Greg Reads Books To You

Chapter Five Our train left Grand Central Station at two o’clock next afternoon; it was bitter cold, I remember, and I drove to the station, smothered in furs. But our car was wonderfully cozy and comfortable, and it warmed my heart to see how proud Dad was of it: I must inspect the kitchen; this … Continue reading "Cupid’s Understudy Part 3"

Chapter Three The nice young man did more than find my missing trunks; he found a custom-house officer, and, after asking me privately which trunks contained my most valuable possessions and how much I had thought of declaring, he succeeded in having them passed through on my own valuation without any undue exposure of their … Continue reading "Cupid’s Understudy Part 2"

By Edward Salisbury Field Chapter One If Dad had been a coal baron, like Mr. Tudor Carstairs, or a stock- watering captain of industry, like Mrs. Sanderson-Spear’s husband, or descended from a long line of whisky distillers, like Mrs. Carmichael Porter, why, then his little Elizabeth would have been allowed the to sit in seat … Continue reading "Cupid’s Understudy Part 1"

Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grim There were two brothers who were both soldiers; the one was rich and the other poor. The poor man thought he would try to better himself; so, pulling off his red coat, he became a gardener, and dug his ground well, and sowed turnips. When the seed came up, … Continue reading "The Turnip"

Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grim There was once upon a time a soldier who for many years had served the king faithfully, but when the war came to an end could serve no longer because of the many wounds which he had received. The king said to him: ’You may return to your home, … Continue reading "The Blue Light"

There was once upon 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, you shall have a son … Continue reading "The Pink"

There was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters. They slept in twelve beds all in one room; and when they went to bed, the doors were shut and locked up; but every morning their shoes were found to be quite worn through as if they had been danced in all night; and yet nobody … Continue reading "The Twelve Dancing Princesses"

’Bird,’ he said, ’how beautifully you sing! Sing me that song again.’ ’Nay,’ said the bird, ’I do not sing twice for nothing. Give that gold chain, and I will sing it you again.’ ’Here is the chain, take it,’ said the goldsmith. ’Only sing me that again.’ The bird flew down and took the … Continue reading "The Juniper Tree – Part 2"

The Juniper-Tree Long, long ago, some two thousand years or so, there lived a rich man with a good and beautiful wife. They loved each other dearly, but sorrowed much that they had no children. So greatly did they desire to have one, that the wife prayed for it day and night, but still they … Continue reading "The Juniper Tree – Part 1"

Clever Hans The mother of Hans said: ’Whither away, Hans?’ Hans answered: ’To Gretel.’ ’Behave well, Hans.’ ’Oh, I’ll behave well. Goodbye, mother.’ ’Goodbye, Hans.’ Hans comes to Gretel. ’Good day, Gretel.’ ’Good day, Hans. What do you bring that is good?’ ’I bring nothing, I want to have something given me.’ Gretel presents Hans … Continue reading "Clever Hans & Elsie – 2 Story Day"

Hans in Luck Some men are born to good luck: all they do or try to do comes right– all that falls to them is so much gain–all their geese are swans–all their cards are trumps–toss them which way you will, they will always, like poor puss, alight upon their legs, and only move on … Continue reading "Hans in Luck"

By the side of a wood, in a country a long way off, ran a fine stream of water; and upon the stream there stood a mill. The miller’s house was close by, and the miller, you must know, had a very beautiful daughter. She was, moreover, very shrewd and clever; and the miller was … Continue reading "Rumpelstiltskin"

There was once a miller who had one beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he was anxious that she should be well married and provided for. He said to himself, ’I will give her to the first suitable man who comes and asks for her hand.’ Not long after a suitor appeared, and … Continue reading "The Robber Bridegroom"

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 … Continue reading "Episode 8 | The Old Man and His Grandson | The Fox and the Cat"

A farmer had a faithful and diligent servant, who had worked hard for him three years, without having been paid any wages. At last it came into the man’s head that he would not go on thus without pay any longer; so he went to his master, and said, ’I have worked hard for you … Continue reading "Episode 7 | The Miser in the Bush"

Two kings’ sons once upon a time went into the world to seek their fortunes; but they soon fell into a wasteful foolish way of living, so that they could not return home again. Then their brother, who was a little insignificant dwarf, went out to seek for his brothers: but when he had found … Continue reading "Episode 6 | The Queen Bee"

’Dear children,’ said a poor man to his four sons, ’I have nothing to give you; you must go out into the wide world and try your luck. Begin by learning some craft or another, and see how you can get on.’ So the four brothers took their walking-sticks in their hands, and their little … Continue reading "Episode 5 | The Four Clever Brothers"

There was once a forester who went into the forest to hunt, and as he entered it he heard a sound of screaming as if a little child were there. He followed the sound, and at last came to a high tree, and at the top of this a little child was sitting, for the … Continue reading "Episode 4 | Fundevogel"

In a village dwelt a poor old woman, who had gathered together a dish of beans and wanted to cook them. So she made a fire on her hearth, and that it might burn the quicker, she lighted it with a handful of straw. When she was emptying the beans into the pan, one dropped … Continue reading "Episode 3 | The Straw, The Coal and The Bean"

There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pigsty, close by the seaside. The fisherman used to go out all day long a-fishing; and one day, as he sat on the shore with his rod, looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, all on a sudden his float was … Continue reading "Episode 2 | The Fisherman and His Wife"

THE cock once said to the hen, “It is now the time when our nuts are ripe, so let us go to the hill together and for once eat our fill before the squirrel takes them all away.” “Yes,” replied the hen, “come, we will have some pleasure together.” Then they went away to the hill, … Continue reading "Episode 1 | The Ragamuffins"