman who gave birth to a little son; and as he came into the world with a caul on, it was predicted ...

A louse and a flea kept house together and were brewing beer in an egg-shell. Then the little louse fell in and burnt herself ...

A certain miller had little by little fallen into poverty, and had nothing left but his mill and a large apple-tree behind it ...

The mother of Hans said, "Whither away, Hans?" Hans answered, "To Grethel." "Behave well, Hans ...

An aged count once lived in Switzerland, who had an only son, but he was stupid, and could learn nothing ...

There was once a man who had a daughter who was called Clever Elsie. And when she had grown up her father said ...

There was once upon a time a tailor who had three sons, and only one goat. But as the goat supported the whole of them with her milk ...

A tailor's apprentice was travelling about the world in search of work, and at one time he could find none ...

There was once on a time a soldier who for many years had served the King faithfully, but when the war came to an end could serve no longer ...

Once upon a time there was a child who was willful, and would not do at her mother wished ...

Three army-surgeons who thought they knew their art perfectly, were travelling about the world, and they came to an inn where they wanted to pass the night ...

Seven Swabians were once together. The first was Master Schulz; the second, Jackli; the third, Marli; the fourth, Jergli; the fifth ...

There were once three apprentices, who had agreed to keep always together while travelling, and always to work in the same town ...

There was once a King's son, who was no longer content to stay at home in his father's house, and as he had no fear of anything, he thought ...

There was once a young huntsman who went into the forest to lie in wait. He had a fresh and joyous heart, and as he was going thither ...

A poor servant-girl was once travelling with the family with which she was in service, through a great forest ...

There was once a man who had three sons, and nothing else in the world but the house in which he lived ...

There was a great war, and the King had many soldiers, but gave them small pay, so small that they could not live upon it ...

Once on a time lived a man and a woman who so long as they were rich had no children, but when they were poor they had a little boy ...

In the days when wishing was still of some use, a King's son was bewitched by an old witch, and shut up in an iron stove in a forest ...

In a certain village there once lived a man and his wife, and the wife was so idle that she would never work at anything ...

"Good-day, Father Hollenthe." "Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie." "May I be allowed to have your daughter?" "Oh, yes, if ...

A peasant had a faithful horse which had grown old and could do no more work, so his master would no longer give him anything to eat and said ...

There was once upon a time a King who had twelve daughters, each one more beautiful than the other ...

In former times there lived an aged Queen who was a sorceress, and her daughter was the most beautiful maiden under the sun ...

A woman was going about the unenclosed land with her daughter and her step-daughter cutting fodder, when the Lord came walking ...

There was once on a time a King who had a great forest near his palace, full of all kinds of wild animals ...

East India was besieged by an enemy who would not retire until he had received six hundred dollars ...

Between Werrel and Soist there lived a man whose name was Knoist, and he had three sons. One was blind, the other lame, and the third stark-naked ...

A girl from Brakel once went to St. Anne's Chapel at the foot of the Hinnenberg, and as she wanted to have a husband ...

"Whither goest thou?" "To Walpe." "I to Walpe, thou to Walpe, so, so, together we'll go." ...

There were once a little brother and a little sister, who loved each other with all their hearts ...

There were once two brothers, the one rich, the other poor. The rich one, however, gave nothing to the poor one ...

There was once a poor woman who had a son, who much wished to travel, but his mother said ...

Once on a time there lived a King and a Queen, who were rich, and had everything they wanted, but no children ...

A man and his wife were once sitting by the door of their house, and they had a roasted chicken set before them, and were about to eat it together ...

There were once two brothers who both served as soldiers; one of them was rich, and the other poor ...

In the time when our Lord still walked this earth, he and St. Peter stopped one evening at a smith's and received free quarters ...

The Lord God had created all animals, and had chosen out the wolf to be his dog, but he had forgotten...

There was once an enchanter who was standing in the midst of a great crowd of people performing his wonders ...

There was once an old woman, but thou hast surely seen an old woman go a-begging before now? ...

A certain King had three sons who were all equally dear to him, and he did not know which of them to appoint as his successor after his own death ...

