The Bird Who Made Milk
A man of humble means and his wife did labour in their garden from morn till eve.
As night did descend, a bird of wondrous properties did appear, uttering, “Garden, be mixed again,” or words to that effect.
The couple, undeterred, continued to hoe on the morrow; yet again, the avian creature did present itself.
That very night, they maintained a vigil and succeeded in capturing the aforementioned bird.
“I possess the ability to furnish ye with milk,” the bird declared unto them.
Thus, their fortunes did improve markedly. The family did acquire corpulence through the consumption of milk.
The children of the village, being of an inquisitive nature, enquired, “Pray, how did ye attain such stoutness of figure?”
“'Twas from the milk-bird,” the children of the once-impoverished family responded. “We shall demonstrate.”
However, upon liberating the milk-bird from its confines, it took flight and was never beheld again.
The Grateful Python
The Python, finding itself ensnared within a bush-fire, did utter a most distressed cry: “Help!”
A gentleman, hearing this lamentation, did hasten forthwith to the source of the sound.
“Save me, I implore you!” shrieked the Python, in a state of considerable agitation.
“Yet, should I render such assistance,” the gentleman retorted, “might you not be inclined to terminate my existence?”
“Nay, good sir, I shall instead bestow upon thee a most generous recompense!” the Python avowed, with utmost sincerity.
Whereupon, the gentleman, employing his hoe with considerable vigour, did excavate a deep trench encircling both himself and the serpent, thereby preventing the encroachment of the conflagration.
Lo, the Python did then undergo a most remarkable metamorphosis, transforming into a comely young lad. He presented unto the gentleman a phial of wondrous properties, stating: “Uncork this vessel whensoever thou art beset by peril,” and with these words, he dematerialised into the ether.
Upon the gentleman's return to his abode, he discovered his village to be overrun by adversaries. Acting upon the boy's instruction, he released the stopper of the phial; whereupon, the enemy, to a man, did succumb to an instantaneous and irreversible demise.
The Cowherd and the Antelope
A callow cowherd did observe an antelope grazing amongst his cattle.
``Ascend,’’ quoth the antelope unto him. The boy, in obedience, did mount, and forthwith they commenced to ride away. They journeyed onward with unceasing momentum, the boy utterly incapable of compelling the antelope to halt its course.
When, with a resolute hand, he tugged upon one of its horns, it did detach itself with ease, revealing a cavity replete with victuals of sundry description.
The antelope, succumbing to exhaustion, did eventually collapse. ``Take unto thyself both horns,’’ he instructed the boy, ``and keep them evermore.’’
Thereupon, the antelope breathed its last.
``Transport me hence, unto my domicile!’’ the boy did exclaim, and by virtue of the horns' enchantment, he was instantaneously conveyed to his abode.
By grace of the antelope's wondrous horns, the boy ascended to a station of affluence and influence, becoming a man of considerable wealth and power.
The Caprine Excrement
Pray, cast some caprine excrement in my direction!
Wherefore caprine excrement? To propel it skyward.
And wherefore the sky? To procure a modicum of water.
And wherefore a modicum of water? To foster the growth of the parched herbage.
And wherefore herbage? To sustain my bovine creature.
And wherefore a bovine creature? To slaughter it for the eagles' sustenance.
And wherefore eagles? To obtain eagle-feathers in recompense.
And wherefore eagle-feathers? To adorn my arrows.
And wherefore arrows? To pursue the cattle of mine adversaries.
And wherefore cattle? To acquire a wife.
And wherefore a wife? To beget a son.
And wherefore a son? To disencumber me of my vermin.
And wherefore vermin? To depart this mortal coil in their company, an aged man.
The Obstinate Child
'Child, partake of thy repast!' The child did demur.
'Rod, chastise child!' The rod remained unyielding.
'Flame, consume rod!' The flame proved recalcitrant.
'Water, extinguish flame!' The water did prove obdurate.
'Ox, imbibe water!' The ox remained unpersuaded.
'Knife, slay ox!' The knife exhibited reluctance.
'Blacksmith, break the knife!' The blacksmith demurred.
'Rope, suspend the blacksmith!' The rope remained uncompliant.
'Rat, gnaw the rope!' The rat proved obstinate.
'Cat, consume the rat!'
'With alacrity!' quoth the Cat.
The Cat didst affright the Rat, who didst affright the Rope, which didst affright the Blacksmith, who didst affright the Knife, which didst affright the Ox, who didst affright the Water, which didst affright the Flame, which didst affright the Rod, which didst affright the Child, who didst then partake of her repast.