This amusing yarn has lots of tears in it, but all the same, it will make you laugh. It's about a man who goes in search of three people even more silly than his fiance and her parents. And he soon finds them ! If you want to find out how to get a cow onto your roof to eat grass, or if you need an alternative way to get into your trousers in the morning, listen on !
Read By Natasha. English Traditional Story Collected by Joseph Jacobs in "English Fairytales" (1890).
Proofread by Claire Deakin. Duration 11.08
Image by Storynory based on original illustration in "English Fairytales"
Once upon a time there was a farmer and his wife who had one daughter, and she was courted by a gentleman. Every evening he used to come and see her, and stop for supper at the farmhouse, and the daughter used to be sent down into the cellar to fetch beer for the supper. One evening she had gone down to fetch the beer, and she happened to look up at the ceiling while she was fetching, and she saw an axe stuck in one of the beams. It must have been there a long, long time, but somehow or other she had never noticed it before, and she began a-thinking. She thought it was very dangerous to have that axe there, for she said to herself, “Suppose him and me was to be married, and we was to have a son, and he was to grow up to be a man, and come down into the cellar to fetch the beer, like I’m doing now, and the axe was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!” And she put down the candle and the jug, and sat herself down and began a-crying.
Well, they began to wonder upstairs how it was that she was so long fetching the beer, and her mother went down to see after her, and found her sitting on the settee crying, and the beer running over the floor. “Why, whatever is the matter?” Said her mother. “Oh, mother!” said she, “look at that horrid axe! Suppose we was to be married, and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down to the cellar to fetch the beer, and the axe was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!” “Dear, dear! What a dreadful thing it would be!” Said the mother, and she sat her down aside of the daughter and started a-crying too.
After a bit the father began to wonder that they didn’t come back, and he went down into the cellar to look after them himself, and there the two sat a-crying, and the beer running all over the floor. “Whatever is the matter?” Said he. “Why,” said the mother, “look at that horrid axe. Just suppose, if our daughter and her sweetheart was to be married, and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down into the cellar to fetch the beer, and the axe was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!” “Dear, dear, dear! So it would!” Said the father, who sat himself down aside of the other two, and started a-crying.
Now the gentleman became tired of stopping up in the kitchen by himself, and at last he went down into the cellar too, to see what they were after; and there the three sat a-crying side by side, and the beer running all over the floor. He ran straight to and turned the tap. Then he said, “Whatever are you three doing, sitting there crying, and letting the beer run all over the floor?”
“Oh!” says the father, “look at that horrid axe! Suppose you and our daughter was to be married, and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down into the cellar to fetch the beer, and the axe was to fall on his head and kill him!” Then they all started a-crying worse than before. But the gentleman burst out a-laughing, and reached up and pulled out the axe, and then he said, “I’ve travelled many miles, and I never met three such big sillies as you three before; and now I shall start out on my travels again, and when I can find three bigger sillies than you three, then I’ll come back and marry your daughter.” So he wished them goodbye, and started off on his travels, and left them all crying because the girl had lost her sweetheart.
Well, he set out, and he travelled a long way, until at last he came to a woman’s cottage that had some grass growing on the roof. The woman was trying to get her cow to go up a ladder to the grass, but the poor thing durst not go. So the gentleman asked the woman what she was doing. “Why, look-ye,” she said, “look at all that beautiful grass. I’m going to get the cow on to the roof to eat it. She’ll be quite safe, for I shall tie a string around her neck, and pass it down the chimney, and tie it to my wrist as I go about the house, so she can’t fall off without moving it.”
“Oh, you poor silly!” Said the gentleman, “You should cut the grass and throw it down to the cow!” The woman thought it was easier to get the cow up the ladder than to get the grass down, however, so she pushed her and coaxed her and got her up, and tied a string round her neck, and passed it down the chimney, and fastened it to her own wrist. The gentleman went on his way, but he hadn’t gone far when the cow tumbled off the roof, pulling the string behind her. The weight of the cow tied to her wrist pulled the woman up the chimney, and she stuck fast half way and was smothered in the soot.
Well, that was one big silly.
