No barber in the kingdom would cut the hair of the emperor Trojan. He had the ears of a goat and any barber who remarked on his ears was put to death. I was just an apprentice, but I went to cut the hair of the emperor because my master had taken ill. I began my work...
We had been married for years. Our two children had grown up. Our parents had died, and we finally had the house to ourselves. My husband is a tailor and he had done well enough that he didn’t have to work so hard anymore. One morning as he sat at the table in...
My brothers think I’m stupid, but I know the difference between a good man and a bad one. That little elf who came to the door was nothing but trouble. He asked for bread, and when I gave it to him, he let the bread fall to the ground. Then he ordered me to pick...
When she came to my door, I said the same thing to her as the Sun had said. “I have seen you in your cottage, and I have seen you in your palace. I have seen you everywhere you are.” Then I asked her, “Do you, rich as you are, need help?”...
I’ve heard more than one confession in my day. The king sends people to me, and I provide a safe place where they can unburden their hearts. He knew that the little goose-girl was keeping something under her hat, and he called her aside. He wanted her to tell...