Herein are 11 tales taken from the time when the earth was young. In those days, indeed, the grown folk all loved wonder tales as well as children love them now and were not worse because of it. Sometimes these wonder tales were told by magic chairs or chests; sometimes by birds or beasts that were enchanted and had power of speech. It is from these wonder tales that these 11 stories have been selected. The stories in this volume are: I Dame Grumble and Her Curious Apple-Tree II A Tale of the Northland Kingdom III The Little Tree that Never Grew Up IV The Tale of Punchinello V The Strange Tale of the Brown Bear VI The Beggar Princess VII Sweep and Little Sweep VIII Kings and Queens and Peasant Folk IX The Goose Girl and the Blue Gander X The Little Brown Man XI A Tale for Halloween These tales are from long, long ago, when all the world was young and there were but few people dwelling on it, the strangest things would often come to pass. This was the time when fairyfolk still lived in the greenwoods and elves sang and danced in the soft summer dawns. Then trees could sing and flowers speak and birds would carry messages about the world; wild beasts were not always wild and ferocious and were often loyal friends to men and helped them in their difficulties. In these old days, most noble dukes and earls would fall in love with dairymaids whose gentle ways and manners charmed their hearts. Sometimes great kings grew weary of the splendor of their courts and left their thrones to live a simple life. Each princess had a fairy godmother who showered her with magic gifts. Wise men read the stars and seers would gaze in crystal bowls to tell the coming good or ill they saw. In those old days, the housewives left a bit of bread and cheese upon the pantry shelf each evening, that the brownie who was said to dwell in every kitchen might have a midnight feast. These brownies, 'twas said also, would make much mischief if they were not treated very well. In early dawns, when fields of flowers were a-sparkle with dew and sunlight, the milkmaids used to bathe their eyes and ears with dew that they might see the fairyfolk forever afterward and hear them sing at midnight in the surrounding glens. The farmers' boys would search among the hedges in hopes of meeting The Red Caps who were said to bring much luck. These Red Caps too were said to give a magic purse of gold to those they fancied,—a purse that was always brimful no matter what was spent from it. Witches still rode broomsticks through the skies and there were wishing wells and magic charms and spells. So, we invite you to curl up with this unique sliver of Fairy culture not seen in print for over a century; and immerse yourself in the tales and fables of yesteryear. **CHALLENGE: Every story is terminated with an illustrated tailpiece. In this book it is an illustration of mushrooms and plants. See if you can help young readers spot which illustration they have been taken from. 10% of the net sale will be donated to charities by the publisher. ---------------------------- TAGS: fairy tales, folklore, myths, legends, children’s stories, children’s stories, bygone era, fairydom, fairy land, classic stories, children’s bedtime stories, happy place, happiness, top of the morning, Princess, Dame Grumble, Curious Apple-Tree, Northland Kingdom, Little Tree, Never Grow Up, Punchinello, Strange Tale, Brown Bear, Beggar Princess, Sweep, Little Sweep, Kings, Queens, Peasant Folk, Goose Girl, Blue Gander, Little Brown Man, Halloween, when the world was young, long long ago, magic chairs, magic chest, speaking birds, beasts, enchanted, enchantments, power of speech

A collection of 11 fairy tales about enchanted and magical creatures that do not appear to be duplicated anywhere else. Loretta Ellen Brady was an American author best known for this collection written in 1920.

