Fairy tale information

Long ago, the Tsar decided to travel abroad. "I would like to come along," his wife said, but the Tsar refused. After a few days' journey, the Tsar reached a nation where a wicked king ruled. This king threw the Tsar into the dungeon and kept him there for three years. The Tsarina finally learned where her husband was, and came up with a plan to save her husband. She dressed as a minstrel, and set off on the road. When the Tsarina arrived at the wicked king's palace, she walked into the courtyard, and began to play her harp. When the king heard the music, he cried to his guards, "I love that music; go find who is playing the harp." The guards dashed into the courtyard and brought the harpist to the king."Your music is beautiful. Stay here, and I will reward you," said the king. The Tsarina ...

Spearfinger, once upon a time, could appear in any shape she wished. She was a master of disguise. However, beneath her disguises, she was a stone monster whom no one could harm. She was most dangerous in the autumn, for then she could walk out of the mountains hidden in smoke from bonfires. One day, late in October, out of that smoke she appeared to a group of children, disguised as an old woman. The children saw only an old woman, and they offered her a seat. Then she smiled at a little girl. "Sit on my lap, and I will brush your hair," she said. The innocent girl sat upon her lap and then, with her special stone finger, Spearfinger stabbed the child's side. The girl never felt a thing. Later the girl walked home, and that night she grew very sick. Then the villagers knew. Spearfinger ha ...

Long ago, in Japan, a young farmer named Sei was sowing his fields.Suddenly, he spied a snake slithering across the ground, preparing to eat a spider. Sei took pity on the spider and drove the snake away.The next day, someone knocked on Sei's door. Opening it, Sei saw a young woman standing there, who offered to weave for him. Sei welcomed the young woman and led her to his weaving room. "You can work here," he said. That evening, upon returning from work, Sei found that the woman had woven a dozen beautiful pieces of cloth. "Impossible," he said. "How could you finish so much?" The young woman said, "You mustn't ask me that, and never come into the weaving room while I am working. Promise me that." "I promise," Sei replied. Day after day, the woman wove for him. After many weeks, Sei's cu ...

Many years ago, in a place once known as Palembang, there lived a young prince called Sri Tri Buana. One day the prince and a group of his friends sailed to one of the islands, where they planned to spend the day picnicking. The men went to hunt, while the women picked bananas and coconuts for the evening's feast. All was well. But as the day went on, Sri Tri Buana grew restless with the hunt, for he had shot no deer at all. At last, he climbed to the top of the tallest rocks.In the distance, he saw a sight he had never seen before 一 a dot of land with a shore so white, it looked like a long white cloth waving in the sea. He called to his friends, who climbed up the rocks to join him."I wish to see this land up close," Sri Tri Buana said. "I've never seen a beach so white. Let us sail the ...

Once in Africa, a drought hit the land, and the animals searched far and wide for food. They came upon a magnificent tree they had never before seen, teeming with fruit. After learning that the tree belonged to a chief who lived by the sea, the animals decided to ask permission to eat the fruit. "We'll send the hare," the animals decided. "He's very fast." So the hare sped his way to the sea."Excuse me, chief," said the hare, "please let us eat your tree's fruit." The chief replied, "Certainly, however, you must state the tree's name, which is Uwungelema, before you can eat the fruit." The hare then thanked the chief. He raced back home. "It is ours!" the hare cried. "All we must do is say the name of the tree, which is..." The hare looked puzzled for a moment. He shook his head, and the o ...