The Folktale Project (Dan Scholz)

A poor servant-girl was once traveling with the family with which she was in service, through a great forest, and when they were in the midst of it, robbers came out of the thicket, and murdered all they found. All perished together except the girl, who had jumped out of the carriage in a fright, and hidden herself behind a tree. When the robbers had gone away with their booty, she came out and beheld the great disaster. Then she began to weep bitterly, and said, “What can a poor girl like me do now? I do not know how to get out of the forest, no human being lives in it, so I must certainly starve.”

She walked about and looked for a road, but could find none. When it was evening she seated herself under a tree, gave herself into God’s keeping, and resolved to sit waiting there and not go away, let what might happen. When, however, she had sat there for a while, a white dove came flying to her with a little golden key in its mouth.

Once upon a time there was an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy. One morning the old woman made a Johnny-cake, and put it in the oven to bake. 'You watch the Johnny-cake while your father and I go out to work in the garden.' So the old man and the old woman went out and began to hoe potatoes, and left the little boy to tend the oven. But he didn't watch it all the time, and all of a sudden he heard a noise, and he looked up and the oven door popped open, and out of the oven jumped Johnny-cake, and went rolling along end over end, towards the open door of the house. The little boy ran to shut the door, but Johnny-cake was too quick for him and rolled through the door, down the steps, and out into the road long before the little boy could catch him. The little boy ran after him as fast as he could clip it, crying out to his father and mother, who heard the uproar, and threw down their hoes and gave chase too. But Johnny-cake outran all three a long way, and was soon out of sight, while they had to sit down, all out of breath, on a bank to rest.

This week we have a treat, the classic tale of love, loss and the search for a magical castle that can be found 'East of the Sun and West of the Moon'.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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Once upon a time there was a woman who lived a most unhappy life. She and her husband were always quarreling. Every day when he came home from work he was cross, and said harsh words to her. She would respond with bitter words, and things would go from bad to worse until at last he would beat her.

One day the woman took her water jar and went to the fountain to fill it as usual. She was so unhappy that great tears were rolling down her cheeks.

There was a little old woman standing by the fountain.

"What is the matter, my daughter?" she asked as she saw the tears upon the poor woman's cheeks.

'The Three Wishes' is a lovely English fairytale about thinking before you speak and of course a delicious black pudding.

Host Dan Scholz

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Img credit -Alexbrn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The podcast is coming back to Carl Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories" with three stories about the curious power of a gold buckskin whincher, beginning with 'The Story of Blixie Bimber and the Power of the Gold Buckskin Whincher'.

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'The Doctor's wine of Bernkastel' is the perfect mix of history and folklore and one of the main reasons why I love "Legends of the Rhine". You can still buy Doctor's wine from the Mosel Valley today!

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'The Old Gravestone' is a love letter by Hans Christian Andersen to the art of storytelling in quite possibly the saddest way possible. Because it's Hans Christian Andersen.

From: Folkekalender for Danmark

Author: Hans Christian Andersen

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In Part 2 of 'Felicia and the Pot of Pinks' we learn a whole lot about our hero Felicia - who she really is and even a hint at her future!

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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'The Three Rhymesters' is a fun story that praises intelligence and a quick wit. And it praises (to an extent) a young woman, which is unfortunately rare in folklore.

From: The Chinese Fairy Book
Editor: R. Wilhelm

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It's that time of year again, nominations are open for The Podcast Awards at https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup. 

Thanks so much for listening!

In our final story this week Olaf tells Harald (and us) a tale of going a-viking and being good to your hosts in 'Olaf's Farm'.

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This week's story comes to us from the one and only Louisa May Alcott. 'Little Annie's Dream" is a story about controlling our negative emotions, something that I'm sure we all struggle with from time to time.