Twelve servants who had done nothing all the day would not exert themselves at night either, but laid themselves on the grass and boasted of their idleness ...

There was once on a time a shepherd boy whose fame spread far and wide because of the wise answers which he gave to every question ...

There was once on a time a little girl whose father and mother were dead, and she was so poor that she no longer had any little room to live in ...

A father was one day sitting at dinner with his wife and his children, and a good friend who had come on a visit was with them ...

There was once a young shepherd who wished much to marry, and was acquainted with three sisters who...

There was once on a time a maiden who was pretty, but idle and negligent ...

A sparrow had four young ones in a ...

In the time of Schlauraffen I went there, and saw Rome and the Lateran hanging by a small silken thread, and a man without feet who outran a swift horse ...

I will tell you something. I saw two roasted fowls flying; they flew quickly and had their...

Three women were changed into flowers which grew in the field, but one of them was allowed to be in her own home at night ...

There was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage. In front of the cottage was a garden wherein stood two rose-trees ...

How fortunate is the master, and how well all goes in his house, when he has a wise servant who listens to his orders and does not obey them ...

Let no one ever say that a poor tailor cannot do great things and win high honors; all that is needed is that he should go to the right smithy ...

Harry was lazy, and although he had nothing else to do but drive his goat daily to pasture, he nevertheless groaned when he went home ...

There was once upon a time a King, but where he reigned and what he was called, I do not know. He had no son, but an only daughter ...

There were once a man and a woman who had an only child, and lived quite alone in a solitary valley ...

Once on a time a poor pious peasant died, and arrived before the gate of heaven. At the same time a very rich, rich lord came there ...

Lean Lisa was of a very different way of thinking from lazy Harry and fat Trina, who never let anything disturb their peace ...

A poor wood-cutter lived with his wife and three daughters in a little hut on the edge of a lonely forest ...

There was once a tailor, who was a quarrelsome fellow, and his wife, who was good, industrious, and pious, never could please him ...

In former days every sound still had its meaning and application. When the smith's hammer resounded, it cried ...

The fishes had for a long time been discontented because no order prevailed in their kingdom ...

"Where do you like best to feed your flocks?" said a man to an old cow-herd. "Here, sir, where the grass is neither too rich nor too poor ...

In days gone by there was a land where the nights were always dark, and the sky spread over it like a black cloth, for there the moon never rose, and no star shone ...

In ancient times a giant was once travelling on a great highway, when suddenly an unknown man...

Master Pfriem was a short, thin, but lively man, who never rested a moment. His face, of which his turned-up nose was the only prominent feature ...

There was once upon a time a very old woman, who lived with he flock of geese in a waste place among the mountains ...

When Adam and Eve were driven out of Paradise, they were compelled to build a house ...

There was once upon a time a miller who lived with his wife in great contentment ...

A tailor and a goldsmith were travelling together, and one evening when the sun had sunk behind the mountains, they heard the sound of distant music ...

A merchant had done good business at the fair; he had sold his wares, and lined his money-bags with gold and silver ...

There was once on a time a girl who was young and beautiful, but she had lost her mother ...

This story, my dear young folks, seems to be false, but it really is true ...

There was once a girl whose father and mother died while she was still a little child ...

There was once on a time a far-sighted, crafty peasant whose tricks were much talked about ...

A countryman one day said to his little puppies, "Come into the parlour and enjoy yourselves, and pick up the bread-crumbs on the table ...

There was once upon a time a princess, who, high under the battlements in her castle, had an apartment with twelve windows ...

One day an old man and his wife were sitting in front of a miserable house resting a while from their work ...

There was once on a time a King who had a daughter, and he caused a glass mountain to be made ...

A soldier who is afraid of nothing, troubles himself about nothing ...

In the winter time, when deep snow lay on the ground, a poor boy was forced to go out on a sledge to fetch wood ...

In old times when wishing still helped one, there lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful ...

A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship ...

Hard by a great forest dwelt a wood-cutter with his wife, who had an only child, a little girl ...

There was once on a time an old king who was ill, and thought to himself, "I am lying on what must be my death-bed ...

There were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a child. At length the woman hoped ...

