Once upon a time there was a tree, it lived peacefully. But he had something that the others didn’t have. It had green leaves all year round. But he wanted to be like everyone else. So he went to the wise piece of wood and said, “Why do I have green leaves all year round? Can you give me some advice on how I can be like everyone else?”. “Heavy, heavy,” said the wise piece of wood, “ask the magician! “He lives in a cave in the mountains.” And he went to the magician and suddenly there was a small cave in front of him. The tree went in and told everything to the magician. The magician said: “I ..read more

Es war einmal ein Baum, er lebte friedlich. Aber etwas hatte er, was die anderen nicht haben. Er hatte das ganze Jahr über grüne Blätter. Er wollte aber wie alle anderen sein. Darum ging er zum weisen Holzstück und sagte: “Wieso habe ich das ganze Jahr über grüne Blätter? Kannst du mir einen Rat geben, wie ich wie alle Anderen sein kann?”.  “Schwer, schwer”, sagte das weise Holzstück, “frag den Magier! “Er lebt in einer Höhle in den Bergen.”  Und er ging zum Magier und plötzlich stand eine kleine Höhle vor ihm. Der Baum ging hinein und erzählte alles dem Magier. Der Magier sagte: “I ..read more

On the 31st of July, we gather to celebrate the birthday of a beloved character who has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, has become an iconic symbol of bravery, friendship, and the power of love. As we commemorate this special day, let us reflect on the incredible journey that Harry Potter has taken us on and the impact he has had on both literature and popular culture. The Birth of a Phenomenon Twenty years ago, J.K. Rowling introduced us to the enchanting world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Through her vivid ..read more

There was once a shoemaker, who worked very hard and was very honest: but still he could not earn enough to live upon; and at last all he had in the world was gone, save just leather enough to make one pair of shoes. Then he cut his leather out, all ready to make up the next day, meaning to rise early in the morning to his work. His conscience was clear and his heart light amidst all his troubles; so he went peaceably to bed, left all his cares to Heaven, and soon fell asleep. In the morning after he had said his prayers, he sat himself down to his work; when, to his great wonder, there stood ..read more

In the city lived the shoemaker, Martuin Avdyeitch. He lived in a basement, in a little room with one window. The window looked out on the street. Through the window he used to watch the people passing by; although only their feet could be seen, yet by the boots, Martuin Avdyeitch recognized the people. Martuin Avdyeitch had lived long in one place, and had many acquaintances. Few pairs of boots in his district had not been in his hands once and again. Some he would half-sole, some he would patch, some he would stitch around, and occasionally he would also put on new uppers. And through ..read more

It was Christmas Eve and although it was still afternoon, lights had begun to appear in the shops and houses of the little Russian village, for the short winter day was nearly over. Excited children scurried indoors and now only muffled sounds of chatter and laughter escaped from closed shutters. Old Papa Panov, the village shoemaker, stepped outside his shop to take one last look around. The sounds of happiness, the bright lights and the faint but delicious smells of Christmas cooking reminded him of past Christmas times when his wife had still been alive and his own children little. Now the ..read more

AN OX drinking at a pool trod on a brood of young frogs and crushed one of them to death. The Mother coming up, and missing one of her sons, inquired of his brothers what had become of him. “He is dead, dear Mother; for just now a very huge beast with four great feet came to the pool and crushed him to death with his cloven heel.” The Frog, puffing herself out, inquired, “if the beast was as big as that in size.” “Cease, Mother, to puff yourself out,” said her son, “and do not be angry; for you would, I assure you, sooner burst than successfully imitate the hugeness of that monster.”   ..read more

There was once upon a time a queen to whom God had given no children. Every morning she went into the garden and prayed to God in heaven to bestow on her a son or a daughter. Then an angel from heaven came to her and said: ‘Be at rest, you shall have a son with the power of wishing, so that whatsoever in the world he wishes for, that shall he have.’ Then she went to the king, and told him the joyful tidings, and when the time was come she gave birth to a son, and the king was filled with gladness. Every morning she went with the child to the garden where the wild beasts were kept, and washed ..read more

It was the middle of winter, when the broad flakes of snow were falling around, that the queen of a country many thousand miles off sat working at her window. The frame of the window was made of fine black ebony, and as she sat looking out upon the snow, she pricked her finger, and three drops of blood fell upon it. Then she gazed thoughtfully upon the red drops that sprinkled the white snow, and said, ‘Would that my little daughter may be as white as that snow, as red as that blood, and as black as this ebony windowframe!’ And so the little girl really did grow up; her skin was as white as s ..read more

There was once upon a time a woman who was a real witch and had two daughters, one ugly and wicked, and this one she loved because she was her own daughter, and one beautiful and good, and this one she hated, because she was her stepdaughter. The stepdaughter once had a pretty apron, which the other fancied so much that she became envious, and told her mother that she must and would have that apron. ‘Be quiet, my child,’ said the old woman, ‘and you shall have it. Your stepsister has long deserved death; tonight when she is asleep I will come and cut her head off. Only be careful that you are ..read more