The Book of Stories for the Story-teller

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26177

Title

The Book of Stories for the Story-teller

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A timeless collection of folk tales, fairy stories, myths, and real-life narratives curated for parents and teachers. Featuring moral lessons on honesty, loyalty, and kindness, this volume offers fresh, engaging stories from diverse cultures to inspire virtue and imagination in children.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by Fanny E. Coe and published in 1914, *The Book of Stories for the Story-teller* serves as a vital practical resource for parents and teachers seeking to convey moral lessons through entertainment. The anthology is meticulously organized into four distinct sections: Folk Tales, Modern Fairy Tales, Myths, and Stories from Real Life, drawing narratives from nations worldwide to ensure freshness and inspiration for repeated telling. The Folk Tales section presents classic fables such as "The Fox and the Wolf," where a cunning fox outwits a foolish wolf, and "The Fox and the Cat," which illustrates the value of community among aging animals. The Modern Fairy Tales feature whimsical adventures like "Anders' New Cap," where a boy steadfastly refuses to trade his mother's red cap for a king's gold crown, and "The Hop-about Man," a tale of a shape-shifting creature. The Myths section brings ancient legends to life, including "Rhœcus" and "The Story of Pegasus." Perhaps the most grounding section is "Stories from Real Life," which connects the collection to human experience. This includes "Hans the Shepherd Boy," who trades a princely silver chain for a Saint Bernard puppy, only for the dog to save him from a deadly snowstorm. Other tales, such as "Dust under the Rug," where a diligent girl discovers gold by faithfully sweeping under a rug, and "The Honest Farmer," emphasize integrity and the value of hard work. Throughout the volume, themes of filial devotion, persistence, and loyalty are woven into these narratives. As noted in the preface, the stories are designed so that adults can read or tell them with only slight modification, ensuring that the inculcation of virtues like truthfulness, generosity, and love for family resonates deeply with young listeners. By presenting concrete embodiments of virtue rather than formal instruction, the book aims to fire children with the desire to emulate the heroes and heroines within its pages.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26177.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg26177.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-04 07:54 UTC

Categories

• Tales
• Storytelling