Little fairy tales and stories of foreign writers to read. List of foreign folk tales

Old French fairy tales existed until the 17th century only in oral form. They were composed for children by ordinary people - nannies, cooks and just villagers. Such fantasies were not published as a genre of low literature.

The situation was changed by the texts of folk art, recorded, processed and published by Charles Perrault. Heroes of folklore stepped into the royal palace and castles of high society. Well-known statesmen did not shy away from writing fairy tales and even memorized them from their own servants. They were imbued with a sincere interest in unusual plots and felt the educational power of a fairy tale in relation to their own children.

Main plots and characters

As in most countries, French folklore contains children's fairy tales about animals, as well as magical and everyday ones. Many of them were published under the names of those who found and edited oral stories. So folk tales turned into literary copyrights.

Small works could be significantly expanded, some of them became softer and kinder. The thought of the inevitability of punishment in children's heads was replaced by a desire to do the right thing. A fairy tale acquired new facets of beauty and miracles.

Why did French fairy tales spread around the world?

Natural humor, artistry and bright characters of the main characters, an abundance of amazing adventures gave French fairy tales worldwide fame. The processing of folk art by educated writers improved the style of presentation and understanding of what was happening. Children from all over the world saw what wonderful storytellers write in France and began to read them with pleasure.

Such works have also been published in Russian. This gives our little readers and listeners the opportunity to plunge headlong into the fantasy world of French magic.

1 - About the little bus that was afraid of the dark

Donald Bisset


A fairy tale about how a mother-bus taught her little bus not to be afraid of the dark... About a little bus who was afraid of the dark to read Once upon a time there was a little bus in the world. He was bright red and lived with his mom and dad in a garage. Every morning …

2 - Three kittens

Suteev V.G.

A small fairy tale for the little ones about three restless kittens and their funny adventures. Small children love short stories with pictures, that's why Suteev's fairy tales are so popular and loved! Three kittens read Three kittens - black, gray and ...

3 - Hedgehog in the fog

Kozlov S.G.


A fairy tale about the Hedgehog, how he walked at night and got lost in the fog. He fell into the river, but someone carried him to the shore. It was a magical night! Hedgehog in the fog read Thirty mosquitoes ran out into the clearing and began to play ...

4 - Apple

Suteev V.G.


A fairy tale about a hedgehog, a hare and a crow who could not share the last apple among themselves. Everyone wanted to own it. But the fair bear judged their dispute, and each got a piece of goodies ... Apple to read It was late ...

5 - Black Pool

Kozlov S.G.


A fairy tale about a cowardly Hare who was afraid of everyone in the forest. And he was so tired of his fear that he decided to drown himself in the Black Pool. But he taught the Hare to live and not be afraid! Black pool read Once upon a time there was a Hare ...

6 - About the Hippo who was afraid of vaccinations

Suteev V.G.

A fairy tale about a cowardly hippopotamus who ran away from the clinic because he was afraid of vaccinations. And he got jaundice. Fortunately, he was taken to the hospital and cured. And the Hippo was very ashamed of his behavior... About the Behemoth, who was afraid...

7 - In the sweet carrot forest

Kozlov S.G.


A fairy tale about what forest animals love most of all. And one day everything happened as they dreamed. In the sweet carrot forest, the Hare loved carrots most of all to read. He said: - I would like that in the forest ...

8 - Kid and Carlson

Astrid Lindgren


A short story about the kid and prankster Carlson adapted by B. Larin for children. Kid and Carlson read This story actually happened. But, of course, it happened far away from you and me - in Swedish ...

Foreign fairy tales tell about miracles and amazing people, and also ridicule human vices. Good necessarily triumphs over evil, generosity and courage are rewarded according to their deserts, and nobility always triumphs over meanness. We present to your attention a list of foreign folk tales that children of different ages will like.

Ayoga

The fairy tale "Ayoga" is named after a girl who became proud because everyone considered her beautiful. She refused to go for water, and the neighbor's girl went instead. She also got the pie that her mother baked. Out of resentment, Ayoga turned into a goose, which to this day flies and repeats its name so that no one confuses it with others.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

The tale "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" tells the story of two brothers. One of them, Kasim, became rich after his father's death. And the other - Ali Baba quickly squandered everything. But he was lucky, he found a cave of robbers with treasures. Ali Baba took some goodness and left. When his brother found out about the treasure and went to the cave, he could not restrain his greed. As a result, Kasim died at the hands of robbers.

Aladdin magic lamp

The work "The Magic Lamp of Aladdin" tells about a poor young man and his adventures. Once Aladdin met a dervish who introduced himself as his uncle. In fact, he was a sorcerer who, with the help of a young man, was trying to get a magic lamp. As a result of long adventures, Aladdin managed to defeat the dervish and stay with his beloved princess.

humpbacked princess

The heroine of the work "Humpbacked Princess" once offended a hunchbacked beggar. As a result of the vicissitudes of fate, he became the husband of a princess. When she managed to get rid of her hated husband, the girl was left with a hump from him. The princess enters the castle of the prince in a golden cloak. As a result, she gets rid of the humpback and becomes the wife of the prince.

Jack and the beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk is the story of a poor boy who lived with his mother. Once he traded a cow for magic beans. Climbing a stalk grown from beans, Jack took the gold, the duck, and the ogre's harp. When the last time the giant tried to catch up with the boy, he cut down the stalk and killed the ogre. He then married a princess and lived happily ever after.

