Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived in a village near the
forest.  Whenever she went out, the little girl wore a red riding cloak, so
everyone in the village called her Little Red Riding Hood.

One morning, Little Red Riding Hood asked her mother if she could go to
visit her grandmother as it had been awhile since they'd seen each other.

"That's a good idea," her mother said.  So they packed a nice basket for
Little Red Riding Hood to take to her grandmother.

When the basket was ready, the little girl put on her red cloak and kissed
her mother goodbye.

"Remember, go straight to Grandma's house," her mother cautioned. 

"Don't dawdle along the way and please don't talk to strangers!  The woods
are dangerous."

"Don't worry, mommy," said Little Red Riding Hood, "I'll be careful."

But when Little Red Riding Hood noticed some lovely flowers in the woods,
she forgot her promise to her mother.  She picked a few, watched the
butterflies flit about for awhile, listened to the frogs croaking and then
picked a few more. 

Little Red Riding Hood was enjoying the warm summer day so much, that
she didn't notice a dark shadow approaching out of the forest behind her...

Suddenly, the wolf appeared beside her.

"What are you doing out here, little girl?" the wolf asked in a voice as
friendly as he could muster.

"I'm on my way to see my Grandma who lives through the forest, near the
brook," Little Red Riding Hood replied.

Then she realized how late she was and quickly excused herself, rushing
down the path to her Grandma's house. 

The wolf, in the meantime, took a shortcut...

The wolf, a little out of breath from running, arrived at Grandma's and
knocked lightly at the door.

"Oh thank goodness dear!  Come in, come in!  I was worried sick that
something had happened to you in the forest," said Grandma thinking that
the knock was her granddaughter.

The wolf let himself in.  Poor Granny did not have time to say another word,
before the wolf gobbled her up!

The wolf let out a satisfied burp, and then poked through Granny's
wardrobe to find a nightgown that he liked.  He added a frilly sleeping cap,
and for good measure, dabbed some of Granny's perfume behind his
pointy ears.

A few minutes later, Red Riding Hood knocked on the door.  The wolf
jumped into bed and pulled the covers over his nose.  "Who is it?" he called
in a cackly voice.

"It's me, Little Red Riding Hood."

"Oh how lovely!  Do come in, my dear," croaked the wolf.

When Little Red Riding Hood entered the little cottage, she could scarcely
recognize her Grandmother.

"Grandmother!  Your voice sounds so odd.  Is something the matter?" she

asked.

"Oh, I just have touch of a cold," squeaked the wolf adding a cough at the
end to prove the point.

"But Grandmother!  What big ears you have," said Little Red Riding Hood
as she edged closer to the bed.

"The better to hear you with, my dear," replied the wolf.

"But Grandmother!  What big eyes you have," said Little Red Riding Hood.

"The better to see you with, my dear," replied the wolf.

"But Grandmother!  What big teeth you have," said Little Red Riding Hood
her voice quivering slightly.

"The better to eat you with, my dear," roared the wolf and he leapt out of
the bed and began to chase the little girl.

Almost too late, Little Red Riding Hood realized that the person in the bed
was not her Grandmother, but a hungry wolf.

She ran across the room and through the door, shouting, "Help!  Wolf!" as
loudly as she could.

A woodsman who was chopping logs nearby heard her cry and ran towards
the cottage as fast as he could.

He grabbed the wolf and made him spit out the poor Grandmother who was
a bit frazzled by the whole experience, but still in one piece."Oh Grandma, I
was so scared!"  sobbed Little Red Riding Hood, "I'll never speak to
strangers or dawdle in the forest again."

"There, there, child.  You've learned an important lesson.  Thank goodness

you shouted loud enough for this kind woodsman to hear you!"

The woodsman knocked out the wolf and carried him deep into the forest
where he wouldn't bother people any longer.
Little Red Riding Hood and her Grandmother had a nice lunch and a long
chat.

A young girl, Little Red Riding Hood, sets off through the woods
to visit her sick grandmother. Along the way, she meets a wolf.
The wolf rushes ahead of her to her grandmothers home, where
he impersonates Little Red Riding Hood to gain access. The wolf
eats the grandmother. When Red arrives, the wolf pretends to be
her grandmother and eats her too.

Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time, there was a little girl lived in a village near the forest. 
Whenever she went out, she wore a red riding cloak that marks her Little
Red Riding Hood.

