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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm, by
+Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm
+
+Author: Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm
+
+Illustrator: Walter Crane
+
+Translator: Lucy Crane
+
+Release Date: August 17, 2006 [EBook #19068]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOUSEHOLD STORIES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Suzanne Shell, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+HOUSEHOLD STORIES
+
+GRIMM
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+
+ "--AT LAST HE CAME TO THE
+ TOWER & OPENED THE DOOR
+ OF THE LITTLE ROOM WHERE
+ ROSAMOND LAY."]
+
+
+
+
+HOUSEHOLD
+STORIES,
+FROM
+THE COLLECTION OF THE BROS:
+GRIMM:
+
+TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN
+BY
+LUCY CRANE;
+AND
+DONE INTO PICTURES
+BY
+WALTER CRANE
+
+DOVER
+PUBLICATIONS, INC.
+
+NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+This new Dover edition, first published in 1963, is an unabridged
+republication of the work first published by Macmillan and Company in
+1886.
+
+
+_Standard Book Number: 486-21080-4_
+
+_Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 64-16327_
+
+
+Manufactured in the United States of America
+Dover Publications, Inc.
+180 Varick Street
+New York, N. Y. 10014
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+ HALF-TITLE.
+
+ THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. _Frontispiece_
+
+ TITLE-PAGE. PAGE
+
+ THE RABBIT'S BRIDE, Headpiece 1
+ Tailpiece 2
+
+ SIX SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE, Headpiece 3
+ Tailpiece 8
+
+ CLEVER GRETHEL, Headpiece 9
+ Tailpiece 11
+
+ THE DEATH OF THE HEN, Headpiece 12
+ Tailpiece 13
+
+ HANS IN LUCK, Headpiece 14
+ Tailpiece 19
+
+ THE GOOSE GIRL _To face page_ 20
+ Headpiece 20
+ Tailpiece 25
+
+ THE RAVEN, Headpiece 26
+ Tailpiece 31
+
+ THE FROG PRINCE, Headpiece 32
+ Tailpiece 36
+
+ CAT AND MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP, Headpiece 37
+ Tailpiece 39
+
+ THE WOLF AND THE SEVEN KIDS, Headpiece 40
+ Tailpiece 42
+
+ FAITHFUL JOHN _To face page_ 43
+ Headpiece 43
+ Tailpiece 51
+
+ THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN, Headpiece 52
+ Tailpiece 55
+
+ THE TWELVE BROTHERS, Headpiece 56
+ Tailpiece 61
+
+ THE VAGABONDS, Headpiece 62
+ Tailpiece 64
+
+ THE BROTHER AND SISTER, Headpiece 65
+ Tailpiece 71
+
+ RAPUNZEL _To face page_ 72
+ Headpiece 72
+ Tailpiece 75
+
+ THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD, Headpiece 76
+ Tailpiece 81
+
+ THE THREE SPINSTERS, Headpiece 82
+ Tailpiece 84
+
+ HANSEL AND GRETHEL, Headpiece 85
+ Tailpiece 92
+
+ THE WHITE SNAKE _To face page_ 93
+ Headpiece 93
+ Tailpiece 97
+
+ THE STRAW, THE COAL, AND THE BEAN, Headpiece 98
+ Tailpiece 99
+
+ THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE, Headpiece 100
+ Tailpiece 108
+
+ THE GALLANT TAILOR, Headpiece 109
+ Tailpiece 117
+
+ ASCHENPUTTEL, Headpiece 118
+ Tailpiece 125
+
+ THE MOUSE, THE BIRD, AND THE SAUSAGE, Headpiece 126
+ Tailpiece 127
+
+ MOTHER HULDA _To face page_ 128
+ Headpiece 128
+ Tailpiece 131
+
+ LITTLE RED-CAP, Headpiece 132
+ Tailpiece 135
+
+ THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS, Headpiece 136
+ Tailpiece 139
+
+ PRUDENT HANS, Headpiece 140
+ Tailpiece 144
+
+ CLEVER ELSE, Headpiece 145
+ Tailpiece 148
+
+ THE TABLE, THE ASS, AND THE STICK, Headpiece 149
+ Tailpiece 159
+
+ TOM THUMB, Headpiece 160
+ Tailpiece 166
+
+ HOW MRS. FOX MARRIED AGAIN, Headpiece 167
+ Initial 169
+ Tailpiece 170
+
+ THE ELVES, Headpiece 171
+ Initial 173
+ Initial 174
+ Tailpiece 174
+
+ THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM _To face page_ 175
+ Headpiece 175
+ Tailpiece 178
+
+ MR. KORBES, Headpiece 179
+ Tailpiece 180
+
+ TOM THUMB'S TRAVELS, Headpiece 181
+ Tailpiece 185
+
+ THE ALMOND TREE _To face page_ 186
+ Headpiece 186
+ Tailpiece 194
+
+ OLD SULTAN, Headpiece 195
+ Tailpiece 197
+
+ THE SIX SWANS _To face page_ 198
+ Headpiece 198
+ Tailpiece 203
+
+ THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, Headpiece 204
+ Tailpiece 207
+
+ KING THRUSHBEARD, Headpiece 208
+ Tailpiece 212
+
+ SNOW-WHITE _To face page_ 213
+ Headpiece 213
+ Tailpiece 221
+
+ THE KNAPSACK, THE HAT, AND THE HORN, Headpiece 222
+ Tailpiece 227
+
+ RUMPELSTILTSKIN, Headpiece 228
+ Tailpiece 231
+
+ ROLAND, Headpiece 232
+ Tailpiece 235
+
+ THE GOLDEN BIRD, _To face page_ 236
+ Headpiece 236
+ Tailpiece 243
+
+ THE DOG AND THE SPARROW, Headpiece 244
+ Tailpiece 247
+
+ FRED AND KATE, Headpiece 248
+ Tailpiece 255
+
+ THE LITTLE FARMER, Headpiece 256
+ Tailpiece 261
+
+ THE QUEEN BEE, Headpiece 262
+ Tailpiece 264
+
+ THE GOLDEN GOOSE, Headpiece 265
+ Tailpiece 269
+
+
+
+
+THE RABBIT'S BRIDE
+
+
+THERE was once a woman who lived with her daughter in a beautiful
+cabbage-garden; and there came a rabbit and ate up all the cabbages. At
+last said the woman to her daughter,
+
+"Go into the garden, and drive out the rabbit."
+
+"Shoo! shoo!" said the maiden; "don't eat up all our cabbages, little
+rabbit!"
+
+"Come, maiden," said the rabbit, "sit on my tail and go with me to my
+rabbit-hutch." But the maiden would not.
+
+Another day, back came the rabbit, and ate away at the cabbages, until
+the woman said to her daughter,
+
+"Go into the garden, and drive away the rabbit."
+
+"Shoo! shoo!" said the maiden; "don't eat up all our cabbages, little
+rabbit!"
+
+"Come, maiden," said the rabbit, "sit on my tail and go with me to my
+rabbit-hutch." But the maiden would not.
+
+Again, a third time back came the rabbit, and ate away at the cabbages,
+until the woman said to her daughter,
+
+"Go into the garden, and drive away the rabbit."
+
+"Shoo! shoo!" said the maiden; "don't eat up all our cabbages, little
+rabbit!"
+
+"Come, maiden," said the rabbit, "sit on my tail and go with me to my
+rabbit-hutch."
+
+And then the girl seated herself on the rabbit's tail, and the rabbit
+took her to his hutch.
+
+"Now," said he, "set to work and cook some bran and cabbage; I am going
+to bid the wedding guests." And soon they were all collected. Would you
+like to know who they were? Well, I can only tell you what was told to
+me; all the hares came, and the crow who was to be the parson to marry
+them, and the fox for the clerk, and the altar was under the rainbow.
+But the maiden was sad, because she was so lonely.
+
+"Get up! get up!" said the rabbit, "the wedding folk are all merry."
+
+But the bride wept and said nothing, and the rabbit went away, but very
+soon came back again.
+
+"Get up! get up!" said he, "the wedding folk are waiting." But the bride
+said nothing, and the rabbit went away. Then she made a figure of straw,
+and dressed it in her own clothes, and gave it a red mouth, and set it
+to watch the kettle of bran, and then she went home to her mother. Back
+again came the rabbit, saying, "Get up! get up!" and he went up and hit
+the straw figure on the head, so that it tumbled down.
+
+And the rabbit thought that he had killed his bride, and he went away
+and was very sad.
+
+
+
+
+SIX SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE
+
+
+THERE was once a man who was a Jack-of-all-trades; he had served in the
+war, and had been brave and bold, but at the end of it he was sent about
+his business, with three farthings and his discharge.
+
+"I am not going to stand this," said he; "wait till I find the right man
+to help me, and the king shall give me all the treasures of his kingdom
+before he has done with me."
+
+Then, full of wrath, he went into the forest, and he saw one standing
+there by six trees which he had rooted up as if they had been stalks of
+corn. And he said to him,
+
+"Will you be my man, and come along with me?"
+
+"All right," answered he; "I must just take this bit of wood home to my
+father and mother." And taking one of the trees, he bound it round the
+other five, and putting the faggot on his shoulder, he carried it off;
+then soon coming back, he went along with his leader, who said,
+
+"Two such as we can stand against the whole world."
+
+And when they had gone on a little while, they came to a huntsman who
+was kneeling on one knee and taking careful aim with his rifle.
+
+"Huntsman," said the leader, "what are you aiming at?"
+
+"Two miles from here," answered he, "there sits a fly on the bough of an
+oak-tree, I mean to put a bullet into its left eye."
+
+"Oh, come along with me," said the leader; "three of us together can
+stand against the world."
+
+The huntsman was quite willing to go with him, and so they went on till
+they came to seven windmills, whose sails were going round briskly, and
+yet there was no wind blowing from any quarter, and not a leaf stirred.
+
+"Well," said the leader, "I cannot think what ails the windmills,
+turning without wind;" and he went on with his followers about two miles
+farther, and then they came to a man sitting up in a tree, holding one
+nostril and blowing with the other.
+
+"Now then," said the leader, "what are you doing up there?"
+
+"Two miles from here," answered he, "there are seven windmills; I am
+blowing, and they are going round."
+
+"Oh, go with me," cried the leader, "four of us together can stand
+against the world."
+
+So the blower got down and went with them, and after a time they came to
+a man standing on one leg, and the other had been taken off and was
+lying near him.
+
+"You seem to have got a handy way of resting yourself," said the leader
+to the man.
+
+"I am a runner," answered he, "and in order to keep myself from going
+too fast I have taken off a leg, for when I run with both, I go faster
+than a bird can fly."
+
+"Oh, go with me," cried the leader, "five of us together may well stand
+against the world."
+
+So he went with them all together, and it was not long before they met a
+man with a little hat on, and he wore it just over one ear.
+
+"Manners! manners!" said the leader; "with your hat like that, you look
+like a jack-fool."
+
+"I dare not put it straight," answered the other; "if I did, there would
+be such a terrible frost that the very birds would be frozen and fall
+dead from the sky to the ground."
+
+"Oh, come with me," said the leader; "we six together may well stand
+against the whole world."
+
+So the six went on until they came to a town where the king had caused
+it to be made known that whoever would run a race with his daughter and
+win it might become her husband, but that whoever lost must lose his
+head into the bargain. And the leader came forward and said one of his
+men should run for him.
+
+"Then," said the king, "his life too must be put in pledge, and if he
+fails, his head and yours too must fall."
+
+When this was quite settled and agreed upon, the leader called the
+runner, and strapped his second leg on to him.
+
+"Now, look out," said he, "and take care that we win."
+
+It had been agreed that the one who should bring water first from a far
+distant brook should be accounted winner. Now the king's daughter and
+the runner each took a pitcher, and they started both at the same time;
+but in one moment, when the king's daughter had gone but a very little
+way, the runner was out of sight, for his running was as if the wind
+rushed by. In a short time he reached the brook, filled his pitcher full
+of water, and turned back again. About half-way home, however, he was
+overcome with weariness, and setting down his pitcher, he lay down on
+the ground to sleep. But in order to awaken soon again by not lying too
+soft he had taken a horse's skull which lay near and placed it under his
+head for a pillow. In the meanwhile the king's daughter, who really was
+a good runner, good enough to beat an ordinary man, had reached the
+brook, and filled her pitcher, and was hastening with it back again,
+when she saw the runner lying asleep.
+
+"The day is mine," said she with much joy, and she emptied his pitcher
+and hastened on. And now all had been lost but for the huntsman who was
+standing on the castle wall, and with his keen eyes saw all that
+happened.
+
+"We must not be outdone by the king's daughter," said he, and he loaded
+his rifle and took so good an aim that he shot the horse's skull from
+under the runner's head without doing him any harm. And the runner awoke
+and jumped up, and saw his pitcher standing empty and the king's
+daughter far on her way home. But, not losing courage, he ran swiftly to
+the brook, filled it again with water, and for all that, he got home ten
+minutes before the king's daughter.
+
+"Look you," said he; "this is the first time I have really stretched my
+legs; before it was not worth the name of running."
+
+The king was vexed, and his daughter yet more so, that she should be
+beaten by a discharged common soldier; and they took counsel together
+how they might rid themselves of him and of his companions at the same
+time.
+
+"I have a plan," said the king; "do not fear but that we shall be quit
+of them for ever." Then he went out to the men and bade them to feast
+and be merry and eat and drink; and he led them into a room, which had a
+floor of iron, and the doors were iron, the windows had iron frames and
+bolts; in the room was a table set out with costly food.
+
+"Now, go in there and make yourselves comfortable," said the king.
+
+And when they had gone in, he had the door locked and bolted. Then he
+called the cook, and told him to make a big fire underneath the room, so
+that the iron floor of it should be red hot. And the cook did so, and
+the six men began to feel the room growing very warm, by reason, as they
+thought at first, of the good dinner; but as the heat grew greater and
+greater, and they found the doors and windows fastened, they began to
+think it was an evil plan of the king's to suffocate them.
+
+"He shall not succeed, however," said the man with the little hat; "I
+will bring on a frost that shall make the fire feel ashamed of itself,
+and creep out of the way."
+
+So he set his hat straight on his head, and immediately there came such
+a frost that all the heat passed away and the food froze in the dishes.
+After an hour or two had passed, and the king thought they must have all
+perished in the heat, he caused the door to be opened, and went himself
+to see how they fared. And when the door flew back, there they were all
+six quite safe and sound, and they said they were quite ready to come
+out, so that they might warm themselves, for the great cold of that room
+had caused the food to freeze in the dishes. Full of wrath, the king
+went to the cook and scolded him, and asked why he had not done as he
+was ordered.
+
+"It is hot enough there: you may see for yourself," answered the cook.
+And the king looked and saw an immense fire burning underneath the room
+of iron, and he began to think that the six men were not to be got rid
+of in that way. And he thought of a new plan by which it might be
+managed, so he sent for the leader and said to him,
+
+"If you will give up your right to my daughter, and take gold instead,
+you may have as much as you like."
+
+"Certainly, my lord king," answered the man; "let me have as much gold
+as my servant can carry, and I give up all claim to your daughter." And
+the king agreed that he should come again in a fortnight to fetch the
+gold. The man then called together all the tailors in the kingdom, and
+set them to work to make a sack, and it took them a fortnight. And when
+it was ready, the strong man who had been found rooting up trees took it
+on his shoulder, and went to the king.
+
+"Who is this immense fellow carrying on his shoulder a bundle of stuff
+as big as a house?" cried the king, terrified to think how much gold he
+would carry off. And a ton of gold was dragged in by sixteen strong men,
+but he put it all into the sack with one hand, saying,
+
+"Why don't you bring some more? this hardly covers the bottom!" So the
+king bade them fetch by degrees the whole of his treasure, and even then
+the sack was not half full.
+
+"Bring more!" cried the man; "these few scraps go no way at all!" Then
+at last seven thousand waggons laden with gold collected through the
+whole kingdom were driven up; and he threw them in his sack, oxen and
+all.
+
+"I will not look too closely," said he, "but take what I can get, so
+long as the sack is full." And when all was put in there was still
+plenty of room.
+
+"I must make an end of this," he said; "if it is not full, it is so much
+the easier to tie up." And he hoisted it on his back, and went off with
+his comrades.
+
+When the king saw all the wealth of his realm carried off by a single
+man he was full of wrath, and he bade his cavalry mount, and follow
+after the six men, and take the sack away from the strong man.
+
+Two regiments were soon up to them, and called them to consider
+themselves prisoners, and to deliver up the sack, or be cut in pieces.
+
+"Prisoners, say you?" said the man who could blow, "suppose you first
+have a little dance together in the air," and holding one nostril, and
+blowing through the other, he sent the regiments flying head over heels,
+over the hills and far away. But a sergeant who had nine wounds and was
+a brave fellow, begged not to be put to so much shame. And the blower
+let him down easily, so that he came to no harm, and he bade him go to
+the king and tell him that whatever regiments he liked to send more
+should be blown away just the same. And the king, when he got the
+message, said,
+
+"Let the fellows be; they have some right on their side." So the six
+comrades carried home their treasure, divided it among them, and lived
+contented till they died.
+
+
+
+
+CLEVER GRETHEL
+
+
+THERE was once a cook called Grethel, who wore shoes with red heels, and
+when she went out in them she gave herself great airs, and thought
+herself very fine indeed. When she came home again, she would take a
+drink of wine to refresh herself, and as that gave her an appetite, she
+would take some of the best of whatever she was cooking, until she had
+had enough;--"for," said she, "a cook must know how things taste."
+
+Now it happened that one day her master said to her,--
+
+"Grethel, I expect a guest this evening; you must make ready a pair of
+fowls."
+
+"Certainly, sir, I will," answered Grethel. So she killed the fowls,
+cleaned them, and plucked them, and put them on the spit, and then, as
+evening drew near, placed them before the fire to roast. And they began
+to be brown, and were nearly done, but the guest had not come.
+
+"If he does not make haste," cried Grethel to her master, "I must take
+them away from the fire; it's a pity and a shame not to eat them now,
+just when they are done to a turn." And the master said he would run
+himself and fetch the guest. As soon as he had turned his back, Grethel
+took the fowls from before the fire.
+
+"Standing so long before the fire," said she, "makes one hot and
+thirsty,--and who knows when they will come! in the meanwhile I will go
+to the cellar and have a drink." So down she ran, took up a mug, and
+saying, "Here's to me!" took a good draught. "One good drink deserves
+another," she said "and it should not be cut short;" so she took another
+hearty draught. Then she went and put the fowls down to the fire again,
+and, basting them with butter, she turned the spit briskly round. And
+now they began to smell so good that Grethel saying, "I must find out
+whether they really are all right," licked her fingers, and then cried,
+"Well, I never! the fowls are good; it's a sin and a shame that no one
+is here to eat them!"
+
+So she ran to the window to see if her master and his guest were coming,
+but as she could see nobody she went back to her fowls. "Why, one of the
+wings is burning!" she cried presently, "I had better eat it and get it
+out of the way." So she cut it off and ate it up, and it tasted good,
+and then she thought,
+
+"I had better cut off the other too, in case the master should miss
+anything." And when both wings had been disposed of she went and looked
+for the master, but still he did not come.
+
+"Who knows," said she, "whether they are coming or not? they may have
+put up at an inn." And after a pause she said again, "Come, I may as
+well make myself happy, and first I will make sure of a good drink and
+then of a good meal, and when all is done I shall be easy; the gifts of
+the gods are not to be despised." So first she ran down into the cellar
+and had a famous drink, and ate up one of the fowls with great relish.
+And when that was done, and still the master did not come, Grethel eyed
+the other fowl, saying, "What one is the other must be, the two belong
+to each other, it is only fair that they should be both treated alike;
+perhaps, when I have had another drink, I shall be able to manage it."
+So she took another hearty drink, and then the second fowl went the way
+of the first.
+
+Just as she was in the middle of it the master came back. "Make haste,
+Grethel," cried he, "the guest is coming directly!" "Very well, master,"
+she answered, "it will soon be ready." The master went to see that the
+table was properly laid, and, taking the great carving knife with which
+he meant to carve the fowls, he sharpened it upon the step. Presently
+came the guest, knocking very genteelly and softly at the front door.
+Grethel ran and looked to see who it was, and when she caught sight of
+the guest she put her finger on her lip saying, "Hush! make the best
+haste you can out of this, for if my master catches you, it will be bad
+for you; he asked you to come to supper, but he really means to cut off
+your ears! Just listen how he is sharpening his knife!"
+
+The guest, hearing the noise of the sharpening, made off as fast as he
+could go. And Grethel ran screaming to her master. "A pretty guest you
+have asked to the house!" cried she.
+
+"How so, Grethel? what do you mean?" asked he.
+
+"What indeed!" said she; "why, he has gone and run away with my pair of
+fowls that I had just dished up."
+
+"That's pretty sort of conduct!" said the master, feeling very sorry
+about the fowls; "he might at least have left me one, that I might have
+had something to eat." And he called out to him to stop, but the guest
+made as if he did not hear him; then he ran after him, the knife still
+in his hand, crying out, "Only one! only one!" meaning that the guest
+should let him have one of the fowls and not take both, but the guest
+thought he meant to have only one of his ears, and he ran so much the
+faster that he might get home with both of them safe.
+
+
+
+
+The DEATH of the HEN
+
+
+ONCE on a time the cock and the hen went to the nut mountain, and they
+agreed beforehand that whichever of them should find a nut was to divide
+it with the other. Now the hen found a great big nut, but said nothing
+about it, and was going to eat it all alone, but the kernel was such a
+fat one that she could not swallow it down, and it stuck in her throat,
+so that she was afraid she should choke.
+
+"Cock!" cried she, "run as fast as you can and fetch me some water, or I
+shall choke!"
+
+So the cock ran as fast as he could to the brook, and said, "Brook, give
+me some water, the hen is up yonder choking with a big nut stuck in her
+throat." But the brook answered, "First run to the bride and ask her for
+some red silk."
+
+So the cock ran to the bride and said,
+
+"Bride, give me some red silk; the brook wants me to give him some red
+silk; I want him to give me some water, for the hen lies yonder choking
+with a big nut stuck in her throat."
+
+But the bride answered,
+
+"First go and fetch me my garland that hangs on a willow." And the cock
+ran to the willow and pulled the garland from the bough and brought it
+to the bride, and the bride gave him red silk, and he brought it to the
+brook, and the brook gave him water. So then the cock brought the water
+to the hen, but alas, it was too late; the hen had choked in the
+meanwhile, and lay there dead. And the cock was so grieved that he
+cried aloud, and all the beasts came and lamented for the hen; and six
+mice built a little waggon, on which to carry the poor hen to her grave,
+and when it was ready they harnessed themselves to it, and the cock
+drove. On the way they met the fox.
+
+"Halloa, cock," cried he, "where are you off to?"
+
+"To bury my hen," answered the cock.
+
+"Can I come too?" said the fox.
+
+"Yes, if you follow behind," said the cock.
+
+So the fox followed behind and he was soon joined by the wolf, the bear,
+the stag, the lion, and all the beasts in the wood. And the procession
+went on till they came to a brook.
+
+"How shall we get over?" said the cock. Now in the brook there was a
+straw, and he said,
+
+"I will lay myself across, so that you may pass over on me." But when
+the six mice had got upon this bridge, the straw slipped and fell into
+the water and they all tumbled in and were drowned. So they were as
+badly off as ever, when a coal came up and said he would lay himself
+across and they might pass over him; but no sooner had he touched the
+water than he hissed, went out, and was dead. A stone seeing this was
+touched with pity, and, wishing to help the cock, he laid himself across
+the stream. And the cock drew the waggon with the dead hen in it safely
+to the other side, and then began to draw the others who followed behind
+across too, but it was too much for him, the waggon turned over, and all
+tumbled into the water one on the top of another, and were drowned.
+
+So the cock was left all alone with the dead hen, and he digged a grave
+and laid her in it, and he raised a mound above her, and sat himself
+down and lamented so sore that at last he died. And so they were all
+dead together.
+
+
+
+
+HANS IN LUCK
+
+
+HANS had served his master seven years, and at the end of the seventh
+year he said,
+
+"Master, my time is up; I want to go home and see my mother, so give me
+my wages."
+
+"You have served me truly and faithfully," said the master; "as the
+service is, so must the wages be," and he gave him a lump of gold as big
+as his head. Hans pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and tied up
+the lump of gold in it, hoisted it on his shoulder, and set off on his
+way home. And as he was trudging along, there came in sight a man riding
+on a spirited horse, and looking very gay and lively. "Oh!" cried Hans
+aloud, "how splendid riding must be! sitting as much at one's ease as in
+an arm-chair, stumbling over no stones, saving one's shoes, and getting
+on one hardly knows how!"
+
+The horseman heard Hans say this, and called out to him,
+
+"Well Hans, what are you doing on foot?"
+
+"I can't help myself," said Hans, "I have this great lump to carry; to
+be sure, it is gold, but then I can't hold my head straight for it, and
+it hurts my shoulder."
+
+"I'll tell you what," said the horseman, "we will change; I will give
+you my horse, and you shall give me your lump of gold."
+
+"With all my heart," said Hans; "but I warn you, you will find it
+heavy." And the horseman got down, took the gold, and, helping Hans up,
+he gave the reins into his hand.
+
+"When you want to go fast," said he, "you must click your tongue and cry
+'Gee-up!'"
+
+And Hans, as he sat upon his horse, was glad at heart, and rode off with
+merry cheer. After a while he thought he should like to go quicker, so
+he began to click with his tongue and to cry "Gee-up!" And the horse
+began to trot, and Hans was thrown before he knew what was going to
+happen, and there he lay in the ditch by the side of the road. The horse
+would have got away but that he was caught by a peasant who was passing
+that way and driving a cow before him. And Hans pulled himself together
+and got upon his feet, feeling very vexed. "Poor work, riding," said he,
+"especially on a jade like this, who starts off and throws you before
+you know where you are, going near to break your neck; never shall I try
+that game again; now, your cow is something worth having, one can jog on
+comfortably after her and have her milk, butter, and cheese every day,
+into the bargain. What would I not give to have such a cow!"
+
+"Well now," said the peasant, "since it will be doing you such a favour,
+I don't mind exchanging my cow for your horse."
+
+Hans agreed most joyfully, and the peasant, swinging himself into the
+saddle, was soon out of sight.
+
+And Hans went along driving his cow quietly before him, and thinking all
+the while of the fine bargain he had made.
+
+"With only a piece of bread I shall have everything I can possibly want,
+for I shall always be able to have butter and cheese to it, and if I am
+thirsty I have nothing to do but to milk my cow; and what more is there
+for heart to wish!"
+
+And when he came to an inn he made a halt, and in the joy of his heart
+ate up all the food he had brought with him, dinner and supper and all,
+and bought half a glass of beer with his last two farthings. Then on he
+went again driving his cow, until he should come to the village where
+his mother lived. It was now near the middle of the day, and the sun
+grew hotter and hotter, and Hans found himself on a heath which it would
+be an hour's journey to cross. And he began to feel very hot, and so
+thirsty that his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth.
+
+"Never mind," said Hans; "I can find a remedy. I will milk my cow at
+once." And tying her to a dry tree, and taking off his leather cap to
+serve for a pail, he began to milk, but not a drop came. And as he set
+to work rather awkwardly, the impatient beast gave him such a kick on
+the head with his hind foot that he fell to the ground, and for some
+time could not think where he was; when luckily there came by a butcher
+who was wheeling along a young pig in a wheelbarrow.
+
+"Here's a fine piece of work!" cried he, helping poor Hans on his legs
+again. Then Hans related to him all that had happened; and the butcher
+handed him his pocket-flask, saying,
+
+"Here, take a drink, and be a man again; of course the cow would give no
+milk; she is old and only fit to draw burdens, or to be slaughtered."
+
+"Well, to be sure," said Hans, scratching his head. "Who would have
+thought it? of course it is a very handy way of getting meat when a man
+has a beast of his own to kill; but for my part I do not care much about
+cow beef, it is rather tasteless. Now, if I had but a young pig, that is
+much better meat, and then the sausages!"
+
+"Look here, Hans," said the butcher, "just for love of you I will
+exchange, and will give you my pig instead of your cow."
+
+"Heaven reward such kindness!" cried Hans, and handing over the cow,
+received in exchange the pig, who was turned out of his wheelbarrow and
+was to be led by a string.
+
+So on went Hans, thinking how everything turned out according to his
+wishes, and how, if trouble overtook him, all was sure to be set right
+directly. After a while he fell in with a peasant, who was carrying a
+fine white goose under his arm. They bid each other good-day, and Hans
+began to tell about his luck, and how he had made so many good
+exchanges. And the peasant told how he was taking the goose to a
+christening feast.
+
+"Just feel how heavy it is," said he, taking it up by the wings; "it has
+been fattening for the last eight weeks; and when it is roasted, won't
+the fat run down!"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Hans, weighing it in his hand, "very fine to be
+sure; but my pig is not to be despised."
+
+Upon which the peasant glanced cautiously on all sides, and shook his
+head.
+
+"I am afraid," said he, "that there is something not quite right about
+your pig. In the village I have just left one had actually been stolen
+from the bailiff's yard. I fear, I fear you have it in your hand; they
+have sent after the thief, and it would be a bad look-out for you if it
+was found upon you; the least that could happen would be to be thrown
+into a dark hole."
+
+Poor Hans grew pale with fright. "For heaven's sake," said he, "help me
+out of this scrape, I am a stranger in these parts; take my pig and give
+me your goose."
+
+"It will be running some risk," answered the man, "but I will do it
+sooner than that you should come to grief." And so, taking the cord in
+his hand, he drove the pig quickly along a by-path, and lucky Hans went
+on his way home with the goose under his arm. "The more I think of it,"
+said he to himself, "the better the bargain seems; first I get the roast
+goose; then the fat; that will last a whole year for bread and dripping;
+and lastly the beautiful white feathers which I can stuff my pillow
+with; how comfortably I shall sleep upon it, and how pleased my mother
+will be!"
+
+And when he reached the last village, he saw a knife-grinder with his
+barrow; and his wheel went whirring round, and he sang,
+
+ "My scissors I grind, and my wheel I turn;
+ And all good fellows my trade should learn,
+ For all that I meet with just serves my turn."
+
+And Hans stood and looked at him; and at last he spoke to him and said,
+
+"You seem very well off, and merry with your grinding."
+
+"Yes," answered the knife-grinder, "my handiwork pays very well. I call
+a man a good grinder who, every time he puts his hand in his pocket
+finds money there. But where did you buy that fine goose?"
+
+"I did not buy it, but I exchanged it for my pig," said Hans.
+
+"And the pig?"
+
+"That I exchanged for a cow."
+
+"And the cow?"
+
+"That I exchanged for a horse."
+
+"And the horse?"
+
+"I gave for the horse a lump of gold as big as my head."
+
+"And the gold?"
+
+"Oh, that was my wage for seven years' service."
+
+"You seem to have fended for yourself very well," said the
+knife-grinder. "Now, if you could but manage to have money in your
+pocket every time you put your hand in, your fortune is made."
+
+"How shall I manage that?" said Hans.
+
+"You must be a knife-grinder like me," said the man. "All you want is a
+grindstone, the rest comes of itself: I have one here; to be sure it is
+a little damaged, but I don't mind letting you have it in exchange for
+your goose; what say you?"
+
+"How can you ask?" answered Hans. "I shall be the luckiest fellow in the
+world, for if I find money whenever I put my hand in my pocket, there is
+nothing more left to want."
+
+And so he handed over the goose to the pedlar and received the
+grindstone in exchange.
+
+"Now," said the knife-grinder, taking up a heavy common stone that lay
+near him, "here is another proper sort of stone that will stand a good
+deal of wear and that you can hammer out your old nails upon. Take it
+with you, and carry it carefully."
+
+Hans lifted up the stone and carried it off with a contented mind. "I
+must have been born under a lucky star!" cried he, while his eyes
+sparkled for joy. "I have only to wish for a thing and it is mine."
+
+After a while he began to feel rather tired, as indeed he had been on
+his legs since daybreak; he also began to feel rather hungry, as in the
+fulness of his joy at getting the cow, he had eaten up all he had. At
+last he could scarcely go on at all, and had to make a halt every
+moment, for the stones weighed him down most unmercifully, and he could
+not help wishing that he did not feel obliged to drag them along. And on
+he went at a snail's pace until he came to a well; then he thought he
+would rest and take a drink of the fresh water. And he placed the stones
+carefully by his side at the edge of the well; then he sat down, and as
+he stooped to drink, he happened to give the stones a little push, and
+they both fell into the water with a splash. And then Hans, having
+watched them disappear, jumped for joy, and thanked his stars that he
+had been so lucky as to get rid of the stones that had weighed upon him
+so long without any effort of his own.
+
+"I really think," cried he, "I am the luckiest man under the sun." So on
+he went, void of care, until he reached his mother's house.
+
+
+
+
+THE GOOSE GIRL.
+
+
+THERE lived once an old Queen, whose husband had been dead many years.
+She had a beautiful daughter who was promised in marriage to a King's
+son living a great way off. When the time appointed for the wedding drew
+near, and the old Queen had to send her daughter into the foreign land,
+she got together many costly things, furniture and cups and jewels and
+adornments, both of gold and silver, everything proper for the dowry of
+a royal Princess, for she loved her daughter dearly. She gave her also a
+waiting gentlewoman to attend her and to give her into the bridegroom's
+hands; and they were each to have a horse for the journey, and the
+Princess's horse was named Falada, and he could speak. When the time for
+parting came, the old Queen took her daughter to her chamber, and with a
+little knife she cut her own finger so that it bled; and she held
+beneath it a white napkin, and on it fell three drops of blood; and she
+gave it to her daughter, bidding her take care of it, for it would be
+needful to her on the way. Then they took leave of each other; and the
+Princess put the napkin in her bosom, got on her horse, and set out to
+go to the bridegroom. After she had ridden an hour, she began to feel
+very thirsty, and she said to the waiting-woman,
+
+"Get down, and fill my cup that you are carrying with water from the
+brook; I have great desire to drink."
+
+"Get down yourself," said the waiting-woman, "and if you are thirsty
+stoop down and drink; I will not be your slave."
+
+[Illustration: GOOSE GIRL
+
+ 'O WIND, BLOW CONRAD'S HAT AWAY,
+ AND MAKE HIM FOLLOW AS IT FLIES,
+ WHILE I WITH MY GOLD HAIR WILL PLAY
+ AND BIND IT UP IN SEEMLY WISE.' ]
+
+And as her thirst was so great, the Princess had to get down and to
+stoop and drink of the water of the brook, and could not have her gold
+cup to serve her. "Oh dear!" said the poor Princess. And the three drops
+of blood heard her, and said,
+
+"If your mother knew of this, it would break her heart."
+
+But the Princess answered nothing, and quietly mounted her horse again.
+So they rode on some miles farther; the day was warm, the sun shone hot,
+and the Princess grew thirsty once more. And when they came to a
+water-course she called again to the waiting-woman and said,
+
+"Get down, and give me to drink out of my golden cup." For she had
+forgotten all that had gone before. But the waiting-woman spoke still
+more scornfully and said,
+
+"If you want a drink, you may get it yourself; I am not going to be your
+slave."
+
+So, as her thirst was so great, the Princess had to get off her horse
+and to stoop towards the running water to drink, and as she stooped, she
+wept and said, "Oh dear!" And the three drops of blood heard her and
+answered,
+
+"If your mother knew of this, it would break her heart!"
+
+And as she drank and stooped over, the napkin on which were the three
+drops of blood fell out of her bosom and floated down the stream, and in
+her distress she never noticed it; not so the waiting-woman, who
+rejoiced because she should have power over the bride, who, now that she
+had lost the three drops of blood, had become weak, and unable to defend
+herself. And when she was going to mount her horse again the
+waiting-woman cried,
+
+"Falada belongs to me, and this jade to you." And the Princess had to
+give way and let it be as she said. Then the waiting-woman ordered the
+Princess with many hard words to take off her rich clothing and to put
+on her plain garments, and then she made her swear to say nothing of the
+matter when they came to the royal court; threatening to take her life
+if she refused. And all the while Falada noticed and remembered.
+
+The waiting-woman then mounting Falada, and the Princess the sorry jade,
+they journeyed on till they reached the royal castle. There was great
+joy at their coming, and the King's son hastened to meet them, and
+lifted the waiting woman from her horse, thinking she was his bride; and
+then he led her up the stairs, while the real Princess had to remain
+below. But the old King, who was looking out of the window, saw her
+standing in the yard, and noticed how delicate and gentle and beautiful
+she was, and then he went down and asked the seeming bride who it was
+that she had brought with her and that was now standing in the
+courtyard.
+
+"Oh!" answered the bride, "I only brought her with me for company; give
+the maid something to do, that she may not be for ever standing idle."
+
+But the old King had no work to give her; until he bethought him of a
+boy he had who took care of the geese, and that she might help him. And
+so the real Princess was sent to keep geese with the goose-boy, who was
+called Conrad.
+
+Soon after the false bride said to the Prince,
+
+"Dearest husband, I pray thee do me a pleasure."
+
+"With all my heart," answered he.
+
+"Then" said she, "send for the knacker, that he may carry off the horse
+I came here upon, and make away with him; he was very troublesome to me
+on the journey." For she was afraid that the horse might tell how she
+had behaved to the Princess. And when the order had been given that
+Falada should die, it came to the Princess's ears, and she came to the
+knacker's man secretly, and promised him a piece of gold if he would do
+her a service. There was in the town a great dark gate-way through which
+she had to pass morning and evening with her geese, and she asked the
+man to take Falada's head and to nail it on the gate, that she might
+always see it as she passed by. And the man promised, and he took
+Falada's head and nailed it fast in the dark gate-way.
+
+Early next morning as she and Conrad drove their geese through the gate,
+she said as she went by,
+
+ "O Falada, dost thou hang there?"
+
+And the head answered,
+
+ "Princess, dost thou so meanly fare?
+ But if thy mother knew thy pain,
+ Her heart would surely break in twain."
+
+But she went on through the town, driving her geese to the field. And
+when they came into the meadows, she sat down and undid her hair, which
+was all of gold, and when Conrad saw how it glistened, he wanted to pull
+out a few hairs for himself. And she said,
+
+ "O wind, blow Conrad's hat away,
+ Make him run after as it flies,
+ While I with my gold hair will play,
+ And twist it up in seemly wise."
+
+Then there came a wind strong enough to blow Conrad's hat far away over
+the fields, and he had to run after it; and by the time he came back she
+had put up her hair with combs and pins, and he could not get at any to
+pull it out; and he was sulky and would not speak to her; so they looked
+after the geese until the evening came, and then they went home.
+
+The next morning, as they passed under the dark gate-way, the Princess
+said,
+
+ "O Falada, dost thou hang there?"
+
+And Falada answered,
+
+ "Princess, dost thou so meanly fare?
+ But if thy mother knew thy pain,
+ Her heart would surely break in twain."
+
+And when they reached the fields she sat down and began to comb out her
+hair; then Conrad came up and wanted to seize upon some of it, and she
+cried,
+
+ "O wind, blow Conrad's hat away,
+ Make him run after as it flies,
+ While I with my gold hair will play,
+ And do it up in seemly wise."
+
+Then the wind came and blew Conrad's hat very far away, so that he had
+to run after it, and when he came back again her hair was put up again,
+so that he could pull none of it out; and they tended the geese until
+the evening.
+
+And after they had got home, Conrad went to the old King and said, "I
+will tend the geese no longer with that girl!"
+
+"Why not?" asked the old King.
+
+"Because she vexes me the whole day long," answered Conrad. Then the old
+King ordered him to tell how it was.
+
+"Every morning," said Conrad, "as we pass under the dark gate-way with
+the geese, there is an old horse's head hanging on the wall, and she
+says to it,
+
+ "O Falada, dost thou hang there?"
+
+And the head answers,
+
+ "Princess, dost thou so meanly fare?
+ But if thy mother knew thy pain,
+ Her heart would surely break in twain."
+
+And besides this, Conrad related all that happened in the fields, and
+how he was obliged to run after his hat.
+
+The old King told him to go to drive the geese next morning as usual,
+and he himself went behind the gate and listened how the maiden spoke to
+Falada; and then he followed them into the fields, and hid himself
+behind a bush; and he watched the goose-boy and the goose-girl tend the
+geese; and after a while he saw the girl make her hair all loose, and
+how it gleamed and shone. Soon she said,
+
+ "O wind, blow Conrad's hat away,
+ And make him follow as it flies,
+ While I with my gold hair will play,
+ And bind it up in seemly wise."
+
+Then there came a gust of wind and away went Conrad's hat, and he after
+it, while the maiden combed and bound up her hair; and the old King saw
+all that went on. At last he went unnoticed away, and when the
+goose-girl came back in the evening he sent for her, and asked the
+reason of her doing all this.
+
+"That I dare not tell you," she answered, "nor can I tell any man of my
+woe, for when I was in danger of my life I swore an oath not to reveal
+it." And he pressed her sore, and left her no peace, but he could get
+nothing out of her. At last he said,
+
+"If you will not tell it me, tell it to the iron oven," and went away.
+Then she crept into the iron oven, and began to weep and to lament, and
+at last she opened her heart and said,
+
+"Here I sit forsaken of all the world, and I am a King's daughter, and a
+wicked waiting-woman forced me to give up my royal garments and my place
+at the bridegroom's side, and I am made a goose-girl, and have to do
+mean service. And if my mother knew, it would break her heart."
+
+Now the old King was standing outside by the oven-door listening, and he
+heard all she said, and he called to her and told her to come out of the
+oven. And he caused royal clothing to be put upon her, and it was a
+marvel to see how beautiful she was. The old King then called his son
+and proved to him that he had the wrong bride, for she was really only a
+waiting-woman, and that the true bride was here at hand, she who had
+been the goose-girl. The Prince was glad at heart when he saw her beauty
+and gentleness; and a great feast was made ready, and all the court
+people and good friends were bidden to it. The bridegroom sat in the
+midst with the Princess on one side and the waiting-woman on the other;
+and the false bride did not know the true one, because she was dazzled
+with her glittering braveries. When all the company had eaten and drunk
+and were merry, the old King gave the waiting-woman a question to
+answer, as to what such an one deserved, who had deceived her masters in
+such and such a manner, telling the whole story, and ending by asking,
+
+"Now, what doom does such an one deserve?"
+
+"No better than this," answered the false bride, "that she be put naked
+into a cask, studded inside with sharp nails, and be dragged along in it
+by two white horses from street to street, until she be dead."
+
+"Thou hast spoken thy own doom," said the old King; "as thou hast said,
+so shall it be done." And when the sentence was fulfilled, the Prince
+married the true bride, and ever after they ruled over their kingdom in
+peace and blessedness.
+
+
+
+
+THE RAVEN
+
+
+THERE was once a Queen and she had a little daughter, who was as yet a
+babe in arms; and once the child was so restless that the mother could
+get no peace, do what she would; so she lost patience, and seeing a
+flight of ravens passing over the castle, she opened the window and said
+to her child,
+
+"Oh, that thou wert a raven and couldst fly away, that I might be at
+peace."
+
+No sooner had she uttered the words, than the child was indeed changed
+into a raven, and fluttered from her arms out of the window. And she
+flew into a dark wood and stayed there a long time, and her parents knew
+nothing of her. Once a man was passing through the wood, and he heard
+the raven cry, and he followed the voice; and when he came near it said,
+
+"I was born a King's daughter, and have been bewitched, but thou canst
+set me free."
+
+"What shall I do?" asked the man.
+
+"Go deeper into the wood," said she, "and thou shalt find a house and an
+old woman sitting in it: she will offer thee meat and drink, but thou
+must take none; if thou eatest or drinkest thou fallest into a deep
+sleep, and canst not set me free at all. In the garden behind the house
+is a big heap of tan, stand upon that and wait for me. Three days, at
+about the middle of the day, shall I come to thee in a car drawn by four
+white horses the first time, by four red ones the second time, and
+lastly by four black ones; and if thou art not waking but sleeping, thou
+failest to set me free."
+
+The man promised to do all she said.
+
+"But ah!" cried she, "I know quite well I shall not be set free of thee;
+something thou wilt surely take from the old woman."
+
+But the man promised yet once more that certainly he would not touch the
+meat or the drink. But when he came to the house the old woman came up
+to him.
+
+"My poor man," said she to him, "you are quite tired out, come and be
+refreshed, and eat and drink."
+
+"No," said the man, "I will eat and drink nothing."
+
+But she left him no peace, saying,
+
+"Even if you eat nothing, take a draught out of this cup once and away."
+
+So he was over-persuaded, and he drank.
+
+In the afternoon, about two o'clock, he went out into the garden to
+stand upon the tan-heap and wait for the raven. As he stood there he
+felt all at once so tired, that he could bear it no longer, and laid
+himself down for a little; but not to sleep. But no sooner was he
+stretched at length than his eyes closed of themselves, and he fell
+asleep, and slept so sound, as if nothing in the world could awaken him.
+
+At two o'clock came the raven in the car drawn by four white horses, but
+she was sad, knowing already that the man would be asleep, and so, when
+she came into the garden, there he lay sure enough. And she got out of
+the car and shook him and called to him, but he did not wake. The next
+day at noon the old woman came and brought him meat and drink, but he
+would take none. But she left him no peace, and persuaded him until he
+took a draught out of the cup. About two o'clock he went into the garden
+to stand upon the tan-heap, and to wait for the raven, but he was
+overcome with so great a weariness that his limbs would no longer hold
+him up; and whether he would or no he had to lie down, and he fell into
+a deep sleep. And when the raven came up with her four red horses, she
+was sad, knowing already that the man would be asleep. And she went up
+to him, and there he lay, and nothing would wake him.
+
+The next day the old woman came and asked what was the matter with him,
+and if he wanted to die, that he would neither eat nor drink; but he
+answered,
+
+"I neither can nor will eat and drink."
