English Fairy Tales
(1854 1916)
Tom Tit Tot ( )
ONCE upon a time (-: ) there was a woman (/-/ ), and she baked five pies ( ; to bake ). And when they came out of the oven ( : ; to come ), they were that overbaked ( : ) the crusts were too hard to eat (// , ). So she says to her daughter ( : ; to say ):
Darter, (; . daughter) says she ( ), put you them there pies on the shelf ( = ; . put the pies on the shelf ), and leave em ( ; . them) there a little ( : ), and theyll come again ( ). She meant, you know, the crust would get soft ( , = , = ; to mean , ).
But the girl ( ), she says to herself ( ): Well, if theyll come again (, ), Ill eat em now ( ). And she set to work ( ; to set , ) and ate em all ( ; to eat), first and last ( : ).
daughter [`do:tə], mean [mi:n], meant [ment]
ONCE upon a time there was a woman, and she baked five pies. And when they came out of the oven, they were that overbaked the crusts were too hard to eat. So she says to her daughter:
Darter, says she, put you them there pies on the shelf, and leave em there a little, and theyll come again. She meant, you know, the crust would get soft.
But the girl, she says to herself: Well, if theyll come again, Ill eat em now. And she set to work and ate em all, first and last.
Well (), come supper-time ( ; . . when supper-time came) the woman said ( ): Go you (: ; . go), and get ( ; to get , ) one o them there pies ( : ; . one of the pies). I dare say theyve come again now ( // : ; theyve come . they have come).
The girl went ( ) and she looked ( ), and there was nothing but the dishes ( , ). So back she came ( = ; . she came back) and says she ( ): Noo (; . no), they aint come again ( ; aint . havent = have not).
Not one of em ( )? says the mother ( ).
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Not one of em, says she.
Well, come again, or not come again (, ), said the woman ( ), Ill have one for supper ( ; to have ; ).
But you cant, if they aint come ( , ; cant = cannot), said the girl ( ).
But I can ( = , ), says she. Go you, and bring the best of em ( ).
Best or worst ( ), says the girl, Ive ate em all ( ; . Ive eaten), and you cant have one till thats come again ( = , // ; thats come = that has come).
supper [`sApə], dare [deə], worst [wə:st]
Well, come supper-time the woman said: Go you, and get one o them there pies. I dare say theyve come again now.
The girl went and she looked, and there was nothing but the dishes. So back she came and says she: Noo, they aint come again.
Not one of em? says the mother.
Not one of em, says she.
Well, come again, or not come again, said the woman, Ill have one for supper.
But you cant, if they aint come, said the girl.
But I can, says she. Go you, and bring the best of em.
Best or worst, says the girl, Ive ate em all, and you cant have one till thats come again.
Well, the woman she was done (, , : ), and she took her spinning to the door to spin ( , ; to take ), and as she span she sang ( , ; to sing ):
My darter ha ate five, five pies today.
My darter ha ate five, five pies today. ( , )
The king was coming ( : /) down the street ( : ), and he heard her sing ( : ; to hear ), but what she sang he couldnt hear ( , ), so he stopped and said ( ):
What was that you were singing (ó , : ), my good woman ( / )?
The woman was ashamed to let him hear ( : ; shame ) what her daughter had been doing ( // ), so she sang ( ), instead of that ( ):
My darter ha spun five, five skeins today.
My darter ha spun five, five skeins today. ( , )
Stars o mine ( /; . of mine/)! said the king, I never heard tell of anyone ( , / -) that could do that ( ). Then he said ( ): Look you here (: / . you/), I want a wife ( : ), and Ill marry your daughter ( ). But look you here, says he, eleven months out of the year ( ) she shall have ( : ) all she likes to eat ( // ), and all the gowns she likes to get ( // = ), and all the company she likes to keep ( , : // /); but the last month of the year ( ) shell have to spin ( ) five skeins every day ( ), and if she dont ( //; /dont . doesnt/) I shall kill her ( ).
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said [sed], ashamed [ə`Seımd], company [`kAmpənı] skein [skeın]
Well, the woman she was done, and she took her spinning to the door to spin, and as she span she sang:
My darter ha ate five, five pies today.
My darter ha ate five, five pies today.
The king was coming down the street, and he heard her sing, but what she sang he couldnt hear, so he stopped and said:
What was that you were singing, my good woman?
