Poems, Stories and More

Tooth Fairy

2010-11-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

This night it is a special night
As fairies dance upon the roof.
All the fairies must alight,
For W just lost a tooth!

The Fairy Queen gives her commands-
Twelve bright fairies must join hands
Then together in a circle stands
To guard W while he sleeps.

The Tooth Fairy into the circle leaps
The hidden tooth she borrows
Ah, but has far to go
Before returning tomorrow.
Three times around the world she flies
Over valleys deep and mountains high;
Skirts the storm clouds thick with thunder,
Wings over waves all wild with wonder.
Deep within their earthly homes
Finally she finds the gnomes,
Who upon the tooth must work
Never once their magic shirk.
Some are hammering, hammering, hammering,
Some the bellows blow
Others sweat at the sweltering forge
And then cry out, “Heigh Ho!”
The tooth’s been turned to a shining stone,
A glimmering, glowing gem
The tooth Fairy takes the gnomes’ good gift,
And bows to all of them.
Before the sun’s first rays are shown,
She returns to W's bed,
And then - - - away she’s flown!

I don't know where I found this but I like it.

Winter Solstice Story

2010-01-07T13:08:00.000-08:00

A group of little Faeries huddled in their home deep under the roots of a giant oak tree. They were safe and snug in their tiny underground cave lined with dandelion fluff, bird feathers, and dried moss.

Outside, the wind blew cold and the snow fell softly down to cover the ground. "I saw the Sun King today," the faerie named Rose said as she pulled her mossy cloak tighter about her. "He looked so old and tired as he walked off through the forest. What is wrong with him?

"The great oak said he's dying" answered Daffodil.

"Dying? Oh, what will we do now?", Little Meadow Grass started to cry, "If the Sun King dies, our little plant friends will not grow. The Birds will not come and sing again. Everything will be winter for ever!" Lilac, Dandelion and Elder Blossom tried to comfort their friend, but they were all very sad. As they huddled together, there was a knock on the tiny door.

"Open up, Faeries," called out a loud voice. "Why are you hiding instead of joining us in our Solstice celebration?" Rose opened the door and the little gnome Brown Knobby pushed inside, shaking the glistening snowflakes off his brown coat and hat.

"We are too sad to celebrate," Daffodil said wiping her eyes, "The Sun King is dying, haven't you heard?"

"He is dead you silly Faeries." Brown Knobby's round dark eyes sparkled with laughter. "Now hurry, or we'll be late for the celebration!"

"How can you be happy and laughing?!" Elder Blossom stamped her little foot and frowned at the gnome. "If the Sun King IS dead, it will be winter always. We will never see the Sun again!"

"Silly little child-Faeries." Brown Knobby grabbed Dandelion by the hand and pulled her to her feet. "There is a secret to the Winter Solstice. Don't you want to know what it is?"

The Faeries looked at him in surprise. "Secret?" they all said. "What secret? We are only new little Faeries, you silly gnome. We've never been to a Solstice celebration before."

"Come and see. Come and see. Get your capes and come with me." Brown Knobby danced and jigged around the room. "Hurry, Hurry, don't be slow! To the Sacred Oak Grove through the snow!" He danced out of the door and disappeared.

"What did that gnome mean?" Rose asked as she gathered up her cloak of dried rose petals held together with cobwebs and lined with goose down.

"I don't know, but the Lady lives in the Sacred Grove." Meadow Grass pulled on her hat.

"Perhaps if we go to see the Goddess, She can explain what Brown Knobby was talking about".

The Faeries left their snug little home and trudged off through the snow toward the sacred oak grove. The forest was dark with only the light of the Moon shining down through the thick fir branches and bare limbs of maple and hawthorn. It was very difficult for them to get through the snow because they were very, very small. As they waded through the wet snow and shivered in the cold wind, they met a fox.

"Where are you going, Faeries?" the fox asked.

"To the sacred grove," they answered, they were cold and shivering.

"Climb on my back and I will take you there swiftly."

The fox knelt down so the Faeries could climb up. Then he raced off through the dark.

"Listen!" Lilac said as they neared the Grove of Sacred trees. "Someone is singing happy songs. A LOT of someones."

