A happy/sad Christmas story by O. Henry
This poor couple love each other very much and want to buy each other the nicest presents. But they have very little money. Find out what they do, what presents they give and how much they pay for them!
Tag: Goodness
The Telltale Tile
A lovely story with a happy ending by Olive Thorn Miller
It is Christmas time and Miss Bennet hears that her neigbours may have to go into the poorhouse! Is there anything she can do? She has so little herself. There must be something….
Tiny Tim
A short Christmas tale by Charles Dickens.
THERE was once a man who did not like Christmas. His name was Scrooge, and he was a hard sour-tempered man of business, intent only on saving and making money, and caring nothing for anyone.
Away in a Manger
The wonderful carol of Away in a Manger about the time when Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in a stable.
A Kidnapped Santa Claus
The seven demons are getting lonely because all the children are being so good and don’t need to visit their caves anymore. This Christmas, they have come up with a plan to make the children unhappy so that they will be naughty…
A Christmas Dream, and How it Came True
“I always find heaps of goodies in my stocking. Don’t like some of them, and soon get tired of those I do like. Then there is a Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll on top, or a stupid old Santa Claus. Really, mamma, I’ve had so many Christmases all alike that I don’t think I can bear another one.”
The White Snake
An animal story by the Brothers Grimm.
The king has a secret dish served to him everynight and the servant is so curious that he has a peak. After just one bite, his life is changed forever. Find out why!
Read more about The White Snake …
The Turnip
A funny short story from the Grimm Brothers.
This poor brother grows the biggest turnip ever seen and offers it to the King, who in return awards great wealth. His rich brother is jealous and tries his own luck.
Read more about The Turnip …
The Straw, The Coal and The Bean
In a village dwelt a poor old woman, who had gathered together a dish of beans and wanted to cook them. So she made a fire on her hearth, and that it might burn the quicker, she lighted it with a handful of straw.
The Selfish Giant
The wonderful classic from Oscar Wilde.
The Giant returns from abroad to find children playing in his garden, so he throws them out and locks the gate. But why, then, is he not happy? Why do the flowers not grow and the sun not shine? This Giant goes on a beautiful journey all in his back garden!
Read more about The Selfish Giant …
The Salad
Another Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale.
With the help of a magic cloak and bird heart, this poor huntsman becomes wealthy and sets off to see the world. But when he meets a beautiful woman with a greedy witch mother, things change very quickly. Can he restore his wealth and keep the woman he loves?
Read more about The Salad …
The Remarkable Rocket
Nobody knows better how remarkable this rocket is than the Remarkable Rocket himself. He considers the Prince very honoured to have him perform at the wedding. But being a sensitive soul, his tears dampen more than just the occassion and his ‘letting off’ is not quite what he expected.
The Queen Bee
A short story by the Brothers Grimm.
When the youngest brother joins them on their journey, the two elder brothers mock him as he is a dwarf and cannot do as much as them. But they discover an enchanted castle made of marble. Who can break the spell?
Read more about The Queen Bee …
The Miser in the Bush
The short story by the Brothers Grimm.
A poor peasant goes on his travels with just three pennies. But he offers them to a bird who rewards him with three wishes. Find out how he makes use of them!
Read more about The Miser in the Bush …
The Lion and the Mouse
Another of Aesop’s Fables
Moral: It is possible for even a mouse to confer benefits on a lion.
Read more about The Lion and the Mouse …
The Goose-Girl
Another short story for children by the Brothers Grimm.
Her maid has stolen her horse and clothes and arrives at the prince’s castle looking like the bride. But the poor princess, wearing the maid’s clothes, is offered a job looking after the geese. It is lucky that she has some magic as this alerts the king to his son’s false bride. Find out how.
Read more about The Goose-Girl …
The Elves and the Shoemaker
The famous tale by the Brothers Grimm.
A shoemaker and his wife are very poor and have very little leather left to make and sell shoes. But some secret night-time visitors start helping and the shoemaker’s success improves.
Read more about The Elves and the Shoemaker …
The Golden Goose
The fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
Dummling is the youngest son and is not as strong or clever as his brothers. But he is kinder and this trait leads him on a journey his brothers could only dream of.
Read more about The Golden Goose …
Snow-White and Rose-Red
These two sisters are the best of friends and love to spend the day playing with animals in the woods. But one day they find a little dwarf whose beard is stuck.
Mother Holle
A girl falls down a well and wakes in a magical land. She works there for Mother Holle and receives a handsome reward. Her jealous sister decides to follow in her footsteps…
Jimmy Scarecrow’s Christmas
Jimmy Scarecrow led a sad life in the winter. Jimmy’s greatest grief was his lack of occupation. He liked to be useful, and in winter he was absolutely of no use at all.
Cinderella
This poor girl is treated like a servant by her sisters. They leave for the Prince’s ball, and a fairy Godmother visits Cinderella, changing her fortune forever.
Cat-Skin
This unhappy princess runs away and finds herself a job as a poor scullery-maid. But the truth slowly begins to emerge.
Cap O’Rushes
Disappointed with his youngest daughter’s answer as to how much she loves him, the King throws her out of the castle. She finds work as a maid and slowly her fortune changes, but can she prove her love to him?
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty goes to live with a beast so that her father’s life will be spared, but life is not what she feared.
Ashputtel
A Cinderella Story: the poor sister who slaves after her siblings and is not allowed to go to the ball. But Ashputtel has a magic bird in the garden who helps her.