Book: Flower Fables

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Host: Dan Scholz

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Today we begin a story of love and the perception of one's own beauty told in two parts. This is 'Prince Hyacinth, Pt. 1'.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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There was once a poor peasant who had no land, but only a small house, and one daughter. Then said the daughter, “We ought to ask our lord the King for a bit of newly-cleared land.” When the King heard of their poverty, he presented them with a bit of land, which she and her father dug up, and intended to sow with a little corn and grain of that kind. When they had dug nearly the whole of the field, they found in the earth a mortar made of pure gold. “Listen,” said the father to the girl, “as our lord the King has been so gracious and presented us with the field, we ought to give him this mortar in return for it.” The daughter, however, would not consent to this, and said, “Father, if we have the mortar without having the pestle as well, we shall have to get the pestle, so you had much better say nothing about it.” He would, how- ever, not obey her, but took the mortar and carried it to the King, said that he had found it in the cleared land, and asked if he would accept it as a present.

The Tory Manheim sits brooding in his farmhouse near Valley Forge, and his daughter, with a hectic flush on her cheek, looks out into the twilight at the falling snow. She is worn and ill; she has brought on a fever by exposure incurred that very day in a secret journey to the American camp, made to warn her lover of another attempt on the life of Washington, who must pass her father's house on his return from a distant settlement. The Tory knows nothing of this; but he starts whenever the men in the next room rattle the dice or break into a ribald song, and a frown of apprehension crosses his face as the foragers crunch by, half-barefoot, through the snow. The hours go on, and the noise in the next room increases; but it hushes suddenly when a knock at the door is heard.

In 'The Legend of The Peace Pipe' we get a view of the origins of the peace pipe from the Omaha nation.

Title: Myths and Legends of the Great Plains
Author: Unknown
Editor: Katharine Berry Judson

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A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a House-dog who was passing by. “Ah, Cousin,” said the Dog. “I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?”

Klaas Van Bommel was a Dutch boy, twelve years old, who lived where cows were plentiful. He was over five feet high, weighed a hundred pounds, and had rosy cheeks. His appetite was always good and his mother declared his stomach had no bottom. His hair was of a color half-way between a carrot and a sweet potato. It was as thick as reeds in a swamp and was cut level, from under one ear to another.

Klaas stood in a pair of timber shoes, that made an awful rattle when he ran fast to catch a rabbit, or scuffed slowly along to school over the brick road of his village. In summer Klaas was dressed in a rough, blue linen blouse. In winter he wore woolen breeches as wide as coffee bags. They were called bell trousers, and in shape were like a couple of cow-bells turned upwards. These were buttoned on to a thick warm jacket. Until he was five years old, Klaas was dressed like his sisters. Then, on his birthday, he had boy’s clothes, with two pockets in them, of which he was proud enough.

As we check-in with our author's children in "An Interlude of Sticking Plaster' we find out if they're enjoying the tale as much as we are.

Host Dan Scholz

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On the edge of a mountain, lovely as the entrance to paradise, see, coming along, and descending toward the valley, three flocks of young lambs, driven by three young shepherds; one is an inhabitant of the plains of Moldau, the other is Hungarian, the third is from the Vrantcha Mountain. The Hungarian and the Vranchian have held counsel together, and have resolved that at sunset they will kill their companion, on account of his riches, for he owns more horned sheep than they do, his horses are better trained than theirs, and his dogs more vigorous. Yet, for three days past, there is in his flock a fair young sheep, with white silky wool, who will no longer eat the tender grass of the prairie, and moans all day long.

Host Dan Scholz
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Today Prince Ahmed heads off to find the second gift his father has requested as proof of his love. Will this be the final test? Of course not!

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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In Chapter 4 of "Bee: The Princess of the Dwarfs" we get a rather unflattering story about the dwarfs, courtesy of an old woman the children encounter on the way to the hermitage.

Host Dan Scholz

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Afar off upon a large level land, a summer sun was shining bright. Here and there over the rolling green were tall bunches of coarse gray weeds. Iktomi in his fringed buckskins walked alone across the prairie with a black bare head glossy in the sunlight. He walked through the grass without following any well-worn footpath.