The beautiful music carried over the cold, still, moonlit air. It was the most beautiful music the Faeries had ever heard. The fox carried the Faeries right to the edge of the stone altar in the center of the grove, then knelt down.

"Look!" said Elder Blossom as they slid to the snow covered ground. "There is the Maiden and the Mother and the OLD Wise Crone, and many other Little People."

"They are all smiling and happy," said Lilac as she looked around at all the creatures.

"All the animals are here too," whispered Dandelion. "Why are they all looking at the Mother?"

The Faeries moved closer to the three Ladies seated on the altar stone. The Mother held a bundle close in Her arms, smiling down at it. The Maiden reached down and took the Faeries gently in her Hands. She held them close to the Mother so they could see what She held.

"A Baby!" the Faeries cried. " A new little Baby! Look how he glows!"

"He is the newborn Sun King," said the Maiden smiling.

"But Brown Knobby and the old oak tree said the Sun King was dead," the Faeries answered her. "How can this little baby be the Sun King?"

"That is the great secret of the Winter Solstice." The Old Wise One touched the baby's cheek with her wrinkled hand. "Every year the Sun King must come to the sacred grove during the darkest days of winter where he dies. I take his spirit to the Mother who gives him new life again. This is the way for all creatures, not just the Sun King."

" You mean everything lives and dies and lives again? the Faeries looked down in wonder at the baby Sun King, nestled in the arms of the Mother.

" Yes, Little Ones," answered the Old Wise Crone. "There is never an end to life. This is the great mystical secret of the Winter Solstice."

The Faeries laughed because they were so happy.

"I think the little Sun King should have gifts," said Rose. "I will show him where the wild roses bloom in the early summer."

"And, I will teach him to call the birds and listen to the songs of the wind," exclaimed Dandelion.

"When he is older and stronger, " said the Mother, "then the flowers will bloom at his touch, the birds will return to sing their songs, and the air will be warm from his breath, and winter will be gone for a time. Then the Sun King will run and play with you in the forest."

The little Faeries sang to the Baby Sun King, songs of the coming spring, the sweet smelling flowers, the bumbling bees, and all the secrets of the forest. And all the creatures within the sacred grove sang with them. Then the fox took them back to their snug home under the roots of the giant oak tree where they dreamed wonderful dreams, waiting for the warmth of spring and the fun they would have with the little Sun King.

Aauthor Unknown

Winter Verse

2010-01-05T16:43:00.000-08:00

Now that winter's come to stay
all the trees are bare.
Little birds must fly away
To find their food elsewhere.

Little seeds lie hidden
In the dark brow earth,
Waiting until bidden
To rise above the earth.

(winter - Wynnstones)

New Year Blessing

2010-01-04T14:01:00.000-08:00

May Fire light our way and warm our hearth (light candles)
May Earth's bounty nourish us and keep us strong ( light herbs and such)
May Water wash away our pain and suffering (wash our hands in the bowl)
May Wind blow good fortune upon those we love ( wave incense smoke to the North, East, South and West)
May we be blessed with the gifts of generosity, compassion and humility in the New Year and beyond. (hold hands and probably some kissing too!)

-by Denice

Farol

2009-11-12T16:31:00.000-08:00

Yo voy con mi farol
Y mi farol conmigo
Arriba brillan las estrellas
Abajo brillamos nosotros
Farol, farol
Estrella, luna y sol
Se apaga la luz
Se apaga la luz
Menos la de mi farol
Farol. farol
Estrella, luna y sol
Con faroles
Con faroles caminando
Vamos los ninos cantando
Rojos, verdes y amarillos
Todos con hermoso brillo
Y si hace frio nos vamos a casa
Con nuestro pequeno farol

Latern Poem

2009-11-11T16:16:00.000-08:00

The daylight fast is dwindling
My little lamp needs kindling
Let your beams shine far
Into the dark night
Little lantern guard me
With your precious light
-------------------------------------------
I'm going with my lantern and my lantern goes with me.
Above us shine the stars; and under shine we.
A sea of light like Martin's might,
Rabammel, Rabammel, Rabumm.

