Grimms' fairy tales

Grimms' fairy tales: Children's and Household Tales

061

The little peasant

There was a certain village wherein no one lived but really rich peasants, and just one poor one, whom they called the little peasant. He had not even so much as a cow, and still less money to buy one, and yet he and his wife did so wish to have one. One day he said to her, Hark you, I have a good thought, there is our gossip the carpenter, he shall make us a wooden calf, and paint it brown, so that it look like any other, and in time it will certainly get big and be a cow. The woman also likedRead the story →

062

The queen bee

Two king's sons once started to seek adventures, and fell into a wild, reckless way of living, and gave up all thoughts of going home again. Their third and youngest brother, who was called Witling, and had remained behind, started off to seek them; and when at last he found them, they jeered at his simplicity in thinking that he could make his way in the world, while they who were so much cleverer were unsuccessful. But they all three went on together until they came to an ant-hill, which the tRead the story →

063

The three feathers

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, and was simple, and was called the Simpleton. When the King had become old and weak, and was thinking of his end, he did not know which of his sons should inherit the kingdom after him. Then he said to them: Go forth, and he who brings me the most beautiful carpet shall be King after my death. And that there should be no dispute amongst them, he took them outside his castle, blRead the story →

064

The golden goose

There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was called the Simpleton, and was despised, laughed at, and neglected, on every occasion. It happened one day that the eldest son wished to go into the forest to cut wood, and before he went his mother gave him a delicious pancake and a flask of wine, that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst. When he came into the forest a little old grey man met him, who wished him good day, and said, Give me a bit of cake out of your pocket, and leRead the story →

065

All-kinds-of-fur (Allerleirauh)

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. It came to pass that she lay ill, and as she felt that she must soon die, she called the King and said, If thou wishest to marry again after my death, take no one who is not quite as beautiful as I am, and who has not just such golden hair as I have: this thou must promise me. And after the King had promised her this she closed her eyes and died. For a long timeRead the story →

066

The rabbit's bride

There was once a woman who lived with her daughter in a beautiful cabbage-garden; and there came a rabbit and ate up all the cabbages. At last said the woman to her daughter, Go into the garden, and drive out the rabbit. Shoo! shoo! said the maiden; don't eat up all our cabbages, little rabbit! Come, maiden, said the rabbit, sit on my tail and go with me to my rabbit-hutch. But the maiden would not. Another day, back came the rabbit, and ate away at the cabbages, until the woman said to her daugRead the story →

067

The twelve huntsmen

There was once a King's son who was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his end. Then he said to his beloved, I must now go and leave thee, I give thee a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am King, I will return and fetch thee. So he rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter was dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him, DearRead the story →

068

The thief and his master

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. Then the clerk got behind the altar, and said, Thieving, thieving. On this Hans goes back to his son, and tells him he is to learn thieving, and that the Lord God had said so. So he goes with his son to seek a man who is acquainted with thieving. They walk a long time and come into a great forest, where stands a little house with an old woman in it.Read the story →

069

Jorinda and Joringel

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. In the day-time she changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being. She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, and then she killed and boiled and roasted them. If any one came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be freRead the story →

070

The three children of fortune

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. I am already aged, said he, my death is nigh, and I have wished to take thought for you before my end; money I have not, and what I now give you seems of little worth, but all depends on your making a sensible use of it. Only seek out a country where such things are still unknown, and your fortune is made. After the father's death the eldest went away with his cock, buRead the story →

071

Six soldiers of fortune

There was once a man who was a Jack-of-all-trades; he had served in the war, and had been brave and bold, but at the end of it he was sent about his business, with three farthings and his discharge. I am not going to stand this, said he; wait till I find the right man to help me, and the king shall give me all the treasures of his kingdom before he has done with me. Then, full of wrath, he went into the forest, and he saw one standing there by six trees which he had rooted up as if they had beenRead the story →

072

The wolf and the man

Once on a time the fox was talking to the wolf of the strength of man; how no animal could withstand him, and how all were obliged to employ cunning in order to preserve themselves from him. Then the wolf answered, If I had but the chance of seeing a man for once, I would set on him notwithstanding. I can help thee to do that, said the fox. Come to me early to-morrow morning, and I will show thee one. The wolf presented himself betimes, and the fox took him out on the road by which the huntsmenRead the story →

073

The wolf and the fox

The wolf had the fox with him, and whatsoever the wolf wished, that the fox was compelled to do, for he was the weaker, and he would gladly have been rid of his master. It chanced that once as they were going through the forest, the wolf said, Red-fox, get me something to eat, or else I will eat thee thyself. Then the fox answered, I know a farm-yard where there are two young lambs; if thou art inclined, we will fetch one of them. That suited the wolf, and they went thither, and the fox stole thRead the story →

074

Gossip wolf and the fox (The fox and his cousin)

The she-wolf brought forth a young one, and invited the fox to be godfather. After all, he is a near relative of ours, said she, he has a good understanding, and much talent; he can instruct my little son, and help him forward in the world. The fox, too, appeared quite honest, and said, Worthy Mrs. Gossip, I thank you for the honour which you are doing me; I will, however, conduct myself in such a way that you shall be repaid for it. He enjoyed himself at the feast, and made merry; afterwards heRead the story →

075

The fox and the cat

It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thought to herself, He is clever and full of experience, and much esteemed in the world, she spoke to him in a friendly way. Good-day, dear Mr. Fox, how are you? How is all with you? How are you getting through this dear season? The fox, full of all kinds of arrogance, looked at the cat from head to foot, and for a long time did not know whether he would give any answer or not. At last he said, Oh, thou wretched beard-cleaner, thou pieRead the story →

076

The pink

There was once on a time a Queen to whom God had given no children. Every morning she went into the garden and prayed to God in heaven to bestow on her a son or a daughter. Then an angel from heaven came to her and said, Be at rest, thou shalt have a son with the power of wishing, so that whatsoever in the world he wishes for, that shall he have. Then she went to the King, and told him the joyful tidings, and when the time was come she gave birth to a son, and the King was filled with gladness.Read the story →

077

Clever Grethel

There was once a cook named Grethel, who wore shoes with red rosettes, and when she walked out with them on, she turned herself this way and that, and thought, You certainly are a pretty girl! And when she came home she drank, in her gladness of heart, a draught of wine, and as wine excites a desire to eat, she tasted the best of whatever she was cooking until she was satisfied, and said, The cook must know what the food is like. It came to pass that the master one day said to her, Grethel, therRead the story →

078

The old man and his grandson

There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth. His son and his son's wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of teaRead the story →

079

The water-nix

A little brother and sister were once playing by a well, and while they were thus playing, they both fell in. A water-nix lived down below, who said, Now I have got you, now you shall work hard for me! and carried them off with her. She gave the girl dirty tangled flax to spin, and she had to fetch water in a bucket with a hole in it, and the boy had to hew down a tree with a blunt axe, and they got nothing to eat but dumplings as hard as stones. Then at last the children became so impatient, thRead the story →

080

The death of the little hen

Once upon a time the little hen went with the little cock to the nut-hill, and they agreed together that whichsoever of them found a kernel of a nut should share it with the other. Then the hen found a large, large nut, but said nothing about it, intending to eat the kernel herself. The kernel, however, was so large that she could not swallow it, and it remained sticking in her throat, so that she was alarmed lest she should be choked. Then she cried, Cock, I entreat thee to run as fast thou canRead the story →

The most beautiful stories of GrimmThe best fairy tales →

The snow queenA fairy tale by H.C. Andersen →

The elderbushA fairy tale by H.C. Andersen →

The wild swansA fairy tale by H.C. Andersen →