Classic Fairy Tales
Is there any more magical phrase than “Once upon a time”? This beginning of so many classic fairy tales sends the reader into a world full of unlimited possibilities and imagination. This collection of passages includes some of the most beloved fairy tales of all time from such authors as Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. Some are the complete original story; others are selected passages from the tale.
Once upon a time there were Three Bears, who lived together in a house of their own, in a wood. One of them was a Little, Small, Wee Bear; and one was a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great, Huge Bear. They had each a pot for their…
Read MoreOnce upon a time there was a king and queen who for a very long time had no children, and when at length a little daughter was born to them they were so pleased that they gave a christening feast to which they invited a number of fairies. But, unfortunately,…
Read MoreThere was once a prince who wanted to marry a princess. But she must be a real princess, mind you. So he traveled all round the world, seeking such a one, but everywhere something was in the way. Not that there was any lack of princesses, but he could not…
Read MoreThis passage is the beginning of the story “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” ——————— Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress. He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he…
Read MoreOnce upon a time there dwelt near a large wood a poor woodcutter, with his wife and two children by his former marriage, a little boy called Hansel, and a girl named Grethel. He had little enough to break or bite; and once, when there was a great famine in…
Read MoreThere was once upon a time a poor widow who had an only son named Jack, and a cow named Milky-white. And all they had to live on was the milk the cow gave every morning which they carried to the market and sold. But one morning Milky-white gave no…
Read MoreJack traded the family cow for magic beans. The beans grew overnight all the way to the sky. Jack climbed the beanstalk and found the house of an ogre and his wife. There he stole a bag of gold from the ogre. He and his mother lived on the gold…
Read MoreThere was an old sow with three little pigs, and as she had not enough to keep them, she sent them out to seek their fortune. The first that went off met a man with a bundle of straw, and said to him: “Please, man, give me that straw to…
Read MoreThe children raced away from the witch’s candy cottage, hand in hand. Gretel had fought back against the evil crone and rescued her trapped brother who had been fed and fattened up for the witch’s feast. As the cottage smoked and burned behind him, the sickly-sweet smell of burnt cake…
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