"The stories come from all over the world and represent many genres, such as parables, animal fables, historical fiction, fairy tales, and Christian fantasy. Definitely read these stories at Easter, but keep the book close and pull it out whenever you and your family need a reminder of the great Easter themes of transformation, reconciliation and the triumph of life over death."— National Catholic Register Everyone who believes Easter is about more than bunnies and eggs will be grateful for this new collection of short stories that shed light on the deeper meaning of the season. Selected for their spiritual value and literary quality, these classic tales capture the spirit of Easter in a way that will captivate readers of all ages. Parents and grandparents will find that children love to hear these stories read aloud, year after year. Easter Stories includes time-honored favorites from world-famous storytellers such as C.S. Lewis, Leo Tolstoy, Selma Lagerlof, Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Goudge, Maxim Gorky, Ruth Sawyer, and Walter Wangerin – as well as many you’ve never heard before. Illustrated with original woodcuts. "This thoughtfully curated collection is remarkable for its range and breadth. The stories come from all over the world and represent many genres, such as parables, animal fables, historical fiction, fairy tales, and Christian fantasy. Definitely read these stories at Easter, but keep the book close and pull it out whenever you and your family need a reminder of the great Easter themes of transformation, reconciliation and the triumph of life over death."— National Catholic Register "The tales collected in Easter Stories: Classic Tales for the Holy Season don’t always mention Jesus, nor even the usual tropes like sunlight and springtime. But each reveal a particular melody of the Easter story. The lovingly crafted volume, edited by Miriam LeBlanc and published by Plough, features original woodcuts by Lisa Toth for each tale…. Reading these Easter tales invites our own stories to be shaped, too, by the Story, for our own hearts to thaw and for our imaginations to be steeped in the waters of resurrection."  —Tessa Carman, Mere Orthodoxy "A fresh offering, different from the many anthologies that already house the older works. Pastoral tales mix with urban tales, old with the new, European with American. This is a book to read aloud and savor, pulling it out each year to re-read old favorites and perhaps read a new story or two."   — Redeemed Reader Easter Stories Classic Tales for the Holy Season By Miriam LeBlanc, Lisa Toth Plough Publishing House Copyright © 2015 Plough Publishing House All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-87486-598-1 Contents The White Lily Jane Tyson Clement, 1, The Coming of the King Laura E. Richards, 9, How Donkeys Got the Spirit of Contradiction André Trocmé, 13, The Church of the Washing of the Feet Alan Paton, 27, Stories from the Cotton Patch Gospel Clarence Jordan, 41, Saint Veronica's Kerchief Selma Lagerlöf, 55, The Way to the Cross Lew Wallace, 107, Robin Redbreast Selma Lagerlöf, 129, The Atonement Ludwig von Gerdtell, 139, The Flaming Heart of Danko Maxim Gorky, 145, John Elizabeth Goudge, 157, The Legend of Christophorus Hans Thoma, 171, Robert of Sicily Sara Cone Bryant, 179, Two Old Men Leo Tolstoy, 187, The Golden Egg Ivy Bolton, 219, The Case of Rachoff Karl Josef Friedrich, 231, The Deserted Mine Ruth Sawyer, 267, The Student Anton Chekhov, 277, A Dust Rag for Easter Eggs Claire Huchet Bishop, 285, The Barge-Master's Easter J. W. Ooms, 301, The Ragman Walter Wangerin Jr., 313, Easter Under a Park Bench Kirk Wareham, 319, The Death of the Lizard C. S. Lewis, 329, Mary's Child The Brothers Grimm, 339, The King and Death Ger Koopman, 347, The Selfish Giant Oscar Wilde, 359, From The Everlasting Mercy John Masefield, 367, Sources, 373, CHAPTER 1 The White Lily Jane Tyson Clement Adapted from Frances Jenkins Olcott Once long ago, near a village far away, there lived an old peasant known as Ivan. He had a little hut, a small garden, a dog named Rubles, and a six-year-old nephew, Peter, who was an orphan. Ivan was not a bad man, as he did not murder, did not steal, told no lies, and did not meddle in other people's business. But on the other hand he couldn't be called a good man either. He was cross and dirty. He seldom spoke, and then only grudgingly and unpleasantly. He paid no attention to his neighbors, never showed them kindness, and refused any small courtesy or friendliness they offered him. Eventually they paid no attention to him either and let him go his own way. As for Rubles the dog, he was afraid of his master and never went near him. He would follow him at a distance to the village and back, would bark at all strangers as watchdogs should do, and he would drive off the foxes that tried to molest the hens. So Ivan kept the dog and left scraps for him, but never stroked or praised him.