Public Domain

This story is in the public domain in the United States, such as a Project Gutenber e-text of a historical work, or a work created by the federal government.

The Table, the Sifter, and the Pinchers

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THE TABLE, THE SIFTER AND THE PINCHERS (The Story of the King's Laborer and His Wages) Once upon a time there was a man who was very poor. He had so many children it was difficult to earn money enough to provide for them all. Accordingly, he left home and hired out to the king of a distant land. At the end of a year's time he went to the king and said: "I have served you faithfully for a whole year. Now I wish to return to my wife and children. Please pay me what you owe me for my work." The king said: "I will not reward you in money.

Why Pigs Have Curly Tails

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Why Pigs Have Curly Tails THERE was once a fairy who fell into a bramble-bush. It was a very closely grown bush, and she could not get out. She was sadly scratched, and the thorns caught her tiny delicate wings and tore her pretty frail dress into shreds. The bramble-bush formed part of a hedge which ran along the side of an orchard, and presently a horse came sauntering up to the hedge. “Oh, please help me, sir,” said the fairy. “I’m caught in a bramble-bush, and can’t get out.” The horse came and looked at her. “That’s a nasty place to be in,” he said.

Johnny Crow's Party

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Johnny Crow’s Party By L. Leslie Brooke Johnny Crow Plied Rake and Row And improved his little Garden. And the Eagle Looked quite regal In Johnny Crow's Garden And the Cockatoo Said "Comment vous portez vous?" But the Gander Didn't understand her; Yet the Flamingo Spoke the same lingo In Johnny Crow's Garden. Mr.

The Circus Procession

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Circus Procession Open the gates, and draw the curtain, Here comes something fine, that’s certain; Louder the band begins to play, Open the gates, and clear the way! Enters a Queen with a King beside her; Every horse is proud of his rider; Two by two they march to the tune, And hear the procession that will follow soon. Men in livery, in their places, Make peppy steeds keep their paces, Soothing down their wildest fears At the rising shouts and cheers Jocko, in these sports a sharer, Acts the part of a standard-bearer, While behind him soldiers say Bugle notes of victor

Willie Mouse

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Willie Mouse Willie Mouse had often heard his Ma and Pa say that the moon was made of green cheese, and one evening he thought he would see if he could find it. He packed up a piece of cheese and a crust of bread, and, taking his lantern, set out on his travels. He had not gone far when he met his friend, Mr. Woodmouse, who asked him where he was going. “Oh!” said Willie, “I'm going to find the moon; it's made of green cheese, you know.” “I don't believe it's made of green cheese at all,” said Mr.

The Tale of Tom Kitten

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THE TALE OF TOM KITTEN BY BEATRIX POTTER Once upon a time there were three little kittens, and their names were Mittens, Tom Kitten, and Moppet. They had dear little fur coats of their own; and they tumbled about the doorstep and played in the dust. But one day their mother—Mrs.

Chicken Little

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The Story you will be listening to today is Chicken-Little and is being read to you by Christina. One day Chicken-Little had gone to sleep under a rose-bush, and a cow reached over the fence and bit off the top of the rose-bush. The noise woke up Chicken-little, and just as she woke a rose-leaf fell on her tail. “Squawk! Squawk!” cried Chicken-little, “the sky is falling!”; and away she ran as fast as her legs would carry her.

Why Dogs Sniff: the Story of the Dogs' Dinner Party

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WHY DOGS SNIFF The Story of the Dogs' Dinner Party Once upon a time the dogs gave a dinner party. All the dogs were invited and all the dogs accepted the invitation. There were big dogs and little dogs and middle-sized dogs. There were black dogs and white dogs and brown dogs and gray dogs and yellow dogs and spotted dogs. There were dogs with long tails and dogs with short tails and dogs with no tails at all. There were dogs with little sharp-pointed ears and dogs with big flat drooping ears.

The Little Pine Tree

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THE LITTLE PINE TREE Once upon a time there was a little pine tree who lived in the woods. It had no leaves. It had needles. The little tree said, "I do not like needles. All the other trees in the woods have pretty leaves. I want leaves, too. But I will have better leaves than all the other trees. I want gold leaves." The little tree didn’t know it but a fairy from the forest had heard his wish. Night came and the little tree went to sleep. The fairy came by and gave it gold leaves. When the little tree woke it had leaves of gold. It said, "Oh, I am so pretty!

Diamonds and Toads

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This story is called Diamonds and Toads by Charles Perrault. This is a LibraryCall adaptation and recording. Once upon a time, there was a cruel woman who had two daughters. The older daughter, Vivian, looked just like her mother and had a similarly foul temperament. The younger daughter, Isabelle, was good-natured and friendly. The woman spoiled her older daughter, showering Vivian with new clothes and expensive cuts of meat. Meanwhile, the mother ignored Isabelle and required her to work hard all day just to eat the scraps of food left behind by her sister.