+
+But she brought the dishes of food and the cup of wine, and placed them
+before him, and when the smell came in his nostrils he could not
+refrain, but took a deep draught. When the hour drew near, he went into
+the garden and stood on the tan-heap to wait for the king's daughter; as
+time went on he grew more and more weary, and at last he laid himself
+down and slept like a stone. At two o'clock came the raven with four
+black horses, and the car and all was black; and she was sad, knowing
+already that he was sleeping, and would not be able to set her free; and
+when she came up to him, there he lay and slept. She shook him and
+called to him, but she could not wake him. Then she laid a loaf by his
+side and some meat, and a flask of wine, for now, however much he ate
+and drank, it could not matter. And she took a ring of gold from her
+finger, and put it on his finger, and her name was engraven on it. And
+lastly she laid by him a letter, in which was set down what she had
+given him, and that all was of no use, and further also it said,
+
+"I see that here thou canst not save me, but if thy mind is to the
+thing, come to the golden castle of Stromberg: I know well that if thou
+willst thou canst." And when all this was done, she got again into her
+car, and went to the golden castle of Stromberg.
+
+When the man waked up and perceived that he had been to sleep, he was
+sad at heart to think that she had been, and gone, and that he had not
+set her free. Then, catching sight of what lay beside him, he read the
+letter that told him all. And he rose up and set off at once to go to
+the golden castle of Stromberg, though he knew not where it was. And
+when he had wandered about in the world for a long time, he came to a
+dark wood, and there spent a fortnight trying to find the way out, and
+not being able. At the end of this time, it being towards evening, he
+was so tired that he laid himself down under a clump of bushes and went
+to sleep. The next day he went on again, and in the evening, when he was
+going to lie down again to rest, he heard howlings and lamentations, so
+that he could not sleep. And about the hour when lamps are lighted, he
+looked up and saw a light glimmer in the forest; and he got up and
+followed it, and he found that it came from a house that looked very
+small indeed, because there stood a giant before it. And the man thought
+to himself that if he were to try to enter and the giant were to see
+him, it would go hard but he should lose his life. At last he made up
+his mind, and walked in. And the giant saw him.
+
+"I am glad thou art come," said he; "it is now a long time since I have
+had anything to eat; I shall make a good supper of thee."
+
+"That may be," said the man, "but I shall not relish it; besides, if
+thou desirest to eat, I have somewhat here that may satisfy thee."
+
+"If that is true," answered the giant, "thou mayest make thy mind easy;
+it was only for want of something better that I wished to devour thee."
+
+Then they went in and placed themselves at the table, and the man
+brought out bread, meat, and wine in plenty.
+
+"This pleases me well," said the giant, and he ate to his heart's
+content. After a while the man asked him if he could tell him where the
+golden castle of Stromberg was.
+
+"I will look on my land-chart," said the giant, "for on it all towns and
+villages and houses are marked."
+
+So he fetched the land-chart which was in his room, and sought for the
+castle, but it was not to be found.
+
+"Never mind," said he, "I have up-stairs in the cupboard much bigger
+maps than this; we will have a look at them." And so they did, but in
+vain.
+
+And now the man wanted to pursue his journey, but the giant begged him
+to stay a few days longer, until his brother, who had gone to get in a
+store of provisions, should return. When the brother came, they asked
+him about the golden castle of Stromberg.
+
+"When I have had time to eat a meal and be satisfied, I will look at the
+map."
+
+That being done, he went into his room with them, and they looked at his
+maps, but could find nothing: then he fetched other old maps, and they
+never left off searching until they found the golden castle of
+Stromberg, but it was many thousand miles away.
+
+"How shall I ever get there?" said the man.
+
+"I have a couple of hours to spare," said the giant, "and I will set you
+on your way, but I shall have to come back and look after the child that
+we have in the house with us."
+
+Then the giant bore the man until within about a hundred hours' journey
+from the castle, and saying,
+
+"You can manage the rest of the way by yourself," he departed; and the
+man went on day and night, until at last he came to the golden castle of
+Stromberg. It stood on a mountain of glass, and he could see the
+enchanted Princess driving round it, and then passing inside the gates.
+He was rejoiced when he saw her, and began at once to climb the mountain
+to get to her; but it was so slippery, as fast as he went he fell back
+again. And when he saw this he felt he should never reach her, and he
+was full of grief, and resolved at least to stay at the foot of the
+mountain and wait for her. So he built himself a hut, and sat there and
+waited a whole year; and every day he saw the Princess drive round and
+pass in, and was never able to reach her.
+
+One day he looked out of his hut and saw three robbers fighting, and he
+called out, "Mercy on us!" Hearing a voice, they stopped for a moment,
+but went on again beating one another in a dreadful manner. And he cried
+out again, "Mercy on us!" They stopped and listened, and looked about
+them, and then went on again. And he cried out a third time, "Mercy on
+us!" and then, thinking he would go and see what was the matter, he went
+out and asked them what they were fighting for. One of them told him he
+had found a stick which would open any door only by knocking at it; the
+second said he had found a cloak which, if he put it on, made him
+invisible; the third said he was possessed of a horse that would ride
+over everything, even the glass mountain. Now they had fought because
+they could not agree whether they should enjoy these things in common or
+separately.
+
+"Suppose we make a bargain," said the man; "it is true I have no money,
+but I have other things yet more valuable to exchange for these; I must,
+however, make trial of them beforehand, to see if you have spoken truth
+concerning them."
+
+So they let him mount the horse, and put the cloak round him, and they
+gave him the stick into his hand, and as soon as he had all this he was
+no longer to be seen; but laying about him well, he gave them all a
+sound thrashing, crying out,
+
+"Now, you good-for-nothing fellows, you have got what you deserve;
+perhaps you will be satisfied now!"
+
+Then he rode up the glass mountain, and when he reached the castle gates
+he found them locked; but he beat with his stick upon the door and it
+opened at once. And he walked in, and up the stairs to the great room
+where sat the Princess with a golden cup and wine before her: she could
+not see him so long as the cloak was on him, but drawing near to her he
+pulled off the ring she had given him, and threw it into the cup with a
+clang.
+
+"This is my ring," she cried, "and the man who is to set me free must be
+here too!"
+
+But though she sought through the whole castle she found him not; he had
+gone outside, seated himself on his horse, and thrown off the cloak. And
+when she came to look out at the door, she saw him and shrieked out for
+joy; and he dismounted and took her in his arms, and she kissed him,
+saying,
+
+"Now hast thou set me free from my enchantment, and to-morrow we will be
+married."
+
+
+
+
+THE FROG PRINCE
+
+
+IN the old times, when it was still of some use to wish for the thing
+one wanted, there lived a King whose daughters were all handsome, but
+the youngest was so beautiful that the sun himself, who has seen so
+much, wondered each time he shone over her because of her beauty. Near
+the royal castle there was a great dark wood, and in the wood under an
+old linden-tree was a well; and when the day was hot, the King's
+daughter used to go forth into the wood and sit by the brink of the cool
+well, and if the time seemed long, she would take out a golden ball, and
+throw it up and catch it again, and this was her favourite pastime.
+
+Now it happened one day that the golden ball, instead of falling back
+into the maiden's little hand which had sent it aloft, dropped to the
+ground near the edge of the well and rolled in. The king's daughter
+followed it with her eyes as it sank, but the well was deep, so deep
+that the bottom could not be seen. Then she began to weep, and she wept
+and wept as if she could never be comforted. And in the midst of her
+weeping she heard a voice saying to her,
+
+"What ails thee, king's daughter? thy tears would melt a heart of
+stone."
+
+And when she looked to see where the voice came from, there was nothing
+but a frog stretching his thick ugly head out of the water.
+
+"Oh, is it you, old waddler?" said she; "I weep because my golden ball
+has fallen into the well."
+
+"Never mind, do not weep," answered the frog; "I can help you; but what
+will you give me if I fetch up your ball again?"
+
+"Whatever you like, dear frog," said she; "any of my clothes, my pearls
+and jewels, or even the golden crown that I wear."
+
+"Thy clothes, thy pearls and jewels, and thy golden crown are not for
+me," answered the frog; "but if thou wouldst love me, and have me for
+thy companion and play-fellow, and let me sit by thee at table, and eat
+from thy plate, and drink from thy cup, and sleep in thy little bed,--if
+thou wouldst promise all this, then would I dive below the water and
+fetch thee thy golden ball again."
+
+"Oh yes," she answered; "I will promise it all, whatever you want, if
+you will only get me my ball again."
+
+But she thought to herself, "What nonsense he talks! as if he could do
+anything but sit in the water and croak with the other frogs, or could
+possibly be any one's companion."
+
+But the frog, as soon as he heard her promise, drew his head under the
+water and sank down out of sight, but after a while he came to the
+surface again with the ball in his mouth, and he threw it on the grass.
+
+The King's daughter was overjoyed to see her pretty play-thing again,
+and she caught it up and ran off with it.
+
+"Stop, stop!" cried the frog; "take me up too; I cannot run as fast as
+you!"
+
+But it was of no use, for croak, croak after her as he might, she would
+not listen to him, but made haste home, and very soon forgot all about
+the poor frog, who had to betake himself to his well again.
+
+The next day, when the King's daughter was sitting at table with the
+King and all the court, and eating from her golden plate, there came
+something pitter patter up the marble stairs, and then there came a
+knocking at the door, and a voice crying "Youngest King's daughter, let
+me in!"
+
+And she got up and ran to see who it could be, but when she opened the
+door, there was the frog sitting outside. Then she shut the door hastily
+and went back to her seat, feeling very uneasy. The King noticed how
+quickly her heart was beating, and said,
+
+"My child, what are you afraid of? is there a giant standing at the door
+ready to carry you away?"
+
+"Oh no," answered she; "no giant, but a horrid frog."
+
+"And what does the frog want?" asked the King.
+
+"O dear father," answered she, "when I was sitting by the well
+yesterday, and playing with my golden ball, it fell into the water, and
+while I was crying for the loss of it, the frog came and got it again
+for me on condition I would let him be my companion, but I never thought
+that he could leave the water and come after me; but now there he is
+outside the door, and he wants to come in to me."
+
+And then they all heard him knocking the second time and crying,
+
+ "Youngest King's daughter,
+ Open to me!
+ By the well water
+ What promised you me?
+ Youngest King's daughter
+ Now open to me!"
+
+"That which thou hast promised must thou perform," said the King; "so go
+now and let him in."
+
+So she went and opened the door, and the frog hopped in, following at
+her heels, till she reached her chair. Then he stopped and cried,
+
+"Lift me up to sit by you."
+
+But she delayed doing so until the King ordered her. When once the frog
+was on the chair, he wanted to get on the table, and there he sat and
+said,
+
+"Now push your golden plate a little nearer, so that we may eat
+together."
+
+And so she did, but everybody might see how unwilling she was, and the
+frog feasted heartily, but every morsel seemed to stick in her throat.
+
+"I have had enough now," said the frog at last, "and as I am tired, you
+must carry me to your room, and make ready your silken bed, and we will
+lie down and go to sleep."
+
+Then the King's daughter began to weep, and was afraid of the cold frog,
+that nothing would satisfy him but he must sleep in her pretty clean
+bed. Now the King grew angry with her, saying,
+
+"That which thou hast promised in thy time of necessity, must thou now
+perform."
+
+So she picked up the frog with her finger and thumb, carried him
+upstairs and put him in a corner, and when she had lain down to sleep,
+he came creeping up, saying, "I am tired and want sleep as much as you;
+take me up, or I will tell your father."
+
+Then she felt beside herself with rage, and picking him up, she threw
+him with all her strength against the wall, crying,
+
+"Now will you be quiet, you horrid frog!"
+
+But as he fell, he ceased to be a frog, and became all at once a prince
+with beautiful kind eyes. And it came to pass that, with her father's
+consent, they became bride and bridegroom. And he told her how a wicked
+witch had bound him by her spells, and how no one but she alone could
+have released him, and that they two would go together to his father's
+kingdom. And there came to the door a carriage drawn by eight white
+horses, with white plumes on their heads, and with golden harness, and
+behind the carriage was standing faithful Henry, the servant of the
+young prince. Now, faithful Henry had suffered such care and pain when
+his master was turned into a frog, that he had been obliged to wear
+three iron bands over his heart, to keep it from breaking with trouble
+and anxiety. When the carriage started to take the prince to his
+kingdom, and faithful Henry had helped them both in, he got up behind,
+and was full of joy at his master's deliverance. And when they had gone
+a part of the way, the prince heard a sound at the back of the carriage,
+as if something had broken, and he turned round and cried,
+
+"Henry, the wheel must be breaking!" but Henry answered,
+
+ "The wheel does not break,
+ 'Tis the band round my heart
+ That, to lessen its ache,
+ When I grieved for your sake,
+ I bound round my heart."
+
+Again, and yet once again there was the same sound, and the prince
+thought it must be the wheel breaking, but it was the breaking of the
+other bands from faithful Henry's heart, because it was now so relieved
+and happy.
+
+
+
+
+CAT & MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP.
+
+
+A CAT having made acquaintance with a mouse, professed such great love
+and friendship for her, that the mouse at last agreed that they should
+live and keep house together.
+
+"We must make provision for the winter," said the cat, "or we shall
+suffer hunger, and you, little mouse, must not stir out, or you will be
+caught in a trap."
+
+So they took counsel together and bought a little pot of fat. And then
+they could not tell where to put it for safety, but after long
+consideration the cat said there could not be a better place than the
+church, for nobody would steal there; and they would put it under the
+altar and not touch it until they were really in want. So this was done,
+and the little pot placed in safety.
+
+But before long the cat was seized with a great wish to taste it.
+
+"Listen to me, little mouse," said he; "I have been asked by my cousin
+to stand god-father to a little son she has brought into the world; he
+is white with brown spots; and they want to have the christening to-day,
+so let me go to it, and you stay at home and keep house."
+
+"Oh yes, certainly," answered the mouse, "pray go by all means; and when
+you are feasting on all the good things, think of me; I should so like a
+drop of the sweet red wine."
+
+But there was not a word of truth in all this; the cat had no cousin,
+and had not been asked to stand god-father: he went to the church,
+straight up to the little pot, and licked the fat off the top; then he
+took a walk over the roofs of the town, saw his acquaintances, stretched
+himself in the sun, and licked his whiskers as often as he thought of
+the little pot of fat; and then when it was evening he went home.
+
+"Here you are at last," said the mouse; "I expect you have had a merry
+time."
+
+"Oh, pretty well," answered the cat.
+
+"And what name did you give the child?" asked the mouse.
+
+"Top-off," answered the cat, drily.
+
+"Top-off!" cried the mouse, "that is a singular and wonderful name! is
+it common in your family?"
+
+"What does it matter?" said the cat; "it's not any worse than
+Crumb-picker, like your god-child."
+
+A little time after this the cat was again seized with a longing.
+
+"Again I must ask you," said he to the mouse, "to do me a favour, and
+keep house alone for a day. I have been asked a second time to stand
+god-father; and as the little one has a white ring round its neck, I
+cannot well refuse."
+
+So the kind little mouse consented, and the cat crept along by the town
+wall until he reached the church, and going straight to the little pot
+of fat, devoured half of it.
+
+"Nothing tastes so well as what one keeps to oneself," said he, feeling
+quite content with his day's work. When he reached home, the mouse asked
+what name had been given to the child.
+
+"Half-gone," answered the cat.
+
+"Half-gone!" cried the mouse, "I never heard such a name in my life!
+I'll bet it's not to be found in the calendar."
+
+Soon after that the cat's mouth began to water again for the fat.
+
+"Good things always come in threes," said he to the mouse; "again I have
+been asked to stand god-father, the little one is quite black with white
+feet, and not any white hair on its body; such a thing does not happen
+every day, so you will let me go, won't you?"
+
+"Top-off, Half-gone," murmured the mouse, "they are such curious names,
+I cannot but wonder at them!"
+
+"That's because you are always sitting at home," said the cat, "in your
+little grey frock and hairy tail, never seeing the world, and fancying
+all sorts of things."
+
+So the little mouse cleaned up the house and set it all in order.
+Meanwhile the greedy cat went and made an end of the little pot of fat.
+
+"Now all is finished one's mind will be easy," said he, and came home in
+the evening, quite sleek and comfortable. The mouse asked at once what
+name had been given to the third child.
+
+"It won't please you any better than the others," answered the cat. "It
+is called All-gone."
+
+"All-gone!" cried the mouse. "What an unheard-of-name! I never met with
+anything like it! All-gone! whatever can it mean?" And shaking her head,
+she curled herself round and went to sleep. After that the cat was not
+again asked to stand god-father.
+
+When the winter had come and there was nothing more to be had out of
+doors, the mouse began to think of their store.
+
+"Come, cat," said she, "we will fetch our pot of fat, how good it will
+taste, to be sure!"
+
+"Of course it will," said the cat, "just as good as if you stuck your
+tongue out of window!"
+
+So they set out, and when they reached the place, they found the pot,
+but it was standing empty.
+
+"Oh, now I know what it all meant," cried the mouse, "now I see what
+sort of a partner you have been! Instead of standing god-father you have
+devoured it all up; first Top-off, then Half-gone, then"----
+
+"Will you hold your tongue!" screamed the cat, "another word, and I
+devour you too!"
+
+And the poor little mouse, having "All-gone" on her tongue, out it came,
+and the cat leaped upon her and made an end of her. And that is the way
+of the world.
+
+
+
+
+The WOLF and the SEVEN LITTLE GOATS.
+
+
+THERE was once an old goat who had seven little ones, and was as fond of
+them as ever mother was of her children. One day she had to go into the
+wood to fetch food for them, so she called them all round her.
+
+"Dear children," said she, "I am going out into the wood; and while I am
+gone, be on your guard against the wolf, for if he were once to get
+inside he would eat you up, skin, bones, and all. The wretch often
+disguises himself, but he may always be known by his hoarse voice and
+black paws."
+
+"Dear mother," answered the kids, "you need not be afraid, we will take
+good care of ourselves." And the mother bleated good-bye, and went on
+her way with an easy mind.
+
+It was not long before some one came knocking at the house-door, and
+crying out,
+
+"Open the door, my dear children, your mother is come back, and has
+brought each of you something."
+
+But the little kids knew it was the wolf by the hoarse voice.
+
+"We will not open the door," cried they; "you are not our mother, she
+has a delicate and sweet voice, and your voice is hoarse; you must be
+the wolf."
+
+Then off went the wolf to a shop and bought a big lump of chalk, and ate
+it up to make his voice soft. And then he came back, knocked at the
+house-door, and cried,
+
+"Open the door, my dear children, your mother is here, and has brought
+each of you something."
+
+But the wolf had put up his black paws against the window, and the kids
+seeing this, cried out,
+
+"We will not open the door; our mother has no black paws like you; you
+must be the wolf."
+
+The wolf then ran to a baker.
+
+"Baker," said he, "I am hurt in the foot; pray spread some dough over
+the place."
+
+And when the baker had plastered his feet, he ran to the miller.
+
+"Miller," said he, "strew me some white meal over my paws." But the
+miller refused, thinking the wolf must be meaning harm to some one.
+
+"If you don't do it," cried the wolf, "I'll eat you up!"
+
+And the miller was afraid and did as he was told. And that just shows
+what men are.
+
+And now came the rogue the third time to the door and knocked. "Open,
+children!" cried he. "Your dear mother has come home, and brought you
+each something from the wood."
+
+"First show us your paws," said the kids, "so that we may know if you
+are really our mother or not."
+
+And he put up his paws against the window, and when they saw that they
+were white, all seemed right, and they opened the door; and when he was
+inside they saw it was the wolf, and they were terrified and tried to
+hide themselves. One ran under the table, the second got into the bed,
+the third into the oven, the fourth in the kitchen, the fifth in the
+cupboard, the sixth under the sink, the seventh in the clock-case. But
+the wolf found them all, and gave them short shrift; one after the other
+he swallowed down, all but the youngest, who was hid in the clock-case.
+And so the wolf, having got what he wanted, strolled forth into the
+green meadows, and laying himself down under a tree, he fell asleep.
+
+Not long after, the mother goat came back from the wood; and, oh! what a
+sight met her eyes! the door was standing wide open, table, chairs, and
+stools, all thrown about, dishes broken, quilt and pillows torn off the
+bed. She sought her children, they were nowhere to be found. She called
+to each of them by name, but nobody answered, until she came to the name
+of the youngest.
+
+"Here I am, mother," a little voice cried, "here, in the clock-case."
+
+And so she helped him out, and heard how the wolf had come, and eaten
+all the rest. And you may think how she cried for the loss of her dear
+children. At last in her grief she wandered out of doors, and the
+youngest kid with her; and when they came into the meadow, there they
+saw the wolf lying under a tree, and snoring so that the branches shook.
+The mother goat looked at him carefully on all sides and she noticed how
+something inside his body was moving and struggling.
+
+"Dear me!" thought she, "can it be that my poor children that he
+devoured for his evening meal are still alive?" And she sent the little
+kid back to the house for a pair of shears, and needle, and thread. Then
+she cut the wolf's body open, and no sooner had she made one snip than
+out came the head of one of the kids, and then another snip, and then
+one after the other the six little kids all jumped out alive and well,
+for in his greediness the rogue had swallowed them down whole. How
+delightful this was! so they comforted their dear mother and hopped
+about like tailors at a wedding.
+
+"Now fetch some good hard stones," said the mother, "and we will fill
+his body with them, as he lies asleep."
+
+And so they fetched some in all haste, and put them inside him, and the
+mother sewed him up so quickly again that he was none the wiser.
+
+When the wolf at last awoke, and got up, the stones inside him made him
+feel very thirsty, and as he was going to the brook to drink, they
+struck and rattled one against another. And so he cried out:
+
+ "What is this I feel inside me
+ Knocking hard against my bones?
+ How should such a thing betide me!
+ They were kids, and now they're stones."
+
+So he came to the brook, and stooped to drink, but the heavy stones
+weighed him down, so he fell over into the water and was drowned. And
+when the seven little kids saw it they came up running.
+
+"The wolf is dead, the wolf is dead!" they cried, and taking hands, they
+danced with their mother all about the place.
+
+[Illustration: FAITHFUL JOHN
+
+"IT HAPPENED, AS THEY WERE STILL
+JOURNEYING ON THE OPEN SEA, THAT
+FAITHFUL JOHN, AS HE SAT IN THE FORE
+PART OF THE SHIP, & MADE MUSIC, CAUGHT
+SIGHT OF THREE RAVENS FLYING OVERHEAD.
+THEN HE STOPPED PLAYING &
+LISTENED TO WHAT THEY SAID TO ONE ANOTHER"]
+
+
+
+
+FAITHFUL JOHN
+
+
+THERE was once an old King, who, having fallen sick, thought to himself,
+"This is very likely my death-bed on which I am lying."
+
+Then he said, "Let Faithful John be sent for."
+
+Faithful John was his best-beloved servant, and was so called because he
+had served the King faithfully all his life long. When he came near the
+bed, the King said to him,
+
+"Faithful John, I feel my end drawing near, and my only care is for my
+son; he is yet of tender years, and does not always know how to shape
+his conduct; and unless you promise me to instruct him in all his
+actions and be a true foster-father to him, I shall not be able to close
+my eyes in peace."
+
+Then answered Faithful John, "I will never forsake him, and will serve
+him faithfully, even though it should cost me my life."
+
+And the old King said, "Then I die, being of good cheer and at peace."
+And he went on to say,
+
+"After my death, you must lead him through the whole castle, into all
+the chambers, halls, and vaults, and show him the treasures that in them
+lie; but the last chamber in the long gallery, in which lies hidden the
+picture of the Princess of the Golden Palace, you must not show him. If
+he were to see that picture, he would directly fall into so great a love
+for her, that he would faint with the strength of it, and afterwards for
+her sake run into great dangers; so you must guard him well."
+
+And as Faithful John gave him his hand upon it, the old King became
+still and silent, laid his head upon the pillow, and died.
+
+When the old King was laid in the grave, Faithful John told the young
+King what he had promised to his father on his death-bed, and said,
+
+"And I will certainly hold to my promise and be faithful to you, as I
+was faithful to him, even though it should cost me my life."
+
+When the days of mourning were at an end, Faithful John said to the
+Prince,
+
+"It is now time that you should see your inheritance; I will show you
+all the paternal castle."
+
+Then he led him over all the place, upstairs and down-stairs, and showed
+him all the treasures and the splendid chambers; one chamber only he did
+not open, that in which the perilous picture hung. Now the picture was
+so placed that when the door opened it was the first thing to be seen,
+and was so wonderfully painted that it seemed to breathe and move, and
+in the whole world was there nothing more lovely or more beautiful. The
+young King noticed how Faithful John always passed by this one door, and
+asked,
+
+"Why do you not undo this door?"
+
+"There is something inside that would terrify you," answered he. But the
+King answered,
+
+"I have seen the whole castle, and I will know what is in here also."
+And he went forward and tried to open the door by force.
+
+Then Faithful John called him back, and said, "I promised your father on
+his death-bed that you should not see what is in that room; it might
+bring great misfortune on you and me were I to break my promise."
+
+But the young King answered, "I shall be undone if I do not go inside
+that room; I shall have no peace day or night until I have seen it with
+these eyes; and I will not move from this place until you have unlocked
+it."
+
+Then Faithful John saw there was no help for it, and he chose out the
+key from the big bunch with a heavy heart and many sighs. When the door
+was opened he walked in first, and thought that by standing in front of
+the King he might hide the picture from him, but that was no good, the
+King stood on tiptoe, and looked over his shoulder. And when he saw the
+image of the lady that was so wonderfully beautiful, and so glittering
+with gold and jewels, he fell on the ground powerless. Faithful John
+helped him up, took him to his bed, and thought with sorrow, "Ah me! the
+evil has come to pass; what will become of us?"
+
+Then he strengthened the King with wine, until he came to himself. The
+first words that he said were,
+
+"Oh, the beautiful picture! whose portrait is it?"
+
+"It is the portrait of the Princess of the Golden Palace," answered
+Faithful John. Then the King said,
+
+"My love for her is so great that if all the leaves of the forest were
+tongues they could not utter it! I stake my life on the chance of
+obtaining her, and you, my Faithful John, must stand by me."
+
+The faithful servant considered for a long time how the business should
+be begun; it seemed to him that it would be a difficult matter to come
+only at a sight of the Princess. At last he thought out a way, and said
+to the King,
+
+"All that she has about her is of gold--tables, chairs, dishes,
+drinking-cups, bowls, and all the household furniture; in your treasury
+are five tons of gold, let the goldsmiths of your kingdom work it up
+into all kinds of vessels and implements, into all kinds of birds, and
+wild creatures, and wonderful beasts, such as may please her; then we
+will carry them off with us, and go and seek our fortune."
+
+The King had all the goldsmiths fetched, and they worked day and night,
+until at last some splendid things were got ready. When a ship had been
+loaded with them, Faithful John put on the garb of a merchant, and so
+did the King, so as the more completely to disguise themselves. Then
+they journeyed over the sea, and went so far that at last they came to
+the city where the Princess of the Golden Palace dwelt.
+
+Faithful John told the King to stay in the ship, and to wait for him.
+
+"Perhaps," said he, "I shall bring the Princess back with me, so take
+care that everything is in order; let the golden vessels be placed
+about, and the whole ship be adorned."
+
+Then he gathered together in his apron some of the gold things, one of
+each kind, landed, and went up to the royal castle. And when he reached
+the courtyard of the castle there stood by the well a pretty maiden, who
+had two golden pails in her hand, and she was drawing water with them;
+and as she turned round to carry them away she saw the strange man, and
+asked him who he was. He answered,
+
+"I am a merchant," and opened his apron, and let her look within it.
+
+"Ah, what beautiful things!" cried she, and setting down her pails, she
+turned the golden toys over, and looked at them one after another: then
+she said,
+
+"The Princess must see these; she takes so much pleasure in gold things
+that she will buy them all from you."
+
+Then she took him by the hand and led him in, for she was the
+chamber-maid.
+
+When the Princess saw the golden wares she was very pleased, and said,
+
+"All these are so finely worked that I should like to buy them of you."
+
+But the faithful John said,
+
+"I am only the servant of a rich merchant, and what I have here is
+nothing to what my master has in the ship--the cunningest and costliest
+things that ever were made of gold."
+
+The Princess then wanted it all to be brought to her; but he said,
+
+"That would take up many days; so great is the number of them, and so
+much space would they occupy that there would not be enough room for
+them in your house."
+
+But the Princess's curiosity and fancy grew so much that at last she
+said,
+
+"Lead me to the ship; I will myself go and see your master's treasures."
+
+Then Faithful John led her to the ship joyfully, and the King, when he
+saw that her beauty was even greater than the picture had set forth,
+felt his heart leap at the sight. Then she climbed up into the ship, and
+the King received her. Faithful John stayed by the steersman, and gave
+orders for the ship to push off, saying, "Spread all sail, that she may
+fly like a bird in the air."
+
+So the King showed her all the golden things, each separately--the
+dishes, the bowls, the birds, the wild creatures, and the wonderful
+beasts. Many hours were passed in looking at them all, and in her
+pleasure the Princess never noticed that the ship was moving onwards.
+When she had examined the last, she thanked the merchant, and prepared
+to return home; but when she came to the ship's side, she saw that they
+were on the high seas, far from land, and speeding on under full sail.
+
+"Ah!" cried she, full of terror, "I am betrayed and carried off by this
+merchant. Oh that I had died rather than have fallen into his power!"
+
+But the King took hold of her hand, and said,
+
+"No merchant am I, but a King, and no baser of birth than thyself; it is
+because of my over-mastering love for thee that I have carried thee off
+by cunning. The first time I saw thy picture I fell fainting to the
+earth."
+
+When the Princess of the Golden Palace heard this she became more
+trustful, and her heart inclined favourably towards him, so that she
+willingly consented to become his wife.
+
+It happened, however, as they were still journeying on the open sea,
+that Faithful John, as he sat in the forepart of the ship and made
+music, caught sight of three ravens in the air flying overhead. Then he
+stopped playing, and listened to what they said one to another, for he
+understood them quite well. The first one cried,
+
+"Ay, there goes the Princess of the Golden Palace."
+
+"Yes," answered the second; "but he has not got her safe yet." And the
+third said,
+
+"He has her, though; she sits beside him in the ship."
+
+Then the first one spoke again,
+
+"What does that avail him? When they come on land a fox-red horse will
+spring towards them; then will the King try to mount him; and if he
+does, the horse will rise with him into the air, so that he will never
+see his bride again." The second raven asked,
+
+"Is there no remedy?"
+
+"Oh yes; if another man mounts quickly, and takes the pistol out of the
+holster and shoots the horse dead with it, he will save the young King.
+But who knows that? and he that knows it and does it will become stone
+from toe to knee." Then said the second,
+
+"I know further, that if the horse should be killed, the young King will
+not even then be sure of his bride. When they arrive at the castle there
+will lie a wrought bride-shirt in a dish, and it will seem all woven of
+gold and silver, but it is really of sulphur and pitch, and if he puts
+it on it will burn him to the marrow of his bones." The third raven
+said,
+
+"Is there no remedy?"
+
+"Oh yes," answered the second; "if another man with gloves on picks up
+the shirt, and throws it into the fire, so that it is consumed, then is
+the young King delivered. But what avails that? He who knows it and does
+it will be turned into stone from his heart to his knee." Then spoke the
+third,
+
+"I know yet more, that even when the bride-shirt is burnt up the King is
+not sure of his bride; when at the wedding the dance begins, and the
+young Queen dances, she will suddenly grow pale and fall to the earth as
+if she were dead, and unless some one lifts her up and takes three drops
+of blood from her right breast, she will die. But he that knows this and
+does this will become stone from the crown of his head to the sole of
+his foot."
+
+When the ravens had spoken thus among themselves they flew away.
+Faithful John had understood it all, and from that time he remained
+quiet and sad, for he thought to himself that were he to conceal what he
+had heard from his master, misfortune would befall; and were he to
+discover it his own life would be sacrificed. At last, however, he said
+within himself,
+
+"I will save my master, though I myself should perish!"
+
+So when they came on land, it happened just as the ravens had foretold,
+there sprang forward a splendid fox-red horse.
+
+"Come on!" said the King, "he shall carry me to the castle," and was
+going to mount, when Faithful John passed before him and mounted
+quickly, drew the pistol out of the holster, and shot the horse dead.
+Then the other servants of the king cried out (for they did not wish
+well to Faithful John),
+
+"How shameful to kill that beautiful animal that was to have carried the
+king to his castle." But the King said,
+
+"Hold your tongues, and let him be: he is my Faithful John; he knows
+what is the good of it."
+
+Then they went up to the castle, and there stood in the hall a dish,
+and the wrought bride-shirt that lay on it seemed as if of gold and
+silver. The young King went up to it and was going to put it on, but
+Faithful John pushed him away, picked it up with his gloved hands, threw
+it quickly on the fire, and there let it burn. The other servants began
+grumbling again, and said,
+
+"Look, he is even burning up the king's bridal shirt!" But the young
+King said,
+
+"Who knows but that there may be a good reason for it? let him be, he is
+my Faithful John."
+
+Then the wedding feast was held; and the bride led the dance; Faithful
+John watched her carefully, and all at once she grew pale and fell down
+as if she were dead. Then he went quickly to her, and carried her into a
+chamber hard by, laid her down, and kneeling, took three drops of blood
+from her right breast. Immediately she drew breath again and raised
+herself up, but the young King witnessing all, and not knowing why
+Faithful John had done this, grew very angry, and cried out,
+
+"Throw him into prison!"
+
+The next morning Faithful John was condemned to death and led to the
+gallows, and as he stood there ready to suffer, he said,
+
+"He who is about to die is permitted to speak once before his end; may I
+claim that right?"
+
+"Yes," answered the King, "it is granted to you." Then said Faithful
+John,
+
+"I have been condemned unjustly, for I have always been faithful," and
+he related how he had heard on the sea voyage the talk of the ravens,
+and how he had done everything in order to save his master. Then cried
+the King,
+
+"O my Faithful John, pardon! pardon! lead him down!" But Faithful John,
+as he spoke the last words, fell lifeless, and became stone.
+
+The King and Queen had great grief because of this, and the King said,
+
+"Ah, how could I have evil-rewarded such faithfulness!" and he caused
+the stone image to be lifted up and put to stand in his sleeping-room by
+the side of his bed. And as often as he saw it he wept and said,
+
+"Would that I could bring thee back to life, my Faithful John!"
+
+After some time the Queen bore twins--two little sons--that grew and
+thrived, and were the joy of their parents. One day, when the Queen was
+in church, the two children were sitting and playing with their father,
+and he gazed at the stone image full of sadness, sighed, and cried,
+
+"Oh that I could bring thee back to life, my Faithful John!" Then the
+stone began to speak, and said,
+
+"Yes, thou canst bring me back to life again, if thou wilt bestow
+therefor thy best-beloved." Then cried the King,
+
+"All that I have in the world will I give up for thee!" The stone went
+on to say,
+
+"If thou wilt cut off the heads of thy two children with thy own hand,
+and besmear me with their blood, I shall receive life again."
+
+The King was horror-struck at the thought that he must put his beloved
+children to death, but he remembered all John's faithfulness, and how he
+had died for him, and he drew his sword and cut off his children's heads
+with his own hand. And when he had besmeared the stone with their blood
+life returned to it, and Faithful John stood alive and well before him;
+and he said to the king,
+
+"Thy faithfulness shall not be unrewarded," and, taking up the heads of
+the children, he set them on again, and besmeared the wound with their
+blood, upon which in a moment they were whole again, and jumped about,
+and went on playing as if nothing had happened to them.
+
+Now was the King full of joy; and when he saw the Queen coming he put
+the Faithful John and the two children in a great chest. When she came
+in he said to her,
+
+"Hast thou prayed in church?"
+
+"Yes," answered she, "but I was thinking all the while of Faithful John,
+and how he came to such great misfortune through us."
+
+"Then," said he, "dear wife, we can give him life again, but it will
+cost us both our little sons, whom we must sacrifice."
+
+The Queen grew pale and sick at heart, but said,
+
+"We owe it him, because of his great faithfulness."
+
+Then the King rejoiced because she thought as he did, and he went and
+unlocked the chest and took out the children and Faithful John, and
+said,
+
+"God be praised, he is delivered, and our little sons are ours again;"
+and he related to her how it had come to pass.
+
+After that they all lived together in happiness to their lives' end.
+
+
+
+
+THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN
+
+
+THERE was once a wonderful musician, and he was one day walking through
+a wood all alone, thinking of this and that: and when he had nothing
+more left to think about, he said to himself,
+
+"I shall grow tired of being in this wood, so I will bring out a good
+companion."
+
+So he took the fiddle that hung at his back and fiddled so that the wood
+echoed. Before long a wolf came through the thicket and trotted up to
+him.
+
+"Oh, here comes a wolf! I had no particular wish for such company," said
+the musician: but the wolf drew nearer, and said to him,
+
+"Ho, you musician, how finely you play! I must learn how to play too."
+
+"That is easily done," answered the musician, "you have only to do
+exactly as I tell you."
+
+"O musician," said the wolf, "I will obey you, as a scholar does his
+master."
+
+The musician told him to come with him. As they went a part of the way
+together they came to an old oak tree, which was hollow within and cleft
+through the middle.
+
+"Look here," said the musician, "if you want to learn how to fiddle, you
+must put your fore feet in this cleft."
+
+The wolf obeyed, but the musician took up a stone and quickly wedged
+both his paws with one stroke, so fast, that the wolf was a prisoner,
+and there obliged to stop.
+
+"Stay there until I come back again," said the musician, and went his
+way.
+
+After a while he said again to himself,
+
+"I shall grow weary here in this wood; I will bring out another
+companion," and he took his fiddle and fiddled away in the wood. Before
+long a fox came slinking through the trees.
+
+"Oh, here comes a fox!" said the musician; "I had no particular wish for
+such company."
+
+The fox came up to him and said,
+
+"O my dear musician, how finely you play! I must learn how to play too."
+
+"That is easily done," said the musician, "you have only to do exactly
+as I tell you."
+
+"O musician," answered the fox, "I will obey you, as a scholar his
+master."
+
+"Follow me," said the musician; and as they went a part of the way
+together they came to a footpath with a high hedge on each side. Then
+the musician stopped, and taking hold of a hazel-branch bent it down to
+the earth, and put his foot on the end of it; then he bent down a branch
+from the other side, and said: "Come on, little fox, if you wish to
+learn something, reach me your left fore foot."
+
+The fox obeyed, and the musician bound the foot to the left hand branch.
+
+"Now, little fox," said he, "reach me the right one;" then he bound it
+to the right hand branch. And when he had seen that the knots were fast
+enough he let go, and the branches flew back and caught up the fox,
+shaking and struggling, in the air.
+
+"Wait there until I come back again," said the musician, and went his
+way.
+
+By and by he said to himself: "I shall grow weary in this wood; I will
+bring out another companion."
+
+So he took his fiddle, and the sound echoed through the wood. Then a
+hare sprang out before him.
+
+"Oh, here comes a hare!" said he, "that's not what I want."
+
+"Ah, my dear musician," said the hare, "how finely you play! I should
+like to learn how to play too."
+
+"That is soon done," said the musician, "only you must do whatever I
+tell you."
+
+"O musician," answered the hare, "I will obey you, as a scholar his
+master."
+
+So they went a part of the way together, until they came to a clear
+place in the wood where there stood an aspen tree. The musician tied a
+long string round the neck of the hare, and knotted the other end of it
+to the tree.
+
+"Now then, courage, little hare! run twenty times round the tree!" cried
+the musician, and the hare obeyed: as he ran round the twentieth time
+the string had wound twenty times round the tree trunk and the hare was
+imprisoned, and pull and tug as he would he only cut his tender neck
+with the string. "Wait there until I come back again," said the
+musician, and walked on.
+
+The wolf meanwhile had struggled, and pulled, and bitten, at the stone,
+and worked away so long, that at last he made his paws free and got
+himself out of the cleft. Full of anger and fury he hastened after the
+musician to tear him to pieces. When the fox saw him run by he began
+groaning, and cried out with all his might,
+
+"Brother wolf, come and help me! the musician has betrayed me." The wolf
+then pulled the branches down, bit the knots in two, and set the fox
+free, and he went with him to take vengeance on the musician. They found
+the imprisoned hare, and set him likewise free, and then they all went
+on together to seek their enemy.
+
+The musician had once more played his fiddle, and this time he had been
+more fortunate. The sound had reached the ears of a poor woodcutter, who
+immediately, and in spite of himself, left his work, and, with his axe
+under his arm, came to listen to the music.
+
+"At last here comes the right sort of companion," said the musician; "it
+was a man I wanted, and not wild animals." And then he began to play so
+sweetly that the poor man stood as if enchanted, and his heart was
+filled with joy. And as he was standing there up came the wolf, the fox,
+and the hare, and he could easily see that they meant mischief. Then he
+raised his shining axe, and stood in front of the musician, as if to
+say,
+
+"Whoever means harm to him had better take care of himself, for he will
+have to do with me!"
+
+Then the animals were frightened, and ran back into the wood, and the
+musician, when he had played once more to the man to show his gratitude,
+went on his way.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWELVE BROTHERS
+
+
+ONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen very peacefully together;
+they had twelve children, all boys. Now the King said to the Queen one
+day,
+
+"If our thirteenth child should be a girl the twelve boys shall die, so
+that her riches may be the greater, and the kingdom fall to her alone."
+
+Then he caused twelve coffins to be made; and they were filled with
+shavings, and a little pillow laid in each, and they were brought and
+put in a locked-up room; and the King gave the key to the Queen, and
+told her to say nothing about it to any one.
+
+But the mother sat the whole day sorrowing, so that her youngest son,
+who never left her, and to whom she had given the Bible name Benjamin,
+said to her,
+
+"Dear mother, why are you so sad?"
+
+"Dearest child," answered she, "I dare not tell you."
+
+But he let her have no peace until she went and unlocked the room, and
+showed him the twelve coffins with the shavings and the little pillows.
+Then she said,
+
+"My dear Benjamin, your father has caused these coffins to be made for
+you and your eleven brothers, and if I bring a little girl into the
+world you are all to be put to death together and buried therein." And
+she wept as she spoke, and her little son comforted her and said,
+
+"Weep not, dear mother, we will save ourselves and go far away." Then
+she answered,
+
+"Yes, go with your eleven brothers out into the world, and let one of
+you always sit on the top of the highest tree that can be found, and
+keep watch upon the tower of this castle. If a little son is born I will
+put out a white flag, and then you may safely venture back again; but if
+it is a little daughter I will put out a red flag, and then flee away as
+fast as you can, and the dear God watch over you. Every night will I
+arise and pray for you--in winter that you may have a fire to warm
+yourselves by, and in summer that you may not languish in the heat."
+
+After that, when she had given her sons her blessing, they went away out
+into the wood. One after another kept watch, sitting on the highest oak
+tree, looking towards the tower. When eleven days had passed, and
+Benjamin's turn came, he saw a flag put out, but it was not white, but
+blood red, to warn them that they were to die. When the brothers knew
+this they became angry, saying,
+
+"Shall we suffer death because of a girl! we swear to be revenged;
+wherever we find a girl we will shed her blood."
+
+Then they went deeper into the wood; and in the middle, where it was
+darkest, they found a little enchanted house, standing empty. Then they
+said,
+
+"Here will we dwell; and you, Benjamin, the youngest and weakest, shall
+stay at home and keep house; we others will go abroad and purvey food."
+
+Then they went into the wood and caught hares, wild roes, birds, and
+pigeons, and whatever else is good to eat, and brought them to Benjamin
+for him to cook and make ready to satisfy their hunger. So they lived
+together in the little house for ten years, and the time did not seem
+long.
+
+By this time the Queen's little daughter was growing up, she had a kind
+heart and a beautiful face, and a golden star on her forehead. Once when
+there was a great wash she saw among the clothes twelve shirts, and she
+asked her mother,
+
+"Whose are these twelve shirts? they are too small to be my father's."
+Then the mother answered with a sore heart,
+
+"Dear child, they belong to your twelve brothers." The little girl said,
+
+"Where are my twelve brothers? I have never heard of them." And her
+mother answered,
+
+"God only knows where they are wandering about in the world." Then she
+led the little girl to the secret room and unlocked it, and showed her
+the twelve coffins with the shavings and the little pillows.
+
+"These coffins," said she, "were intended for your twelve brothers, but
+they went away far from home when you were born," and she related how
+everything had come to pass. Then said the little girl,
+
+"Dear mother, do not weep, I will go and seek my brothers."
+
+So she took the twelve shirts and went far and wide in the great forest.
+The day sped on, and in the evening she came to the enchanted house. She
+went in and found a youth, who asked,
+
+"Whence do you come, and what do you want?" and he marvelled at her
+beauty, her royal garments, and the star on her forehead. Then she
+answered,
+
+"I am a king's daughter, and I seek my twelve brothers, and I will go
+everywhere under the blue sky until I find them." And she showed him the
+twelve shirts which belonged to them. Then Benjamin saw that it must be
+his sister, and said,
+
+"I am Benjamin, your youngest brother."
+
+And she began weeping for joy, and Benjamin also, and they kissed and
+cheered each other with great love. After a while he said,
+
+"Dear sister, there is still a hindrance; we have sworn that any maiden
+that we meet must die, as it was because of a maiden that we had to
+leave our kingdom." Then she said,
+
+"I will willingly die, if so I may benefit my twelve brothers."
+
+"No," answered he, "you shall not die; sit down under this tub until the
+eleven brothers come, and I agree with them about it." She did so; and
+as night came on they returned from hunting, and supper was ready. And
+as they were sitting at table and eating, they asked,
+
+"What news?" And Benjamin said,
+
+"Don't you know any?"
+
+"No," answered they. So he said,
+
+"You have been in the wood, and I have stayed at home, and yet I know
+more than you."
+
+"Tell us!" cried they. He answered,
+
+"Promise me that the first maiden we see shall not be put to death."
+
+"Yes, we promise," cried they all, "she shall have mercy; tell us now."