Pan Kotsky

The fairy tale "Pan Kotsky" tells about a cat, which the owner took to the forest when he grew old. There he was met by a fox. The cat called himself Pan Kotsky. The fox invited him to become husband and wife. The red-haired cheat deceived the forest animals, who invited the spouses to dinner, and by cunning made them afraid of the cat.

Why is the sea water salty

The tale "Why is the water in the sea salty" tells the story of two brothers. Once a poor man begged from rich meat. He gave, but sent his brother to old Hiisi. As a reward for courage, the poor man received a millstone, giving whatever you want. Upon learning this, the rich man begged for a gift from his brother and did not want to return it back. While fishing, a millstone grinding salt did not stop and sank the boat.

Sinbad the Sailor

The fairy tale "Sinbad the Sailor" tells about the amazing adventures of the hero. One of the three stories tells of an island that turns out to be a whale. The second tells about the meeting of Sinbad with the bird Roc and the amazing rescue of the sailor. In the third, the hero had to survive in a skirmish with a cannibal giant.

worn shoes

The Worn Shoes is a fairy tale about 12 princesses and their secret. No one was able to find out why the shoes of the girls, who were closed in their bedchamber, were worn out the next morning. Those who tried and failed to solve the riddle were decapitated. Only a poor soldier managed to find out the secret of the princesses and get one of them as his wife.

Three piglets

From the fairy tale "Three Little Pigs" children learn about the need to think through everything in advance. By the approach of cold weather, one of the brothers-piglets - Naf-Naf built a solid stone house. But Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf built frail buildings that could not resist the onslaught of the wolf. All three brothers are saved in the house of prudent Naf-Naf.

Miraculous pearl

"Wonderful Pearl" is a fairy tale about a poor girl Ua. She worked for an elder who abused her. Once the girl was asked to save the daughter of the lord of the waters, which she did. As a reward, Ua received a magical wish-granting pearl. A wonderful thing helped the girl get rid of poverty and live happily with her lover.

Why do rabbits have long ears

The hero of the fairy tale “Why does the hare have long ears” is a small shy animal. He overheard the conversation of the elk with his wife, when he argued to whom to distribute the antlers. And begged for the biggest horns for himself. And when a bump fell on his head, he was so frightened that he got tangled in the bushes. He took away the antlers of the elk and rewarded the hare with big ears because he loves to eavesdrop.

three oranges

The tale "Three Oranges" about how the old woman cursed the king's son. According to her prophecy, as soon as he was 21 years old, the young man went to look for a tree with three oranges. He had to wander for a long time, but he found what he was looking for. Together with oranges, the prince acquired a beautiful bride and married her.

golden shoe

The fairy tale "The Golden Shoe" tells the story of two sisters Mugazo and Muhalok. The first was kind and obedient, but her stepmother did not love her. Mugazo had to experience many troubles, because she turned into a turtle, a bird, and a persimmon. But thanks to the intercession of the goddess, the girl remained alive and married the king.

Two greedy bear cubs

"Two Greedy Little Bears" is an instructive tale for children. It tells about two brothers cubs. One day they went on a trip together. When the cubs got hungry and found a head of cheese, they did not know how to share it. Because of their greed, they trusted the cunning fox who deceived the cubs.

Jug of gold

The work "Jug of Gold" tells about a poor plowman who rented land to a neighbor. When he was working in the field, he found a jug of gold. Unable to agree on who it belongs to, the plowmen turned to the king. However, instead of gold, he saw only snakes. Only the wise men helped to resolve such a controversial issue.

The poor man and the wind brothers

“The Poor Man and the Wind Brothers” is a fairy tale about two brothers: the poor and the rich. One was simple-hearted, but had little good. The other is rich but greedy. Once the poor man had to turn to the winds that left him without torment. They gave the peasant a present, but he failed to save the gifts. The brother misappropriated them. But the winds helped the poor man not only to return the good, but also taught the mind.

How the Sun and the Moon visited each other

“How the Sun and the Moon went to visit each other” is a fairy tale about why the night star reflects light. When the Moon came to visit the Sun, she presented a star on a platter. Going for a return visit, the King of Light ordered the tailor to sew a dress from clouds for a gift. But he refused, as the moon is constantly changing shape. Then the Sun allowed the night luminary to use its rays for outfits.

Little man-Burachok

The fairy tale "Peasant-Gimlet" is named after the main character. He was an ordinary plowman, but ingenuity surpassed any sage. Upon learning of this, the pan did not believe the stories of people and decided to check the peasant. He summoned Burachok to him and asked him riddles. But he used his ingenuity and proved that he was smarter than the pan.

A pot of porridge

The fairy tale "The Pot of Porridge" tells about a kind girl. Having met an old woman in the forest, she treated her to berries, for which she received a magic pot. This miraculous dish was filled with delicious porridge as soon as the right words were spoken. When the girl went away, her mother used the potty, but did not know how to stop him. As a result, porridge filled the entire city.

I don't remember exactly what year it was. For a whole month I hunted with enthusiasm, with wild joy, with the ardor that you bring to new passions.

I lived in Normandy, with a single relative, Jules de Banneville, in his family castle, alone with him, with his maid, footman and watchman. A dilapidated building surrounded by groaning fir trees in the middle of long oak avenues through which the wind rushed; the castle seemed long abandoned. In the corridor, where the wind blew, as in the avenues of a park, hung portraits of all those people who once ceremoniously received noble neighbors in these rooms, now locked and cluttered with nothing but antique furniture.