The gentleman went on and on, and he went to an inn to stop the night, and they were so full at the inn that they had to put him in a double-bedded room, and another traveller was to sleep in the other bed. The other man was a very pleasant fellow, and they got very friendly together; but in the morning, when they were both getting up, the gentleman was surprised to see the other hang his trousers between the two beds and run across the room and try to jump into them. He tried over and over again, and couldn’t manage it, so the gentleman wondered whatever he was doing it for. At last he stopped and wiped his face with his handkerchief. “Oh dear,” he said, “I do think trousers are the most awkward kind of clothes that ever were. I can’t think who could have invented such things. It takes me the best part of an hour to get into mine every morning, and I get so hot! How do you manage yours?” So the gentleman burst out a-laughing, and showed him how to put them on; and he was very much obliged to him, and said he never should have thought of doing it that way.
So that was another big silly.
Then the gentleman went on his travels again and he came to a village, and outside the village there was a pond. Around the pond was a crowd of people, and they had rakes, brooms, and pitchforks, reaching into the pond; and the gentleman asked what was the matter. “Why,” they say, “matter enough! Moon’s tumbled into the pond, and we can’t rake her out any which way!” So the gentleman burst out a-laughing, and told them to look up into the sky, and that it was only the reflection in the water. They wouldn’t listen to him, and abused him shamefully, so he went away as quick as he could.
So there was a whole lot of sillies bigger than them three sillies at home. The gentleman turned back home again and married the farmer’s daughter, and if they didn’t live happy forever after, that’s nothing to do with you or me.
And that was the story of the Three Sillies.
hahahahaha you guys should make more funny stories……..only longer.
pearl — November 10, 2008
that was good it was funyyyy but Ithink thay should be longer. when are you going to put anuther tick tock terky on
eli — November 10, 2008
Got error “The input media format is invalid” while using Windows Media Player ?
carol — November 11, 2008
I´t was really funny and it’s the best story from storynory.
Thank you Bertie!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous — November 11, 2008
Hello, I´m from espain and I think that the story was very good.
I´d like to ask you something natasha, ¿what does courted mean?
thanks
marta — November 12, 2008
Hi Marta
To court someone is to “romance them” in an old fashioned way.
Bertie — November 12, 2008
its funny, ok.. cant juz imagine how the big world consists of lots of sillies 🙂
Lauren Jazmine — November 13, 2008
Hahaha lol! 🙂 🙁 :-
()=
Mr Mr Bean — July 5, 2015
that was a good story
your mom!!!!!!!!!! — November 13, 2008
i wonder if they ever get lost at any time
your mom!!!!!!!!!! — November 13, 2008
IT IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST STORY I HAVE EVER READ
ALKA SURESH — November 17, 2008
have a niceday mom dod
Anonymous — November 18, 2008
that is avery nice story,and to funny.
eren — November 18, 2008
it was funny lol!!!
doody — November 18, 2008
It’s soooo amazing and super duper FUNNY!!!
Tom 3G — November 20, 2008
my favorite part was when the old lady who was trying to get the cow onto the roof that has grass.
tabea — November 20, 2008
they where very sily
shaurya — November 21, 2008
I like this story because it is funny.My favourite part is when he put his pants so that is funny.
Felix 3C — November 22, 2008
I liked the story because it was funny,and i’m happy i don’t like beer.
Martijn — November 22, 2008
I like the three sillies because it is funny. But it is not good to be silly all the time !!!
Joshua — November 22, 2008
This story was really funny! I especially liked the part when the crowd at the pond didn’t know that it was just the reflection of the moon.
Matthew 3C — November 22, 2008
Great story!
Jeremy 3g — November 22, 2008
I liked the story.The best part was when the people thought the moon was stuck in the pond.
Bruce — November 23, 2008
I like this story because when the moon reflected on the water and they tried to hook the moon out of the water it was very funny.
Jamie 3R — November 23, 2008
I liked this story because it was very funny and silly just like the title.
Abbie3g — November 23, 2008
I found it very funny, but not a good story.
Pranav — November 23, 2008
this story is funny and good. I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the part where the 3 sillies started crying down in the cellar and the part when the cow pulled the lady up the chimney !!
Ally — November 23, 2008
That was so funny. Cool story!
Alec — November 23, 2008
I liked your stories I liked the three sillies
they were funny.Its a nice story.I would like to here some more stories because they are realy good.
