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.

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. He had, however, some courage in him, and said to his father, "Father, I must and will go out into the world."

A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to provide them even with bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather.

There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and when her parents told her to do anything, she did not obey them, so how could she fare well?

A poor man had so many children that he had already asked everyone in the world to be godfather, and when still another child was born, no one else was left whom he could invite.

There were once a cock and a hen who wanted to take a journey together.

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

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 an old fox with nine tails, who believed that his wife was not faithful to him, and wished to test her.

There was once a poor peasant who sat in the evening by the hearth and poked the fire, and his wife sat spinning. Then he said, "How sad it is that we have no children..."