+Then he said,
+
+"Our sister is here," and lifted up the tub, and the king's daughter
+came forth in her royal garments with her golden star on her forehead,
+and she seemed so beautiful, delicate, and sweet, that they all
+rejoiced, and fell on her neck and kissed her, and loved her with all
+their hearts.
+
+After this she remained with Benjamin in the house and helped him with
+the work. The others went forth into the woods to catch wild animals,
+does, birds, and pigeons, for food for them all, and their sister and
+Benjamin took care that all was made ready for them. She fetched the
+wood for cooking, and the vegetables, and watched the pots on the fire,
+so that supper was always ready when the others came in. She kept also
+great order in the house, and the beds were always beautifully white and
+clean, and the brothers were contented, and lived in unity.
+
+One day the two got ready a fine feast, and when they were all assembled
+they sat down and ate and drank, and were full of joy. Now there was a
+little garden belonging to the enchanted house, in which grew twelve
+lilies; the maiden, thinking to please her brothers, went out to gather
+the twelve flowers, meaning to give one to each as they sat at meat. But
+as she broke off the flowers, in the same moment the brothers were
+changed into twelve ravens, and flew over the wood far away, and the
+house with the garden also disappeared. So the poor maiden stood alone
+in the wild wood, and as she was looking around her she saw an old woman
+standing by her, who said,
+
+"My child, what hast thou done! why couldst thou not leave the twelve
+flowers standing? they were thy twelve brothers, who are now changed to
+ravens for ever." The maiden said, weeping,
+
+"Is there no means of setting them free?"
+
+"No," said the old woman, "there is in the whole world no way but one,
+and that is difficult; thou canst not release them but by being dumb for
+seven years: thou must neither speak nor laugh; and wert thou to speak
+one single word, and it wanted but one hour of the seven years, all
+would be in vain, and thy brothers would perish because of that one
+word."
+
+Then the maiden said in her heart, "I am quite sure that I can set my
+brothers free," and went and sought a tall tree, climbed up, and sat
+there spinning, and never spoke or laughed. Now it happened that a King,
+who was hunting in the wood, had with him a large greyhound, who ran to
+the tree where the maiden was, sprang up at it, and barked loudly. Up
+came the King and saw the beautiful Princess with the golden star on her
+forehead, and he was so charmed with her beauty that he prayed her to
+become his wife. She gave no answer, only a little nod of her head. Then
+he himself climbed the tree and brought her down, set her on his horse
+and took her home. The wedding was held with great splendour and
+rejoicing, but the bride neither spoke nor laughed. After they had lived
+pleasantly together for a few years, the King's mother, who was a wicked
+woman, began to slander the young Queen, and said to the King,
+
+"She is only a low beggar-maid that you have taken to yourself; who
+knows what mean tricks she is playing? Even if she is really dumb and
+cannot speak she might at least laugh; not to laugh is the sign of a bad
+conscience."
+
+At first the King would believe nothing of it, but the old woman talked
+so long, and suggested so many bad things, that he at last let himself
+be persuaded, and condemned the Queen to death.
+
+Now a great fire was kindled in the courtyard, and she was to be burned
+in it; and the King stood above at the window, and watched it all with
+weeping eyes, for he had held her very dear. And when she was already
+fast bound to the stake, and the fire was licking her garments with red
+tongues, the last moment of the seven years came to an end. Then a
+rushing sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens came flying and
+sank downwards; and as they touched the earth they became her twelve
+brothers that she had lost. They rushed through the fire and quenched
+the flames, and set their dear sister free, kissing and consoling her.
+And now that her mouth was opened, and that she might venture to speak,
+she told the King the reason of her dumbness, and why she had never
+laughed. The King rejoiced when he heard of her innocence, and they all
+lived together in happiness until their death.
+
+But the wicked mother-in-law was very unhappy, and died miserably.
+
+
+
+
+THE VAGABONDS
+
+
+THE cock said to the hen,
+
+"It is nutting time, let us go together to the mountains and have a good
+feast for once, before the squirrels come and carry all away."
+
+"Yes," answered the hen, "come along; we will have a jolly time
+together."
+
+Then they set off together to the mountains, and as it was a fine day
+they stayed there till the evening. Now whether it was that they had
+eaten so much, or because of their pride and haughtiness, I do not know,
+but they would not go home on foot; so the cock set to work to make a
+little carriage out of nutshells. When it was ready, the hen seated
+herself in it, and said to the cock,
+
+"Now you can harness yourself to it."
+
+"That's all very fine," said the cock, "I would sooner go home on foot
+than do such a thing: and I never agreed to it. I don't mind being
+coachman, and sitting on the box; but as to drawing it myself, it's
+quite out of the question."
+
+As they were wrangling, a duck came quacking,
+
+"You thieving vagabonds, who told you you might go to my mountain? Look
+out, or it will be the worse for you!" and flew at the cock with bill
+wide open. But the cock was not backward, and he gave the duck a good
+dig in the body, and hacked at her with his spurs so valiantly that she
+begged for mercy, and willingly allowed herself to be harnessed to the
+carriage. Then the cock seated himself on the box and was coachman; so
+off they went at a great pace, the cock crying out "Run, duck, as fast
+as you can!"
+
+When they had gone a part of the way they met two foot-passengers, a pin
+and a needle. They cried "Stop! stop!" and said that it would soon be
+blindman's holiday; that they could not go a step farther; that the ways
+were very muddy; might they just get in for a little? they had been
+standing at the door of the tailors' house of call and had been delayed
+because of beer.
+
+The cock, seeing they were slender folks that would not take up a great
+deal of room, let them both step in, only they must promise not to tread
+on his toes nor on the hen's.
+
+Late in the evening they came to an inn, and there they found that they
+could not go any farther that night, as the duck's paces were not good,
+she waddled so much from side to side; so they turned in. The landlord
+at first made some difficulty; his house was full already, and he
+thought they had no very distinguished appearance; at last, however,
+when they had made many fine speeches, and had promised him the egg that
+the hen had laid on the way, and that he should keep the duck, who laid
+one every day, he agreed to let them stay the night; and so they had a
+very gay time.
+
+Early in the morning, when it was beginning to grow light, and everybody
+was still asleep, the cock waked up the hen, fetched the egg, and made a
+hole in it, and they ate it up between them, and put the eggshell on the
+hearth. Then they went up to the needle, who was still sleeping, picked
+him up by his head, and stuck him in the landlord's chair-cushion, and
+having also placed the pin in his towel, off they flew over the hills
+and far away. The duck, who had chosen to sleep in the open air, and had
+remained in the yard, heard the rustling of their wings, and, waking up,
+looked about till she found a brook, down which she swam a good deal
+faster than she had drawn the carriage.
+
+A few hours later the landlord woke, and, leaving his feather-bed, began
+washing himself; but when he took the towel to dry himself he drew the
+pin all across his face, and made a red streak from ear to ear. Then he
+went into the kitchen to light his pipe, but when he stooped towards the
+hearth to take up a coal the eggshell flew in his eyes.
+
+"Everything goes wrong this morning," said he, and let himself drop,
+full of vexation, into his grandfather's chair; but up he jumped in a
+moment, crying, "Oh dear!" for the needle had gone into him.
+
+Now he became angry, and had his suspicions of the guests who had
+arrived so late the evening before; and when he looked round for them
+they were nowhere to be seen.
+
+Then he swore that he would never more harbour such vagabonds, that
+consumed so much, paid nothing, and played such nasty tricks into the
+bargain.
+
+
+
+
+THE BROTHER AND SISTER
+
+
+THE brother took his sister's hand and said to her,
+
+"Since our mother died we have had no good days; our stepmother beats us
+every day, and if we go near her she kicks us away; we have nothing to
+eat but hard crusts of bread left over; the dog under the table fares
+better; he gets a good piece every now and then. If our mother only
+knew, how she would pity us! Come, let us go together out into the wide
+world!"
+
+So they went, and journeyed the whole day through fields and meadows and
+stony places, and if it rained the sister said,
+
+"The skies and we are weeping together."
+
+In the evening they came to a great wood, and they were so weary with
+hunger and their long journey, that they climbed up into a high tree and
+fell asleep.
+
+The next morning, when they awoke, the sun was high in heaven, and shone
+brightly through the leaves. Then said the brother,
+
+"Sister, I am thirsty; if I only knew where to find a brook, that I
+might go and drink! I almost think that I hear one rushing." So the
+brother got down and led his sister by the hand, and they went to seek
+the brook. But their wicked stepmother was a witch, and had known quite
+well that the two children had run away, and had sneaked after them, as
+only witches can, and had laid a spell on all the brooks in the forest.
+So when they found a little stream flowing smoothly over its pebbles,
+the brother was going to drink of it; but the sister heard how it said
+in its rushing,
+
+ "He a tiger will be who drinks of me,
+ Who drinks of me a tiger will be!"
+
+Then the sister cried,
+
+"Pray, dear brother, do not drink, or you will become a wild beast, and
+will tear me in pieces."
+
+So the brother refrained from drinking, though his thirst was great, and
+he said he would wait till he came to the next brook. When they came to
+a second brook the sister heard it say,
+
+ "He a wolf will be who drinks of me,
+ Who drinks of me a wolf will be!"
+
+Then the sister cried,
+
+"Pray, dear brother, do not drink, or you will be turned into a wolf,
+and will eat me up!"
+
+So the brother refrained from drinking, and said,
+
+"I will wait until we come to the next brook, and then I must drink,
+whatever you say; my thirst is so great."
+
+And when they came to the third brook the sister heard how in its
+rushing it said,
+
+ "Who drinks of me a fawn will be,
+ He a fawn will be who drinks of me!"
+
+Then the sister said,
+
+"O my brother, I pray drink not, or you will be turned into a fawn, and
+run away far from me."
+
+But he had already kneeled by the side of the brook and stooped and
+drunk of the water, and as the first drops passed his lips he became a
+fawn.
+
+And the sister wept over her poor lost brother, and the fawn wept also,
+and stayed sadly beside her. At last the maiden said,
+
+"Be comforted, dear fawn, indeed I will never leave you."
+
+Then she untied her golden girdle and bound it round the fawn's neck,
+and went and gathered rushes to make a soft cord, which she fastened to
+him; and then she led him on, and they went deeper into the forest. And
+when they had gone a long long way, they came at last to a little
+house, and the maiden looked inside, and as it was empty she thought,
+
+"We might as well live here."
+
+And she fetched leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the fawn, and
+every morning she went out and gathered roots and berries and nuts for
+herself, and fresh grass for the fawn, who ate out of her hand with joy,
+frolicking round her. At night, when the sister was tired, and had said
+her prayers, she laid her head on the fawn's back, which served her for
+a pillow, and softly fell asleep. And if only the brother could have got
+back his own shape again, it would have been a charming life. So they
+lived a long while in the wilderness alone.
+
+Now it happened that the King of that country held a great hunt in the
+forest. The blowing of the horns, the barking of the dogs, and the lusty
+shouts of the huntsmen sounded through the wood, and the fawn heard them
+and was eager to be among them.
+
+"Oh," said he to his sister, "do let me go to the hunt; I cannot stay
+behind any longer," and begged so long that at last she consented.
+
+"But mind," said she to him, "come back to me at night. I must lock my
+door against the wild hunters, so, in order that I may know you, you
+must knock and say, 'Little sister, let me in,' and unless I hear that I
+shall not unlock the door."
+
+Then the fawn sprang out, and felt glad and merry in the open air. The
+King and his huntsmen saw the beautiful animal, and began at once to
+pursue him, but they could not come within reach of him, for when they
+thought they were certain of him he sprang away over the bushes and
+disappeared. As soon as it was dark he went back to the little house,
+knocked at the door, and said,
+
+"Little sister, let me in."
+
+Then the door was opened to him, and he went in, and rested the whole
+night long on his soft bed. The next morning the hunt began anew, and
+when the fawn heard the hunting-horns and the tally-ho of the huntsmen
+he could rest no longer, and said,
+
+"Little sister, let me out, I must go." The sister opened the door and
+said,
+
+"Now, mind you must come back at night and say the same words."
+
+When the King and his hunters saw the fawn with the golden collar again,
+they chased him closely, but he was too nimble and swift for them. This
+lasted the whole day, and at last the hunters surrounded him, and one of
+them wounded his foot a little, so that he was obliged to limp and to go
+slowly. Then a hunter slipped after him to the little house, and heard
+how he called out, "Little sister, let me in," and saw the door open and
+shut again after him directly. The hunter noticed all this carefully,
+went to the King, and told him all he had seen and heard. Then said the
+King,
+
+"To-morrow we will hunt again."
+
+But the sister was very terrified when she saw that her fawn was
+wounded. She washed his foot, laid cooling leaves round it, and said,
+"Lie down on your bed, dear fawn, and rest, that you may be soon well."
+The wound was very slight, so that the fawn felt nothing of it the next
+morning. And when he heard the noise of the hunting outside, he said,
+
+"I cannot stay in, I must go after them; I shall not be taken easily
+again!" The sister began to weep, and said,
+
+"I know you will be killed, and I left alone here in the forest, and
+forsaken of everybody. I cannot let you go!"
+
+"Then I shall die here with longing," answered the fawn; "when I hear
+the sound of the horn I feel as if I should leap out of my skin."
+
+Then the sister, seeing there was no help for it, unlocked the door with
+a heavy heart, and the fawn bounded away into the forest, well and
+merry. When the King saw him, he said to his hunters,
+
+"Now, follow him up all day long till the night comes, and see that you
+do him no hurt."
+
+So as soon as the sun had gone down, the King said to the huntsmen:
+"Now, come and show me the little house in the wood."
+
+And when he got to the door he knocked at it, and cried,
+
+"Little sister, let me in!"
+
+Then the door opened, and the King went in, and there stood a maiden
+more beautiful than any he had seen before. The maiden shrieked out
+when she saw, instead of the fawn, a man standing there with a gold
+crown on his head. But the King looked kindly on her, took her by the
+hand, and said,
+
+"Will you go with me to my castle, and be my dear wife?"
+
+"Oh yes," answered the maiden, "but the fawn must come too. I could not
+leave him." And the King said,
+
+"He shall remain with you as long as you live, and shall lack nothing."
+Then the fawn came bounding in, and the sister tied the cord of rushes
+to him, and led him by her own hand out of the little house.
+
+The King put the beautiful maiden on his horse, and carried her to his
+castle, where the wedding was held with great pomp; so she became lady
+Queen, and they lived together happily for a long while; the fawn was
+well tended and cherished, and he gambolled about the castle garden.
+
+Now the wicked stepmother, whose fault it was that the children were
+driven out into the world, never dreamed but that the sister had been
+eaten up by wild beasts in the forest, and that the brother, in the
+likeness of a fawn, had been slain by the hunters. But when she heard
+that they were so happy, and that things had gone so well with them,
+jealousy and envy arose in her heart, and left her no peace, and her
+chief thought was how to bring misfortune upon them.
+
+Her own daughter, who was as ugly as sin, and had only one eye,
+complained to her, and said,
+
+"I never had the chance of being a Queen."
+
+"Never mind," said the old woman, to satisfy her; "when the time comes,
+I shall be at hand."
+
+After a while the Queen brought a beautiful baby-boy into the world, and
+that day the King was out hunting. The old witch took the shape of the
+bedchamber woman, and went into the room where the Queen lay, and said
+to her,
+
+"Come, the bath is ready; it will give you refreshment and new strength.
+Quick, or it will be cold."
+
+Her daughter was within call, so they carried the sick Queen into the
+bath-room, and left her there. And in the bath-room they had made a
+great fire, so as to suffocate the beautiful young Queen.
+
+When that was managed, the old woman took her daughter, put a cap on
+her, and laid her in the bed in the Queen's place, gave her also the
+Queen's form and countenance, only she could not restore the lost eye.
+So, in order that the King might not remark it, she had to lie on the
+side where there was no eye. In the evening, when the King came home and
+heard that a little son was born to him, he rejoiced with all his heart,
+and was going at once to his dear wife's bedside to see how she did.
+Then the old woman cried hastily,
+
+"For your life, do not draw back the curtains, to let in the light upon
+her; she must be kept quiet." So the King went away, and never knew that
+a false Queen was lying in the bed.
+
+Now, when it was midnight, and every one was asleep, the nurse, who was
+sitting by the cradle in the nursery and watching there alone, saw the
+door open, and the true Queen come in. She took the child out of the
+cradle, laid it in her bosom, and fed it. Then she shook out its little
+pillow, put the child back again, and covered it with the coverlet. She
+did not forget the fawn either: she went to him where he lay in the
+corner, and stroked his back tenderly. Then she went in perfect silence
+out at the door, and the nurse next morning asked the watchmen if any
+one had entered the castle during the night, but they said they had seen
+no one. And the Queen came many nights, and never said a word; the nurse
+saw her always, but she did not dare speak of it to any one.
+
+After some time had gone by in this manner, the Queen seemed to find
+voice, and said one night,
+
+ "My child my fawn twice more I come to see,
+ Twice more I come, and then the end must be."
+
+The nurse said nothing, but as soon as the Queen had disappeared she
+went to the King and told him all. The King said,
+
+"Ah, heaven! what do I hear! I will myself watch by the child to-morrow
+night."
+
+So at evening he went into the nursery, and at midnight the Queen
+appeared, and said,
+
+ "My child my fawn once more I come to see,
+ Once more I come, and then the end must be."
+
+And she tended the child, as she was accustomed to do, before she
+vanished. The King dared not speak to her, but he watched again the
+following night, and heard her say,
+
+ "My child my fawn this once I come to see,
+ This once I come, and now the end must be."
+
+Then the King could contain himself no longer, but rushed towards her,
+saying,
+
+"You are no other than my dear wife!" Then she answered,
+
+"Yes, I am your dear wife," and in that moment, by the grace of heaven,
+her life returned to her, and she was once more well and strong. Then
+she told the King the snare that the wicked witch and her daughter had
+laid for her. The King had them both brought to judgment, and sentence
+was passed upon them. The daughter was sent away into the wood, where
+she was devoured by the wild beasts, and the witch was burned, and ended
+miserably. And as soon as her body was in ashes the spell was removed
+from the fawn, and he took human shape again; and then the sister and
+brother lived happily together until the end.
+
+
+
+
+RAPUNZEL
+
+
+THERE once lived a man and his wife, who had long wished for a child,
+but in vain. Now there was at the back of their house a little window
+which overlooked a beautiful garden full of the finest vegetables and
+flowers; but there was a high wall all round it, and no one ventured
+into it, for it belonged to a witch of great might, and of whom all the
+world was afraid. One day that the wife was standing at the window, and
+looking into the garden, she saw a bed filled with the finest rampion;
+and it looked so fresh and green that she began to wish for some; and at
+length she longed for it greatly. This went on for days, and as she knew
+she could not get the rampion, she pined away, and grew pale and
+miserable. Then the man was uneasy, and asked, "What is the matter, dear
+wife?"
+
+"Oh," answered she, "I shall die unless I can have some of that rampion
+to eat that grows in the garden at the back of our house." The man, who
+loved her very much, thought to himself,
+
+"Rather than lose my wife I will get some rampion, cost what it will."
+
+[Illustration: RAPUNZEL
+
+ "O RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL!
+ LET DOWN THINE HAIR."]
+
+So in the twilight he climbed over the wall into the witch's garden,
+plucked hastily a handful of rampion and brought it to his wife. She
+made a salad of it at once, and ate of it to her heart's content. But
+she liked it so much, and it tasted so good, that the next day she
+longed for it thrice as much as she had done before; if she was to
+have any rest the man must climb over the wall once more. So he went in
+the twilight again; and as he was climbing back, he saw, all at once,
+the witch standing before him, and was terribly frightened, as she
+cried, with angry eyes,
+
+"How dare you climb over into my garden like a thief, and steal my
+rampion! it shall be the worse for you!"
+
+"Oh," answered he, "be merciful rather than just, I have only done it
+through necessity; for my wife saw your rampion out of the window, and
+became possessed with so great a longing that she would have died if she
+could not have had some to eat." Then the witch said,
+
+"If it is all as you say you may have as much rampion as you like, on
+one condition--the child that will come into the world must be given to
+me. It shall go well with the child, and I will care for it like a
+mother."
+
+In his distress of mind the man promised everything; and when the time
+came when the child was born the witch appeared, and, giving the child
+the name of Rapunzel (which is the same as rampion), she took it away
+with her.
+
+Rapunzel was the most beautiful child in the world. When she was twelve
+years old the witch shut her up in a tower in the midst of a wood, and
+it had neither steps nor door, only a small window above. When the witch
+wished to be let in, she would stand below and would cry,
+
+"Rapunzel, Rapunzel! let down your hair!"
+
+Rapunzel had beautiful long hair that shone like gold. When she heard
+the voice of the witch she would undo the fastening of the upper window,
+unbind the plaits of her hair, and let it down twenty ells below, and
+the witch would climb up by it.
+
+After they had lived thus a few years it happened that as the King's son
+was riding through the wood, he came to the tower; and as he drew near
+he heard a voice singing so sweetly that he stood still and listened. It
+was Rapunzel in her loneliness trying to pass away the time with sweet
+songs. The King's son wished to go in to her, and sought to find a door
+in the tower, but there was none. So he rode home, but the song had
+entered into his heart, and every day he went into the wood and listened
+to it. Once, as he was standing there under a tree, he saw the witch
+come up, and listened while she called out,
+
+"O Rapunzel, Rapunzel! let down your hair."
+
+Then he saw how Rapunzel let down her long tresses, and how the witch
+climbed up by it and went in to her, and he said to himself,
+
+"Since that is the ladder I will climb it, and seek my fortune." And the
+next day, as soon as it began to grow dusk, he went to the tower and
+cried,
+
+"O Rapunzel, Rapunzel! let down your hair."
+
+And she let down her hair, and the King's son climbed up by it.
+
+Rapunzel was greatly terrified when she saw that a man had come in to
+her, for she had never seen one before; but the King's son began
+speaking so kindly to her, and told how her singing had entered into his
+heart, so that he could have no peace until he had seen her herself.
+Then Rapunzel forgot her terror, and when he asked her to take him for
+her husband, and she saw that he was young and beautiful, she thought to
+herself,
+
+"I certainly like him much better than old mother Gothel," and she put
+her hand into his hand, saying,
+
+"I would willingly go with thee, but I do not know how I shall get out.
+When thou comest, bring each time a silken rope, and I will make a
+ladder, and when it is quite ready I will get down by it out of the
+tower, and thou shalt take me away on thy horse." They agreed that he
+should come to her every evening, as the old woman came in the day-time.
+So the witch knew nothing of all this until once Rapunzel said to her
+unwittingly,
+
+"Mother Gothel, how is it that you climb up here so slowly, and the
+King's son is with me in a moment?"
+
+"O wicked child," cried the witch, "what is this I hear! I thought I had
+hidden thee from all the world, and thou hast betrayed me!"
+
+In her anger she seized Rapunzel by her beautiful hair, struck her
+several times with her left hand, and then grasping a pair of shears in
+her right--snip, snap--the beautiful locks lay on the ground. And she
+was so hard-hearted that she took Rapunzel and put her in a waste and
+desert place, where she lived in great woe and misery.
+
+The same day on which she took Rapunzel away she went back to the tower
+in the evening and made fast the severed locks of hair to the
+window-hasp, and the King's son came and cried,
+
+"Rapunzel, Rapunzel! let down your hair."
+
+Then she let the hair down, and the King's son climbed up, but instead
+of his dearest Rapunzel he found the witch looking at him with wicked
+glittering eyes.
+
+"Aha!" cried she, mocking him, "you came for your darling, but the sweet
+bird sits no longer in the nest, and sings no more; the cat has got her,
+and will scratch out your eyes as well! Rapunzel is lost to you; you
+will see her no more."
+
+The King's son was beside himself with grief, and in his agony he sprang
+from the tower: he escaped with life, but the thorns on which he fell
+put out his eyes. Then he wandered blind through the wood, eating
+nothing but roots and berries, and doing nothing but lament and weep for
+the loss of his dearest wife.
+
+So he wandered several years in misery until at last he came to the
+desert place where Rapunzel lived with her twin-children that she had
+borne, a boy and a girl. At first he heard a voice that he thought he
+knew, and when he reached the place from which it seemed to come
+Rapunzel knew him, and fell on his neck and wept. And when her tears
+touched his eyes they became clear again, and he could see with them as
+well as ever.
+
+Then he took her to his kingdom, where he was received with great joy,
+and there they lived long and happily.
+
+
+
+
+The THREE LITTLE MEN in the WOOD
+
+
+THERE was once a man, whose wife was dead, and a woman, whose husband
+was dead; and the man had a daughter, and so had the woman. The girls
+were acquainted with each other, and used to play together sometimes in
+the woman's house. So the woman said to the man's daughter,
+
+"Listen to me, tell your father that I will marry him, and then you
+shall have milk to wash in every morning and wine to drink, and my
+daughter shall have water to wash in and water to drink."
+
+The girl went home and told her father what the woman had said. The man
+said,
+
+"What shall I do! Marriage is a joy, and also a torment."
+
+At last, as he could come to no conclusion, he took off his boot, and
+said to his daughter,
+
+"Take this boot, it has a hole in the sole; go up with it into the loft,
+hang it on the big nail and pour water in it. If it holds water, I will
+once more take to me a wife; if it lets out the water, so will I not."
+
+The girl did as she was told, but the water held the hole together, and
+the boot was full up to the top. So she went and told her father how it
+was. And he went up to see with his own eyes, and as there was no
+mistake about it, he went to the widow and courted her, and then they
+had the wedding.
+
+The next morning, when the two girls awoke, there stood by the bedside
+of the man's daughter milk to wash in and wine to drink, and by the
+bedside of the woman's daughter there stood water to wash in and water
+to drink.
+
+On the second morning there stood water to wash in and water to drink
+for both of them alike. On the third morning there stood water to wash
+in and water to drink for the man's daughter, and milk to wash in and
+wine to drink for the woman's daughter; and so it remained ever after.
+The woman hated her step-daughter, and never knew how to treat her badly
+enough from one day to another. And she was jealous because her
+step-daughter was pleasant and pretty, and her real daughter was ugly
+and hateful.
+
+Once in winter, when it was freezing hard, and snow lay deep on hill and
+valley, the woman made a frock out of paper, called her step-daughter,
+and said,
+
+"Here, put on this frock, go out into the wood and fetch me a basket of
+strawberries; I have a great wish for some."
+
+"Oh dear," said the girl, "there are no strawberries to be found in
+winter; the ground is frozen, and the snow covers everything. And why
+should I go in the paper frock? it is so cold out of doors that one's
+breath is frozen; the wind will blow through it, and the thorns will
+tear it off my back!"
+
+"How dare you contradict me!" cried the step-mother, "be off, and don't
+let me see you again till you bring me a basket of strawberries."
+
+Then she gave her a little piece of hard bread, and said,
+
+"That will do for you to eat during the day," and she thought to
+herself, "She is sure to be frozen or starved to death out of doors, and
+I shall never set eyes on her again."
+
+So the girl went obediently, put on the paper frock, and started out
+with the basket. The snow was lying everywhere, far and wide, and there
+was not a blade of green to be seen. When she entered the wood she saw a
+little house with three little men peeping out of it. She wished them
+good day, and knocked modestly at the door. They called her in, and she
+came into the room and sat down by the side of the oven to warm herself
+and eat her breakfast. The little men said,
+
+"Give us some of it."
+
+"Willingly," answered she, breaking her little piece of bread in two,
+and giving them half. They then said,
+
+"What are you doing here in the wood this winter time in your little
+thin frock?"
+
+"Oh," answered she, "I have to get a basket of strawberries, and I must
+not go home without them."
+
+When she had eaten her bread they gave her a broom, and told her to go
+and sweep the snow away from the back door. When she had gone outside to
+do it the little men talked among themselves about what they should do
+for her, as she was so good and pretty, and had shared her bread with
+them. Then the first one said,
+
+"She shall grow prettier every day." The second said,
+
+"Each time she speaks a piece of gold shall fall from her mouth." The
+third said,
+
+"A king shall come and take her for his wife."
+
+In the meanwhile the girl was doing as the little men had told her, and
+had cleared the snow from the back of the little house, and what do you
+suppose she found? fine ripe strawberries, showing dark red against the
+snow! Then she joyfully filled her little basket full, thanked the
+little men, shook hands with them all, and ran home in haste to bring
+her step-mother the thing she longed for. As she went in and said, "Good
+evening," a piece of gold fell from her mouth at once. Then she related
+all that had happened to her in the wood, and at each word that she
+spoke gold pieces fell out of her mouth, so that soon they were
+scattered all over the room.
+
+"Just look at her pride and conceit!" cried the step-sister, "throwing
+money about in this way!" but in her heart she was jealous because of
+it, and wanted to go too into the wood to fetch strawberries. But the
+mother said,
+
+"No, my dear little daughter, it is too cold, you will be frozen to
+death."
+
+But she left her no peace, so at last the mother gave in, got her a
+splendid fur coat to put on, and gave her bread and butter and cakes to
+eat on the way.
+
+The girl went into the wood and walked straight up to the little house.
+The three little men peeped out again, but she gave them no greeting,
+and without looking round or taking any notice of them she came stumping
+into the room, sat herself down by the oven, and began to eat her bread
+and butter and cakes.
+
+"Give us some of that," cried the little men, but she answered,
+
+"I've not enough for myself; how can I give away any?"
+
+Now when she had done with her eating, they said,
+
+"Here is a broom, go and sweep all clean by the back door."
+
+"Oh, go and do it yourselves," answered she; "I am not your housemaid."
+
+But when she saw that they were not going to give her anything, she went
+out to the door. Then the three little men said among themselves,
+
+"What shall we do to her, because she is so unpleasant, and has such a
+wicked jealous heart, grudging everybody everything?" The first said,
+
+"She shall grow uglier every day." The second said,
+
+"Each time she speaks a toad shall jump out of her mouth at every word."
+The third said,
+
+"She shall die a miserable death."
+
+The girl was looking outside for strawberries, but as she found none,
+she went sulkily home. And directly she opened her mouth to tell her
+mother what had happened to her in the wood a toad sprang out of her
+mouth at each word, so that every one who came near her was quite
+disgusted.
+
+The step-mother became more and more set against the man's daughter,
+whose beauty increased day by day, and her only thought was how to do
+her some injury. So at last she took a kettle, set it on the fire, and
+scalded some yarn in it. When it was ready she hung it over the poor
+girl's shoulder, and gave her an axe, and she was to go to the frozen
+river and break a hole in the ice, and there to rinse the yarn. She
+obeyed, and went and hewed a hole in the ice, and as she was about it
+there came by a splendid coach, in which the King sat. The coach stood
+still, and the King said,
+
+"My child, who art thou, and what art thou doing there?" She answered,
+
+"I am a poor girl, and am rinsing yarn."
+
+Then the King felt pity for her, and as he saw that she was very
+beautiful, he said,
+
+"Will you go with me?"
+
+"Oh yes, with all my heart," answered she; and she felt very glad to be
+out of the way of her mother and sister.
+
+So she stepped into the coach and went off with the King; and when they
+reached his castle the wedding was celebrated with great splendour, as
+the little men in the wood had foretold.
+
+At the end of a year the young Queen had a son; and as the step-mother
+had heard of her great good fortune she came with her daughter to the
+castle, as if merely to pay the King and Queen a visit. One day, when
+the King had gone out, and when nobody was about, the bad woman took the
+Queen by the head, and her daughter took her by the heels, and dragged
+her out of bed, and threw her out of the window into a stream that
+flowed beneath it. Then the old woman put her ugly daughter in the bed,
+and covered her up to her chin. When the King came back, and wanted to
+talk to his wife a little, the old woman cried,
+
+"Stop, stop! she is sleeping nicely; she must be kept quiet to-day."
+
+The King dreamt of nothing wrong, and came again the next morning; and
+as he spoke to his wife, and she answered him, there jumped each time
+out of her mouth a toad instead of the piece of gold as heretofore. Then
+he asked why that should be, and the old woman said it was because of
+her great weakness, and that it would pass away.
+
+But in the night, the boy who slept in the kitchen saw how something in
+the likeness of a duck swam up the gutter, and said,--
+
+ "My King, what mak'st thou?
+ Sleepest thou, or wak'st thou?"
+
+But there was no answer. Then it said,
+
+ "What cheer my two guests keep they?"
+
+So the kitchen-boy answered,
+
+ "In bed all soundly sleep they."
+
+It asked again,
+
+ "And my little baby, how does _he_?"
+
+And he answered,
+
+ "He sleeps in his cradle quietly."
+
+Then the duck took the shape of the Queen and went to the child, and
+gave him to drink, smoothed his little bed, covered him up again, and
+then, in the likeness of a duck, swam back down the gutter. In this way
+she came two nights, and on the third she said to the kitchen-boy,
+
+"Go and tell the King to brandish his sword three times over me on the
+threshold!"
+
+Then the kitchen-boy ran and told the King, and he came with his sword
+and brandished it three times over the duck, and at the third time his
+wife stood before him living, and hearty, and sound, as she had been
+before.
+
+The King was greatly rejoiced, but he hid the Queen in a chamber until
+the Sunday came when the child was to be baptized. And after the baptism
+he said,
+
+"What does that person deserve who drags another out of bed and throws
+him in the water?"
+
+And the old woman answered,
+
+"No better than to be put into a cask with iron nails in it, and to be
+rolled in it down the hill into the water."
+
+Then said the King,
+
+"You have spoken your own sentence;" and he ordered a cask to be
+fetched, and the old woman and her daughter were put into it, and the
+top hammered down, and the cask was rolled down the hill into the river.
+
+
+
+
+THE THREE SPINSTERS
+
+
+THERE was once a girl who was lazy and would not spin, and her mother
+could not persuade her to it, do what she would. At last the mother
+became angry and out of patience, and gave her a good beating, so that
+she cried out loudly. At that moment the Queen was going by; as she
+heard the crying, she stopped; and, going into the house, she asked the
+mother why she was beating her daughter, so that every one outside in
+the street could hear her cries.
+
+The woman was ashamed to tell of her daughter's laziness, so she said,
+
+"I cannot stop her from spinning; she is for ever at it, and I am poor
+and cannot furnish her with flax enough."
+
+Then the Queen answered,
+
+"I like nothing better than the sound of the spinning-wheel, and always
+feel happy when I hear its humming; let me take your daughter with me to
+the castle--I have plenty of flax, she shall spin there to her heart's
+content."
+
+The mother was only too glad of the offer, and the Queen took the girl
+with her. When they reached the castle the Queen showed her three rooms
+which were filled with the finest flax as full as they could hold.
+
+"Now you can spin me this flax," said she, "and when you can show it me
+all done you shall have my eldest son for bridegroom; you may be poor,
+but I make nothing of that--your industry is dowry enough."
+
+The girl was inwardly terrified, for she could not have spun the flax,
+even if she were to live to be a hundred years old, and were to sit
+spinning every day of her life from morning to evening. And when she
+found herself alone she began to weep, and sat so for three days without
+putting her hand to it. On the third day the Queen came, and when she
+saw that nothing had been done of the spinning she was much surprised;
+but the girl excused herself by saying that she had not been able to
+begin because of the distress she was in at leaving her home and her
+mother. The excuse contented the Queen, who said, however, as she went
+away,
+
+"To-morrow you must begin to work."
+
+When the girl found herself alone again she could not tell how to help
+herself or what to do, and in her perplexity she went and gazed out of
+the window. There she saw three women passing by, and the first of them
+had a broad flat foot, the second had a big under-lip that hung down
+over her chin, and the third had a remarkably broad thumb. They all of
+them stopped in front of the window, and called out to know what it was
+that the girl wanted. She told them all her need, and they promised her
+their help, and said,
+
+"Then will you invite us to your wedding, and not be ashamed of us, and
+call us your cousins, and let us sit at your table; if you will promise
+this, we will finish off your flax-spinning in a very short time."
+
+"With all my heart," answered the girl; "only come in now, and begin at
+once."
+
+Then these same women came in, and she cleared a space in the first room
+for them to sit and carry on their spinning. The first one drew out the
+thread and moved the treddle that turned the wheel, the second moistened
+the thread, the third twisted it, and rapped with her finger on the
+table, and as often as she rapped a heap of yarn fell to the ground, and
+it was most beautifully spun. But the girl hid the three spinsters out
+of the Queen's sight, and only showed her, as often as she came, the
+heaps of well-spun yarn; and there was no end to the praises she
+received. When the first room was empty they went on to the second, and
+then to the third, so that at last all was finished. Then the three
+women took their leave, saying to the girl,
+
+"Do not forget what you have promised, and it will be all the better for
+you."
+
+So when the girl took the Queen and showed her the empty rooms, and the
+great heaps of yarn, the wedding was at once arranged, and the
+bridegroom rejoiced that he should have so clever and diligent a wife,
+and praised her exceedingly.
+
+"I have three cousins," said the girl, "and as they have shown me a
+great deal of kindness, I would not wish to forget them in my good
+fortune; may I be allowed to invite them to the wedding, and to ask them
+to sit at the table with us?"
+
+The Queen and the bridegroom said at once,
+
+"There is no reason against it."
+
+So when the feast began in came the three spinsters in strange guise,
+and the bride said,
+
+"Dear cousins, you are welcome."
+
+"Oh," said the bridegroom, "how come you to have such dreadfully ugly
+relations?"
+
+And then he went up to the first spinster and said,
+
+"How is it that you have such a broad flat foot?"
+
+"With treading," answered she, "with treading."
+
+Then he went up to the second and said,
+
+"How is it that you have such a great hanging lip?"
+
+"With licking," answered she, "with licking."
+
+Then he asked the third,
+
+"How is it that you have such a broad thumb?"
+
+"With twisting thread," answered she, "with twisting thread."
+
+Then the bridegroom said that from that time forward his beautiful bride
+should never touch a spinning-wheel.
+
+And so she escaped that tiresome flax-spinning.
+
+
+
+
+HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+
+
+NEAR a great forest there lived a poor woodcutter and his wife, and his
+two children; the boy's name was Hansel and the girl's Grethel. They had
+very little to bite or to sup, and once, when there was great dearth in
+the land, the man could not even gain the daily bread. As he lay in bed
+one night thinking of this, and turning and tossing, he sighed heavily,
+and said to his wife,
+
+"What will become of us? we cannot even feed our children; there is
+nothing left for ourselves."
+
+"I will tell you what, husband," answered the wife; "we will take the
+children early in the morning into the forest, where it is thickest; we
+will make them a fire, and we will give each of them a piece of bread,
+then we will go to our work and leave them alone; they will never find
+the way home again, and we shall be quit of them."
+
+"No, wife," said the man, "I cannot do that; I cannot find in my heart
+to take my children into the forest and to leave them there alone; the
+wild animals would soon come and devour them."
+
+"O you fool," said she, "then we will all four starve; you had better
+get the coffins ready,"--and she left him no peace until he consented.
+
+"But I really pity the poor children," said the man.
+
+The two children had not been able to sleep for hunger, and had heard
+what their step-mother had said to their father. Grethel wept bitterly,
+and said to Hansel,
+
+"It is all over with us."
+
+"Do be quiet, Grethel," said Hansel, "and do not fret; I will manage
+something." And when the parents had gone to sleep he got up, put on his
+little coat, opened the back door, and slipped out. The moon was shining
+brightly, and the white flints that lay in front of the house glistened
+like pieces of silver. Hansel stooped and filled the little pocket of
+his coat as full as it would hold. Then he went back again, and said to
+Grethel,
+
+"Be easy, dear little sister, and go to sleep quietly; God will not
+forsake us," and laid himself down again in his bed.
+
+When the day was breaking, and before the sun had risen, the wife came
+and awakened the two children, saying,
+
+"Get up, you lazy bones; we are going into the forest to cut wood."
+
+Then she gave each of them a piece of bread, and said,
+
+"That is for dinner, and you must not eat it before then, for you will
+get no more."
+
+Grethel carried the bread under her apron, for Hansel had his pockets
+full of the flints. Then they set off all together on their way to the
+forest. When they had gone a little way Hansel stood still and looked
+back towards the house, and this he did again and again, till his father
+said to him,
+
+"Hansel, what are you looking at? take care not to forget your legs."
+
+"O father," said Hansel, "I am looking at my little white kitten, who is
+sitting up on the roof to bid me good-bye."
+
+"You young fool," said the woman, "that is not your kitten, but the
+sunshine on the chimney-pot."
+
+Of course Hansel had not been looking at his kitten, but had been taking
+every now and then a flint from his pocket and dropping it on the road.
+
+When they reached the middle of the forest the father told the children
+to collect wood to make a fire to keep them warm; and Hansel and Grethel
+gathered brushwood enough for a little mountain; and it was set on fire,
+and when the flame was burning quite high the wife said,
+
+"Now lie down by the fire and rest yourselves, you children, and we will
+go and cut wood; and when we are ready we will come and fetch you."
+
+So Hansel and Grethel sat by the fire, and at noon they each ate their
+pieces of bread. They thought their father was in the wood all the time,
+as they seemed to hear the strokes of the axe: but really it was only a
+dry branch hanging to a withered tree that the wind moved to and fro. So
+when they had stayed there a long time their eyelids closed with
+weariness, and they fell fast asleep. When at last they woke it was
+night, and Grethel began to cry, and said,
+
+"How shall we ever get out of this wood?" But Hansel comforted her,
+saying,
+
+"Wait a little while longer, until the moon rises, and then we can
+easily find the way home."
+
+And when the full moon got up Hansel took his little sister by the hand,
+and followed the way where the flint stones shone like silver, and
+showed them the road. They walked on the whole night through, and at the
+break of day they came to their father's house. They knocked at the
+door, and when the wife opened it and saw that it was Hansel and Grethel
+she said,
+
+"You naughty children, why did you sleep so long in the wood? we thought
+you were never coming home again!"
+
+But the father was glad, for it had gone to his heart to leave them both
+in the woods alone.
+
+Not very long after that there was again great scarcity in those parts,
+and the children heard their mother say at night in bed to their father,
+
+"Everything is finished up; we have only half a loaf, and after that the
+tale comes to an end. The children must be off; we will take them
+farther into the wood this time, so that they shall not be able to find
+the way back again; there is no other way to manage."
+
+The man felt sad at heart, and he thought,
+
+"It would better to share one's last morsel with one's children."
+
+But the wife would listen to nothing that he said, but scolded and
+reproached him. He who says A must say B too, and when a man has given
+in once he has to do it a second time.
+
+But the children were not asleep, and had heard all the talk. When the
+parents had gone to sleep Hansel got up to go out and get more flint
+stones, as he did before, but the wife had locked the door, and Hansel
+could not get out; but he comforted his little sister, and said,
+
+"Don't cry, Grethel, and go to sleep quietly, and God will help us."
+
+Early the next morning the wife came and pulled the children out of bed.
+She gave them each a little piece of bread--less than before; and on the
+way to the wood Hansel crumbled the bread in his pocket, and often
+stopped to throw a crumb on the ground.
+
+"Hansel, what are you stopping behind and staring for?" said the father.
+
+"I am looking at my little pigeon sitting on the roof, to say good-bye
+to me," answered Hansel.
+
+"You fool," said the wife, "that is no pigeon, but the morning sun
+shining on the chimney pots."
+
+Hansel went on as before, and strewed bread crumbs all along the road.
+
+The woman led the children far into the wood, where they had never been
+before in all their lives. And again there was a large fire made, and
+the mother said,
+
+"Sit still there, you children, and when you are tired you can go to
+sleep; we are going into the forest to cut wood, and in the evening,
+when we are ready to go home we will come and fetch you."
+
+So when noon came Grethel shared her bread with Hansel, who had strewed
+his along the road. Then they went to sleep, and the evening passed, and
+no one came for the poor children. When they awoke it was dark night,
+and Hansel comforted his little sister, and said,
+
+"Wait a little, Grethel, until the moon gets up, then we shall be able
+to see the way home by the crumbs of bread that I have scattered along
+it."
+
+So when the moon rose they got up, but they could find no crumbs of
+bread, for the birds of the woods and of the fields had come and picked
+them up. Hansel thought they might find the way all the same, but they
+could not. They went on all that night, and the next day from the
+morning until the evening, but they could not find the way out of the
+wood, and they were very hungry, for they had nothing to eat but the
+few berries they could pick up. And when they were so tired that they
+could no longer drag themselves along, they lay down under a tree and
+fell asleep.
+
+It was now the third morning since they had left their father's house.
+They were always trying to get back to it, but instead of that they only
+found themselves farther in the wood, and if help had not soon come they
+would have been starved. About noon they saw a pretty snow-white bird
+sitting on a bough, and singing so sweetly that they stopped to listen.
+And when he had finished the bird spread his wings and flew before them,
+and they followed after him until they came to a little house, and the
+bird perched on the roof, and when they came nearer they saw that the
+house was built of bread, and roofed with cakes; and the window was of
+transparent sugar.
+
+"We will have some of this," said Hansel, "and make a fine meal. I will
+eat a piece of the roof, Grethel, and you can have some of the
+window--that will taste sweet."
+
+So Hansel reached up and broke off a bit of the roof, just to see how it
+tasted, and Grethel stood by the window and gnawed at it. Then they
+heard a thin voice call out from inside,
+
+ "Nibble, nibble, like a mouse,
+ Who is nibbling at my house?"
+
+And the children answered,
+
+ "Never mind,
+ It is the wind."
+
+And they went on eating, never disturbing themselves. Hansel, who found
+that the roof tasted very nice, took down a great piece of it, and
+Grethel pulled out a large round window-pane, and sat her down and began
+upon it. Then the door opened, and an aged woman came out, leaning upon
+a crutch. Hansel and Grethel felt very frightened, and let fall what
+they had in their hands. The old woman, however, nodded her head, and
+said,
+
+"Ah, my dear children, how come you here? you must come indoors and stay
+with me, you will be no trouble."
+
+So she took them each by the hand, and led them into her little house.