I'm going with my lantern and my lantern goes with me.
Above us shine the stars; and under shine we.
How sweet the sound, when everyone sings,
Rabammel, Rabammel, Rabumm.

I'm going with my lantern and my lantern goes with me.
Above us shine the stars; and under shine we.
My light is out, I'm going home.
Rabammel, Rabammel, Rabumm.

I'm going with my lantern and my lantern goes with me.
Above us shine the stars; and under shine we.
A sea of light like Martin's night,
Rabammel, Rabammel, Rabumm.

Pumpkin Carving Story

2009-10-28T11:27:00.001-07:00

The Littlest Pumpkin

Once, in the middle of a great field full of pumpkins, there lived a wee little pumpkin. This little pumpkin was hardly bigger than a walnut. He was not a baby pumpkin, because baby pumpkins are green and he was a beautiful bright orange, just like his big brothers and sisters. But he was the tiniest pumpkin in the world. He was also the most miserable little pumpkin in the pumpkin patch.

"It's going to be a good Halloween for you, " he cried to his neighbor, "You will certainly be chosen by a child to be her own Halloween Jack O"Lantern, but I am so small that no one would be able to make a face on me, or to fit a light inside me. In fact, when the farmers come into the field with their heavy boots on, I'm sure they won't even see me and I'll be stepped on. I probably won't even have any Halloween."

The other pumpkin felt sorry for him, but there was nothing that he could do about it.

That very morning, the farmer and his two sons had come out to see the field full of round, glowing orange pumpkins among the dark green vines and leaves. The farmer said to his sons, "The pumpkins are perfectly ripe. Tomorrow we will come back and pick them, lead them onto our truck and take them into town. Children will buy them and take them home to make their Jack O' Lanterns for Halloween."

That night, all of the pumpkins in the field were talking excitedly about the next day. A big fat pumpkin boasted that he would probably be the first chosen by some lucky boy or girl, but a small, pretty little pumpkin said, "I think that a child would like me best, because I can be carried easily."

Everyone had a wish to tell the other. Some wanted to have a happy face, others wanted to be scary and a few even hoped to look sad - just for fun.

As the night became deeper and darker, and the full moon rose above the field, they all became quieter, except for an occasional whisper. All through the night, the little pumpkin looked up at the beautiful Mistress Moon, so high above him. He spoke to her.

"We are alike, you and I, because we are both so round. But you are great and wise and loved, and I am too small to be loved by anyone."

The moon shone down with loving light on the little pumpkin and tried to comfort him.

Before sunrise, as the moon began to wander home and it was very dark, the little pumpkin saw a tiny light flickering at the far edge of the great field. The light twinkled and sparkled as it zigzagged over the field, pausing here and hurrying there. The little pumpkin thought that a star must have fallen to the earth, but he couldn't see what it was doing. It came closer and closer. Then, all at once, it was standing in front of him and he could see that it wasn't a star at all - it was an autumn fire fairy, dressed in gold and orange and scarlet leaf-fire, which dances without burning.

The autumn fire fairy bent over the little pumpkin and cried out, " Oh! Here it is - the very pumpkin that I am seeking! All of the other pumpkins are much too big for me to carry home to my children, but he is just right."

What joy filled the heart of the littlest pumpkin when she picked him up and flew with him to the forest. They entered the bottom of a hollow tree and a great many little autumn fire fairies clamored around to admire their Halloween pumpkin. They took tiny fairy knives and cut a big smiling face on him. Then they brought little fairy candles that shine in all different changing colors and put them inside. Now the littlest pumpkin was turned into a sparkling, shining Jack O' Lantern.

Then all of the autumn fire fairies held a big dancing festival with many kinds of food and sweets and lots of music and singing. And the littlest pumpkin shared the best Halloween of all.

By Christine Natale

Verse

2009-08-25T13:00:00.001-07:00

Clap clap clap
Tap tap tap
My work is done,
I have done my best
And now my hands
Can take a rest!

solsticio verano

2009-07-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

Cuentan que la finalidad de este rito es “dar más fuerza al sol”, que a partir de estos días irá haciéndose más “débil”, puesto que los días se irán haciendo más cortos hasta el solsticio de invierno.

