Old Sultan

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Faithful Dog by Brothers Grim Old SultanThe story of a faithful old dog told by the Brothers Grimm. One day Sultan’s master decides that the dog has grown too old to be useful and decides to get rid of him. Fortunately, Sultan has a friend, the wolf, who has a plan to help him out.

Read by Natasha.


A farmer once had a faithful dog called Sultan, who had grown old, and lost all his teeth, so that he could no longer bite. One day the farmer was standing with his wife before the house-door, and said, “To-morrow I intend to shoot Old Sultan, he is no longer of any use.”

His wife, who felt pity for the faithful beast, answered, “He has served us so long, and been so faithful, that we might well keep him.”

“Eh! what?” said the man. “You are not very sharp. He has not a tooth left in his mouth, and no thief is afraid of him; now he may be off. If he has served us, he has had good feeding for it.”

The poor dog, who was lying stretched out in the sun not far off, had heard everything, and was sorry that the morrow was to be his last day. He had a good friend, the wolf, and he crept out in the evening into the forest to him, and complained of the fate that awaited him. “Listen well,” said the wolf, ” and Don’t be sad. I will help you out of your trouble. I have thought of something. To-morrow, early in the morning, your master is going with his wife to make hay, and they will take their little child with them, for no one will be left behind in the house. As usual, during work-time, they will lay the child under the hedge in the shade; you lie there too, just as if you wished to guard it. Then I will come out of the wood, and carry off the child. You must rush swiftly after me. I will let it fall, and you will take it back to its parents, who will think that you have saved it, and will be far too grateful to do you any harm; quite the opposite; you will dear to their hearts, and they will never let you lack for anything again.”

The plan pleased the dog, and it was carried out just as it was arranged. The father screamed when he saw the Wolf running across the field with his child, but when Old Sultan brought it back, then he was full of joy, and stroked him and said, “Not a hair of yours shall be hurt, you shall eat my bread free as long as you live.” And to his wife he said, “Go home at once and make Old Sultan some soggy bread that he will not have to bite, and bring the pillow out of my bed, I will give it to him to lie upon.”

From that time on, Old Sultan was as well off as he could wish to be.

Soon afterwards the wolf visited him, and was pleased that everything had succeeded so well. “But, listen well,” said he, “you will just wink an eye when I carry off one of your master’s fat sheep.”
“Do not reckon upon that,” answered the dog; “I will remain true to my master; I cannot agree to that.” The wolf, who thought that this could not be spoken in earnest, came creeping about in the night and was going to take away the sheep. But faithful old Sultan barked, and the farmer chased after the wolf with a big stick. The wolf had to pack off, but he cried out to the dog, “Wait a bit, you scoundrel, you shall pay for this.”

The next morning the wolf sent the wild boar to challenge the dog to come out into the forest so that they might settle the affair. Old Sultan could find no one to stand by him but a cat with only three legs, and as they went out together the poor cat limped along, and at the same time stretched out her tail into the air with pain.

The wolf and his friend were already on the spot appointed, but when they saw their enemy coming they thought that he was bringing a sabre with him, for they mistook the outstretched tail of the cat for one. And when the poor beast hopped on its three legs, they could only think every time that it was picking up a stone to throw at them. So they were both afraid; the wild boar crept into the under-wood and the wolf jumped up a tree.

The dog and the cat, when they came up, wondered that there was no one to be seen. The wild boar, however, had not been able to hide himself altogether; and one of his ears was still to be seen. Whilst the cat was looking carefully about, the boar moved his ear; the cat, who thought it was a mouse moving there, jumped upon it and bit it hard. The boar made a fearful noise and ran away, crying out, “The guilty one is up in the tree !” The dog and cat looked up and saw the wolf, who was ashamed of having proved himself to be so afraid, and made friends with the dog

Stories in this series.

  1. Hansel and Grettel
  2. The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership
  3. Snow White
  4. The Golden Fish
  5. Rumpelstiltskin
  6. The Frog Prince
  7. The Town Musicians of Breman
  8. Rapunzel
  9. The Six Swans
  10. The Elves and the Shoemaker
  11. The Golden Goose
  12. Old Sultan
  13. The White Snake
  14. The Dragon and His Grandmother
  15. The Brave Little Tailor

46 Comments

  • Michelle
    Posted September 8, 2008 at 4:24 am | Permalink

    nice

  • Tony
    Posted September 15, 2008 at 9:06 am | Permalink

    What a great dog!
    But I think Spotty is better than Sultan!( Spotty is my dog)

  • Tony
    Posted September 15, 2008 at 9:08 am | Permalink

    Great+wonderful!^^

  • Monica
    Posted September 17, 2008 at 8:49 pm | Permalink

    I loved it!

  • Posted September 18, 2008 at 10:16 pm | Permalink

    bertie this story nory is the best ! i love this story nory is awsome! you guys keep up the good workand for natasha , ilove your voice! keep on doing a good job!

  • Posted September 18, 2008 at 10:36 pm | Permalink

    ilove your story norys!

  • pretty princess
    Posted September 27, 2008 at 5:30 pm | Permalink

    it was OK.

  • Zbyszek
    Posted October 4, 2008 at 10:25 am | Permalink

    Natasha thank you very much for your wonderful story nory.This is very useful for me because I am trying to improve my listening english language.
    Best regards

  • Gloria
    Posted October 9, 2008 at 6:31 am | Permalink

    This is awesome.I love your voice Natasha as those words are pronounced clearly.this is exactly what i need to improve my listening skill.
    Good job.