One day Little Red Riding Hood, sets off through the woods to
visit her sick grandmother. Her mother advises her not to talk to
strangers. Along the way, she meets a wolf. The wolf rushes ahead
of her to her grandmother’s home, where he impersonates Little
Red Riding Hood to gain access. The wolf eats the grandmother.
When Red arrives, the wolf pretends to be her grandmother and
eats her too. Unfortunately, a woodsman came to save her.

Moral Lesson: Never talk and trust to strangers.

 The Ant and Grasshopper
On a warm, sunny day in the middle of summer. A grasshopper is lying in a field,
enjoying the sunshine, singing and playing his fiddle. Suddenly, he notices an ant
scurrying through the field, carrying an ear of corn. The grasshopper, wanting to chat for
a while, calls out to the ant.

‘What are you doing? Come and talk to me for a while.’

The ant shakes his head.

‘I’m sorry, I can’t stop, I’m too busy. I have to gather food for the winter.’

The grasshopper laughs at the ant.

‘The winter is ages away! It’s the middle of summer, and there’s plenty of food,’ he says.
‘Come and talk to me.’

But the ant refuses to stop working. He spends all day scurrying backwards and
forwards across the field, carrying his supplies. The grasshopper watches on, thinking
the ant is missing a great opportunity to enjoy himself. The ant is obviously not having a
good time, while the grasshopper is completely content.

All too soon, the winter comes. The weather is cold and there is no food to be found
anywhere. The grasshopper is hungry and has nothing to eat. He knocks at the ant’s
door, hoping the ant will take pity on him. The ant opens the door, and the grasshopper
can see plentiful supplies of food inside the house.

‘I’m so hungry. ‘You have plenty of food. Is there any chance you might share some with
me?’ says the grasshopper.

‘No,’ says the ant. ‘You laughed at me for gathering food in summer. You’ll have to see
yourself through the winter.’

So the grasshopper has to survive the winter on whatever meagre rations he can find
elsewhere.

Moral Lesson:

‘Work hard today to get ready for tomorrow.’

 The Honest Woodcutter

Long ago, there lived a woodcutter in a small village. He

was sincere in his work and very honest. Every day, he set out
into the nearby forest to cut trees. He brought the woods back
into the village and sold them out to a merchant to earn his
money. He earned just about enough to make a living, but he
was satisfied with his simple living. One day, while cutting a
tree near a river, his axe slipped out of his hand and fell into the
river. The river was so deep, he could not even think to retrieve
it on his own. He only had one axe which was gone into the
river. He became very worried thinking how he will be able to
earn his living now! He was very sad and prayed. He prayed
sincerely a Goddess appeared in front of him and asked, “What
is the problem?” The woodcutter explained the problem and
requested the Goddess to get his axe back. The Goddess put her
hand deep into the river and took out a silver axe and asked, “Is
this your axe?” The Woodcutter looked at the axe and said
“No”. So the Goddess put her hand back deep into the water
again and showed a golden axe and asked, “Is this your axe?”
The woodcutter looked at the axe and said “No”. The Goddess
then said, “Take a look again, this is a very valuable golden axe,
are you sure this is not yours?” The woodcutter said, “No, It’s
not mine. I can’t cut the trees with a golden axe. It’s not useful
for me”. The Goddess smiled and finally put her hand into the
water again and took out his iron axe and asked, “Is this your
axe?” To this, the woodcutter said, “Yes! This is mine! Thank
you!” The Goddess was very impressed with the woodcutter’s
honesty so he gave him his iron axe and also another two axes as
a reward for his honesty. Moral: Always be honest. Honesty is
always rewarded.
 The Ant and Grasshopper

On a warm, sunny day in the middle of summer. A

grasshopper is lying in a field, enjoying the sunshine,
singing and playing his fiddle. Suddenly, he notices an ant
scurrying through the field, carrying an ear of corn. The
grasshopper called the ant to join him and enjoy the
summer but the ant answers ‘I’m sorry, I can’t stop, I’m too
busy. I have to gather food for the winter.’ The grasshopper
just laughs at the ant.

Then winter comes the weather is cold and there is no food

to be found anywhere. The grasshopper is hungry and has
nothing to eat. He knocks at the ant’s door, hoping the ant
will take pity on him.

