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.
