// ************************************************************************************ // ** This file has been created with the Rotating Content Tool by Randy Hoyt. ** // ** For more information, visit us on the web: ** // ** ** // ** Rotating Content Tool -- http://www.rotatecontent.com/ ** // ** Author: Randy Hoyt -- http://www.randyhoyt.com/ ** // ************************************************************************************ today = new Date() month = today.getMonth() + 1 year = today.getFullYear() selectedDate = new Date("01/01/1900") selectedContent = "" varLength = 53 var entryDate = new Array(varLength) var entryContent = new Array(varLength) entryDate[0] = " 01/01/" + year entryContent[0] = " The Saint on the Pillar, in The Book of Saints and Heroes by Leonora Lang (1912)
If anyone had told Simeon the shepherd boy who was following his flocks over the Syrian mountains in the early part of the fifth century, that he was by his own choice to spend most of his life on a pillar, and die standing on it, he would have laughed in scorn. What! give up wandering about the hills, and throwing sticks into the rivers that came so swiftly down after the melting of the snows? Give up the games with his friends and the winter evenings in the cottage, when his mother sat and mended his clothes while he gazed idly into the fire? Oh, it was absurd! ... Read more online.
" entryDate[1] = " 01/08/" + year entryContent[1] = " The Giant of the Flood, in Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa (1919)
Just before the world was drowned all the animals gathered in front of the Ark and Father Noah carefully inspected them. \"All ye that lie down shall enter and be saved from the deluge that is about to destroy the world,\" he said. \"Ye that stand cannot enter.\" Then the various creatures began to march forward into the Ark. Father Noah watched them closely. He seemed troubled. \"I wonder,\" he said to himself, \"how I shall obtain a unicorn, and how I shall get it into the Ark.\" \"I can bring thee a unicorn, Father Noah,\" he heard in a voice of thunder, and turning round he saw the giant, Og. \"But thou must agree to save me, too, from the flood.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[2] = " 01/15/" + year entryContent[2] = " The Changeling, in Folk Tales of Brittany by Elsie Masson (1929)
Mariannik kissed Loik, her little son, and set out for the fountain where she filled her bucket. As she was coming back she saw a tiny, crested bird singing on a hawthorn bush, and this is what he sang: \"Mariannik, be quick, be quick for in the cradle is no Loik.\" \"You silly bird!\" exclaimed Mariannik, \"Loik cannot walk,\" but all the same with a flutter at her heart she hurried across the heath to the cottage. She opened the door and felt at once that something terrible had happened. The fire had gone out. The cat's back was bristling. She hastened to the cradle where, instead of seeing Loik's round and rosy face, Oh, lack-a-day! she beheld a hideous dwarf. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[3] = " 01/22/" + year entryContent[3] = " Connla and the Fairy Maiden, in Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs (1892)
Connla of the Fiery Hair was son of Conn of the Hundred Fights. One day as he stood by the side of his father on the height of Usna, he saw a maiden clad in strange attire coming towards him. \"Whence comest thou, maiden?\" said Connla. \"I come from the Plains of the Ever Living,\" she said, \"there where there is neither death nor sin. There we keep holiday alway, nor need we help from any in our joy. And in all our pleasure we have no strife. And because we have our homes in the round green hills, men call us the Hill Folk.\" The king and all with him wondered much to hear a voice when they saw no one. For save Connla alone, none saw the Fairy Maiden. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[4] = " 01/29/" + year entryContent[4] = " Cap o' Rushes, in English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs (1890)
Well, there was once a very rich gentleman, and he had three daughters, and he thought he'd see how fond they were of him. So he says to the first, 'How much do you love me, my dear?' 'Why,' says she, 'as I love my life.' 'That's good,' says he. So he says to the second, 'How much do you love me, my dear?' 'Why,' says she, 'better nor all the world.' 'That's good,' says he. So he says to the third, 'How much do you love me, my dear?' 'Why, I love you as fresh meat loves salt,' says she. Well, but he was angry. 'You don't love me at all,' says he, 'and in my house you stay no more.' So he drove her out there and then, and shut the door in her face. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[5] = " 02/05/" + year entryContent[5] = " The Princess of Colchester, in English Fairy and Other Folk Tales by Edwin Sidney Hartland (1890)
There reigned in the eastern part of England a king who kept his Court at Colchester. He was witty, strong, and valiant, by which means he subdued his enemies abroad, and planted peace among his subjects at home. Nevertheless, in the midst of all his glory, his queen died, leaving behind her an only daughter, about fifteen years of age. This lady, from her courtly carriage, beauty, and affability, was the wonder of all that knew her. But as covetousness is the root of all evil, so it happened here. The king, hearing of a lady who had likewise an only daughter, for the sake of her riches, had a mind to marry her, and though she was old, ugly, hook-nosed, and humpbacked, yet all this could not deter him from doing so. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[6] = " 02/12/" + year entryContent[6] = " Tungujuluk and Sunikoq, in Eskimo Folk-Tales collected by Knud Rasmussen (1921)