The ant opens the door, and the grasshopper can see
plentiful supplies of food inside the house.

‘I’m so hungry. Have pity on me.

‘No,’ says the ant. ‘You laughed at me for gathering food in

summer. You’ll have to see yourself through the winter.’ So
the grasshopper has to survive the winter.

Moral Lesson:

‘Work hard today to get ready for tomorrow.’

 CINDERELLA
ONCE UPON A TIME a girl named Cinderella lived with her stepmother
and two stepsisters.  Poor Cinderella had to work hard all day long so the
others could rest. It was she who had to wake up each morning when it was
still dark and cold to start the fire.  It was she who cooked the meals. It was
she who kept the fire going. The poor girl could not stay clean, from all the
ashes and cinders by the fire.

“What a mess!” her two stepsisters laughed.  And that is why they called her
“Cinderella.”
One day, big news came to town.  The King and Queen were going to have a
ball!  It was time for the Prince to find a bride. All of the young ladies in the
land were invited to come.  They were wild with joy! They would wear their
most beautiful gown and fix their hair extra nice. Maybe the prince would
like them!
At Cinderella’s house, she now had extra work to do.  She had to make two
brand-new gowns for her step-sisters.  
“Faster!” shouted one step-sister.
“You call that a dress?” screamed the other.  
“Oh, dear!” said Cinderella.  “When can I–“
The stepmother marched into the room.  “When can you WHAT?”

“Well,” said the girl, “when will I have time to make my own dress for the
ball?”
“You?” yelled the stepmother.  “Who said YOU were going to the ball?”
“What a laugh!” said one step-sister.
“Such a mess!” They pointed at Cinderella.  All of them laughed.
Cinderella said to herself, “When they look at me, maybe they see a mess.
But I am not that way.  And if I could, I WOULD go to the ball.”
Soon the time came for the stepmother and step-sisters to leave for the big
party.

 
 

Their fine carriage came to the door. The stepmother and step-sisters hopped
inside.  And they were off.
“Good-bye!” called Cinderella.  “Have a good time!” But her stepmother and
step-sisters did not turn around to see her.
“Ah, me!” said Cinderella sadly.  The carriage rode down the street.  She said
aloud, “I wish I could go to the ball, too!”
Then - Poof!
All of a sudden, in front of her was a fairy.
“You called?” said the fairy.

 
“Did I?” said Cinderella.  “Who are you?”
“Why, your Fairy Godmother, of course!  I know your wish.  And I have
come to grant it.”
“But…” said Cinderella, “my wish is impossible.”
“Excuse me!” said the Fairy Godmother in a huff.  “Did I not just show up
out of thin air?”
“Yes, you did,” said Cinderella.
“Then let me be the one to say what is possible or not!”
“Well, I think you know I want to go to the ball, too.” She looked down at
her dirty clothes.
 “But look at me.”
“You do look a bit of a mess, child,” said the Fairy Godmother.
“Even if I had something nice to wear," said the girl, "I would have no way to
get there."
“Dear me, all of that is possible,” said the Fairy. With that, she tapped her
wand on Cinderella’s head.

At once, Cinderella was all clean.  She was dressed in a beautiful blue gown.
Her hair was set up high on her head inside a golden band.
“This is wonderful!” said Cinderella.
“Who said I was done?” said the Fairy Godmother.  She tapped her wand
again. At once, a beautiful carriage came to be, with a driver and four white
horses.

“Am I dreaming?” said Cinderella, looking around her.

“It is as real, as real can be,” said the Fairy Godmother.  “But there is one
thing you must know.”
“What is that?”
“All of this lasts only to midnight.  Tonight, at the stroke of midnight, it will
all be over.  Everything will go back to how it was before.”
“Then I must be sure to leave the ball before midnight!” said Cinderella.
“Good idea,” said the Fairy Godmother.  She stepped back. “My work is
done.” And with that, the Fairy Godmother was gone.
Cinderella looked around her.  "Did that even happen?"  But there she stood
in a fine gown, and with a golden band in her hair.  And there were her driver
and four horses before her, waiting.
“Coming?” called the driver.
She stepped into the carriage.  And they were off.
Over at the ball, the Prince did not know what to think.  “Why do you have
that sad look on your face?” the Queen said to her son.  “Look around you!
You could not ask for finer maidens than these.”
“I know, Mother,” said the Prince.  Yet he knew something was wrong. He
had met many of the young women.  Yet after he said “hello,” one by one, he
could find nothing more to say.
"Look!"  Someone pointed to the front door.  “Who is that?”
All heads turned.  Who was that lovely maiden stepping down the stairs?  She
held her head tall and looked as if she belonged. But no one knew her.