+And there they found a good meal laid out, of milk and pancakes, with
+sugar, apples, and nuts. After that she showed them two little white
+beds, and Hansel and Grethel laid themselves down on them, and thought
+they were in heaven.
+
+The old woman, although her behaviour was so kind, was a wicked witch,
+who lay in wait for children, and had built the little house on purpose
+to entice them. When they were once inside she used to kill them, cook
+them, and eat them, and then it was a feast-day with her. The witch's
+eyes were red, and she could not see very far, but she had a keen scent,
+like the beasts, and knew very well when human creatures were near. When
+she knew that Hansel and Grethel were coming, she gave a spiteful laugh,
+and said triumphantly,
+
+"I have them, and they shall not escape me!"
+
+Early in the morning, before the children were awake, she got up to look
+at them, and as they lay sleeping so peacefully with round rosy cheeks,
+she said to herself,
+
+"What a fine feast I shall have!"
+
+Then she grasped Hansel with her withered hand, and led him into a
+little stable, and shut him up behind a grating; and call and scream as
+he might, it was no good. Then she went back to Grethel and shook her,
+crying,
+
+"Get up, lazy bones; fetch water, and cook something nice for your
+brother; he is outside in the stable, and must be fattened up. And when
+he is fat enough I will eat him."
+
+Grethel began to weep bitterly, but it was of no use, she had to do what
+the wicked witch bade her.
+
+And so the best kind of victuals was cooked for poor Hansel, while
+Grethel got nothing but crab-shells. Each morning the old woman visited
+the little stable, and cried,
+
+"Hansel, stretch out your finger, that I may tell if you will soon be
+fat enough."
+
+Hansel, however, used to hold out a little bone, and the old woman, who
+had weak eyes, could not see what it was, and supposing it to be
+Hansel's finger, wondered very much that it was not getting fatter. When
+four weeks had passed and Hansel seemed to remain so thin, she lost
+patience and could wait no longer.
+
+"Now then, Grethel," cried she to the little girl; "be quick and draw
+water; be Hansel fat or be he lean, to-morrow I must kill and cook
+him."
+
+Oh what a grief for the poor little sister to have to fetch water, and
+how the tears flowed down over her cheeks!
+
+"Dear God, pray help us!" cried she; "if we had been devoured by wild
+beasts in the wood at least we should have died together."
+
+"Spare me your lamentations," said the old woman; "they are of no
+avail."
+
+Early next morning Grethel had to get up, make the fire, and fill the
+kettle.
+
+"First we will do the baking," said the old woman; "I have heated the
+oven already, and kneaded the dough."
+
+She pushed poor Grethel towards the oven, out of which the flames were
+already shining.
+
+"Creep in," said the witch, "and see if it is properly hot, so that the
+bread may be baked."
+
+And Grethel once in, she meant to shut the door upon her and let her be
+baked, and then she would have eaten her. But Grethel perceived her
+intention, and said,
+
+"I don't know how to do it: how shall I get in?"
+
+"Stupid goose," said the old woman, "the opening is big enough, do you
+see? I could get in myself!" and she stooped down and put her head in
+the oven's mouth. Then Grethel gave her a push, so that she went in
+farther, and she shut the iron door upon her, and put up the bar. Oh how
+frightfully she howled! but Grethel ran away, and left the wicked witch
+to burn miserably. Grethel went straight to Hansel, opened the
+stable-door, and cried,
+
+"Hansel, we are free! the old witch is dead!"
+
+Then out flew Hansel like a bird from its cage as soon as the door is
+opened. How rejoiced they both were! how they fell each on the other's
+neck! and danced about, and kissed each other! And as they had nothing
+more to fear they went over all the old witch's house, and in every
+corner there stood chests of pearls and precious stones.
+
+"This is something better than flint stones," said Hansel, as he filled
+his pockets, and Grethel, thinking she also would like to carry
+something home with her, filled her apron full.
+
+"Now, away we go," said Hansel;--"if we only can get out of the witch's
+wood."
+
+When they had journeyed a few hours they came to a great piece of water.
+
+"We can never get across this," said Hansel, "I see no stepping-stones
+and no bridge."
+
+"And there is no boat either," said Grethel; "but here comes a white
+duck; if I ask her she will help us over." So she cried,
+
+ "Duck, duck, here we stand,
+ Hansel and Grethel, on the land,
+ Stepping-stones and bridge we lack,
+ Carry us over on your nice white back."
+
+And the duck came accordingly, and Hansel got upon her and told his
+sister to come too.
+
+"No," answered Grethel, "that would be too hard upon the duck; we can go
+separately, one after the other."
+
+And that was how it was managed, and after that they went on happily,
+until they came to the wood, and the way grew more and more familiar,
+till at last they saw in the distance their father's house. Then they
+ran till they came up to it, rushed in at the door, and fell on their
+father's neck. The man had not had a quiet hour since he left his
+children in the wood; but the wife was dead. And when Grethel opened her
+apron the pearls and precious stones were scattered all over the room,
+and Hansel took one handful after another out of his pocket. Then was
+all care at an end, and they lived in great joy together.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ Sing every one,
+ My story is done,
+ And look! round the house
+ There runs a little mouse,
+ He that can catch her before she scampers in,
+ May make himself a very very large fur-cap out of her skin.]
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ THE
+ WHITE SNAKE
+
+ "THEY DIVIDED THE APPLE OF
+ LIFE AND ATE IT TOGETHER."]
+
+
+
+
+THE WHITE SNAKE
+
+
+A LONG time ago there lived a King whose wisdom was noised abroad in all
+the country. Nothing remained long unknown to him, and it was as if the
+knowledge of hidden things was brought to him in the air. However, he
+had one curious custom. Every day at dinner, after the table had been
+cleared and every one gone away, a trusty servant had to bring in one
+other dish. But it was covered up, and the servant himself did not know
+what was in it, and no one else knew, for the King waited until he was
+quite alone before he uncovered it. This had gone on a long time, but at
+last there came a day when the servant could restrain his curiosity no
+longer, but as he was carrying the dish away he took it into his own
+room. As soon as he had fastened the door securely, he lifted the cover,
+and there he saw a white snake lying on the dish. After seeing it he
+could not resist the desire to taste it, and so he cut off a small piece
+and put it in his mouth. As soon as it touched his tongue he heard
+outside his window a strange chorus of delicate voices. He went and
+listened, and found that it was the sparrows talking together, and
+telling each other all they had seen in the fields and woods. The virtue
+of the snake had given him power to understand the speech of animals.
+
+Now it happened one day that the Queen lost her most splendid ring, and
+suspicion fell upon the trusty servant, who had the general
+superintendence, and he was accused of stealing it. The King summoned
+him to his presence, and after many reproaches told him that if by the
+next day he was not able to name the thief he should be considered
+guilty, and punished. It was in vain that he protested his innocence; he
+could get no better sentence. In his uneasiness and anxiety he went out
+into the courtyard, and began to consider what he could do in so great a
+necessity. There sat the ducks by the running water and rested
+themselves, and plumed themselves with their flat bills, and held a
+comfortable chat. The servant stayed where he was and listened to them.
+They told how they had waddled about all yesterday morning and found
+good food; and then one of them said pitifully,
+
+"Something lies very heavy in my craw,--it is the ring that was lying
+under the Queen's window; I swallowed it down in too great a hurry."
+
+Then the servant seized her by the neck, took her into the kitchen, and
+said to the cook,
+
+"Kill this one, she is quite ready for cooking."
+
+"Yes," said the cook, weighing it in her hand; "there will be no trouble
+of fattening this one--it has been ready ever so long."
+
+She then slit up its neck, and when it was opened the Queen's ring was
+found in its craw. The servant could now clearly prove his innocence,
+and in order to make up for the injustice he had suffered the King
+permitted him to ask some favour for himself, and also promised him the
+place of greatest honour in the royal household.
+
+But the servant refused it, and only asked for a horse and money for
+travelling, for he had a fancy to see the world, and look about him a
+little. So his request was granted, and he set out on his way; and one
+day he came to a pool of water, by which he saw three fishes who had got
+entangled in the rushes, and were panting for water. Although fishes are
+usually considered dumb creatures, he understood very well their lament
+that they were to perish so miserably; and as he had a compassionate
+heart he dismounted from his horse, and put the three fishes back again
+into the water. They quivered all over with joy, stretched out their
+heads, and called out to him,
+
+"We will remember and reward thee, because thou hast delivered us." He
+rode on, and after a while he heard a small voice come up from the sand
+underneath his horse's feet. He listened, and understood how an ant-king
+was complaining,
+
+"If only these men would keep off, with their great awkward beasts! here
+comes this stupid horse treading down my people with his hard hoofs!"
+
+The man then turned his horse to the side-path, and the ant-king called
+out to him,
+
+"We will remember and reward thee!"
+
+The path led him through a wood, and there he saw a father-raven and
+mother-raven standing by their nest and throwing their young ones out.
+
+"Off with you! young gallows-birds!" cried they; "we cannot stuff you
+any more; you are big enough to fend for yourselves!" The poor young
+ravens lay on the ground, fluttering, and beating the air with their
+pinions, and crying,
+
+"We are poor helpless things, we cannot fend for ourselves, we cannot
+even fly! we can only die of hunger!"
+
+Then the kind young man dismounted, killed his horse with his dagger,
+and left it to the young ravens for food. They came hopping up, feasted
+away at it, and cried,
+
+"We will remember and reward thee!"
+
+So now he had to use his own legs, and when he had gone a long way he
+came to a great town. There was much noise and thronging in the streets,
+and there came a man on a horse, who proclaimed,
+
+"That the King's daughter seeks a husband, but he who wishes to marry
+her must perform a difficult task, and if he cannot carry it through
+successfully, he must lose his life."
+
+Many had already tried, but had lost their lives, in vain. The young
+man, when he saw the King's daughter, was so dazzled by her great
+beauty, that he forgot all danger, went to the King and offered himself
+as a wooer.
+
+Then he was led to the sea-side, and a gold ring was thrown into the
+water before his eyes. Then the King told him that he must fetch the
+ring up again from the bottom of the sea, saying,
+
+"If you come back without it, you shall be put under the waves again and
+again until you are drowned."
+
+Every one pitied the handsome young man, but they went, and left him
+alone by the sea. As he was standing on the shore and thinking of what
+he should do, there came three fishes swimming by, none other than those
+he had set free. The middle one had a mussel in his mouth, and he laid
+it on the strand at the young man's feet; and when he took it up and
+opened it there was the gold ring inside! Full of joy he carried it to
+the King, and expected the promised reward; but the King's daughter,
+proud of her high birth, despised him, and set him another task to
+perform. She went out into the garden, and strewed about over the grass
+ten sacks full of millet seed.
+
+"By the time the sun rises in the morning you must have picked up all
+these," she said, "and not a grain must be wanting."
+
+The young man sat down in the garden and considered how it was possible
+to do this task, but he could contrive nothing, and stayed there,
+feeling very sorrowful, and expecting to be led to death at break of
+day. But when the first beams of the sun fell on the garden he saw that
+the ten sacks were all filled, standing one by the other, and not even a
+grain was missing. The ant-king had arrived in the night with his
+thousands of ants, and the grateful creatures had picked up all the
+millet seed, and filled the sacks with great industry. The King's
+daughter came herself into the garden and saw with astonishment that the
+young man had performed all that had been given him to do. But she could
+not let her proud heart melt, but said,
+
+"Although he has completed the two tasks, he shall not be my bridegroom
+unless he brings me an apple from the tree of life."
+
+The young man did not know where the tree of life was to be found, but
+he set out and went on and on, as long as his legs could carry him, but
+he had no hope of finding it. When he had gone through three kingdoms he
+came one evening to a wood, and seated himself under a tree to go to
+sleep; but he heard a rustling in the boughs, and a golden apple fell
+into his hand. Immediately three ravens flew towards him, perched on his
+knee, and said,
+
+"We are the three young ravens that you delivered from starving; when we
+grew big, and heard that you were seeking the golden apple, we flew
+over the sea to the end of the earth, where the tree of life stands, and
+we fetched the apple."
+
+Full of joy the young man set off on his way home, and brought the
+golden apple to the King's beautiful daughter, who was without any
+further excuse.
+
+So they divided the apple of life, and ate it together; and their hearts
+were filled with love, and they lived in undisturbed happiness to a
+great age.
+
+
+
+
+The STRAW, The COAL, and the BEAN
+
+
+THERE lived in a certain village a poor old woman who had collected a
+mess of beans, and was going to cook them. So she made a fire on her
+hearth, and, in order to make it burn better, she put in a handful of
+straw. When the beans began to bubble in the pot, one of them fell out
+and lay, never noticed, near a straw which was already there; soon a
+red-hot coal jumped out of the fire and joined the pair. The straw began
+first, and said,
+
+"Dear friends, how do you come here?" The coal answered,
+
+"I jumped out of the fire by great good luck, or I should certainly have
+met with my death. I should have been burned to ashes." The bean said,
+
+"I too have come out of it with a whole skin, but if the old woman had
+kept me in the pot I should have been cooked into a soft mass like my
+comrades."
+
+"Nor should I have met with a better fate," said the straw; "the old
+woman has turned my brothers into fire and smoke, sixty of them she took
+up at once and deprived of life. Very luckily I managed to slip through
+her fingers."
+
+"What had we better do now?" said the coal.
+
+"I think," answered the bean, "that as we have been so lucky as to
+escape with our lives, we will join in good fellowship together, and,
+lest any more bad fortune should happen to us here, we will go abroad
+into foreign lands."
+
+The proposal pleased the two others, and forthwith they started on their
+travels. Soon they came to a little brook, and as there was no
+stepping-stone, and no bridge, they could not tell how they were to get
+to the other side. The straw was struck with a good idea, and said,
+
+"I will lay myself across, so that you can go over me as if I were a
+bridge!"
+
+So the straw stretched himself from one bank to the other, and the coal,
+who was of an ardent nature, quickly trotted up to go over the new-made
+bridge. When, however, she reached the middle, and heard the water
+rushing past beneath her, she was struck with terror, and stopped, and
+could get no farther. So the straw began to get burnt, broke in two
+pieces, and fell in the brook, and the coal slipped down, hissing as she
+touched the water, and gave up the ghost. The bean, who had prudently
+remained behind on the bank, could not help laughing at the sight, and
+not being able to contain herself, went on laughing so excessively that
+she burst. And now would she certainly have been undone for ever, if a
+tailor on his travels had not by good luck stopped to rest himself by
+the brook. As he had a compassionate heart, he took out needle and
+thread and stitched her together again. The bean thanked him in the most
+elegant manner, but as he had sewn her up with black stitches, all beans
+since then have a black seam.
+
+
+
+
+The FISHERMAN and his WIFE
+
+
+THERE was once a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a hovel by
+the sea-shore, and the fisherman went out every day with his hook and
+line to catch fish, and he angled and angled.
+
+One day he was sitting with his rod and looking into the clear water,
+and he sat and sat.
+
+At last down went the line to the bottom of the water, and when he drew
+it up he found a great flounder on the hook. And the flounder said to
+him,
+
+"Fisherman, listen to me; let me go, I am not a real fish but an
+enchanted prince. What good shall I be to you if you land me? I shall
+not taste well; so put me back into the water again, and let me swim
+away."
+
+"Well," said the fisherman, "no need of so many words about the matter,
+as you can speak I had much rather let you swim away."
+
+Then he put him back into the clear water, and the flounder sank to the
+bottom, leaving a long streak of blood behind him. Then the fisherman
+got up and went home to his wife in their hovel.
+
+"Well, husband," said the wife, "have you caught nothing to-day?"
+
+"No," said the man--"that is, I did catch a flounder, but as he said he
+was an enchanted prince, I let him go again."
+
+"Then, did you wish for nothing?" said the wife.
+
+"No," said the man; "what should I wish for?"
+
+"Oh dear!" said the wife; "and it is so dreadful always to live in this
+evil-smelling hovel; you might as well have wished for a little cottage;
+go again and call him; tell him we want a little cottage, I daresay he
+will give it us; go, and be quick."
+
+And when he went back, the sea was green and yellow, and not nearly so
+clear. So he stood and said,
+
+ "O man, O man!--if man you be,
+ Or flounder, flounder, in the sea--
+ Such a tiresome wife I've got,
+ For she wants what I do not."
+
+Then the flounder came swimming up, and said,
+
+"Now then, what does she want?"
+
+"Oh," said the man, "you know when I caught you my wife says I ought to
+have wished for something. She does not want to live any longer in the
+hovel, and would rather have a cottage.
+
+"Go home with you," said the flounder, "she has it already."
+
+So the man went home, and found, instead of the hovel, a little cottage,
+and his wife was sitting on a bench before the door. And she took him by
+the hand, and said to him,
+
+"Come in and see if this is not a great improvement."
+
+So they went in, and there was a little house-place and a beautiful
+little bedroom, a kitchen and larder, with all sorts of furniture, and
+iron and brass ware of the very best. And at the back was a little yard
+with fowls and ducks, and a little garden full of green vegetables and
+fruit.
+
+"Look," said the wife, "is not that nice?"
+
+"Yes," said the man, "if this can only last we shall be very well
+contented."
+
+"We will see about that," said the wife. And after a meal they went to
+bed.
+
+So all went well for a week or fortnight, when the wife said,
+
+"Look here, husband, the cottage is really too confined, and the yard
+and garden are so small; I think the flounder had better get us a
+larger house; I should like very much to live in a large stone castle;
+so go to your fish and he will send us a castle."
+
+"O my dear wife," said the man, "the cottage is good enough; what do we
+want a castle for?"
+
+"We want one," said the wife; "go along with you; the flounder can give
+us one."
+
+"Now, wife," said the man, "the flounder gave us the cottage; I do not
+like to go to him again, he may be angry."
+
+"Go along," said the wife, "he might just as well give us it as not; do
+as I say!"
+
+The man felt very reluctant and unwilling; and he said to himself,
+
+"It is not the right thing to do;" nevertheless he went.
+
+So when he came to the seaside, the water was purple and dark blue and
+grey and thick, and not green and yellow as before. And he stood and
+said,
+
+ "O man, O man!--if man you be,
+ Or flounder, flounder, in the sea--
+ Such a tiresome wife I've got,
+ For she wants what I do not."
+
+"Now then, what does she want?" said the flounder.
+
+"Oh," said the man, half frightened, "she wants to live in a large stone
+castle."
+
+"Go home with you, she is already standing before the door," said the
+flounder.
+
+Then the man went home, as he supposed, but when he got there, there
+stood in the place of the cottage a great castle of stone, and his wife
+was standing on the steps, about to go in; so she took him by the hand,
+and said,
+
+"Let us enter."
+
+With that he went in with her, and in the castle was a great hall with a
+marble pavement, and there were a great many servants, who led them
+through large doors, and the passages were decked with tapestry, and the
+rooms with golden chairs and tables, and crystal chandeliers hanging
+from the ceiling; and all the rooms had carpets. And the tables were
+covered with eatables and the best wine for any one who wanted them. And
+at the back of the house was a great stable-yard for horses and cattle,
+and carriages of the finest; besides, there was a splendid large garden,
+with the most beautiful flowers and fine fruit trees, and a pleasance
+full half a mile long, with deer and oxen and sheep, and everything that
+heart could wish for.
+
+"There!" said the wife, "is not this beautiful?"
+
+"Oh yes," said the man, "if it will only last we can live in this fine
+castle and be very well contented."
+
+"We will see about that," said the wife, "in the meanwhile we will sleep
+upon it." With that they went to bed.
+
+The next morning the wife was awake first, just at the break of day, and
+she looked out and saw from her bed the beautiful country lying all
+round. The man took no notice of it, so she poked him in the side with
+her elbow, and said,
+
+"Husband, get up and just look out of the window. Look, just think if we
+could be king over all this country. Just go to your fish and tell him
+we should like to be king."
+
+"Now, wife," said the man, "what should we be kings for? I don't want to
+be king."
+
+"Well," said the wife, "if you don't want to be king, I will be king."
+
+"Now, wife," said the man, "what do you want to be king for? I could not
+ask him such a thing."
+
+"Why not?" said the wife, "you must go directly all the same; I must be
+king."
+
+So the man went, very much put out that his wife should want to be king.
+
+"It is not the right thing to do--not at all the right thing," thought
+the man. He did not at all want to go, and yet he went all the same.
+
+And when he came to the sea the water was quite dark grey, and rushed
+far inland, and had an ill smell. And he stood and said,
+
+ "O man, O man!--if man you be,
+ Or flounder, flounder, in the sea--
+ Such a tiresome wife I've got,
+ For she wants what I do not."
+
+"Now then, what does she want?" said the fish.
+
+"Oh dear!" said the man, "she wants to be king."
+
+"Go home with you, she is so already," said the fish.
+
+So the man went back, and as he came to the palace he saw it was very
+much larger, and had great towers and splendid gateways; the herald
+stood before the door, and a number of soldiers with kettle-drums and
+trumpets.
+
+And when he came inside everything was of marble and gold, and there
+were many curtains with great golden tassels. Then he went through the
+doors of the saloon to where the great throne-room was, and there was
+his wife sitting upon a throne of gold and diamonds, and she had a great
+golden crown on, and the sceptre in her hand was of pure gold and
+jewels, and on each side stood six pages in a row, each one a head
+shorter than the other. So the man went up to her and said,
+
+"Well, wife, so now you are king!"
+
+"Yes," said the wife, "now I am king."
+
+So then he stood and looked at her, and when he had gazed at her for
+some time he said,
+
+"Well, wife, this is fine for you to be king! now there is nothing more
+to wish for."
+
+"O husband!" said the wife, seeming quite restless, "I am tired of this
+already. Go to your fish and tell him that now I am king I must be
+emperor."
+
+"Now, wife," said the man, "what do you want to be emperor for?"
+
+"Husband," said she, "go and tell the fish I want to be emperor."
+
+"Oh dear!" said the man, "he could not do it--I cannot ask him such a
+thing. There is but one emperor at a time; the fish can't possibly make
+any one emperor--indeed he can't."
+
+"Now, look here," said the wife, "I am king, and you are only my
+husband, so will you go at once? Go along! for if he was able to make me
+king he is able to make me emperor; and I will and must be emperor, so
+go along!"
+
+So he was obliged to go; and as he went he felt very uncomfortable about
+it, and he thought to himself,
+
+"It is not at all the right thing to do; to want to be emperor is really
+going too far; the flounder will soon be beginning to get tired of
+this."
+
+With that he came to the sea, and the water was quite black and thick,
+and the foam flew, and the wind blew, and the man was terrified. But he
+stood and said,
+
+ "O man, O man!--if man you be,
+ Or flounder, flounder, in the sea--
+ Such a tiresome wife I've got,
+ For she wants what I do not."
+
+"What is it now?" said the fish.
+
+"Oh dear!" said the man, "my wife wants to be emperor."
+
+"Go home with you," said the fish, "she is emperor already."
+
+So the man went home, and found the castle adorned with polished marble
+and alabaster figures, and golden gates. The troops were being
+marshalled before the door, and they were blowing trumpets and beating
+drums and cymbals; and when he entered he saw barons and earls and dukes
+waiting about like servants; and the doors were of bright gold. And he
+saw his wife sitting upon a throne made of one entire piece of gold, and
+it was about two miles high; and she had a great golden crown on, which
+was about three yards high, set with brilliants and carbuncles; and in
+one hand she held the sceptre, and in the other the globe; and on both
+sides of her stood pages in two rows, all arranged according to their
+size, from the most enormous giant of two miles high to the tiniest
+dwarf of the size of my little finger; and before her stood earls and
+dukes in crowds. So the man went up to her and said,
+
+"Well, wife, so now you are emperor."
+
+"Yes," said she, "now I am emperor."
+
+Then he went and sat down and had a good look at her, and then he said,
+
+"Well now, wife, there is nothing left to be, now you are emperor."
+
+"What are you talking about, husband?" said she; "I am emperor, and next
+I will be pope! so go and tell the fish so."
+
+"Oh dear!" said the man, "what is it that you don't want? You can never
+become pope; there is but one pope in Christendom, and the fish can't
+possibly do it."
+
+"Husband," said she, "no more words about it; I must and will be pope;
+so go along to the fish."
+
+"Now, wife," said the man, "how can I ask him such a thing? it is too
+bad--it is asking a little too much; and, besides, he could not do it."
+
+"What rubbish!" said the wife; "if he could make me emperor he can make
+me pope. Go along and ask him; I am emperor, and you are only my
+husband, so go you must."
+
+So he went, feeling very frightened, and he shivered and shook, and his
+knees trembled; and there arose a great wind, and the clouds flew by,
+and it grew very dark, and the sea rose mountains high, and the ships
+were tossed about, and the sky was partly blue in the middle, but at the
+sides very dark and red, as in a great tempest. And he felt very
+desponding, and stood trembling and said,
+
+ "O man, O man!--if man you be,
+ Or flounder, flounder, in the sea--
+ Such a tiresome wife I've got,
+ For she wants what I do not."
+
+"Well, what now?" said the fish.
+
+"Oh dear!" said the man, "she wants to be pope."
+
+"Go home with you, she is pope already," said the fish.
+
+So he went home, and he found himself before a great church, with
+palaces all round. He had to make his way through a crowd of people; and
+when he got inside he found the place lighted up with thousands and
+thousands of lights; and his wife was clothed in a golden garment, and
+sat upon a very high throne, and had three golden crowns on, all in the
+greatest priestly pomp; and on both sides of her there stood two rows of
+lights of all sizes--from the size of the longest tower to the smallest
+rushlight, and all the emperors and kings were kneeling before her and
+kissing her foot.
+
+"Well, wife," said the man, and sat and stared at her, "so you are
+pope."
+
+"Yes," said she, "now I am pope!"
+
+And he went on gazing at her till he felt dazzled, as if he were sitting
+in the sun. And after a little time he said,
+
+"Well, now, wife, what is there left to be, now you are pope?"
+
+And she sat up very stiff and straight, and said nothing.
+
+And he said again, "Well, wife, I hope you are contented at last with
+being pope; you can be nothing more."
+
+"We will see about that," said the wife. With that they both went to
+bed; but she was as far as ever from being contented, and she could not
+get to sleep for thinking of what she should like to be next.
+
+The husband, however, slept as fast as a top after his busy day; but the
+wife tossed and turned from side to side the whole night through,
+thinking all the while what she could be next, but nothing would occur
+to her; and when she saw the red dawn she slipped off the bed, and sat
+before the window to see the sun rise, and as it came up she said,
+
+"Ah, I have it! what if I should make the sun and moon to
+rise--husband!" she cried, and stuck her elbow in his ribs, "wake up,
+and go to your fish, and tell him I want power over the sun and moon."
+
+The man was so fast asleep that when he started up he fell out of bed.
+Then he shook himself together, and opened his eyes and said,
+
+"Oh,--wife, what did you say?"
+
+"Husband," said she, "if I cannot get the power of making the sun and
+moon rise when I want them, I shall never have another quiet hour. Go to
+the fish and tell him so."
+
+"O wife!" said the man, and fell on his knees to her, "the fish can
+really not do that for you. I grant you he could make you emperor and
+pope; do be contented with that, I beg of you."
+
+And she became wild with impatience, and screamed out,
+
+"I can wait no longer, go at once!"
+
+And so off he went as well as he could for fright. And a dreadful storm
+arose, so that he could hardly keep his feet; and the houses and trees
+were blown down, and the mountains trembled, and rocks fell in the sea;
+the sky was quite black, and it thundered and lightened; and the waves,
+crowned with foam, ran mountains high. So he cried out, without being
+able to hear his own words,
+
+ "O man, O man!--if man you be,
+ Or flounder, flounder, in the sea--
+ Such a tiresome wife I've got,
+ For she wants what I do not."
+
+"Well, what now?" said the flounder.
+
+"Oh dear!" said the man, "she wants to order about the sun and moon."
+
+"Go home with you!" said the flounder, "you will find her in the old
+hovel."
+
+And there they are sitting to this very day.
+
+
+
+
+THE GALLANT TAILOR
+
+
+ONE summer morning a little tailor was sitting on his board near the
+window, and working cheerfully with all his might, when an old woman
+came down the street crying,
+
+"Good jelly to sell! good jelly to sell!"
+
+The cry sounded pleasant in the little tailor's ears, so he put his head
+out of the window, and called out,
+
+"Here, my good woman--come here, if you want a customer."
+
+So the poor woman climbed the steps with her heavy basket, and was
+obliged to unpack and display all her pots to the tailor. He looked at
+every one of them, and lifting all the lids, applied his nose to each,
+and said at last,
+
+"The jelly seems pretty good; you may weigh me out four half ounces, or
+I don't mind having a quarter of a pound."
+
+The woman, who had expected to find a good customer, gave him what he
+asked for, but went off angry and grumbling.
+
+"This jelly is the very thing for me," cried the little tailor; "it will
+give me strength and cunning;" and he took down the bread from the
+cupboard, cut a whole round of the loaf, and spread the jelly on it,
+laid it near him, and went on stitching more gallantly than ever. All
+the while the scent of the sweet jelly was spreading throughout the
+room, where there were quantities of flies, who were attracted by it and
+flew to partake.
+
+"Now then, who asked you to come?" said the tailor, and drove the
+unbidden guests away. But the flies, not understanding his language,
+were not to be got rid of like that, and returned in larger numbers than
+before. Then the tailor, not being able to stand it any longer, took
+from his chimney-corner a ragged cloth, and saying,
+
+"Now, I'll let you have it!" beat it among them unmercifully. When he
+ceased, and counted the slain, he found seven lying dead before him.
+
+"This is indeed somewhat," he said, wondering at his own gallantry; "the
+whole town shall know this."
+
+So he hastened to cut out a belt, and he stitched it, and put on it in
+large capitals "Seven at one blow!"
+
+"--The town, did I say!" said the little tailor; "the whole world shall
+know it!" And his heart quivered with joy, like a lamb's tail.
+
+The tailor fastened the belt round him, and began to think of going out
+into the world, for his workshop seemed too small for his worship. So he
+looked about in all the house for something that it would be useful to
+take with him, but he found nothing but an old cheese, which he put in
+his pocket. Outside the door he noticed that a bird had got caught in
+the bushes, so he took that and put it in his pocket with the cheese.
+Then he set out gallantly on his way, and as he was light and active he
+felt no fatigue. The way led over a mountain, and when he reached the
+topmost peak he saw a terrible giant sitting there, and looking about
+him at his ease. The tailor went bravely up to him, called out to him,
+and said,
+
+"Comrade, good day! there you sit looking over the wide world! I am on
+the way thither to seek my fortune: have you a fancy to go with me?"
+
+The giant looked at the tailor contemptuously, and said,
+
+"You little rascal! you miserable fellow!"
+
+"That may be!" answered the little tailor, and undoing his coat he
+showed the giant his belt; "you can read there whether I am a man or
+not!"
+
+The giant read: "Seven at one blow!" and thinking it meant men that the
+tailor had killed, felt at once more respect for the little fellow. But
+as he wanted to prove him, he took up a stone and squeezed it so hard
+that water came out of it.
+
+"Now you can do that," said the giant,--"that is, if you have the
+strength for it."
+
+"That's not much," said the little tailor, "I call that play," and he
+put his hand in his pocket and took out the cheese and squeezed it, so
+that the whey ran out of it.
+
+"Well," said he, "what do you think of that?"
+
+The giant did not know what to say to it, for he could not have believed
+it of the little man. Then the giant took up a stone and threw it so
+high that it was nearly out of sight.
+
+"Now, little fellow, suppose you do that!"
+
+"Well thrown," said the tailor; "but the stone fell back to earth
+again,--I will throw you one that will never come back." So he felt in
+his pocket, took out the bird, and threw it into the air. And the bird,
+when it found itself at liberty, took wing, flew off, and returned no
+more.
+
+"What do you think of that, comrade?" asked the tailor.
+
+"There is no doubt that you can throw," said the giant; "but we will see
+if you can carry."
+
+He led the little tailor to a mighty oak-tree which had been felled, and
+was lying on the ground, and said,
+
+"Now, if you are strong enough, help me to carry this tree out of the
+wood."
+
+"Willingly," answered the little man; "you take the trunk on your
+shoulders, I will take the branches with all their foliage, that is much
+the most difficult."
+
+So the giant took the trunk on his shoulders, and the tailor seated
+himself on a branch, and the giant, who could not see what he was doing,
+had the whole tree to carry, and the little man on it as well. And the
+little man was very cheerful and merry, and whistled the tune: "_There
+were three tailors riding by_," as if carrying the tree was mere child's
+play. The giant, when he had struggled on under his heavy load a part of
+the way, was tired out, and cried,
+
+"Look here, I must let go the tree!"
+
+The tailor jumped off quickly, and taking hold of the tree with both
+arms, as if he were carrying it, said to the giant,
+
+"You see you can't carry the tree though you are such a big fellow!"
+
+They went on together a little farther, and presently they came to a
+cherry-tree, and the giant took hold of the topmost branches, where the
+ripest fruit hung, and pulling them downwards, gave them to the tailor
+to hold, bidding him eat. But the little tailor was much too weak to
+hold the tree, and as the giant let go, the tree sprang back, and the
+tailor was caught up into the air. And when he dropped down again
+without any damage, the giant said to him,
+
+"How is this? haven't you strength enough to hold such a weak sprig as
+that?"
+
+"It is not strength that is lacking," answered the little tailor; "how
+should it to one who has slain seven at one blow! I just jumped over the
+tree because the hunters are shooting down there in the bushes. You jump
+it too, if you can."
+
+The giant made the attempt, and not being able to vault the tree, he
+remained hanging in the branches, so that once more the little tailor
+got the better of him. Then said the giant,
+
+"As you are such a gallant fellow, suppose you come with me to our den,
+and stay the night."
+
+The tailor was quite willing, and he followed him. When they reached the
+den there sat some other giants by the fire, and each had a roasted
+sheep in his hand, and was eating it. The little tailor looked round and
+thought,
+
+"There is more elbow-room here than in my workshop."
+
+And the giant showed him a bed, and told him he had better lie down upon
+it and go to sleep. The bed was, however, too big for the tailor, so he
+did not stay in it, but crept into a corner to sleep. As soon as it was
+midnight the giant got up, took a great staff of iron and beat the bed
+through with one stroke, and supposed he had made an end of that
+grasshopper of a tailor. Very early in the morning the giants went into
+the wood and forgot all about the little tailor, and when they saw him
+coming after them alive and merry, they were terribly frightened, and,
+thinking he was going to kill them, they ran away in all haste.
+
+So the little tailor marched on, always following his nose. And after he
+had gone a great way he entered the courtyard belonging to a King's
+palace, and there he felt so overpowered with fatigue that he lay down
+and fell asleep. In the meanwhile came various people, who looked at him
+very curiously, and read on his belt, "Seven at one blow!"
+
+"Oh!" said they, "why should this great lord come here in time of peace?
+what a mighty champion he must be."
+
+Then they went and told the King about him, and they thought that if war
+should break out what a worthy and useful man he would be, and that he
+ought not to be allowed to depart at any price. The King then summoned
+his council, and sent one of his courtiers to the little tailor to beg
+him, so soon as he should wake up, to consent to serve in the King's
+army. So the messenger stood and waited at the sleeper's side until his
+limbs began to stretch, and his eyes to open, and then he carried his
+answer back. And the answer was,
+
+"That was the reason for which I came," said the little tailor, "I am
+ready to enter the King's service."
+
+So he was received into it very honourably, and a separate dwelling set
+apart for him.
+
+But the rest of the soldiers were very much set against the little
+tailor, and they wished him a thousand miles away.
+
+"What shall be done about it?" they said among themselves; "if we pick a
+quarrel and fight with him then seven of us will fall at each blow. That
+will be of no good to us."
+
+So they came to a resolution, and went all together to the King to ask
+for their discharge.
+
+"We never intended," said they, "to serve with a man who kills seven at
+a blow."
+
+The King felt sorry to lose all his faithful servants because of one
+man, and he wished that he had never seen him, and would willingly get
+rid of him if he might. But he did not dare to dismiss the little tailor
+for fear he should kill all the King's people, and place himself upon
+the throne. He thought a long while about it, and at last made up his
+mind what to do. He sent for the little tailor, and told him that as he
+was so great a warrior he had a proposal to make to him. He told him
+that in a wood in his dominions dwelt two giants, who did great damage
+by robbery, murder, and fire, and that no man durst go near them for
+fear of his life. But that if the tailor should overcome and slay both
+these giants the King would give him his only daughter in marriage, and
+half his kingdom as dowry, and that a hundred horsemen should go with
+him to give him assistance.
+
+"That would be something for a man like me!" thought the little tailor,
+"a beautiful princess and half a kingdom are not to be had every day,"
+and he said to the King,
+
+"Oh yes, I can soon overcome the giants, and yet have no need of the
+hundred horsemen; he who can kill seven at one blow has no need to be
+afraid of two."
+
+So the little tailor set out, and the hunched horsemen followed him.
+When he came to the border of the wood he said to his escort,
+
+"Stay here while I go to attack the giants."
+
+Then he sprang into the wood, and looked about him right and left. After
+a while he caught sight of the two giants; they were lying down under a
+tree asleep, and snoring so that all the branches shook. The little
+tailor, all alive, filled both his pockets with stones and climbed up
+into the tree, and made his way to an overhanging bough, so that he
+could seat himself just above the sleepers; and from there he let one
+stone after another fall on the chest of one of the giants. For a long
+time the giant was quite unaware of this, but at last he waked up and
+pushed his comrade, and said,
+
+"What are you hitting me for?"
+
+"You are dreaming," said the other, "I am not touching you." And they
+composed themselves again to sleep, and the tailor let fall a stone on
+the other giant.
+
+"What can that be?" cried he, "what are you casting at me?"
+
+"I am casting nothing at you," answered the first, grumbling.
+
+They disputed about it for a while, but as they were tired, they gave it
+up at last, and their eyes closed once more. Then the little tailor
+began his game anew, picked out a heavier stone and threw it down with
+force upon the first giant's chest.
+
+"This is too much!" cried he, and sprang up like a madman and struck his
+companion such a blow that the tree shook above them. The other paid him
+back with ready coin, and they fought with such fury that they tore up
+trees by their roots to use for weapons against each other, so that at
+last they both of them lay dead upon the ground. And now the little
+tailor got down.
+
+"Another piece of luck!" said he,--"that the tree I was sitting in did
+not get torn up too, or else I should have had to jump like a squirrel
+from one tree to another."
+
+Then he drew his sword and gave each of the giants a few hacks in the
+breast, and went back to the horsemen and said,
+
+"The deed is done, I have made an end of both of them: but it went hard
+with me, in the struggle they rooted up trees to defend themselves, but
+it was of no use, they had to do with a man who can kill seven at one
+blow."
+
+"Then are you not wounded?" asked the horsemen.
+
+"Nothing of the sort!" answered the tailor, "I have not turned a hair."
+
+The horsemen still would not believe it, and rode into the wood to see,
+and there they found the giants wallowing in their blood, and all about
+them lying the uprooted trees.
+
+The little tailor then claimed the promised boon, but the King repented
+him of his offer, and he sought again how to rid himself of the hero.
+
+"Before you can possess my daughter and the half of my kingdom," said he
+to the tailor, "you must perform another heroic act. In the wood lives a
+unicorn who does great damage; you must secure him."
+
+"A unicorn does not strike more terror into me than two giants. Seven at
+one blow!--that is my way," was the tailor's answer.
+
+So, taking a rope and an axe with him, he went out into the wood, and
+told those who were ordered to attend him to wait outside. He had not
+far to seek, the unicorn soon came out and sprang at him, as if he would
+make an end of him without delay. "Softly, softly," said he, "most
+haste, worst speed," and remained standing until the animal came quite
+near, then he slipped quietly behind a tree. The unicorn ran with all
+his might against the tree and stuck his horn so deep into the trunk
+that he could not get it out again, and so was taken.
+
+"Now I have you," said the tailor, coming out from behind the tree, and,
+putting the rope round the unicorn's neck, he took the axe, set free the
+horn, and when all his party were assembled he led forth the animal and
+brought it to the King.
+
+The King did not yet wish to give him the promised reward, and set him a
+third task to do. Before the wedding could take place the tailor was to
+secure a wild boar which had done a great deal of damage in the wood.
+
+The huntsmen were to accompany him.
+
+"All right," said the tailor, "this is child's play."
+
+But he did not take the huntsmen into the wood, and they were all the
+better pleased, for the wild boar had many a time before received them
+in such a way that they had no fancy to disturb him. When the boar
+caught sight of the tailor he ran at him with foaming mouth and gleaming
+tusks to bear him to the ground, but the nimble hero rushed into a
+chapel which chanced to be near, and jumped quickly out of a window on
+the other side. The boar ran after him, and when he got inside the door
+shut after him, and there he was imprisoned, for the creature was too
+big and unwieldy to jump out of the window too. Then the little tailor
+called the huntsmen that they might see the prisoner with their own
+eyes; and then he betook himself to the king, who now, whether he liked
+it or not, was obliged to fulfil his promise, and give him his daughter
+and the half of his kingdom. But if he had known that the great warrior
+was only a little tailor he would have taken it still more to heart. So
+the wedding was celebrated with great splendour and little joy, and the
+tailor was made into a king.
+
+One night the young queen heard her husband talking in his sleep and
+saying,
+
+"Now boy, make me that waistcoat and patch me those breeches, or I will
+lay my yard measure about your shoulders!"
+
+And so, as she perceived of what low birth her husband was, she went to
+her father the next morning and told him all, and begged him to set her
+free from a man who was nothing better than a tailor. The king bade her
+be comforted, saying,
+
+"To-night leave your bedroom door open, my guard shall stand outside,
+and when he is asleep they shall come in and bind him and carry him off
+to a ship, and he shall be sent to the other side of the world."
+
+So the wife felt consoled, but the king's water-bearer, who had been
+listening all the while, went to the little tailor and disclosed to him
+the whole plan.
+
+"I shall put a stop to all this," said he.
+
+At night he lay down as usual in bed, and when his wife thought that he
+was asleep, she got up, opened the door and lay down again. The little
+tailor, who only made believe to be asleep, began to murmur plainly,
+
+"Now, boy, make me that waistcoat and patch me those breeches, or I will
+lay my yard measure about your shoulders! I have slain seven at one
+blow, killed two giants, caught a unicorn, and taken a wild boar, and
+shall I be afraid of those who are standing outside my room door?"
+
+And when they heard the tailor say this, a great fear seized them; they
+fled away as if they had been wild hares, and none of them would venture
+to attack him.
+
+And so the little tailor all his lifetime remained a king.
+
+
+
+
+ASCHENPUTTEL
+
+
+THERE was once a rich man whose wife lay sick, and when she felt her end
+drawing near she called to her only daughter to come near her bed, and
+said,
+
+"Dear child, be pious and good, and God will always take care of you,
+and I will look down upon you from heaven, and will be with you."
+
+And then she closed her eyes and expired. The maiden went every day to
+her mother's grave and wept, and was always pious and good. When the
+winter came the snow covered the grave with a white covering, and when
+the sun came in the early spring and melted it away, the man took to
+himself another wife.
+
+The new wife brought two daughters home with her, and they were
+beautiful and fair in appearance, but at heart were black and ugly. And
+then began very evil times for the poor step-daughter.
+
+"Is the stupid creature to sit in the same room with us?" said they;
+"those who eat food must earn it. Out upon her for a kitchen-maid!"
+
+They took away her pretty dresses, and put on her an old gray kirtle,
+and gave her wooden shoes to wear.
+
+"Just look now at the proud princess, how she is decked out!" cried they
+laughing, and then they sent her into the kitchen. There she was obliged
+to do heavy work from morning to night, get up early in the morning,
+draw water, make the fires, cook, and wash. Besides that, the sisters
+did their utmost to torment her,--mocking her, and strewing peas and
+lentils among the ashes, and setting her to pick them up. In the
+evenings, when she was quite tired out with her hard day's work, she had
+no bed to lie on, but was obliged to rest on the hearth among the
+cinders. And as she always looked dusty and dirty, they named her
+Aschenputtel.
+
+It happened one day that the father went to the fair, and he asked his
+two step-daughters what he should bring back for them.
+
+"Fine clothes!" said one.
+
+"Pearls and jewels!" said the other.
+
+"But what will you have, Aschenputtel?" said he.
+
+"The first twig, father, that strikes against your hat on the way home;
+that is what I should like you to bring me."
+
+So he bought for the two step-daughters fine clothes, pearls, and
+jewels, and on his way back, as he rode through a green lane, a
+hazel-twig struck against his hat; and he broke it off and carried it
+home with him. And when he reached home he gave to the step-daughters
+what they had wished for, and to Aschenputtel he gave the hazel-twig.
+She thanked him, and went to her mother's grave, and planted this twig
+there, weeping so bitterly that the tears fell upon it and watered it,
+and it flourished and became a fine tree. Aschenputtel went to see it
+three times a day, and wept and prayed, and each time a white bird rose
+up from the tree, and if she uttered any wish the bird brought her
+whatever she had wished for.
+
+Now if came to pass that the king ordained a festival that should last
+for three days, and to which all the beautiful young women of that
+country were bidden, so that the king's son might choose a bride from
+among them. When the two step-daughters heard that they too were bidden
+to appear, they felt very pleased, and they called Aschenputtel, and
+said,
+
+"Comb our hair, brush our shoes, and make our buckles fast, we are going
+to the wedding feast at the king's castle."
+
+Aschenputtel, when she heard this, could not help crying, for she too
+would have liked to go to the dance, and she begged her step-mother to
+allow her.
+
+"What, you Aschenputtel!" said she, "in all your dust and dirt, you
+want to go to the festival! you that have no dress and no shoes! you
+want to dance!"
+
+But as she persisted in asking, at last the step-mother said,
+
+"I have strewed a dish-full of lentils in the ashes, and if you can pick
+them all up again in two hours you may go with us."
+
+Then the maiden went to the back-door that led into the garden, and
+called out,
+
+ "O gentle doves, O turtle-doves,
+ And all the birds that be,
+ The lentils that in ashes lie
+ Come and pick up for me!
