This collection contains translations of Roumanian tales which, however, comprise but a small portion of the inexhaustible treasure that exists in the nation. The originals are scattered throughout Roumanian literature. The finest collection is Herr P. Ispirescu's, from which the stories numbered in the contents 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 17 in the present volume have been selected.
No. 11 is taken from Herr T. M. Arsenie's small collection; the others have been drawn from the columns of the periodical Convorbiri Literare. Of these Nos. 5 and 14 are by the pen of Herr J. Creanga, No. 9 is the work of Herr Miron Pompilin, while Nos. 1, 3, 7, 16 and 18 are by Herr Slavice, who wrote No. 15 specially for this volume, in the Roumanian language, just as it was related to him by the peasants:
Stan Bolovan. The Wonderful Bird. The Twins With the Golden Star. Youth Without Age and Life Without Death. The Little Purse with two Half-pennies. Mogarzea and His Son. Cunning Ileane. The Princess and the Fisherman. Little Wild-Rose. The Voice of Death. The Old Woman and the Old Man. The Pea Emperor. The Morning Star and The Evening Star. The Two Step-Sisters. The Poor Boy. Mother's Darling Jack Tellerchen. The Fairy Aurora.
