Story Hour
WORLD FOLKTALES
Written by Gene B. Williams
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Many believe that stories are as old as language - and maybe older. For example, drawings have been found in places like the walls of caves that tell stories. They entertain, and they teach. Often they try to explain things we don’t yet understand. So, the sun becomes a god flying a chariot across the sky. Animals can talk. There are fairies and witches and goblins and … sea dragons.
March 17-23 is World Folk Tales and Fables Week. You probably know quite a few already. Here is just a taste of a few you may not have heard before. You can go online or to your library to find many many more!
AHMED AND THE POTS
Long ago in the land now known as Turkey there lived a man named Ahmed. The others in the village thought of him as being very foolish because he would do odd things. Yet, they never teased him because Ahmed was kind and generous to everyone. Among other things, Ahmed liked nothing better than to save his money until he had enough to have a grand party. At each was a wonderful feast and presents for everyone.
It was nearing the time for another big party. The villagers were excited. One of them, Mohad by name, was a greedy trader always trying to find a way to make more money even if that meant cheating. More than anyone else he thought of Ahmed as a fool. But, like everyone else he was looking forward to the big party.
One day Ahmed came to the home of Mohad and said, “Everything is almost ready but I need bottow a very large cooking pot like the one you have.” Mohad didn’t want to loan anything unless he could profit from it. And this pot was very expensive. Still, he could already almost smell the delicious foods that would be cooked and served, and expected to get an extra special gift.
The party was the biggest ever. The entire village, even Mohad, talked of it for many weeks to come. A few days after the party, Ahmad came again to the home of Mohad. In his cart was the large pot, thoroughly cleaned, and along side were two small pots.
“I have great news for you my friend Mohad. Your pot had babies! Since the pot is yours, so are the babies.”
As Ahmed went away, Mohad smiled. Not only had he attended a wonderful party with a feast, and was given a magnificent gift, he was going to profit again by this fool with free pots.
Months went by. Ahmed again worked hard, lived poorly, and saved his money for the next party. Once again, Ahmed went to the home of Mohad and asked to borrow the large pot. Mohad didn’t hesitate. If anything, this party was bigger and more grand than even the last party. Mohad waited greedily to see what the fool would bring him this time when returning the large pot.
A week passed, then two. Mohad became more and more angry. At last he went to visit Ahmed to demand his pot.
“Oh, my friend, I have such terrible news for you,” said Ahmed. “Your pot got sick and nothing I could do helped. It died, so I took it to the hills and gave it a proper burial.”
Mohad was furious! “You FOOL! A pot isn’t alive, and therefore can’t get sick or die.”
Ahmed got a puzzled look on his face. “You surprise me,” he said. “Not long ago you were willing to accept that a pot could have babies. Now you can’t accept that one can get sick and die?”
HOW THE BEE LOST ITS STING
Long, long ago the Creator was giving each animal a special gift. The lion got strength, the cheetah got speed, the hawk got keen eyesight, the monkey got agility, and so on. The bee didn’t get much of anything other than making honey, and the others teased and bullied him constantly. He was very unhappy. The Creator thought that a mistake had been made and so the bee was given a powerful sting. If another animal picked on the bee, it could use that sting and chase them away.
The bee was very happy with this. It wasn’t long before the bee spent much of its day flying around just to sting the other animals. They complained. The Creator decided to change the gift. It wasn’t taken away but ever since, the bee can sting only one time.
ICARUS
In ancient Athens there was a great inventor named Daedalus and his son Icarus. In this area was a terrible beast called a minotaur. The king of the land wanted the beast trapped forever. Daedalus designed and built a maze on a distant island. Here the beast was imprisoned and couldn’t get out. Just as the beast couldn’t get out, neither could anyone else. The king would sometimes send crminals, or just those he didn’t like, to the maze. One time, though, Daedulus took pity on one of these and gave them a ball of string so they could unwind it going in, and then follow the string to get back out.
The king was furious. He sent Daelus and Icarus to an island far away and left them there. The king thought there was no way off the island but Daedulus was very clever. He built two pairs of wings, then covered them with wax to hold feathers. Soon, he and Icarus could soar in the sky like birds.
Day after day they practiced and got stronger so they could make the long flight. Each day, though, Icarus became more bold. His father warned him again and again to stop doing tricks. And he told him to stay low. Many times, Icarus wouldn’t listen to his father.
Finally, Daedulus felt they were ready. It was time to leave.
At first, Incarus did exactly as told. The two flew side by side at a nice slow pace so they wouldn’t tire out before reaching land. Then Icarus decided to show off. He flew faster. He flew in circles. Then he flew up and up and up. Daedulus shouted for him to come down, but Icarus wouldn’t listen. He just laughed and flew higher and higher.