As for us, we simply fled into the kitchen, where there was only one to live in, into a huge kitchen, the dark nooks and crannies of which were lit up only when a new pile of firewood was thrown into the huge fireplace. Every evening we dozed sweetly by the fireplace, in front of which our wet boots smoked, and the hunting dogs curled up at our feet barked in their sleep, seeing the hunt again; then we went upstairs to our room.

It was the only room in which all the walls and ceiling were carefully plastered because of the mice. But, bleached with lime, it remained bare, and only guns, rapniks and hunting horns hung on its walls; chattering our teeth from the cold, we climbed into the beds that stood on both sides of this Siberian dwelling.

At a distance of one league from the castle, a steep bank broke into the sea; from the powerful breath of the ocean, day and night, tall bent trees groaned, roofs and weather vanes creaked as if with a cry, and the whole venerable building crackled, filling with wind through thinning tiles, through fireplaces as wide as an abyss, through windows that no longer closed.

That day there was a terrible frost. Evening came. We were about to sit at a table in front of a high fireplace, where a hare's back and two partridges were roasting on a bright fire, emitting a delicious smell.

My cousin raised his head.

“It won’t be hot to sleep tonight,” he said.

I answered indifferently:

- Yes, but tomorrow morning there will be ducks on the ponds.

The servant girl, who was setting the table for us at one end and for the servants at the other, asked:

Do the gentlemen know that today is Christmas Eve?

Of course, we didn't know, because we almost never looked at the calendar. My friend said:

“So there will be midnight Mass tonight.” So that's why they've been calling all day!

The maid replied:

“Yes and no, sir; they also called because Uncle Fournel had died.

Uncle Fournel, an old shepherd, was a local celebrity. He was ninety-six years old, and he never fell ill until the very time when a month ago he caught a cold, falling into a swamp on a dark night. The next day he fell ill and has been dying ever since.

The cousin turned to me:

“If you want, let’s go visit these poor people now.”

He meant the old man's family—his fifty-eight-year-old grandson and his grandson's fifty-seven-year-old wife. The intermediate generation has long since died. They huddled in a miserable shack, at the entrance to the village, to the right.

I don't know why, but the thought of Christmas in this wilderness got us to chat. We told each other all sorts of stories about previous Christmas Eve, about our adventures on this crazy night, about past successes with women and about awakenings the next day - awakenings together, accompanied by surprise and risky surprises.

Thus, our lunch was delayed. Having finished with him, we smoked a lot of pipes and, seized by the gaiety of hermits, the cheerful sociability that suddenly arises between two bosom friends, continued to talk incessantly, going over in conversation the most intimate memories that are shared during hours of such closeness.

The maid who left us long ago reappeared:

"Sir, I'm going to Mass."

- A quarter past twelve.

- Shall we go to church? Jules asked. – The Christmas mass is very curious in the countryside.

I agreed, and we set off, wrapped in hunting fur coats.

Severe frost pricked his face, and his eyes watered. The air was so icy that it took your breath away and your throat dried up. The deep, clear and severe sky was dotted with stars, they seemed to have turned pale from frost and flickered not like lights, but like sparkling ice floes, like shining crystals. In the distance, on the sonorous, dry and resonant earth, like copper, peasant clogs rang, and all around small village bells rang, sending their liquid and, as it were, also chilly sounds into the freezing expanse of night.

They didn't sleep in the village. The roosters crowed, deceived by all these sounds, and passing by the barns, one could hear the animals moving, awakened by this roar of life.

Approaching the village, Jules remembered the Fournels.

“Here’s their shack,” he said, “let’s go in!”

He knocked for a long time, but in vain. Finally, we were seen by a neighbor who left the house to go to church.

“They went to matins, gentlemen, to pray for the old man.

“So we will see them when we leave the church,” Jules told me.

The setting moon stood out like a sickle on the edge of the horizon amid an endless scattering of sparkling grains thrown into space with a flurry. And across the black plain, trembling lights moved, heading from everywhere to the pointed bell tower ringing incessantly. Through the tree-lined farms, through the dark valleys, these lights flickered everywhere, almost touching the ground. They were cow horn lanterns. Peasants walked with them in front of their wives, dressed in white caps and wide black cloaks, accompanied by awakened children who held their hands.

A lighted pulpit could be seen through the open door of the church. A garland of cheap candles illuminated the middle of the church, and in its left aisle the chubby wax baby Jesus, lying on real straw, among spruce branches, flaunted his pink, cutesy nakedness.

The service has started. The peasants bowed their heads and the women knelt down and prayed. These simple people, having risen in the cold night, gazed with emotion at the crudely painted image and folded their hands, looking with naive timidity at the wretched luxury of this childish performance.

The cold air stirred the flames of the candles. Jules told me:

- Let's get out of here! Still better outside.

Heading home along the lonely road, while the kneeling peasants trembled devoutly in the church, we relapsed into our reminiscences and talked so long that the service was already over when we came back to the village.

A thin streak of light shone from under the Furnels' door.

“They watch over the dead,” said my cousin. “Let’s finally go to these poor fellows, it will please them.”

Several firebrands were burning in the hearth. The dark room, the greasy walls of which were glossy and the worm-eaten beams blackened with time, was full of the suffocating smell of fried black pudding. On a large table, from under which a bread chest protruded like a huge belly, a candle burned in a twisted iron candlestick; acrid smoke from a wick burnt with a mushroom rose to the ceiling. Furneli, husband and wife, broke their fast in private.