+ The good must be put in the dish,
+ The bad you may eat if you wish."
+
+Then there came to the kitchen-window two white doves, and after them
+some turtle-doves, and at last a crowd of all the birds under heaven,
+chirping and fluttering, and they alighted among the ashes; and the
+doves nodded with their heads, and began to pick, peck, pick, peck, and
+then all the others began to pick, peck, pick, peck, and put all the
+good grains into the dish. Before an hour was over all was done, and
+they flew away. Then the maiden brought the dish to her step-mother,
+feeling joyful, and thinking that now she should go to the feast; but
+the step-mother said,
+
+"No, Aschenputtel, you have no proper clothes, and you do not know how
+to dance, and you would be laughed at!"
+
+And when Aschenputtel cried for disappointment, she added,
+
+"If you can pick two dishes full of lentils out of the ashes, nice and
+clean, you shall go with us," thinking to herself, "for that is not
+possible." When she had strewed two dishes full of lentils among the
+ashes the maiden went through the back-door into the garden, and cried,
+
+ "O gentle doves, O turtle-doves,
+ And all the birds that be,
+ The lentils that in ashes lie
+ Come and pick up for me!
+ The good must be put in the dish,
+ The bad you may eat if you wish."
+
+So there came to the kitchen-window two white doves, and then some
+turtle-doves, and at last a crowd of all the other birds under heaven,
+chirping and fluttering, and they alighted among the ashes, and the
+doves nodded with their heads and began to pick, peck, pick, peck, and
+then all the others began to pick, peck, pick, peck, and put all the
+good grains into the dish. And before half-an-hour was over it was all
+done, and they flew away. Then the maiden took the dishes to the
+step-mother, feeling joyful, and thinking that now she should go with
+them to the feast; but she said "All this is of no good to you; you
+cannot come with us, for you have no proper clothes, and cannot dance;
+you would put us to shame."
+
+Then she turned her back on poor Aschenputtel, and made haste to set out
+with her two proud daughters.
+
+And as there was no one left in the house, Aschenputtel went to her
+mother's grave, under the hazel bush, and cried,
+
+ "Little tree, little tree, shake over me,
+ That silver and gold may come down and cover me."
+
+Then the bird threw down a dress of gold and silver, and a pair of
+slippers embroidered with silk and silver. And in all haste she put on
+the dress and went to the festival. But her step-mother and sisters did
+not know her, and thought she must be a foreign princess, she looked so
+beautiful in her golden dress. Of Aschenputtel they never thought at
+all, and supposed that she was sitting at home, and picking the lentils
+out of the ashes. The King's son came to meet her, and took her by the
+hand and danced with her, and he refused to stand up with any one else,
+so that he might not be obliged to let go her hand; and when any one
+came to claim it he answered,
+
+"She is my partner."
+
+And when the evening came she wanted to go home, but the prince said he
+would go with her to take care of her, for he wanted to see where the
+beautiful maiden lived. But she escaped him, and jumped up into the
+pigeon-house. Then the prince waited until the father came, and told him
+the strange maiden had jumped into the pigeon-house. The father thought
+to himself,
+
+"It cannot surely be Aschenputtel," and called for axes and hatchets,
+and had the pigeon-house cut down, but there was no one in it. And when
+they entered the house there sat Aschenputtel in her dirty clothes among
+the cinders, and a little oil-lamp burnt dimly in the chimney; for
+Aschenputtel had been very quick, and had jumped out of the pigeon-house
+again, and had run to the hazel bush; and there she had taken off her
+beautiful dress and had laid it on the grave, and the bird had carried
+it away again, and then she had put on her little gray kirtle again, and
+had sat down in the kitchen among the cinders.
+
+The next day, when the festival began anew, and the parents and
+step-sisters had gone to it, Aschenputtel went to the hazel bush and
+cried,
+
+ "Little tree, little tree, shake over me,
+ That silver and gold may come down and cover me."
+
+Then the bird cast down a still more splendid dress than on the day
+before. And when she appeared in it among the guests every one was
+astonished at her beauty. The prince had been waiting until she came,
+and he took her hand and danced with her alone. And when any one else
+came to invite her he said,
+
+"She is my partner."
+
+And when the evening came she wanted to go home, and the prince followed
+her, for he wanted to see to what house she belonged; but she broke away
+from him, and ran into the garden at the back of the house. There stood
+a fine large tree, bearing splendid pears; she leapt as lightly as a
+squirrel among the branches, and the prince did not know what had become
+of her. So he waited until the father came, and then he told him that
+the strange maiden had rushed from him, and that he thought she had gone
+up into the pear-tree. The father thought to himself,
+
+"It cannot surely be Aschenputtel," and called for an axe, and felled
+the tree, but there was no one in it. And when they went into the
+kitchen there sat Aschenputtel among the cinders, as usual, for she had
+got down the other side of the tree, and had taken back her beautiful
+clothes to the bird on the hazel bush, and had put on her old gray
+kirtle again.
+
+On the third day, when the parents and the step-children had set off,
+Aschenputtel went again to her mother's grave, and said to the tree,
+
+ "Little tree, little tree, shake over me,
+ That silver and gold may come down and cover me."
+
+Then the bird cast down a dress, the like of which had never been seen
+for splendour and brilliancy, and slippers that were of gold.
+
+And when she appeared in this dress at the feast nobody knew what to say
+for wonderment. The prince danced with her alone, and if any one else
+asked her he answered,
+
+"She is my partner."
+
+And when it was evening Aschenputtel wanted to go home, and the prince
+was about to go with her, when she ran past him so quickly that he could
+not follow her. But he had laid a plan, and had caused all the steps to
+be spread with pitch, so that as she rushed down them the left shoe of
+the maiden remained sticking in it. The prince picked it up, and saw
+that it was of gold, and very small and slender. The next morning he
+went to the father and told him that none should be his bride save the
+one whose foot the golden shoe should fit. Then the two sisters were
+very glad, because they had pretty feet. The eldest went to her room to
+try on the shoe, and her mother stood by. But she could not get her
+great toe into it, for the shoe was too small; then her mother handed
+her a knife, and said,
+
+"Cut the toe off, for when you are queen you will never have to go on
+foot." So the girl cut her toe off, squeezed her foot into the shoe,
+concealed the pain, and went down to the prince. Then he took her with
+him on his horse as his bride, and rode off. They had to pass by the
+grave, and there sat the two pigeons on the hazel bush, and cried,
+
+ "There they go, there they go!
+ There is blood on her shoe;
+ The shoe is too small,
+ --Not the right bride at all!"
+
+Then the prince looked at her shoe, and saw the blood flowing. And he
+turned his horse round and took the false bride home again, saying she
+was not the right one, and that the other sister must try on the shoe.
+So she went into her room to do so, and got her toes comfortably in, but
+her heel was too large. Then her mother handed her the knife, saying,
+"Cut a piece off your heel; when you are queen you will never have to
+go on foot."
+
+So the girl cut a piece off her heel, and thrust her foot into the shoe,
+concealed the pain, and went down to the prince, who took his bride
+before him on his horse and rode off. When they passed by the hazel bush
+the two pigeons sat there and cried,
+
+ "There they go, there they go!
+ There is blood on her shoe;
+ The shoe is too small,
+ --Not the right bride at all!"
+
+Then the prince looked at her foot, and saw how the blood was flowing
+from the shoe, and staining the white stocking. And he turned his horse
+round and brought the false bride home again.
+
+"This is not the right one," said he, "have you no other daughter?"
+
+"No," said the man, "only my dead wife left behind her a little stunted
+Aschenputtel; it is impossible that she can be the bride." But the
+King's son ordered her to be sent for, but the mother said,
+
+"Oh no! she is much too dirty, I could not let her be seen."
+
+But he would have her fetched, and so Aschenputtel had to appear.
+
+First she washed her face and hands quite clean, and went in and
+curtseyed to the prince, who held out to her the golden shoe. Then she
+sat down on a stool, drew her foot out of the heavy wooden shoe, and
+slipped it into the golden one, which fitted it perfectly. And when she
+stood up, and the prince looked in her face, he knew again the beautiful
+maiden that had danced with him, and he cried,
+
+"This is the right bride!"
+
+The step-mother and the two sisters were thunderstruck, and grew pale
+with anger; but he put Aschenputtel before him on his horse and rode
+off. And as they passed the hazel bush, the two white pigeons cried,
+
+ "There they go, there they go!
+ No blood on her shoe;
+ The shoe's not too small,
+ The right bride is she after all."
+
+And when they had thus cried, they came flying after and perched on
+Aschenputtel's shoulders, one on the right, the other on the left, and
+so remained.
+
+And when her wedding with the prince was appointed to be held the false
+sisters came, hoping to curry favour, and to take part in the
+festivities. So as the bridal procession went to the church, the eldest
+walked on the right side and the younger on the left, and the pigeons
+picked out an eye of each of them. And as they returned the elder was on
+the left side and the younger on the right, and the pigeons picked out
+the other eye of each of them. And so they were condemned to go blind
+for the rest of their days because of their wickedness and falsehood.
+
+
+
+
+The MOUSE, the BIRD, and the SAUSAGE
+
+
+ONCE on a time, a mouse and a bird and a sausage lived and kept house
+together in perfect peace among themselves, and in great prosperity. It
+was the bird's business to fly to the forest every day and bring back
+wood. The mouse had to draw the water, make the fire, and set the table;
+and the sausage had to do the cooking. Nobody is content in this world:
+much will have more! One day the bird met another bird on the way, and
+told him of his excellent condition in life. But the other bird called
+him a poor simpleton to do so much work, while the two others led easy
+lives at home.
+
+When the mouse had made up her fire and drawn water, she went to rest in
+her little room until it was time to lay the cloth. The sausage stayed
+by the saucepans, looked to it that the victuals were well cooked, and
+just before dinner-time he stirred the broth or the stew three or four
+times well round himself, so as to enrich and season and flavour it.
+Then the bird used to come home and lay down his load, and they sat down
+to table, and after a good meal they would go to bed and sleep their
+fill till the next morning. It really was a most satisfactory life.
+
+But the bird came to the resolution next day never again to fetch wood:
+he had, he said, been their slave long enough, now they must change
+about and make a new arrangement So in spite of all the mouse and the
+sausage could say, the bird was determined to have his own way. So they
+drew lots to settle it, and it fell so that the sausage was to fetch
+wood, the mouse was to cook, and the bird was to draw water.
+
+Now see what happened. The sausage went away after wood, the bird made
+up the fire, and the mouse put on the pot, and they waited until the
+sausage should come home, bringing the wood for the next day. But the
+sausage was absent so long, that they thought something must have
+happened to him, and the bird went part of the way to see if he could
+see anything of him. Not far off he met with a dog on the road, who,
+looking upon the sausage as lawful prey, had picked him up, and made an
+end of him. The bird then lodged a complaint against the dog as an open
+and flagrant robber, but it was all no good, as the dog declared that he
+had found forged letters upon the sausage, so that he deserved to lose
+his life.
+
+The bird then very sadly took up the wood and carried it home himself,
+and related to the mouse all he had seen and heard. They were both very
+troubled, but determined to look on the bright side of things, and still
+to remain together. And so the bird laid the cloth, and the mouse
+prepared the food, and finally got into the pot, as the sausage used to
+do, to stir and flavour the broth, but then she had to part with fur and
+skin, and lastly with life!
+
+And when the bird came to dish up the dinner, there was no cook to be
+seen; and he turned over the heap of wood, and looked and looked, but
+the cook never appeared again. By accident the wood caught fire, and the
+bird hastened to fetch water to put it out, but he let fall the bucket
+in the well, and himself after it, and as he could not get out again, he
+was obliged to be drowned.
+
+
+
+
+MOTHER HULDA
+
+
+A WIDOW had two daughters; one was pretty and industrious, the other was
+ugly and lazy. And as the ugly one was her own daughter, she loved her
+much the best, and the pretty one was made to do all the work, and be
+the drudge of the house. Every day the poor girl had to sit by a well on
+the high road and spin until her fingers bled. Now it happened once that
+as the spindle was bloody, she dipped it into the well to wash it; but
+it slipped out of her hand and fell in. Then she began to cry, and ran
+to her step-mother, and told her of her misfortune; and her step-mother
+scolded her without mercy, and said in her rage,
+
+"As you have let the spindle fall in, you must go and fetch it out
+again!"
+
+Then the girl went back again to the well, not knowing what to do, and
+in the despair of her heart she jumped down into the well the same way
+the spindle had gone. After that she knew nothing; and when she came to
+herself she was in a beautiful meadow, and the sun was shining on the
+flowers that grew round her. And she walked on through the meadow until
+she came to a baker's oven that was full of bread; and the bread called
+out to her,
+
+"Oh, take me out, take me out, or I shall burn; I am baked enough
+already!"
+
+[Illustration: MOTHER HULDA
+
+ "THEN THE GIRL WENT BACK AGAIN
+ TO THE WELL NOT KNOWING WHAT
+ TO DO, AND IN THE DESPAIR OF HER
+ HEART SHE JUMPED DOWN INTO
+ THE WELL THE SAME WAY THE
+ SPINDLE HAD GONE."]
+
+Then she drew near, and with the baker's peel she took out all the
+loaves one after the other. And she went farther on till she came to
+a tree weighed down with apples, and it called out to her,
+
+"Oh, shake me, shake me, we apples are all of us ripe!"
+
+Then she shook the tree until the apples fell like rain, and she shook
+until there were no more to fall; and when she had gathered them
+together in a heap, she went on farther. At last she came to a little
+house, and an old woman was peeping out of it, but she had such great
+teeth that the girl was terrified and about to run away, only the old
+woman called her back.
+
+"What are you afraid of, my dear child? Come and live with me, and if
+you do the house-work well and orderly, things shall go well with you.
+You must take great pains to make my bed well, and shake it up
+thoroughly, so that the feathers fly about, and then in the world it
+snows, for I am Mother Hulda."[A]
+
+[Footnote A: In Hesse, when it snows, they say, "Mother Hulda is making
+her bed."]
+
+As the old woman spoke so kindly, the girl took courage, consented, and
+went to her work. She did everything to the old woman's satisfaction,
+and shook the bed with such a will that the feathers flew about like
+snow-flakes: and so she led a good life, had never a cross word, but
+boiled and roast meat every day. When she had lived a long time with
+Mother Hulda, she began to feel sad, not knowing herself what ailed her;
+at last she began to think she must be home-sick; and although she was a
+thousand times better off than at home where she was, yet she had a
+great longing to go home. At last she said to her mistress,
+
+"I am home-sick, and although I am very well off here, I cannot stay any
+longer; I must go back to my own home."
+
+Mother Hulda answered,
+
+"It pleases me well that you should wish to go home, and, as you have
+served me faithfully, I will undertake to send you there!"
+
+She took her by the hand and led her to a large door standing open, and
+as she was passing through it there fell upon her a heavy shower of
+gold, and the gold hung all about her, so that she was covered with it.
+
+"All this is yours, because you have been so industrious," said Mother
+Hulda; and, besides that, she returned to her her spindle, the very
+same that she had dropped in the well. And then the door was shut again,
+and the girl found herself back again in the world, not far from her
+mother's house; and as she passed through the yard the cock stood on the
+top of the well and cried,
+
+ "Cock-a-doodle doo!
+ Our golden girl has come home too!"
+
+Then she went in to her mother, and as she had returned covered with
+gold she was well received.
+
+So the girl related all her history, and what had happened to her, and
+when the mother heard how she came to have such great riches she began
+to wish that her ugly and idle daughter might have the same good
+fortune. So she sent her to sit by the well and spin; and in order to
+make her spindle bloody she put her hand into the thorn hedge. Then she
+threw the spindle into the well, and jumped in herself. She found
+herself, like her sister, in the beautiful meadow, and followed the same
+path, and when she came to the baker's oven, the bread cried out,
+
+"Oh, take me out, take me out, or I shall burn; I am quite done
+already!"
+
+But the lazy-bones answered,
+
+"I have no desire to black my hands," and went on farther. Soon she came
+to the apple-tree, who called out,
+
+"Oh, shake me, shake me, we apples are all of us ripe!"
+
+But she answered,
+
+"That is all very fine; suppose one of you should fall on my head," and
+went on farther. When she came to Mother Hulda's house she did not feel
+afraid, as she knew beforehand of her great teeth, and entered into her
+service at once. The first day she put her hand well to the work, and
+was industrious, and did everything Mother Hulda bade her, because of
+the gold she expected; but the second day she began to be idle, and the
+third day still more so, so that she would not get up in the morning.
+Neither did she make Mother Hulda's bed as it ought to have been made,
+and did not shake it for the feathers to fly about. So that Mother Hulda
+soon grew tired of her, and gave her warning, at which the lazy thing
+was well pleased, and thought that now the shower of gold was coming;
+so Mother Hulda led her to the door, and as she stood in the doorway,
+instead of the shower of gold a great kettle full of pitch was emptied
+over her.
+
+"That is the reward for your service," said Mother Hulda, and shut the
+door. So the lazy girl came home all covered with pitch, and the cock on
+the top of the well seeing her, cried,
+
+ "Cock-a-doodle doo!
+ Our dirty girl has come home too!"
+
+And the pitch remained sticking to her fast, and never, as long as she
+lived, could it be got off.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE RED CAP
+
+
+THERE was once a sweet little maid, much beloved by everybody, but most
+of all by her grandmother, who never knew how to make enough of her.
+Once she sent her a little cap of red velvet, and as it was very
+becoming to her, and she never wore anything else, people called her
+Little Red-cap. One day her mother said to her,
+
+"Come, Little Red-cap, here are some cakes and a flask of wine for you
+to take to grandmother; she is weak and ill, and they will do her good.
+Make haste and start before it grows hot, and walk properly and nicely,
+and don't run, or you might fall and break the flask of wine, and there
+would be none left for grandmother. And when you go into her room, don't
+forget to say, Good morning, instead of staring about you."
+
+"I will be sure to take care," said Little Red-cap to her mother, and
+gave her hand upon it. Now the grandmother lived away in the wood,
+half-an-hour's walk from the village; and when Little Red-cap had
+reached the wood, she met the wolf; but as she did not know what a bad
+sort of animal he was, she did not feel frightened.
+
+"Good day, Little Red-cap," said he.
+
+"Thank you kindly, Wolf," answered she.
+
+"Where are you going so early, Little Red-cap?"
+
+"To my grandmother's."
+
+"What are you carrying under your apron?"
+
+"Cakes and wine; we baked yesterday; and my grandmother is very weak
+and ill, so they will do her good, and strengthen her."
+
+"Where does your grandmother live, Little Red-cap?"
+
+"A quarter of an hour's walk from here; her house stands beneath the
+three oak trees, and you may know it by the hazel bushes," said Little
+Red-cap. The wolf thought to himself,
+
+"That tender young thing would be a delicious morsel, and would taste
+better than the old one; I must manage somehow to get both of them."
+
+Then he walked by Little Red-cap a little while, and said,
+
+"Little Red-cap, just look at the pretty flowers that are growing all
+round you, and I don't think you are listening to the song of the birds;
+you are posting along just as if you were going to school, and it is so
+delightful out here in the wood."
+
+Little Red-cap glanced round her, and when she saw the sunbeams darting
+here and there through the trees, and lovely flowers everywhere, she
+thought to herself,
+
+"If I were to take a fresh nosegay to my grandmother she would be very
+pleased, and it is so early in the day that I shall reach her in plenty
+of time;" and so she ran about in the wood, looking for flowers. And as
+she picked one she saw a still prettier one a little farther off, and so
+she went farther and farther into the wood. But the wolf went straight
+to the grandmother's house and knocked at the door.
+
+"Who is there?" cried the grandmother.
+
+"Little Red-cap," he answered, "and I have brought you some cake and
+wine. Please open the door."
+
+"Lift the latch," cried the grandmother; "I am too feeble to get up."
+
+So the wolf lifted the latch, and the door flew open, and he fell on the
+grandmother and ate her up without saying one word. Then he drew on her
+clothes, put on her cap, lay down in her bed, and drew the curtains.
+
+Little Red-cap was all this time running about among the flowers, and
+when she had gathered as many as she could hold, she remembered her
+grandmother, and set off to go to her. She was surprised to find the
+door standing open, and when she came inside she felt very strange, and
+thought to herself,
+
+"Oh dear, how uncomfortable I feel, and I was so glad this morning to go
+to my grandmother!"
+
+And when she said, "Good morning," there was no answer. Then she went up
+to the bed and drew back the curtains; there lay the grandmother with
+her cap pulled over her eyes, so that she looked very odd.
+
+"O grandmother, what large ears you have got!"
+
+"The better to hear with."
+
+"O grandmother, what great eyes you have got!"
+
+"The better to see with."
+
+"O grandmother, what large hands you have got!"
+
+"The better to take hold of you with."
+
+"But, grandmother, what a terrible large mouth you have got!"
+
+"The better to devour you!" And no sooner had the wolf said it than he
+made one bound from the bed, and swallowed up poor Little Red-cap.
+
+Then the wolf, having satisfied his hunger, lay down again in the bed,
+went to sleep, and began to snore loudly. The huntsman heard him as he
+was passing by the house, and thought,
+
+"How the old woman snores--I had better see if there is anything the
+matter with her."
+
+Then he went into the room, and walked up to the bed, and saw the wolf
+lying there.
+
+"At last I find you, you old sinner!" said he; "I have been looking for
+you a long time." And he made up his mind that the wolf had swallowed
+the grandmother whole, and that she might yet be saved. So he did not
+fire, but took a pair of shears and began to slit up the wolf's body.
+When he made a few snips Little Red-cap appeared, and after a few more
+snips she jumped out and cried, "Oh dear, how frightened I have been! it
+is so dark inside the wolf." And then out came the old grandmother,
+still living and breathing. But Little Red-cap went and quickly fetched
+some large stones, with which she filled the wolf's body, so that when
+he waked up, and was going to rush away, the stones were so heavy that
+he sank down and fell dead.
+
+They were all three very pleased. The huntsman took off the wolf's skin,
+and carried it home. The grandmother ate the cakes, and drank the wine,
+and held up her head again, and Little Red-cap said to herself that she
+would never more stray about in the wood alone, but would mind what her
+mother told her.
+
+It must also be related how a few days afterwards, when Little Red-cap
+was again taking cakes to her grandmother, another wolf spoke to her,
+and wanted to tempt her to leave the path; but she was on her guard, and
+went straight on her way, and told her grandmother how that the wolf had
+met her, and wished her good-day, but had looked so wicked about the
+eyes that she thought if it had not been on the high road he would have
+devoured her.
+
+"Come," said the grandmother, "we will shut the door, so that he may not
+get in."
+
+Soon after came the wolf knocking at the door, and calling out, "Open
+the door, grandmother, I am Little Red-cap, bringing you cakes." But
+they remained still, and did not open the door. After that the wolf
+slunk by the house, and got at last upon thereof to wait until Little
+Red-cap should return home in the evening; then he meant to spring down
+upon her, and devour her in the darkness. But the grandmother discovered
+his plot. Now there stood before the house a great stone trough, and the
+grandmother said to the child, "Little Red-cap, I was boiling sausages
+yesterday, so take the bucket, and carry away the water they were boiled
+in, and pour it into the trough."
+
+And Little Red-cap did so until the great trough was quite full. When
+the smell of the sausages reached the nose of the wolf he snuffed it up,
+and looked round, and stretched out his neck so far that he lost his
+balance and began to slip, and he slipped down off the roof straight
+into the great trough, and was drowned. Then Little Red-cap went
+cheerfully home, and came to no harm.
+
+
+
+
+THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS
+
+
+THERE was once an ass whose master had made him carry sacks to the mill
+for many a long year, but whose strength began at last to fail, so that
+each day as it came found him less capable of work. Then his master
+began to think of turning him out, but the ass, guessing that something
+was in the wind that boded him no good, ran away, taking the road to
+Bremen; for there he thought he might get an engagement as town
+musician. When he had gone a little way he found a hound lying by the
+side of the road panting, as if he had run a long way.
+
+"Now, Holdfast, what are you so out of breath about?" said the ass.
+
+"Oh dear!" said the dog, "now I am old, I get weaker every day, and can
+do no good in the hunt, so, as my master was going to have me killed, I
+have made my escape; but now, how am I to gain a living?"
+
+"I will tell you what," said the ass, "I am going to Bremen to become
+town musician. You may as well go with me, and take up music too. I can
+play the lute, and you can beat the drum."
+
+And the dog consented, and they walked on together. It was not long
+before they came to a cat sitting in the road, looking as dismal as
+three wet days.
+
+"Now then, what is the matter with you, old shaver?" said the ass.
+
+"I should like to know who would be cheerful when his neck is in
+danger?" answered the cat. "Now that I am old my teeth are getting
+blunt, and I would rather sit by the oven and purr than run about after
+mice, and my mistress wanted to drown me; so I took myself off; but good
+advice is scarce, and I do not know what is to become of me."
+
+"Go with us to Bremen," said the ass, "and become town musician. You
+understand serenading."
+
+The cat thought well of the idea, and went with them accordingly. After
+that the three travellers passed by a yard, and a cock was perched on
+the gate crowing with all his might.
+
+"Your cries are enough to pierce bone and marrow," said the ass; "what
+is the matter?"
+
+"I have foretold good weather for Lady-day, so that all the shirts may
+be washed and dried; and now on Sunday morning company is coming, and
+the mistress has told the cook that I must be made into soup, and this
+evening my neck is to be wrung, so that I am crowing with all my might
+while I can."
+
+"You had much better go with us, Chanticleer," said the ass. "We are
+going to Bremen. At any rate that will be better than dying. You have a
+powerful voice, and when we are all performing together it will have a
+very good effect."
+
+So the cock consented, and they went on all four together.
+
+But Bremen was too far off to be reached in one day, and towards evening
+they came to a wood, where they determined to pass the night. The ass
+and the dog lay down under a large tree; the cat got up among the
+branches, and the cock flew up to the top, as that was the safest place
+for him. Before he went to sleep he looked all round him to the four
+points of the compass, and perceived in the distance a little light
+shining, and he called out to his companions that there must be a house
+not far off, as he could see a light, so the ass said,
+
+"We had better get up and go there, for these are uncomfortable
+quarters." The dog began to fancy a few bones, not quite bare, would do
+him good. And they all set off in the direction of the light, and it
+grew larger and brighter, until at last it led them to a robber's house,
+all lighted up. The ass, being the biggest, went up to the window, and
+looked in.
+
+"Well, what do you see?" asked the dog.
+
+"What do I see?" answered the ass; "here is a table set out with
+splendid eatables and drinkables, and robbers sitting at it and making
+themselves very comfortable."
+
+"That would just suit us," said the cock.
+
+"Yes, indeed, I wish we were there," said the ass. Then they consulted
+together how it should be managed so as to get the robbers out of the
+house, and at last they hit on a plan. The ass was to place his forefeet
+on the window-sill, the dog was to get on the ass's back, the cat on the
+top of the dog, and lastly the cock was to fly up and perch on the cat's
+head. When that was done, at a given signal they all began to perform
+their music. The ass brayed, the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the cock
+crowed; then they burst through into the room, breaking all the panes of
+glass. The robbers fled at the dreadful sound; they thought it was some
+goblin, and fled to the wood in the utmost terror. Then the four
+companions sat down to table, made free with the remains of the meal,
+and feasted as if they had been hungry for a month. And when they had
+finished they put out the lights, and each sought out a sleeping-place
+to suit his nature and habits. The ass laid himself down outside on the
+dunghill, the dog behind the door, the cat on the hearth by the warm
+ashes, and the cock settled himself in the cockloft, and as they were
+all tired with their long journey they soon fell fast asleep.
+
+When midnight drew near, and the robbers from afar saw that no light was
+burning, and that everything appeared quiet, their captain said to them
+that he thought that they had run away without reason, telling one of
+them to go and reconnoitre. So one of them went, and found everything
+quite quiet; he went into the kitchen to strike a light, and taking the
+glowing fiery eyes of the cat for burning coals, he held a match to them
+in order to kindle it. But the cat, not seeing the joke, flew into his
+face, spitting and scratching. Then he cried out in terror, and ran to
+get out at the back door, but the dog, who was lying there, ran at him
+and bit his leg; and as he was rushing through the yard by the dunghill
+the ass struck out and gave him a great kick with his hindfoot; and the
+cock, who had been wakened with the noise, and felt quite brisk, cried
+out, "Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
+
+Then the robber got back as well as he could to his captain, and said,
+"Oh dear! in that house there is a grewsome witch, and I felt her breath
+and her long nails in my face; and by the door there stands a man who
+stabbed me in the leg with a knife; and in the yard there lies a black
+spectre, who beat me with his wooden club; and above, upon the roof,
+there sits the justice, who cried, 'Bring that rogue here!' And so I ran
+away from the place as fast as I could."
+
+From that time forward the robbers never ventured to that house, and the
+four Bremen town musicians found themselves so well off where they were,
+that there they stayed. And the person who last related this tale is
+still living, as you see.
+
+
+
+
+PRUDENT HANS
+
+
+ONE day, Hans's mother said,
+
+"Where are you going, Hans?"
+
+Hans answered,
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"Manage well, Hans."
+
+"All right! Good-bye, mother."
+
+"Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Then Hans came to Grethel's.
+
+"Good morning, Grethel."
+
+"Good morning, Hans. What have you brought me to-day?"
+
+"I have brought nothing, but I want something."
+
+So Grethel gave Hans a needle; and then he said,
+
+"Good-bye, Grethel," and she said, "Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Hans carried the needle away with him, and stuck it in a hay-cart that
+was going along, and he followed it home.
+
+"Good evening, mother."
+
+"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"What did you take her?"
+
+"I took nothing, but I brought away something."
+
+"What did Grethel give you?"
+
+"A needle, mother."
+
+"What did you do with it, Hans?"
+
+"Stuck it in the hay-cart."
+
+"That was very stupid of you, Hans. You should have stuck it in your
+sleeve."
+
+"All right, mother! I'll do better next time."
+
+When next time came, Hans's mother said,
+
+"Where are you going, Hans?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"Manage well, Hans."
+
+"All right! Good-bye, mother."
+
+"Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Then Hans came to Grethel.
+
+"Good morning, Grethel."
+
+"Good morning, Hans. What have you brought me to-day?"
+
+"I've brought nothing, but I want something."
+
+So Grethel gave Hans a knife, and then he said, "Good-bye, Grethel," and
+she said, "Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Hans took the knife away with him, and stuck it in his sleeve, and went
+home.
+
+"Good evening, mother."
+
+"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
+
+"To Grethel's."
+
+"What did you take her?"
+
+"I took nothing, but I brought away something."
+
+"What did Grethel give you, Hans?"
+
+"A knife, mother."
+
+"What did you do with it, Hans?"
+
+"Stuck it in my sleeve, mother."
+
+"That was very stupid of you, Hans. You should have put it in your
+pocket."
+
+"All right, mother! I'll do better next time."
+
+When next time came, Hans's mother said,
+
+"Where to, Hans?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"Manage well, Hans."
+
+"All right! Good-bye, mother."
+
+"Good-bye, Hans."
+
+So Hans came to Grethel's. "Good morning, Grethel."
+
+"Good morning, Hans. What have you brought me to-day?"
+
+"I've brought nothing, but I want to take away something."
+
+So Grethel gave Hans a young goat; then he said,
+
+"Good-bye, Grethel," and she said, "Good-bye, Hans."
+
+So Hans carried off the goat, and tied its legs together, and put it in
+his pocket, and by the time he got home it was suffocated.
+
+"Good evening, mother."
+
+"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"What did you take her, Hans?"
+
+"I took nothing, but I brought away something."
+
+"What did Grethel give you, Hans?"
+
+"A goat, mother."
+
+"What did you do with it, Hans?"
+
+"Put it in my pocket, mother."
+
+"That was very stupid of you, Hans. You should have tied a cord round
+its neck, and led it home."
+
+"All right, mother! I'll do better next time."
+
+Then when next time came,
+
+"Where to, Hans?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"Manage well, Hans."
+
+"All right! Good-bye, mother."
+
+"Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Then Hans came to Grethel's.
+
+"Good morning, Grethel."
+
+"Good morning, Hans. What have you brought me to-day?"
+
+"I've brought nothing, but I want to take away something."
+
+So Grethel gave Hans a piece of bacon. Then he said, "Good-bye,
+Grethel."
+
+She said, "Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Hans took the bacon, and tied a string round it, and dragged it after
+him on his way home, and the dogs came and ate it up, so that when he
+got home he had the string in his hand, and nothing at the other end of
+it.
+
+"Good evening, mother."
+
+"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"What did you take her, Hans?"
+
+"I took her nothing, but I brought away something."
+
+"What did Grethel give you, Hans?"
+
+"A piece of bacon, mother."
+
+"What did you do with it, Hans?"
+
+"I tied a piece of string to it, and led it home, but the dogs ate it,
+mother."
+
+"That was very stupid of you, Hans. You ought to have carried it on your
+head."
+
+"All right! I'll do better next time, mother."
+
+When next time came,
+
+"Where to, Hans?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"Manage well, Hans."
+
+"All right! Good-bye, mother."
+
+"Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Then Hans came to Grethel's.
+
+"Good morning, Grethel."
+
+"Good morning, Hans. What have you brought me?"
+
+"I have brought nothing, but I want to take away something."
+
+So Grethel gave Hans a calf.
+
+"Good-bye, Grethel."
+
+"Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Hans took the calf, and set it on his head, and carried it home, and the
+calf scratched his face.
+
+"Good evening, mother."
+
+"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"What did you take her?"
+
+"I took nothing, but I brought away something."
+
+"What did Grethel give you, Hans?"
+
+"A calf, mother."
+
+"What did you do with the calf, Hans?"
+
+"I carried it home on my head, but it scratched my face."
+
+"That was very stupid of you, Hans. You ought to have led home the calf,
+and tied it to the manger."
+
+"All right! I'll do better next time, mother."
+
+When next time came,
+
+"Where to, Hans?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"Manage well, Hans."
+
+"All right, mother! Good-bye."
+
+"Good-bye, Hans."
+
+Then Hans came to Grethel's.
+
+"Good morning, Grethel."
+
+"Good morning, Hans. What have you brought me to-day?"
+
+"I have brought nothing, but I want to take away something."
+
+Then Grethel said to Hans,
+
+"You shall take away me."
+
+Then Hans took Grethel, and tied a rope round her neck, and led her
+home, and fastened her up to the manger, and went to his mother.
+
+"Good evening, mother."
+
+"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
+
+"To Grethel's, mother."
+
+"What did you take her, Hans?"
+
+"Nothing, mother."
+
+"What did Grethel give you, Hans?"
+
+"Nothing but herself, mother."
+
+"Where have you left Grethel, Hans?"
+
+"I led her home with a rope, and tied her up to the manger to eat hay,
+mother."
+
+"That was very stupid of you, Hans. You should have cast sheep's eyes at
+her."
+
+"All right, mother! I'll do better next time."
+
+Then Hans went into the stable, and taking all the eyes out of the
+sheep, he threw them in Grethel's face. Then Grethel was angry, and
+getting loose, she ran away and became the bride of another.
+
+
+
+
+CLEVER ELSE
+
+
+THERE was once a man who had a daughter who was called "Clever Else,"
+and when she was grown up, her father said she must be married, and her
+mother said,
+
+"Yes, if we could only find some one that she would consent to have."
+
+At last one came from a distance, and his name was Hans, and when he
+proposed to her, he made it a condition that Clever Else should be very
+careful as well.
+
+"Oh," said the father, "she does not want for brains."
+
+"No, indeed," said the mother, "she can see the wind coming up the
+street and hear the flies cough."
+
+"Well," said Hans, "if she does not turn out to be careful too, I will
+not have her."
+
+Now when they were all seated at table, and had well eaten, the mother
+said,
+
+"Else, go into the cellar and draw some beer."
+
+Then Clever Else took down the jug from the hook in the wall, and as she
+was on her way to the cellar she rattled the lid up and down so as to
+pass away the time. When she got there, she took a stool and stood it in
+front of the cask, so that she need not stoop and make her back ache
+with needless trouble. Then she put the jug under the tap and turned it,
+and while the beer was running, in order that her eyes should not be
+idle, she glanced hither and thither, and finally caught sight of a
+pickaxe that the workmen had left sticking in the ceiling just above
+her head. Then Clever Else began to cry, for she thought,
+
+"If I marry Hans, and we have a child, and it grows big, and we send it
+into the cellar to draw beer, that pickaxe might fall on his head and
+kill him."
+
+So there she sat and cried with all her might, lamenting the anticipated
+misfortune. All the while they were waiting upstairs for something to
+drink, and they waited in vain. At last the mistress said to the maid,
+
+"Go down to the cellar and see why Else does not come."
+
+So the maid went, and found her sitting in front of the cask crying with
+all her might.
+
+"What are you crying for?" said the maid.
+
+"Oh dear me," answered she, "how can I help crying? if I marry Hans, and
+we have a child, and it grows big, and we send it here to draw beer,
+perhaps the pickaxe may fall on its head and kill it."
+
+"Our Else is clever indeed!" said the maid, and directly sat down to
+bewail the anticipated misfortune. After a while, when the people
+upstairs found that the maid did not return, and they were becoming more
+and more thirsty, the master said to the boy,
+
+"You go down into the cellar, and see what Else and the maid are doing."
+
+The boy did so, and there he found both Clever Else and the maid sitting
+crying together. Then he asked what was the matter.
+
+"Oh dear me," said Else, "how can we help crying? if I marry Hans, and
+we have a child, and it grows big, and we send it here to draw beer, the
+pickaxe might fall on its head and kill it."
+
+"Our Else is clever indeed!" said the boy, and sitting down beside her,
+he began howling with a good will. Upstairs they were all waiting for
+him to come back, but as he did not come, the master said to the
+mistress,
+
+"You go down to the cellar and see what Else is doing."
+
+So the mistress went down and found all three in great lamentations, and
+when she asked the cause, then Else told her how the future possible
+child might be killed as soon as it was big enough to be sent to draw
+beer, by the pickaxe falling on it. Then the mother at once exclaimed,
+
+"Our Else is clever indeed!" and, sitting down, she wept with the rest.
+
+Upstairs the husband waited a little while, but as his wife did not
+return, and as his thirst constantly increased, he said,
+
+"I must go down to the cellar myself, and see what has become of Else."
+And when he came into the cellar, and found them all sitting and weeping
+together, he was told that it was all owing to the child that Else might
+possibly have, and the possibility of its being killed by the pickaxe so
+happening to fall just at the time the child might be sitting underneath
+it drawing beer; and when he heard all this, he cried,
+
+"How clever is our Else!" and sitting down, he joined his tears to
+theirs.
+
+The intended bridegroom stayed upstairs by himself a long time, but as
+nobody came back to him, he thought he would go himself and see what
+they were all about. And there he found all five lamenting and crying
+most pitifully, each one louder than the other.
+
+"What misfortune has happened?" cried he.
+
+"O my dear Hans," said Else, "if we marry and have a child, and it grows
+big, and we send it down here to draw beer, perhaps that pickaxe which
+has been left sticking up there might fall down on the child's head and
+kill it; and how can we help crying at that!"
+
+"Now," said Hans, "I cannot think that greater sense than that could be
+wanted in my household; so as you are so clever, Else, I will have you
+for my wife," and taking her by the hand he led her upstairs, and they
+had the wedding at once.
+
+A little while after they were married, Hans said to his wife,
+
+"I am going out to work, in order to get money; you go into the field
+and cut the corn, so that we may have bread."
+
+"Very well, I will do so, dear Hans," said she. And after Hans was gone
+she cooked herself some nice stew, and took it with her into the field.
+And when she got there, she said to herself,
+
+"Now, what shall I do? shall I reap first, or eat first? All right, I
+will eat first." Then she ate her fill of stew, and when she could eat
+no more, she said to herself,
+
+"Now, what shall I do? shall I reap first, or sleep first? All right, I
+will sleep first." Then she lay down in the corn and went to sleep. And
+Hans got home, and waited there a long while, and Else did not come, so
+he said to himself,
+
+"My clever Else is so industrious that she never thinks of coming home
+and eating."
+
+But when evening drew near and still she did not come, Hans set out to
+see how much corn she had cut; but she had cut no corn at all, but there
+she was lying in it asleep. Then Hans made haste home, and fetched a
+bird-net with little bells and threw it over her; and still she went on
+sleeping. And he ran home again and locked himself in, and sat him down
+on his bench to work. At last, when it was beginning to grow dark,
+Clever Else woke, and when she got up and shook herself, the bells
+jingled at each movement that she made. Then she grew frightened, and
+began to doubt whether she were really Clever Else or not, and said to
+herself,
+
+"Am I, or am I not?" And, not knowing what answer to make, she stood for
+a long while considering; at last she thought,
+
+"I will go home to Hans and ask him if I am I or not; he is sure to
+know."
+
+So she ran up to the door of her house, but it was locked; then she
+knocked at the window, and cried,
+
+"Hans, is Else within?"
+
+"Yes," answered Hans, "she is in."
+
+Then she was in a greater fright than ever, and crying,
+
+"Oh dear, then I am not I," she went to inquire at another door, but the
+people hearing the jingling of the bells would not open to her, and she
+could get in nowhere. So she ran away beyond the village, and since then
+no one has seen her.
+
+
+
+
+The TABLE, the ASS, and the STICK.
+
+
+THERE was once a tailor who had three sons and one goat. And the goat,
+as she nourished them all with her milk, was obliged to have good food,
+and so she was led every day down to the willows by the water-side; and
+this business the sons did in turn. One day the eldest took the goat to
+the churchyard, where the best sprouts are, that she might eat her fill,
+and gambol about.
+
+In the evening, when it was time to go home, he said,
+
+"Well, goat, have you had enough?"
+
+The goat answered,
+
+ "I am so full,
+ I cannot pull
+ Another blade of grass--ba! baa!"
+
+"Then come home," said the youth, and fastened a string to her, led her
+to her stall, and fastened her up.
+
+"Now," said the old tailor, "has the goat had her proper food?"
+
+"Oh," answered the son, "she is so full, she no more can pull."
+
+But the father, wishing to see for himself, went out to the stall,
+stroked his dear goat, and said,
+
+"My dear goat, are you full?" And the goat answered,
+
+ "How can I be full?
+ There was nothing to pull,
+ Though I looked all about me--ba! baa!"
+
+"What is this that I hear?" cried the tailor, and he ran and called out
+to the youth,
+
+"O you liar, to say that the goat was full, and she has been hungry all
+the time!" And in his wrath he took up his yard-measure and drove his
+son out of the house with many blows.
+
+The next day came the turn of the second son, and he found a fine place
+in the garden hedge, where there were good green sprouts, and the goat
+ate them all up. In the evening, when he came to lead her home, he said,
+
+"Well, goat, have you had enough?" And the goat answered,
+
+ "I am so full,
+ I could not pull
+ Another blade of grass--ba! baa!"
+
+"Then come home," said the youth, and led her home, and tied her up.
+
+"Now," said the old tailor, "has the goat had her proper food?"
+
+"Oh," answered the son, "she is so full, she no more can pull."
+
+The tailor, not feeling satisfied, went out to the stall, and said,
+
+"My dear goat, are you really full?" And the goat answered,
+
+ "How can I be full?
+ There was nothing to pull,
+ Though I looked all about me--ba! baa!"
+
+"The good-for-nothing rascal," cried the tailor, "to let the dear
+creature go fasting!" and, running back, he chased the youth with his
+yard-wand out of the house.
+
+Then came the turn of the third son, who, meaning to make all sure,
+found some shrubs with the finest sprouts possible, and left the goat to
+devour them. In the evening, when he came to lead her home, he said,
+
+"Well, goat, are you full?" And the goat answered,
+
+ "I am so full,
+ I could not pull
+ Another blade of grass--ba! baa!"
+
+"Then come home," said the youth; and he took her to her stall, and
+fastened her up.
+
+"Now," said the old tailor, "has the goat had her proper food?"
+
+"Oh," answered the son, "she is so full, she no more can pull."
+
+But the tailor, not trusting his word, went to the goat and said,
+
+"My dear goat, are you really full?" The malicious animal answered,
+
+ "How can I be full?
+ There was nothing to pull,
+ Though I looked all about me--ba! baa!"
+
+"Oh, the wretches!" cried the tailor. "The one as good-for-nothing and
+careless as the other. I will no longer have such fools about me;" and
+rushing back, in his wrath he laid about him with his yard-wand, and
+belaboured his son's back so unmercifully that he ran away out of the
+house.
+
+So the old tailor was left alone with the goat. The next day he went out
+to the stall, and let out the goat, saying,
+
+"Come, my dear creature, I will take you myself to the willows."
+
+So he led her by the string, and brought her to the green hedges and
+pastures where there was plenty of food to her taste, and saying to her,
+
+"Now, for once, you can eat to your heart's content," he left her there
+till the evening. Then he returned, and said,
+
+"Well, goat, are you full?"
+
+She answered,
+
+ "I am so full,
+ I could not pull,
+ Another blade of grass--ba! baa!"
+
+"Then come home," said the tailor, and leading her to her stall, he
+fastened her up.
+
+Before he left her he turned once more, saying,
+
+"Now then, for once you are full." But the goat actually cried,
+
+ "How can I be full?
+ There was nothing to pull,
+ Though I looked all about me--ba! baa!"
+
+When the tailor heard that he marvelled, and saw at once that his three
+sons had been sent away without reason.
+
+"Wait a minute," cried he, "you ungrateful creature! It is not enough
+merely to drive you away--I will teach you to show your face again among
+honourable tailors."
+
+So in haste he went and fetched his razor, and seizing the goat he
+shaved her head as smooth as the palm of his hand. And as the
+yard-measure was too honourable a weapon, he took the whip and fetched
+her such a crack that with many a jump and spring she ran away.
+
+The tailor felt very sad as he sat alone in his house, and would
+willingly have had his sons back again, but no one knew where they had
+gone.