Todos escribimos en un papel todo lo que queríamos que desaparezca de nuestras vidas en los próximos meses y se quema en el fuego.

Cantamos

“Sube llama, sube llama,
más alto, más alto,
ilumina, ilumina,
nuestras fiestas,
nuestras almas”

Dientes

2009-04-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Los dientes de arriba se cepillan hacia abajo
Los dientes de abajo se cepillan hacia arriba
Y tus muelitas debes limpiar
Con un movimiento circular.

Festividad de San Martín

2008-11-11T18:45:00.000-08:00

Yo voy con mi farol y mi farolito conmigo...
Arriba brillan las estrellas y abajo brillamos nosotros.
Y si hace frío, nos vamos a casa con nuestro pequeño farol.

(canción de la festividad que se canta al realizar la caminata en la oscuridad de la noche)

Birthday Poem - 3 years

2008-10-12T14:53:00.001-07:00

When I have said my evening prayer,
And my clothes are folded on the chair,
And mother switches off the light,
I’ll still be 2 years old tonight.

But, from the very break of day,
Before the children rise and play.
Before the darkness turns to gold
Tomorrow, I’ll be 3 years old.

3 Kisses when I wake,
3 Candles on my cake!

Books

2008-09-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

Lighting a Lamp: A Diwali Story by Jonny Zucker.

Story of Divaali by Verma Jatinder

Alphabet Book by Famke Zonneveld

Diwali

2008-09-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

Diwali is one of the most important festivals celebrated in India. It is celebrated on the darkest night of the year, which usually falls sometime in the beginning of November. Diwali, though, is the festival of lights.

All over India, homes are decorated with lights and earthenware lamps filled with oil. These lamps are called diyas. The name 'Diwali' is from the Sanskrit 'dipavali', which means 'row of lamps'. Diyas are lit in every house to banish the dark and welcome in good luck and good fortune.

People wear new clothes, meet their friends and relatives, eat good food, give each other sweets and gifts, decorate their houses with flowers and lights and Rangoli patterns, and set off fireworks.

In the evening, many people hold a small prayer or puja in their homes. They honour Ganesh, the god of wisdom and good luck, the one who removes all obstacles from life; and they worship Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and good fortune. Lights are left burning all night, so that Lakshmi may feel welcome and enter.

Diwali is also the start of the New Year for many communities in India.
Diwali is a festival of joy, prosperity and good luck, and a celebration of the victory of good over evil - which is expressed through different stories in different parts of India.

More Diwali Stories

Number Poem

2008-09-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

A poem to teach your child how to write numbers

Around we go!
To make a zero!

Start at the top then down you run
That's the way to make a one!

Around and back on a railroad track!
Choo, choo, choo!

Around a tree and around a tree,
That's the way to make a three!

Down and across and down once more,
That's the way to make a four!

Short neck, belly fat,
Mr. Five wears a hat.

Make a C then in you go,
That's the way to make six, you know!

Across the sky and down from heaven,
That's the way to make a seven!

Make an S but do not wait,
Go back up and close the gate. (8)

A hoop and a line,That makes a nine.

Storytime Verse

2008-08-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Said slowly and deliberately:

The moon is round
it has two eyes
two ears
but.... no sound.

And then there is a meaningful pause of silence before thestoryteller commences.

Candle Lighting Verse

2008-08-13T11:19:00.001-07:00

Here is the spark of Father Sun's Light
May it keep us warm and bright

Summer Poem

2008-07-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

What do you suppose?

1 bee sat on my nose.

He said, "I beg your pardon,I thought you were a garden!"

You can use your finger to be the bee that land on someone's nose.

Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse

2008-06-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse both lived in a house.

Titty Mouse went a-gleaning, and Tatty Mouse went a-gleaning.

So they both went a-gleaning.

Titty Mouse gleaned an ear of corn, and Tatty Mouse gleaned an ear of corn.

So they both gleaned an ear of corn.

Titty Mouse made a pudding, and Tatty Mouse made a pudding.

So they both made a pudding.

And Tatty Mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil.

But when Titty went to put hers in, the pot tumbled over, and scalded her to death, and Tatty sat down and wept.