From one large bunch of coarse weeds to another he wound his way about the great plain. He lifted his foot lightly and placed it gently forward like a wildcat prowling noiselessly through the thick grass. He stopped a few steps away from a very large bunch of wild sage. From shoulder to shoulder he tilted his head. Still farther he bent from side to side, first low over one hip and then over the other. Far forward he stooped, stretching his long thin neck like a duck, to see what lay under a fur coat beyond the bunch of coarse grass.

A sleek gray-faced prairie wolf!

At Carthage, New York, where the Black River bends gracefully about a point, there was a stanch old house, built in the colonial fashion and designed for the occupancy of some family of hospitality and wealth, but the family died out or moved away, and for some years it remained deserted.

One of my favorite fairytales (and one of the very first I read way back in 2016) 'Hans in Luck' is the story of a man who gradually loses everything, but still praises his "good luck".

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Once upon a time, there was a beautiful garden in which grew all sorts of fruits. Many beasts lived in the garden and they were permitted to eat of the fruits whenever they wished. But they were asked to observe one rule. They must make a low, polite bow to the fruit tree, call it by its name, and say, “Please give me a taste of your fruit.” They had to be very careful to remember the tree’s correct name and not to forget to say “please.” It was also very important that they should remember not to be greedy. They must always leave plenty of fruit for the other beasts who might pass that way, and plenty to adorn the tree itself and to furnish seed so that other trees might grow. If they wished to eat figs they had to say, “O, fig tree, O, fig tree, please give me a taste of your fruit;” or, if they wished to eat oranges they had to say, “O, orange tree, O, orange tree, please give me a taste of your fruit.”

In the epic conclusion of 'The Fairy Princess of Ergetz' we find out what finally happens to our protagonist Bar Shalmon.

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This week, in honor of Independence Day here in the United States we're reading three tales from "Myths and Legends of Our Own Lands". 'The Party from Gibbet Island' is a tale about Ellis Island long before it was the hub of immigration in the US.

From: Myths and Legends of Our Own Land

Author: Charles M. Skinner

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Once upon a time there lived a man whose one wish and prayer was to get rich. Day and night he thought of nothing else, and at last his prayers were granted, and he became very wealthy. Now being so rich, and having so much to lose, he felt that it would be a terrible thing to die and leave all his possessions behind; so he made up his mind to set out in search of a land where there was no death. He got ready for his journey, took leave of his wife, and started. Whenever he came to a new country the first question that he asked was whether people died in that land, and when he heard that they did, he set out again on his quest. At last he reached a country where he was told that the people did not even know the meaning of the word death. 

Today's Slavic folktale is a story of a husband and wife who love each other very much, and is very reminiscent of 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon'.

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Once upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature that ever was seen. Her mother was very fond of her, and her grandmother loved her still more. This good woman made for her a little red ridinghood, which became the girl so well that everybody called her Little Red Riding-hood.

One day her mother, having made some custards, said to her:—

"Go, my dear, and see how your grandmother does, for I hear she has been very ill; carry her a custard and this little pot of butter."

Little Red Riding-hood set out immediately to go to her grandmother's, who lived in another village.

As she was going through the wood, she met Gaffer Wolf, who had a very great mind to eat her up; but he dared not, because of some fagot-makers hard by in the forest. He asked her whither she was going.

A young New Yorker had laid such siege to the heart of a certain belle—this was back in the Knickerbocker days when people married for love—that everybody said the banns were as good as published; but everybody did not know, for one fine morning my lady went to church with another gentleman—not her father, though old enough to be—and when the two came out they were man and wife. The elderly man was rich.

After the first paroxysm of rage and disappointment had passed, the lover withdrew from the world and devoted himself to study; nor when he learned that she had become a widow, with comfortable belongings derived from the estate of the late lamented, did he renew acquaintance with her, and he smiled bitterly when he heard of her second marriage to a young adventurer who led her a wretched life, but atoned for his sins, in a measure, by dying soon enough afterward to leave a part of her fortune unspent.

