🌺Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs,🌺

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs, ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Russian Folk Tales THE PUNISHMENT FOR STEALING PART -1 An old farmer lived in a village with his wife. He had a small piece of land in which he grew vegetables. The farmer and his wife made a living by selling those vegetables. Once the farmer thought of growing turnips. He asked his wife. "I am thinking of growing turnips this year. What do you say?" The wife said. ‘If we get good harvest we shall be comfortable." “I will water the field and take good care of the crop. The harvest should be fine as a result," the farmer spoke. The farmer was lucky. His field grew a bumper crop of turnips. One day, he went to the field to look over his crop. The old farmer was shocked to find bits and pieces of turnips lying all over the field. The old man was puzzled. A thief would have taken away the whole turnips. The bits and the pieces meant that some enemy was trying to ruin his crop. At home, he spoke to his wife. “I don't understand who is our enemy." PART-2 The wife enquired…'Enemy' What happened?" The farmer informed, ‘There are small bits of turnips all over the field. Some enemy is at work. Who can be our enemy?" The wife remarked. "No one is our enemy Your old head is imagining crazy things. Some animal is eating away our crop certainty." The old farmer felt that his wife was talking sense. So, he went to the field at night to guard the crop. He hid himself with an axe in his hand in the tall grass that grew around the field. At midnight, a big bear entered into the field and started pulling the turnips out of the ground. It ate the fleshy parts and threw down the bits and pieces The farmer got angry. He threw his axe aimed at the bear. The axe hit the bear's hind leg which got cut off. The bear ran away to the jungle groaning in pain leaving behind the cut off leg. The farmer picked up the leg and went home. His old woman was pleased to see the leg. She washed it and skinned it. She spun a yarn with the hair of the leg and put the leg in a pot on the stove to cook. The old farmer and his wife enjoyed the meat of the bear leg. Meanwhile, the bear painfully walked around on three legs and began thinking of ways to settle the score with the farmer. It found a tree branch right enough to serve as its leg. The bear tied the stump with its half remaining leg. Now. it walked about making tap-tap-tap sound. PART -3 One morning, the bear went to the house of the farmer. From outside it began singing… I have a leg of wood. Know me… you should. You made me lame, To settle score I came, Come out let me thrash you good. The bear’s call frightened the farmer and his wife. They trembled. Before they could close the door the bear had come in. Both of them rushed to the almirah and hid inside. The bear sang and walked around the rooms with its wooden leg sounding tap-tap-tap. Suddenly the stump leg loosened and it fell off unbalancing the bear. The bear fell through the trap door that was there by the side of the staircase to drop down into the cellar. The thud of the bear’s fall brought farmer out of the almirah. He quickly shut the trap door. The wife of the farmer ran outside and screamed for help. The neighbours rushed in with spears, sticks and axes. They killed the bear. The farmer lived without fear ever after.

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs, ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Russian Folk Tales THE BIG TALK PART -1 It was the marriage of the son of a farmer of a village. There was festive atmosphere in the house. The women of the house were singing. There were a lot of people gathered outside the house. The people were joking and laughing. Everyone was telling something. The shopkeeper of the village boasted, ‘You know what happened yesterday?' “What happened?' other asked. “I met the fief of the village. He greeted me and asked me about my welfare." The people spoke, ‘That is impossible. The fief is an arrogant man. He does not know the polite language." The farmer's son Roger was listening to this talk. He boasted, 'Hey uncle! That's nothing. I can come back after having meals with the fief." The people laughed. An elder advised, ‘Son! A person must talk according to one's position. You should not talk tall. The fief is our king. He won’t even allow farmers like us in his presence." Roger laughed. He was a good talker and was a clever boy. He remarked politely. ‘Grandpa! I am not making tall claims. I speak the truth." PART -2 The village shopkeeper was feeling insulted. He challenged, 'Son Roger' if you really manage to have dinner or lunch with the fief, I will give you a big reward. You shouldn't be a big mouth, kid.' ‘So, what reward would you give? Will you give me both your horses?' Roger asked. ‘Not only both horse but I will give you my milch cow too, son." The