One day Sheikhchilli’s mother had just washed clothes and put them out to dry. Then, she got busy in cooking food while Sheikhchilli lay on his cot and indulged in day-dreaming.Outside, a storm was building up quietly. Suddenly, it unleashed its fury. With a great speed it swept the village. Dust had made seeing impossible. […]
Two children were playing in a field, when a cruel witch kidnapped them. One day, the children succeeded in making good their escape from the clutches of the witch. But the witch again went after them to get them back. When the children were running back home, a gentle fairy helped them by setting a
Ramlal was a cloth merchant. He often sold cloth on credit in nearby villages. One day, Ramlal was returning from a nearby village after collecting his dues. He decided to rest for a while under a tree. Being tired he soon fell asleep.When Ramlal awoke, he saw a flock of parrots around him. ‘How nice
Mulla Nasruddin bought 10 naans for his donkey and 2 naans plus roasted sheep meat for himself.He sat on his mat and enjoyed the feast while the donkey ate on its feet. They had chosen the spot where they would spend the night. The travellers with more means and money had pitched their tents and
Monty and Bunti were playing in a garden. They saw a tree laden with berries. Their mouths began watering. They wanted to eat them. But the tree was too high. The problem was how to get the berries.Monty said, “Nature also makes mistakes. It has grown little fruits like berries on a very high tree,
Two crows challenged each other for a flying competition to see which of them could fly highest, while carrying a sack of even size.The first crow flew with his sack of cotton and the other was carrying a sack of salt which was much heavier. However, when it began to rain, the salt carried by
Chapter 8 Poof! Marie felt herself falling from an immense height. What a jolt!Suddenly she opened her eyes and found herself laying in her little bed, and it was broad daylight. Her mother stood over her and said, “How can you sleep so long? Breakfast is ready!”You have probably realized, honoured listeners, that Marie, exhausted
Chapter 7 I believe every one of you children would have instantly followed the honest and good-natured Nutcracker, who never had an evil thought in his head. Marie was glad to follow him all the more because of her gratitude to him, and because she was convinced he would keep his word. So she said,
Chapter 6 Marie had to spend almost a whole week in bed because she became dizzy whenever she tried to get up. But at last she recovered and could run and play as merrily as before.The glass cabinet had been repaired as good as new and was again filled with trees, flowers, houses, and beautiful
Chapter 5 “Now you well know,” the judge told the children the next evening, “why the queen was keeping their beautiful princess so carefully guarded. How could she help but worry that Lady Mouserinks would return and make good on her threat to bite the princess to death? Drosselmeier’s contraptions were of no use against
Chapter 4 Pirlipat’s mother was the wife of the king and therefore the queen, and that made Pirlipat a princess from the very moment she was born. The king was beside himself with joy at the sight of his beautiful little daughter. He whooped and hollered and swiveled around on one leg and cried out
Chapter 3 “Strike the battle march, loyal vassal drummer!” Nutcracker shouted. The drummer beat his drum so furiously that the glass in the cabinet shook and reverberated the sound. A rattle and clatter came from within the cabinet, and Marie saw that the lids of the boxes where Fritz’s army was quartered had popped open.
Chapter 2 Marie had lingered near the Christmas table when the others had left because she had seen something nobody else seemed to have noticed. After Fritz had disengaged his hussars from parading about the tree, a splendid little man became visible. He stood there quietly and modestly, as if waiting his turn.His build left
When it was time to elect their new king, the animals elected the monkey to this all-powerful position, because of his antics. The fox was very much disappointed and waited for a chance.One day, the fox found a delicious fruit lying in its way. She was quick to understand that it was a trap. She
Chapter 1 Doctor Stahlbaum had children named Fritz, Louise, Marie. It was Christmas Eve. But Fritz and Marie were not allowed into the family room, far from speaking the adjoining living room.Evening had come, and Fritz and Marie Stahlbaum sat huddled in a corner. As was usual on Christmas Eve, no-one had brought in a