Our final palate cleansing fable from Aesop 'The Milkmaid and Her Pot of Milk' is an anachronistic retelling of the origin of one of the most popular phrases to come from Aesop "never count your chickens before they're hatched."

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We're starting 2024 with some complete tales from "The Blue Fairy Book" before returning with the next story in Andrew Lang's great compendium. This is 'The Wonderful Sheep'.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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This week I'm bringing you three collections of fables from Aesop. These have a special place in my heart, and my favorite fable of all time is in this collection.

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It is related that when the Lord created the world, he also made all the animals, and gave each its name. He also created the ass, which said: “Lord, what is my name?” “Your name is ass!” The ass went away well pleased. After a while it forgot its name, and went back to the Lord. “Lord, what is my name?” “Ass!”

Once upon a time there was a poor peasant by the name of Crab who drove two oxen with a load of wood into town where he sold it to a doctor for two thalers. He received his money just as the doctor was sitting down to eat. When the peasant saw how well the doctor ate and drank, his heart took a longing for the same things, and he decided that he would like to have been a doctor. He stood there for a while, and then asked if he too could not become a doctor.

"Certainly," said the doctor, "in no time at all."

Today we have two shorter tales, one featuring a kind tree who soothes 'The Anxious Leaf', and the other an origin story of the chestnut burr.

Host Dan Scholz

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'The Pumpkin Giant' is an outstandingly silly tale of the origin of the pumpkin, and the perfect beginning to Halloween week!

Host Dan Scholz

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The Meamei, or Pleiades, once lived on this earth. They were seven sisters remarkable for their beauty. They had long hair to their waists, and their bodies sparkled with icicles. Their father and mother lived among the rocks away on some distant mountain, staying there always, never wandering about as their daughters did. When the sisters used to go hunting, they never joined any other tribes, though many tried from time to time to make friends with them. One large family of boys in particular thought them so beautiful that they wished them to stay with them and be their wives. These boys, the Berai-Berai, used to follow the Meamei about, and watching where they camped, used to leave there offerings for them.

Once upon a time a great and powerful King married a lovely Princess. No couple were ever so happy; but before their honeymoon was over they were forced to part, for the King had to go on a warlike expedition to a far country, and leave his young wife alone at home. Bitter were the tears she shed, while her husband sought in vain to soothe her with words of comfort and counsel, warning her, above all things, never to leave the castle, to hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of evil counsellors, and especially to be on her guard against strange women. And the Queen promised faithfully to obey her royal lord and master in these four matters.

In Chapter 2 of the first story in the "Red Cap Tales" retelling of "Waverley" our young hero finds his way to Castle Bradwardine.

Host Dan Scholz

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In 'The Halos of The Saints' we discover that saints and scholars have halos that can blind people. and that foxes are scared of them both!

From: The Chinese Fairy Book
Editor: R. Wilhelm

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'Castle Gutenfels' is the not so historically accurate tale of how the castle on the Rhine near Kaub got its name. But - it is much more romantic than the reality.

Host Dan Scholz

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'Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse' is an English folktale that is profoundly sad, beginning with two lovely mice and a countryside tableau and ending with none of this.

From: English Fairy Tales

Author: Flora Annie Steel

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A duck once arrived from Portugal. There were some who said she came from Spain, but that is almost the same thing. At all events, she was called the Portuguese duck, and she laid eggs, was killed and cooked, and that was the end of her.

The ducklings which crept forth from her eggs were also called Portuguese ducks, and about that there may be some question. But of all the family only one remained in the duck yard, which may be called a farmyard, since the chickens were admitted to it and the cock strutted about in a very hostile manner.

Today our adventurer wakes to find himself face to face with the Emperor of Lilliput.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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In 'The Hare and the Partridge' the hare isn't as quick as he thinks and the partridge learns not to be so smug.

