The Golden Fish

An illustrated tales story from Wonder Tales — free to read, with narration.

A poor fisherman, a greedy wife, and a magical fish who granted wishes

The Golden Fish — book cover — Wonder Tales
A poor fisherman, a greedy wife, and a magical fish who granted wishes

Page 1

Once upon a time, there lived a poor fisherman and his wife in a small, old hovel by the sea. Every day, the fisherman would go down to the shore with his rod…
Once upon a time, there lived a poor fisherman and his wife in a small, old hovel by the sea. Every day, the fisherman would go down to the shore with his rod and cast his line into the water. He was a simple man, content with whatever the sea might bring him. One day, as he sat quietly, his line suddenly went taut. He pulled and pulled, thinking he had caught a great fish, but when he drew it closer, he saw it was a beautiful golden fish.

Once upon a time, there lived a poor fisherman and his wife in a small, old hovel by the sea. Every day, the fisherman would go down to the shore with his rod and cast his line into the water. He was a simple man, content with whatever the sea might bring him. One day, as he sat quietly, his line suddenly went taut. He pulled and pulled, thinking he had caught a great fish, but when he drew it closer, he saw it was a beautiful golden fish. To his astonishment, the fish began to speak, begging him to let it go, saying it was an enchanted prince. The kind fisherman, amazed by its words, carefully released the fish back into the clear water without asking for anything in return, and watched it swim away.

Page 2

The fisherman returned to his hovel, eager to tell his wife about the talking golden fish. He found her sitting by their broken wooden tub, looking unhappy.
The fisherman returned to his hovel, eager to tell his wife about the talking golden fish. He found her sitting by their broken wooden tub, looking unhappy. "Wife," he began, "I caught a golden fish today, and it spoke to me! It begged me to let it go, and I did, without asking for anything." His wife, Ilsebill, listened with a frown. "You fool!" she cried, her voice sharp. "You caught a wishing fish and asked for nothing? Go back at once and tell it we want a new tub!

The fisherman returned to his hovel, eager to tell his wife about the talking golden fish. He found her sitting by their broken wooden tub, looking unhappy. "Wife," he began, "I caught a golden fish today, and it spoke to me! It begged me to let it go, and I did, without asking for anything." His wife, Ilsebill, listened with a frown. "You fool!" she cried, her voice sharp. "You caught a wishing fish and asked for nothing? Go back at once and tell it we want a new tub! This one is old and broken, and I cannot wash our clothes properly." The poor fisherman sighed, but he knew his wife's temper, so he turned and went back to the sea.

Page 3

The fisherman walked slowly back to the shore, feeling a little foolish. He stood at the edge of the water, which was now a little green and murky, and called…
The fisherman walked slowly back to the shore, feeling a little foolish. He stood at the edge of the water, which was now a little green and murky, and called out to the golden fish. "O Fish, O Fish, come listen to me! My wife, the Ilsebill, has sent me to thee. For she will not do as I wish, and she wants something more, little fish!" The golden fish swam to the surface, its scales gleaming. "What does she want now?" it asked in its soft voice.

The fisherman walked slowly back to the shore, feeling a little foolish. He stood at the edge of the water, which was now a little green and murky, and called out to the golden fish. "O Fish, O Fish, come listen to me! My wife, the Ilsebill, has sent me to thee. For she will not do as I wish, and she wants something more, little fish!" The golden fish swam to the surface, its scales gleaming. "What does she want now?" it asked in its soft voice. The fisherman explained that his wife wanted a new tub. "Go home," said the fish. "She has it already." The fisherman turned and hurried back, wondering if it could truly be so.

Page 4

When the fisherman reached the place where his hovel had stood, he found a neat little cottage in its place. Inside, his wife sat on a clean bench beside a…
When the fisherman reached the place where his hovel had stood, he found a neat little cottage in its place. Inside, his wife sat on a clean bench beside a brand-new tub. "Wife!" he exclaimed, full of wonder. "It is true!" But his wife was not happy for long. She looked around the small, tidy room with a frown. "This cottage is too cramped," she declared. "I want a proper stone house, with rooms and servants and a garden! This is no place for us.

When the fisherman reached the place where his hovel had stood, he found a neat little cottage in its place. Inside, his wife sat on a clean bench beside a brand-new tub. "Wife!" he exclaimed, full of wonder. "It is true!" But his wife was not happy for long. She looked around the small, tidy room with a frown. "This cottage is too cramped," she declared. "I want a proper stone house, with rooms and servants and a garden! This is no place for us. Go back to the fish, old man, and tell him I want a grand stone cottage." The fisherman felt a shiver of dread, for he knew the fish would not be pleased.

Page 5

The fisherman returned to the sea. The water was now dark grey and choppy, reflecting the fish's growing displeasure. He made the wish for a stone castle, and…
The fisherman returned to the sea. The water was now dark grey and choppy, reflecting the fish's growing displeasure. He made the wish for a stone castle, and the fish, with a sigh, granted it. When the fisherman returned, he found a magnificent stone castle standing where the cottage had been, with towers and battlements. Inside, his wife sat on a throne, wearing a heavy golden crown and a rich gown, surrounded by servants. She was a queen!

The fisherman returned to the sea. The water was now dark grey and choppy, reflecting the fish's growing displeasure. He made the wish for a stone castle, and the fish, with a sigh, granted it. When the fisherman returned, he found a magnificent stone castle standing where the cottage had been, with towers and battlements. Inside, his wife sat on a throne, wearing a heavy golden crown and a rich gown, surrounded by servants. She was a queen! But her eyes were already restless. "Go back, old man!" she commanded. "I am queen, but this is not enough. I want to be Empress, with power over all the lands! Hurry, for I cannot wait!" The fisherman felt his heart sink.