Tungujuluk and Saunikoq were men from one village. And both were wizards. When they heard a spirit calling, one would change into a bear, and the other into a walrus. Tungujuluk had a son, but Saunikoq had no children. As soon as his son was old enough, Tungujuluk taught him to paddle a kayak. At this the other, Saunikoq, grew jealous, and began planning evil. One morning when he awoke, he went out hunting seal as usual. He had been out some time, when he went up to an island, and called for his bearskin. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[7] = " 02/19/" + year entryContent[7] = " Beaumains, the Knight of the Kitchen, in Heroic Legends by Agnes Grozier Herbertson (1908)
King Arthur was gone with his knights of the Round Table to Kin-Kenadon, which is upon the sand near Wales, there to keep the great feast of Pentecost. And, as his custom was, he would taste no meat till he had heard of some adventure. Then looked Sir Gawaine out of the castle window, and he beheld three men on horseback who came rapidly toward the castle; and behind them a dwarf who ran on foot. Then said he to the King: \"My lord, wait no longer for thy dinner, for here cometh adventure toward thee, hard and fast.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[8] = " 02/26/" + year entryContent[8] = " Usheen in the Island of Youth, in Tales of the Enchanted Islands of the Atlantic by Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1898)
After the fatal battle of Gavra, in which most of the Feni were killed, Usheen and his father, the king, and some of the survivors of the battle were hunting the deer with their dogs, when they met a maiden riding on a slender white horse with hoofs of gold, and with a golden crescent between his ears. The maiden's hair was of the color of citron and was gathered in a silver band; and she was clad in a white garment embroidered with strange devices. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[9] = " 03/04/" + year entryContent[9] = " Ke-lok and his Han-na-boo, in The Dawn of the World: Myths and Weird Tales Told by the Mewan [Miwok] Indians of California by C. Hart Merriam (1910)
When Wek-wek and O-let-te were out hunting one day they went to Tah-lah-wit the North and came to a rocky hill where they saw a great and powerful giant named Ke-lok, sitting by his han-na-boo, or roundhouse. Wek-wek flew close to him and saw him well. That night, when they had gone home, Wek-wek said to O-let-te, \"Grandfather, I want to play the hand-game with Ke-lok.\" When O-let-te heard Wek-wek say he wanted to play al-leh with Ke-lok he laughed and said, \"You! play hand-game with the Giant Ke-lok!\" \"Yes,\" answered Wek-wek, \"I want to play hand-game with Ke-lok.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[10] = " 03/11/" + year entryContent[10] = " The Best Wish, in The Laughing Prince: A Book of Jugoslav Fairy Tales and Folk Tales by Parker Fillmore (1921)
There were once three brothers whose only possession was a pear tree. They took turns guarding it. That is to say while two of them went to work the third stayed at home to see that no harm came to the pear tree. Now it happened that an Angel from heaven was sent down to test the hearts of the three brothers. The Angel took the form of a beggar and approaching the pear tree on a day when the oldest brother was guarding it, he held out his hand and said: \"In heaven's name, brother, give me a ripe pear.\" The oldest brother at once handed him a pear, saying: \"This one I can give you because it is mine, but none of the others because they belong to my brothers.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[11] = " 03/18/" + year entryContent[11] = " Vasilica the Brave, in Roumanian Fairy Tales and Legends by E. B. Mawr (1881)
As Vasilica went along the highway, his bundle on a stick slung over his shoulder, he heard in the distance the neighing and shrieking of a horse, enough to make his hair stand on end. Another in his place would have turned back; he, on the contrary, threw his bundle on the grass, and ran quickly in the direction from whence the sound came, and before he could say \"God help me,\" he reached a large field in the middle of which a terrible scene met his view. A large and awful dragon was twisting itself round a beautiful horse, squeezing the very life out of its body, beating it with its wings, and biting it with its ferocious mouth, until the poor animal was covered with blood. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[12] = " 03/25/" + year entryContent[12] = " Little Tiny or Thumbelina, in Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen (1835)
There was once a woman who wished very much to have a little child, but she could not obtain her wish. At last she went to a fairy, and said, “I should so very much like to have a little child; can you tell me where I can find one?” “Oh, that can be easily managed,” said the fairy. “Here is a barleycorn of a different kind to those which grow in the farmer's fields, and which the chickens eat; put it into a flower-pot, and see what will happen.” “Thank you,” said the woman, and she gave the fairy twelve shillings, which was the price of the barleycorn. Then she went home and planted it, and immediately there grew up a large handsome flower, something like a tulip in appearance... Read more online.
