The Bird by Leo Tolstoy - Review

"The Bird" is a simple yet powerful story about a boy named Serozha who gets a bird trap as a birthday gift. Excited, he catches a bird but soon forgets to care for it properly. His mother warns him to let the bird go, but when he finally tries to fix his mistake, it’s too late—the bird dies from neglect. Serozha feels deep regret and learns a hard lesson about kindness and responsibility.

Tolstoy’s story teaches an important moral in a way children can understand. It shows how thoughtless actions can harm innocent creatures and how guilt can change a person. The ending is sad but meaningful, as Serozha decides never to trap birds again. The story reminds us to treat all living things with care and compassion.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://short-stories.co/@leotolstoy/the-bird-473l2qq4lm2j

Yallery Brown by Joseph Jacobs - Review

"Yallery Brown" by Joseph Jacobs is a spooky folk tale about a young man named Tom who helps a strange, tiny creature called Yallery Brown. In return, Yallery Brown offers to help Tom, but warns him never to thank him. Tom agrees, and soon Yallery Brown makes Tom rich by doing all his work. But Tom’s life becomes lonely and sad because the creature’s magic scares everyone away. When Tom accidentally thanks Yallery Brown, the creature gets angry and curses Tom, leaving him worse off than before.

The story teaches a lesson about being careful with what you wish for. Yallery Brown’s help seems good at first, but it comes with a price. The tale is full of mystery and magic, showing how some things in life can’t be controlled, no matter how hard we try. It’s a simple story that reminds us to think twice before accepting help from unknown forces..

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://short-stories.co/@josephjacobs/yallery-brown-6d5vg890lrm1

The Maid Of Thilouse by Honore de Balzac - Review

"The Maid of Thilouse" by Honore de Balzac is a humorous and somewhat satirical story about an old lord who tries to buy the innocence of a young, beautiful girl. The lord, who is wealthy but unattractive, offers the girl's poor mother money, food, and shelter in exchange for her daughter's service. The mother agrees due to their desperate situation. However, girl proves to be clever and strong-willed, resisting the lord's advances until he promises marriage. Even then, she outsmarts him, keeping a comfortable life for herself while the lord ends up looking foolish.

The story is both funny and thought-provoking. It highlights the resilience and wit of the underprivileged. Girls's character is particularly interesting because she uses her innocence and cleverness to gain control over her situation. Overall, it’s an entertaining reading with a subtle moral about the value of virtue and the consequences of trying to exploit others.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://short-stories.co/@honorebalzac/the-maid-of-thilouse-1knv78opl63e