Old-time Stories, Fairy Tales and Myths

The spirit of the book may be illustrated by referring to the roast turkey in the story of The Little Match Girl. The story was told as dear old Hans Christian Andersen gave it to the little German children of fifty years ago. But American children have a different idea of the fowl which graces the table at Christmas time. The story as it came from the lips of the children referred to the "turkey," and "goose" was used in only one instance. As the story was to appeal to our children, the word was changed to suit their ideas.

Again, in the story of Red Riding-Hood we preferred to use the German ending, as it leaves a far happier impression on the minds of the children than the accepted English version. The incongruity of the wolf's swallowing whole the grandmother and child does not destroy the child's enjoyment of the story, while the happy release of both grandmother and little girl forms a suitable close.

Contents
The Ugly Duckling 
The Little Pine Tree 
The Little Match Girl 
Little Red Riding-hood 
The Apples of Idun 
How Thor Got the Hammer 
The Hammer Lost and Found 
The Story of the Sheep 
The Good Ship Argo 
Jason and the Harpies 
The Brass Bulls 
Jason and the Dragon