" entryDate[13] = " 04/01/" + year entryContent[13] = " Osiris and Isis, in Orpheus: Myths of the World by Padraic Colum (1930)
In the beginning was the formless abyss, Nuu. From Nuu came Re, the Sun. Re was the first and he was the most divine of all beings. Re created all forms. From his thought came Shu and Tefenet, the Upper and the Lower. Air. From Shu and Tefenet came Qeb and Nut, the Earth and the Sky. The Earth and the Sky had been separated, the one from the other, but once they had been joined together. From the eye of Re, made out of the essence that is in that eye, came the first man and the first woman. And from Qeb, the Father, and Nut, the Mother, Osiris was born. When he was born a voice came into the world, crying, \"Behold, the Lord of all things is born!\" And with Osiris was born Isis, his sister. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[14] = " 04/08/" + year entryContent[14] = " The Cow of Plenty, in Celtic Wonder Tales by Ella Young (1910)
Godniu, the Smith, had the Cow of Plenty. She walked all over Ireland in a day's grazing and gave milk to every one that came to her: there was no one hungry or sorrowful in Ireland in those days! Balor of the Evil Eye set his heart on the Cow. He had the grasping hand that is never filled, and there was nothing good in his country. He sent the best man he had to steal the Cow of Plenty. The man stole her, but as he was taking her away Gobniu saw him and let out a battle-roar that shook stars from the sky. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[15] = " 04/15/" + year entryContent[15] = " The Golden Ball, in More English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs (1894)
There were two lasses, daughters of one mother, and as they came from the fair, they saw a right bonny young man stand at the house-door before them. They never saw such a bonny man before. He had gold on his cap, gold on his finger, gold on his neck, a red gold watch-chain -- eh! but he had brass. He had a golden ball in each hand. He gave a ball to each lass, and she was to keep it, and if she lost it, she was to be hanged. One of the lasses, 'twas the youngest, lost her ball. I'll tell thee how. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[16] = " 04/22/" + year entryContent[16] = " The Yellow Dwarf in Fairy Stories by K.D. Wiggin and N.A. Smith (1910)
There once lived a widowed Queen, who had one daughter. There had been several other children, you must know, but one by one they had died, until the beautiful Princess All-fair was the only child left. Time passed on, and every day the maiden grew more and more lovely, and, to tell the truth, she not only grew lovelier, but she also became very vain indeed. Well, by the time she reached the age of eighteen, All-fair was so charming that she had won the hearts of twenty noble kings, and they were all courting her at the same time. But never a smile did they get from the fair Princess. There was not a man living, be he king or peasant, who was good enough to become her husband, she said. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[17] = " 04/29/" + year entryContent[17] = " The Story of the Two Devils, in Tibetan Folk Tales by A.L. Shelton (1925)
A long time ago in a country so high that it would make most boys and girls tired if they tried to run and play, was a great flat table-land entirely surrounded by a forest. On this table-land was located one large city and several smaller ones, all ruled over by a king who had seven sons. The sons went out in the forest to play one day and found a beautiful girl, who was herding a yak. She told them she was the daughter of the King of the west, that their yak had wandered away and she had come to hunt it. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[18] = " 05/06/" + year entryContent[18] = " The Mermaid of the Magdalenes, in Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus MacMillan (1918)
Away off the coast of one of the islands, you can still see on fine moonlight nights in May, and also during the day once a year, a maiden holding a glass in her hand, combing her long hair, and looking wistfully to the land. Sometimes, too, on calm nights you can still hear her strange song above the murmur of the waves. She is the phantom lady of the Island over whom the Lobster in far away days used his power. She is now a prisoner in the deep, held there as a punishment for her deeds. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[19] = " 05/13/" + year entryContent[19] = " Odin the Wanderer, in The Children of Odin by Padraic Colum (1920)
And so Odin, no longer riding on Sleipner, his eight-legged steed; no longer wearing his golden armor and his eagle-helmet, and without even his spear in his hand, traveled through Midgard, the World of Men, and made his way toward Jötunheim, the Realm of the Giants. No longer was he called Odin All-Father, but Vegtam the Wanderer. He wore a cloak of dark blue and he carried a traveler's staff in his hands. And now, as he went toward Mimir's Well, which was near to Jötunheim, he came upon a Giant riding on a great Stag. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[20] = " 05/20/" + year entryContent[20] = " Bloom-of-Youth and the Witch of the Elders, in The Boy Who Knew What the Birds Said by Padraic Colum (1918)