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Our second story from Italy about how a peasant pulls one over on the nobility is 'Crab', the Italian version of the German folktale "Doctor Knowall".

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In 'The God of War' we get the rare opportunity to witness the creation of a God from a historical figure and see Guan Yu become The God of War.

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In one of his wanderings through the wooded lands, Iktomi saw a rare bird sitting high in a tree-top. Its long fan-like tail feathers had caught all the beautiful colors of the rainbow. Handsome in the glistening summer sun sat the bird of rainbow plumage. Iktomi hurried hither with his eyes fast on the bird.

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 canst, and fetch me some water, or I shall choke.”

Once seven people went out to make war,—the Ashes, the Fire, the Bladder, the Grasshopper, the Dragon Fly, the Fish, and the Turtle. As they were talking excitedly, waving their fists in violent gestures, a wind came and blew the Ashes away. “Ho!” cried the others, “he could not fight, this one!”

The six went on running to make war more quickly. They descended a deep valley, the Fire going foremost until they came to a river. The Fire said “Hsss—tchu!” and was gone. “Ho!” hooted the others, “he could not fight, this one!”

Host Dan Scholz
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'Morozko' is a tale of the Russian Jack Frost, a good daughter and a bad daughter, and the world's smartest talking dog.

In today's episode of 'The White Cat' our young prince will sup with the cat and the she will, in turn, provide him with the prettiest little dog in the world.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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In our final story from "The Topaz Story Book" we get a story about the bravery and cunning of a young squirrel.

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'The Phantom Dragoon' is a rare tale from the Revolutionary United States that praises the ingenuity of a young English scout. A rare story indeed.

From: Myths and Legends of Our Own Land

Author: Charles M. Skinner

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'Fairy Tenderheart' only wants to see an end to war and finds help in The Oldest Fairy and a magic flower.

From: Wonderwings and other Fairy Stories

Author: Edith Howes

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'Golden-Rod and Purple Aster' is the slightly sad origin story of the flowers who are best friends.

Host Dan Scholz

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There was once a merchant who was so rich that he could have paved a whole street with gold, and would even then have had enough left for a small alley. He did not do so; he knew the value of money better than to use it in this way. So clever was he that every shilling he put out brought him a crown, and so it continued as long as he lived.

His son inherited his wealth, and lived a merry life with it. He went to a masquerade every night, made kites out of five-pound notes, and threw pieces of gold into the sea instead of stones, making ducks and drakes of them.

In this manner he soon lost all his money.

There was, once upon a time, a woman named Pascadozzia, and one day, when she was standing at her window, which looked into the garden of an ogress, she saw such a fine bed of parsley that she almost fainted away with desire for some. So when the ogress went out she could not restrain herself any longer, but plucked a handful of it. The ogress came home and was going to cook her pottage when she found that some one had been stealing the parsley, and said, “Ill luck to me, but I’ll catch this long-fingered rogue and make him repent it; I’ll teach him to his cost that every one should eat off his own platter and not meddle with other folks’ cups.”

The poor woman went again and again down into the garden, until one morning the ogress met her, and in a furious rage exclaimed, “Have I caught you at last, you thief, you rogue; prithee, do you pay the rent of the garden that you come in this impudent way and steal my plants? By my faith, I’ll make you do penance without sending you to Rome.”

'The Sagacious Monkey and the Boar' is a story in the tradition of 'Old Sultan', one of my favorite pieces of folklore.

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In the olden days there were no hooks or casting nets, so that when the natives wanted to catch fish they made baskets and set traps at the river side.

One man named Akon Obo, who was very poor, began to make baskets and traps out of bamboo palm, and then when the river went down he used to take his traps to a pool and set them baited with palm-nuts. In the night the big fish used to smell the palm-nuts and go into the trap, when at once the door would fall down, and in the morning Akon Obo would go and take the fish out. He was very successful in his fishing, and used to sell the fish in the market for plenty of money.