shopkeeper said haughtily and asked, ‘But tell me one thing, if you fail to have meals with the fief within one day, what will you give me?" “Alright If I fail I will be your slave for three years,’ Roger replied. Everyone looked at Roger. He had taken up a challenge that was impossible to meet. The very next morning Roger went to the mansion of the fief. The gatekeeper stopped him. Roger said to him, ‘Go in and ask the fief if he knows about the bricks of gold Or else. I am going to someone else.' The gatekeeper was puzzled. He rushed in and told about it to the fief. The fief was equally puzzled. He tried to appear calm and ordered, 'Bring in the boy. And arrange for our lunch." Roger was respectfully led in and seated at the dinner table. The lunch and the fruits were laid out. In short while the fief also arrived there and took his seat. He asked.’ Who are you son? What does your father do?" Roger answered. 'My name is Roger Sir. My father is a farmer. I was just wanting to know how much a brick of gold meant in terms of money. What one could buy in that money?" PART-3 The fief was still very puzzled. He informed Roger, “Son, a brick of gold means a big money. It can buy lards and great many cattle or anything. And it depends on the weight of the brick to know the exact value. Let me see the brick. How many bricks have you got? Is it just one brick? Bring the brick to me. I will give you a good price." The fief was eating grapes as his interest in the gold brick was increasing. But Roger was quietly eating his lunch with a great relish. The fief thought that the boy was not assured of getting the good price from him. So, he said reassuringly, ‘Son…You will get whatever price you want. I will give you lands. Trust me and bring the bricks to me.' Roger revealed, ‘Sir, I never said that I had the gold bricks. I was just trying to learn the value of a gold brick. If tomorrow or on some any future day I get such bricks…" “Get out. you rascal! Are you trying to fool me?" the fief angrily thundered and called out to his solders. 'Don't take trouble please. I am going myself," Roger said and added while departing, "Why should I need lands or cattle from you? I shall be getting two horses and a milch cow for having lunch with you." The fief stared at the departing figure of talkative Roger.

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs, ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Korean Folk Tales Clever Boy PART -1 Cheemo, the young son of a shepherd used to go to the pasture to graze his sheep everyday. He would set out in the mornings to return just before sunset with his sheep. One day, he sat at a place in the pasture thinking of something. Suddenly, his eyes brightened up and he tossed up his fur cap high in the air excitedly. The fur cap came down to fall over the head of a mounted horse that was passing by. It scared the horse and it reared up on its hind legs. The rider fell off the horse. The rider was the son of the richest merchant of the city. He was going on some business of his father in his fine clothes. The accident angered the young man. He got up and dusted his clothes. Then, he screamed at the shepherd boy, “Stupid boy! Don’t you have any sense? You frightened my horse and I fell down." Cheemo spoke, ‘I had tossed my cap in joy. How could I know that it would frighten the horse by falling on its head ? ‘What was the reason for such joy? Let me hear it. I would have spanked you had I got seriously hurt." Cheemo revealed, ‘My father had posed a riddle to me and I hit on the answer." ‘What was the riddle?' “What is higher than a man but is shorter than a hen" "What can that be?' ‘Don’t you also know the answer?' ‘I know, silly… But I want to hear it from you," the young man cleverly said. PART-2 Cheemo informed proudly, “A cap1 On the head it is always higher than a man. But down on the ground it is shorter than a hen.’ Cheemo’s cleverness pleased the Youngman. ‘Smart kid. huh! Now if you get me something. I will give you a lot of reward. When I come back here tomorrow on my way back, keep a sheep ready for me it shouldn’t be black white, grey, mixed black and white or of any other colour." The Youngman departed after saying that. And Cheemo thought and thought about it. The next day, he was grazing his sheep. The Youngman arrived on his horse on his way back. He asked, ’Why dear boy! Have you got the sheep I asked for?" Cheemo cheerfully replied, ‘Yes young sir! I got it. It is at my home. You can send your man and collect it any time. But remember that it shouldn’t be Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And he shouldn't come during morning day, evening or night" The Youngman laughed loudly and said “I am very pleased at your cleverness. Take these five gold coins as your reward. And remember, if you ever need job come to me straight away." The Youngman gave the coins and his address to Cheemo. Then he raced his horse away.