Bloom-of-Youth was a young, young girl. But, young as she was, she would have to be married, her step-mother said. Then married she was while she was still little enough to walk through the doorway of her step-mother's hut without stooping her head. Her husband was a hunter and he took her to live in a hut at the edge of a wood. He was out hunting the whole of the day. Now what did Bloom-of-Youth do while she had the house to herself? Little enough indeed. She swept the floor and she washed the dishes and she laid them back on their shelf. Then she went to the well for pails of water. When she went out she stayed long, for first she would look into the well at her own image and then she would make a wreath of flowers and put it on her head and look at herself again. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[21] = " 05/27/" + year entryContent[21] = " The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs (1933)
Once upon a time, in the far north of what is now called Europe, there was a kingdom known as Geatsland, and its ruler was named Hygelac. It was a harsh country, with high mountains and narrow valleys, and it had a long seacoast with many harbors and inlets, and the men who lived there were famous for their bravery, on both sea and land. The great caves along the coast were inhabited by all manner of evil monsters that lived partly in the sea and partly upon the land, huge serpents with scales of brass, that patrolled the coast and devoured fishermen when they could be taken by surprise at their nets. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[22] = " 06/03/" + year entryContent[22] = " Dimian the Peasant, in Folk Tales From the Russian by Verra X. K. de Blumenthal (1903)
Not long ago, or perchance very long ago, I do not know for sure, there lived in a village, some place in Russia, a peasant. And this peasant was a stubborn and a quick-tempered fellow, and his name was Dimian. He was harsh by nature, this Dimian, and wanted everything to go his own way. If any one talked or acted against him, Dimian's fists were soon prepared for answer. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[23] = " 06/10/" + year entryContent[23] = " Atalanta's Race, in The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Before Achilles by Padraic Colum (1921)
Atalanta was the daughter of Schoeneus, King of Boeotia. So proud was she of her swiftness that she made a vow to the gods that none would be her husband except the youth who won past her in the race. Youth after youth came and raced against her, but Atalanta, who grew fleeter and fleeter of foot, left each one of them far behind her. The youths who came to the race were so many and the clamor they made after defeat was so great, that her father made a law that, as he thought, would lessen their number. The law that he made was that the youth who came to race against Atalanta and who lost the race should lose his life into the bargain. After that the youths who had care for their lives stayed away from Boeotia. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[24] = " 06/17/" + year entryContent[24] = " The Legend of the Wooden Shoe, in Dutch Fairy Tales by William E. Griffis (1918)
Now there was a good man, a carpenter and very skilful with his tools, who so loved the oak that he gave himself, and his children after him, the name of Eyck, which is pronounced Ike, and is Dutch for oak. One day, while sitting on his door-step, brooding sorrowfully, a Moss Maiden and a Tree Elf appeared, skipping along, hand in hand. They came up to him and told him that his ancestral oak had a message for him. Then they laughed and ran away. Van Eyck, which was now the man's full family name, went into the forest and stood under the grand old oak tree, which his fathers loved, and which he would allow none to cut down. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[25] = " 06/24/" + year entryContent[25] = " The Great Wizard, in American Indian Fairy Tales by Margaret Compton (1907)
Tangled-Hair, son of the West-wind, was the greatest of all wizards, and could change himself into any bird or beast at will, could disguise his voice, and did both good and evil as he felt inclined. He lived with his grandmother, who had been thrown from the moon by a jealous rival. Their lodge was on the edge of the prairie not far from the Big Sea Water. He himself did not know his power until one day while playing with a beautiful snake, whose colors were brighter than any of those upon his head, he found that by means of it he could do magic. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[26] = " 07/01/" + year entryContent[26] = " Balder and the Mistletoe, in In the Days of Giants by Abbie Farwell Brown (1902)
Loki had given up trying to revenge himself upon Thor. The Thunder Lord seemed proof against his tricks. And indeed nowadays Loki hated him no more than he did the other gods. He hated some because they always frowned at him; he hated others because they only laughed and jeered. Some he hated for their distrust and some for their fear. He might have been an equal with the best of them, if he had not chosen to set himself against everything that was good. He had made them all his enemies, and the more he did to injure them, the more he hated them... Read more online.