There was once a girl who was idle and would not spin, and let her mother say what she would, she could not bring her to it ...

Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two children ...

The wife of a rich man fell sick, and as she felt that her end was drawing near, she called her only daughter to her bedside and said ...

There was once a King's son who was seized with a desire to travel about the world, and took no one with him but a faithful servant ...

Once upon a time there was a dear little girl who was loved by every one who looked at her ...

A certain man had a donkey, which had carried the corn-sacks to the mill indefatigably for many a long year; but his strength was going, and he was growing more and more unfit for work.

One very fine day it came to pass that the good God wished to enjoy himself in the heavenly garden ...

There was once a poor peasant who sat in the evening by the hearth and poked the fire, and his wife sat and span ...

There was once on a time an old fox with nine tails, who believed that his wife was not faithful to him, and wished to try her ...

A shoemaker, by no fault of his own, had become so poor that at last he had nothing left but leather for one pair of shoes ...

There was once on a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married ...

There were once a cock and a hen who wanted to take a journey together. So the cock built a beautiful carriage ...

A poor man had so many children that he had already asked every one in the world to be godfather, and when still another...

There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and when her parents told her to...

A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread ...

A certain tailor had a son, who happened to be small, and no bigger than a Thumb, and on this account he was always called Thumbling ...

There was once a wizard who used to take the form of a poor man, and went to houses and begged, and caught pretty girls ...

It is now long ago, quite two thousand years, since there was a rich man who had a beautiful and pious wife ...

A farmer once had a faithful dog called Sultan, who had grown old, and lost all his teeth, so that he could no longer hold anything fast ...

Once upon a time, a certain King was hunting in a great forest, and he chased a wild beast so eagerly that none of his attendants could follow him ...

A long time ago there were a King and Queen who said every day, "Ah, if only we had a child!" but they never had one ...

There was once a forester who went into the forest to hunt, and as he entered it he heard a sound of screaming as if a little child were there ...

A King had a daughter who was beautiful beyond all measure, but so proud and haughty withal that no suitor was good enough for her ...

Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing ...

There were once three brothers who had fallen deeper and deeper into poverty, and at last their need was so great that they had to endure hunger ...

Once there was a miller who was poor, but who had a beautiful daughter ...

There was once on a time a woman who was a real witch and had two daughters, one ugly and wicked ...

In the olden time there was a king, who had behind his palace a beautiful pleasure-garden in which there was a tree that bore golden apples ...

A sheep-dog had not a good master, but, on the contrary, one who let him suffer hunger ...

There was once on a time a man who was called Frederick and a woman called Catherine, who had married ...

There were once upon a time two brothers, one rich and the other poor ...

There was a certain village wherein no one lived but really rich peasants, and just one poor one, whom they called the little peasant ...

Two kings' sons once went out in search of adventures, and fell into a wild, disorderly way of living, so that they never came home again ...

There was once on a time a King who had three sons, of whom two were clever and wise, but the third did not speak much ...

There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was called Dummling, and was despised, mocked ...

There was once on a time a King who had a wife with golden hair, and she was so beautiful that her equal was not to be found on earth ...

There was once a woman and her daughter who lived in a pretty garden with cabbages; and a little hare came into it ...

There was once a King's son who was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved very much ...

Hans wished to put his son to learn a trade, so he went into the church and prayed to our Lord God to know which would be most advantageous for him ...

There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in it an old woman who was a witch dwelt all alone ...

A father once called his three sons before him, and he gave to the first a cock, to the second a scythe, and to the third a cat ...

There was once a man who understood all kinds of arts; he served in war, and behaved well and bravely ...

Once on a time the fox was talking to the wolf of the strength of man; how no animal could withstand him ...

The wolf had the fox with him, and whatsoever the wolf wished, that the fox was compelled to do ...

The she-wolf brought forth a young one, and invited the fox to be godfather ...

It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thought to herself, "He is clever and full of experience ...

There was once on a time a Queen to whom God had given no children. Every morning she went into the garden and prayed ...

There was once a cook named Grethel, who wore shoes with red rosettes, and when she walked out with them on ...

There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled ...

A little brother and sister were once playing by a well, and while they were thus playing, they both fell in ...