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs, ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Japanese folk tales. Love for Love PART -1 An ascetic used to live in a hut at a side of a village. He prayed to God or meditated all day long. He had no worry for food and no use for money. The villagers gave him food. The ascetic stayed alive on that food. He had no desire for anything. He was very kind and tender hearted person. If ever any evil person spoke harsh words to him he bore no ill will to him. All the villagers greatly admired his noble character. That is why everyone wanted to help him. Once, it was cold winter. The ascetic had fire burning in his hut for warmth. Suddenly, there was a knock at his door. The ascetic wondered who it could be out at such cold night? He opened the door and found a fox out there shivering in cold. She spoke, “I live on the hills out there. Heavy snow is falling there making my life difficult. Kindly give me a little room in your hut for the night. I will go away in the morning." The ascetic politely called her in and said, 'Don't worry, dear You can live here as long as you wish." In the warmth of the heated hut the fox felt very comfortable. The ascetic gave her some bread and milk. The fox hungrily ate it and slept in a corner. In the morning, the fox asked for the permission of the ascetic to leave. The ascetic told her to come whenever she liked. PART -2 The fox again came back at the night. The ascetic talked with her about the day's happenings and gave her some food. After eating the fox went to sleep. Now it became a routine. The fox would arrive at night and left for the jungle in the morning. The ascetic came to love her as his own child. Whenever the fox failed to arrive at due time the ascetic would wait for her at the door. And he would anxiously ask the reason for the delay. The fox too had become very friendly with ascetic and she loved him. A few months passed and the season changed. One day the fox said, “You took so great care of me all through the winter. I want to do something for you in return." The ascetic remarked, “I did no do great act of any kindness. It was my duty, dear fox. Please don’t embarrass me by talking in this way.' The fox pleaded, “I am not trying to pay back your kindness, O great soul. I love you and respect you. By doing something for you I will feel a great pride in me. I wish to be of some use to you.' The humble talk of the fox pleased the ascetic. He was overwhelmed. He put his hand on the head of the fox and spoke, “I don’t need anything as you have seen. I have no desires The villagers give me food and they look after me whenever I fall sick.' The fox argued, "I know all that. I lived with you for months and learnt how you value contentment. You have no greed. But still tell me something you wished to do but could not due to some reason. I will try to help you fulfill it." PART-3 The ascetic thought for some time and hesitatingly said, “I don’t need anything. But sometimes I wish I had a piece of gold. A part of it I will donate to the village temple and the rest would come handy for my last rites when I die. The villagers have been so helpful always that I don’t want to saddle them with expenses of my funeral and rites after my death.' The eyes of the fox twinkled and it said, 'That is no big problem, sir. There was no need to hesitate. I will get the gold tomorrow itself." The ascetic cautioned, “But remembers dear, the gold should not be stolen thing or received as alms or donation." The fox stood thinking. Then, she assured. “Sir, the gold I will bring will be as you wish." The fox departed for the jungle like everyday. In the evening, the ascetic waited for the fox to return. The hours passed and there was no sign of the fox. The ascetic couldn't go to sleep due to worrying for the fox. He repented for his foolishness in asking a poor fox for a piece of gold. It was beyond her means. The scary thoughts came to the ascetic's mind. Did the fox try to steal gold and got caught? Did the people kill her or she met some accident? PART-4 The ascetic fondly remembered the loving fox. At nights when he would sit down to eat, the memories of the fox would come to his mind rushing. He recalled her eating food and her innocent figure curled in sleep in the corner of his hut. Months went by. Time began to heal his wounds. He spent more time in prayers and meditation. It was now six months since the fox had gone. The winter was returning. One day. someone knocked at the door of the hut. When the ascetic opened the door he was shocked to find a very weak and skeleton like fox. The ascetic said, "Come in…dear… What has made you so weak and skinny?" The fox shed tears of joy and placed a piece of gold before the ascetic. She sat and just put her head on the lap of the ascetic. The ascetic caressed her head and spoke, “You didn't have to take so much trouble to get the gold. You don't know how much worried I have been. You are like my child." The fox said, “I was not worried about the gold. I was trying to honour my promise given to you. I will always be grateful to you for your love. Please accept this gold as a token of my love." PART -5 The sentiments of the fox moved the ascetic. Tears rolled off his eyes. He sobbed, 'Silly child' Where have you been all these months and how did you get this gold.’’ The fox revealed, "There are gold mines at the other side of the hill I live on. While the people mine gold some gold dust falls down. I have been collecting the dust and separating gold particles." The fox rolled on the ascetic's feet. He lovingly caressed the fox and said, ‘You worked so hard for me. I will tell everyone about it.' The fox protested, 'No I don’t want my little deed talked about. I didn't do it for fame. Your love was my inspiration. Tomorrow I will depart, then you can do whatever you like." The ascetic said, 'No…. my dear. Why shouldn't people know about your spirit and hard work? But if you don’t like it, I will go along. And I will not let you go. You shall always live with me.’ The fox agreed and stayed back with the ascetic. She would go to the jungle in the morning and while coming back in the evening she would bring some wood for the ascetic’s fire. The fox lived with the ascetic like a child as long as she lived.

