Orphaned Erich's life as an unloved drudge begins to change when old Ula, the town's most skillful clockmaker, takes him on as his helper.

Realizing his fate is to be spareribs, a pig disguises himself as a boy, runs away, finds employment, and becomes friends with a little girl.

Royals, witches, enchanted pigs, mermaids, wolves, and mortals star in thirteen stories gleaned from a trio of the author's earlier collections.