It is rare indeed when a writer's original stories are regarded as masterpieces on a par with the great folkloristic fairy tales which have been handed down through the ages. However, Howard Pyle's absorbing tales have for generations enjoyed such overwhelming popularity with boys and girls that they have earned this unique distinction. This collection includes 24 of his most entertaining and imaginative works In The Wonder Clock you will find a fairy tale for each hour of the day – 24 in all. A short verse introduces each fairy tale. In addition, you will also find the stories embellished by 122 full page pen and ink illustrations which will keep children and adults engaged for hours. Also known as Four-and-Twenty Marvellous Tales were written by Howard Pyle and illustrated by his sister Katharine Pyle, an author and illustrator in her own right, penned and added the 24 poems which can be found at the start of every hour of the day. We do suggest reading a tale-a-day at bedtime. Maybe you can stretch some of the longer tales over 2 days. This way you make the stories in this book last a whole month. Included are tales: I - Bearskin II. - The Water of Life III. - How One Turned his Trouble to Some Account IV. - How Three Went out into the Wide World V. - The Clever Student and the Master of Black Arts VI. - The Princess Golden-Hair and the Great Black Raven VII. - Cousin Greylegs, the Great Red Fox, and Grandfather Mole VIII. - One Good Turn Deserves Another IX. - The White Bird X. - How the Good Gifts were Used by Two XI. - How Boots Befooled the King XII. - The Step-mother XIII. - Master Jacob XIV. - Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare XV. - Mother Hildegarde XVI. - Which is Best XVII. - The Simpleton and his Little Black Hen XVIII. - The Swan Maiden XIX. - The Three Little Pigs and the Ogre XX. - The Staff and the Fiddle XXI. - How the Princess’s Pride was Broken XXII. - How Two Went into Partnership XXIII. - King Stork XXIV. - The Best that Life has to Give ========================== KEYWORDS/TABS: Wonder clock, Howard Pyle, Katharine Pyle, 24, fairy tales, folk tales, fables, children’s stories, Bearskin, Water of Life, Turn Trouble, Account, Three, Wide World, Clever Student, Master, Black Arts, Princess, Golden-Hair, Great Black Raven, Cousin Greylegs, Great Red Fox, Grandfather Mole, One Good Turn, White Bird, Good Gifts, Boots, fooled, King, Queen, Prince, Step-mother, Master Jacob, Peterkin, Little Grey Hare, rabbit, Mother Hildegarde, Best, Simpleton, Little Black Hen, Swan Maiden, Little Pigs, Ogre, Staff, Fiddle, Pride, Broken, Partnership, King Stork,

Long, long ago, when all the world was young and there were but few people dwelling on it, the strangest things could often come to pass. Then fairyfolk still lived in the greenwoods and elves sang and danced in the soft summer dawns. Then trees could sing and flowers speak and birds would carry messages about the world; wild beasts were often loyal friends to men and helped them in their difficulties. In these old days, most noble dukes and earls would fall in love with dairymaids whose gentle ways and manners charmed their hearts. Sometimes great kings grew weary of the splendor of their courts and left their thrones to live as simple peasants. Each princess had a fairy godmother who showered her with magic gifts. Then wise men read the stars and seers would gaze in crystal bowls to tell the coming good or ill they saw.

This is the third, and probably the last, of the Fairy Books of many colours. First there was the Blue Fairy Book; then, children, you asked for more, and we made up the Red Fairy Book; and, when you wanted more still, the Green Fairy Book was put together. The stories in all the books are borrowed from many countries; some are French, some German, some Russian, some Italian, some Scottish, some English, one Chinese. However much these nations differ about trifles, they all agree in liking fairy tales. The reason, no doubt, is that men were much like children in their minds long ago, long, long ago, and so before they took to writing newspapers, and sermons, and novels, and long poems, they told each other stories, such as you read in the fairy books. They believed that witches could turn people into beasts, that beasts could speak, that magic rings could make their owners invisible, and all the other wonders in the stories. Then, as the world became grown-up, the fairy tales which were not written down would have been quite forgotten but that the old grannies remembered them, and told them to the little grandchildren: and when they, in their turn, became grannies, they remembered them, and told them also. In this way these tales are older than reading and writing, far older than printing. The oldest fairy tales ever written down were written down in Egypt, about Joseph's time, nearly three thousand five hundred years ago. Other fairy stories Homer knew, in Greece, nearly three thousand years ago, and he made them all up into a poem, the Odyssey, which I hope you will read some day. Here you will find the witch who turns men into swine, and the man who bores out the big foolish giant's eye, and the cap of darkness, and the shoes of swiftness, that were worn later by Jack the Giant-Killer. These fairy tales are the oldest stories in the world, and as they were first made by men who were childlike for their own amusement, so they amuse children still, and also grown-up people who have not forgotten how they once were children.