Gloomy, with a dejected look and stupid peasant faces, they ate intently, without uttering a word. On the only plate between them lay a large piece of black pudding, spreading a fetid steam. From time to time, with the end of a knife, they cut off a circle from it, put it on bread and began to chew slowly.

When the husband's glass was empty, the wife took the pitcher and filled it with cider.

When we appeared, they stood up, seated us, offered to “follow their example”, and after our refusal they again began to eat.

Ch. Perrot "Puss in Boots"

One miller, dying, left his three sons a mill, a donkey and a cat. The brothers divided the inheritance themselves, they did not go to court: the greedy judges will take away the last.

The eldest received a mill, the middle one a donkey, the youngest a cat.

For a long time the younger brother could not console himself - he inherited a miserable inheritance.

“Good brothers,” he said. - They will live together, they will honestly earn their bread. And I? Well, I'll eat a cat, well, I'll sew mittens from his skin. And then what? To die of hunger?

The Cat pretended not to have heard anything, and with an air of importance said to the owner:

- Stop grieving. You'd better give me a bag and a pair of boots to walk in them through the bushes and marshes, and then we'll see if you've been cheated as much as you think.

The owner did not believe him at first, but remembered what tricks the Cat comes up with when he catches mice and rats: he hangs upside down on his paws and buries himself in flour. Maybe such a rogue will really help out the owner. So he gave the Cat everything he asked for.

The cat smartly pulled on his boots, threw the sack over his shoulders and went into the bushes where the rabbits lived. He put rabbit cabbage in a bag, pretended to be dead, lies and waits. Not all rabbits know what tricks are in the world. Someone will even climb into the bag to feast on.

No sooner had the Cat stretched out on the ground than his wish came true. The trusting rabbit climbed into the bag, the Cat pulled the strings, and the trap slammed shut.

Proud of his prey, the Cat walked straight into the palace and asked to be taken to the king himself.

Entering the royal apartments, the Cat bowed low and said:

- Sovereign! The Marquis of Carabas (the cat came up with such a name for the owner) ordered me to present this rabbit to Your Majesty.

“Thank your master,” the king replied, “and tell me that his gift is to my taste.”

Another time, the Cat hid in a wheat field, opened the bag, waited for two partridges to enter, pulled the strings and caught them. He again brought the booty to the palace. The king gladly accepted the partridges and ordered the Cat to be poured wine.

For two or three whole months, the Cat did nothing but bring gifts to the king from the Marquis of Carabas.

Once the Cat heard that the king was going for a walk along the river bank and was taking his daughter, the most beautiful princess in the world, with him.

- Well, - said the Cat to the owner, - if you want to be happy, listen to me. Swim where I say. The rest is my concern.

The owner obeyed the Cat, although he did not know what would come of it. He calmly climbed into the water, and the Cat waited for the king to drive closer, and how he shouted:

— Save! Help! Ah, the Marquis of Carabas! He's drowning now!

The king heard his cry, looked out of the carriage, recognized the very Cat who brought him delicious game, and ordered the servants to rush at full speed to the aid of the Marquis of Carabas.

The poor marquis was still being dragged out of the water, and the Cat, going up to the carriage, had already managed to tell the king how thieves came and stole all the clothes from his master while he was bathing, and how he, the Cat, shouted at them with all his might and called for help. (In fact, the clothes were not visible: the rogue hid them under a large stone.)

The king ordered his courtiers to get the best royal outfits and present them with a bow to the Marquis of Carabas.

As soon as the miller's son put on beautiful clothes, he immediately liked the king's daughter. She also liked the young man. He never thought that there were such beautiful princesses in the world.

In a word, young people fell in love with each other at first sight.

Until now, no one knows whether the king noticed this or not, but he immediately invited the Marquis of Carabas to get into the carriage and ride together.

The cat was delighted that everything was going as he wanted, overtook the carriage, saw the peasants who were mowing hay, and said:

- Hey, well done mowers! Either you tell the king that this meadow belongs to the Marquis of Carabas, or you will be cut to pieces and turned into meatballs!

The king really asked whose meadow it was.

— Marquis of Carabas! the peasants answered, trembling with fear.

“You have a fine inheritance,” the king said to the marquis.

“As you see, Your Majesty,” replied the Marquis of Carabas. - If you knew how much hay is cut from this meadow every year.

And the cat kept running. He met the reapers and said to them:

— Hey, well done reapers! Either you say that these fields belong to the Marquis of Carabas, or they will cut you all to pieces and turn them into meatballs!

The king, passing by, wished to know whose fields these were.

— Marquis of Carabas! the reapers answered in unison.

And the king, together with the marquis, rejoiced at the rich harvest.

So the Cat ran ahead of the carriage and taught everyone he met how to answer the king. The king did nothing but marvel at the wealth of the Marquis of Carabas.

In the meantime, the Cat ran up to a beautiful castle where the Ogre lived, so rich as no one had ever seen before. It was he who was the real owner of the meadows and fields, past which the king rode.

The cat has already managed to find out who this Ogre is and what he can do. He asked to be taken to the Ogre, bowed low to him and said that he could not pass by such a castle and not meet its famous owner.

The ogre received him with all the courtesy one could expect from an ogre, and invited the Cat to rest from the road.

“There are rumors,” said the Cat, “that you can turn into any kind of animal, for example, into a lion, into an elephant ...

