bruce and the spider

Bruce and The Spider

short stories

Bruce and the Spider By James Baldwin Listen to the story Bruce and the Spider There was once a king of Scotland whose name was Robert Bruce. He had the need to be both brave and wise, for the times in which he lived were wild and rude. The King of England was at war with him and had led a great army into Scotland to drive him out of the land. Battle after battle had been fought. Six times had Bruce led his brave little army against his foes, and six times had his men been beaten and driven into flight. At last, his army was scattered, and he was forced to hide himself in the woods and in lonely places among the mountains….

androclus and the lion

Androclus and The Lion

short stories

Androclus and The Lion By James Baldwin Listen to the story Androclus and The Lion In Rome, there was once a poor slave whose name was Androclus. His master was a cruel man and so unkind to him that, at last, Androclus ran away. He hid himself in a wild wood for many days, but there was no food to be found, and he grew so weak and sick that he thought he should die. So one day, he crept into a cave and lay down, and soon he was fast asleep. After a while, a great noise woke him up. A lion had come into the cave and was roaring loudly. Androclus was very much afraid, for he felt sure that the beast would…

Little Bo-Peep

Little Bo-Peep

short stories

Little Bo-Peep By Joseph Martin Kronheim Listen to the story Little Bo-Peep “Little Bo-Peep, she lost her sheep      And didn’t know where to find them. Let them alone, and they’ll come home,      And bring their tails behind them!” So runs the Nursery Rhyme. Little Bo-Peep was a very nice little girl. Her cheeks had a bloom on them like a lovely peach, and her voice sounded like a sweet silver bell. But though Little Bo-Peep was as good as she was beautiful, she sometimes met with misfortunes that made her very sad. Once, when she lost her sheep, she was very doleful indeed. And this is how it happened. One summer evening, when the sun was setting, Little Bo-Peep, who had…

the tale of johnny town mouse

The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse

short stories

The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse By Beatrix Potter Listen to the story The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse Johnny Town-mouse was born in a cupboard. Timmy Willie was born in a garden. Timmy Willie was a little country mouse who went to town by mistake in a hamper.  The gardener sent vegetables to town once a week by a carrier; he packed them in a big hamper. The gardener left the hamper by the garden gate so that the carrier could pick it up  when he passed. Timmy Willie crept in through a hole in the wicker-work, and after  eating some peas—Timmy Willie fell fast asleep. He awoke in fright while the hamper was being lifted into the carrier’s cart.  Then there was a jolting and…

Huckleberry

Huckleberry

short stories

Huckleberry By Frank R. Stockton Listen to the story Huckleberry More than a hundred and sixty-eight years ago, there lived a curious personage called “Old Riddler.” His real name was unknown to the people in that part of the country where he dwelt, but this made no difference, for the name given him was probably just as good as his own. Indeed, I am quite sure that it was better, for it meant something, and very few people have names that mean anything. He was called Old Riddler for two reasons. In the first place, he was an elderly man; secondly, he was the greatest fellow to ask riddles that you had ever heard of. So this name fitted him very well. Old Riddler had…

pegasus the winged horse

Pegasus, the winged horse

short stories

Pegasus, the Winged Horse By Nathaniel Hawthorne Listen to the story PEGASUS, THE WINGED HORSE Once, in the old, old times, a fountain gushed out of a hillside in the marvelous land of Greece. And, for aught I know, after so many thousand years, it is still gushing out of the very same spot. At any rate, there was the pleasant fountain, welling freshly forth and sparkling down the hillside in the golden sunset, when a handsome young man named “Bellerophon” drew near its margin. In his hand, he held a bridle studded with brilliant gems and adorned with a golden bit. Seeing an old man, another of middle age, and a little boy near the fountain, and likewise, a maiden, who was dipping up…

goldilocks and the three bears

Goldilocks and The Three Bears

short stories

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Goldilocks and the Three Bears story was initially titled The Story of the Three Bears, published in the collection English Fairytales, retold by Flora Annie Steel (1922), and illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Listen to the story Goldilocks and the three bears 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; one was a middle-sized bear, and the other was a great huge bear; they each had a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the little small wee bear, and a middle-sized pot for the middle bear, and a great pot for the great huge bear; and they each had…

the wolf and the seven little kids

The wolf and the seven little kids

short stories

The wolf and the seven little Goats By Brothers Grimm Listen to the story The wolf and the three little kids There was once an old goat who had seven little ones and was as fond of them as ever mother was of her children. One day she had to go into the wood to fetch food for them, so she called them all around her. “Dear children,” said she, “I am going out into the wood; and while I am gone, be on your guard against the wolf, for if he were once to get inside, he would eat you up, skin, bones, and all. The wretch often disguises himself, but he may always be known by his hoarse voice and black paws.” “Dear…

the night moth with a crooked feeler

The Night Moth With a Crooked Feeler

short stories

The Night Moth With a Crooked Feeler By Clara Dillingham Pierson Listen to the story The night moth with a crooked feeler The beautiful, brilliant Butterflies of the Meadow had many cousins living in the forest, most of whom were Night Moths. They also were very beautiful creatures, but they dressed in duller colors and did not have slender waists. Some of the Butterflies, you know, wear whole gowns of black and yellow; others have stripes of black and white, while some have clear yellow with only a bit of black trimming the edges of the wings. The Moths usually wear brown and have it brightened with touches of buff or dull blue. If they do wear bright colors, it is only on the back…

how jack went out to seek his fortune

How Jack Went Out To Seek His Fortune

short stories

How Jack Went Out To Seek His Fortune It was published in the collection English Fairytales, retold by Flora Annie Steel (1922), and illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Listen to the story How Jack went out to seek his fortune Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack, and one morning he started to go  and seek his fortune. He hadn’t gone very far before he met a cat. “Where are you going, Jack?” said the cat. “I am going to seek my fortune.” “May I go with you?” “Yes,” said Jack, “the more, the merrier.” So on they went, Jack and the cat. Jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt! They went a little farther, and they met a dog. “Where are you going, Jack?” said the…