There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pigsty, close by the seaside.
An honest farmer had once an ass that had been a faithful servant to him a great many years, but was now growing old and every day more and more unfit for work.
There was once a miller who had one beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he was anxious that she should be well married and provided for.
In a village dwelt a poor old woman, who had gathered together a dish of beans and wanted to cook them.
There was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids, and loved them with all the love of a mother for her children.
A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together.
The wife of a rich man fell sick; and when she felt that her end drew nigh, she called her only daughter to her bed-side, and said, ‘Always be a good girl, and I will look down from heaven and watch over you.’ Soon afterwards she shut her eyes and died, and was buried in the garden; and the little girl went every day to her grave and wept, and was always good and kind to all about her.
A poor woodman sat in his cottage one night, smoking his pipe by the fireside, while his wife sat by his side spinning.
There was once a forester who went into the forest to hunt, and as he entered it he heard a sound of screaming as if a little child were there.
There were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a child.