  • suman
    Posted October 9, 2008 at 10:03 am | Permalink

    this is is a fantastic story.

  • dum65
    Posted October 13, 2008 at 3:13 pm | Permalink

    this story was fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Erica
    Posted October 19, 2008 at 2:34 pm | Permalink

    I like the story because the dog is loyal to the farmer. :)

  • deasia
    Posted November 19, 2008 at 3:22 am | Permalink

    ireally lovethisstory

  • Yeh-Jun
    Posted November 28, 2008 at 9:25 pm | Permalink

    Pity dog ;’/

  • jeje
    Posted December 2, 2008 at 11:29 pm | Permalink

    welllllllllll i am ms ellin a teacher my 31 childrens heard the story they loved it 100% even bounus$% bye my phone 1718-341-2236

  • fiona
    Posted December 31, 2008 at 9:18 pm | Permalink

    I like it!
    after I posted a coment on another story I could not get my name to go away out of where you type it.what ever story I whent to. why?

  • fiona
    Posted December 31, 2008 at 10:33 pm | Permalink

    I found out why . nothing to do with the website!
    fiona(same as above)

  • ilovestorynory
    Posted January 16, 2009 at 12:32 am | Permalink

    i love this story!!!!!!!!!!! i also like natashas voice.when she reads she trys to sound out the charectors voice

  • Posted January 20, 2009 at 3:58 am | Permalink

    Thank you. I needed something good tonight; I found you and it hit the spot. Thank you

  • abd
    Posted February 4, 2009 at 11:35 am | Permalink

    Thanks for you very much

  • kj
    Posted February 12, 2009 at 5:38 pm | Permalink

    it was the best book i ever heard.

  • atiq
    Posted February 13, 2009 at 11:53 am | Permalink

    thank you so much i was looking for the stories i liked the stories

  • sein
    Posted February 16, 2009 at 1:48 pm | Permalink

    I like this story.
    because the dog is very loyal to the farmer.
    And it was so fun!!!!!!^^

  • Posted February 21, 2009 at 9:49 pm | Permalink

    I love this story its pretty intresting and nice and I REALLY
    love story nory too

    love
    cathrine

  • Posted February 21, 2009 at 9:56 pm | Permalink

    your the coolest guys you got my intrest!!!!!

  • juice lova
    Posted March 28, 2009 at 4:08 am | Permalink

    this story was so good . !

  • nina
    Posted March 30, 2009 at 11:02 pm | Permalink

    I love this storynory…!!!!!!!

  • Brooke
    Posted May 17, 2009 at 10:45 am | Permalink

    Brooke says that this story was a very good. I liked the three legged cat because the cat thought the boar’s ear was a mouse and bit it.

  • Inés
    Posted May 24, 2009 at 9:15 pm | Permalink

    Posted May 24, 2009 at 21.
    I´m very grateful. Thank you. I like the story, and the reading is sweet and lovely.

  • bishoy
    Posted July 30, 2009 at 10:36 am | Permalink

    it’s an amazing story

  • torki
    Posted August 17, 2009 at 12:34 pm | Permalink

    good story ….

  • Tina
    Posted October 7, 2009 at 9:39 pm | Permalink

    Thanks a bunch for such a beneficial site and stories.

    Tina

  • Anonymous
    Posted October 24, 2009 at 7:06 pm | Permalink

    Brilliant….. very magnificent…justice story

  • Posted November 13, 2009 at 2:34 am | Permalink

    hi i am 11 yers old

  • Kirei
    Posted November 13, 2009 at 8:51 am | Permalink

    I love your site – my neice (pre-k) will love it as well, keep up the great work

  • Anonymous
    Posted November 21, 2009 at 1:36 pm | Permalink

    so so so so boring

  • Kendra and Kayla
    Posted November 29, 2009 at 8:12 pm | Permalink

    We think this is just like the Monkey and the Boar story!

  • Posted November 29, 2009 at 8:26 pm | Permalink

    Yes, Old Sultan (a German Story) is just like The Monkey and the Boar (a Chinese story). I don’t think there can have been any direct connection between them. It just shows there is something universal about a good story.

  • Anonymous
    Posted December 22, 2009 at 6:39 am | Permalink

    good,no. great,yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay

  • Posted January 11, 2010 at 4:32 pm | Permalink

    THIKS THING NEEDS SOME SCARY STORYS, THESE STORYS R REALLY BOARING OKAYY? AND YEAHH THEY NEED SOME SCARY STORIES
    :)

  • SOME ONE KOOLIOO
    Posted January 11, 2010 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    NO AFFENCE, WAIT MAYBE A LITTLE, BUT U NEED SOME SCARY STORIES PLZ:)

  • Giuliana
    Posted February 20, 2010 at 1:19 pm | Permalink

    It is wonderful

  • Jacy
    Posted February 20, 2010 at 1:20 pm | Permalink

    It is fine

  • Laurie
    Posted February 20, 2010 at 1:22 pm | Permalink

    It Is really good

  • Giuliana
    Posted February 20, 2010 at 1:23 pm | Permalink

    it is sad

  • tiger
    Posted February 23, 2010 at 3:26 am | Permalink

    that is so happy…but cheesy, its like a disney movie

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