Tashiana — November 23, 2008
I realy thought it was great do you have alot
of stories? Please write back soon and tell me
good bye
From Tashiana
Tashiana — November 23, 2008
What a funny and silly story!!! The crying made me laugh hard!
Matin 3B — November 23, 2008
I like this story because it was funny when the man could not get his pants on.
scarlett 3R — November 23, 2008
There are lots of funny things in that story. When those people were siting down criying it was very funny. It’s a good story.
Lenny — November 23, 2008
I liked the story very much. I liked it when she cried. When the cow fell off the roof I laugh.
James — November 23, 2008
I LOVED IT BECAUSE WENE THAY WERE CRING
THAT WAS THE FUNY BIT
Ashley 3C — November 23, 2008
l.o.l, it was so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
seth — November 24, 2008
I REALLY LIKE THE STORY BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE A FUNNIER ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
maggie — November 24, 2008
It was Funy
Luke — November 25, 2008
funny story how about make it a litttle more funny then prehaps t will be the funniest story in the world anyways I liked the part wich the people was trying to take the man out of the pond but it was really a reflection…
DRISHTI 3G — November 25, 2008
I think this story has a great title. I loved it when they cried because it was so funny.
GUY 3c — November 25, 2008
VERY SILLY!!!!!!
sarah — November 25, 2008
it was verry comic story any way that’s funny
fahd — November 29, 2008
WOW!!!!!That was silly alright.I love the part when the people thought the Moon fell into the pond.HA! HA! HA!
Safiya — December 2, 2008
I think this is a really FUNNY story! I LOVED it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much! It was a great story! I loved it sooo much. It was a great story! Natasha, I think you have a great voice. You have such a nice voice! PLEASE! NEVER QUIT YOUR JOB! EVEN IF YOU ARE REALLY OLD. YOU CAN DO IT IN YOUR RETIREMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think you are awesome and i hope you have enough stories 2 read. If you do not I could write you some! Just leave me a post and I will! Please respond ASAP!!! which you need to do so i can become a writer! and you will be my first person (besides my Mum and Dad) 2 give my stories 2. I can’t wait 🙂
amyk — December 2, 2008
i appreciate you .it was really funny
mohammad — December 3, 2008
THIS IS A GOOD STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
nova 10 — December 6, 2008
aswemo story man u should make more u guys rock
tonto — December 6, 2008
wonderfulllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trika — December 9, 2008
I saw Fred’s comment on a story,i forgot which one.I was Wondering Bertie, when are you going to start the indian epic peoms
Jack — December 13, 2008
Hi Jack, We are trying to get some funding for music and pictures and some extra voices to play along side Natasha – but if that doesn’t come off, we’ll do it anyway. It’s going to be an adaptation of the Ramayana. But I don’t really see it happening much before Spring
Bertie — December 13, 2008
We like the three sillies because the mother, father and daughter are funny when they cry. Thank you
Ewan and Emma — December 15, 2008
I in the USA and I dl the podcast and let my 4 year old listen to it until the part about the axe. It is not a very good story
for my child. I will never dl another one.
Ian — February 2, 2009
Ian, I am sorry that you take that attitude. It’s a perfectly harmless story.
Bertie — February 2, 2009
I think this story is the funniest one in the whole wide world.
Please write more funny stories like this.
Miss Nobody — March 14, 2009
I lick Storynory.com
Cody — April 14, 2009
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Cody — April 14, 2009
Dear Bertie,
I love the Three Sillies because is so funny and I specially like the sound effects. I am a big fan of you and Natasha.
Keep up the good work!
Haley — June 22, 2009
Hi Haley, Really glad you like the three sillies and the sound effects. Perhaps we should do more effects.
Bertie — June 22, 2009
Yes, more sound effects! I love how Natasha talks and how she changes her voice for different characters.
I would really like to contact Natasha. How would I do that?
Bye, Bertie. I love you!
Haley — June 22, 2009
Haley, if you send me an email I will forward it. All the best [email protected]
Bertie — June 23, 2009
The crying sound effects are a bit scary for little ones late at night.
Mitch — July 25, 2009
story nory is cool i love it
jaron — August 2, 2009
i love you story nory
jaron — August 2, 2009
i like the three sillies they look funny
emma — October 4, 2009
I laughed my head off when I heard the crying sound of the three sillies in the house.
