Written by The Story of a Maid Who Was Betrothed to One She Trusted There was once upon a time a fair maid who lived in the island of Fayal. She was betrothed to a young man of the same island. One day she fell ill with a disease which baffled the skill of all the physicians. […]
It is a point of faith accepted by all devout Portuguese that thirty-three baths in the sea must be taken on or before the 24th of August of every year. Although the motive may not seem to be very reasonable, still the result is of great advantage to those believers who occupy thirty-three days in […]
When Spain was fortunately in possession of the enlightened Moors a spirit of chivalry pervaded all classes, which degenerated after the departure of Boabdil from Granada. The Moorish blood permeated the veins of the majority of the Spaniards; but a religious despotism completely subdued the minds of all, and Spain, under the yoke of the […]
Wamba was king of the Goths, who inhabited the northern part of Lusitania. He was one of the bravest kings that ever reigned, and the walls of his palace still stand as evidence of the skill with which he studied to improve his capital. But although he was wise, he was not a good man, […]
The Story of a Clever Youth and a Foolish One Long ago there lived a little maid who fell ill. Her father was very rich and he did everything he could for her. One day she said: “If I only had some fresh figs I’m sure I’d feel better.” Now it was in the month […]
Just close to the cathedral of Compostella lived a barber whose real name was Pedro Moreno, but who was better known by that of El Macho, “the mule,” because he was so stubborn that if he happened to be playing the guitar, he would not leave off though a dozen customers were waiting to be […]
The Story of a Boy Who Grew Up in the Forest There was once a king who had a little daughter. He went to the Wise Man of the Forest to learn how best to bring her up, and this is what he was told: “For twelve years you must keep your daughter in a […]
There was once a little boy called Sigli, who, I am sorry to say, took great pleasure in catching and killing little birds. His father was a notorious robber, so it was not surprising that Sigli gave way to acts of cruelty. His mother died when he was little more than a year old, and […]
Lady Clare was in her garden overlooking the sea. It was a summer’s day, and the many coloured butterflies flitted about under the trees and among the sweet smelling flowers. Lady Clare was combing her golden tresses with an ivory comb, seated on a crimson velvet cushion. She looked towards the sea, and she saw […]
The Story of the Girl Who Did Not Like To Be Pretty Long ago there lived a girl who was so pretty she grew tired of being beautiful and longed to be ugly. She was so attractive that all the young men in the whole city wanted to marry her. Every night the street in […]
The Story of Three Friends Long ago there lived a blacksmith upon whose strong right arm there swelled great muscles and whose big hairy fist was capable of delivering so heavy a blow that all the men in the village and nearby countryside stood in awe of him. He had a hot temper as well […]
The Story of How He Helped His Father Long ago there lived a man and his wife who had no children. “I wish I had a little boy,” said the man. “I’d like a son of my own even if he were not any larger than a little bean,” said the woman. Time passed and […]
The Story of a King and His Fate Once upon a time there was a young king who went into the deep forest on a hunting expedition. He and his favorite page became separated from the rest of the party and soon they realized that they were lost. As night approached they found the rude […]
A Story of Why She Stays Outside If there is no response when you ring the bell or knock at a door in the Azores, you have to stay “outside the door like the mother of St. Peter,” they say. This is the story which tells why the mother of St. Peter had to stay […]
The Story of a Sharp Lad and a Sharper Long ago there lived a man who employed a boy to take care of his pigs. The lad’s name was Peter and he was commonly called by every one in the countryside Peter-of-the-pigs. One day a man came up to him and said: “Sell me these […]
The Story of the Origin of the Azores Once upon a time in the lost kingdom of Atlantis there ruled a king whose name was Graywhite. He had married the beautiful Queen Rosewhite. They lived in a magnificent palace, but it was a sad place because there were no little children in it. “There are […]
It was in a lovely pine-wood that little Mirabella wandered lonely and hungry. The sand under her feet was very cool, and the tufted pine-trees sheltered her from the fierce rays of the sun. Through an avenue of tall but bare pine-trees she could see the big sea, which she looked upon for the first […]
Long ago there lived a man who had so many children that he could scarcely find godfathers for them all. He had requested so many of his friends to serve, that when his last baby was born, a little dark-eyed daughter, he vowed that he’d ask the first man he met upon the street. As […]
The Story of the Little Maid Who Found It There was once an Irish monk called St. Brendan. One day he received a visit from a hermit who told him of a most marvelous island. “Come and visit this earthly Paradise,” said the hermit. “There the sun always shines. The birds wear golden crowns upon […]
There was once a princess who had a black man slave. “Princess,” said the black slave one day, “I know that you love the good Count of Yanno very much; but you cannot marry him, for he is already married. Why not, then, marry me?” “I love, as you say, the Count of Yanno, and […]
