A rich farmer was one day standing in his yard in inspecting his fields and gardens. The corn was growing up vigorously and the fruit trees were heavily laden with fruit. The grain of the year before still lay in such immense heaps on the floors that the rafters could hardly bear it. Then he went into the stable...

In former times when God himself still walked the earth, the fruitfulness of the soil was much greater than it is now; then the ears of corn did not bear fifty or sixty, but four or five hundred.

A young drummer went out one evening quite alone into the country, and came to a lake on the shore of which he perceived three pieces of white linen lying. "What fine linen," he said, and put one piece in his pocket.

One day an old man and his wife were sitting in front of a miserable house resting awhile from their work. Suddenly a splendid carriage with four black horses came driving up, and a richly dressed man descended from it.

There was once upon a time princess, who, under the battlements in her castle, had an apartment with twelve windows, which looked out in every possible direction, and when she climbed up to it and looked around her, she could inspect her whole kingdom.

A countryman said one day to his little puppies, "Come into the parlor and enjoy yourselves, and pick up the bread crumbs on the table; your mistress has gone out to pay some visits."

There was once upon a time a far-sighted, crafty peasant whose tricks were much talked about. The best story is how he once got hold of the Devil...

There was once a girl whose father and mother died while she was still a little child. All alone, in a small house at the end of the village, dwelt her godmother, who supported herself by spinning, weaving, and sewing.

This story, my dear young folks, seems to be false, but really is true, for my grandfather, from whom I have it, used always, when relating it, to say complacently, "It must be true my son, or else no one could tell it to you."

There was once upon a time a girl who was young and beautiful, but she had lost her mother when she was quite a child, and her stepmother did all she could to make the girl's life wretched.