Anyway, I really liked this funny story and celabrations, Storynory to become three years old.
Clair — November 25, 2009
I like the three little pigs from steven
steven — December 22, 2009
lol.you guys are funny.
Rina — January 28, 2010
hi haley!!!!!!!!!!!!! luv ur ACCENTS!!!!!!!
Rina — January 28, 2010
I want more tick tock turkey!!!!
emily — April 17, 2010
i wish you’d put this story on itunes so i can download it. this is 1 of my favorite stories
m.n — June 26, 2010
hi this is not are good story!
ally — June 27, 2010
This is a very silly story!
rachel — July 29, 2010
The best story is this one it is so funny and sad and mean i love it
Niki — November 5, 2010
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha this story is so funny! I love it. I love all the stories on storynory . LOL you guys are so funny.
Victoria — November 5, 2010
i love it is so good i love it ha ha ha ha it’s funny
Niki — November 5, 2010
My daughter tells me the world will change dramatically Dec 12, 2012. They are going to buy a Jeep Wrangler to travel the fields because the roads will all be plugged. A bomb shelter is being contemplated to withstand the force of the elements that will surely kill a lot of people.
I told her the story of The Three Sillies that I read to her when she was a child. Don’t know whether this will change her thinking but the story should help.
One of my favourites.
Greg — December 1, 2010
Hi Greg, I really hope it does help her change her view… Perhaps the safe dawn of December 13th 2012 will do the trick.
Bertie — December 2, 2010
hi Bertie.What courted mean?
I search in dictionary but it doesn’t find it.
loorain — December 4, 2010
Hi Loourain, It means he was being extra nice to her, hoping that she would marry him.
Bertie — December 6, 2010
I read the story of the woman, the hay on the roof and the ladder.(in the British Royal Reader)when I was in second grade I remembered it recently so I checked the internet to see if it was posted there and here it is I am almost 70 years old.
Mavis — December 5, 2010
Bertie why you don’t answer me?Bertie please answer me.Natasha if you can say to bertie answer me.say to Bertie :
Dear bertie Fatemeh want’s your answer.she said can I read a story save it to my computer then sent it to you and then you put it on your site?
Natasha please do that work.if that Bertie will be cool and put my voice on the storynory I will never came back again and say:Bertie why don’t you answer me?
Fatemeh — December 5, 2010
Just a BIG,BIG,BIG,HUGE SILLIES TELLING A STORY!!!!!!!!!
if I have time then upload those crazy,silly lemon and show it to His Royal Highness Prince Bertie The Frog of course he would laugh and say ‘what a SILLY SILLY LEMON is it!!’ with big croaks of laughter.Then I show it to the acting-like-a-junior-preschool-toddler-primary-silly Tim The Tadpole who is one of the big silly I thought.He would “Yikes!” with a tiny little small baby laughter.And say:’SILLY LITTLE LEMON,Yikes!’
I show it to Colin The Grumpy Old Carp,and he would ‘ugggggggg! SILLY GRUMPY LEMON YOU KNOW!’ with moans and grumps and groans and little,baby laughter.Then I show it to the nymphful and graceful Sadie The Swan and she would say,”JUST A BIG SILLY LEMON ARE.” with a silly hiss and I thought she must be the second big silly.And the last one,I ought show it to Her Royal Loveliness Princess Beatrice or the other name The Lovely Princess Beatrice and she would say “SILLY!” with big laughs.
Michelle — December 29, 2010
haha i love this story! it is so funny!
maddie — January 30, 2011
COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sebastian — February 8, 2011
cooooolllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
parker — February 8, 2011
funny it s not good at all i dont like it
Parker — February 8, 2011
wiredst story ever i dont like it. Its booooring
Anonymous — February 8, 2011
I love this
Sarah — February 12, 2011
Cool!
Nish — March 3, 2011
stupid story but natasha made it better
call me smiley :D — March 5, 2011
way to go !
habin — October 6, 2011
great story
jack — October 24, 2011
awesome story
jakob — October 24, 2011
I loved it dearly!
fizza — January 10, 2012
way to go !
naimo — January 27, 2012
IT WAS SIIIIILLLLLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ABSOLUTY L-O-V-E-D IT! {VERY LOUD LAUFTER}
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
FUNNY!! HAHAHA!!
NOTHING CLOSE TO BAD
MAKE MORE! MAKE MORE! MAKE MORE!
ABSOLUTLY POSITVLY YOURS TRULY KARA
Kara — March 2, 2012
your storiese are incredible .so ice. so silly,so funny.so trustful,so lovely ,soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo beutiful.luv ur storiese
jila — April 1, 2012
HAHAHA FUNNYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keana — April 30, 2012
this story is ok
cupcake — June 9, 2012
I have listen to this story before except it was a different version and website.
Neave — August 1, 2012
this story is ok but not that good
cupcake — August 26, 2012
so funny! they had to cry because of an axe .
tell me if u have more stories!apa kamu buat?
oweeeen — September 14, 2012
the sillies are stupid.
david — October 14, 2012
That was a really sillie stroy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cathlinvelasco — December 14, 2012
OMG that was soooooooo funny!!! Who in the world would do
Those dumb things!?!?!?!?!
I can't tell you — December 21, 2012
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH
FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY
SILLY SILLY SILLY SILLY SILLY SILLY SILLY SILLY SILLY
Kara — January 22, 2013
It’s really funny and I really love all of your stories because they are so fun to listen but my favorite one of all is the one what you ran away from home it’s so good I could imagine the pictures in my head I love them.
PrincessE — April 19, 2013
O! My!!!!!!!!!
Astro — May 5, 2013
LOL LOL Bertie this is such a funny story.Are you making more funny Stories?
Josh — May 8, 2013
wow how funny!!!! good one
sillie says. — July 13, 2013
I’m 37 and i know its kinda weird ok a grown man to storynory listen to every night but your voice is relaxing together with the stories i even heard stories i have not heard since i was a little boy i really love this site thank you Natasha Bertie and storynory i can’t just pick one favorite story i have lots of them i can’t believe how relaxing and funny these stories are.
Rayne — July 26, 2013
LOL ; D
Alice — January 5, 2014
Creepy cry Fx….
Cc — February 2, 2014
They all have what-if worries
Kate — April 15, 2014
Funny
Eli — April 16, 2014
fffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyy
green — May 12, 2014
I love your voice it tells the story so well I also liked that story it was funny
Jon — October 21, 2014
AH HAHAHAHA HAHAHA! THIS IS FUNNY!!
Ilikenicepeople — November 26, 2014
Lol
Saswatsara — December 31, 2014
That was a stupid story
Suny — February 13, 2015
happy
mia — March 20, 2015
that is a great story cnt wait for the next one
hunter pohl — April 23, 2015
Sweet story and funny I love this awesome story.
BIll — May 21, 2015
My mother read me this story. 57 years ago. Wow I’m crying too! Thank you thank you thank you…
Anonymous — June 1, 2015
Awesome story, Loved it! ?
Cello Person — September 16, 2015
It was really good!
Ben — February 18, 2016
funny
ethan — March 24, 2016
Lovely and really it was cool
Tina — May 15, 2016
Love it!!!!!!!
Lillie — November 24, 2016
That’s TOO MuCh!!
Smart Girl — December 5, 2016
it took me a little while to get my brother in to story nory but this was one story he loves
sophia — August 22, 2017
You should do more stories like this one👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
That’s private — January 8, 2018
i need more story
baby — February 19, 2018
I liked this one… maybe u should make some fractured fairy tales!
nina — March 26, 2018
TERRIBALL
BOO — May 16, 2018
Beautiful r
Rohan — May 22, 2018
awesome right? yeah
Alex — May 23, 2018
so cool sad
li — May 23, 2018
Very Comedy
Amanpreet — May 23, 2018
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Make more funny stories, but longer and funnier. Elle-June 16 2018
Anonymous — June 27, 2018
Thank you for this story had read it when I was little now I m reading it to my 5 yr old
Divya Vishwanath — August 1, 2018
I mean my sis loved this story but I thought it wasn’t funny at all 6/10 😒
Horseforce — August 8, 2018
Wow amazing story and no offence but why are some of the people in the story not using common sense like the moon falling into the pond and a family crying over something which they don’t know that it’ll happen.🤷♀️😐
Isabelle🌷🌹 — January 31, 2020