This enchanting treasury of elder tales from around the world, collected by the "Aesop of the Twentieth Century" (New York Times), ranges from parables to longer folktales and myths. Jane Yolen, an internationally known author of children's books and editor of Favorite Folktales from Around the World, has compiled stories that will prove you're never too old to meet love, play tricks, teach a lesson, learn from others, and even cheat death.

Introduction

xiii

OLD MAN, YOUNG MISTRESS (Aesop)

xiv

(2)

THE SEVENTH FATHER OF THE HOUSE (Norway)

xvi

(4)

THE OLD MAN AND HIS GRANDSON (German)

xx

(2)

MOUNTAIN OF ABANDONED OLD PEOPLE (Japan)

xxii

(2)

THE BELL OF ATRI (Italy)

xxiv

(2)

THE OLD MAN AND DEATH (Aesop)

xxvi

(1)

IRON LOGIC (Jewish)

xxvii

(1)

ONE MORE GIFT (Japan)

xxvii

(2)

THE TWO FRIENDS WHO SET OFF TO TRAVEL ROUND THE WORLD (Eskimo)

xxix

(2)

THE SPAN OF MAN'S LIFE (Israel)

xxxi

(2)

THE MORTAL LORD (China)

xxxiii

(1)

"NOW I BECOME MYSELF"

xxxiv

May Sarton

Wisdom

3

(40)

AN OLD MAN AND A BOY (Africa: Kambaland)

3

(1)

EMPTY-CUP MIND (Japan)

3

(1)

THE OLD WOMAN OF THE SPRING (Native American/Cheyenne)

4

(4)

THE BROWNIE OF BLEDNOCK (Scotland)

8

(7)

THE WISE WOMAN (Algeria)

15

(2)

AN OLD MAN WHO SAVED SOME UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE (Zimbabwe)

17

(6)

AN OLD MAN'S WISDOM (India)

23

(2)

HIDE ANGER UNTIL TOMORROW (Suriname)

25

(1)

THE THREE COUNSELS (Mexico)

26

(2)

THE TRUTH (Syria)

28

(1)

THE OLD MAN AND THE GRAIN OF WHEAT (Russia)

29

(2)

ELIJAH AND THE POOR MAN'S WISH (Jewish)

31

(3)

THE WISE MAN AND THE APPRENTICE (Iran/Afghanistan)

34

(4)

THE POPPET CAUGHT A THIEF (United States)

38

(5)

Trickery

43

(60)

THE CLEVER OLD MAN (India)

43

(6)

HOW GRANDPA MOWED THE LORD'S MEADOW (Russia)

49

(1)

KITTA GRAY (Sweden)

50

(2)

THE DEVIL AND THE GIPSY (Russia)

52

(4)

THE OLD WOMAN AND THE GIANT (Philippines)

56

(1)

JOHN FRASER THE COOK (Scotland)

57

(1)

THE SEVEN LEAVENINGS (Palestinian Arab)

58

(8)

THE FORTUNE-TELLER (Russia)

66

(5)

THE OLD WOMAN AND THE PHYSICIAN (Aesop)

71

(1)

TWO WOMEN OVERCOME NEZ PERCE MAN (Native American/Coeur d'Alene)

72

(1)

THE SILVER SWINDLE (China)

72

(3)

THE STRAW OX (Russian Cossack)

75

(5)

THE TWO OLD WOMEN'S BET (United States)

80

(3)

THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE (Arabian Nights)

83

(5)

THE FIVE WOLVES (Native American/Salishan)

88

(1)

THE CRAFTY WOMAN (Lithuania)

89

(2)

THE TALKING TURKEYS (Syria)

91

(1)

THE OLD WOMAN AND THE FOX (India)

92

(4)

BUCCA DHU AND BUCCA GWIDDEN (England)

96

(7)

Adventure

103

(82)

VERLIOKA (Russia)

103

(5)

THE LORD OF DEATH (India)

108

(3)

THE MAN WHO LODGED WITH SERPENTS (Hungary)

111

(4)

KWATEE AND THE MONSTER IN LAKE QUINAULT (Native American/Quinault)

115

(1)

LUMP OFF, LUMP ON (Japan)

116

(4)

SIKSRUK, THE WITCH-DOCTOR (Eskimo)

120

(3)

OLD ROANEY (United States)

123

(7)

THE OLD WOMAN AND THE RICE CAKES (Japan)

130

(5)

THE POOR COUNTRYMAN AND THE GREEDY HAG (Poland)

135

(4)

ST. DAVID'S FLOOD (England)

139

(1)

THE STAFF OF ELIJAH (Jewish/Moldavia)

140

(3)

THE MAGICAL WORDS (Finland)

143

(9)

KALAPANA (Hawaii)

152

(5)

THE GREAT JAGUAR (Guatemala/Maya)

157

(2)

THE HUNTED HARE (England)

159

(3)

THE APPARITION OF ARRAN (Scotland)

162

(2)

THE VALIANT FISH TRAPPER (Hungary)

164

(2)

GRANDMOTHER SPIDER STEALS THE FIRE (Native American/Choctaw)

166

(4)

THE MONSTER OF LOCH GARTEN (Scotland)

170

(1)

THE WOMAN IN THE MOON (Hawaii)

171

(2)

THE HEDLEY KOW (England)

173

(4)

THE SEARCH FOR LUCK (Greece)

177

(8)

And a Little Bit of Love

185

(18)

BAUCIS AND PHILEMON (Greece)

185

(3)

HOW MUCH YOU REMIND ME OF MY HUSBAND! (El Salvador)

188

(2)

A CLEVER OLD BRIDE (Korea)

190

(1)

MY JON'S SOUL (Iceland)

191

(3)

A TALE OF TWO OLD WOMEN (Eskimo)

194

(4)

THE OLD MAN IN THE MOON (Burma)

198

(1)

THE BLIND OLD WOMAN (African-American)

199

(1)

THE CURE (Syria)

200

(3)

Notes for Stories

203

(14)

Bibliography

217

(11)

Acknowledgments

228

(3)

Index of Titles

231

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