- Gossip? the Cannibal grumbled. “I’ll take it and right before your eyes I’ll become a lion.”

The cat was so frightened when he saw a lion in front of him that he immediately found himself on a drainpipe, although climbing onto the roof in boots is not at all easy.

When the Ogre returned to his former form, the Cat descended from the roof and confessed how frightened he was.

- Impossible? the Cannibal roared. - So look!

And at the same moment the Cannibal fell through the ground, and a mouse ran across the floor. The cat himself did not notice how he grabbed it and ate it.

In the meantime, the king drove up to the beautiful castle of the Ogre and wished to enter there.

The Cat heard a carriage rumble on the drawbridge, jumped out to meet him and said:

- You are welcome, Your Majesty, to the castle of the Marquis of Carabas!

“What, Monsieur Marquis,” exclaimed the king, “is the castle also yours?” What a yard, what buildings! There is probably no more beautiful castle in the world! Let's go there, please.

The marquis gave his hand to the young princess, and they followed the king into the huge hall and found a magnificent dinner on the table. It was prepared by the Ogre for his friends. But those, having learned that the king was in the castle, were afraid to come to the table.

The king admired the marquis himself and his extraordinary wealth so much that after five or maybe six glasses of the most excellent wine he said:

“Here you are, Monsieur Marquis. It is up to you whether you marry my daughter or not.

The marquis was delighted with these words even more than with unexpected wealth, thanked the king for the great honor and, of course, agreed to marry the most beautiful princess in the world.

The wedding was celebrated on the same day.

After that, the Cat became a very important gentleman and catches mice only for fun.

The Brothers Grimm "The Thrusher King"

There was a king's daughter; she was extraordinarily beautiful, but, moreover, so proud and arrogant that none of the suitors seemed good enough for her. She refused one after another, and, moreover, laughed at each one.

Once the king ordered a big feast to be held and summoned suitors from everywhere, from near and far places, who would like to woo her. They put them all in a row in order, according to rank and rank; in front stood the kings, then the dukes, princes, earls and barons, and finally the nobles.

And they led the princess through the rows, but in each of the suitors she found some kind of flaw. One was too fat. “Yes, this one is like a wine barrel!” - she said. The other was too long. “Lanky, too thin, and there is no stately gait!” - she said. The third one was too short. “Well, what luck does he have if he is small and fat to boot?” The fourth was too pale. "This one looks like death." The fifth one was too ruddy. “It’s just some kind of turkey!” The sixth was too young. "This one is young and painfully green; like a damp tree, it will not catch fire."

And so she found in everyone what she could find fault with, but she especially laughed at one good king, who was taller than the others and whose chin was slightly crooked.

“Wow,” she said, and laughed, “this one has a chin like a thrush’s beak!” “And from that time on they called him Drozdovik.

When the old king saw that his daughter knew only one thing, that she was mocking people and refused all the gathered suitors, he became angry and swore that she would have to take the first beggar she met as her husband, that she would knock on his door.

A few days later, a musician appeared and began to sing under the window in order to earn alms for himself. The king heard this and said:

- Let him go upstairs.

The musician entered in his dirty, torn clothes and began to sing a song in front of the king and his daughter; and when he finished, he asked for alms to be given to him.

The king said:

I liked your singing so much that I will give you my daughter as a wife.

The princess was frightened, but the king said:

“I swore an oath to marry you to the first beggar I came across, and I must keep my oath.

And no persuasion helped; the priest was called, and she had to immediately marry the musician. When this was done, the king said:

“Now, as the wife of a beggar, it is not fitting for you to stay in my castle, you can go anywhere with your husband.

A beggar led her out of the castle by the hand, and she had to walk with him. They came to a dense forest, and she asks:

- Whose forests and meadows are these?

“It’s all the Drozdovik King.

- Oh, what a pity that it is impossible

Give me back Drozdovik!

They passed through the fields, and she asked again:

Whose fields and river are these?

“It’s all the Drozdovik King!”

He would not drive him away, everything would be yours then.

- Oh, what a pity that it is impossible

Give me back Drozdovik!

They then passed through the big city, and she asked again:

— Whose beautiful city is this?

—- He has been the Drozdovik King for a long time.

Wouldn't have driven him away, it would have been all yours then.

- Oh, what a pity that it is impossible

Give me back Drozdovik!

“I don’t like it at all,” said the musician, “that you still want someone else as your husband: isn’t I nice to you?

They finally came to a small hut, and she said:

- My God, what a house!

Whose is he so bad?

And the musician replied:

- This is my house and yours, we will live here with you together.

And she had to bend down to enter the low door.

- Where are the servants? the queen asked.

What kind of servants? the beggar replied. “You have to do everything yourself if you want anything done. Come on, light the stove and put on the water to cook dinner for me, I'm very tired.

But the princess did not know how to make a fire and cook at all, and the beggar had to set to work himself; and things worked out somehow. They ate something from hand to mouth and went to bed.

But as soon as it began to dawn, he drove her out of bed, and she had to do housework. So they lived for several days, neither badly nor well, and they ate all their supplies. Then the husband says:

- Wife, this way we will not succeed, we are eating, but we are not earning anything. Get down to basket weaving.

He went and cut willow twigs, brought them home, and she began to weave, but the hard twigs wounded her tender hands.

“I see that this will not work for you,” said the husband, “you better take up the yarn, perhaps you can handle it.”