" entryDate[27] = " 07/08/" + year entryContent[27] = " The Crab and The Crane, in Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt (1912)
In the Long Ago there was a summer when very little rain fell. All the Animals suffered for want of water, but the Fishes suffered most of all. In one pond full of Fishes, the water was very low indeed. A Crane sat on the bank watching the Fishes. \"What are you doing?\" asked a little Fish. \"I am thinking about you Fishes there in the pond. It is so nearly dry,\" answered the Crane. \"Yes,\" the Crane went on, \"I was wishing I might do something for you. I know of a pond in the deep woods where there is plenty of water.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[28] = " 07/15/" + year entryContent[28] = " Farmer Grigg's Boggart, in Pepper and Salt by Howard Pyle (1885)
Did you ever hear of a boggart? No! Then I will tell you. A boggart is a small imp that lives in a man's house, unseen by any one, doing a little good and much harm. This imp was called a boggart in the old times, now we call such by other names—ill-temper, meanness, uncharitableness, and the like. Even now, they say, you may find a boggart in some houses. There is no placing reliance on a boggart; sometimes he may seem to be of service to his master, but there is no telling when he may do him an ill turn. Rap! tap! tap! came a knock at the door. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[29] = " 07/22/" + year entryContent[29] = " A Legend of Kanikaniaula and the First Feather Cloak, in Hawaiian Folk Tales by Thos. G. Thrum (1907)
Eleio was a kukini, a trained runner, in the service of Kakaalaneo, King of Maui, several runners being always kept by each king or alii of consequence. Now, Eleio was not only a kukini, but he was also a kahuna, and had been initiated in the ceremonies and observances by which he was enabled to see spirits or wraiths, and was skilled in medicines, charms, etc., and could return a wandering spirit to its body unless decomposition had set in. Soon after leaving Olowalu, and as he commenced the ascent of Aalaloloa, he saw a beautiful young woman ahead of him. He naturally hastened his steps, intending to overtake such a charming fellow-traveller; but, do what he would, she kept always just so far ahead of him. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[30] = " 07/29/" + year entryContent[30] = " The Blind Singer, in The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown (1900)
Once upon a time when Childebert was King of France, a thousand years ago, there lived a young man named Hyvarnion who was very handsome and had the sweetest voice. Hyvarnion was the King's minstrel; he lived at the palace and it was his business to make music for the King to keep him in a good temper. For he wrote the most beautiful songs and sang them to the accompaniment of a golden harp which he carried with him everywhere he went. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[31] = " 08/05/" + year entryContent[31] = " The Blind Man Who Recovered His Sight, in Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo by Henry Rink (1875)
A Widow had a son and a daughter. When the son grew up, he made himself useful in different ways, and also commenced seal-hunting. One day in the beginning of winter he caught a thong-seal. On bringing it home, his mother wanted the skin for a ledge-cover, but he insisted on having it for making hunting-lines. The mother grew angry, and in preparing the skin and removing the hairs, she practised some witchcraft on it, and spoke thus: \"When he cuts thee into thongs, when he cuts thee asunder, then thou shalt snap and smite his face;\" and she rejoiced in the thought that it would hit him. When she had finished her preparations, and he had cut out the first thong, he stretched and strained it; but in scraping it with a shell, a small blister burst, and hitting both his eyes, blinded him. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[32] = " 08/12/" + year entryContent[32] = " How Odin Brought The Mead to Asgard, in Norse Stories Retold from the Eddas by Hamilton Wright Mabie (1901)