Colonel Howell, of the king’s troops, was a gay fellow, framed to make women false; but when he met the rosy, sweet-natured daughter of farmer Jarrett, near Valley Forge, he attempted no dalliance, for he fell too seriously in love. He might not venture into the old man’s presence, for Jarrett had a son with Washington, and he hated a red-coat as he did the devil; but the young officer met the girl in secret, and they plighted troth beneath the garden trees, hidden in gray mist. As Howell bent to take his first kiss that night, a rising wind went past, bringing from afar the roll of a drum, and as they talked the drum kept drawing nearer, until it seemed at hand. 

The Tuscan version of 'Bluebeard' may just be my favorite version of this classic fairytale. I do hope you agree.

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In the first of three new Christmas stories by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey we get a glimpse of the amazing Mrs. Claus as she comes to the rescue for three young girls.

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In the Korean folktale of 'The Rabbit's Eyes' we find a turtle who has nefarious plans and a bunny who is (thankfully) as smart as he is trusting.

From: The Unmannerly Tiger, and Other Korean Tales

Author: William Elliot Griffis

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Our final Chinese fairy tale this year, 'The Sorcerer of the White Lotus Lodge' is the tale of a great sorcerer who gets away with pretty much everything.

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We're back from summer vacation with a brand new story from "The Blue Fairy Book"! This is not your typical Goldilocks story at all, this is the tale of 'Pretty Goldilocks'.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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This week we have three very religious folktales from Italy that either teach us a lesson about, or fill in some historical holes in early Christianity. In St. Peter and His Sisters we learn just who can get into heaven.

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In Gertrude Landa's Jewish folktale of 'The Higgledy-Piggledy Palace' we get a story of Abraham and his wife Sarah and a warning to Pharaoh (that of course isn't heeded).

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'How Henry Hagglyhoagly Played the Guitar with His Mittens On' is a love story in Carl Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories".

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Our final story from Japan this week features the hero Watanabé as he guards the city of Kioto from the oni.

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Today we discover why Cinderlad collected all of the horses and armor in Pt. 1 of the tale. It, of course, has something to do with a Princess and a Glass Hill. :)

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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In the penultimate chapter in the fairytale of 'Ourson' we finally see the battle between the Fairy Drolette and the Fairy Furious.

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Once upon a time, ages and ages ago, the toad had a smooth skin. In those days, he was a great roamer. He never could be found in his own house. If any one had a party, he was sure to go, no matter how far away from home it was held, or how long it took to get there.

One day the toad received an invitation to attend a party in the sky. “You never can get to this party,” said his friend, the armadillo. “You know how slowly you travel here upon earth.”

“Wait and see whether or not I go to the party,” said the toad.

Not far from the toad’s house there lived a big black buzzard. No one liked the buzzard. He was very unpopular with all the birds and beasts. The toad hopped over to the buzzard’s house. The buzzard was outside the door making music on his violin.

A pedlar journeyed with his pack upon the great high-road which leads to the city of Kioto. He found a child sitting all alone by the wayside.

“Well, my little girl,” he said, “and what make you all alone by the wayside?”

“What do you,” said the child, “with a staff and a pack, and sandals outworn?”

“I am bound for Kioto, and the Mikado’s Palace, to sell my gauds to the ladies of the Court.”

“Ah,” said the child, “take me too.”

“What is your name, my little girl?”

“I have no name.”

“Whence come you?”

“I come from nowhere.”

“You seem to be about seven years old.”

“I have no age.”

“Why are you here?”

“I have been waiting for you.”

“How long have you waited?”

“For more than a hundred years.”

The Pedlar laughed.

This is a week of origins, and we start off with how the King's Candles got their name.

Host Dan Scholz

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Tommy Grimes was sometimes a good boy, and sometimes a bad boy; and when he was a bad boy, he was a very bad boy. Now his mother used to say to him: “Tommy, Tommy, be a good boy, and don’t go out of the street, or else Mr. Miacca will take you.” But still when he was a bad boy he would go out of the street; and one day, sure enough, he had scarcely got round the corner, when Mr. Miacca did catch him and popped him into a bag upside down, and took him off to his house.