Then the three-legged stool said, “Tatty, why do you weep?”

“Titty’s dead,” said Tatty, “and so I weep.”

“Then,” said the stool, “I’ll hop,” so the stool hopped.

Then a broom in the corner of the room said, “Stool, why do you hop?”

“Oh!” said the stool, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and so I hop.”

“Then,” said the broom, “I’ll sweep,” so the broom began to sweep.

Then said the door, “Broom, why do you sweep?”

“Oh!” said the broom, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and so I sweep.”

“Then,” said the door, “I’ll jar,” so the door jarred.

Then the window said, “Door, why do you jar?”

“Oh!” said the door, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, and so I jar.”

“Then,” said the window, “I’ll creak,” so the window creaked.

Now there was an old form outside the house, and when the window creaked, the form said, “Window, why do you creak?”

“Oh!” said the window, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and so I creak!”

“Then,” said the old form, “I’ll gallop round the house.” So the old form galloped round the house.

Now there was a fine large walnut tree growing by the cottage, and the tree said to the form, “Form, why do you gallop round the house?”

“Oh!” says the form, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, and so I gallop round the house.”

“Then,” said the walnut tree, “I’ll shed my leaves.” So the walnut tree shed all its beautiful green leaves.

Now there was a little bird perched on one of the boughs of the tree, and when all the leaves fell, it said, “Walnut tree, why do you shed your leaves?”

“Oh!” said the tree, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form gallops round the house, and so I shed my leaves.”

“Then,” said the little bird, “I’ll moult all my feathers,” so he moulted all his gay feathers.

Now there was a little girl walking below, carrying a jug of milk for her brothers’ and sisters’ supper, and when she saw the poor little bird moult all its feathers, she said, “Little bird, why do you moult all your feathers?”

“Oh!” said the little bird, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form gallops round the house, the walnut tree sheds its leaves, and so I moult all my feathers.”

“Then,” said the little girl, “I’ll spill the milk.” So she dropt the pitcher and spilt the milk.

Now there was an old man just by on the top of a ladder thatching a rick, and when he saw the little girl spill the milk, he said, “Little girl, what do you mean by spilling the milk? your little brothers and sisters must go without their suppers.”

Then said the little girl, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form gallops round the house, the walnut tree sheds all its leaves, the little bird moults all its feathers, and so I spill the milk.”

“Oh!” said the old man, “then I’ll tumble off the ladder and break my neck.”

So he tumbled off the ladder and broke his neck; and when the old man broke his neck, the great walnut tree fell down with a crash and upset the old form and house, and the house falling knocked the window out, and the window knocked the door down, and the door upset the broom, and the broom upset the stool, and poor little Tatty Mouse was buried beneath the ruins.

Juan el perezoso

2008-06-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

Lazy Jack

2008-06-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack, and he lived with his mother on a common. They were very poor, and the old woman got her living by spinning, but Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but bask in the sun in the hot weather, and sit by the corner of the hearth in the winter-time. So they called him Lazy Jack. His mother could not get him to do anything for her, and at last told him, one Monday, that if he did not begin to work for his porridge she would turn him out to get his living as he could.

This roused Jack, and he went out and hired himself for the next day to a neighbouring farmer for a penny; but as he was coming home, never having had any money before, he lost it in passing over a brook.

“You stupid boy,” said his mother, “you should have put it in your pocket.”

“I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.

Well, the next day, Jack went out again and hired himself to a cowkeeper, who gave him a jar of milk for his day’s work. Jack took the jar and put it into the large pocket of his jacket, spilling it all, long before he got home.

“Dear me!” said the old woman; “you should have carried it on your head.”

“I’ll do so another time,” said Jack.

So the following day, Jack hired himself again to a farmer, who agreed to give him a cream cheese for his services. In the evening Jack took the cheese, and went home with it on his head. By the time he got home the cheese was all spoilt, part of it being lost, and part matted with his hair.

“You stupid lout,” said his mother, “you should have carried it very carefully in your hands.”

“I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.

Now the next day, Lazy Jack again went out, and hired himself to a baker, who would give him nothing for his work but a large tom-cat. Jack took the cat, and began carrying it very carefully in his hands, but in a short time pussy scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it go.