Besides the gods who lived in Asgard and ruled over Midgard, the world of men, there were the Vans, who ruled the seas and the air. The greatest of these was Njord, who kept the winds in the hollow of his hand and vexed the seas with storms or spread over them the peace of a great calm. His son Frey sent rain and sunshine upon the earth and cared for the harvests, while his daughter Freyja was so full of love that she made the whole world beautiful with tenderness, and filled the hearts of men with the sweetest joys they ever knew. It happened almost at the beginning that the gods and the Vans went to war with each other, and long and fierce was the struggle between them. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[33] = " 08/19/" + year entryContent[33] = " Stellante, in Legends and Stories of Italy by Amy Steedman (1909)
In the long-ago days, when Venice was as rich as she was beautiful, there lived in one of her marble palaces a great and powerful merchant. Year after year he had heaped up his riches until the people said he had more gold than any one else in the city, and that he cared for nothing else but the pleasure of making money. But there they were wrong, for there was one thing the merchant loved almost better than his gold, and that was his only son, Bartolo. Bartolo was very different from his father, and in many ways was a great disappointment to the old merchant-prince. The child never seemed to have any sense of the value of money. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[34] = " 08/26/" + year entryContent[34] = " How Raja Rasalu Killed The Giants, in Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel (1894)
Now after a time, Raja Rasalu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasalu asked her why she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her cakes, \"Why do you ask? What will you gain by it?\" \"Nay, mother!\" replied Rasalu, \"if you tell me the truth, one of us must benefit by it.\" And when the old woman looked in Rasalu face she saw that it was kind, so she opened her heart to him... Read more online.
" entryDate[35] = " 09/02/" + year entryContent[35] = " Peach Darling, in Japanese Fairy Tales by Teresa Williston (1911)
That evening when the old man came home from the mountains, his wife said: \"Just see, here is a peach for your supper, which came floating down the river to me. I fancy the birds must have sent it, for they laughed and sang so when it came.\" The old man said: \"Bring me a knife, that I may cut it in two, for you shall have half of it.\" When they opened the peach, there within it lay a tiny baby boy, as round and fat and smiling as could be. Because of his first cradle they called him \"Peach Darling,\" and loved him as a child sent from the gods. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[36] = " 09/09/" + year entryContent[36] = " The Demon with the Matted Hair, in Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs (1912)
On his way the Prince of the Five Weapons came to a forest inhabited by the Demon with the Matted Hair. At the entering of the forest some men saw him, and cried out: \"Hullo, young sir, keep clear of that wood! There's a Demon in it called he of the Matted Hair: he kills every man he sees!\" And they tried to stop him. But the Bodhisatta, having confidence in himself, went straight on, fearless as a maned lion. When he reached mid-forest the Demon showed himself. He made himself as tall as a palm-tree; his head was the size of a pagoda, his eyes as big as saucers, and he had two tusks all over knobs and bulbs ... Read more online.
