Mr Tanker, the baker, was fed up. Mrs Cole, who ran the general shop and post office, was fed up. Even James, the gardener, was fed up. Every time Bobby came anywhere near their shop or garden, something went missing!Mr Tanker lost muffins and cookies and even cookie-cutters. Mrs Cole found that odd things like […]
Yanni was a little orphan who lived in a village beside a mountain. He was cared for by an old widow. She sent Yanni to the village school as well. And Yanni helped her out by bringing wood, fetching water and running errands for her.But Yanni was a very curious little boy. He loved to
A new monk had joined the lamasery. He had studied law at a leading college and considered himself much brighter than the other monks and novices there. Whenever anyone tried to teach him something, he would quote from the books he had read to show that he knew everything already.The monks had to go out
A nightingale lived on a tree in a garden. She sang beautifully, but she was extremely lazy. She had laid her eggs in a crow’s nest, because she was too lazy to build her own.“Too much work, my dear,” she said to the crow, “I am such a great artist! I need to practise.”The crow
Baba lived in a small hut on the edge of a forest. The only valuable thing he possessed was his beautiful white horse, Bijli, whom he loved like a child.One day, some robbers were riding hard through the forest. They scattered to avoid being caught. The robber chief, Mangal, came to Baba’s hut. He watched
Every Sunday, Mrs Lamb went to the church to attend the service. She had put a few pennies into the offering plate before she left.She earned her living as a housekeeper at the Hudson Manor. The Hudsons kept aloof from everyone in the village. But they were good to Mrs Lamb and paid her on
Mr Green was very kind to all creatures. Whenever he saw any bird or animal that was injured, he would bring it home and look after it till it was well enough to walk or fly away. Mrs Green helped him, but warned him not to do anything stupid.“Turtles and ducks and kittens and puppies
Hoja, a tribal boy, had lived in the forest all his life. One day, some people had come to the forest in an open vehicle to look at the elephants and other animals. Hoja and his friend Golam watched them from the shadows.“One fellow seems to be holding his ear. I wonder why,” said Golam.“Must
Mr Dean had a small blue car. He loved driving around in it. He went shopping and to meet his daughter and grandchildren. He took them to buy ice cream and play in the park.But these days, Mr Dean was frightened to drive anywhere. There were these huge cars, called SUVs, that almost pushed you
Everyone in the street felt very sorry for Henry. He came early morning to deliver newspapers. He would be whistling along cheerfully on his bicycle, and at each house he threw the newspaper deftly so that it might land near the front door.But when he came to Mr Fowler’s house, he got off his bicycle,
Two angels were walking around to see what people were doing on earth. Often they tested people and gave them rewards or punished them.One day, they stopped near the large and beautiful house of a merchant. The merchant saw the travellers looking tired and invited them to rest for the night. His servants looked after
Robin’s father had gone away. Mummy said he had gone to heaven. He did not know where heaven was, so he couldn’t send him a letter. Christmas was coming up. He had always given a list of things to his father. And his father made sure that Santa brought him those presents. Now what should
Robin’s father had gone away. Mummy said he had gone to heaven. He did not know where heaven was, so he couldn’t send him a letter. Christmas was coming up. He had always given a list of things to his father. And his father made sure that Santa brought him those presents. Now what should
Mularam, the washerman, had a donkey. In a house near by, there was a musician who practised singing every day. Mularam’s donkey would listen to him and longed to sing like him. Whenever he opened his mouth, all he could do was bray!One night as the donkey was eating his dinner of hay and oats,
An old couple lived near a bamboo forest. Every day, the old man would cut some bamboo and bring it home. They would weave umbrella caps and baskets that the old man sold in the village.One day, they had six umbrella caps. So, the old man took them to the village market to sell. That