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs, ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Japanese folk tales. MAGIC OF KITE PART -1 A boy named Osho lived in a town called Shikoku. Shikoku was surrounded by great greenery and high mountains. Osho was not keen in studies. He was the only son of his parents. So, his parents were indulgent to him, they overlooked his naughtiness and mischief making. Osho would set out of his home for school with his back-pack of books every morning. But on the way he played games and never reached school in time. The teachers complained to his parents but they never got tough with their loved son. Osho was very fond of eating various tasty things. This had made him fat. His cheeks were pink and puffed. The eyes were blue. Osho loved playing. Kite flying was his favourite game. He used to make his own kites. Once, he made a big butterfly shaped kite with colorful design. Whenever he flew his butterfly kite other kids gathered to watch it. PART -2 One day, he was flying his kite. The kite was flying high. Osho was so excited that he was reeling off the thread. And the kite was going higher and higher. But what in excitement Osho failed to see that entire reel had spun off. He couldn’t even grab the end of the reel. The kite soared free. Osho watched his dear kite break free. Tears came to his eyes. He ran after the kite and the dangling end of the reel. He ran and ran. The reel moved on out of his reach. Osho was running out of his breath. He had reached into the freshly ploughed field. It was all muddy. Osho's clothes got plastered with mud. The morning turned into noon and it aged into the evening. Osho was still running after the kite and had climbed up a mountain. The kite was now coming down. Osho walked towards the falling reel end. Suddenly the kite landed on the roof of the house on the mountain top. Osho realised that he had come far off his home and it was getting dark. He went into the house. He found no one inside. He ran up to the roof and got his kite. It had become dark outside and Osho didn't know which way his home was. So, he decided to stay the night in that strange beautiful house and go home in the morning. He found a lovely bed in a room and sprawled on it. He fell asleep in no time. PART-3 After some time some noise woke him up. He found greatly surprised that the house was bathed in bright light and fairies were dancing all around. The fairies had golden hair and wings. An enchanting music was being played on. Osho thought that it was some dream. He rubbed his eyes. That brought a fairy to him. Osho asked, “Who are you and why I am here?" The fairy replied, “you came to get your kite and you are in fairy land.' Osho saw fits kite by his side on the bed. It pleased him. Another fairy said, "Come, meet our queen. She just loves kids." Osho was taken to the queen of the fairies. She sat on a splendid throne wearing a diamond tiara. Her hand held a magic wand. The queen of fairies caressed Osho and patted his cheeks lovingly. She ordered her maids to take good care of Osho. The fairies played with Osho. They gave him pretty dresses to wear. He was served whatever he wanted to eat. But only after a couple of days he got fed up with that place and wanted to go home. He picked up his kite and walked towards the gate. It was heavily guarded. He was not allowed to leave. PART -4 Now, all the lovely things of that house looked useless to him. He badly missed his parents. He was being held there as the fairies loved him. Osho was a sad boy. The house was no better than a jail for him. One day Osho was sleeping. He saw a dream. His mother was sitting sadly in tears. His father looked gloomy. He asked, "Why are you so quiet, father?" His father said, "We miss you, Osho…" And Osho woke up. Osho could not sleep. He looked at his kite. He sighed. It had been many days since he had gone out and done kite flying. He wished he had not run after his kite. Suddenly, an idea came to him. He sat up. He found out a strong string and ran up to the roof. Day was breaking. Osho began flying his kite. The kite rose up in the air. Osho held the string tight which he had attached to the kite. He got lifted off as the kite rose higher. The kite flew on and Osho hung by it. Then kite started losing height. Osho looked down. He got scared He fell down. It was a muddy field. Osho was not hurt. But mud was all over him. He came out of the field and ran to his house. When his parents saw him they rushed towards him and hugged him.