" entryDate[37] = " 09/16/" + year entryContent[37] = " The Death of Robin Hood, in Robin Hood and His Adventures by Paul Creswick (1903)
One thing is sure--that Prince John did not easily forgive or forget Robin Hood. After many attempts made upon them at Haddon--some desperate enough, in all conscience--Robin and his men were allowed to be at peace. In one of these encounters Robin was sorely wounded; and none but Little John knew of it. The wound was in Robin's breast, and looked but a small place. It bled little, yet would not heal; and slowly became inflamed in wider circles. Inwardly it burned him as with a consuming fire, his strength was sapped out from him and his eyes began to lose their shrewdness. No longer could he split an arrow at forty paces, as in olden days. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[38] = " 09/23/" + year entryContent[38] = " The Nun's Priest's Tale, in The Chaucer Story Book by Eva March Tappan (1908)
Once upon a time a poor widow, no longer young, lived in a little cottage in a valley not far from a grove. She had two daughters and only a small income, but she was very economical, and so they managed to live. Of course her meals were scanty, but she never needed any pungent sauce to give them flavor, and she was never ill from over-eating. If she had wished to dance, the gout would never have prevented her; and surely apoplexy never hurt her head, for she drank neither red wine nor white. The two colors that were oftenest seen on her table were black and white, for there were two things of which she had plenty — black bread and milk. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[39] = " 09/30/" + year entryContent[39] = " The Lady of the Lake, in The Welsh Fairy Book by W. Jenkyn Thomas (1908)
High up in a hollow of the Black Mountains of South Wales is a lonely sheet of water called Llyn y Fan Fach. In a farm not far from this lake there lived in the olden time a widow, with an only son whose name was Gwyn. When this son grew up, he was often sent by his mother to look after the cattle grazing. The place where the sweetest food was to be found was near the lake, and it was thither that the mild-eyed beasts wandered whenever they had their will. One day when Gwyn was walking along the banks of the mere, watching the kine cropping the short grass, he was astonished to see a lady standing in the clear smooth water, some distance from the land. She was the most beautiful creature that he had ever set eyes upon. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[40] = " 10/07/" + year entryContent[40] = " The Story of the Merchant and the Genius, in The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang (1898)
Sire, there was once upon a time a merchant who possessed great wealth, in land and merchandise, as well as in ready money. He was obliged from time to time to take journeys to arrange his affairs. On the fourth day of this journey, the heat of the sun being very great, he turned out of his road to rest under some trees. He found at the foot of a large walnut-tree a fountain of clear and running water. He dismounted, fastened his horse to a branch of the tree, and sat by the fountain, after having taken from his wallet some of his dates and biscuits. When he had finished this frugal meal he washed his face and hands in the fountain. When he was thus employed he saw an enormous genius, white with rage, coming towards him, with a scimitar in his hand. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[41] = " 10/14/" + year entryContent[41] = " The Storm Fiend, in Forty-four Turkish Fairy Tales by Ignácz Kúnos (1913)
This old Padishah had three sons and three daughters. One day he was taken ill, and in spite of all the hodjas and physicians that surrounded him his condition failed to improve. He sent for all his sons and spoke thus to them: \"When I am dead that one of you shall be Padishah who keeps watch by my grave for three nights. As for my daughters, give them in marriage to the first who ask for them.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[42] = " 10/21/" + year entryContent[42] = " King Canute, in Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin (1896)
A hundred years or more after the time of Alfred the Great there was a king of England named Canute. King Canute was a Dane; but the Danes were not so fierce and cruel then as they had been when they were at war with King Alfred. The great men and officers who were around King Canute were always praising him. \"You are the greatest man that ever lived,\" one would say. Then another would say, \"O king! there can never be another man so mighty as you.\" And another would say, \"Great Canute, there is nothing in the world that dares to disobey you.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[43] = " 10/28/" + year entryContent[43] = " The Tortoise and The Geese, in Other Fables of Bidpai by Maude Barrows Dutton (1908)
A Tortoise and two Geese lived together in a pond for many years. At last there came a drought and dried up the pond. Then the Geese said to one another, \"We must seek a new home quickly, for we cannot live without water. Let us say farewell to the Tortoise and start at once.\" When the Tortoise heard that they were going, he trembled with fear, and besought them by their friendship not to desert him. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[44] = " 11/04/" + year entryContent[44] = " Lorelei, in Legends of the Rhine by Wilhelm Ruland (1906)
Above Coblentz where the Rhine flows through hills covered with vineyards, there is a steep rock, round which many a legend has been woven – the Lurlei Rock. The boatman gazes up at its gigantic summit with awful reverence when his boat glides over the waters at twilight. Like chattering children the restless waves whisper round the rock, telling wonderful tales of its doings. Above on its gray head, the legend relates that a beautiful but false nymph, clothed in white with a wreath of stars in her flowing hair, used to sit and sing sweet songs, until a sad tragedy drove her forever away. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[45] = " 11/11/" + year entryContent[45] = " King Arthur and the Princess Guinevere, in King Arthur and His Knights by Maude Radford Warren (1905)
