Publisher's Synopsis
The White Cat: A Fairy Tale by Marie_Catherine le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness D'Aulnoy (1651 - 1705) and published in 1698. Translated to English by James Robinson Planche (1796 - 1880). It tells the story of a king who had three sons, all remarkably handsome in their persons, and in their tempers brave and noble. Some wicked courtiers made the king believe that the princes were impatient to wear the crown, and that they were contriving a plot to deprive him of his sceptre and his kingdom. The king felt he was growing old; but as he found himself as capable of governing as he had ever been, he had no inclination to resign his power; and therefore, that he might pass the rest of his days peaceably, he determined to employ the princes in such a manner, as at once to give each of them the hope of succeeding to the crown, and fill up the time they might otherwise spend in so undutiful a manner. He sent for them to his cabinet, and told them "You must be sensible, my dear children, that my great age prevents me from attending so closely as I have hitherto done to state affairs. I fear this may be injurious to my subjects; I therefore desire to place my crown on the head of one of you, but it is no more than just, that in return for such a present, you should procure me some amusement in my retirement, before I leave the Capital for ever. I cannot help thinking, that a little dog, that is handsome, faithful, and engaging, would be the very thing to make me happy; so that without bestowing a preference on either of you, I declare that he who brings me the most perfect little dog shall be my successor." THE KING OF THE GOLDEN RIVER; OR, THE BLACK BROTHERS. A legend by John Ruskin (1819 - 1900) and published in 1851. Illustrated by Richard Doyle (1824 - 1883). It tells the story of the Black Brothers. The two older brothers are evil and they do not treat Southwest Wind very well which then floods their valley destroying everything in it and turning it into sand. Forced to do something else for a living they become goldsmiths and they melt a golden mug, which belongs, and is very much cherished, by their younger brother. This actions releases releases the king of the of the Golden River. THE BADGER'S MONEY. A Tale from (Tales of Old Japan) written and published in 1871 by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, Lord Redesdale (February 1837 - August 1916). Once upon a time, in a hut at a place called Namekata, in Hitachi, there lived an old priest famous neither for learning nor wisdom, but bent only on passing his days in prayer and meditation. He had not even a child to wait upon him, but prepared his food with his own hands. Night and morning he recited the prayer "Namu Amida Butsu" intent upon that alone. Although the fame of his virtue did not reach far, yet his neighbours respected and revered him, and often brought him food and raiment; and when his roof or his walls fell out of repair, they would mend them for him; so for the things of this world he took no thought.