She sat down and tried to spin the yarn; but coarse threads cut into her tender fingers, and blood flowed from them.

- You see, - said the husband, - you are not fit for any work, it will be difficult for me to work with you. I'll try to start trading in pots and earthenware. You will have to go to the market and sell goods.

“Ah,” she thought, “how good will people from our kingdom come to the market and see me sitting and selling pots, then they will laugh at me!”

But what was to be done? She had to obey, otherwise they would have to starve to death.

The first time things went well - people bought goods from her, because she was beautiful, and paid her what she asked for; even many paid her money, and left the pots for her. This is how they lived on it.

My husband bought again a lot of new clay pots. She sat down with pots at the corner of the market, and arranged the goods around her and began to trade. But suddenly a drunken hussar galloped up, flew right into the pots - and only shards remained of them. She began to cry and from fear did not know what to do now.

“Oh, what will happen to me!” - she exclaimed. What will my husband say?

And she ran home and told him about her grief.

- But who sits down at the corner of the market with pottery? the husband said. - And you stop crying; I see you're not fit for a decent job. Here I was just now in the castle of our king and asked if a dishwasher would be needed there, and they promised me to take you to work; there they will feed you for it.

And the queen became a dishwasher, she had to help the cook and do the most menial work. She tied two bowls to her bag and brought home in them what she got from the leftovers - that's what they ate.

It happened that at that time they were to celebrate the wedding of the eldest prince, and then the poor woman went upstairs to the castle and stood at the door to the hall to look. Here the candles were lit, and guests entered, one more beautiful than the other, and everything was full of splendor and splendor. And she thought with sorrow in her heart about her evil fate and began to curse her pride and arrogance, which had so humiliated her and plunged her into great poverty. She could smell the expensive food brought in and taken out of the hall by the servants, and sometimes they would throw some of the leftovers to her, she would put them in her bowl, intending to take it all home later.

Suddenly the prince entered, he was dressed in velvet and silk, and he had golden chains around his neck. Seeing a beautiful woman at the door, he grabbed her by the hand and wanted to dance with her; but she was frightened and began to refuse - she recognized in him the Drozdovik king, that he had wooed her and whom she had refused with mockery. But no matter how she resisted, he nevertheless dragged her into the hall; and suddenly the ribbon on which her bag hung broke, and bowls fell out of it on the floor and soup spilled.

When the guests saw this, they all began to laugh, to make fun of her, and she was so ashamed that she was ready to sink through the ground. She rushed to the door and wanted to run away, but a man overtook her on the stairs and brought her back. She looked at him, and it was the Drozdovik king. He kindly said to her:

- Do not be afraid, because I and the musician with whom you lived together in a poor hut are one and the same. It was I who, out of love for you, pretended to be a musician; and the hussar who broke all the pots for you was me too. All this I did to break your pride and punish you for your arrogance when you laughed at me.

She wept bitterly and said:

“I have been so unjust that I am unworthy of being your wife.

But he told her:

- Calm down, the difficult days are over, and now we will celebrate our wedding.

And the royal maids came, put on her magnificent dresses; and her father came, and with him the whole court; they wished her happiness in her marriage to the Drozdovik king; and the real joy has just begun.

And I wish you and I were there too.

X. K. Andersen "Flint"

A soldier was walking along the road: one-two! one-two! Knapsack on the back, saber on the side. He was walking home from the war. And suddenly on the road he met a witch. The witch was old and terrible. Her lower lip drooped down to her chest.

- Hello, officer! the witch said. - What a glorious saber and a big satchel you have! Here is a brave soldier! And now you will have plenty of money.

“Thank you, old witch,” said the soldier.

Do you see that big tree over there? the witch said. - It's empty inside. Climb up the tree, there's a hollow up there. Climb into this hollow and go down to the very bottom. And I will tie a rope around your waist and pull you back as soon as you scream.

“Why should I climb into this hollow?” the soldier asked.

- For money, - said the witch, - this tree is not simple. As you go down to the very bottom, you will see a long underground passage. It is quite light there - hundreds of lamps burn day and night. Go, without turning, along the underground passage. And when you reach the end, there will be three doors right in front of you. There is a key in every door. Turn it and the door will open. There is a large chest in the first room. A dog sits on a chest. The eyes of this dog are like two tea saucers. But don't be afraid. I'll give you my blue checkered apron, spread it on the floor and boldly grab the dog. And if you grab it, put it on my apron as soon as possible. Well, then open the chest and take as much money from it as you want. Yes, only in this chest there is only copper money. And if you want silver, go to the second room. And there is a chest. And on that chest sits a dog. Her eyes are like your mill wheels. Just don't be scared - grab her and put her on your apron, and then take your silver money. Well, if you want gold, go to the third room. In the middle of the third room is a chest full of gold. This chest is guarded by the biggest dog. Each eye is the size of a tower. If you manage to put her on my apron - your happiness: the dog will not touch you. Then take as much gold as you like!

"That's all very well," said the soldier. “But what will you take from me for this, old witch?” Is there anything you need from me.

"I won't take a penny from you!" the witch said. “Just bring me the old tinderbox that my grandmother forgot down there when she climbed there for the last time.

“Okay, tie me with a rope!” said the soldier.

- Ready! the witch said. "Here's my checkered apron."

And the soldier climbed the tree. He found a hollow and went down it to the very bottom. As the witch said, that's how it all happened: the soldier is looking - there is an underground passage in front of him. And it is light there as in the daytime - hundreds of lamps are burning. A soldier went through this dungeon. Walked and walked and reached the very end. There is nowhere else to go. He sees a soldier - there are three doors in front of him. And the keys are in the door.