After Arthur had been established in his Court for some time, his neighbor, Leodogran, the king of Cameliard asked him for help in a battle. To this Arthur cheerfully consented, and gathered his warrior men about him. It chanced, as he and his men were marching past the castle of Leodogran to meet the enemy, the king's daughter, Guinevere, who was the most beautiful lady in all that land, stood on the castle wall to watch her father's allies pass. Now she did not know, of all the knights who rode by, which was Arthur. Many wore gold and jewels on their armor, while the king's armor was plain. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[46] = " 11/18/" + year entryContent[46] = " The Girl Monkey, in More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt (1922)
One day the king went for a long walk in the woods. When he came back to his own garden, he sent for his family to come down to the lake for a swim. When they were all ready to go into the water, the queen and her ladies left their jewels in charge of the servants, and then went down into the lake. As the queen put her string of pearls away in a box, she was watched by a Girl Monkey who sat in the branches of a tree near-by. This Girl Monkey wanted to get the queen's string of pearls, so she sat still and watched, hoping that the servant in charge of the pearls would go to sleep. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[47] = " 11/25/" + year entryContent[47] = " The Questing Beast, in King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang (1902)
Soon they spied a hart before them, which the King claimed as his game, and he spurred his horse and rode after him. But the hart ran fast and the King could not get near it, and the chase lasted so long that the King himself grew heavy and his horse fell dead under him. Then he sat under a tree and rested, till he heard the baying of hounds, and fancied he counted as many as thirty of them. He raised his head to look, and, coming towards him, saw a beast so strange that its like was not to be found throughout his kingdom. It went straight to the well and drank, making as it did so the noise of many hounds baying, and when it had drunk its fill the beast went its way. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[48] = " 12/02/" + year entryContent[48] = " The White Fawn, in My Book of Favourite Fairy Tales by Edric Vredenburg (1920)
There was once upon a time a King and Queen who were perfectly happy, with one exception, and that was that they had no child. One day when the Queen was staying in a watering-place, some distance from home, she was sitting by a fountain alone, sadly thinking of the daughter she longed to have, when she perceived a crab coming in her direction, who, to the Queen's surprise, addressed her thus: \"Great Queen, if you will condescend to be conducted by a humble crab, I will lead you to a Fairies' palace and your wish shall be fulfilled.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[49] = " 12/08/" + year entryContent[49] = " A Miraculous Sword, in Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan by Richard Gordon Smith (1918)
Legend says that in the age of the gods Susanoo-no Mikoto once found an old man and a woman weeping bitterly because a mammoth eight-headed snake had devoured seven of their daughters, and there remained only one more, whom, they felt sure, the eighth serpent's head would take. Susanoo-no Mikoto asked if they would give him the daughter if he killed the snake to which they gladly assented. Susanoo filled eight buckets with sake-wine, and put them where the serpent was likely to come, and, hiding himself in the vicinity, awaited events. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[50] = " 12/14/" + year entryContent[50] = " Odysseus and The Sirens, in The Adventures of Odysseus by Padraic Colum (1918)
\"Come hither, come hither, O Odysseus,\" the Sirens sang, \"stay thy bark and listen to our song. None hath ever gone this way in his ship until he hath heard from our own lips the voice sweet as a honeycomb, and hath joy of it, and gone on his way a wiser man. We know all things—all the travail the Greeks had in the war of Troy, and we know all that hereafter shall be upon the earth. Odysseus, Odysseus, come to our field of flowers, and hear the song that we shall sing to thee.\" My heart was mad to listen to the Sirens. I nodded my head to the company commanding them to unloose me, but they bound me the tighter, and bent to their oars and rowed on. ... Read more online.
" entryDate[51] = " 12/20/" + year entryContent[51] = " King Lear, in Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by E. Nesbit (1907)
King Lear was old and tired. He was aweary of the business of his kingdom, and wished only to end his days quietly near his three daughters. Two of his daughters were married to the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall; and the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France were both suitors for the hand of Cordelia, his youngest daughter. Lear called his three daughters together, and told them that he proposed to divide his kingdom between them. \"But first,\" said he, \"I should like to know how much you love me.\" ... Read more online.
" entryDate[52] = " 12/26/" + year entryContent[52] = " The Story of Perseus, in The Heroes by Charles Kingsley (1901)
Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins. Their names were Acrisius and Proetus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas. They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that men could need to make them blest; and yet they were wretched, because they were jealous of each other. From the moment they were born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up, each tried to take away the other's share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself. ... Read more online.
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