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs, ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Japanese folk tales. THE FAITHFUL DOG PART -1 Anato was a simple and straight farmer. He worked on his own fields and at night slept peacefully after dinner in his humble home. Anato had a dog named Singer. He loved his dog very much. The dog accompanied him to fields and returned with him like his shadow. Anato had a neighbour named Shento. Shento hated Singer. Singer would often sneak into his compound to doggy-do. Shento would run after the dog with a stick whenever he found Singer near his house. Singer would make Shento do a lot of running, Anato had brought up Singer since it was merely a two week pup. Anato knew every move of Singer and the dog understood all the signals of Anato. Anato often played with Singer. Running with Anato made Singer very happy. One evening, Anato was eating. Suddenly, Singer started barking. Anato tried to calm down the dog but it barked more loudly. The dog caught Anato’s long shirt and pulled towards the backside of the house. Anato realised that Singer wanted to show him something. Anato followed Singer. At the backside Singer begun digging the ground near the guava tree. Anato watched the dog. Then, he went into the house and brought a spade. He removed some soil but found nothing. He stood wondering Singer again dug the same spot. Anato knew the dog wanted him to dig deeper. Anato dug the ground. A little below his spade hit something metallic. It was a brass pot full of gold coins. PART -2 Anato was overjoyed. His eyes were wide and mouth open. Now he could buy a big house and get married. He thankfully caressed Singer. The dog frolicked around to show his happiness. Anato put the coins back into the pot and hid it in a safe place. As Anato went around looking for a big house to buy, the story about his finding the treasure came into light. He had to tell others about it. One day, he found Shento standing at his door early in the morning. Shento said, “Congratulations my friend… Your dog Singer did a wonderful job. Please lend me your dog for two days. I want to find my treasure.’ Anato didn't like it. He knew that Shento hated Singer. So he tried to put Shento off. 'Brother! You are my neighbour as well as my friend. I don't want to refuse anything to you. But we know that you don't like Singer and Singer does not like you. You will find your treasure in some other way if it is in your fate." But Shento was mad for treasure. He insisted, 'There is no other way. Only Singer can lead me to it. I will take good care of him I promise." Anato could not refuse adamant Shento. He let Shento take Singer led by a leash. Shento led Singer around his house trying to make it sniff. But a dog can't be forced to sniff around. It is a dog's natural act. PART-3 Singer pulled back the leash to get free. Shento dragged Singer to the tree of his courtyard and forced its snout on the ground. The angered Singer began barking fiercely in protest. Frustrated Shento tied Singer to the tree as a punishment for not helping him. He gave the dog nothing to eat whole day. In the evening Shento found Singer in a sad and sullen mood. He again tried to force Singer sniff around Singer barked furiously and pulled at the rope to free itself. Angry Shento hit Singer with a thick stick. Singer howled in pain and fell down. It died soon after Shento was fearful about what to say to Anato. He buried the dead dog under a tree on the hillock behind his house. After two days, Anato came to take his Singer. Shento said, ’Friend' Your dog is just wonderful. My brother had come from another village. He liked Singer so much that he took it with him.' 'How did you give Singer to any other person without asking me,’ it’s very bad. Give me the address of your brother. I will get Singer from him myself.' Shento was going scared. He tried to buy time. ‘Dear friend! My brother has not taken away Singer for ever. He will come back in a week's time. Please bear with us." PART-4 Anato went back m a gloomy mood. He was getting a bad feeling about it. Something was very wrong. He counted days. On the seventh day he went to Shento. Shento made excuses, “I think my brother got delayed due to some reason. Please give me a few days more." In this way fifteen days passed off. Anato was getting mad for Singer by now. Meanwhile he had got engaged to a very homely girl. The wedding day was drawing closer. He went to Shento fuming in anger and screamed, 'Give me my Singer. I am getting married. I won't marry without Singer. Get me my dear dog.' Shento could not put off Anato any longer. He told the truth, “I can't give you Singer. He is dead." Anato was shocked. In a grieving voice he spoke, 'What is it that you say? Where is my Singer? Tell me." Shento told him the story as it had happened. Anato returned in deep grief. He announced to his relatives 'I don't want to get married." The relatives advised, 'Singer can not be brought back to life. Whatever is done is done. You must get married