Beauty and the Beast

Once upon a time there was a merchant who lived with his three daughters. One day before going to the market, he asked each of his three daughters what they would like as a gift on his return. The first daughter replied a brocade dress, the second asked for a pearl necklace, but the youngest and prettiest of all, whose name was Beauty said to her father "All I'd like is a rose you've picked specially for me!"

After finishing the work the merchant set off for home. However, a sudden storm blew up, and his horse lost his way in the howling gale. The merchant now had lost all hope of reaching a safe place to stay for a while. Suddenly he noticed a bright light shining right in the middle of a wood. As he went nearer, he saw lightening palace.

"I hope to could get some shelter there for the night," he said to himself. When he reached the door, he found it open, but still he asked ‘Is there anyone’, but there was no reply. He slowly went inside. On the dinning table a splendid dinner was ready to be served. The merchant still shouted for the owner of the castle. But no one came, and so the starving merchant sat down to have the meal.

After having the delicious meal, he went upstairs, where the corridor led into magnificent rooms and halls. Fire was burning in the first room and a soft bed looked very inviting. It was quite late so the merchant could not resist and he went to sleep. Next morning when he woke up, an unknown hand had placed a cup of coffee and some fruits bedsides him.

The merchant after having breakfast went downstairs to thank the person who provided tea and fruits to him. But he could not find anyone so he went towards the garden where he had left his horse. There he saw a large rose bush. He remembered his promise to Beauty so he bent down to pick the rose. All of a sudden a horrible Beast appeared from the rose garden. The angry Beast shouted at him, "Ungrateful man! I gave you shelter and food and you are plucking my favorite flowers. Now I shall put you to death for this slight!"

The merchant fell on his feet and asked him to forgive him. He further clarified that the rose was not for him but for his daughter Beauty. The Beast thought for a while and said, "I shall spare your life, but for this you have to bring me your daughter!" the merchant was so terrified that merchant he promised that Beast to do so.

When the merchant reached home, his three daughters ran to greet him. But they were quite surprised to see him crying. Why are you crying father said the eldest daughter? So he told them of his dreadful journey, Beauty immediately replied that I can do anything for you father so you don't worry. The merchant hugged his daughter and then they both went towards the palace.

The Beast welcomed Beauty graciously, which was quite surprising. Beauty was frightened of the Beast in the beginning but day by day her horror was gradually fading. She was given one of the finest rooms in the palace. She sat for hours, embroidering in front of the fire. And the Beast would sit, for hours on the other end observing her. Soon little conversation started between Beauty and the Beast. Days passed, and Beauty and the Beast became good friends.

One fine day, the Beast asked the girl to be his wife. Beauty didn’t know what to say. Instead of marrying such an ugly Beast I would rather die, she said to herself. But at the same time she didn’t wanted to hurt Beast. "I really can't say yes," she began shakily. "I'd so much like to..." The Beast interrupted and said its ok! Life went on as usual.

One day, the Beast presented Beauty with a magnificent magic mirror. When Beauty peeped into it, she could see her family, far away. "You won't feel so lonely now," said the Beast. Beauty stared for hours at her distant family. She became quite worried and kept weeping for her family. The Beast saw her crying so he asked "What's wrong? So she told that "My father is very ill and close to dying. I wish I could see him again, before it's too late!"

But the Beast only shook its head and went away. After sometime, he returned back and said “If you promise to return back in seven days then you can go to see your father!". Beauty replied “I swear! I swear and she went to her fathers house. Everyone at home was happy to find her back especially her father. She told them about the kindness of Beast. Soon her father also recovered from illness. Beauty was happy at last. However, she had failed to notice that seven days had already passed.

One night she saw a terrible dream that the Beast was dying and calling her in great agony. She rushed to the palace; the Beast was in the garden his eyes were shut as if he is dead. Beauty threw hugged him tightly. Don't die! I'll marry you . . ." these magical words turned the ugly Beast's into a handsome young man.

“I've been waiting for this moment since a long time, he said. Then he told his story to Beauty that an evil witch turned him into a monster. The witch had told that the true love of a woman who will accept me as I am, could transform me back into my real self. I am so glad to have you in my life.

Soon Beauty and the Beast married each other and lived happily forever.

Snow White And The 7 Dwarfs

Once upon a time, there lived a King and a Queen. They had everything except for a child. One fine winter day the Queen sat near the window sewing her husband’s shirt when suddenly she pricked her finger. A drop of blood fell on the snow. "Oh, I wish, I had a daughter with skin as white as snow, hair as black as ebony wood, and lips as red as a rose", she said. In autumn the Queen's wish came true as she was blessed with a beautiful daughter. Sadly the Queen died soon after.