Page 6

Again, the fisherman went to the sea, which was now black and storm-tossed, with great waves crashing against the shore.
Again, the fisherman went to the sea, which was now black and storm-tossed, with great waves crashing against the shore. He called the fish and, with a trembling voice, made the wish for his wife to be Empress. The fish, silent and grim, granted it. Returning, he found her in immense imperial gardens, surrounded by a legion of guards and noblemen. She wore robes of deep purple and a grander crown, ruling over an empire.

Again, the fisherman went to the sea, which was now black and storm-tossed, with great waves crashing against the shore. He called the fish and, with a trembling voice, made the wish for his wife to be Empress. The fish, silent and grim, granted it. Returning, he found her in immense imperial gardens, surrounded by a legion of guards and noblemen. She wore robes of deep purple and a grander crown, ruling over an empire. "Old man," she said, her voice sharp with impatience, "I am Empress, but I want to be Pope! I must have power over all the churches! Go now!" The fisherman was terrified. This wish seemed too great, too bold.

Page 7

The fisherman dragged himself to the furious, roaring sea, its waves like mountains. He cried out to the golden fish, fear in his voice, and made the wish for…
The fisherman dragged himself to the furious, roaring sea, its waves like mountains. He cried out to the golden fish, fear in his voice, and made the wish for his wife to be Pope. The fish, its eyes distant, granted it. When he returned, he found her atop the highest steps of a magnificent cathedral, adorned in papal robes and a triple crown, commanding vast crowds. He could barely approach her.

The fisherman dragged himself to the furious, roaring sea, its waves like mountains. He cried out to the golden fish, fear in his voice, and made the wish for his wife to be Pope. The fish, its eyes distant, granted it. When he returned, he found her atop the highest steps of a magnificent cathedral, adorned in papal robes and a triple crown, commanding vast crowds. He could barely approach her. "Old man," she called down, her voice echoing with new authority, "I am Pope, but I want to be Lord of the Sun and Moon! I want to command the heavens! Go, now!" The fisherman stood frozen, knowing this was a wish beyond all reason.

Page 8

The fisherman stumbled back to the sea, his legs barely holding him. The sky was black, the wind howled, and the sea was a boiling cauldron of dark, raging…
The fisherman stumbled back to the sea, his legs barely holding him. The sky was black, the wind howled, and the sea was a boiling cauldron of dark, raging waves. He cried out to the golden fish, his voice barely audible above the storm. "O Fish, O Fish, come listen to me! My wife, the Ilsebill, has sent me to thee. For she will not do as I wish, and she wants something more, little fish!" The golden fish, its scales dull now, rose slowly from the churning depths.

The fisherman stumbled back to the sea, his legs barely holding him. The sky was black, the wind howled, and the sea was a boiling cauldron of dark, raging waves. He cried out to the golden fish, his voice barely audible above the storm. "O Fish, O Fish, come listen to me! My wife, the Ilsebill, has sent me to thee. For she will not do as I wish, and she wants something more, little fish!" The golden fish, its scales dull now, rose slowly from the churning depths. "What does she want now?" it asked, its voice heavy. "She wants to be Lord of the Sun and Moon!" the fisherman sobbed. The fish looked at him for a long moment. "Go home," it said. "It is over." And with that, it sank back into the roaring waves.

Page 9

The fisherman turned from the raging sea and began the long walk home. The storm began to lessen, but a cold, grey light showed him the path.
The fisherman turned from the raging sea and began the long walk home. The storm began to lessen, but a cold, grey light showed him the path. Where the great cathedral, the palace, and the castle had stood, there was now nothing but barren ground, muddy puddles, and broken stones. All the grandeur had vanished as if it had never been. He walked on, his heart heavy, until he saw his wife.

The fisherman turned from the raging sea and began the long walk home. The storm began to lessen, but a cold, grey light showed him the path. Where the great cathedral, the palace, and the castle had stood, there was now nothing but barren ground, muddy puddles, and broken stones. All the grandeur had vanished as if it had never been. He walked on, his heart heavy, until he saw his wife. She was sitting amidst the mud and rubble, her magnificent robes gone, replaced by her old, tattered brown dress and headscarf. She looked bewildered and dismayed, staring at the empty space. "All is gone, wife," the fisherman said, his voice flat. "We are back where we began."

Page 10

The fisherman and his wife walked the rest of the way to the seashore. There, just as it had been at the very beginning, stood their small, ramshackle hovel.
The fisherman and his wife walked the rest of the way to the seashore. There, just as it had been at the very beginning, stood their small, ramshackle hovel. Inside, the broken wooden tub sat in the corner, exactly as it was when the fisherman had first caught the golden fish. All the wishes, all the grandeur, all the power that Ilsebill had desired, had vanished like a dream. They had nothing more than they started with, and nothing less.

The fisherman and his wife walked the rest of the way to the seashore. There, just as it had been at the very beginning, stood their small, ramshackle hovel. Inside, the broken wooden tub sat in the corner, exactly as it was when the fisherman had first caught the golden fish. All the wishes, all the grandeur, all the power that Ilsebill had desired, had vanished like a dream. They had nothing more than they started with, and nothing less. The sea, now a calm, grey expanse, gently lapped the shore. And there they lived to this very day, back in their old hovel by the sea, with their broken tub.

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  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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