Down the slopes of the neighbouring mountains were heard the stirring sounds of the bagpipes and drums, and at short intervals a halfpenny rocket would explode in mid-air, streaking the blue sky with a wreath of smoke. Nearer and nearer came the sounds, and the villagers stood at their cottage doors waiting for the musicians […]
Not far from the Garden of the Widows, in Burgos, lived a cobbler who was so poor that he had not even smiled for many years. Every day he saw the widow ladies pass his small shop on the way to and from the garden; but in their bereavement it would not have been considered […]
The Story of a Prince’s Quest There was once a king who had an only son. The years passed by and he did not marry, so one day his father called him before him and said: “The time has come when you should marry, my son. You are now at the age when you should […]
There was once a very merry, but very poor hostler in Salamanca. He was so poor that he had to go about his business in rags; and one day when he was attending on the richly caparisoned mule belonging to the Archbishop of Toledo, he gave vent to his feelings in words. “Ah,” said he, […]
The Story of Lake Ginjal In the village of Altos Ares in the island of Terceira there lived once upon a time a fair maid who had been baptized Perola, which means Pearl. As she grew older she was indeed like a rare pearl among the other maidens of the village, so great was the […]
A Story of the Islands in the Bay of Angra Once upon a time there was a handsome Flemish youth who came to the island of Fayal. His name was Fernâo de Hutra. He fell in love with a beautiful nun in the convent of the Gloria in the city of Horta. One day the […]
There was once a student in Tuy who was so very poor that, if faith in Providence be not reckoned, he possessed no riches. But Juan Rivas was endowed with a wonderfully fine gift of ingenuity, and although he was somewhat behind in the payment for the Masses on behalf of his predecessors, and even […]
Another Story of the Origin of the Islands Paradise is, of course, ruled by loving law. All places good to live in are governed by laws. Long, long ago there was a little angel who broke one of the rules of Paradise. Of course she had to be punished. Punishment always follows broken laws. She […]
The Story of a Man Who Outfitted Another Once upon a time there was a laborer who said to his master: “It is time to plant the fields.” “Very well,” said his master. “The part which grows above the ground shall be mine and you shall have in payment for your labor the part which […]
The Story of the Trouble Which Came to Him Once upon a time there lived a king who liked to walk in disguise about the streets of the city, listening at people’s doors. It was, in fact, his favorite amusement. Other kings of that land had been fond of war or hunting or fishing or […]
The Story of a Robber Who was Outwitted Long ago there lived a merchant who had three daughters. Every year at a certain day of a certain month he went away to a distant city to collect money on an account. His wife and daughters remained at home, and all went well until one sad […]
It was proclaimed throughout the kingdom of Granada that the king had decided on marrying. The news was first told to the court barber, then to the night watchmen, and, in the third place, to the oldest woman in the city of Granada. The barber told all his customers, who again told all their friends. […]
The Story of a Woman Who Quarreled Once upon a time there was a woman who lived a most unhappy life. She and her husband were always quarreling. Every day when he came home from work he was cross, and said harsh words to her. She would respond with bitter words, and things would go […]
The Story of a Boy who Learned His Lessons in School Once upon a time there lived a man who had three sons. The two older ones worked in the fields, but the youngest one went to school. He learned how to read and write and do sums and make drawings. At last he even […]
The Story of a Youth Who Met Death There lived once upon a time in the island of Terceira a youth whose name was Vladmiro. He had come from Flanders, a cavalier of the order of St. John. He was betrothed to a fair maid of the island. One morning he was hunting in the […]
There was once a pious miller. He was always to be found in the church praying. He prayed for the dead. He prayed for those who were alive. He prayed for all who suffered, for the homeless ones, for the hungry ones. He prayed for those upon the sea and those upon the land. Now […]
The Story of a Water-nymph and an Island Lad In a tiny cottage on the steep rocky hillside of one of the islands of the Azores there lived a poor woman and her only son whose name was Francisco. Every day the boy went fishing in his little boat, and every night he brought home […]
Overlooking the river Douro, close to Freixo, are some huge rocks, situated on the brink of an almost perpendicular eminence. To this spot do congregate, so it is reported, the souls of unbaptized children, who make the midnight hour hideous with their shrieks when the tempest is hurrying down through the valley and over the […]
The Story of Euphemia and Her Good Deeds Euphemia was the daughter of King Atlas and the granddaughter of the great god Jupiter. She was more beautiful than her fifteen sisters, though they were all lovely. All the ten sons of Neptune admired her charms and sought to marry her, but she would wed none […]
The Story the Lame Old Women Told Long ago there lived a lovely princess who owned the most beautiful rings in the whole world. She had rings set with diamonds and rings set with pearls. She had rings set with rubies and rings set with sapphires. She had rings set with emeralds and turquoises and […]