Tales of Laughter

"Tales of Laughter" by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin and Nora Archibald Smith is a collection of stories for children written in the early 20th century. This delightful anthology presents a variety of humorous and whimsical tales, with themes ranging from moral lessons to enchanting adventures in the animal kingdom. The book features a multitude of characters including clever animals and hapless humans, engaging young readers with light-hearted storytelling. The opening of "Tales of Laughter" introduces the story of "The Rats and Their Son-in-Law," which follows a proud rat family seeking a worthy husband for their beautiful daughter. The father-rat wishes for the sun to be her suitor, while the ambitious mother-rat has her sights set even higher, aiming to find her a match among celestial bodies. Their humorous quest leads them on a journey from the sun to the wind, until they finally realize that the noblest match for their daughter is, in fact, a rat. Through this fable, the narrative sets a playful tone, hinting at the comical misadventures that will unfold throughout the rest of the tales in the collection.

Tales of Laughter, from the public domain. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #54734.