+
+The eldest son, when he was driven from home, apprenticed himself to a
+joiner, and he applied himself diligently to his trade, and when the
+time came for him to travel his master gave him a little table, nothing
+much to look at, and made of common wood; but it had one great quality.
+When any one set it down and said, "Table, be covered!" all at once the
+good little table had a clean cloth on it, and a plate, and knife, and
+fork, and dishes with roast and boiled, and a large glass of red wine
+sparkling so as to cheer the heart. The young apprentice thought he was
+set up for life, and he went merrily out into the world, and never cared
+whether an inn were good or bad, or whether he could get anything to eat
+there or not. When he was hungry, it did not matter where he was,
+whether in the fields, in the woods, or in a meadow, he set down his
+table and said, "Be covered!" and there he was provided with everything
+that heart could wish. At last it occurred to him that he would go back
+to his father, whose wrath might by this time have subsided, and perhaps
+because of the wonderful table he might receive him again gladly. It
+happened that one evening during his journey home he came to an inn that
+was quite full of guests, who bade him welcome, and asked him to sit
+down with them and eat, as otherwise he would have found some difficulty
+in getting anything.
+
+"No," answered the young joiner, "I could not think of depriving you;
+you had much better be my guests."
+
+Then they laughed, and thought he must be joking. But he brought his
+little wooden table, and put it in the middle of the room, and said,
+"Table, be covered!" Immediately it was set out with food much better
+than the landlord had been able to provide, and the good smell of it
+greeted the noses of the guests very agreeably. "Fall to, good friends,"
+said the joiner; and the guests, when they saw how it was, needed no
+second asking, but taking up knife and fork fell to valiantly. And what
+seemed most wonderful was that when a dish was empty immediately a full
+one stood in its place. All the while the landlord stood in a corner,
+and watched all that went on. He could not tell what to say about it;
+but he thought "such cooking as that would make my inn prosper." The
+joiner and his fellowship kept it up very merrily until late at night.
+At last they went to sleep, and the young joiner, going to bed, left his
+wishing-table standing against the wall. The landlord, however, could
+not sleep for thinking of the table, and he remembered that there was in
+his lumber room an old table very like it, so he fetched it, and taking
+away the joiner's table, he left the other in its place. The next
+morning the joiner paid his reckoning, took up the table, not dreaming
+that he was carrying off the wrong one, and went on his way. About noon
+he reached home, and his father received him with great joy.
+
+"Now, my dear son, what have you learned?" said he to him.
+
+"I have learned to be a joiner, father," he answered.
+
+"That is a good trade," returned the father; "but what have you brought
+back with you from your travels?"
+
+"The best thing I've got, father, is this little table," said he.
+
+The tailor looked at it on all sides, and said,
+
+"You have certainly produced no masterpiece. It is a rubbishing old
+table."
+
+"But it is a very wonderful one," answered the son. "When I set it down,
+and tell it to be covered, at once the finest meats are standing on it,
+and wine so good that it cheers the heart. Let us invite all the friends
+and neighbours, that they may feast and enjoy themselves, for the table
+will provide enough for all."
+
+When the company was all assembled, he put his table in the middle of
+the room, and said, "Table, be covered!"
+
+But the table never stirred, and remained just as empty as any other
+table that does not understand talking. When the poor joiner saw that
+the table remained unfurnished, he felt ashamed to stand there like a
+fool. The company laughed at him freely, and were obliged to return
+unfilled and uncheered to their houses. The father gathered his pieces
+together and returned to his tailoring, and the son went to work under
+another master.
+
+The second son had bound himself apprentice to a miller. And when his
+time was up, his master said to him,
+
+"As you have behaved yourself so well, I will give you an ass of a
+remarkable kind: he will draw no cart, and carry no sack."
+
+"What is the good of him then?" asked the young apprentice.
+
+"He spits out gold," answered the miller. "If you put a cloth before him
+and say, 'Bricklebrit,' out come gold pieces."
+
+"That is a capital thing," said the apprentice, and, thanking his
+master, he went out into the world. Whenever he wanted gold he had only
+to say "Bricklebrit" to his ass, and there was a shower of gold pieces,
+and so he had no cares as he travelled about. Wherever he came he lived
+on the best, and the dearer the better, as his purse was always full.
+And when he had been looking about him about the world a long time, he
+thought he would go and find out his father, who would perhaps forget
+his anger and receive him kindly because of his gold ass. And it
+happened that he came to lodge in the same inn where his brother's table
+had been exchanged. He was leading his ass in his hand, and the landlord
+was for taking the ass from him to tie it up, but the young apprentice
+said,
+
+"Don't trouble yourself, old fellow, I will take him into the stable
+myself and tie him up, and then I shall know where to find him."
+
+The landlord thought this was very strange, and he never supposed that a
+man who was accustomed to look after his ass himself could have much to
+spend; but when the stranger, feeling in his pocket, took out two gold
+pieces and told him to get him something good for supper; the landlord
+stared, and ran and fetched the best that could be got. After supper the
+guest called the reckoning, and the landlord, wanting to get all the
+profit he could, said that it would amount to two gold pieces more. The
+apprentice felt in his pocket, but his gold had come to an end.
+
+"Wait a moment, landlord," said he, "I will go and fetch some money,"
+and he went out of the room, carrying the table-cloth with him. The
+landlord could not tell what to make of it, and, curious to know his
+proceedings, slipped after him, and as the guest shut the stable-door,
+he peeped in through a knot-hole. Then he saw how the stranger spread
+the cloth before the ass, saying, "Bricklebrit," and directly the ass
+spat out gold, which rained upon the ground.
+
+"Dear me," said the landlord, "that is an easy way of getting ducats; a
+purse of money like that is no bad thing."
+
+After that the guest paid his reckoning and went to bed; but the
+landlord slipped down to the stable in the middle of the night, led the
+gold-ass away, and tied up another ass in his place. The next morning
+early the apprentice set forth with his ass, never doubting that it was
+the right one. By noon he came to his father's house, who was rejoiced
+to see him again, and received him gladly.
+
+"What trade have you taken up, my son?" asked the father.
+
+"I am a miller, dear father," answered he.
+
+"What have you brought home from your travels?" continued the father.
+
+"Nothing but an ass," answered the son.
+
+"We have plenty of asses here," said the father. "You had much better
+have brought me a nice goat!"
+
+"Yes," answered the son, "but this is no common ass. When I say,
+'Bricklebrit,' the good creature spits out a whole clothful of gold
+pieces. Let me call all the neighbours together. I will make rich people
+of them all."
+
+"That will be fine!" said the tailor. "Then I need labour no more at my
+needle;" and he rushed out himself and called the neighbours together.
+As soon as they were all assembled, the miller called out to them to
+make room, and brought in the ass, and spread his cloth before him.
+
+"Now, pay attention," said he, and cried, "Bricklebrit!" but no gold
+pieces came, and that showed that the animal was not more scientific
+than any other ass.
+
+So the poor miller made a long face when he saw that he had been taken
+in, and begged pardon of the neighbours, who all went home as poor as
+they had come. And there was nothing for it but that the old man must
+take to his needle again, and that the young one should take service
+with a miller.
+
+The third brother had bound himself apprentice to a turner; and as
+turning is a very ingenious handicraft, it took him a long time to learn
+it. His brother told him in a letter how badly things had gone with
+them, and how on the last night of their travels the landlord deprived
+them of their treasures. When the young turner had learnt his trade, and
+was ready to travel, his master, to reward him for his good conduct,
+gave him a sack, and told him that there was a stick inside it.
+
+"I can hang up the sack, and it may be very useful to me," said the
+young man. "But what is the good of the stick?"
+
+"I will tell you," answered the master. "If any one does you any harm,
+and you say, 'Stick, out of the sack!' the stick will jump out upon
+them, and will belabour them so soundly that they shall not be able to
+move or to leave the place for a week, and it will not stop until you
+say, 'Stick, into the sack!'"
+
+The apprentice thanked him, and took up the sack and started on his
+travels, and when any one attacked him he would say, "Stick, out of the
+sack!" and directly out jumped the stick, and dealt a shower of blows on
+the coat or jerkin, and the back beneath, which quickly ended the
+affair. One evening the young turner reached the inn where his two
+brothers had been taken in. He laid his knapsack on the table, and began
+to describe all the wonderful things he had seen in the world.
+
+"Yes," said he, "you may talk of your self-spreading table,
+gold-supplying ass, and so forth; very good things, I do not deny, but
+they are nothing in comparison with the treasure that I have acquired
+and carry with me in that sack!"
+
+Then the landlord opened his ears.
+
+"What in the world can it be?" thought he. "Very likely the sack is full
+of precious stones; and I have a perfect right to it, for all good
+things come in threes."
+
+When bedtime came the guest stretched himself on a bench, and put his
+sack under his head for a pillow, and the landlord, when he thought the
+young man was sound asleep, came, and, stooping down, pulled gently at
+the sack, so as to remove it cautiously, and put another in its place.
+The turner had only been waiting for this to happen, and just as the
+landlord was giving a last courageous pull, he cried, "Stick, out of the
+sack!" Out flew the stick directly, and laid to heartily on the
+landlord's back; and in vain he begged for mercy; the louder he cried
+the harder the stick beat time on his back, until he fell exhausted to
+the ground. Then the turner said,
+
+"If you do not give me the table and the ass directly, this game shall
+begin all over again."
+
+"Oh dear, no!" cried the landlord, quite collapsed; "I will gladly give
+it all back again if you will only make this terrible goblin go back
+into the sack."
+
+Then said the young man, "I will be generous instead of just, but
+beware!" Then he cried, "Stick, into the sack!" and left him in peace.
+
+The next morning the turner set out with the table and the ass on his
+way home to his father. The tailor was very glad, indeed, to see him
+again, and asked him what he had learned abroad.
+
+"My dear father," answered he, "I am become a turner."
+
+"A very ingenious handicraft," said the father. "And what have you
+brought with you from your travels?"
+
+"A very valuable thing, dear father," answered the son. "A stick in a
+sack!"
+
+"What!" cried the father. "A stick! The thing is not worth so much
+trouble when you can cut one from any tree."
+
+"But it is not a common stick, dear father," said the young man. "When I
+say, 'Stick, out of the bag!' out jumps the stick upon any one who means
+harm to me, and makes him dance again, and does not leave off till he
+is beaten to the earth, and asks pardon. Just look here, with this stick
+I have recovered the table and the ass which the thieving landlord had
+taken from my two brothers. Now, let them both be sent for, and bid all
+the neighbours too, and they shall eat and drink to their hearts'
+content, and I will fill their pockets with gold."
+
+The old tailor could not quite believe in such a thing, but he called
+his sons and all the neighbours together. Then the turner brought in the
+ass, opened a cloth before him, and said to his brother,
+
+"Now, my dear brother, speak to him." And the miller said,
+"Bricklebrit!" and immediately the cloth was covered with gold pieces,
+until they had all got more than they could carry away. (I tell you this
+because it is a pity you were not there.) Then the turner set down the
+table, and said,
+
+"Now, my dear brother, speak to it." And the joiner said, "Table, be
+covered!" and directly it was covered, and set forth plentifully with
+the richest dishes. Then they held a feast such as had never taken place
+in the tailor's house before, and the whole company remained through the
+night, merry and content.
+
+The tailor after that locked up in a cupboard his needle and thread, his
+yard-measure and goose, and lived ever after with his three sons in
+great joy and splendour.
+
+But what became of the goat, the unlucky cause of the tailor's sons
+being driven out? I will tell you. She felt so ashamed of her bald head
+that she ran into a fox's hole and hid herself. When the fox came home
+he caught sight of two great eyes staring at him out of the darkness,
+and was very frightened and ran away. A bear met him, and seeing that he
+looked very disturbed, asked him,
+
+"What is the matter, brother fox, that you should look like that?"
+
+"Oh dear," answered the fox, "a grisly beast is sitting in my hole, and
+he stared at me with fiery eyes!"
+
+"We will soon drive him out," said the bear; and went to the hole and
+looked in, but when he caught sight of the fiery eyes he likewise felt
+great terror seize him, and not wishing to have anything to do with so
+grisly a beast, he made off. He was soon met by a bee, who remarked
+that he had not a very courageous air, and said to him,
+
+"Bear, you have a very depressed countenance, what has become of your
+high spirit?"
+
+"You may well ask," answered the bear. "In the fox's hole there sits a
+grisly beast with fiery eyes, and we cannot drive him out."
+
+The bee answered, "I know you despise me, bear. I am a poor feeble
+little creature, but I think I can help you."
+
+So she flew into the fox's hole, and settling on the goat's
+smooth-shaven head, stung her so severely that she jumped up, crying,
+"Ba-baa!" and ran out like mad into the world; and to this hour no one
+knows where she ran to.
+
+
+
+
+TOM THUMB
+
+
+THERE was once a poor countryman who used to sit in the chimney-corner
+all evening and poke the fire, while his wife sat at her spinning-wheel.
+
+And he used to say,
+
+"How dull it is without any children about us; our house is so quiet,
+and other people's houses so noisy and merry!"
+
+"Yes," answered his wife, and sighed, "if we could only have one, and
+that one ever so little, no bigger than my thumb, how happy I should be!
+It would, indeed, be having our heart's desire."
+
+Now, it happened that after a while the woman had a child who was
+perfect in all his limbs, but no bigger than a thumb. Then the parents
+said,
+
+"He is just what we wished for, and we will love him very much," and
+they named him according to his stature, "Tom Thumb." And though they
+gave him plenty of nourishment, he grew no bigger, but remained exactly
+the same size as when he was first born; and he had very good faculties,
+and was very quick and prudent, so that all he did prospered.
+
+One day his father made ready to go into the forest to cut wood, and he
+said, as if to himself,
+
+"Now, I wish there was some one to bring the cart to meet me."
+
+"O father," cried Tom Thumb, "I can bring the cart, let me alone for
+that, and in proper time, too!"
+
+Then the father laughed, and said,
+
+"How will you manage that? You are much too little to hold the reins."
+
+"That has nothing to do with it, father; while my mother goes on with
+her spinning I will sit in the horse's ear and tell him where to go."
+
+"Well," answered the father, "we will try it for once."
+
+When it was time to set off, the mother went on spinning, after setting
+Tom Thumb in the horse's ear; and so he drove off, crying,
+
+"Gee-up, gee-wo!"
+
+So the horse went on quite as if his master were driving him, and drew
+the waggon along the right road to the wood.
+
+Now it happened just as they turned a corner, and the little fellow was
+calling out "Gee-up!" that two strange men passed by.
+
+"Look," said one of them, "how is this? There goes a waggon, and the
+driver is calling to the horse, and yet he is nowhere to be seen."
+
+"It is very strange," said the other; "we will follow the waggon, and
+see where it belongs."
+
+And the waggon went right through the wood, up to the place where the
+wood had been hewed. When Tom Thumb caught sight of his father, he cried
+out,
+
+"Look, father, here am I with the waggon; now, take me down."
+
+The father held the horse with his left hand, and with the right he
+lifted down his little son out of the horse's ear, and Tom Thumb sat
+down on a stump, quite happy and content. When the two strangers saw him
+they were struck dumb with wonder. At last one of them, taking the other
+aside, said to him, "Look here, the little chap would make our fortune
+if we were to show him in the town for money. Suppose we buy him."
+
+So they went up to the woodcutter, and said,
+
+"Sell the little man to us; we will take care he shall come to no harm."
+
+"No," answered the father; "he is the apple of my eye, and not for all
+the money in the world would I sell him."
+
+But Tom Thumb, when he heard what was going on, climbed up by his
+father's coat tails, and, perching himself on his shoulder, he whispered
+in his ear,
+
+"Father, you might as well let me go. I will soon come back again."
+
+Then the father gave him up to the two men for a large piece of money.
+They asked him where he would like to sit,
+
+"Oh, put me on the brim of your hat," said he. "There I can walk about
+and view the country, and be in no danger of falling off."
+
+So they did as he wished, and when Tom Thumb had taken leave of his
+father, they set off all together. And they travelled on until it grew
+dusk, and the little fellow asked to be set down a little while for a
+change, and after some difficulty they consented. So the man took him
+down from his hat, and set him in a field by the roadside, and he ran
+away directly, and, after creeping about among the furrows, he slipped
+suddenly into a mouse-hole, just what he was looking for.
+
+"Good evening, my masters, you can go home without me!" cried he to
+them, laughing. They ran up and felt about with their sticks in the
+mouse-hole, but in vain. Tom Thumb crept farther and farther in, and as
+it was growing dark, they had to make the best of their way home, full
+of vexation, and with empty purses.
+
+When Tom Thumb found they were gone, he crept out of his hiding-place
+underground.
+
+"It is dangerous work groping about these holes in the darkness," said
+he; "I might easily break my neck."
+
+But by good fortune he came upon an empty snail shell.
+
+"That's all right," said he. "Now I can get safely through the night;"
+and he settled himself down in it. Before he had time to get to sleep,
+he heard two men pass by, and one was saying to the other,
+
+"How can we manage to get hold of the rich parson's gold and silver?"
+
+"I can tell you how," cried Tom Thumb.
+
+"How is this?" said one of the thieves, quite frightened, "I hear some
+one speak!"
+
+So they stood still and listened, and Tom Thumb spoke again.
+
+"Take me with you; I will show you how to do it!"
+
+"Where are you, then?" asked they.
+
+"Look about on the ground and notice where the voice comes from,"
+answered he.
+
+At last they found him, and lifted him up.
+
+"You little elf," said they, "how can you help us?"
+
+"Look here," answered he, "I can easily creep between the iron bars of
+the parson's room and hand out to you whatever you would like to have."
+
+"Very well," said they, "we will try what you can do."
+
+So when they came to the parsonage-house, Tom Thumb crept into the room,
+but cried out with all his might,
+
+"Will you have all that is here?" So the thieves were terrified, and
+said,
+
+"Do speak more softly, lest any one should be awaked."
+
+But Tom Thumb made as if he did not hear them, and cried out again,
+
+"What would you like? will you have all that is here?" so that the cook,
+who was sleeping in a room hard by, heard it, and raised herself in bed
+and listened. The thieves, however, in their fear of being discovered,
+had run back part of the way, but they took courage again, thinking that
+it was only a jest of the little fellow's. So they came back and
+whispered to him to be serious, and to hand them out something.
+
+Then Tom Thumb called out once more as loud as he could,
+
+"Oh yes, I will give it all to you, only put out your hands."
+
+Then the listening maid heard him distinctly that time, and jumped out
+of bed, and burst open the door. The thieves ran off as if the wild
+huntsman were behind them; but the maid, as she could see nothing, went
+to fetch a light. And when she came back with one, Tom Thumb had taken
+himself off, without being seen by her, into the barn; and the maid,
+when she had looked in every hole and corner and found nothing, went
+back to bed at last, and thought that she must have been dreaming with
+her eyes and ears open.
+
+So Tom Thumb crept among the hay, and found a comfortable nook to sleep
+in, where he intended to remain until it was day, and then to go home to
+his father and mother. But other things were to befall him; indeed,
+there is nothing but trouble and worry in this world! The maid got up
+at dawn of day to feed the cows. The first place she went to was the
+barn, where she took up an armful of hay, and it happened to be the very
+heap in which Tom Thumb lay asleep. And he was so fast asleep, that he
+was aware of nothing, and never waked until he was in the mouth of the
+cow, who had taken him up with the hay.
+
+"Oh dear," cried he, "how is it that I have got into a mill!" but he
+soon found out where he was, and he had to be very careful not to get
+between the cow's teeth, and at last he had to descend into the cow's
+stomach.
+
+"The windows were forgotten when this little room was built," said he,
+"and the sunshine cannot get in; there is no light to be had."
+
+His quarters were in every way unpleasant to him, and, what was the
+worst, new hay was constantly coming in, and the space was being filled
+up. At last he cried out in his extremity, as loud as he could,
+
+"No more hay for me! no more hay for me!"
+
+The maid was then milking the cow, and as she heard a voice, but could
+see no one, and as it was the same voice that she had heard in the
+night, she was so frightened that she fell off her stool, and spilt the
+milk. Then she ran in great haste to her master, crying,
+
+"Oh, master dear, the cow spoke!"
+
+"You must be crazy," answered her master, and he went himself to the
+cow-house to see what was the matter. No sooner had he put his foot
+inside the door, than Tom Thumb cried out again,
+
+"No more hay for me! no more hay for me!"
+
+Then the parson himself was frightened, supposing that a bad spirit had
+entered into the cow, and he ordered her to be put to death. So she was
+killed, but the stomach, where Tom Thumb was lying, was thrown upon a
+dunghill. Tom Thumb had great trouble to work his way out of it, and he
+had just made a space big enough for his head to go through, when a new
+misfortune happened. A hungry wolf ran up and swallowed the whole
+stomach at one gulp. But Tom Thumb did not lose courage. "Perhaps,"
+thought he, "the wolf will listen to reason," and he cried out from the
+inside of the wolf,
+
+"My dear wolf, I can tell you where to get a splendid meal!"
+
+"Where is it to be had?" asked the wolf.
+
+"In such and such a house, and you must creep into it through the drain,
+and there you will find cakes and bacon and broth, as much as you can
+eat," and he described to him His father's house. The wolf needed not to
+be told twice. He squeezed himself through the drain in the night, and
+feasted in the store-room to his heart's content. When, at last, he was
+satisfied, he wanted to go away again, but he had become so big, that to
+creep the same way back was impossible. This Tom Thumb had reckoned
+upon, and began to make a terrible din inside the wolf, crying and
+calling as loud as he could.
+
+"Will you be quiet?" said the wolf; "you will wake the folks up!"
+
+"Look here," cried the little man, "you are very well satisfied, and now
+I will do something for my own enjoyment," and began again to make all
+the noise he could. At last the father and mother were awakened, and
+they ran to the room-door and peeped through the chink, and when they
+saw a wolf in occupation, they ran and fetched weapons--the man an axe,
+and the wife a scythe.
+
+"Stay behind," said the man, as they entered the room; "when I have
+given him a blow, and it does not seem to have killed him, then you must
+cut at him with your scythe."
+
+Then Tom Thumb heard his father's voice, and cried,
+
+"Dear father, I am here in the wolf's inside."
+
+Then the father called out full of joy,
+
+"Thank heaven that we have found our dear child!" and told his wife to
+keep the scythe out of the way, lest Tom Thumb should be hurt with it.
+Then he drew near and struck the wolf such a blow on the head that he
+fell down dead; and then he fetched a knife and a pair of scissors, slit
+up the wolf's body, and let out the little fellow.
+
+"Oh, what anxiety we have felt about you!" said the father.
+
+"Yes, father, I have seen a good deal of the world, and I am very glad
+to breathe fresh air again."
+
+"And where have you been all this time?" asked his father.
+
+"Oh, I have been in a mouse-hole and a snail's shell, in a cow's stomach
+and a wolf's inside: now, I think, I will stay at home."
+
+"And we will not part with you for all the kingdoms of the world," cried
+the parents, as they kissed and hugged their dear little Tom Thumb. And
+they gave him something to eat and drink, and a new suit of clothes, as
+his old ones were soiled with travel.
+
+
+
+
+HOW MRS FOX MARRIED AGAIN
+
+
+FIRST VERSION.
+
+
+THERE was once an old fox with nine tails, who wished to put his wife's
+affection to proof, pretended to be dead, and stretched himself under
+the bench quite stiff, and never moved a joint, on which Mrs. Fox
+retired to her room and locked herself in, while her maid, the cat,
+stayed by the kitchen fire and attended to the cooking.
+
+When it became known that the old fox was dead, some suitors prepared to
+come forward, and presently the maid heard some one knocking at the
+house door; she went and opened it, and there was a young fox, who said,
+
+ "What is she doing, Miss Cat?
+ Is she sleeping, or waking, or what is she at?"
+
+And the cat answered,
+
+ "I am not asleep, I am quite wide awake,
+ Perhaps you would know what I'm going to make;
+ I'm melting some butter, and warming some beer,
+ Will it please you sit down, and partake of my cheer?"
+
+"Thank you, miss," said the fox. "What is Mrs. Fox doing?"
+
+The maid answered,
+
+ "She is sitting upstairs in her grief,
+ And her eyes with her weeping are sore;
+ From her sorrow she gets no relief,
+ Now poor old Mr. Fox is no more!"
+
+"But just tell her, miss, that a young fox has come to woo her."
+
+"Very well, young master," answered the cat.
+
+Up went the cat pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat.
+
+She knocks at the door, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat!
+
+ "Mrs. Fox, are you there?"
+ "Yes, yes, pussy dear!"
+ "There's a suitor below,
+ Shall I tell him to go?"
+
+"But what is he like?" asked Mrs. Fox. "Has he nine beautiful tails,
+like dear Mr. Fox?"
+
+"Oh no," answered the cat; "he has only one."
+
+"Then I won't have him," said Mrs. Fox.
+
+So the cat went down-stairs, and sent the suitor away. Soon there was
+another knock at the door. It was another fox come to woo. He had two
+tails, but he met with no better success than the first. Then there
+arrived more foxes, one after another, each with one more tail than the
+last, but they were all dismissed, until there came one with nine tails
+like old Mr. Fox. When the widow heard that she cried, full of joy, to
+the cat,
+
+ "Now, open door and window wide,
+ And turn old Mr. Fox outside."
+
+But before they could do so, up jumped old Mr. Fox from under the bench,
+and cudgelled the whole pack, driving them, with Mrs. Fox, out of the
+house.
+
+
+SECOND VERSION.
+
+
+WHEN old Mr. Fox died there came a wolf to woo, and he knocked at the
+door, and the cat opened to him; and he made her a bow, and said,
+
+ "Good day, Miss Cat, so brisk and gay,
+ How is it that alone you stay?
+ And what is it you cook to-day?"
+
+The cat answered,
+
+ "Bread so white, and milk so sweet,
+ Will it please you sit and eat?"
+
+"Thank you very much, Miss Cat," answered the wolf; "but is Mrs. Fox at
+home?"
+
+Then the cat said,
+
+ "She is sitting upstairs in her grief,
+ And her eyes with her weeping are sore,
+ From her sorrow she gets no relief,
+ Now poor old Mr. Fox is no more!"
+
+The wolf answered,
+
+ "Won't she take another spouse,
+ To protect her and her house?"
+
+Up went the cat, pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat.
+
+She knocks at the door, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat!
+
+ "Mrs. Fox, are you there?"
+ "Yes, yes, pussy dear!"
+ "There's a suitor below,
+ Shall I tell him to go?"
+
+But Mrs. Fox asked, "Has the gentleman red breeches and a sharp nose?"
+
+"No," answered the cat.
+
+"Then I won't have him," said Mrs. Fox.
+
+After the wolf was sent away, there came a dog, a stag, a hare, a bear,
+a lion, and several other wild animals. But they all of them lacked the
+good endowments possessed by the late Mr. Fox, so that the cat had to
+send them all away. At last came a young fox. And Mrs. Fox inquired
+whether he had red breeches and a sharp nose.
+
+"Yes, he has," said the cat.
+
+"Then I will have him," said Mrs. Fox, and bade the cat make ready the
+wedding-feast.
+
+ "Now, cat, sweep the parlours and bustle about,
+ And open the window, turn Mr. Fox out;
+ Then, if you've a fancy for anything nice,
+ Just manage to catch for yourself a few mice,
+ You may eat them alone,
+ I do not want one."
+
+So she was married to young Master Fox with much dancing and rejoicing,
+and for anything I have heard to the contrary, they may be dancing
+still.
+
+
+
+
+THE ELVES
+
+(I)
+
+
+THERE was once a shoemaker, who, through no fault of his own, became so
+poor that at last he had nothing left but just enough leather to make
+one pair of shoes. He cut out the shoes at night, so as to set to work
+upon them next morning; and as he had a good conscience, he laid himself
+quietly down in his bed, committed himself to heaven, and fell asleep.
+In the morning, after he had said his prayers, and was going to get to
+work, he found the pair of shoes made and finished, and standing on his
+table. He was very much astonished, and could not tell what to think,
+and he took the shoes in his hand to examine them more nearly; and they
+were so well made that every stitch was in its right place, just as if
+they had come from the hand of a master-workman.
+
+Soon after a purchaser entered, and as the shoes fitted him very well,
+he gave more than the usual price for them, so that the shoemaker had
+enough money to buy leather for two more pairs of shoes. He cut them out
+at night, and intended to set to work the next morning with fresh
+spirit; but that was not to be, for when he got up they were already
+finished, and a customer even was not lacking, who gave him so much
+money that he was able to buy leather enough for four new pairs. Early
+next morning he found the four pairs also finished, and so it always
+happened; whatever he cut out in the evening was worked up by the
+morning, so that he was soon in the way of making a good living, and in
+the end became very well to do.
+
+One night, not long before Christmas, when the shoemaker had finished
+cutting out, and before he went to bed, he said to his wife,
+
+"How would it be if we were to sit up to-night and see who it is that
+does us this service?"
+
+His wife agreed, and set a light to burn. Then they both hid in a corner
+of the room, behind some coats that were hanging up, and then they began
+to watch. As soon as it was midnight they saw come in two neatly-formed
+naked little men, who seated themselves before the shoemaker's table,
+and took up the work that was already prepared, and began to stitch, to
+pierce, and to hammer so cleverly and quickly with their little fingers
+that the shoemaker's eyes could scarcely follow them, so full of wonder
+was he. And they never left off until everything was finished and was
+standing ready on the table, and then they jumped up and ran off.
+
+The next morning the shoemaker's wife said to her husband, "Those little
+men have made us rich, and we ought to show ourselves grateful. With all
+their running about, and having nothing to cover them, they must be very
+cold. I'll tell you what; I will make little shirts, coats, waistcoats,
+and breeches for them, and knit each of them a pair of stockings, and
+you shall make each of them a pair of shoes."
+
+The husband consented willingly, and at night, when everything was
+finished, they laid the gifts together on the table, instead of the
+cut-out work, and placed themselves so that they could observe how the
+little men would behave. When midnight came, they rushed in, ready to
+set to work, but when they found, instead of the pieces of prepared
+leather, the neat little garments put ready for them, they stood a
+moment in surprise, and then they testified the greatest delight. With
+the greatest swiftness they took up the pretty garments and slipped them
+on, singing,
+
+ "What spruce and dandy boys are we!
+ No longer cobblers we will be."
+
+Then they hopped and danced about, jumping over the chairs and tables,
+and at last they danced out at the door.
+
+From that time they were never seen again; but it always went well with
+the shoemaker as long as he lived, and whatever he took in hand
+prospered.
+
+
+(II.)
+
+
+THERE was once a poor servant maid, who was very cleanly and
+industrious; she swept down the house every day, and put the sweepings
+on a great heap by the door. One morning, before she began her work, she
+found a letter, and as she could not read, she laid her broom in the
+corner, and took the letter to her master and mistress, to see what it
+was about; and it was an invitation from the elves, who wished the maid
+to come and stand godmother to one of their children. The maid did not
+know what to do; and as she was told that no one ought to refuse the
+elves anything, she made up her mind to go. So there came three little
+elves, who conducted her into the middle of a high mountain, where the
+little people lived. Here everything was of a very small size, but more
+fine and elegant than can be told. The mother of the child lay in a bed
+made of ebony, studded with pearls, the counterpane was embroidered with
+gold, the cradle was of ivory, and the bathing-tub of gold. So the maid
+stood godmother, and was then for going home, but the elves begged her
+to stay at least three more days with them; and so she consented, and
+spent the time in mirth and jollity, and the elves seemed very fond of
+her. At last, when she was ready to go away, they filled her pockets
+full of gold, and led her back again out of the mountain. When she got
+back to the house, she was going to begin working again, and took her
+broom in her hand; it was still standing in the corner where she had
+left it, and began to sweep. Then came up some strangers and asked her
+who she was, and what she was doing. And she found that instead of three
+days, she had been seven years with the elves in the mountain, and that
+during that time her master and mistress had died.
+
+
+(III.)
+
+
+The elves once took a child away from its mother, and left in its place
+a changeling with a big head and staring eyes, who did nothing but eat
+and drink. The mother in her trouble went to her neighbours and asked
+their advice. The neighbours told her to take the changeling into the
+kitchen and put it near the hearth, and then to make up the fire, and
+boil water in two egg-shells; that would make the changeling laugh, and
+if he laughed, it would be all over with him. So the woman did as her
+neighbours advised. And when she set the egg-shells of water on the
+fire, the changeling said,
+
+ "Though old I be
+ As forest tree,
+ Cooking in an egg-shell never did I see!"
+
+and began to laugh. And directly there came in a crowd of elves bringing
+in the right child; and they laid it near the hearth, and carried the
+changeling away with them.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM
+
+ "TURN BACK, TURN BACK, THOU PRETTY BRIDE,
+ WITHIN THIS HOUSE THOU MUST NOT BIDE,
+ FOR HERE DO EVIL THINGS BETIDE."]
+
+
+
+
+THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM
+
+
+THERE was once a miller who had a beautiful daughter, and when she was
+grown up he became anxious that she should be well married and taken
+care of; so he thought,
+
+"If a decent sort of man comes and asks her in marriage, I will give her
+to him."
+
+Soon after a suitor came forward who seemed very well to do, and as the
+miller knew nothing to his disadvantage, he promised him his daughter.
+But the girl did not seem to love him as a bride should love her
+bridegroom; she had no confidence in him; as often as she saw him or
+thought about him, she felt a chill at her heart. One day he said to
+her,
+
+"You are to be my bride, and yet you have never been to see me."
+
+The girl answered,
+
+"I do not know where your house is."
+
+Then he said,
+
+"My house is a long way in the wood."
+
+She began to make excuses, and said she could not find the way to it;
+but the bridegroom said,
+
+"You must come and pay me a visit next Sunday; I have already invited
+company, and I will strew ashes on the path through the wood, so that
+you will be sure to find it."
+
+When Sunday came, and the girl set out on her way, she felt very uneasy
+without knowing exactly why; and she filled both pockets full of peas
+and lentils. There were ashes strewed on the path through the wood,
+but, nevertheless, at each step she cast to the right and left a few
+peas on the ground. So she went on the whole day until she came to the
+middle of the wood, where it was the darkest, and there stood a lonely
+house, not pleasant in her eyes, for it was dismal and unhomelike. She
+walked in, but there was no one there, and the greatest stillness
+reigned. Suddenly she heard a voice cry,
+
+ "Turn back, turn back, thou pretty bride,
+ Within this house thou must not bide,
+ For here do evil things betide."
+
+The girl glanced round, and perceived that the voice came from a bird
+who was hanging in a cage by the wall. And again it cried,
+
+ "Turn back, turn back, thou pretty bride,
+ Within this house thou must not bide,
+ For here do evil things betide."
+
+Then the pretty bride went on from one room into another through the
+whole house, but it was quite empty, and no soul to be found in it.
+
+At last she reached the cellar, and there sat a very old woman nodding
+her head.
+
+"Can you tell me," said the bride, "if my bridegroom lives here?"
+
+"Oh, poor child," answered the old woman, "do you know what has happened
+to you? You are in a place of cut-throats. You thought you were a bride,
+and soon to be married, but death will be your spouse. Look here, I have
+a great kettle of water to set on, and when once they have you in their
+power they will cut you in pieces without mercy, cook you, and eat you,
+for they are cannibals. Unless I have pity on you, and save you, all is
+over with you!"
+
+Then the old woman hid her behind a great cask, where she could not be
+seen.
+
+"Be as still as a mouse," said she; "do not move or go away, or else you
+are lost. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape. I have
+been waiting a long time for an opportunity."
+
+No sooner was it settled than the wicked gang entered the house. They
+brought another young woman with them, dragging her along, and they
+were drunk, and would not listen to her cries and groans. They gave her
+wine to drink, three glasses full, one of white wine, one of red, and
+one of yellow, and then they cut her in pieces. The poor bride all the
+while shaking and trembling when she saw what a fate the robbers had
+intended for her. One of them noticed on the little finger of their
+victim a golden ring, and as he could not draw it off easily, he took an
+axe and chopped it off, but the finger jumped away, and fell behind the
+cask on the bride's lap. The robber took up a light to look for it, but
+he could not find it. Then said one of the others,
+
+"Have you looked behind the great cask?"
+
+But the old woman cried,
+
+"Come to supper, and leave off looking till to-morrow; the finger cannot
+run away."
+
+Then the robbers said the old woman was right, and they left off
+searching, and sat down to eat, and the old woman dropped some sleeping
+stuff into their wine, so that before long they stretched themselves on
+the cellar floor, sleeping and snoring. When the bride heard that, she
+came from behind the cask, and had to make her way among the sleepers
+lying all about on the ground, and she felt very much afraid lest she
+might awaken any of them. But by good luck she passed through, and the
+old woman with her, and they opened the door, and they made all haste to
+leave that house of murderers. The wind had carried away the ashes from
+the path, but the peas and lentils had budded and sprung up, and the
+moonshine upon them showed the way. And they went on through the night,
+till in the morning they reached the mill. Then the girl related to her
+father all that had happened to her.
+
+When the wedding-day came, the friends and neighbours assembled, the
+miller having invited them, and the bridegroom also appeared. When they
+were all seated at table, each one had to tell a story. But the bride
+sat still, and said nothing, till at last the bridegroom said to her,
+
+"Now, sweetheart, do you know no story? Tell us something."
+
+She answered,
+
+"I will tell you my dream. I was going alone through a wood, and I came
+at last to a house in which there was no living soul, but by the wall
+was a bird in a cage, who cried,
+
+ 'Turn back, turn back, thou pretty bride,
+ Within this house thou must not bide,
+ For evil things do here betide.'
+
+"And then again it said it. Sweetheart, the dream is not ended. Then I
+went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and it was so
+lonely and wretched. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat
+an old old woman, nodding her head. I asked her if my bridegroom lived
+in that house, and she answered, 'Ah, poor child, you have come into a
+place of cut-throats; your bridegroom does live here, but he will kill
+you and cut you in pieces, and then cook and eat you.' Sweetheart, the
+dream is not ended. But the old woman hid me behind a great cask, and no
+sooner had she done so than the robbers came home, dragging with them a
+young woman, and they gave her to drink wine thrice, white, red, and
+yellow. Sweetheart, the dream is not yet ended. And then they killed
+her, and cut her in pieces. Sweetheart, my dream is not yet ended. And
+one of the robbers saw a gold ring on the finger of the young woman, and
+as it was difficult to get off, he took an axe and chopped off the
+finger, which jumped upwards, and then fell behind the great cask on my
+lap. And here is the finger with the ring!"
+
+At these words she drew it forth, and showed it to the company.
+
+The robber, who during the story had grown deadly white, sprang up, and
+would have escaped, but the folks held him fast, and delivered him up to
+justice. And he and his whole gang were, for their evil deeds, condemned
+and executed.
+
+
+
+
+MR KORBES
+
+
+A COCK and a hen once wanted to go a journey together. So the cock built
+a beautiful carriage with four red wheels, and he harnessed four little
+mice to it. And the cock and the hen got into it, and were driven off.
+Very soon they met a cat, who asked where they were going. The cock
+answered,
+
+ "On Mr. Korbes a call to pay,
+ And that is where we go to-day!"
+
+"Take me with you," said the cat.
+
+The cock answered,
+
+"Very well, only you must sit well back, and then you will not fall
+forward."
+
+ "And pray take care
+ Of my red wheels there;
+ And wheels be steady,
+ And mice be ready
+ On Mr. Korbes a call to pay,
+ For that is where we go to-day!"
+
+Then there came up a millstone, then an egg, then a duck, then a pin,
+and lastly a needle, who all got up on the carriage, and were driven
+along. But when they came to Mr. Korbes's house he was not at home. So
+the mice drew the carriage into the barn, the cock and the hen flew up
+and perched on a beam, the cat sat by the fireside, the duck settled on
+the water; but the egg wrapped itself in the towel, the pin stuck itself
+in the chair cushion, the needle jumped into the bed among the pillows,
+and the millstone laid itself by the door. Then Mr. Korbes came home,
+and went to the hearth to make a fire, but the cat threw ashes in his
+eyes. Then he ran quickly into the kitchen to wash himself, but the duck
+splashed water in his face. Then he was going to wipe it with the towel,
+but the egg broke in it, and stuck his eyelids together. In order to get
+a little peace he sat down in his chair, but the pin ran into him, and,
+starting up, in his vexation he threw himself on the bed, but as his
+head fell on the pillow, in went the needle, so that he called out with
+the pain, and madly rushed out. But when he reached the housedoor the
+mill-stone jumped up and struck him dead.
+
+What a bad man Mr. Korbes must have been!
+
+
+
+
+TOM THUMB'S TRAVELS
+
+
+THERE was once a tailor who had a son no higher than a thumb, so he was
+called Tom Thumb. Notwithstanding his small size, he had plenty of
+spirit, and one day he said to his father,
+
+"Father, go out into the world I must and will."
+
+"Very well, my son," said the old man, and taking a long darning needle,
+he put a knob of sealing-wax on the end, saying,
+
+"Here is a sword to take with you on your journey."
+
+Now the little tailor wanted to have one more meal first, and so he
+trotted into the kitchen to see what sort of a farewell feast his mother
+had cooked for him. It was all ready, and the dish was standing on the
+hearth. Then said he,
+
+"Mother, what is the fare to-day?"
+
+"You can see for yourself," said the mother. Then Tom Thumb ran to the
+hearth and peeped into the dish, but as he stretched his neck too far
+over it, the steam caught him and carried him up the chimney. For a time
+he floated with the steam about in the air, but at last he sank down to
+the ground. Then the little tailor found himself out in the wide world,
+and he wandered about, and finally engaged himself to a master tailor,
+but the food was not good enough for him.
+
+"Mistress," said Tom Thumb, "if you do not give us better victuals, I
+shall go out early in the morning and write with a piece of chalk on the
+house-door, 'Plenty of potatoes to eat, and but little meat; so
+good-bye, Mr. Potato.'"
+
+"What are you after, grasshopper?" said the mistress, and growing angry
+she seized a piece of rag to beat him off; but he crept underneath her
+thimble, and then peeped at her, and put his tongue out at her. She took
+up the thimble, and would have seized him, but he hopped among the rags,
+and as the mistress turned them over to find him, he stepped into a
+crack in the table. "He-hee! Mistress!" cried he, sticking out his head,
+and when she was just going to grasp him, he jumped into the
+table-drawer. But in the end she caught him, and drove him out of the
+house.
+
+So he wandered on until he came to a great wood; and there he met a gang
+of robbers that were going to rob the king's treasury. When they saw the
+little tailor, they thought to themselves,
+
+"Such a little fellow might easily creep through a key-hole, and serve
+instead of a pick-lock."
+
+"Holloa!" cried one, "you giant Goliath, will you come with us to the
+treasure-chamber? you can slip in, and then throw us out the money."
+
+Tom Thumb considered a little, but at last he consented and went with
+them to the treasure-chamber. Then he looked all over the doors above
+and below, but there was no crack to be seen; at last he found one broad
+enough to let him pass, and he was getting through, when one of the
+sentinels that stood before the door saw him, and said to the other,
+
+"See what an ugly spider is crawling there! I will put an end to him."
+
+"Let the poor creature alone," said the other, "it has done you no
+harm."
+
+So Tom Thumb got safely through the crack into the treasure-chamber, and
+he opened the window beneath which the thieves were standing, and he
+threw them out one dollar after another. Just as he had well settled to
+the work, he heard the king coming to take a look at his treasure, and
+so Tom Thumb had to creep away. The king presently remarked that many
+good dollars were wanting, but could not imagine how they could have
+been stolen, as the locks and bolts were in good order, and everything
+seemed secure. And he went away, saying to the two sentinels,
+
+"Keep good guard; there is some one after the money."
+
+When Tom Thumb had set to work anew, they heard the chink, chink of the
+money, and hastily rushed in to catch the thief. But the little tailor,
+as he heard them coming, was too quick for them, and, hiding in a
+corner, he covered himself up with a dollar, so that nothing of him was
+to be seen, and then he mocked the sentinels, crying, "Here I am!" They
+ran about, and when they came near him, he was soon in another corner
+under a dollar, crying, "Here I am!" Then the sentinels ran towards him,
+and in a moment he was in a third corner, crying, "Here I am!" In this
+way he made fools of them, and dodged them so long about the
+treasure-chamber, that they got tired and went away. Then he set to
+work, and threw the dollars out of the window, one after the other, till
+they were all gone; and when it came to the last, as he flung it with
+all his might, he jumped nimbly on it, and flew with it out of the
+window. The robbers gave him great praise, saying,
+
+"You are a most valiant hero; will you be our captain?"
+
+But Tom Thumb thanked them, and said he would like to see the world
+first. Then they divided the spoil; but the little tailor's share was
+only one farthing, which was all he was able to carry.
+
+Then binding his sword to his side, he bid the robbers good day, and
+started on his way. He applied to several master tailors, but they would
+not have anything to do with him; and at last he hired himself as indoor
+servant at an inn. The maid servants took a great dislike to him, for he
+used to see everything they did without being seen by them, and he told
+the master and mistress about what they took from the plates, and what
+they carried away out of the cellar. And they said, "Wait a little, we
+will pay you out," and took counsel together to play him some
+mischievous trick. Once when one of the maids was mowing the grass in
+the garden she saw Tom Thumb jumping about and creeping among the
+cabbages, and she mowed him with the grass, tied all together in a
+bundle, and threw it to the cows. Among the cows was a big black one,
+who swallowed him down, without doing him any harm. But he did not like
+his lodging, it was so dark, and there was no candle to be had. When the
+cow was being milked, he cried out,
+
+ "Strip, strap, strull,
+ Will the pail soon be full?"
+
+But he was not understood because of the noise of the milk. Presently
+the landlord came into the stable and said,
+
+"To-morrow this cow is to be slaughtered."
+
+At that Tom Thumb felt very terrified; and with his shrillest voice he
+cried,
+
+"Let me out first; I am sitting inside here!"
+
+The master heard him quite plainly, but could not tell where the voice
+came from.
+
+"Where are you?" asked he.
+
+"Inside the black one," answered Tom Thumb, but the master, not
+understanding the meaning of it all, went away.
