He was awakened by a showering of snow in his face. The door of the hut had been forced open; and, by the snow-light (yuki-akari), he saw a woman in the room,—a woman all in white. She was bending above Mosaku, and blowing her breath upon him;—and her breath was like a bright white smoke. Almost in the same moment she turned to Minokichi, and stooped over him. He tried to cry out, but found that he could not utter any sound.
Read MoreTsar Vwislav had one favorite apple-tree, and on that tree grew apples all golden. The Fire-bird used to fly to the garden of Tsar Vwislav. She had wings of gold, and eyes like crystals of the East; and she used to fly to that garden every night, sit on the favorite apple-tree, pluck from it golden apples, and then fly away.
Read MoreSo wonderfully fair was this maiden upon whom Juno fixed her resentful gaze, that she seemed too perfect to be made of flesh and blood, and the jealous watcher was almost persuaded that it was no real living thing which rested softly on the crest of the waves, but some creature made from the rainbow colors and white mist of the sea.
Read MoreSome say she never existed. But, for that matter, some also say that her press agent, Homer, never existed, and that his "Iliad" and "Odyssey" were compilations of lesser men's writings. Some say she indeed walked the earth, and that her charm stirred up strife among nations, even after she was dead.
Read MoreBut the tree did not rejoice at all. He was one of the first that was cut down. The axe struck deep into the very pith and he fell to the earth with a sigh. He felt a pang—it was like a swoon. He could not think of happiness, for he was sorrowful at being separated from his home, from the place where he had sprung up.
Read MoreTo the wild, fierce monsters that inhabited the forests and preyed upon the weak and timid ones, Kanistagia was a constant foe, and so swift was the flight of his arrow, so powerful the blow of his hunting club, so unerring his knowledge of their haunts in the mountains, that they feared him deeply and hid away with low and sullen mutterings.
Read MoreThus she went on and on, and journeyed till she came to the world’s end. Then she came to the sun, but it looked much too hot and fiery. So she ran away quickly to the moon, but the moon was cold and chilly, and said, ‘I smell flesh and blood this way!’ So she hurried to the stars, and the stars were friendly and kind to her.
Read MoreIt is a well-known fact that the cruel man is generally his own hangman. But the reverse of the medal shows us that innocence is a shield of fig-tree wood, upon which the sword of malice is broken, or blunts its point; so that, when a poor man fancies himself already dead and buried, he revives again in bone and flesh.
Read MoreThe goddess Diana spent most of her daylight hours hunting. Wherever the wild deer roamed, and the pathless forest knew no touch of woodman's ax, there Diana, fleet-footed and tireless, followed the chase.
Read MoreThe poor mother ran out of the house and cried aloud for her child. Out there, in the midst of the snow, there sat a woman in long, black clothes; and she said, “Death has been in thy chamber, and I saw him hasten away with thy little child; he goes faster than the wind, and he never brings back what he takes!”
Read MoreIn spite of his rather doubtful reputation for honesty, the gods often sought Mercury's assistance in their difficulties; and in one very delicate commission he proved himself a competent ally. This was when Jupiter went wooing the maiden Io.
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