and carry on your life.' Anato didn't invite Shento to his marriage. Anato was sad even after getting married. His wife Ono understood her husband's feelings. She said, “I know that Singer was your dear dog. Let's go and offer flowers wherever he is buried by Shento. It will console us." Anato liked his wife's suggestion. They reached the spot where Singer was supposed to have been buried. There a strange sapling was growing up. After offering flowers Ono said, "I think this strange sapling is symbol of late Singer. We must take it to plant it in our courtyard as a memorial to Singer." Anato liked the idea. They planted that sapling in their courtyard. The sapling grew into a tree in two years. The tree grew strange leaves and flowers. Meanwhile Anato had become father of a son. PART -5 One day, Anato’s son fell ill. The local medicine man's drugs didn't cure the boy's illness. Wind had blown some flowers of the Singer tree to the sick bed of the boy. The boy absent mindedly chewed the flowers. It had magical effect. Anato’s son regained health in quick time to the surprise of the parents. Tears came to the eyes of Anato when he realised that Singer was helping him even after his death. People learnt about the magic tree of Anato that cured diseases. Sick people came to his house to get the leaves and the flowers of the magic tree. Shento wanted to make money out of that tree. One night he entered Anato's courtyard and sawed off a big branch of that tree. He started selling its leaves and wood pieces as a sure-cure medicine. The king summoned Anato to his court when he heard about that tree. The king wanted to buy the tree at any price. Anato didn't agree to it. He wanted his tree to remain available to all poor people. He had brought along some leaves and flowers which he gave to the king. And the king’s son who was suffering for long from an incurable disease became healthy again. The king wanted to give reward to Anato but he refused to accept it. He said that he would not put any price to his dear Singer tree. He just wanted to serve the people free as a tribute to his late friend Singer. For his honesty the king gave Anato a high place in his court. Shento was dying of jealousy. The leaves and wood pieces sold by him were causing diseases instead of working as medicine. On the complaint of the people, the king put the dishonest Shento into prison.

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs(Rᴜssɪᴀɴ, KORᴇᴀɴ , Jᴀᴘᴀɴᴇsᴇ ,Iᴛᴀʟɪᴀɴ) ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Italian Folk Tales Endless Desires : PART -1 Once upon a time, a king went on a tour of a neighbouring country. There, he found that the land was fertile and rich crops stood in the fields. He wished to own that beautiful and fertile country. There was a rich man in the same country. He used to be too busy to go out for a walk or joyride. He had a vast business, scores of servants and a big house to live in. He also set out on that day for sight seeing and saw a very beautiful palace. The rich man thought, “What a beautiful palace! Its pillars are works of some great artist. I wish I were the owner of this palace too!" A beautiful princess lived in that very palace. On that day she was standing at her window. Down below, a handsome Youngman riding his horse passed by. The princess saw him and she wished to marry that Youngman. A dog also lived in that palace. It used to see other dogs run freely around on the road. It also wished for freedom to roam and run around outside like other dogs. PART-2 A cat sat in the verandah basking in the winter sun. She was enjoying the warmth. Just then she saw a mouse run by. The cat ran after it. But the rat dodged it and dashed into its hole. Cat sighed, ‘I wish I had caught the rat to eat it lazily under the warm sun!" The rat ran into the kitchen and saw loads of colourful sweetmeats behind the glass panels of the shelves. It drooled and wished to eat those lovely treats. On that day a very kind fairy was passing through the sky of that place. She heard all those six wishes. She thought, "let us grant all these creatures their wishes and make them happy ‘ And so she did. After granting wishes, the fairy went back to her fairyland. Sometime later the fairy happened to pass over the same place. She was shocked to find the creatures she had granted wishes no happier then before. In fact they were troubled by more desires. The king wanted to own more kingdoms. The rich man desired more money and palaces. The princess desired many things for the future of her husband and child. The dog wanted to return to the palace. The cat wanted more rats to eat. Only the rat did not suffer from more desires after eating the sweetmeats. Because as the result of the cat's wish it had gone into cat's belly. The death had ended all its desires. The fairy now realised that a living creature keeps giving birth to new desires all the time It never ends till its death. She gave up the idea of granting any mere wishes to anyone. And the fairy flew away on her journey.

