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Old-Fashioned Fairy Tales
Ogres, hillmen, and both fairies and fools abound by forest and town in this book by Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing. Designed to cultivate imagination, character, and leave a strong moral when finished, she blends humor with short parables and rustic settings.
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1882
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About the author
Juliana Horatia Ewing
318 books15 followersBorn in 1841, Juliana Horatia Gatty was the daughter of the Rev. Alfred Gatty, a Church of England vicar, and an author, and of Margaret Gatty, also an author. She was married to Major Alexander Ewing, of the British army pay department, in 1867, relocating with him to New Brunswick, Canada, for the first two years of their marriage. Although Major Ewing was posted abroad again, in 1879 and 1881, Mrs. Ewing was prevented from accompanying him by ill health. She moved to Bath in 1885, in the hopes that the change would improve her health, but she died there that same year.
Juliana Horatia Ewing - sometimes also styled Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing, or just "Mrs. Ewing" - is credited by Roger Lancelyn Green as being the author of the the "first outstanding child-novels" in English literature. In addition to her children's novels, Ewing also edited a number of magazines for young readers, including the Nursery Magazines (from 1856), the Monthly Packet and the monthly Aunt Judy's Magazine (both from 1866).
Juliana Horatia Ewing - sometimes also styled Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing, or just "Mrs. Ewing" - is credited by Roger Lancelyn Green as being the author of the the "first outstanding child-novels" in English literature. In addition to her children's novels, Ewing also edited a number of magazines for young readers, including the Nursery Magazines (from 1856), the Monthly Packet and the monthly Aunt Judy's Magazine (both from 1866).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 27, 2015
The tales are old fashioned, and that means that they include a hefty dose of things we find unnecessary today; racism, corporal punishment, theft etc. Ewing wrote a heap of children’s stories and I find it rather intriguing that the daughter of a clergyman tries to use the world of the fae and magic to instil what are basically Christian values, like charity. And the power of darning… different kinds of imaginary friends?
There is one story where a man literally cuts off his nose to spite his face but it seems the phrase is older than this story.
GOOD LUCK IS BETTER THAN GOLD
The story of the young man who has good luck for a godfather and of course, messes it up.
THE HILLMAN AND THE HOUSEWIFE
A story about not being mean with your charity.
THE NECK, A LEGEND OF A LAKE
A neck is a type of water sprite. This one wants the soul of a human.
THE NIX IN MISCHIEF
An underwater nix has itchy feet. He jumps into a pail of water but isn’t prepared to be boiled in the kettle.
THE COBBLER AND THE GHOSTS
A cobbler who gains some money has no clue how to spend it; and of course makes poor life choices.
THE LAIRD AND THE MAN OF PEACE
A Scottish laird doesn’t believe in fairies until he gets lost in the fog one night.
THE OGRE COURTING
A rich ogre worries about his money but he does love small women and he goes courting his 24th. But she is smart and more than a match for him.
THE MAGICIANS’ GIFTS
A kingdom has three magicians but when the king asks only one to be a godfather, the other two add bad wishes to his birth gifts.
THE WIDOWS AND THE STRANGERS
Two widows live under the same roof in two halves of the house. One night a visitor tests their understanding of charity.
KIND WILLIAM AND THE WATER SPRITE
A boy who puts back some tiny fishes makes a promise to a water sprite with golden hair and in return she gives him some strands of her hair provided that he not speak of the incident for 14 years.
MURDOCH’S RATH
Another tale of a polite, honest and helpful person getting a just reward.
THE LITTLE DARNER
A small girl outwits an ogre and his wife.
THE FIDDLER IN THE FAIRY RING
Taking a shortcut and stepping in a fairy ring ends just the way you would expect.
“I WON’T”
A young miller whose favorite phrase gets him into all sorts of trouble.
THE MAGIC JAR
A young man protects a Jewish china seller from thugs and he lets him choose a jar in reward.
THE FIRST WIFE’S WEDDING-RING
A son goes to soldier and takes his dead mother’s wedding ring as proof of identity. But it is stolen by a magpie and he must perform a feat to get it back.
THE MAGICIAN TURNED MISCHIEF-MAKER
An evil magician loses his wand and learns his lesson.
KNAVE AND FOOL
A fool thinks a knave (or thief) is his friend.
UNDER THE SUN
A covetous farmer makes a deal with a small person to get whatever he wants ‘under the sun’. Don’t try to cash in deals at midnight then.
There is one story where a man literally cuts off his nose to spite his face but it seems the phrase is older than this story.
GOOD LUCK IS BETTER THAN GOLD
The story of the young man who has good luck for a godfather and of course, messes it up.
THE HILLMAN AND THE HOUSEWIFE
A story about not being mean with your charity.
THE NECK, A LEGEND OF A LAKE
A neck is a type of water sprite. This one wants the soul of a human.
THE NIX IN MISCHIEF
An underwater nix has itchy feet. He jumps into a pail of water but isn’t prepared to be boiled in the kettle.
THE COBBLER AND THE GHOSTS
A cobbler who gains some money has no clue how to spend it; and of course makes poor life choices.
THE LAIRD AND THE MAN OF PEACE
A Scottish laird doesn’t believe in fairies until he gets lost in the fog one night.
THE OGRE COURTING
A rich ogre worries about his money but he does love small women and he goes courting his 24th. But she is smart and more than a match for him.
THE MAGICIANS’ GIFTS
A kingdom has three magicians but when the king asks only one to be a godfather, the other two add bad wishes to his birth gifts.
THE WIDOWS AND THE STRANGERS
Two widows live under the same roof in two halves of the house. One night a visitor tests their understanding of charity.
KIND WILLIAM AND THE WATER SPRITE
A boy who puts back some tiny fishes makes a promise to a water sprite with golden hair and in return she gives him some strands of her hair provided that he not speak of the incident for 14 years.
MURDOCH’S RATH
Another tale of a polite, honest and helpful person getting a just reward.
THE LITTLE DARNER
A small girl outwits an ogre and his wife.
THE FIDDLER IN THE FAIRY RING
Taking a shortcut and stepping in a fairy ring ends just the way you would expect.
“I WON’T”
A young miller whose favorite phrase gets him into all sorts of trouble.
THE MAGIC JAR
A young man protects a Jewish china seller from thugs and he lets him choose a jar in reward.
THE FIRST WIFE’S WEDDING-RING
A son goes to soldier and takes his dead mother’s wedding ring as proof of identity. But it is stolen by a magpie and he must perform a feat to get it back.
THE MAGICIAN TURNED MISCHIEF-MAKER
An evil magician loses his wand and learns his lesson.
KNAVE AND FOOL
A fool thinks a knave (or thief) is his friend.
UNDER THE SUN
A covetous farmer makes a deal with a small person to get whatever he wants ‘under the sun’. Don’t try to cash in deals at midnight then.
May 25, 2018
Fun little stories
Lovely book, fun, exciting stories, hard to put down. Will be looking for more of the same. The odd words a little odd but, I'm sure they mean something.
Lovely book, fun, exciting stories, hard to put down. Will be looking for more of the same. The odd words a little odd but, I'm sure they mean something.
January 5, 2015
I heard about this author in G.K. Chesterton's book about Victorian writers. Half of the stories in this book are charming. The other half are forgettable. The best part (to me) was the intro about the value of fairy tales for teaching eternal truths.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews