It's Labor Day Weekend with surprisingly good weather predicted. This past week thus predicteth the Old Farmers' Almanac for 2025-26:
Here in the Great Lakes region - including Michigan - and other areas of the Midwest we “are set for a classic winter wonderland.” The weather is expected to be very cold and snowy.
RELATED: Michigan winter outlook: NOAA predicts wetter, whiter conditions for southern regions
Winter officially begins with the solstice on Dec. 21, but snow could arrive as early as September in some areas of the country. Nationwide, the coldest times, as usual, are expected in mid-January and mid-February, saying a " significant cold snap in mid-January will keep most shivering. Winter’s wrath continues with another pronounced cold spell predicted for mid-February." As for snow: The Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and North Central states are set for a classic winter wonderland.
The Almanac's long-range forecasts began over 200 years ago using a formula "set forth back in 1818, but also accounts for fluctuations in the environment on Earth, as well as solar activity (sunspots), the motion of the Moon, and other proprietary factors." They also do an annual review of accuracy and was fairly accurate even if La Niña did make last winter wetter.
All of this made me wonder what story might be appropriate. Aesop, once again, has a short bit of wisdom. There are many editions, but Aesop's Fables; A New Translation by V.S. Vernon Jones does an easy look at weather and maybe a bit more.
THE FATHER AND HIS DAUGHTERS
A Man had two Daughters, one of whom he gave in marriage to a gardener, and the other to a potter. After a time he thought he would go and see how they were getting on; and first he went to the gardener's wife. He asked her how she was, and how things were going with herself and her husband. She replied that on the whole they were doing very well: "But," she continued, "I do wish we could have some good heavy rain: the garden wants it badly." Then he went on to the potter's wife and made the same inquiries of her. She replied that she and her husband had nothing to complain of: "But," she went on, "I do wish we could have some nice dry weather, to dry the pottery." Her Father looked at her with a humorous expression on his face. "You want dry weather," he said, "and your sister wants rain. I was going to ask in my prayers that your wishes should be granted; but now it strikes me I had better not refer to the subject."
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If you want to know a bit more, V.S. stands for Vernon Stanley Vernon-Jones and talking about Aesop's Fables Wikipedia states:
Notable early 20th century editions include V.S. Vernon Jones' new translation of the fables accompanied by the pictures of Arthur Rackham (London, 1912)[97] and in the US Aesop for Children (Chicago, 1919), illustrated by Milo Winter.[98]
This story doesn't receive an illustration by Rackham, but the general opinion from the time of the book's publication is his translation is highly regarded for preserving the timeless moral clarity of the fables. Rackham's illustrations have kept it popular.
May your storytelling weather be fine!
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This is part of a series of postings of stories under the category, “Keeping the Public in Public Domain.” The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated. I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century. My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them. I hope you enjoy discovering them.
At the same time, my own involvement in storytelling regularly creates projects requiring research as part of my sharing stories with an audience. Whenever that research needs to be shown here, the publishing of Public Domain stories will not occur that week. This is a return to my regular posting of a research project here. (Don't worry, this isn't dry research, my research is always geared towards future storytelling to an audience.) Response has convinced me that "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my other postings as often as I can manage it.