+
+The next morning the cow was slaughtered. Happily, in all the cutting
+and slashing he escaped all harm, and he slipped among the sausage-meat.
+When the butcher came near to set to work, he cried with all his might,
+
+"Don't cut so deep, don't cut so deep, I am underneath!"
+
+But for the sound of the butcher's knife his voice was not heard. Now,
+poor Tom Thumb was in great straits, and he had to jump nimbly out of
+the way of the knife, and finally he came through with a whole skin. But
+he could not get quite away, and he had to let himself remain with the
+lumps of fat to be put in a black pudding. His quarters were rather
+narrow, and he had to be hung up in the chimney in the smoke, and to
+remain there a very long while. At last, when winter came he was taken
+down, for the black pudding was to be set before a guest. And when the
+landlady cut the black pudding in slices, he had to take great care not
+to lift up his head too much, or it might be shaved off at the neck. At
+last he saw his opportunity, took courage, and jumped out.
+
+But as things had gone so badly with him in that house, Tom Thumb did
+not mean to stay there, but betook himself again to his wanderings. His
+freedom, however, did not last long. In the open fields there came a fox
+who snapped him up without thinking.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Fox," cries Tom Thumb, "here I am sticking in your throat; let
+me out again."
+
+"Very well," answered the fox. "It is true you are no better than
+nothing; promise me the hens in your father's yard, then I will let you
+go."
+
+"With all my heart," answered Tom Thumb, "you shall have them all, I
+promise you."
+
+Then the fox let him go, and he ran home. When the father saw his dear
+little son again, he gave the fox willingly all the hens that he had.
+
+"And look, besides, what a fine piece of money I've got for you!" said
+Tom Thumb, and handed over the farthing which he had earned in his
+wanderings.
+
+But how, you ask, could they let the fox devour all the poor chicks?
+
+Why, you silly child, you know that your father would rather have you
+than the hens in his yard!
+
+
+
+
+THE ALMOND TREE
+
+
+A LONG time ago, perhaps as much as two thousand years, there was a rich
+man, and he had a beautiful and pious wife, and they loved each other
+very much, and they had no children, though they wished greatly for
+some, and the wife prayed for one day and night. Now, in the courtyard
+in front of their house stood an almond tree; and one day in winter the
+wife was standing beneath it, and paring an apple, and as she pared it
+she cut her finger, and the blood fell upon the snow.
+
+"Ah," said the woman, sighing deeply, and looking down at the blood, "if
+only I could have a child as red as blood, and as white as snow!"
+
+[Illustration: THE ALMOND TREE
+
+ "KYWITT, KYWITT, KYWITT, I CRY,
+ OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BIRD AM I!"]
+
+And as she said these words, her heart suddenly grew light, and she felt
+sure she should have her wish. So she went back to the house, and when a
+month had passed the snow was gone; in two months everything was green;
+in three months the flowers sprang out of the earth; in four months the
+trees were in full leaf, and the branches were thickly entwined; the
+little birds began to sing, so that the woods echoed, and the blossoms
+fell from the trees; when the fifth month had passed the wife stood
+under the almond tree, and it smelt so sweet that her heart leaped
+within her, and she fell on her knees for joy; and when the sixth month
+had gone, the fruit was thick and fine, and she remained still; and the
+seventh month she gathered the almonds, and ate them eagerly, and was
+sick and sorrowful; and when the eighth month had passed she called
+to her husband, and said, weeping,
+
+"If I die, bury me under the almond tree."
+
+Then she was comforted and happy until the ninth month had passed, and
+then she bore a child as white as snow and as red as blood, and when she
+saw it her joy was so great that she died.
+
+Her husband buried her under the almond tree, and he wept sore; time
+passed, and he became less sad; and after he had grieved a little more
+he left off, and then he took another wife.
+
+His second wife bore him a daughter, and his first wife's child was a
+son, as red as blood and as white as snow. Whenever the wife looked at
+her daughter she felt great love for her, but whenever she looked at the
+little boy, evil thoughts came into her heart, of how she could get all
+her husband's money for her daughter, and how the boy stood in the way;
+and so she took great hatred to him, and drove him from one corner to
+another, and gave him a buffet here and a cuff there, so that the poor
+child was always in disgrace; when he came back after school hours there
+was no peace for him.
+
+Once, when the wife went into the room upstairs, her little daughter
+followed her, and said,
+
+"Mother, give me an apple."
+
+"Yes, my child," said the mother, and gave her a fine apple out of the
+chest, and the chest had a great heavy lid with a strong iron lock.
+
+"Mother," said the little girl, "shall not my brother have one too?"
+
+That was what the mother expected, and she said,
+
+"Yes, when he comes back from school."
+
+And when she saw from the window that he was coming, an evil thought
+crossed her mind, and she snatched the apple, and took it from her
+little daughter, saying,
+
+"You shall not have it before your brother."
+
+Then she threw the apple into the chest, and shut to the lid. Then the
+little boy came in at the door, and she said to him in a kind tone, but
+with evil looks,
+
+"My son, will you have an apple?"
+
+"Mother," said the boy, "how terrible you look! yes, give me an apple!"
+
+Then she spoke as kindly as before, holding up the cover of the chest,
+
+"Come here and take out one for yourself."
+
+And as the boy was stooping over the open chest, crash went the lid
+down, so that his head flew off among the red apples. But then the woman
+felt great terror, and wondered how she could escape the blame. And she
+went to the chest of drawers in her bedroom and took a white
+handkerchief out of the nearest drawer, and fitting the head to the
+neck, she bound them with the handkerchief, so that nothing should be
+seen, and set him on a chair before the door with the apple in his hand.
+
+Then came little Marjory into the kitchen to her mother, who was
+standing before the fire stirring a pot of hot water.
+
+"Mother," said Marjory, "my brother is sitting before the door and he
+has an apple in his hand, and looks very pale; I asked him to give me
+the apple, but he did not answer me; it seems very strange."
+
+"Go again to him," said the mother, "and if he will not answer you, give
+him a box on the ear."
+
+So Marjory went again and said,
+
+"Brother, give me the apple."
+
+But as he took no notice, she gave him a box on the ear, and his head
+fell off, at which she was greatly terrified, and began to cry and
+scream, and ran to her mother, and said,
+
+"O mother! I have knocked my brother's head off!" and cried and
+screamed, and would not cease.
+
+"O Marjory!" said her mother, "what have you done? but keep quiet, that
+no one may see there is anything the matter; it can't be helped now; we
+will put him out of the way safely."
+
+When the father came home and sat down to table, he said,
+
+"Where is my son?"
+
+But the mother was filling a great dish full of black broth, and Marjory
+was crying bitterly, for she could not refrain. Then the father said
+again,
+
+"Where is my son?"
+
+"Oh," said the mother, "he is gone into the country to his great-uncle's
+to stay for a little while."
+
+"What should he go for?" said the father, "and without bidding me
+good-bye, too!"
+
+"Oh, he wanted to go so much, and he asked me to let him stay there six
+weeks; he will be well taken care of."
+
+"Dear me," said the father, "I am quite sad about it; it was not right
+of him to go without bidding me good-bye."
+
+With that he began to eat, saying,
+
+"Marjory, what are you crying for? Your brother will come back some
+time."
+
+After a while he said,
+
+"Well, wife, the food is very good; give me some more."
+
+And the more he ate the more he wanted, until he had eaten it all up,
+and he threw the bones under the table. Then Marjory went to her chest
+of drawers, and took one of her best handkerchiefs from the bottom
+drawer, and picked up all the bones from under the table and tied them
+up in her handkerchief, and went out at the door crying bitterly. She
+laid them in the green grass under the almond tree, and immediately her
+heart grew light again, and she wept no more. Then the almond tree began
+to wave to and fro, and the boughs drew together and then parted, just
+like a clapping of hands for joy; then a cloud rose from the tree, and
+in the midst of the cloud there burned a fire, and out of the fire a
+beautiful bird arose, and, singing most sweetly, soared high into the
+air; and when he had flown away, the almond tree remained as it was
+before, but the handkerchief full of bones was gone. Marjory felt quite
+glad and light-hearted, just as if her brother were still alive. So she
+went back merrily into the house and had her dinner.
+
+The bird, when it flew away, perched on the roof of a goldsmith's house,
+and began to sing,
+
+ "It was my mother who murdered me;
+ It was my father who ate of me;
+ It was my sister Marjory
+ Who all my bones in pieces found;
+ Them in a handkerchief she bound,
+ And laid them under the almond tree.
+ Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,
+ Oh what a beautiful bird am I!"
+
+The goldsmith was sitting in his shop making a golden chain, and when he
+heard the bird, who was sitting on his roof and singing, he started up
+to go and look, and as he passed over his threshold he lost one of his
+slippers; and he went into the middle of the street with a slipper on
+one foot and only a sock on the other; with his apron on, and the gold
+chain in one hand and the pincers in the other; and so he stood in the
+sunshine looking up at the bird.
+
+"Bird," said he, "how beautifully you sing; do sing that piece over
+again."
+
+"No," said the bird, "I do not sing for nothing twice; if you will give
+me that gold chain I will sing again."
+
+"Very well," said the goldsmith, "here is the gold chain; now do as you
+said."
+
+Down came the bird and took the gold chain in his right claw, perched in
+front of the goldsmith, and sang,
+
+ "It was my mother who murdered me;
+ It was my father who ate of me;
+ It was my sister Marjory
+ Who all my bones in pieces found;
+ Them in a handkerchief she bound,
+ And laid them under the almond tree.
+ Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,
+ Oh what a beautiful bird am I!"
+
+Then the bird flew to a shoemaker's, and perched on his roof, and sang,
+
+ "It was my mother who murdered me;
+ It was my father who ate of me;
+ It was my sister Marjory
+ Who all my bones in pieces found;
+ Them in a handkerchief she bound,
+ And laid them under the almond tree.
+ Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,
+ Oh what a beautiful bird am I!"
+
+When the shoemaker heard, he ran out of his door in his shirt sleeves
+and looked up at the roof of his house, holding his hand to shade his
+eyes from the sun.
+
+"Bird," said he, "how beautifully you sing!"
+
+Then he called in at his door,
+
+"Wife, come out directly; here is a bird singing beautifully; only
+listen."
+
+Then he called his daughter, all his children, and acquaintance, both
+young men and maidens, and they came up the street and gazed on the
+bird, and saw how beautiful it was with red and green feathers, and
+round its throat was as it were gold, and its eyes twinkled in its head
+like stars.
+
+"Bird," said the shoemaker, "do sing that piece over again."
+
+"No," said the bird, "I may not sing for nothing twice; you must give me
+something."
+
+"Wife," said the man, "go into the shop; on the top shelf stands a pair
+of red shoes; bring them here."
+
+So the wife went and brought the shoes.
+
+"Now bird," said the man, "sing us that piece again."
+
+And the bird came down and took the shoes in his left claw, and flew up
+again to the roof, and sang,
+
+ "It was my mother who murdered me;
+ It was my father who ate of me;
+ It was my sister Marjory
+ Who all my bones in pieces found;
+ Them in a handkerchief she bound,
+ And laid them under the almond tree.
+ Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,
+ Oh what a beautiful bird am I!"
+
+And when he had finished he flew away, with the chain in his right claw
+and the shoes in his left claw, and he flew till he reached a mill, and
+the mill went "clip-clap, clip-clap, clip-clap." And in the mill sat
+twenty millers-men hewing a millstone--"hick-hack, hick-hack,
+hick-hack," while the mill was going "clip-clap, clip-clap, clip-clap."
+And the bird perched on a linden tree that stood in front of the mill,
+and sang,
+
+ "It was my mother who murdered me;"
+
+Here one of the men looked up.
+
+ "It was my father who ate of me;"
+
+Then two more looked up and listened.
+
+ "It was my sister Marjory"
+
+Here four more looked up.
+
+ "Who all my bones in pieces found;
+ Them in a handkerchief she bound,"
+
+Now there were only eight left hewing.
+
+ "And laid them under the almond tree."
+
+Now only five.
+
+ "Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,"
+
+Now only one.
+
+ "Oh what a beautiful bird am I!"
+
+At length the last one left off, and he only heard the end.
+
+"Bird," said he, "how beautifully you sing; let me hear it all; sing
+that again!"
+
+"No," said the bird, "I may not sing it twice for nothing; if you will
+give me the millstone I will sing it again."
+
+"Indeed," said the man, "if it belonged to me alone you should have it."
+
+"All right," said the others, "if he sings again he shall have it."
+
+Then the bird came down, and all the twenty millers heaved up the stone
+with poles--"yo! heave-ho! yo! heave-ho!" and the bird stuck his head
+through the hole in the middle, and with the millstone round his neck he
+flew up to the tree and sang,
+
+ "It was my mother who murdered me;
+ It was my father who ate of me;
+ It was my sister Marjory
+ Who all my bones in pieces found;
+ Them in a handkerchief she bound,
+ And laid them under the almond tree.
+ Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,
+ Oh what a beautiful bird am I!"
+
+And when he had finished, he spread his wings, having in the right claw
+the chain, and in the left claw the shoes, and round his neck the
+millstone, and he flew away to his father's house.
+
+In the parlour sat the father, the mother, and Marjory at the table; the
+father said,
+
+"How light-hearted and cheerful I feel."
+
+"Nay," said the mother, "I feel very low, just as if a great storm were
+coming."
+
+But Marjory sat weeping; and the bird came flying, and perched on the
+roof.
+
+"Oh," said the father, "I feel so joyful, and the sun is shining so
+bright; it is as if I were going to meet with an old friend."
+
+"Nay," said the wife, "I am terrified, my teeth chatter, and there is
+fire in my veins," and she tore open her dress to get air; and Marjory
+sat in a corner and wept, with her plate before her, until it was quite
+full of tears. Then the bird perched on the almond tree, and sang,
+
+ "It was my mother who murdered me;"
+
+And the mother stopped her ears and hid her eyes, and would neither see
+nor hear; nevertheless, the noise of a fearful storm was in her ears,
+and in her eyes a quivering and burning as of lightning.
+
+ "It was my father who ate of me;"
+
+"O mother!" said the father, "there is a beautiful bird singing so
+finely, and the sun shines, and everything smells as sweet as cinnamon.
+
+ "It was my sister Marjory"
+
+Marjory hid her face in her lap and wept, and the father said,
+
+"I must go out to see the bird."
+
+"Oh do not go!" said the wife, "I feel as if the house were on fire."
+
+But the man went out and looked at the bird.
+
+ "Who all my bones in pieces found;
+ Them in a handkerchief she bound,
+ And laid them under the almond tree.
+ Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,
+ Oh what a beautiful bird am I!"
+
+With that the bird let fall the gold chain upon his father's neck, and
+it fitted him exactly. So he went indoors and said,
+
+"Look what a beautiful chain the bird has given me."
+
+Then his wife was so terrified that she fell all along on the floor, and
+her cap came off. Then the bird began again to sing,
+
+ "It was my mother who murdered me;"
+
+"Oh," groaned the mother, "that I were a thousand fathoms under ground,
+so as not to be obliged to hear it."
+
+ "It was my father who ate of me;"
+
+Then the woman lay as if she were dead.
+
+ "It was my sister Marjory"
+
+"Oh," said Marjory, "I will go out, too, and see if the bird will give
+me anything." And so she went.
+
+ "Who all my bones in pieces found;
+ Them in a handkerchief she bound,"
+
+Then he threw the shoes down to her.
+
+ "And laid them under the almond tree.
+ Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,
+ Oh what a beautiful bird am I!"
+
+And poor Marjory all at once felt happy and joyful, and put on her red
+shoes, and danced and jumped for joy.
+
+"Oh dear," said she, "I felt so sad before I went outside, and now my
+heart is so light! He is a charming bird to have given me a pair of red
+shoes."
+
+But the mother's hair stood on end, and looked like flame, and she said,
+
+"Even if the world is coming to an end, I must go out for a little
+relief."
+
+Just as she came outside the door, crash went the millstone on her head,
+and crushed her flat. The father and daughter rushed out, and saw smoke
+and flames of fire rise up; but when that had gone by, there stood the
+little brother; and he took his father and Marjory by the hand, and they
+felt very happy and content, and went indoors, and sat to the table, and
+had their dinner.
+
+
+
+
+OLD SULTAN
+
+
+THERE was once a peasant who owned a faithful dog called Sultan, now
+grown so old that he had lost all his teeth, and could lay hold of
+nothing. One day the man was standing at the door of his house with his
+wife, and he said,
+
+"I shall kill old Sultan to-morrow; he is of no good any longer."
+
+His wife felt sorry for the poor dog, and answered, "He has served us
+for so many years, and has kept with us so faithfully, he deserves food
+and shelter in his old age."
+
+"Dear me, you do not seem to understand the matter," said the husband;
+"he has never a tooth, and no thief would mind him in the least, so I do
+not see why he should not be made away with. If he has served us well,
+we have given him plenty of good food."
+
+The poor dog, who was lying stretched out in the sun not far off, heard
+all they said, and was very sad to think that the next day would be his
+last. He bethought him of his great friend the wolf, and slipped out in
+the evening to the wood to see him, and related to him the fate that was
+awaiting him.
+
+"Listen to me, old fellow," said the wolf; "be of good courage, I will
+help you in your need. I have thought of a way. Early to-morrow morning
+your master is going hay-making with his wife, and they will take their
+child with them, so that no one will be left at home. They will be sure
+to lay the child in the shade behind the hedge while they are at work;
+you must lie by its side, just as if you were watching it. Then I will
+come out of the wood and steal away the child; you must rush after me,
+as if to save it from me. Then I must let it fall, and you must bring it
+back again to its parents, who will think that you have saved it, and
+will be much too grateful to do you any harm; on the contrary, you will
+be received into full favour, and they will never let you want for
+anything again."
+
+The dog was pleased with the plan, which was carried out accordingly.
+When the father saw the wolf running away with his child he cried out,
+and when old Sultan brought it back again, he was much pleased with him,
+and patted him, saying,
+
+"Not a hair of him shall be touched; he shall have food and shelter as
+long as he lives." And he said to his wife,
+
+"Go home directly and make some good stew for old Sultan, something that
+does not need biting; and get the pillow from my bed for him to lie on."
+
+From that time old Sultan was made so comfortable that he had nothing
+left to wish for. Before long the wolf paid him a visit, to congratulate
+him that all had gone so well.
+
+"But, old fellow," said he, "you must wink at my making off by chance
+with a fat sheep of your master's; perhaps one will escape some fine
+day."
+
+"Don't reckon on that," answered the dog; "I cannot consent to it; I
+must remain true to my master."
+
+But the wolf, not supposing it was said in earnest, came sneaking in the
+night to carry off the sheep. But the master, who had been warned by the
+faithful Sultan of the wolf's intention, was waiting for him, and gave
+him a fine hiding with the threshing-flail. So the wolf had to make his
+escape, calling out to the dog,
+
+"You shall pay for this, you traitor!"
+
+The next morning the wolf sent the wild boar to call out the dog; and to
+appoint a meeting in the wood to receive satisfaction from him. Old
+Sultan could find no second but a cat with three legs; and as they set
+off together, the poor thing went limping along, holding her tail up in
+the air. The wolf and his second were already on the spot; when they saw
+their antagonists coming, and caught sight of the elevated tail of the
+cat, they thought it was a sabre they were bringing with them. And as
+the poor thing came limping on three legs, they supposed it was lifting
+a big stone to throw at them. This frightened them very much; the wild
+boar crept among the leaves, and the wolf clambered up into a tree. And
+when the dog and cat came up, they were surprised not to see any one
+there. However, the wild boar was not perfectly hidden in the leaves,
+and the tips of his ears peeped out. And when the cat caught sight of
+one, she thought it was a mouse, and sprang upon it, seizing it with her
+teeth. Out leaped the wild boar with a dreadful cry, and ran away
+shouting,
+
+"There is the culprit in the tree!"
+
+And the dog and the cat looking up caught sight of the wolf, who came
+down, quite ashamed of his timidity, and made peace with the dog once
+more.
+
+
+
+
+THE SIX SWANS
+
+
+ONCE on a time a king was hunting in a great wood, and he pursued a wild
+animal so eagerly that none of his people could follow him. When evening
+came he stood still, and looking round him he found that he had lost his
+way; and seeking a path, he found none. Then all at once he saw an old
+woman with a nodding head coming up to him; and it was a witch.
+
+"My good woman," said he, "can you show me the way out of the wood?"
+
+"Oh yes, my lord king," answered she, "certainly I can; but I must make
+a condition, and if you do not fulfil it, you will never get out of the
+wood again, but die there of hunger."
+
+"What is the condition?" asked the king.
+
+"I have a daughter," said the old woman, "who is as fair as any in the
+world, and if you will take her for your bride, and make her queen, I
+will show you the way out of the wood."
+
+The king consented, because of the difficulty he was in, and the old
+woman led him into her little house, and there her daughter was sitting
+by the fire.
+
+[Illustration: THE SIX SWANS
+
+ "THE SWANS CAME CLOSE UP TO
+ HER WITH RUSHING WINGS; &
+ STOOPED ROUND HER; SO THAT
+ SHE COULD THROW THE SHIRTS
+ OVER THEM."]
+
+She received the king just as if she had been expecting him, and though
+he saw that she was very beautiful, she did not please him, and he could
+not look at her without an inward shudder. Nevertheless, he took the
+maiden before him on his horse, and the old woman showed him the way,
+and soon he was in his royal castle again, where the wedding was
+held.
+
+The king had been married before, and his first wife had left seven
+children, six boys and one girl, whom he loved better than all the
+world, and as he was afraid the step-mother might not behave well to
+them, and perhaps would do them some mischief, he took them to a lonely
+castle standing in the middle of a wood. There they remained hidden, for
+the road to it was so hard to find that the king himself could not have
+found it, had it not been for a clew of yarn, possessing wonderful
+properties, that a wise woman had given him; when he threw it down
+before him, it unrolled itself and showed him the way. And the king went
+so often to see his dear children, that the queen was displeased at his
+absence; and she became curious and wanted to know what he went out into
+the wood for so often alone. She bribed his servants with much money,
+and they showed her the secret, and told her of the clew of yarn, which
+alone could point out the way; then she gave herself no rest until she
+had found out where the king kept the clew, and then she made some
+little white silk shirts, and sewed a charm in each, as she had learned
+witchcraft of her mother. And once when the king had ridden to the hunt,
+she took the little shirts and went into the wood, and the clew of yarn
+showed her the way. The children seeing some one in the distance,
+thought it was their dear father coming to see them, and came jumping
+for joy to meet him. Then the wicked queen threw over each one of the
+little shirts, and as soon as the shirts touched their bodies, they were
+changed into swans, and flew away through the wood. So the queen went
+home very pleased to think she had got rid of her step-children; but the
+maiden had not run out with her brothers, and so the queen knew nothing
+about her. The next day the king went to see his children, but he found
+nobody but his daughter.
+
+"Where are thy brothers?" asked the king.
+
+"Ah, dear father," answered she, "they are gone away and have left me
+behind," and then she told him how she had seen from her window her
+brothers in the guise of swans fly away through the wood, and she showed
+him the feathers which they had let fall in the courtyard, and which she
+had picked up. The king was grieved, but he never dreamt that it was
+the queen who had done this wicked deed, and as he feared lest the
+maiden also should be stolen away from him, he wished to take her away
+with him. But she was afraid of the step-mother, and begged the king to
+let her remain one more night in the castle in the wood.
+
+Then she said to herself,
+
+"I must stay here no longer, but go and seek for my brothers."
+
+And when the night came, she fled away and went straight into the wood.
+She went on all that night and the next day, until she could go no
+longer for weariness. At last she saw a rude hut, and she went in and
+found a room with six little beds in it; she did not dare to lie down in
+one, but she crept under one and lay on the hard boards and wished for
+night. When it was near the time of sun-setting she heard a rustling
+sound, and saw six swans come flying in at the window. They alighted on
+the ground, and blew at one another until they had blown all their
+feathers off, and then they stripped off their swan-skin as if it had
+been a shirt. And the maiden looked at them and knew them for her
+brothers, and was very glad, and crept from under the bed. The brothers
+were not less glad when their sister appeared, but their joy did not
+last long.
+
+"You must not stay here," said they to her; "this is a robbers' haunt,
+and if they were to come and find you here, they would kill you."
+
+"And cannot you defend me?" asked the little sister.
+
+"No," answered they, "for we can only get rid of our swan-skins and keep
+our human shape every evening for a quarter of an hour, but after that
+we must be changed again into swans."
+
+Their sister wept at hearing this, and said,
+
+"Can nothing be done to set you free?"
+
+"Oh no," answered they, "the work would be too hard for you. For six
+whole years you would be obliged never to speak or laugh, and make
+during that time six little shirts out of aster-flowers. If you were to
+let fall a single word before the work was ended, all would be of no
+good."
+
+And just as the brothers had finished telling her this, the quarter of
+an hour came to an end, and they changed into swans and flew out of the
+window.
+
+But the maiden made up her mind to set her brothers free, even though it
+should cost her her life. She left the hut, and going into the middle of
+the wood, she climbed a tree, and there passed the night. The next
+morning she set to work and gathered asters and began sewing them
+together: as for speaking, there was no one to speak to, and as for
+laughing, she had no mind to it; so she sat on and looked at nothing but
+her work. When she had been going on like this for a long time, it
+happened that the king of that country went a-hunting in the wood, and
+some of his huntsmen came up to the tree in which the maiden sat. They
+called out to her, saying, "Who art thou?" But she gave no answer. "Come
+down," cried they; "we will do thee no harm." But she only shook her
+head. And when they tormented her further with questions she threw down
+to them her gold necklace, hoping they would be content with that. But
+they would not leave off, so she threw down to them her girdle, and when
+that was no good, her garters, and one after another everything she had
+on and could possibly spare, until she had nothing left but her smock.
+But all was no good, the huntsmen would not be put off any longer, and
+they climbed the tree, carried the maiden off, and brought her to the
+king. The king asked, "Who art thou? What wert thou doing in the tree?"
+But she answered nothing. He spoke to her in all the languages he knew,
+but she remained dumb: but, being very beautiful, the king inclined to
+her, and he felt a great love rise up in his heart towards her; and
+casting his mantle round her, he put her before him on his horse and
+brought her to his castle. Then he caused rich clothing to be put upon
+her, and her beauty shone as bright as the morning, but no word would
+she utter. He seated her by his side at table, and her modesty and
+gentle mien so pleased him, that he said,
+
+"This maiden I choose for wife, and no other in all the world," and
+accordingly after a few days they were married.
+
+But the king had a wicked mother, who was displeased with the marriage,
+and spoke ill of the young queen.
+
+"Who knows where the maid can have come from?" said she, "and not able
+to speak a word! She is not worthy of a king!"
+
+After a year had passed, and the queen brought her first child into the
+world, the old woman carried it away, and marked the queen's mouth with
+blood as she lay sleeping. Then she went to the king and declared that
+his wife was an eater of human flesh. The king would not believe such a
+thing, and ordered that no one should do her any harm. And the queen
+went on quietly sewing the shirts and caring for nothing else. The next
+time that a fine boy was born, the wicked step-mother used the same
+deceit, but the king would give no credence to her words, for he said,
+
+"She is too tender and good to do any such thing, and if she were only
+not dumb, and could justify herself, then her innocence would be as
+clear as day."
+
+When for the third time the old woman stole away the new-born child and
+accused the queen, who was unable to say a word in her defence, the king
+could do no other but give her up to justice, and she was sentenced to
+suffer death by fire.
+
+The day on which her sentence was to be carried out was the very last
+one of the sixth year of the years during which she had neither spoken
+nor laughed, to free her dear brothers from the evil spell. The six
+shirts were ready, all except one which wanted the left sleeve. And when
+she was led to the pile of wood, she carried the six shirts on her arm,
+and when she mounted the pile and the fire was about to be kindled, all
+at once she cried out aloud, for there were six swans coming flying
+through the air; and she saw that her deliverance was near, and her
+heart beat for joy. The swans came close up to her with rushing wings,
+and stooped round her, so that she could throw the shirts over them; and
+when that had been done the swan-skins fell off them, and her brothers
+stood before her in their own bodies quite safe and sound; but as one
+shirt wanted the left sleeve, so the youngest brother had a swan's wing
+instead of a left arm. They embraced and kissed each other, and the
+queen went up to the king, who looked on full of astonishment, and began
+to speak to him and to say,
+
+"Dearest husband, now I may dare to speak and tell you that I am
+innocent, and have been falsely accused," and she related to him the
+treachery of the step-mother, who had taken away the three children and
+hidden them. And she was reconciled to the king with great joy, and the
+wicked step-mother was bound to the stake on the pile of wood and burnt
+to ashes.
+
+And the king and queen lived many years with their six brothers in peace
+and joy.
+
+
+
+
+THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+
+
+IN times past there lived a king and queen, who said to each other every
+day of their lives, "Would that we had a child!" and yet they had none.
+But it happened once that when the queen was bathing, there came a frog
+out of the water, and he squatted on the ground, and said to her,
+
+"Thy wish shall be fulfilled; before a year has gone by, thou shalt
+bring a daughter into the world."
+
+And as the frog foretold, so it happened; and the queen bore a daughter
+so beautiful that the king could not contain himself for joy, and he
+ordained a great feast. Not only did he bid to it his relations,
+friends, and acquaintances, but also the wise women, that they might be
+kind and favourable to the child. There were thirteen of them in his
+kingdom, but as he had only provided twelve golden plates for them to
+eat from, one of them had to be left out. However, the feast was
+celebrated with all splendour; and as it drew to an end, the wise women
+stood forward to present to the child their wonderful gifts: one
+bestowed virtue, one beauty, a third riches, and so on, whatever there
+is in the world to wish for. And when eleven of them had said their say,
+in came the uninvited thirteenth, burning to revenge herself, and
+without greeting or respect, she cried with a loud voice,
+
+"In the fifteenth year of her age the princess shall prick herself with
+a spindle and shall fall down dead."
+
+And without speaking one more word she turned away and left the hall.
+Every one was terrified at her saying, when the twelfth came forward,
+for she had not yet bestowed her gift, and though she could not do away
+with the evil prophecy, yet she could soften it, so she said,
+
+"The princess shall not die, but fall into a deep sleep for a hundred
+years."
+
+Now the king, being desirous of saving his child even from this
+misfortune, gave commandment that all the spindles in his kingdom should
+be burnt up.
+
+The maiden grew up, adorned with all the gifts of the wise women; and
+she was so lovely, modest, sweet, and kind and clever, that no one who
+saw her could help loving her.
+
+It happened one day, she being already fifteen years old, that the king
+and queen rode abroad, and the maiden was left behind alone in the
+castle. She wandered about into all the nooks and corners, and into all
+the chambers and parlours, as the fancy took her, till at last she came
+to an old tower. She climbed the narrow winding stair which led to a
+little door, with a rusty key sticking out of the lock; she turned the
+key, and the door opened, and there in the little room sat an old woman
+with a spindle, diligently spinning her flax.
+
+"Good day, mother," said the princess, "what are you doing?"
+
+"I am spinning," answered the old woman, nodding her head.
+
+"What thing is that that twists round so briskly?" asked the maiden, and
+taking the spindle into her hand she began to spin; but no sooner had
+she touched it than the evil prophecy was fulfilled, and she pricked her
+finger with it. In that very moment she fell back upon the bed that
+stood there, and lay in a deep sleep. And this sleep fell upon the whole
+castle; the king and queen, who had returned and were in the great hall,
+fell fast asleep, and with them the whole court. The horses in their
+stalls, the dogs in the yard, the pigeons on the roof, the flies on the
+wall, the very fire that flickered on the hearth, became still, and
+slept like the rest; and the meat on the spit ceased roasting, and the
+cook, who was going to pull the scullion's hair for some mistake he had
+made, let him go, and went to sleep. And the wind ceased, and not a leaf
+fell from the trees about the castle.
+
+Then round about that place there grew a hedge of thorns thicker every
+year, until at last the whole castle was hidden from view, and nothing
+of it could be seen but the vane on the roof. And a rumour went abroad
+in all that country of the beautiful sleeping Rosamond, for so was the
+princess called; and from time to time many kings' sons came and tried
+to force their way through the hedge; but it was impossible for them to
+do so, for the thorns held fast together like strong hands, and the
+young men were caught by them, and not being able to get free, there
+died a lamentable death.
+
+Many a long year afterwards there came a king's son into that country,
+and heard an old man tell how there should be a castle standing behind
+the hedge of thorns, and that there a beautiful enchanted princess named
+Rosamond had slept for a hundred years, and with her the king and queen,
+and the whole court. The old man had been told by his grandfather that
+many king's sons had sought to pass the thorn-hedge, but had been caught
+and pierced by the thorns, and had died a miserable death. Then said the
+young man, "Nevertheless, I do not fear to try; I shall win through and
+see the lovely Rosamond." The good old man tried to dissuade him, but he
+would not listen to his words.
+
+For now the hundred years were at an end, and the day had come when
+Rosamond should be awakened. When the prince drew near the hedge of
+thorns, it was changed into a hedge of beautiful large flowers, which
+parted and bent aside to let him pass, and then closed behind him in a
+thick hedge. When he reached the castle-yard, he saw the horses and
+brindled hunting-dogs lying asleep, and on the roof the pigeons were
+sitting with their heads under their wings. And when he came indoors,
+the flies on the wall were asleep, the cook in the kitchen had his hand
+uplifted to strike the scullion, and the kitchen-maid had the black fowl
+on her lap ready to pluck. Then he mounted higher, and saw in the hall
+the whole court lying asleep, and above them, on their thrones, slept
+the king and the queen. And still he went farther, and all was so quiet
+that he could hear his own breathing; and at last he came to the tower,
+and went up the winding stair, and opened the door of the little room
+where Rosamond lay. And when he saw her looking so lovely in her sleep,
+he could not turn away his eyes; and presently he stooped and kissed
+her, and she awaked, and opened her eyes, and looked very kindly on him.
+And she rose, and they went forth together, and the king and the queen
+and whole court waked up, and gazed on each other with great eyes of
+wonderment. And the horses in the yard got up and shook themselves, the
+hounds sprang up and wagged their tails, the pigeons on the roof drew
+their heads from under their wings, looked round, and flew into the
+field, the flies on the wall crept on a little farther, the kitchen fire
+leapt up and blazed, and cooked the meat, the joint on the spit began to
+roast, the cook gave the scullion such a box on the ear that he roared
+out, and the maid went on plucking the fowl.
+
+Then the wedding of the Prince and Rosamond was held with all splendour,
+and they lived very happily together until their lives' end.
+
+
+
+
+KING THRUSHBEARD
+
+
+A KING had a daughter who was beautiful beyond measure, but so proud and
+overbearing that none of her suitors were good enough for her; she not
+only refused one after the other, but made a laughing-stock of them.
+Once the king appointed a great feast, and bade all the marriageable men
+to it from far and near. And they were all put in rows, according to
+their rank and station; first came the kings, then the princes, the
+dukes, the earls, the barons, and lastly the noblemen. The princess was
+led in front of the rows, but she had a mocking epithet for each. One
+was too fat, "What a tub!" said she. Another too tall, "Long and lean is
+ill to be seen," said she. A third too short, "Fat and short, not fit to
+court," said she. A fourth was too pale, "A regular death's-head;" a
+fifth too red-faced, "A game-cock," she called him. The sixth was not
+well-made enough, "Green wood ill dried!" cried she. So every one had
+something against him, and she made especially merry over a good king
+who was very tall, and whose chin had grown a little peaked.
+
+"Only look," cried she, laughing, "he has a chin like a thrush's beak."
+
+And from that time they called him King Thrushbeard. But the old king,
+when he saw that his daughter mocked every one, and scorned all the
+assembled suitors, swore in his anger that she should have the first
+beggar that came to the door for a husband.
+
+A few days afterwards came a travelling ballad-singer, and sang under
+the window in hopes of a small alms. When the king heard of it, he said
+that he must come in. And so the ballad-singer entered in his dirty
+tattered garments, and sang before the king and his daughter; when he
+had done, he asked for a small reward. But the king said,
+
+"Thy song has so well pleased me, that I will give thee my daughter to
+wife."
+
+The princess was horrified; but the king said,
+
+"I took an oath to give you to the first beggar that came, and so it
+must be done."
+
+There was no remedy. The priest was fetched, and she had to be married
+to the ballad-singer out of hand. When all was done, the king said,
+
+"Now, as you are a beggar-wife, you can stay no longer in my castle, so
+off with you and your husband."
+
+The beggar-man led her away, and she was obliged to go forth with him on
+foot. On the way they came to a great wood, and she asked,
+
+ "Oh, whose is this forest, so thick and so fine?"
+
+He answered,
+
+ "It is King Thrushbeard's, and might have been thine."
+
+And she cried,
+
+ "Oh, I was a silly young thing, I'm afeared,
+ Would I had taken that good King Thrushbeard!"
+
+Then they passed through a meadow, and she asked,
+
+ "Oh, whose is this meadow, so green and so fine?"
+
+He answered,
+
+ "It is King Thrushbeard's, and might have been thine."
+
+And she cried,
+
+ "I was a silly young thing, I'm afeared,
+ Would I had taken that good King Thrushbeard!"
+
+Then they passed through a great town, and she asked,
+
+ "Whose is this city, so great and so fine?"
+
+He answered,
+
+ "Oh, it is King Thrushbeard's, and might have been thine."
+
+And she cried,
+
+ "I was a silly young thing, I'm afeared,
+ Would I had taken that good King Thrushbeard!"
+
+Then said the beggar-man,
+
+"It does not please me to hear you always wishing for another husband;
+am I not good enough for you?"
+
+At last they came to a very small house, and she said,
+
+ "Oh dear me! what poor little house do I see?
+ And whose, I would know, may the wretched hole be?"
+
+The man answered,
+
+"That is my house and thine, where we must live together."
+
+She had to stoop before she could go in at the door.
+
+"Where are the servants?" asked the king's daughter.
+
+"What servants?" answered the beggar-man, "what you want to have done
+you must do yourself. Make a fire quick, and put on water, and cook me
+some food; I am very tired."
+
+But the king's daughter understood nothing about fire-making and
+cooking, and the beggar-man had to lend a hand himself in order to
+manage it at all. And when they had eaten their poor fare, they went to
+bed; but the man called up his wife very early in the morning, in order
+to clean the house. For a few days they lived in this indifferent
+manner, until they came to the end of their store.
+
+"Wife," said the man, "this will not do, stopping here and earning
+nothing; you must make baskets."
+
+So he went out and cut willows, and brought them home; and she began to
+weave them, but the hard twigs wounded her tender hands.
+
+"I see this will not do," said the man, "you had better try spinning."
+
+So she sat her down and tried to spin, but the harsh thread cut her soft
+fingers, so that the blood flowed.
+
+"Look now!" said the man, "you are no good at any sort of work; I made a
+bad bargain when I took you. I must see what I can do to make a trade
+of pots and earthen vessels; you can sit in the market and offer them
+for sale."
+
+"Oh dear!" thought she, "suppose while I am selling in the market people
+belonging to my father's kingdom should see me, how they would mock at
+me!"
+
+But there was no help for it; she had to submit, or else die of hunger.
+
+The first day all went well; the people bought her wares eagerly,
+because she was so beautiful, and gave her whatever she asked, and some
+of them gave her the money and left the pots after all behind them. And
+they lived on these earnings as long as they lasted; and then the man
+bought a number of new pots. So she seated herself in a corner of the
+market, and stood the wares before her for sale. All at once a drunken
+horse-soldier came plunging by, and rode straight into the midst of her
+pots, breaking them into a thousand pieces. She could do nothing for
+weeping.
+
+"Oh dear, what will become of me," cried she; "what will my husband
+say?" and she hastened home and told him her misfortune.
+
+"Who ever heard of such a thing as sitting in the corner of the market
+with earthenware pots!" said the man; "now leave off crying; I see you
+are not fit for any regular work. I have been asking at your father's
+castle if they want a kitchen-maid, and they say they don't mind taking
+you; at any rate you will get your victuals free."
+
+And the king's daughter became a kitchen-maid, to be at the cook's beck
+and call, and to do the hardest work. In each of her pockets she
+fastened a little pot, and brought home in them whatever was left, and
+upon that she and her husband were fed. It happened one day, when the
+wedding of the eldest prince was celebrated, the poor woman went
+upstairs, and stood by the parlour door to see what was going on. And
+when the place was lighted up, and the company arrived, each person
+handsomer than the one before, and all was brilliancy and splendour, she
+thought on her own fate with a sad heart, and bewailed her former pride
+and haughtiness which had brought her so low, and plunged her in so
+great poverty. And as the rich and delicate dishes smelling so good were
+carried to and fro every now and then, the servants would throw her a
+few fragments, which she put in her pockets, intending to take home.
+And then the prince himself passed in clothed in silk and velvet, with a
+gold chain round his neck. And when he saw the beautiful woman standing
+in the doorway, he seized her hand and urged her to dance with him, but
+she refused, all trembling, for she saw it was King Thrushbeard, who had
+come to court her, whom she had turned away with mocking. It was of no
+use her resisting, he drew her into the room; and all at once the band
+to which her pockets were fastened broke, and the pots fell out, and the
+soup ran about, and the fragments were scattered all round. And when the
+people saw that, there was great laughter and mocking, and she felt so
+ashamed, that she wished herself a thousand fathoms underground. She
+rushed to the door to fly from the place, when a man caught her just on
+the steps, and when she looked at him, it was King Thrushbeard again. He
+said to her in a kind tone,
+
+"Do not be afraid, I and the beggar-man with whom you lived in the
+wretched little hut are one. For love of you I disguised myself, and it
+was I who broke your pots in the guise of a horse-soldier. I did all
+that to bring down your proud heart, and to punish your haughtiness,
+which caused you to mock at me." Then she wept bitterly, and said,
+
+"I have done great wrong, and am not worthy to be your wife."
+
+But he said,
+
+"Take courage, the evil days are gone over; now let us keep our
+wedding-day."
+
+Then came the ladies-in-waiting and put on her splendid clothing; and
+her father came, and the whole court, and wished her joy on her marriage
+with King Thrushbeard; and then the merry-making began in good earnest.
+I cannot help wishing that you and I could have been there too.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: SNOW-WHITE
+
+ "QUEEN THOU ART OF BEAUTY RARE
+ BUT SNOW-WHITE LIVING IN THE GLEN,
+ WITH THE SEVEN LITTLE MEN,
+ IS A THOUSAND TIMES MORE FAIR."]
+
+
+
+
+SNOW-WHITE
+
+
+IT was the middle of winter, and the snow-flakes were falling like
+feathers from the sky, and a queen sat at her window working, and her
+embroidery-frame was of ebony. And as she worked, gazing at times out on
+the snow, she pricked her finger, and there fell from it three drops of
+blood on the snow. And when she saw how bright and red it looked, she
+said to herself, "Oh that I had a child as white as snow, as red as
+blood, and as black as the wood of the embroidery frame!"
+
+Not very long after she had a daughter, with a skin as white as snow,
+lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony, and she was named
+Snow-white. And when she was born the queen died.
+
+After a year had gone by the king took another wife, a beautiful woman,
+but proud and overbearing, and she could not bear to be surpassed in
+beauty by any one. She had a magic looking-glass, and she used to stand
+before it, and look in it, and say,
+
+ "Looking-glass upon the wall,
+ Who is fairest of us all?"
+
+And the looking-glass would answer,
+
+ "You are fairest of them all."
+
+And she was contented, for she knew that the looking-glass spoke the
+truth.
+
+Now, Snow-white was growing prettier and prettier, and when she was
+seven years old she was as beautiful as day, far more so than the queen
+herself. So one day when the queen went to her mirror and said,
+
+ "Looking-glass upon the wall,
+ Who is fairest of us all?"
+
+It answered,
+
+ "Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true,
+ But Snow-white fairer is than you."
+
+This gave the queen a great shock, and she became yellow and green with
+envy, and from that hour her heart turned against Snow-white, and she
+hated her. And envy and pride like ill weeds grew in her heart higher
+every day, until she had no peace day or night. At last she sent for a
+huntsman, and said,
+
+"Take the child out into the woods, so that I may set eyes on her no
+more. You must put her to death, and bring me her heart for a token."
+
+The huntsman consented, and led her away; but when he drew his cutlass
+to pierce Snow-white's innocent heart, she began to weep, and to say,
+
+"Oh, dear huntsman, do not take my life; I will go away into the wild
+wood, and never come home again."
+
+And as she was so lovely the huntsman had pity on her, and said,
+
+"Away with you then, poor child;" for he thought the wild animals would
+be sure to devour her, and it was as if a stone had been rolled away
+from his heart when he spared to put her to death. Just at that moment a
+young wild boar came running by, so he caught and killed it, and taking
+out its heart, he brought it to the queen for a token. And it was salted
+and cooked, and the wicked woman ate it up, thinking that there was an
+end of Snow-white.
+
+Now, when the poor child found herself quite alone in the wild woods,
+she felt full of terror, even of the very leaves on the trees, and she
+did not know what to do for fright. Then she began to run over the sharp
+stones and through the thorn bushes, and the wild beasts after her, but
+they did her no harm. She ran as long as her feet would carry her; and
+when the evening drew near she came to a little house, and she went
+inside to rest. Everything there was very small, but as pretty and clean
+as possible. There stood the little table ready laid, and covered with a
+white cloth, and seven little plates, and seven knives and forks, and
+drinking-cups. By the wall stood seven little beds, side by side,
+covered with clean white quilts. Snow-white, being very hungry and
+thirsty, ate from each plate a little porridge and bread, and drank out
+of each little cup a drop of wine, so as not to finish up one portion
+alone. After that she felt so tired that she lay down on one of the
+beds, but it did not seem to suit her; one was too long, another too
+short, but at last the seventh was quite right; and so she lay down upon
+it, committed herself to heaven, and fell asleep.
