The Story of the Grasshopper and the Owl

Aesop’s Fables 8 The Owl never sleeps at night; she usually sleeps during the day. Then, after the sun had set, as the pink light from the sky began to fade and the darkness began to gently rise through the woods, out she came fluttering and blinking from the old hollow tree. Now her strange “hoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo” resonates through the calm wood, and she starts her quest for the insects and beetles, frogs, and mice that she enjoys eating so very much. Now, there was a specific elderly Owl who, as she got older, had developed a reputation for being quite … Continue reading The Story of the Grasshopper and the Owl

A Tale of the Crow and the Pitcher

Aesop’s Fables 10 During a stretch of dry weather when there was little available for the birds to drink, a thirsty Crow discovered a pitcher that had a few drops of water in it. But because of the pitcher’s height and its narrow neck, the Crow was unable to get any of the water inside of it, no matter how hard he tried. The poor creature had the impression that he was about to pass out from thirst. Then he had a thought pop into his head. He took a handful of the smaller stones and placed them one after … Continue reading A Tale of the Crow and the Pitcher

A BRIEF LIFE  OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

By E. Nesbit In the register of baptisms of the parish church of Stratford-upon-Avon, a market town in Warwickshire, England, appears, under date of April 26, 1564, the entry of the baptism of William, the son of John Shakspeare. The date of William Shakespeare’s birth has usually been taken as three days before his baptism, but there is certainly no evidence of this fact. The family name was variously spelled, the dramatist himself not always spelling it in the same way. While in the baptismal record the name is spelled “Shakspeare,” in several authentic autographs of the dramatist it reads … Continue reading A BRIEF LIFE  OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

A Tale of a Bull and a Gnat

Aesop’s fables 6 A Gnat flew across the field, making a rather loud buzzing sound for such a little creature, and it landed on the tip of one of the Bull’s horns. Following a brief period of relaxation, he then completed his preparations to depart by flight. However, before he went, he pleaded for forgiveness from the Bull for having rested on his horn. He said, “You must be extremely delighted to have me depart now,” as his exit statement. The Bull said, “It makes no difference to me in the slightest.” “I had no idea you were even in … Continue reading A Tale of a Bull and a Gnat

The Fox and the Grapes

The Fox and the Grapes Aesop’s Fables 4 One day, a Fox came upon a gorgeous cluster of perfectly ripe grapes that were dangling from a vine that was grown along the trunk of a tree. When the Fox looked longingly at the grapes, it appeared as if they were about to explode with juice, and the sight caused his mouth to water. The bunch was suspended from a somewhat high branch, so the fox had to leap to get it. The very first time he attempted to leap, he fell short by a considerable distance. Therefore, he retreated a … Continue reading The Fox and the Grapes

OLD SULTAN, Grimm’s Fairy Tales

OLD SULTAN A shepherd had a faithful dog, called Sultan, who was grown very old, and had lost all his teeth. And one day when the shepherd and his wife were standing together before the house the shepherd said, ‘I will shoot old Sultan tomorrow morning, for he is of no use now.’ But his wife said, ‘Pray let the poor faithful creature live; he has served us well a great many years, and we ought to give him a livelihood for the rest of his days.’ ‘But what can we do with him?’ said the shepherd, ‘he has not … Continue reading OLD SULTAN, Grimm’s Fairy Tales

Emma

The story of the Novel by Jane Austen Miss Taylor, a former governess and companion of Emma Woodhouse, has recently married Mr. Weston. Emma claims responsibility for their marriage and decides to pursue matchmaking as a hobby. Emma pursues her new obsession against the advice of her friend Mr. Knightley, who is also the brother-in-law of Emma’s older sister Isabella. She seeks to pair her female acquaintance, Harriet Smith, with the village vicar, Mr. Elton. Although Harriet loves Robert Martin, a decent, educated, and intelligent young farmer, Emma tries to persuade Harriet to reject the marriage proposal from Robert Martin. … Continue reading Emma

Romeo and Juliet

Story of the Shakespearean Tragedy Once upon a time, two powerful families called Montagu and Capulet resided in Verona. They were both wealthy, and it may be assumed that they were intelligent in most things as other wealthy men. In one respect, though, they were extraordinarily foolish. The two families had a long-standing dispute, but instead of resolving it like rational people, they nourished it like a pet and refused to let it go. So that a Montagu would not talk to a Capulet if he saw one on the street, nor would a Capulet speak to a Montagu. And … Continue reading Romeo and Juliet

Twelfth Night

Story of the Shakespearean Drama. Orsino, Duke of Illyria, was madly in love with Olivia, a lovely countess. And when her brother died, she sent back a messenger from the Duke, instructing him to tell his master that for seven years she would not let even the air see her face but would walk veiled like a nun, all for the sake of a dead brother’s love, which she would keep alive in her sorrowful memory. The Duke wished for someone to whom he could express his sadness and recount the tale of his love over and over again. And … Continue reading Twelfth Night

The Good Earth

by Pearl S. Buck The story begins when Wang Lung, a poor Chinese farmer, goes to the house of a rich family in the next village in search of a bride. The girl whom Wang Lung is seeking is a maid and slave in the household of the Huangs, a wealthy aristocratic family. Her name is O-Lan. The Huang House, like any other local family, is on the verge of breakdown as a result of excessive use of alcohol, drugs, and opiates; an unwillingness to engage in productive labour; and unrestrained luxury. O-Lan and Wang Lung, who are not very … Continue reading The Good Earth