Once there was a queen who longed for a child. Desperate, she went to the Sun and asked, "Please, send me a little girl, and when she turns twelve, you may take her back." The Sun granted her wish and sent a little girl, whom the queen named Letiko. The queen cared for Letiko lovingly until she turned twelve. On her birthday, as Letiko was out gathering herbs, the Sun appeared and reminded her, "Tell your mother about the promise she made." When the queen heard this, she quickly locked all the doors and windows, sealing every crack and hole in the palace to keep the Sun from taking Letiko. However, she forgot to close the keyhole, and through it, the Sun sent a ray that seized Letiko and carried her away. Letiko then lived with the Sun, doing his bidding. One day, the Sun sent her to fetch some straw. As she sat on the pile of straw, she sighed and whispered, "As this straw sighs under my feet, so sighs my heart for my mother." She stayed so long that...
Once there was a shepherd who had a son and a daughter. As he lay on his deathbed, he said, “I have nothing to leave you except three sheep and a house—divide them between you as you wish.” The brother asked his sister which one she wanted, and she chose the house. “Then I’ll take the sheep and go out to seek my fortune,” he said. During his travels, he came upon a man at a crossroads who had three dogs. “Good day, my friend,” the man said. “I see you have three sheep. If you give them to me, I’ll give you my three dogs.” The young man laughed. “What would I do with your dogs?” “These are no ordinary dogs,” the stranger replied. “The smallest is named Salt—he will bring you food whenever you wish. The second is Pepper—he will tear to pieces anyone who tries to harm you. The largest is Mustard—so strong that he can bite through iron.” Hearing this, the shepherd gladly exchanged his sheep for the dogs. From then on, Salt brought him delicious meals, and he travelled on in high spirits. O...