Yoshi-san and his Grandmother go to visit the great temple at Shiba. They walk up its steep stairs, and arrive at the lacquered threshold. Here they place aside their wooden clogs, throw a few coins into a huge box standing on the floor. It is covered with a wooden grating so constructed as to prevent pilfering hands afterward removing the coin. Then they pull a thick rope attached to a big brass bell like an exaggerated sheep-bell, hanging from the ceiling, but which gives forth but a feeble, tinkling sound. To insure the god’s attention, this is supplemented with three distinct claps of the hands, which are afterward clasped in prayer for a short interval; two more claps mark the conclusion. Then, resuming their clogs, they clatter down the steep, copper-bound temple steps into the grounds. Here are stalls innumerable of toys, fruit, fish-cakes, birds, tobacco-pipes, ironmongery, and rice, and scattered amidst the stalls are tea-houses, peep-shows, and other places of amusement. Of these the greatest attraction is a newly-opened chrysanthemum show.

TW: Racism. AAPI hate in America has a long history. This tale from L Frank Baum is a prime example of that history.

Host Dan Scholz

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Fresh from the archives - one of my favorite English folktales - Take one part "The Goosegirl", one part "Cinderella", and mix it with a little 'Pied Piper' and you'll get the English folktale of 'Tattercoats'.

Our final interlude in the story of Waverley is truly an 'Interlude of Brevity', but it does an excellent job of showing us that our author has achieved his goal and the children are most certainly enthralled.

Host Dan Scholz

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A young King of Quok (and his entire kingdom) are auctioned off in this tale of matchmaking that should appease anyone in Bridgerton withdrawals.

Host Dan Scholz

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Once upon a time there were two women who argued, as women are sometimes wont to do, and when they had nothing more to argue about, they began to bicker about their husbands, about which of them was the stupidest. The longer they argued, the angrier they became, until finally they were close to pulling each other’s hair, for as one knows, “disagreements are easier to encourage than to turn; and things are most difficult when reason is lacking.” One of them said that there was nothing she could not get her husband to believe, when she said it was so, for he was as gullible as the trolls; and the other said that, no matter how bad it might be, she could always get her husband to do something, when she said it should be done, for he was such as could find neither needle nor skein. 

Host Dan Scholz

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On the edge of a forest there lived a large family of badgers. In the ground their dwelling was made. Its walls and roof were covered with rocks and straw.

Old father badger was a great hunter. He knew well how to track the deer and buffalo. Every day he came home carrying on his back some wild game. This kept mother badger very busy, and the baby badgers very chubby. While the well-fed children played about, digging little make-believe dwellings, their mother hung thin sliced meats upon long willow racks. As fast as the meats were dried and seasoned by sun and wind, she packed them carefully away in a large thick bag.

This bag was like a huge stiff envelope, but far more beautiful to see, for it was painted all over with many bright colors. These firmly tied bags of dried meat were laid upon the rocks in the walls of the dwelling. In this way they were both useful and decorative.

One day father badger did not go off for a hunt. He stayed at home, making new arrows. His children sat about him on the ground floor. Their small black eyes danced with delight as they watched the gay colors painted upon the arrows.

All of a sudden there was heard a heavy footfall near the entrance way. The oval-shaped door-frame was pushed aside. In stepped a large black foot with great big claws.

Host Dan Scholz
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Sometimes folklore can help to answer a question that you've held since childhood, like why is a baker's dozen thirteen? In 'The Baker's Dozen' Charles Skinner gives us a reason filled with saints, cakes and a Dutch baker in Albany, NY.