When he got home, his mother said to him, “You silly fellow, you should have tied it with a string, and dragged it along after you.”

“I’ll do so another time,” said Jack.

So on the following day, Jack hired himself to a butcher, who rewarded him by the handsome present of a shoulder of mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it with a string, and trailed it along after him in the dirt, so that by the time he had got home the meat was completely spoilt. His mother was this time quite out of patience with him, for the next day was Sunday, and she was obliged to do with cabbage for her dinner.

“You ninney-hammer,” said she to her son, “you should have carried it on your shoulder.”

“I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.

Well, on the Monday, Lazy Jack went once more and hired himself to a cattle-keeper, who gave him a donkey for his trouble. Now though Jack was strong he found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders, but at last he did it, and began walking home slowly with his prize. Now it so happened that in the course of his journey he passed a house where a rich man lived with his only daughter, a beautiful girl, who was deaf and dumb. And she had never laughed in her life, and the doctors said she would never speak till somebody made her laugh. So the father had given out that any man who made her laugh would receive her hand in marriage. Now this young lady happened to be looking out of the window when Jack was passing by with the donkey on his shoulders; and the poor beast with its legs sticking up in the air was kicking violently and heehawing with all its might. Well, the sight was so comical that she burst out into a great fit of laughter, and immediately recovered her speech and hearing. Her father was overjoyed, and fulfilled his promise by marrying her to Lazy Jack, who was thus made a rich gentleman. They lived in a large house, and Jack’s mother lived with them in great happiness until she died.

Gachas dulces

2008-06-13T23:20:00.000-07:00

Érase una vez una muchacha, tan pobre como piadosa, que vivía con su madre, y he aquí que llegaron a tal extremo en su miseria, que no tenían nada para comer. Un día en que la niña fue al bosque, encontróse con una vieja que, conociendo su apuro, le regaló un pucherito, al cual no tenía más que decir: "¡Pucherito, cuece!", para que se pusiera a cocer unas gachas dulces y sabrosísimas; y cuando se le decía: "¡Pucherito, párate!", dejaba de cocer.
La muchachita llevó el puchero a su madre, y así quedaron remediadas su pobreza y su hambre, pues tenían siempre gachas para hartarse. Un día en que la hija había salido, dijo la madre: "¡Pucherito, cuece!", y él se puso a cocer, y la mujer se hartó. Luego quiso hacer que cesara de cocer, pero he aquí que se le olvidó la fórmula mágica. Y así, cuece que cuece, hasta que las gachas llegaron al borde y cayeron fuera; y siguieron cuece que cuece, llenando toda la cocina y la casa, y luego la casa de al lado y la calle, como si quisieran saciar el hambre del mundo entero.
El apuro era angustioso, pero nadie sabía encontrar remedio. Al fin, cuando ya no quedaba más que una casa sin inundar, volvió la hija y dijo: "¡Pucherito, párate!", y el puchero paró de cocer. Mas todo aquel que quiso entrar en la ciudad, hubo de abrirse camino a fuerza de tragar gachas.

Sweet Porridge

2008-06-13T23:15:00.000-07:00

There was a poor but good little girl who lived alone with her mother, and they no longer had anything to eat. So the child went into the forest, and there an aged woman met her who was aware of her sorrow, and presented her with a little pot, which when she said, "Cook, little pot, cook," would cook good, sweet porridge, and when she said, "Stop, little pot," it ceased to cook. The girl took the pot home to her mother, and now they were freed from their poverty and hunger, and ate sweet porridge as often as they chose. Once on a time when the girl had gone out, her mother said, "Cook, little pot, cook." And it did cook and she ate till she was satisfied, and then she wanted the pot to stop cooking, but did not know the word. So it went on cooking and the porridge rose over the edge, and still it cooked on until the kitchen and whole house were full, and then the next house, and then the whole street, just as if it wanted to satisfy the hunger of the whole world, and there was the greatest distress, but no one knew how to stop it. At last when only one single house remained, the child came home and just said, "Stop, little pot," and it stopped and gave up cooking, and whosoever wished to return to the town had to eat his way back.