The little princess was named Snow White. After few years the king remarried. The new Queen was beautiful but arrogant. She liked to use magic and had a magic mirror. She would ask: "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" "You Ooh Queen,” hearing this, the Queen would smile with pride.

One day the queen spoke to the mirror as usual but the answer was different this time. "You Queen, are fair, but Snow White is the fairest of them all". The Queen stamped her foot. She plotted to kill Snow White and stormed right out of the room. One morning the Queen called the huntsman and ordered him to take Snow White into the forest to kill her and bring back her heart to prove that she was dead.

The huntsman was horrified. He loved the little princess and did not want to kill her. He took her deeper into the forest and spoke to her, "Beware of your stepmother, she wants to kill you”. But I can't kill you. So run away into the forest." The huntsman left poor Snow White alone and then killed a small deer and took its heart back to the queen. The Queen was very happy seeing the heart of the dear.

Meanwhile, Snow White ran as far as she could until she came to a cottage hidden deep in the forest. She knocked the door but there was no answer. She then pushed the door and went inside; the house was very very small. She wondered who could live in such a tiny house. She looked around--everything was so small. She was surprised to find that there was seven of everything: seven dirty cups, seven plates, seven knives, seven forks, seven messy beds and seven chairs. Quickly, she dusted the house and then had some bread and cheese by now she was very tired, so she went off to sleep.

At night, the masters of the house returned from work, they couldn't believe their eyes. Their home was clean and spotless, "who could have done this?" they asked. They looked around. Dinner was cooking in the oven and the table was laid. Then they crept into the bedroom. There they saw the beautiful princess. Snow White woke up to find seven dwarfs standing by the bed. "Don't be scared," they told her, "How did you find this place? They asked her. Snow White told her story. The dwarfs were horrified. "You must stay here with us," They said Snow White was very happy and the dwarfs were delighted to look after her. Snow white and the seven dwarfs started living a good life she soon forgot all about the wicked Queen.

On the other hand the Queen was living peacefully and happily but one day she thought to ask the magic mirror again that who is the fairest of all. The magic mirror replied. "Snow white, who dwells with the seven little men, is as fair as you". When she heard this, the Queen went pale, for she knew that the huntsman had tricked her. But this time she didn't want to take any chance. She tried her magic spell and became an old beggar-woman. She went into the forest. And as the seven dwarfs went out for work, she knocked at the door. Snow White opened and saw an old beggar-woman standing on the door step. She was holding a basket full of apples. "Try my apples, they are magic wishing apples: one bite and your dreams will come true.

Snow White thought about the handsome Prince of her dreams and took the apple. She took one bite and felled down. The old beggar woman turned back into the wicked Queen, "Nothing but a kiss from your true love can save you now," laughed the Queen. "Good bye!" When the seven dwarfs returned they saw a shadowy figure near the cottage. They chased her through the forest, towards the mountains. That figure was of the Queen.

The Queen ran on but she slipped on a ledge and fell down the side of the mountain into a deep hole between the rocks. She was never seen again. The dwarfs came back to the cottage. They tried everything to wake Snow White but it was of no use. They would have buried her but then she looked as if she was alive. So they made a coffin of crystal glass and laid her in the coffin. For a long time Snow White lay in the coffin looking as if she was asleep she was still as white as snow, her hair as black as ebony wood and lips as red as a rose.

One day a handsome prince came riding from a nearby kingdom. He saw then beautiful snow white and fell in love with her. "How beautiful she is!” He said kneeling down to kiss her. It was the kiss of true love- the one thing in the world that could break the spell! Snow white woke up and looked around. She was surprised to see the handsome prince besides her. She realised that this was the prince of her dreams. The prince without waiting much asked Snow White "Will you marry me?” She smiled and said ‘Yes’.

Snow White took the prince to the seven dwarfs and told them everything. The dwarfs were very happy for her. Soon Snow White married the prince and they lived happily forever.

The Thirsty Crow

One hot summer day, a thirsty crow flew all over the fields looking for water. He was very thirsty but couldn’t get water anywhere. When he got tired and weak he decided to take rest under a big mango tree. He came down and sat upon the tree. Suddenly his eyes went on a pot, which was kept on the other side of the tree.

He went near the pot and when he peered inside he found some water in it. He became delighted. “Ahhha finally I got water”, said the thirsty crow. He quickly put his peak inside the pot of water but couldn’t drink because the water was deep below the pot. Now the thirsty crow didn’t know what to do?

He sat for a while and then looked here and there. He found some pebbles on the ground. So he picked a few of them. Then he came near the pot of water, threw one pebble in it and watched. He saw that the water in the pot was coming up. So he put more pebbles in the pot. Now the level of water in the pot was high enough for the crow to drink.

Without wasting anytime the thirsty crow drank all the water and fulfilled his thirst. And then flew away…