Once upon a time the little hen went with the little cock to the nut-hill, and they agreed together ...

There was one on a time a great war, and when it came to an end, many soldiers were discharged ...

Once upon a time there was a man who did nothing but gamble, and for that reason people never called him anything but Gambling Hansel ...

Hans had served his master for seven years, so he said to him, "Master, my time is up; now I should be glad to go back home ...

There was once upon a time a young peasant named Hans, whose uncle wanted to find him a rich wife ...

There was once a poor man and a poor woman who had nothing but a little cottage, and who earned their bread by fishing ...

The fox once came to a meadow in which was a flock of fine fat geese, on which he smiled and said ...

In olden times, when the Lord himself still used to walk about on this earth amongst men, it once happened that he was tired ...

There was once on a time a man who was about to set out on a long journey, and on parting he asked his three daughters ...

There was once upon a time an old Queen whose husband had been dead for many years, and she had a beautiful daughter ...

Once on a time a countryman had a son who was as big as a thumb, and did not become any bigger ...

There was once upon a time a rich King who had three daughters, who daily went to walk in the palace garden ...

There was a certain merchant who had two children, a boy and a girl; they were both young, and could not walk ...

There was once upon a time a Queen who had a little daughter who was still so young that she had to be carried ...

There was once a poor peasant who had no land, but only a small house, and one daughter ...

Once upon a time lived a peasant and his wife, and the parson of the village had a fancy for the wife ...

About a thousand or more years ago, there were in this country nothing but small kings, and one of them who lived on the Keuterberg was very fond of hunting ...

There was once a King who had an illness, and no one believed that he would come out of it with his life ...

There was once on a time a poor peasant called Crabb, who drove with two oxen a load of wood to the town ...

There was once a poor woodcutter who toiled from early morning till late night ...

A disbanded soldier had nothing to live on, and did not know how to get on. So he went out into the forest ...

There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets ...

Once in summer-time the bear and the wolf were walking in the forest, and the bear heard a bird singing so beautifully that he said ...

There was a poor but good little girl who lived alone with her mother, and they no longer had anything to eat ...

One day a peasant took his good hazel-stick out of the corner and said to his wife ...

There was once a little child whose mother gave her every afternoon a small bowl of milk and bread ...

In a certain mill lived an old miller who had neither wife nor child, and three apprentices served under him ...

Hill and vale do not come together, but the children of men do, good and bad. In this way a shoemaker and a tailor once met with each other ...

There was once a countryman who had money and land in plenty, but how rich soever he was, one thing was still wanting in his happiness he had no children ...

There was once a mother who had a little boy of seven years old, who was so handsome and lovable that no one could look at him without liking him ...

There was once a rich man, who had a servant who served him diligently and honestly ...

There was once a young fellow who had learnt the trade of locksmith, and told his father he would now go out into the world and seek his fortune ...

A countryman was once going out to plough with a pair of oxen. When he got to the field, both the animals' horns began to grow ...

There was once on a time a King who had a little boy of whom it had been foretold that he should be killed by a stag when he was sixteen years of age ...

There was once on a time a princess who was extremely proud. If a wooer came she gave him some riddle to guess ...

There was once a poor man who had four sons, and when they were grown up, he said to them, "My dear children, you must now go out into the world ...

There was once a woman who had three daughters, the eldest of whom was called One-eye, because she had only one eye ...

Two or three hundred years ago, when people were far from being so crafty and cunning as they are now-a-day, an extraordinary event took place ...

When God had created the world and was about to fix the length of each creature's life, the ass came and asked ...

A certain tailor who was great at boasting but ill at doing, took it into his head to go abroad for a while, and look about the world.

There was once a poor shepherd-boy whose father and mother were dead, and he was placed by the authorities in the house of a rich man ...

A young drummer went out quite alone one evening into the country, and came to a lake...

In former times, when God himself still walked the earth, the fruitfulness of the soil was ...

A rich farmer was one day standing in his yard inspecting his fields and gardens ...

There was once an enchantress, who had three sons who loved each other as brothers, but the old woman...

There was once a King who had a son who asked in marriage the daughter of a mighty King ...