The woman was ashamed to let him hear what her daughter had been doing, so she sang, instead of that:
My darter ha spun five, five skeins today.
My darter ha spun five, five skeins today.
Stars o mine! said the king, I never heard tell of anyone that could do that. Then he said: Look you here, I want a wife, and Ill marry your daughter. But look you here, says he, eleven months out of the year she shall have all she likes to eat, and all the gowns she likes to get, and all the company she likes to keep; but the last month of the year shell have to spin five skeins every day, and if she dont I shall kill her.
All right (: ), says the woman; for she thought ( ; to think ) what a grand marriage that was ( ). And as for the five skeins ( ), when the time came ( ), thered be plenty of ways ( : ) of getting out of it (: ), and likeliest (, ), hed have forgotten all about it ( / / ; to forget ).
Well, so they were married (, : , ). And for eleven months ( ) the girl had all she liked to eat ( , ), and all the gowns she liked to get, and all the company she liked to keep ( / / , , , ).
But when the time was getting over ( ; to get over ; ), she began to think about the skeins ( ) and to wonder ( / ) if he had em in mind ( : / ). But not one word did he say about em ( ), and she thought hed wholly forgotten em ( , ; /he had forgotten them/).
marriage [`mærıG], wonder [`wAndə], wholly [`həulı]
All right, says the woman; for she thought what a grand marriage that was. And as for the five skeins, when the time came, thered be plenty of ways of getting out of it, and likeliest, hed have forgotten all about it.
Well, so they were married. And for eleven months the girl had all she liked to eat, and all the gowns she liked to get, and all the company she liked to keep.
But when the time was getting over, she began to think about the skeins and to wonder if he had em in mind. But not one word did he say about em, and she thought hed wholly forgotten em.
However, the last day of the last month ( ) he takes her to a room ( = ) shed never set eyes on before (// : / // ). There was nothing in it ( : ) but a spinning-wheel and a stool ( ). And says he ( : and he says): Now (: ), my dear ( ), here youll be shut in tomorrow ( ) with some victuals ( : ) and some flax ( ), and if you havent spun five skeins by the night ( // ), your headll go off ( : ).
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And away he went ( ) about his business ( ).
Well, she was that frightened (, ; to frighten ), shed always been such a gatless girl ( ), that she didnt so much as know how to spin ( : // , ), and what was she to do tomorrow ( ) with no one to come nigh her ( , = , ) to help her ( )? She sat down on a stool in the kitchen ( ), and law! how she did cry ( ! )!
however [hau`evə], victuals [`vıktSuəlz], business [`bıznəs]
However, the last day of the last month he takes her to a room shed never set eyes on before. There was nothing in it but a spinning-wheel and a stool. And says he: Now, my dear, here youll be shut in tomorrow with some victuals and some flax, and if you havent spun five skeins by the night, your headll go off.
And away he went about his business.
Well, she was that frightened, shed always been such a gatless girl, that she didnt so much as know how to spin, and what was she to do tomorrow with no one to come nigh her to help her? She sat down on a stool in the kitchen, and law! how she did cry!
However (), all of a sudden () she heard a sort of a knocking ( : ) low down on the door (: ). She upped and oped it ( ; to up . . up ; to ope . . to open ), and what should she see but ( , : , ) a small little black thing (- ) with a long tail ( ). That looked up at her right curious ( : ; . curiously), and that said ( ):
What are you a-crying for ( )?
Whats that to you ( = - )? says she.
Never you mind (: = // ), that said ( ), but tell me what youre a-crying for ( , ).
That wont do me no good if I do ( , : ; wont = will not), says she.
You dont know that ( ), that said ( ), and twirled thats tail ( : ) round ().
Well, says she, that wont do no harm ( ; . that wont do any harm), if that dont do no good (// : ), and she upped and told about the pies ( ), and the skeins ( ), and everything ( ).
This is what Ill do ( ), says the little black thing ( ). Ill come to your window every morning ( ) and take the flax and bring it spun at night ( ).
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Whats your pay ( = )? says she.
That looked out of the corner of thats eyes ( : ), and that said ( ):
Ill give you three guesses ( : ) every night ( ) to guess my name ( ), and if you havent guessed it ( ) before the months up (, ; to be up , ) you shall be mine ( ).
knocking [`nokıŋ], curious [`kjuərıəs], guess [ges]
However, all of a sudden she heard a sort of a knocking low down on the door. She upped and oped it, and what should she see but a small little black thing with a long tail. That looked up at her right curious, and that said:
What are you a-crying for?