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs(Rᴜssɪᴀɴ, KORᴇᴀɴ , Jᴀᴘᴀɴᴇsᴇ ,Iᴛᴀʟɪᴀɴ) ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Italian Folk Tales Lesson of Father : PART-1 Merchant Johnson had no shortage of money and he had all the comforts of life. He was a big trader of the village. The people respected him. But Johnson had one worry. He was worried about how his son. Thomas would run the business after him. Thomas was about to be eighteen years of age but he showed no interest in work. He rarely helped his father in business. Thomas had got all the pleasures and luxuries of life on a silver platter. He didn't know the value of money or hard work. Thomas was careless about everything. He was not a brainless idiot. But he took himself to be over clever. He thought that no one could fool him whereas he could fool anyone. Johnson used to advise his son often to learn business and do some work and to give up the habit of carelessness But Thomas paid no heed to his father. Once, the father decided to test the cleverness of his son who always claimed that he had a good brain. The father said, ‘Son! Go to the city. This goat has grown old. Sell it. Buy some trade item with the money you will get." Thomas asked, 'Father! How much price should this goat get us?' Johnson replied. "It can sell for around 400 lira. Take the horse if you like. But be careful. This world is full of tricky people. There are thugs. Don't trust any stranger." Thomas laughed, 'Don't worry, O father… No one can fool me. I will get at least 500 lira for the goat. You will see that I will return with some good price selling item.’ PART-2 He set out for the city on the horse back. He had tied a bell to the neck of the goat. And with a rope the goat was tied to the tail of the horse. The goat followed the horse making jingling sounds of the bell. The sound of the bell told Thomas that the goat was following him. He himself was sitting pretty on the horse humming a tune merrily. On the way, some tricksters saw a Youngman carelessly going along on his horse followed by a goat. A trickster thug said, "I can easily steal his goat." Encouraged by it, another thug claimed, ‘That is no big deal. I can steal the horse on which that young idiot goes humming." The first thug admitted, ‘Alright I think stealing the horse would be a bit tricky. I can steal the goat?' The thugs followed Thomas. Suddenly a third thug boasted, "You two are jokes. I can steal the costly clothes and chains he is wearing including the money he has got in his pockets." The thugs argued as to who would strike first. At last, they decided to give chance to the thugs in the order they made claims. The first thug was to steal the goat. He got the first shot. The thug walked along the goat, untied the rope, then tied the bell to the tail of the horse and disappeared with the goat. PART-3 As the bell tied to the tail of the horse jingled on, Thomas thought that the goat was following him. After some travel he decided to take rest under a tree. As he got down from the horse he discovered that the goat was missing. He panicked. In a confused state of mind he started asking all the passers-by about his goat. A person told him that he had seen a mean looking person going with a goat. He told Thomas the direction the thief had gone. Thomas thanked the person and said, ‘You are a very noble person. Thanks for telling me about the goat thief. Do me another favour please. Take care of my horse. I will go after the thief to get back my goat. It will take little time.' Thomas ran into the direction shown by the man. He went quite far but found no trace of his goat or the thief. At last he gave up and returned to the place where his horse and that man was supposed to be. But the man had vanished with his horse. Tears came into the eyes of Thomas. Now he realised that the man was an accomplice of the goat thief. Thomas was a very sad man. His mind was not working. He was ashamed of having been tricked by the thugs so easily. He could do nothing except return to his village. Only a little distance away he found a man weeping pitiably by the side of a well. Thomas felt pity for the man because he looked as sad as he himself was. He wanted to share his misery with the weeping person to lighten the sadness of the heart. PART-4 Thomas went to him and spoke, ‘Why do you weep…O good man? My tragedy is greater than yours. I have been very badly tricked today." The man sobbed, “No brother… No one can be sadder than I am. I am facing life and death situation. Any way, what is your story?" Thomas confided, ‘Brother…Due to my carelessness my goat got stolen. Then I was tricked off my horse. I can’t tell you how sad it makes me. And I used to think that I was a clever person. Ah…" At this, the man wailed loudly and shed tears. Thomas consoled him, "Tell me what happened with you? May be… I can help you." The man cried, "I work for a jeweler. My master is marrying off his daughter. He got a very precious necklace of diamonds made for her which I was taking to his home. I stopped here for a breather and unfortunately the box containing the diamond fell into the well. Now, how shall I go home? My master will think I am a thief. He will skin me alive." Thomas said, ’Why don’t you descend into the well and get the box?’ ‘How can I. sir? There is death on both sides for me. If I go home my master would kill me. If I descend into the well I will get drowned. I don’t know how to swim. There is no one who can help me.' The man started crying out loudly. Thomas felt pity for him. He offered, ‘Stop crying. I will go down the well and try to get your box. If I succeed your worry will be over. Meanwhile take care of my clothes. By the way, if I get your diamond necklace what will you give me?" PART-5 “I will give you twenty gold coins," the man promised. ‘I will take ten coins right away," Thomas said and added, 'And another ten when I get your necklace." That way Thomas could recover some of the loss he had already suffered. It will be a consolation, he thought. The man handed him ten gold coins. Thomas could not descend into the well with the coins. So, he gave his clothes, watch, gold chain, his money and the gold coins to the man for safe keeping and descended carefully into the well. He groped around the entire bottom of the well trying to locate the box. Of course, there was no box. He was looking for something which was not there. At last, he emerged out of the well tired and defeated. And a final shock awaited him out there. There was no trace of his belongings and the weeping man. Thomas realised that he had been stripped of everything. His sadness had no limit. He sat down and wept bitterly. It was a matter of great shame for Thomas. How would he return to his father naked? He had lost everything and made a complete fool of himself. He repented. Luckily he saw a person of his village passing by. He called out to him. Thomas told his entire tragedy to him. The person felt sorry for him. He gave Thomas some clothes to wear and brought him home. Thomas was very sorry for not listening to the advice of his father.