From: Myths And Legends Of Our Own Land

Author: Charles M. Skinner

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Once upon a time, there was a mighty baron in the North Countrie who was a great magician that knew everything that would come to pass. So one day, when his little boy was four years old, he looked into the Book of Fate to see what would happen to him. And to his dismay, he found that his son would wed a lowly maid that had just been born in a house under the shadow of York Minster. Now the Baron knew the father of the little girl was very, very poor, and he had five children already. So he called for his horse, and rode into York; and passed by the father’s house, and saw him sitting by the door, sad and doleful. So he dismounted and went up to him and said: “What is the matter, my good man?” And the man said: “Well, your honour, the fact is, I’ve five children already, and now a sixth’s come, a little lass, and where to get the bread from to fill their mouths, that’s more than I can say.”

“Don’t be downhearted, my man,” said the Baron. “If that’s your trouble, I can help you. I’ll take away the last little one, and you wont have to bother about her.”

“Thank you kindly, sir,” said the man; and he went in and brought out the lass and gave her to the Baron, who mounted his horse and rode away with her. And when he got by the bank of the river Ouse, he threw the little, thing into the river, and rode off to his castle.

Today the Prince and the Master-Maid will be officially introduced to each other by the giant, and then run away together.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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In the second part of the Rhine tale of 'Genovefa' we learn the fate of the Countess, her son, and the villainous Golo.

Host Dan Scholz

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'Winter's Herald' is my absolute favorite story to tell at the beginning of autumn. A story of the warnings of the first frost and of neighborly compassion, it's the perfect October folktale.

Host Dan Scholz

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Today the Princes return to save the life of Princess Nouronnihar, but the Sultan determines that none of their gifts were solely responsible for her recovery and creates a new test to determine her husband.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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Today the Magician brings news and a scheme back to the Sultan of the Indies.

Book: The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Host: Dan Scholz

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In a certain kingdom there lived a Prince Ivan. He had three sisters. The first was the Princess Marya, the second the Princess Olga, the third the Princess Anna. When their father and mother lay at the point of death, they had thus enjoined their son: ‘Give your sisters in marriage to the very first suitors who come to woo them. Don’t go keeping them by you!’ 

They died, and the Prince buried them, and then, to solace his grief, he went with his sisters into the garden green to stroll. Suddenly the sky was covered by a black cloud; a terrible storm arose. 

‘Let us go home, sisters!’ he cried.

Once upon a time there was a king with three daughters. These three daughters being at table one day, their father said: “Come now, let us see which of you three loves me.” The oldest said: “Papa, I love you as much as my eyes.” The second answered: “I love you as much as my heart.” The youngest said: “I love you as much as water and salt.” The king heard her with amazement: “Do you value me like water and salt? Quick! call the executioners, for I will have her killed immediately.”

'Lorelei' is one of the most famous German legends. In this tale Wilhelm Ruland tells the story of her final victim.

Host Dan Scholz

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Because I'm still in the Christmas spirit we're going to buck tradition this year and bring you three new tales of Christmas instead of the usual annual round up. That will take place over the next two weeks with full stories from "The Blue Fairy Book", but for now enjoy this Christmas present from me to you!

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It was the night the dear Christ-Child came to Bethlehem. In a country far away from Him, an old, old woman named Babouscka sat in her snug little house by her warm fire. The wind was drifting the snow outside and howling down the chimney, but it only made Babouscka's fire burn more brightly.

"How glad I am that I may stay indoors," said Babouscka, holding her hands out to the bright blaze.

But suddenly she heard a loud rap at her door. She opened it and her candle shone on three old men standing outside in the snow. Their beards were as white as the snow, and so long that they reached the ground. Their eyes shone kindly in the light of Babouscka's candle, and their arms were full of precious things—boxes of jewels, and sweet-smelling oils, and ointments.

In the finale of "Good Little Henry" get finally see Henry reach his destination at the garden of the fairies where he can find 'The Plant of Life'.

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'St. Clement's Chapel' is the melancholy story of the founding of a church on the Rhine, and the Emperor's extermination of the robber barons.

Host Dan Scholz

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