Whats that to you? says she.
Never you mind, that said, but tell me what youre a-crying for.
That wont do me no good if I do, says she.
You dont know that, that said, and twirled thats tail round.
Well, says she, that wont do no harm, if that dont do no good, and she upped and told about the pies, and the skeins, and everything.
This is what Ill do, says the little black thing. Ill come to your window every morning and take the flax and bring it spun at night.
Whats your pay? says she.
That looked out of the corner of thats eyes, and that said:
Ill give you three guesses every night to guess my name, and if you havent guessed it before the months up you shall be mine.
Well, she thought (, ), shed be sure to guess thats name (// //) before the month was up (, ). All right, says she (, ), I agree ( ).
All right, that says (, ), and law! how that twirled thats tail ( ).
Well, the next day (, ), her husband took her into the room ( = ), and there was the flax ( ) and the days food ( ).
Now (: ), theres the flax ( ), says he, and if that aint spun up this night ( ; aint = isnt = is not), off goes your head ( ). And then he went out ( : ) and locked the door ( ).
Hed hardly gone ( ), when there was a knocking ( : ) against the window ( ).
She upped and she oped it ( ), and there sure enough ( : .) was the little old thing ( ) sitting on the ledge ( ).
Wheres the flax ( )? says he.
Here it be ( : . = ), says she. And she gave it to him ( ; to give ).
Well, come the evening (, : .) a knocking came again to the window ( ). She upped and she oped it ( ), and there was the little old thing with five skeins of flax on his arm ( ).
Here it be ( ), says he, and he gave it to her ( ).
Now, whats my name (, : )? says he.
What, is that Bill (, = )? says she.
Noo (; . . no), that aint ( : ; aint = is not), says he, and he twirled his tail ( ). Is that Ned (, )? says she.
Noo, that aint, says he, and he twirled his tail. Well, is that Mark (, , )? says she.
Noo, that aint, says he, and he twirled his tail harder ( /), and away he flew ( ; to fly ).
husband [`hAzbənd], enough [ı`nAf], flew [flu:]
Well, she thought, shed be sure to guess thats name before the month was up. All right, says she, I agree.
All right, that says, and law! how that twirled thats tail.
Well, the next day, her husband took her into the room, and there was the flax and the days food.
Now, theres the flax, says he, and if that aint spun up this night, off goes your head. And then he went out and locked the door.
Hed hardly gone, when there was a knocking against the window.
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She upped and she oped it, and there sure enough was the little old thing sitting on the ledge.
Wheres the flax? says he.
Here it be, says she. And she gave it to him.
Well, come the evening a knocking came again to the window. She upped and she oped it, and there was the little old thing with five skeins of flax on his arm.
Here it be, says he, and he gave it to her.
Now, whats my name? says he.
What, is that Bill? says she.
Noo, that aint, says he, and he twirled his tail. Is that Ned? says she.
Noo, that aint, says he, and he twirled his tail. Well, is that Mark? says she.
Noo, that aint, says he, and he twirled his tail harder, and away he flew.
Well, when her husband came in (, : ), there were the five skeins ready for him ( ). I see I shant have to kill you tonight, my dear ( , ; shant = shall not), says he; youll have your food and your flax in the morning ( ; ll = will, shall), says he, and away he goes ( ).
Well, every day the flax and the food were brought ( = ; to bring ), and every day ( ) that there little black thing (: ) used to come ( : ) mornings and evenings ( ). And all the day ( ) the girl sat ( ) trying to think of names ( ) to say to it ( ) when it came at night ( ). But she never hit on the right one ( : / : //). And as it got towards the end of the month ( : ; to get), the thing began to look so maliceful ( ), and that twirled thats tail ( ) faster and faster ( ; fast ) each time she gave a guess ( , : ).
brought [bro:t], towards [tə`wo:dz], maliceful [`mælısful]
Well, when her husband came in, there were the five skeins ready for him. I see I shant have to kill you tonight, my dear, says he; youll have your food and your flax in the morning, says he, and away he goes.