Lᴇᴛ's Rᴇᴀᴅ Fᴏʟᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs(Rᴜssɪᴀɴ, KORᴇᴀɴ , Jᴀᴘᴀɴᴇsᴇ ,Iᴛᴀʟɪᴀɴ) ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ Eɴɢʟɪsʜ Pʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴏᴍᴇᴏ & https://hilokal.page.link/r7JUY Eᴠᴀ https://hilokal.page.link/N5dtM Italian Folk Tales The Result of Bragging : PART-1 Anova and Greets were bosom friends. They were very attached to each other. Meanwhile, a man named Morio met them and he began coming closer to them. Once all three went to a party. There, while eating food something came on Morio and he started talking loudly. His raised voice made others look towards the three. Morio was bragging. He claimed, “The house I live in is a great wonder. You speak loudly in a room and the other room echoes it." Anova asked very surprised. 'Really' How can a talk in one room gets echoed in another room? How is it possible?' Morio added, “It is no ordinary echo. It echoes ten times. You call my name in a room and the other room would echo my name ten times." PART-2 “Really'…everyone looked at Morio. A rich man was also present in the party. He could not tolerate the bragging of Morio. What he really didn’t like was that Morio was drawing everyone’s attention. No one was paying attention to him. He said loudly, 'Your rooms echo ten times? That’s no big thing. My mansion echoes voices twenty times.' Suddenly, everyone looked towards the rich man. It pleased the rich man. Morio was also surprised. Anova could not believe it. ‘It is impossible that rooms can echo a sound twenty times.' The rich man argued, 'Why is it not possible? You don't know how old my mansion is. Its rooms do echo sounds of other rooms twenty times. You can come to my mansion and see it for yourself.’ Many people came forward to express their wish to test the echoing. That put the rich man in a fix. He had hoped that no one would really want to test his claim. But his hope was wrong. Now he could not stop people from coming to his house Anova and Greets asked, ‘Well sir, when shall we come to your house?" The rich man had to invite them to the next evening. PART-3 The rich man was now very worried. The next evening people would come and there would be no echo in his rooms. That would be a great shame for him. He told his wife his problem. They talked and made a plan to fool the people. Accordingly the rich man called his old faithful servant Piero and told him about the plan. Piero was to hide in a closet adjoining the next room. When the rich man would call out he was to repeat it twenty times. At the appointed time the people reached the rich man’s mansion. Anova and Greets had also arrived. The rich man called out. "Anova! Anova!" The another room echoed it twenty times…Anova… Anova….Anova. The people listened in great wonder. The people called one another name to hear the echo. For a long time the echoes kept coming. By chance one of the people was named Piero. His friend called out to hear the echo…. 'Piero…Piero’ where are you?" This time instead of echo answer came "Sir! I am here. Coming. Sir!" PART-4 And Piero came out of the closet. He thought that his master had called him to service. The people had become noisy. So, no one knew what was happening. The rich man was at a loss to understand what had gone wrong. Some people realised that they didn’t hear the echoes of the last call. Suspicious Anova called out loudly, 'Greets' Greets'!" There was no echo. The people now knew that they had been tricked. Many of them angrily advanced towards the rich man. Anova thundered, 'Don t you feel ashamed of yourself for cheating us?" Anova and Greets looked so agitated that they were about to thrash the rich man The rich man begged…Please forgive me. I am very sorry. I will never again do any wrong to you Please…" The people departed making fun of the rich man. He made a resolve never again to boast or do any bragging. Because of it he got insulted and barely escaped being beaten up.