The soldier opened the first door and entered the room. There is a chest in the middle of the room, a dog is sitting on the chest. Her eyes are like two tea saucers. The dog looks at the soldier and rolls his eyes in different directions.

- Well, a monster! - said the soldier, grabbed the dog and immediately put it on the witch's apron.

Then the dog calmed down, and the soldier opened the chest and let's carry money from there. He collected pockets full of copper money, closed the chest and put the dog on it again, and he himself went into another room.

The witch told the truth - and in this room a dog was sitting on a chest. Her eyes were like mill wheels.

“Well, what are you staring at me for? No matter how your eyes pop out! - said the soldier, grabbed the dog and put him on the witch's apron, and he quickly went to the chest.

The chest is full of silver. The soldier threw copper money out of his pockets, stuffed both pockets and the knapsack with silver. Then a soldier entered the third room.

He entered and his mouth was open. Well, miracles! There was a golden chest in the middle of the room, and a real monster was sitting on the chest. Eyes - neither give nor take two towers. They spun like the wheels of the fastest carriage.

- Hello! - said the soldier and took it under his visor. He had never seen such a dog before.

However, he did not look long. He grabbed the dog in an armful, put it on the witch's apron, and opened the chest himself. Father, how much gold was there! With this gold one could buy a whole metropolitan city, all the toys, all the tin soldiers, all the wooden horses and all the gingerbread in the world. Everything would be enough.

Here the soldier threw silver money out of his pockets and knapsack and with both hands began to scoop out the gold from the chest. He stuffed his pockets with gold, filled his knapsack, hat, boots. He scored so much gold that he barely moved!

Now he was rich!

He put the dog on the chest, slammed the door and shouted:

“Hey, bring it upstairs, you old witch!”

“Did you take my flint?” the witch asked.

“Oh, damn it, you completely forgot about your flint and flint! said the soldier.

He went back, found the witch's flint and put it in his pocket.

- Well, get it! Found your flame! he called to the witch.

The witch pulled the rope and pulled the soldier up. And the soldier found himself again on the high road.

“Well, give me a tinderbox,” said the witch.

- What do you need, witch, this flint? the soldier asked.

- None of your business! the witch said. - Did you get the money? Give me the fire!

- Oh no! said the soldier. “Tell me right now why you need a flint and steel, otherwise I will draw a saber and cut off your head.”

- I will not say! the witch replied.

Then the soldier grabbed his saber and cut off the witch's head. The witch fell to the ground - Yes, she died here. And the soldier tied all his money in a witch's checkered apron, put the bundle on his back, and went straight to the city.

The city was big and rich. The soldier went to the largest hotel, rented the best rooms for himself and ordered all his favorite foods to be served - after all, he was now a rich man.

The servant who was cleaning his boots was surprised that such a rich gentleman had such bad boots, because the soldier had not yet had time to buy new ones. But the next day he bought himself the most beautiful clothes, a hat with a feather and boots with spurs.

Now the soldier has become a real gentleman. He was told about all the miracles that were in this city. They also told about the king, who had a beautiful daughter, the princess.

How can I see this princess? the soldier asked.

"Well, it's not that easy," he was told. The princess lives in a large copper castle, and around the castle there are high walls and stone towers. No one, except the king himself, dares to enter or exit there, because the king was predicted that his daughter was destined to become the wife of a simple soldier. And the king, of course, does not really want to intermarry with a simple soldier. So he keeps the princess locked up.

The soldier regretted that it was impossible to look at the princess, but, however, he did not grieve for a long time. And without a princess, he lived happily: he went to the theater, walked in the royal garden and distributed money to the poor. After all, he himself experienced how bad it is to sit without a penny in his pocket.

Well, since the soldier was rich, lived cheerfully and dressed beautifully, then he had many friends. Everyone called him a nice fellow, a real gentleman, and he really liked it.

Here a soldier spends and spends money and sees one day - he has only two money left in his pocket. And the soldier had to move from good places to a cramped closet under the very roof. He remembered the old days: he himself began to clean his boots and sew up holes on them. None of his friends visited him again - it was too high now to climb to him.

One evening a soldier was sitting in his closet. It was already completely dark, and he had no money even for a candle. Then he remembered the witch's flint. The soldier took out a flint and began to make fire. As soon as he struck the flint, the door flew open and a dog ran in with eyes like tea saucers.

It was the same dog that the soldier saw in the first room of the dungeon.

- What do you want, soldier? the dog asked.

- That's the thing! said the soldier. - Flint, it turns out, not simple. Will it help me out of trouble?.. Get me some money! he ordered the dog.

And as soon as he said it, the dogs and the trace caught a cold. But before the soldier had time to count to two, the dog was already right there, and in her teeth she had a big bag full of copper money.

Now the soldier understood what a wonderful flint he had. It was worth hitting the flint once - a dog with eyes like tea saucers would appear, and a soldier would hit twice - a dog with eyes like mill wheels would run towards him. He strikes him three times, and the dog, with each eye the size of a tower, stands in front of him and waits for orders. The first dog drags him copper money, the second - silver, and the third - pure gold.

And so the soldier got rich again, moved to the best rooms, again began to flaunt in smart clothes.

Then all his friends again got into the habit of going to him and fell in love with him very much.

Once it occurred to a soldier;

"Why shouldn't I see the princess? Everyone says she is so beautiful. What's the use if she sits her life in a copper castle, behind high walls and towers? Well, where is my flint and flint?

And he struck the flint once. At the same moment, a dog appeared with eyes like a saucer.

"That's it, my dear!" said the soldier. “Now, it’s true, it’s already night, but I want to look at the princess. Get her here for a minute. Well, march on!

The dog immediately ran away, and before the soldier had time to come to his senses, she appeared again, and on her back lay the sleeping princess.

The princess was wonderfully beautiful. At first glance, it was clear that this is a real princess. Our soldier could not resist kissing her—that was why he was a soldier, a real gentleman, from head to toe. Then the dog carried the princess back in the same way as she had brought it.

Over morning tea, the princess told the king and queen that she had a wonderful dream at night: that she was riding a dog and some soldier kissed her.

- That's the story! the queen said.

Apparently, she did not like this dream very much.

The next night, an old lady-in-waiting was assigned to the bed of the princess and ordered to find out whether it was really a dream or something else.

And the soldier again wanted to see the beautiful princess to death.

And at night, just like yesterday, a dog appeared in the copper castle, grabbed the princess and rushed with her at full speed. Then the old lady-in-waiting put on her waterproof boots and set off in pursuit. Seeing that the dog had disappeared with the princess in one large house, the maid of honor thought: “Now we will find the youngster!” And she drew a large cross with chalk on the gate of the house, and she calmly went home to sleep.

But in vain she calmed down: when the time came to carry the princess back, the dog saw a cross on the gate and immediately guessed what was the matter. She took a piece of chalk and put crosses on all the gates of the city. This was cleverly thought up: now the maid of honor could not find the right gate in any way - after all, the same white crosses stood everywhere.

Early in the morning, the king and queen, the old lady-in-waiting, and all the royal officers went to see where the princess went on a dog at night.

- That's where! - said the king, seeing a white cross on the first gate.

- No, that's where! said the queen, seeing the cross on the other gate.

- And there is a cross there, and here! the officers said.

And no matter what gate they looked at, there were white crosses everywhere. So they didn't make any sense.

But the queen was a smart woman, a master of all trades, and not just driving around in carriages. She ordered the servants to bring in her golden scissors and a piece of silk and sewed a beautiful little pouch. She poured buckwheat into this bag and discreetly tied it to the back of the princess. Then she pierced a hole in the pouch so that the cereal would gradually fall onto the road when the princess went to her soldier.

And then at night a dog appeared, put the princess on her back and carried her to the soldier. And the soldier had already managed to fall in love with the princess so much that with all his heart he wanted to marry her. Yes, it would be nice to be a prince.

The dog ran fast, and the grits fell from the bag all the way from the copper castle to the soldier's house. But the dog didn't notice.

In the morning, the king and queen came out of the palace, looked at the road and immediately recognized where the princess had gone. The soldier was captured and put in jail.

The soldier sat behind bars for a long time. The prison was dark and boring. And then one day the guard said to the soldier:

“Tomorrow you will be hanged!”

The soldier became sad. He thought, thought how to save himself from death, but he could think of nothing. After all, the soldier forgot his wonderful flint at home.

The next day, in the morning, a soldier went up to a small window and began to look through the iron grate into the street. Crowds of people poured out of town to see how a soldier would be hanged. Drums beat, troops marched. And then a shoemaker boy in a leather apron and shoes on his bare feet ran past the prison itself. He was skipping along, and suddenly one shoe flew off his foot and hit right on the wall of the prison, near that lattice window where the soldier was standing.

- Hey, young man, do not rush! shouted the soldier. “I’m still here, and without me it won’t work there!” But if you run to my house and bring me a steel, I will give you four silver coins. Well, live!

The boy was not averse to receiving four silver coins and set off with an arrow for a flint and flint, instantly brought it, gave it to the soldier and ...

Listen to what came out of it.

A large gallows was built outside the city. Around her were troops and crowds of people. The king and queen sat on a magnificent throne. Opposite were the judges and the entire Council of State. And so the soldier was led onto the stairs, and the executioner was about to throw a noose around his neck. But then the soldier asked me to wait a minute.

“I would very much like,” he said, “to smoke a pipe of tobacco—it will be the very last pipe of my life.

And in this country there was such a custom: the last wish of the condemned to death must be fulfilled. Of course, if it was a completely trifling desire.

Therefore, the king could not refuse the soldier. And the soldier put his pipe in his mouth, pulled out his flint and began to make fire. He struck the flint once, struck twice, struck three, and three dogs appeared in front of him. One had eyes like tea saucers, another like mill wheels, and a third like towers.

“Come on, help me get rid of the noose!” the soldier told them.

Then all three dogs rushed at the judges and at the state council: they would grab one by the legs, this one by the nose, and let's throw it up, so high that, falling to the ground, they all shattered.

- I don't need it! I don't want! the king shouted.

But the biggest dog grabbed him along with the queen and threw them both up. Then the army was frightened, and the people began to shout:

Long live the soldier! Be a soldier, our king and marry a beautiful princess!

The soldier was put into the royal carriage and taken to the palace. Three dogs danced in front of the carriage and cheered. The boys whistled and the troops saluted. The princess came out of the copper castle and became a queen. Clearly, she was very pleased.

The wedding feast lasted for a whole week. Three dogs were also sitting at the table, eating and drinking and turning their huge eyes.