Well, every day the flax and the food were brought, and every day that there little black thing used to come mornings and evenings. And all the day the girl sat trying to think of names to say to it when it came at night. But she never hit on the right one. And as it got towards the end of the month, the thing began to look so maliceful, and that twirled thats tail faster and faster each time she gave a guess.
At last it came to the last day but one (, : = ). The thing came at night along with the five skeins ( ), and that said:
What, aint you got my name yet (// , ; aint = havent = have not; to get)?
Is that Nicodemus ()? says she.
Noo, t aint, (, ; t = that) that says.
Is that Sammle ()? says she.
Noo, t aint, that says.
A-well, is that Methusalem (, , )? says she.
Noo, t aint that neither (, ; . either), that says.
Then that looks at her ( // ) with thats eyes ( ) like a coal of fire ( /), and that says: Woman, theres only tomorrow night (, = ), and then youll be mine ( : )! And away it flew.
Nicodemus [nıkə`di:məs], neither [`naıðə] . [`ni:ðə], Methusalem [mə`Tju:zələm]
At last it came to the last day but one. The thing came at night along with the five skeins, and that said:
What, aint you got my name yet?
Is that Nicodemus? says she.
Noo, t aint, that says.
Is that Sammle? says she.
Noo, t aint, that says.
A-well, is that Methusalem? says she.
Noo, t aint that neither, that says.
Then that looks at her with thats eyes like a coal of fire, and that says: Woman, theres only tomorrow night, and then youll be mine! And away it flew.
Well, she felt that horrid ( // ; to feel ). However, she heard the king coming along the passage ( , ). In he came ( = ), and when he sees the five skeins ( ), he says ( ), says he (/ / ):
Well, my dear ( ), says he. I dont see but what youll have your skeins ready tomorrow night as well ( //, //, ), and as I reckon I shant have to kill you ( , // ), Ill have supper ( : ) in here tonight ( = , ). So they brought supper, and another stool for him ( ), and down the two sat ( ).
Well, he hadnt eaten but a mouthful or so ( //, : ), when he stops and begins to laugh ( = = ).
horrid [`horıd], laugh [la:f], mouthful [`mauTful]
Well, she felt that horrid. However, she heard the king coming along the passage. In he came, and when he sees the five skeins, he says, says he:
Well, my dear, says he. I dont see but what youll have your skeins ready tomorrow night as well, and as I reckon I shant have to kill you, Ill have supper in here tonight. So they brought supper, and another stool for him, and down the two sate.
Well, he hadnt eaten but a mouthful or so, when he stops and begins to laugh.
What is it ( : )? says she.
A-why ( ), says he, I was out a-hunting today ( : , ; a-hunting . . hunting), and I got away ( = ) to a place in the wood ( ) Id never seen before (// ). And there was an old chalk-pit ( ). And I heard a kind of a sort of ( - : , ) humming (, ). So I got off my hobby ( ), and I went right quiet to the pit ( ), and I looked down ( ). Well, what should there be ( ) but ( : ) the funniest ( ; funny) little black thing ( ) you ever set eyes on ( - : // - ). And what was that doing ( ), but that had a little spinning-wheel ( : ), and that was spinning wonderful fast ( ; . wonderfully ), and twirling thats tail ( ). And as that span that sang ( , ):
Nimmy nimmy not
My names Tom Tit Tot ( ).
chalk [tSo:k], quiet [`kwaıət], wonderful [`wAndəful]
What is it? says she.
A-why, says he, I was out a-hunting today, and I got away to a place in the wood Id never seen before. And there was an old chalk-pit. And I heard a kind of a sort of humming. So I got off my hobby, and I went right quiet to the pit, and I looked down. Well, what should there be but the funniest little black thing you ever set eyes on. And what was that doing, but that had a little spinning-wheel, and that was spinning wonderful fast, and twirling thats tail. And as that span that sang:
Nimmy nimmy not
My names Tom Tit Tot.
Well, when the girl heard this ( ), she felt as if she could have jumped out of her skin ( //, : ) for joy ( ), but she didnt say a word ( ).
Next day ( ) that there little thing ( ) looked so maliceful ( ) when he came for the flax ( ). And when the night came ( ) she heard that knocking ( ) against the window panes ( ). She oped the window ( ), and that come right in ( : : ; come ., came) on the ledge ( , ). That was grinning from ear to ear ( ), and Oo! thats tail was twirling round so fast ( = ).
