The Magic Bed and Other Stories — Hartwell James

India is undoubtedly the home of the fairy-tale. Of those now in existence, probably one-third of them came from India. Gypsies, missionaries, travelers, and traders carried them to other countries where they were told and retold until much of their original form was obliterated, and many of their titles lost. It is from these, and from others told by native nurses, or ayahs, to children in India--where the belief in fairies, gnomes, ogres, and monsters is still widespread--that five stories most likely to interest young people have been selected to form this volume. They are stories which have aroused the wonder and laughter of thousands of children in the far East, and can hardly fail to produce the same effect upon the children of America. The stories are (1) The Magic Bed, (2) The Wise Jackal, (3) The Four Brothers, (4) The Fish Prince, and (5) The Talking Turtle. It is a pleasure to publish this new, high quality, and affordable edition of these timeless stories. This edition is amply illustrated.