“There is something about her,” said the Prince to himself.  “I will ask her to
dance.” And he walked over to Cinderella.
“Have we met?” said the Prince.
“I am pleased to meet you now,” said Cinderella with a bow.
“I feel as if I know you,” said the Prince.  “But of course, that is impossible.”
“Many things are possible,” said Cinderella, “if you wish them to be true.”
The Prince felt a leap in his heart.  He and Cinderella danced. When the song
was over, they danced again.  And then they danced again, and yet again.
Soon the other maidens at the ball grew jealous.  “Why is he dancing all the
time with her?” they said. “How rude!”

But all the Prince could see was Cinderella.  They laughed and talked, and
they danced some more.  In fact, they danced for so long that Cinderella did
not see the clock.
“Dong!” said the clock.
Cinderella looked up.  
“Dong!” went the clock again.  
She looked up again.  “Oh, my!” she cried out.  “It is almost midnight!”
“Dong!” rung the clock.  
“Why does that matter?” said the Prince.
“Dong!” called the clock.
“I must go!” said Cinderella.  
“Dong!” went the clock.
“But we just met!” said the Prince.  “Why leave now?”
“Dong!” rung the clock.
“I must GO!” said Cinderella.  She ran to the steps.
“Dong!” said the clock.
“I cannot hear you,” said the Prince.  “The clock is too loud!”
“Dong!” rung the clock.
“Goodbye!” said Cinderella. Up, up the stairs she ran.
“Dong!” went the clock.
“Please, stop for a moment!” said the Prince.
“Oh, dear!” she said as one glass slipper fell off her foot on the stair.  But
Cinderella kept running up.
“Dong!” said the clock.
“Please wait a moment!” said the Prince.  
“Dong!” rung the clock.
“Goodbye!” Cinderella turned one last time.  Then she rushed out the door.
“Dong!”  The clock was quiet. It was midnight.  
“Wait!” called the Prince.  He picked up her glass slipper and rushed out the
door.  

He looked around but could not see her blue dress anywhere.  “This is all I
have left from her,” he said, looking down at the glass slipper.  He saw that it
was made in a special way, to fit a foot like none other. “Somewhere there is
the other glass slipper,” he said.  “And when I find it, I will find her, too. 
Then I will ask her to be my bride!”
From hut to hut, from house to house, went the Prince.  One young woman
after another tried to fit her foot inside the glass slipper.  But none could fit.
And so the Prince moved on.
At last the Prince came to Cinderella’s house.  
“He is coming!” called one step-sister as she looked out the window.
“At the door!” screamed the other step-sister.  
“Quick!” yelled the stepmother.  “Get ready! One of you must be the one to
fit your foot in that slipper.  No matter what!”
The Prince knocked.  The stepmother flew open the door.  “Come in!” she
said. “I have two lovely daughters for you to see.”
The first step-sister tried to place her foot in the glass slipper.  

She tried hard, but it just would not fit. Then the second step-sister tried to fit
her foot inside.  She tried and tried with all her might, too. But no dice.
“Are there no other young women in the house?” said the Prince.
“None,” said the stepmother.
“Then I must go,” said the Prince.
“Maybe there is one more,” said Cinderella, stepping into the room.
“I thought you said there were no other young women here,” said the Prince.
“None who matter!” said the stepmother in a hiss.
“Come here,” said the Prince.
Cinderella stepped up to him.  The Prince got down on one knee and tried the
glass slipper on her foot.  

It fit perfectly! Then, from her pocket Cinderella took out something. It was
the other glass slipper!
“I knew it!” he cried.  “You are the one!”
“WHAT?” shouted a step-sister.  
“Not HER!” screamed the other step-sister.
“This cannot BE!” yelled the stepmother.  
But it was too late.  The prince knew that Cinderella was the one.  He looked
into her eyes. He did not see the cinders in her hair or the ashes on her face.
“I have found you!” he said.
“And I have found you,” said Cinderella.
And so Cinderella and the Prince were married, and they lived happily ever
after.