As he got closer to the sun, the wax on the wings began to melt. When it did, the feathers began to come off. Very quickly, Incarus could no longer fly. He fell from the sky and into the ocean. Poor Daedulus had no choice. He had to fly on alone.
THE LADY AND THE KNIGHT
The Crusades were over and the knights were coming home. A noble lady waited and waited for her husband, a brave knight to arrive. Days passed and then weeks. Finally, a shabby, filthy knight rode up to the castle wall. He was so dirty that not even his features could be seen. His clothes were more like rags that hung all over his body from head to ankles.
She threw the doors open and invited him to come in to have some food, water and a good rest. He complimented her on her kindness toward a stranger. She said, “It is as my husband would have it.” She then began to ask questions in hopes to getting information about her husband.
“There were many knights. How would I know him?”
“He rode a fine white steed with a saddle that had silver studs and horn. His lance white and red. The red was to match the red scarf he wore around his neck – my scarf.”
The knight shook his head. “I know of no such man.”
She was sad to hear this but had an idea. “If I pay you, will you go in search of him?”
The knight thought about it a moment then answered, “I am a warrior. With what will you pay a warrior?”
The Lady said, “I have much gold and would give it all to have my husband home.”
“That’s not enough. I am a warrior and have no need for gold.”
She said, “I have many jewels and would give it all to have my husband home.”
“That’s not enough. I am a warrior and have no need for jewels.”
She said, “I have three daughters, all fair. Bring my husband home and you may have your choice for a bride.”
“That’s not enough. I am a warrior and have need for a young bride.”
She said, “I have this grand castle and all the lands around. Truly, I would give everything to have my husband home.”
“That’s not enough. I am a warrior and have no need of a castle or property.”
She asked, “Then what could I pay you to bring my husband home to me?”
“I have no need of a younger bride but would accept your hand in marriage if I go to search and find that he is dead or not coming home.”
“NEVER!” she shouted, “and you will immediately leave my home. I wait for my husband and only my husband, and I will wait forever.”
The knight stood and removed the rags that covered his head, neck and shoulders. There on his neck was a red scarf. He stood and said, “My Lady, you have made me very proud. Allow me to clean away the long road. Then you will know for certain that your husband has come home.”
HOW THE MONKEY GOT FOOD
One day the monkey was very hungry but he had no money and had no meal to make porridge. What he did have was an idea.
He went to his friend the hen and asked to borrow some meal. “Come by my home tomorrow at 1 and I will repay you. “ So she gave him some meal to make porridge.
Next he went to the fox and asked to borrow some meal. “Come to my house tomorrow at 2 and I will repay you.” So the fox gave him some meal.
He went to visit the dog and asked to borrow some meal. “Come to my house tomorrow at 3 and I will repay you.” Again, the monkey got more meal.
Finally, he went to where the tiger lived and asked for some meal. “Come to my house tomorrow at 4 and I will repay you.” The tiger growled a bit but gave the meal.
Now with all those portions of meal the monkey went home. There he made a big pot of porridge and ate until he couldn’t eat any more. He got up and ate more for breakfast. Feeling very pleased with his cleverness, he also ate a big lunch until the pot was empty.
At 1 there was a knock at the door. Quickly, the monkey got into his bed, put a towel on his forehead and began to moan. “I’m very sick, but you may come in.” The hen and felt very sorry for the monkey who pretended that he was near death. She tended and served him until, at 2 there was a knock at the door. It was the fox, and the fox had been trying to catch and eat the hen for a long time. She was frightened for her very life. The monkey told her to hide under his bed.
“I’m very sick, but you may come in,” groaned the monkey. The fox entered and right away saw that the monkey was very ill. He began to nurse and care for the monkey until … at 3 there was a knock on the door. It was the dog. The dog had been chasing after the fox for a long time. Now the fox was trapped. The monkey told the fox to hide under the bed.
“I’m very sick, but you may come in.” As with the others, the dog felt so sorry for the monkey that he began to nurse and serve the monkey. This went on until there was a knock on the door at 4, and with it the growl of the tiger. The dog knew very well that the tiger had promised to kill the dog. The monkey told the dog to hide under the bed.
“I’m very sick, but you may come in.” The tiger didn’t care that the monkey was ill, he only cared that the monkey had no porridge. He jumped at the monkey to have the monkey for his dinner. The monkey jumped faster out the window and up into the trees. The tiger’s weight crushed the bed and the room filled with all the animals.
Well … the fox ate the hen … and the dog ate the fox … and the tiger ate the dog … and the tiger never did catch the monkey.
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