Chapter 1

           Wayoutattheendofatinylittletownwasanoldovergrowngarden, andinthegardenwasanoldhouse, andinthehouselivedPippiLongstocking. Shewasnineyearsold,andshelivedthereallalone. Shehadnomotherandnofather, andthatwasofcourseverynicebecausetherewasnoonetotellhertogotobedjustwhenshewashavingthemostfun, andnoonewhocouldmakehertakecodliveroilwhenshemuchpreferredcaramelcandy. 

           OnceuponatimePippihadhadafatherofwhomshewasextremelyfond. Naturallyshehadhadamothertoo,butthatwassolongagothatPippididn’trememberheratall. HermotherhaddiedwhenPippiwasjustatinybabyandlayinacradleandhowledsothatnobodycouldgoanywherenearher. PippiwassurethathermotherwasnowupinHeaven,watchingherlittlegirlthroughapeepholeinthesky, andPippioftenwavedupatherandcalled, "Don’tyouworryaboutme.I’llalwayscomeoutontop." 

           Pippihadnotforgottenherfather. Hewasaseacaptainwhosailedonthegreatocean, andPippihadsailedwithhiminhisshipuntilonedayherfatherwasblownoverboardinastormanddisappeared. ButPippiwasabsolutelycertainthathewouldcomeback. Shewouldneverbelievethathehaddrowned; shewassurehehadfloateduntilhelandedonanislandinhabitedbycannibals. Andshethoughthehadbecomethekingofallthecannibalsandwentaroundwithagoldencrownonhisheadalldaylong. 

           "Mypapaisacannibalking; itcertainlyisn’teverychildwhohassuchastylishpapa," Pippiusedtosaywithsatisfaction.