+
+When it was quite dark, the masters of the house came home. They were
+seven dwarfs, whose occupation was to dig underground among the
+mountains. When they had lighted their seven candles, and it was quite
+light in the little house, they saw that some one must have been in, as
+everything was not in the same order in which they left it. The first
+said,
+
+"Who has been sitting in my little chair?"
+
+The second said,
+
+"Who has been eating from my little plate?"
+
+The third said,
+
+"Who has been taking my little loaf?"
+
+The fourth said,
+
+"Who has been tasting my porridge?"
+
+The fifth said,
+
+"Who has been using my little fork?"
+
+The sixth said,
+
+"Who has been cutting with my little knife?"
+
+The seventh said,
+
+"Who has been drinking from my little cup?"
+
+Then the first one, looking round, saw a hollow in his bed, and cried,
+
+"Who has been lying on my bed?"
+
+And the others came running, and cried,
+
+"Some one has been on our beds too!"
+
+But when the seventh looked at his bed, he saw little Snow-white lying
+there asleep. Then he told the others, who came running up, crying out
+in their astonishment, and holding up their seven little candles to
+throw a light upon Snow-white.
+
+"O goodness! O gracious!" cried they, "what beautiful child is this?"
+and were so full of joy to see her that they did not wake her, but let
+her sleep on. And the seventh dwarf slept with his comrades, an hour at
+a time with each, until the night had passed.
+
+When it was morning, and Snow-white awoke and saw the seven dwarfs, she
+was very frightened; but they seemed quite friendly, and asked her what
+her name was, and she told them; and then they asked how she came to be
+in their house. And she related to them how her step-mother had wished
+her to be put to death, and how the huntsman had spared her life, and
+how she had run the whole day long, until at last she had found their
+little house. Then the dwarfs said,
+
+"If you will keep our house for us, and cook, and wash, and make the
+beds, and sew and knit, and keep everything tidy and clean, you may stay
+with us, and you shall lack nothing."
+
+"With all my heart," said Snow-white; and so she stayed, and kept the
+house in good order. In the morning the dwarfs went to the mountain to
+dig for gold; in the evening they came home, and their supper had to be
+ready for them. All the day long the maiden was left alone, and the good
+little dwarfs warned her, saying,
+
+"Beware of your step-mother, she will soon know you are here. Let no one
+into the house."
+
+Now the queen, having eaten Snow-white's heart, as she supposed, felt
+quite sure that now she was the first and fairest, and so she came to
+her mirror, and said,
+
+ "Looking-glass upon the wall,
+ Who is fairest of us all?"
+
+And the glass answered,
+
+ "Queen, thou art of beauty rare,
+ But Snow-white living in the glen
+ With the seven little men
+ Is a thousand times more fair."
+
+Then she was very angry, for the glass always spoke the truth, and she
+knew that the huntsman must have deceived her, and that Snow-white must
+still be living. And she thought and thought how she could manage to
+make an end of her, for as long as she was not the fairest in the land,
+envy left her no rest. At last she thought of a plan; she painted her
+face and dressed herself like an old pedlar woman, so that no one would
+have known her. In this disguise she went across the seven mountains,
+until she came to the house of the seven little dwarfs, and she knocked
+at the door and cried,
+
+"Fine wares to sell! fine wares to sell!"
+
+Snow-white peeped out of the window and cried,
+
+"Good-day, good woman, what have you to sell?"
+
+"Good wares, fine wares," answered she, "laces of all colours;" and she
+held up a piece that was woven of variegated silk.
+
+"I need not be afraid of letting in this good woman," thought
+Snow-white, and she unbarred the door and bought the pretty lace.
+
+"What a figure you are, child!" said the old woman, "come and let me
+lace you properly for once."
+
+Snow-white, suspecting nothing, stood up before her, and let her lace
+her with the new lace; but the old woman laced so quick and tight that
+it took Snow-white's breath away, and she fell down as dead.
+
+"Now you have done with being the fairest," said the old woman as she
+hastened away.
+
+Not long after that, towards evening, the seven dwarfs came home, and
+were terrified to see their dear Snow-white lying on the ground, without
+life or motion; they raised her up, and when they saw how tightly she
+was laced they cut the lace in two; then she began to draw breath, and
+little by little she returned to life. When the dwarfs heard what had
+happened they said,
+
+"The old pedlar woman was no other than the wicked queen; you must
+beware of letting any one in when we are not here!"
+
+And when the wicked woman got home she went to her glass and said,
+
+ "Looking-glass against the wall,
+ Who is fairest of us all?"
+
+And it answered as before,
+
+ "Queen, thou art of beauty rare,
+ But Snow-white living in the glen
+ With the seven little men
+ Is a thousand times more fair."
+
+When she heard that she was so struck with surprise that all the blood
+left her heart, for she knew that Snow-white must still be living.
+
+"But now," said she, "I will think of something that will be her ruin."
+And by witchcraft she made a poisoned comb. Then she dressed herself up
+to look like another different sort of old woman. So she went across the
+seven mountains and came to the house of the seven dwarfs, and knocked
+at the door and cried,
+
+"Good wares to sell! good wares to sell!"
+
+Snow-white looked out and said,
+
+"Go away, I must not let anybody in."
+
+"But you are not forbidden to look," said the old woman, taking out the
+poisoned comb and holding it up. It pleased the poor child so much that
+she was tempted to open the door; and when the bargain was made the old
+woman said,
+
+"Now, for once your hair shall be properly combed."
+
+Poor Snow-white, thinking no harm, let the old woman do as she would,
+but no sooner was the comb put in her hair than the poison began to
+work, and the poor girl fell down senseless.
+
+"Now, you paragon of beauty," said the wicked woman, "this is the end of
+you," and went off. By good luck it was now near evening, and the seven
+little dwarfs came home. When they saw Snow-white lying on the ground as
+dead, they thought directly that it was the step-mother's doing, and
+looked about, found the poisoned comb, and no sooner had they drawn it
+out of her hair than Snow-white came to herself, and related all that
+had passed. Then they warned her once more to be on her guard, and never
+again to let any one in at the door.
+
+And the queen went home and stood before the looking-glass and said,
+
+ "Looking-glass against the wall,
+ Who is fairest of us all?"
+
+And the looking-glass answered as before,
+
+ "Queen, thou art of beauty rare,
+ But Snow-white living in the glen
+ With the seven little men
+ Is a thousand times more fair."
+
+When she heard the looking-glass speak thus she trembled and shook with
+anger.
+
+"Snow-white shall die," cried she, "though it should cost me my own
+life!" And then she went to a secret lonely chamber, where no one was
+likely to come, and there she made a poisonous apple. It was beautiful
+to look upon, being white with red cheeks, so that any one who should
+see it must long for it, but whoever ate even a little bit of it must
+die. When the apple was ready she painted her face and clothed herself
+like a peasant woman, and went across the seven mountains to where the
+seven dwarfs lived. And when she knocked at the door Snow-white put her
+head out of the window and said,
+
+"I dare not let anybody in; the seven dwarfs told me not."
+
+"All right," answered the woman; "I can easily get rid of my apples
+elsewhere. There, I will give you one."
+
+"No," answered Snow-white, "I dare not take anything."
+
+"Are you afraid of poison?" said the woman, "look here, I will cut the
+apple in two pieces; you shall have the red side, I will have the white
+one."
+
+For the apple was so cunningly made, that all the poison was in the rosy
+half of it. Snow-white longed for the beautiful apple, and as she saw
+the peasant woman eating a piece of it she could no longer refrain, but
+stretched out her hand and took the poisoned half. But no sooner had she
+taken a morsel of it into her mouth than she fell to the earth as dead.
+And the queen, casting on her a terrible glance, laughed aloud and
+cried,
+
+"As white as snow, as red as blood, as black as ebony! this time the
+dwarfs will not be able to bring you to life again."
+
+And when she went home and asked the looking-glass,
+
+ "Looking-glass against the wall,
+ Who is fairest of us all?"
+
+at last it answered,
+
+"You are the fairest now of all."
+
+Then her envious heart had peace, as much as an envious heart can have.
+
+The dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found Snow-white lying
+on the ground, and there came no breath out of her mouth, and she was
+dead. They lifted her up, sought if anything poisonous was to be found,
+cut her laces, combed her hair, washed her with water and wine, but all
+was of no avail, the poor child was dead, and remained dead. Then they
+laid her on a bier, and sat all seven of them round it, and wept and
+lamented three whole days. And then they would have buried her, but that
+she looked still as if she were living, with her beautiful blooming
+cheeks. So they said,
+
+"We cannot hide her away in the black ground." And they had made a
+coffin of clear glass, so as to be looked into from all sides, and they
+laid her in it, and wrote in golden letters upon it her name, and that
+she was a king's daughter. Then they set the coffin out upon the
+mountain, and one of them always remained by it to watch. And the birds
+came too, and mourned for Snow-white, first an owl, then a raven, and
+lastly, a dove.
+
+Now, for a long while Snow-white lay in the coffin and never changed,
+but looked as if she were asleep, for she was still as white as snow,
+as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony. It happened,
+however, that one day a king's son rode through the wood and up to the
+dwarfs' house, which was near it. He saw on the mountain the coffin, and
+beautiful Snow-white within it, and he read what was written in golden
+letters upon it. Then he said to the dwarfs,
+
+"Let me have the coffin, and I will give you whatever you like to ask
+for it."
+
+But the dwarfs told him that they could not part with it for all the
+gold in the world. But he said,
+
+"I beseech you to give it me, for I cannot live without looking upon
+Snow-white; if you consent I will bring you to great honour, and care
+for you as if you were my brethren."
+
+When he so spoke the good little dwarfs had pity upon him and gave him
+the coffin, and the king's son called his servants and bid them carry it
+away on their shoulders. Now it happened that as they were going along
+they stumbled over a bush, and with the shaking the bit of poisoned
+apple flew out of her throat. It was not long before she opened her
+eyes, threw up the cover of the coffin, and sat up, alive and well.
+
+"Oh dear! where am I?" cried she. The king's son answered, full of joy,
+"You are near me," and, relating all that had happened, he said,
+
+"I would rather have you than anything in the world; come with me to my
+father's castle and you shall be my bride."
+
+And Snow-white was kind, and went with him, and their wedding was held
+with pomp and great splendour.
+
+But Snow-white's wicked step-mother was also bidden to the feast, and
+when she had dressed herself in beautiful clothes she went to her
+looking-glass and said,
+
+ "Looking-glass upon the wall,
+ Who is fairest of us all?"
+
+The looking-glass answered,
+
+ "O Queen, although you are of beauty rare,
+ The young bride is a thousand times more fair."
+
+Then she railed and cursed, and was beside herself with disappointment
+and anger. First she thought she would not go to the wedding; but then
+she felt she should have no peace until she went and saw the bride. And
+when she saw her she knew her for Snow-white, and could not stir from
+the place for anger and terror. For they had ready red-hot iron shoes,
+in which she had to dance until she fell down dead.
+
+
+
+
+The KNAPSACK, the HAT, and the HORN
+
+
+ONCE there were three brothers, and they grew poorer and poorer, until
+at last their need was so great that they had nothing left to bite or to
+break. Then they said, "This will not do; we had better go out into the
+world and seek our fortune."
+
+So they set out, and went some distance through many green fields, but
+they met with no good fortune. One day they came to a great wood, in the
+midst of which was a hill, and when they came near to it, they saw that
+it was all of silver. Then said the eldest,
+
+"Now here is good fortune enough for me, and I desire no better."
+
+And he took of the silver as much as he could carry, turned round, and
+went back home. But the other two said,
+
+"We must have something better than mere silver," and they would not
+touch it, but went on farther. After they had gone on a few days longer,
+they came to a hill that was all of gold. The second brother stood still
+and considered, and was uncertain.
+
+"What shall I do?" said he; "shall I take of the gold enough to last me
+my life, or shall I go farther?"
+
+At last, coming to a conclusion, he filled his pockets as full as they
+would hold, bid good-bye to his brother, and went home. But the third
+brother said to himself,
+
+"Silver and gold do not tempt me; I will not gainsay fortune, who has
+better things in store for me."
+
+So he went on, and when he had journeyed for three days, he came to a
+wood still greater than the former ones, so that there was no end to it;
+and in it he found nothing to eat or to drink, so that he was nearly
+starving. He got up into a high tree, so as to see how far the wood
+reached, but as far as his eyes could see, there was nothing but the
+tops of the trees. And as he got down from the tree, hunger pressed him
+sore, and he thought,
+
+"Oh that for once I could have a good meal!"
+
+And when he reached the ground he saw to his surprise a table beneath
+the tree richly spread with food, and that smoked before him.
+
+"This time at least," said he, "I have my wish," and without stopping to
+ask who had brought the meal there, and who had cooked it, he came close
+to the table and ate with relish, until his hunger was appeased. When he
+had finished, he thought,
+
+"It would be a pity to leave such a good table-cloth behind in the
+wood," so he folded it up neatly and pocketed it. Then he walked on, and
+in the evening, when hunger again seized him, he thought he would put
+the table-cloth to the proof, and he brought it out and said,
+
+"Now I desire that thou shouldst be spread with a good meal," and no
+sooner were the words out of his mouth, than there stood on it as many
+dishes of delicious food as there was room for.
+
+"Now that I see," said he, "what sort of a cook thou art, I hold thee
+dearer than the mountains of silver and of gold," for he perceived that
+it was a wishing-cloth. Still he was not satisfied to settle down at
+home with only a wishing-cloth, so he determined to wander farther
+through the world and seek his fortune. One evening, in a lonely wood,
+he came upon a begrimed charcoal-burner at his furnace, who had put some
+potatoes to roast for his supper.
+
+"Good evening, my black fellow," said he, "how do you get on in this
+lonely spot?"
+
+"One day is like another," answered the charcoal-burner: "every evening
+I have potatoes; have you a mind to be my guest?"
+
+"Many thanks," answered the traveller, "I will not deprive you; you did
+not expect a guest; but if you do not object, you shall be the one to be
+invited."
+
+"How can that be managed?" said the charcoal-burner; "I see that you
+have nothing with you, and if you were to walk two hours in any
+direction, you would meet with no one to give you anything."
+
+"For all that," answered he, "there shall be a feast so good, that you
+have never tasted the like."
+
+Then he took out the table-cloth from his knapsack, and spreading it on
+the ground, said,
+
+"Cloth, be covered," and immediately there appeared boiled and roast
+meat, quite hot, as if it had just come from the kitchen. The
+charcoal-burner stared, but did not stay to be asked twice, and fell to,
+filling his black mouth with ever bigger and bigger pieces. When they
+had finished eating, the charcoal-burner smiled, and said,
+
+"Look here, I approve of your table-cloth; it would not be a bad thing
+for me to have here in the wood, where the cooking is not first-rate. I
+will strike a bargain with you. There hangs a soldier's knapsack in the
+corner, which looks old and unsightly, but it has wonderful qualities;
+as I have no further occasion for it, I will give it to you in exchange
+for the table-cloth."
+
+"First, I must know what these wonderful qualities are," returned the
+other.
+
+"I will tell you," answered the charcoal-burner; "if you strike it with
+your hand, there will appear a corporal and six men with swords and
+muskets, and whatever you wish to have done, that will they do."
+
+"Well, for my part," said the other, "I am quite willing to make the
+exchange." And he gave the table-cloth to the charcoal-burner, took down
+the knapsack from its hook, slung it over his shoulder, and took his
+leave. Before he had gone far he began to want to make a trial of his
+wonderful knapsack, so he struck it a blow. At once seven soldiers
+appeared before him, and the corporal said,
+
+"What does my lord and master please to want?"
+
+"March in haste to the charcoal-burner and demand my wishing-cloth
+back," said the man. They wheeled round to the left, and were not long
+before they had accomplished his desire, and taken away, without wasting
+many words, the wishing-cloth from the charcoal-burner. Having dismissed
+them, he wandered on, expecting still more wonderful luck. About sunset
+he fell in with another charcoal-burner, who was getting his supper
+ready at the fire.
+
+"Will you join me?" said this black fellow; "potatoes and salt, without
+butter; sit down to it with me."
+
+"No," answered he, "this time you shall be my guest." And he spread out
+his table-cloth, and it was directly covered with the most delicious
+victuals. So they ate and drank together and were merry. After the meal
+was over the charcoal-burner said,
+
+"Over there, on the bench, lies an old worn-out hat, which has wonderful
+properties: if you put it on and draw it well over your head it is as if
+a dozen field-pieces went off, one after the other, shooting everything
+down, so that no one can stand against them. This hat is of no use to
+me, and I will give it to you in exchange for the table-cloth."
+
+"All right," answered the other, taking the hat and carrying it off, and
+leaving the table-cloth behind him. Before he had gone far he struck
+upon the knapsack, and summoned his soldiers to fetch back the
+table-cloth again.
+
+"First one thing, and then another," thought he, "just as if my luck
+were never to end." And so it seemed, for at the end of another day's
+journey he came up to another charcoal-burner, who was roasting his
+potatoes just like the others. He invited him to eat with him off his
+wishing-cloth, to which the charcoal-burner took such a fancy, that he
+gave him for it a horn, which had different properties still from the
+hat. If a man blew on it down fell all walls and fortresses, and finally
+towns and villages in heaps. So the man gave the table-cloth in exchange
+for it to the charcoal-burner, afterwards sending his men to fetch it
+back, so that at last he had in his possession knapsack, hat, and horn,
+all at one time.
+
+"Now," said he, "I am a made man, and it is time to go home again and
+see how my brothers are faring."
+
+When he reached home he found that his brothers had built themselves a
+fine house with their silver and gold, and lived in clover. He went to
+see them, but because he wore a half-worn-out coat, a shabby hat, and
+the old knapsack on his back, they would not recognise him as their
+brother. They mocked him and said,
+
+"It is of no use your giving yourself out to be our brother; he who
+scorned silver and gold, seeking for better fortune, will return in
+great splendour, as a mighty king, not as a beggar-man." And they drove
+him from their door. Then he flew into a great rage, and struck upon his
+knapsack until a hundred and fifty men stood before him, rank and file.
+He ordered them to surround his brothers' house, and that two of them
+should take hazel-rods, and should beat the brothers until they knew who
+he was. And there arose a terrible noise; the people ran together and
+wished to rescue the brothers in their extremity, but they could do
+nothing against the soldiers. It happened at last that the king of the
+country heard of it, and he was indignant, and sent a captain with his
+troops to drive the disturber of the peace out of the town: but the man
+with his knapsack soon assembled a greater company, who beat back the
+captain and his people, sending them off with bleeding noses. Then the
+king said,
+
+"This vagabond fellow must be put down," and he sent the next day a
+larger company against him, but they could do nothing: for he assembled
+more men than ever, and in order to bring them more quickly, he pulled
+his hat twice lower over his brows; then the heavy guns came into play,
+and the king's people were beaten and put to flight.
+
+"Now," said he, "I shall not make peace until the king gives me his
+daughter to wife, and lets me rule the whole kingdom in his name."
+
+This he caused to be told to the king, who said to his daughter,
+
+"This is a hard nut to crack; there is no choice but for me to do as he
+asks; if I wish to have peace and keep the crown on my head, I must give
+in to him."
+
+So the wedding took place, but the king's daughter was angry that the
+bridegroom should be a common man, who wore a shabby hat, and carried an
+old knapsack. She wished very much to get rid of him, and thought day
+and night how to manage it. Then it struck her that perhaps all his
+wonder-working power lay in the knapsack, and she pretended to be very
+fond of him, and when she had brought him into a good humour she
+said,--"Pray lay aside that ugly knapsack; it misbecomes you so much
+that I feel ashamed of you."
+
+"My dear child," answered he, "this knapsack is my greatest treasure; so
+long as I keep it I need not fear anything in the whole world," and then
+he showed her with what wonderful qualities it was endowed. Then she
+fell on his neck as if she would have kissed him, but, by a clever
+trick, she slipped the knapsack over his shoulder and ran away with it.
+As soon as she was alone she struck upon it and summoned the soldiers,
+and bade them seize her husband and bring him to the king's palace. They
+obeyed, and the false woman had many more to follow behind, so as to be
+ready to drive him out of the country. He would have been quite done for
+if he had not still kept the hat. As soon as he could get his hands free
+he pulled it twice forward on his head; and then the cannon began to
+thunder and beat all down, till at last the king's daughter had to come
+and to beg pardon. And as she so movingly prayed and promised to behave
+better, he raised her up and made peace with her. Then she grew very
+kind to him, and seemed to love him very much, and he grew so deluded,
+that one day he confided to her that even if he were deprived of his
+knapsack nothing could be done against him as long as he should keep the
+old hat. And when she knew the secret she waited until he had gone to
+sleep; then she carried off the hat, and had him driven out into the
+streets. Still the horn remained to him, and in great wrath he blew a
+great blast upon it, and down came walls and fortresses, towns and
+villages, and buried the king and his daughter among their ruins. If he
+had not set down the horn when he did, and if he had blown a little
+longer, all the houses would have tumbled down, and there would not have
+been left one stone upon another. After this no one dared to withstand
+him, and he made himself king over the whole country.
+
+
+
+
+RUMPELSTILTSKIN
+
+
+THERE was once a miller who was poor, but he had one beautiful daughter.
+It happened one day that he came to speak with the king, and, to give
+himself consequence, he told him that he had a daughter who could spin
+gold out of straw. The king said to the miller,
+
+"That is an art that pleases me well; if thy daughter is as clever as
+you say, bring her to my castle to-morrow, that I may put her to the
+proof."
+
+When the girl was brought to him, he led her into a room that was quite
+full of straw, and gave her a wheel and spindle, and said,
+
+"Now set to work, and if by the early morning thou hast not spun this
+straw to gold thou shalt die." And he shut the door himself, and left
+her there alone.
+
+And so the poor miller's daughter was left there sitting, and could not
+think what to do for her life; she had no notion how to set to work to
+spin gold from straw, and her distress grew so great that she began to
+weep. Then all at once the door opened, and in came a little man, who
+said,
+
+"Good evening, miller's daughter; why are you crying?"
+
+"Oh!" answered the girl, "I have got to spin gold out of straw, and I
+don't understand the business."
+
+Then the little man said,
+
+"What will you give me if I spin it for you?"
+
+"My necklace," said the girl.
+
+The little man took the necklace, seated himself before the wheel, and
+whirr, whirr, whirr! three times round and the bobbin was full; then he
+took up another, and whirr, whirr, whirr! three times round, and that
+was full; and so he went on till the morning, when all the straw had
+been spun, and all the bobbins were full of gold. At sunrise came the
+king, and when he saw the gold he was astonished and very much rejoiced,
+for he was very avaricious. He had the miller's daughter taken into
+another room filled with straw, much bigger than the last, and told her
+that as she valued her life she must spin it all in one night. The girl
+did not know what to do, so she began to cry, and then the door opened,
+and the little man appeared and said,
+
+"What will you give me if I spin all this straw into gold?"
+
+"The ring from my finger," answered the girl.
+
+So the little man took the ring, and began again to send the wheel
+whirring round, and by the next morning all the straw was spun into
+glistening gold. The king was rejoiced beyond measure at the sight, but
+as he could never have enough of gold, he had the miller's daughter
+taken into a still larger room full of straw, and said,
+
+"This, too, must be spun in one night, and if you accomplish it you
+shall be my wife." For he thought, "Although she is but a miller's
+daughter, I am not likely to find any one richer in the whole world."
+
+As soon as the girl was left alone, the little man appeared for the
+third time and said,
+
+"What will you give me if I spin the straw for you this time?"
+
+"I have nothing left to give," answered the girl.
+
+"Then you must promise me the first child you have after you are queen,"
+said the little man.
+
+"But who knows whether that will happen?" thought the girl; but as she
+did not know what else to do in her necessity, she promised the little
+man what he desired, upon which he began to spin, until all the straw
+was gold. And when in the morning the king came and found all done
+according to his wish, he caused the wedding to be held at once, and the
+miller's pretty daughter became a queen.
+
+In a year's time she brought a fine child into the world, and thought
+no more of the little man; but one day he came suddenly into her room,
+and said,
+
+"Now give me what you promised me."
+
+The queen was terrified greatly, and offered the little man all the
+riches of the kingdom if he would only leave the child; but the little
+man said,
+
+"No, I would rather have something living than all the treasures of the
+world."
+
+Then the queen began to lament and to weep, so that the little man had
+pity upon her.
+
+"I will give you three days," said he, "and if at the end of that time
+you cannot tell my name, you must give up the child to me."
+
+Then the queen spent the whole night in thinking over all the names that
+she had ever heard, and sent a messenger through the land to ask far and
+wide for all the names that could be found. And when the little man came
+next day, (beginning with Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar) she repeated all
+she knew, and went through the whole list, but after each the little man
+said,
+
+"That is not my name."
+
+The second day the queen sent to inquire of all the neighbours what the
+servants were called, and told the little man all the most unusual and
+singular names, saying,
+
+"Perhaps you are called Roast-ribs, or Sheepshanks, or Spindleshanks?"
+But he answered nothing but
+
+"That is not my name."
+
+The third day the messenger came back again, and said,
+
+"I have not been able to find one single new name; but as I passed
+through the woods I came to a high hill, and near it was a little house,
+and before the house burned a fire, and round the fire danced a comical
+little man, and he hopped on one leg and cried,
+
+ "To-day do I bake, to-morrow I brew,
+ The day after that the queen's child comes in;
+ And oh! I am glad that nobody knew
+ That the name I am called is Rumpelstiltskin!"
+
+You cannot think how pleased the queen was to hear that name, and soon
+afterwards, when the little man walked in and said, "Now, Mrs. Queen,
+what is my name?" she said at first,
+
+"Are you called Jack?"
+
+"No," answered he.
+
+"Are you called Harry?" she asked again.
+
+"No," answered he. And then she said,
+
+"Then perhaps your name is Rumpelstiltskin!"
+
+"The devil told you that! the devil told you that!" cried the little
+man, and in his anger he stamped with his right foot so hard that it
+went into the ground above his knee; then he seized his left foot with
+both his hands in such a fury that he split in two, and there was an end
+of him.
+
+
+
+
+ROLAND
+
+
+THERE was once a woman who was a witch, and she had two daughters, one
+ugly and wicked, whom she loved the best, because she was her very own
+daughter, and one pretty and good, whom she hated because she was her
+step-daughter. One day the step-daughter put on a pretty apron, which
+the other daughter liked so much that she became envious, and said to
+her mother that she must and should have the apron.
+
+"Be content, my child," said the old woman, "thou shalt have it. Thy
+step-sister has long deserved death, and to-night, while she is asleep,
+I shall come and cut off her head. Take care to lie at the farthest side
+of the bed, and push her to the outside."
+
+And it would have been all over with the poor girl, if she had not been
+standing in a corner near and heard it all. She did not dare to go
+outside the door the whole day long, and when bed-time came the other
+one got into bed first, so as to lie on the farthest side; but when she
+had gone to sleep, the step-daughter pushed her towards the outside, and
+took the inside place next the wall. In the night the old woman came
+sneaking; in her right hand she held an axe, and with her left she felt
+for the one who was lying outside, and then she heaved up the axe with
+both hands, and hewed the head off her only daughter.
+
+When she had gone away, the other girl got up and went to her
+sweetheart's, who was called Roland, and knocked at his door. When he
+came to her, she said,
+
+"Listen, dear Roland, we must flee away in all haste; my step-mother
+meant to put me to death, but she has killed her only child instead.
+When the day breaks, and she sees what she has done, we are lost."
+
+"But I advise you," said Roland, "to bring away her magic wand with you;
+otherwise we cannot escape her when she comes after to overtake us." So
+the maiden fetched the magic wand, and she took up the head of her
+step-sister and let drop three drops of blood on the ground,--one by the
+bed, one in the kitchen, and one on the steps. Then she hastened back to
+her sweetheart.
+
+When the old witch got up in the morning, she called out to her
+daughter, to give her the apron, but no daughter came. Then she cried
+out, "Where art thou?"
+
+"Here, at the steps, sweeping!" answered one of the drops of blood.
+
+The old woman went out, but she saw nobody at the steps, and cried
+again, "Where art thou?"
+
+"Here in the kitchen warming myself," cried the second drop of blood.
+
+So she went into the kitchen and found no one. Then she cried again,
+"Where art thou?"
+
+"Oh, here in bed fast asleep!" cried the third drop of blood.
+
+Then the mother went into the room, and up to the bed, and there lay her
+only child, whose head she had cut off herself. The witch fell into a
+great fury, rushed to the window, for from it she could see far and
+wide, and she caught sight of her step-daughter, hastening away with her
+dear Roland.
+
+"It will be no good to you," cried she, "if you get ever so far away,
+you cannot escape me." Then she put on her boots, which took her an
+hour's walk at every stride, and it was not long before she had
+overtaken them. But the maiden, when she saw the old woman striding up,
+changed, by means of the magic wand, her dear Roland into a lake, and
+herself into a duck swimming upon it. The witch stood on the bank and
+threw in crumbs of bread, and took great pains to decoy the duck towards
+her, but the duck would not be decoyed, and the old woman was obliged
+to go back in the evening disappointed. Then the maiden and her dear
+Roland took again their natural shapes, and travelled on the whole night
+through until daybreak. Then the maiden changed herself into a beautiful
+flower, standing in the middle of a hedge of thorns, and her dear Roland
+into a fiddle-player. It was not long before the witch came striding up,
+and she said to the musician,
+
+"Dear musician, will you be so kind as to reach that pretty flower for
+me?"
+
+"Oh yes," said he, "I will strike up a tune to it."
+
+Then as she crept quickly up to the hedge to break off the flower, for
+she knew well who it was, he began to play, and whether she liked it or
+not, she was obliged to dance, for there was magic in the tune. The
+faster he played the higher she had to jump, and the thorns tore her
+clothes, and scratched and wounded her, and he did not cease playing
+until she was spent, and lay dead.
+
+So now they were saved, and Roland said,
+
+"I will go to my father and prepare for the wedding."
+
+"And I will stay here," said the maiden, "and wait for you, and so that
+no one should know me, I will change myself into a red milestone." So
+away went Roland, and the maiden in the likeness of a stone waited in
+the field for her beloved.
+
+But when Roland went home he fell into the snares of another maiden, who
+wrought so, that he forgot his first love.
+
+And the poor girl waited a long time, but at last, seeing that he did
+not come, she was filled with despair, and changed herself into a
+flower, thinking "Perhaps some one in passing will put his foot upon me
+and crush me."
+
+But it happened that a shepherd, tending his flock, saw the flower, and
+as it was so beautiful, he gathered it, took it home with him, and put
+it in his chest. From that time everything went wonderfully well in the
+shepherd's house. When he got up in the morning, all the work was
+already done; the room was swept, the tables and benches rubbed, fire
+kindled on the hearth, and water ready drawn; and when he came home in
+the middle of the day, the table was laid, and a good meal spread upon
+it. He could not understand how it was done, for he never saw anybody in
+his house, and it was too little for anybody to hide in. The good
+serving pleased him well; but in the end he became uneasy, and went to a
+wise woman to take counsel of her. The wise woman said,
+
+"There is magic in it: get up early some morning, and if you hear
+something moving in the room, be it what it may, throw a white cloth
+over it, and the charm will be broken."
+
+The shepherd did as she told him, and the next morning at daybreak he
+saw the chest open, and the flower come out. Then he jumped up quickly
+and threw a white cloth over it. So the spell was broken, and a lovely
+maiden stood before him; and she told him that she had been the flower,
+and had until now cared for his household matters. She told him all that
+had happened to her, and she pleased him so much that he asked her to
+marry him, but she answered "No," because she still remained true to her
+dear Roland, though he had forsaken her; but she promised not to leave
+the shepherd, but to go on taking care of his house.
+
+Now the time came when Roland's wedding was to be held; and there was an
+old custom in that country that all the girls should be present, and
+should sing in honour of the bride and bridegroom. The faithful maiden,
+when she knew this, was so sorrowful that she felt as if her heart would
+break; and she would not go, until the others came and fetched her. And
+when her turn came to sing she slipped behind, so that she stood alone,
+and so began to sing: and as soon as her song reached Roland's ear he
+sprang up and cried,
+
+"I know that voice! that is the right bride, and no other will I have."
+And everything that he had forgotten, and that had been swept out of his
+mind, came suddenly home to him in his heart. And the faithful maiden
+was married to her dear Roland; her sorrow came to an end and her joy
+began.
+
+
+
+
+THE GOLDEN BIRD
+
+
+IN times gone by there was a king who had at the back of his castle a
+beautiful pleasure-garden, in which stood a tree that bore golden
+apples. As the apples ripened they were counted, but one morning one was
+missing. Then the king was angry, and he ordered that watch should be
+kept about the tree every night. Now the king had three sons, and he
+sent the eldest to spend the whole night in the garden; so he watched
+till midnight, and then he could keep off sleep no longer, and in the
+morning another apple was missing. The second son had to watch the
+following night; but it fared no better, for when twelve o'clock had
+struck he went to sleep, and in the morning another apple was missing.
+Now came the turn of the third son to watch, and he was ready to do so;
+but the king had less trust in him, and believed he would acquit himself
+still worse than his brothers, but in the end he consented to let him
+try. So the young man lay down under the tree to watch, and resolved
+that sleep should not be master. When it struck twelve something came
+rushing through the air, and he saw in the moonlight a bird flying
+towards him, whose feathers glittered like gold. The bird perched upon
+the tree, and had already pecked off an apple, when the young man let
+fly an arrow at it. The bird flew away, but the arrow had struck its
+plumage, and one of its golden feathers fell to the ground: the young
+man picked it up, and taking it next morning to the king, told him what
+had happened in the night. The king called his council together, and
+all declared that such a feather was worth more than the whole kingdom.
+
+[Illustration: THE GOLDEN BIRD
+
+ "THE FOX SAID,
+ NOW WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME
+ FOR MY REWARD?"]
+
+"Since the feather is so valuable," said the king, "one is not enough
+for me; I must and will have the whole bird."
+
+So the eldest son set off, and relying on his own cleverness he thought
+he should soon find the golden bird. When he had gone some distance he
+saw a fox sitting at the edge of a wood, and he pointed his gun at him.
+The fox cried out,
+
+"Do not shoot me, and I will give you good counsel. You are on your way
+to find the golden bird, and this evening you will come to a village, in
+which two taverns stand facing each other. One will be brightly lighted
+up, and there will be plenty of merriment going on inside; do not mind
+about that, but go into the other one, although it will look to you very
+uninviting."
+
+"How can a silly beast give one any rational advice?" thought the king's
+son, and let fly at the fox, but missed him, and he stretched out his
+tail and ran quick into the wood. Then the young man went on his way,
+and towards evening he came to the village, and there stood the two
+taverns; in one singing and dancing was going on, the other looked quite
+dull and wretched. "I should be a fool," said he, "to go into that
+dismal place, while there is anything so good close by." So he went into
+the merry inn, and there lived in clover, quite forgetting the bird and
+his father, and all good counsel.
+
+As time went on, and the eldest son never came home, the second son set
+out to seek the golden bird. He met with the fox, just as the eldest
+did, and received good advice from him without attending to it. And when
+he came to the two taverns, his brother was standing and calling to him
+at the window of one of them, out of which came sounds of merriment; so
+he could not resist, but went in and revelled to his heart's content.
+
+And then, as time went on, the youngest son wished to go forth, and to
+try his luck, but his father would not consent.
+
+"It would be useless," said he; "he is much less likely to find the bird
+than his brothers, and if any misfortune were to happen to him he would
+not know how to help himself; his wits are none of the best."
+
+But at last, as there was no peace to be had, he let him go. By the side
+of the wood sat the fox, begged him to spare his life, and gave him good
+counsel. The young man was kind, and said,
+
+"Be easy, little fox, I will do you no harm."
+
+"You shall not repent of it," answered the fox, "and that you may get
+there all the sooner, get up and sit on my tail."
+
+And no sooner had he done so than the fox began to run, and off they
+went over stock and stone, so that the wind whistled in their hair. When
+they reached the village the young man got down, and, following the
+fox's advice, went into the mean-looking tavern, without hesitating, and
+there he passed a quiet night. The next morning, when he went out into
+the field, the fox, who was sitting there already, said,
+
+"I will tell you further what you have to do. Go straight on until you
+come to a castle, before which a great band of soldiers lie, but do not
+trouble yourself about them, for they will be all asleep and snoring;
+pass through them and forward into the castle, and go through all the
+rooms, until you come to one where there is a golden bird hanging in a
+wooden cage. Near at hand will stand empty a golden cage of state, but
+you must beware of taking the bird out of his ugly cage and putting him
+into the fine one; if you do so you will come to harm."
+
+After he had finished saying this the fox stretched out his tail again,
+and the king's son sat him down upon it; then away they went over stock
+and stone, so that the wind whistled through their hair. And when the
+king's son reached the castle he found everything as the fox had said:
+and he at last entered the room where the golden bird was hanging in a
+wooden cage, while a golden one was standing by; the three golden apples
+too were in the room. Then, thinking it foolish to let the beautiful
+bird stay in that mean and ugly cage, he opened the door of it, took
+hold of it, and put it in the golden one. In the same moment the bird
+uttered a piercing cry. The soldiers awaked, rushed in, seized the
+king's son and put him in prison. The next morning he was brought before
+a judge, and, as he confessed everything, condemned to death. But the
+king said he would spare his life on one condition, that he should bring
+him the golden horse whose paces were swifter than the wind, and that
+then he should also receive the golden bird as a reward.
+
+So the king's son set off to find the golden horse, but he sighed, and
+was very sad, for how should it be accomplished? And then he saw his old
+friend the fox sitting by the roadside.
+
+"Now, you see," said the fox, "all this has happened, because you would
+not listen to me. But be of good courage, I will bring you through, and
+will tell you how you are to get the golden horse. You must go straight
+on until you come to a castle, where the horse stands in his stable;
+before the stable-door the grooms will be lying, but they will all be
+asleep and snoring; and you can go and quietly lead out the horse. But
+one thing you must mind--take care to put upon him the plain saddle of
+wood and leather, and not the golden one, which will hang close by;
+otherwise it will go badly with you."
+
+Then the fox stretched out his tail, and the king's son seated himself
+upon it, and away they went over stock and stone until the wind whistled
+through their hair. And everything happened just as the fox had said,
+and he came to the stall where the golden horse was: and as he was about
+to put on him the plain saddle, he thought to himself,
+
+"Such a beautiful animal would be disgraced were I not to put on him the
+good saddle, which becomes him so well." However, no sooner did the
+horse feel the golden saddle touch him than he began to neigh. And the
+grooms all awoke, seized the king's son and threw him into prison. The
+next morning he was delivered up to justice and condemned to death, but
+the king promised him his life, and also to bestow upon him the golden
+horse, if he could convey thither the beautiful princess of the golden
+castle.
+
+With a heavy heart the king's son set out, but by great good luck he
+soon met with the faithful fox.
+
+"I ought now to leave you to your own ill-luck," said the fox, "but I am
+sorry for you, and will once more help you in your need. Your way lies
+straight up to the golden castle: you will arrive there in the evening,
+and at night, when all is quiet, the beautiful princess goes to the
+bath. And as she is entering the bathing-house, go up to her and give
+her a kiss, then she will follow you, and you can lead her away; but do
+not suffer her first to go and take leave of her parents, or it will go
+ill with you."
+
+Then the fox stretched out his tail; the king's son seated himself upon
+it, and away they went over stock and stone, so that the wind whistled
+through their hair. And when he came to the golden castle, all was as
+the fox had said. He waited until midnight, when all lay in deep sleep,
+and then as the beautiful princess went to the bathing-house he went up
+to her and gave her a kiss, and she willingly promised to go with him,
+but she begged him earnestly, and with tears, that he would let her
+first go and take leave of her parents. At first he denied her prayer,
+but as she wept so much the more, and fell at his feet, he gave in at
+last. And no sooner had the princess reached her father's bedside than
+he, and all who were in the castle, waked up, and the young man was
+seized and thrown into prison.
+
+The next morning the king said to him,
+
+"Thy life is forfeit, but thou shalt find grace if thou canst level that
+mountain that lies before my windows, and over which I am not able to
+see: and if this is done within eight days thou shalt have my daughter
+for a reward."
+
+So the king's son set to work, and dug and shovelled away without
+ceasing, but when, on the seventh day, he saw how little he had
+accomplished, and that all his work was as nothing, he fell into great
+sadness, and gave up all hope. But on the evening of the seventh day the
+fox appeared, and said,
+
+"You do not deserve that I should help you, but go now and lie down to
+sleep, and I will do the work for you."
+
+The next morning when he awoke, and looked out of the window, the
+mountain had disappeared. The young man hastened full of joy to the
+king, and told him that his behest was fulfilled, and, whether the king
+liked it or not, he had to keep to his word, and let his daughter go.
+
+So they both went away together, and it was not long before the faithful
+fox came up to them.
+
+"Well, you have got the best first," said he; "but you must know the
+golden horse belongs to the princess of the golden castle."
+
+"But how shall I get it?" asked the young man.
+
+"I am going to tell you," answered the fox. "First, go to the king who
+sent you to the golden castle, and take to him the beautiful princess.
+There will then be very great rejoicing; he will willingly give you the
+golden horse, and they will lead him out to you; then mount him without
+delay, and stretch out your hand to each of them to take leave, and last
+of all to the princess, and when you have her by the hand swing her up
+on the horse behind you, and off you go! nobody will be able to overtake
+you, for that horse goes swifter than the wind."
+
+And so it was all happily done, and the king's son carried off the
+beautiful princess on the golden horse. The fox did not stay behind, and
+he said to the young man,
+
+"Now, I will help you to get the golden bird. When you draw near the
+castle where the bird is, let the lady alight, and I will take her under
+my care; then you must ride the golden horse into the castle-yard, and
+there will be great rejoicing to see it, and they will bring out to you
+the golden bird; as soon as you have the cage in your hand, you must
+start off back to us, and then you shall carry the lady away."
+
+The plan was successfully carried out; and when the young man returned
+with the treasure, the fox said,
+
+"Now, what will you give me for my reward?"
+
+"What would you like?" asked the young man.
+
+"When we are passing through the wood, I desire that you should slay me,
+and cut my head and feet off."
+
+"That were a strange sign of gratitude," said the king's son, "and I
+could not possibly do such a thing."
+
+Then said the fox,
+
+"If you will not do it, I must leave you; but before I go let me give
+you some good advice. Beware of two things: buy no gallows-meat, and sit
+at no brook-side." With that the fox ran off into the wood.
+
+The young man thought to himself, "That is a wonderful animal, with most
+singular ideas. How should any one buy gallows-meat? and I am sure I
+have no particular fancy for sitting by a brook-side."
+
+So he rode on with the beautiful princess, and their way led them
+through the village where his two brothers had stayed. There they heard
+great outcry and noise, and when he asked what it was all about, they
+told him that two people were going to be hanged. And when he drew near
+he saw that it was his two brothers, who had done all sorts of evil
+tricks, and had wasted all their goods. He asked if there were no means
+of setting them free.
+
+"Oh yes! if you will buy them off," answered the people; "but why should
+you spend your money in redeeming such worthless men?"
+
+But he persisted in doing so; and when they were let go they all went on
+their journey together.
+
+After a while they came to the wood where the fox had met them first,
+and there it seemed so cool and sheltered from the sun's burning rays
+that the two brothers said,
+
+"Let us rest here for a little by the brook, and eat and drink to
+refresh ourselves."
+
+The young man consented, quite forgetting the fox's warning, and he
+seated himself by the brook-side, suspecting no evil. But the two
+brothers thrust him backwards into the brook, seized the princess, the
+horse, and the bird, and went home to their father.
+
+"Is not this the golden bird that we bring?" said they; "and we have
+also the golden horse, and the princess of the golden castle."
+
+Then there was great rejoicing in the royal castle, but the horse did
+not feed, the bird did not chirp, and the princess sat still and wept.
+
+The youngest brother, however, had not perished. The brook was, by good
+fortune, dry, and he fell on soft moss without receiving any hurt, but
+he could not get up again. But in his need the faithful fox was not
+lacking; he came up running, and reproached him for having forgotten his
+advice.
+
+"But I cannot forsake you all the same," said he; "I will help you back
+again into daylight." So he told the young man to grasp his tail, and
+hold on to it fast, and so he drew him up again.
+
+"Still you are not quite out of all danger," said the fox; "your
+brothers, not being certain of your death, have surrounded the wood with
+sentinels, who are to put you to death if you let yourself be seen."
+
+A poor beggar-man was sitting by the path, and the young man changed
+clothes with him, and went clad in that wise into the king's courtyard.
+Nobody knew him, but the bird began to chirp, and the horse began to
+feed, and the beautiful princess ceased weeping.
+
+"What does this mean?" said the king, astonished.
+
+The princess answered,
+
+"I cannot tell, except that I was sad, and now I am joyful; it is to me
+as if my rightful bridegroom had returned."
+
+Then she told him all that happened, although the two brothers had
+threatened to put her to death if she let out anything. The king then
+ordered every person who was in the castle to be brought before him, and
+with the rest came the young man like a beggar in his wretched garments;
+but the princess knew him, and greeted him well, falling on his neck and
+kissing him. The wicked brothers were seized and put to death, and the
+youngest brother was married to the princess, and succeeded to the
+inheritance of his father.
+
+But what became of the poor fox? Long afterwards the king's son was
+going through the wood, and the fox met him and said,
+
+"Now, you have everything that you can wish for, but my misfortunes
+never come to an end, and it lies in your power to free me from them."
+And once more he prayed the king's son earnestly to slay him, and cut
+off his head and feet. So, at last, he consented, and no sooner was it
+done than the fox was changed into a man, and was no other than the
+brother of the beautiful princess; and thus he was set free from a spell
+that had bound him for a long, long time.
+
+And now, indeed, there lacked nothing to their happiness as long as they
+lived.
+
+
+
+
+The DOG and the SPARROW
+
+
+THERE was once a sheep-dog whose master behaved ill to him and did not
+give him enough to eat, and when for hunger he could bear it no longer,
+he left his service very sadly. In the street he was met by a sparrow,
+who said,
+
+"Dog, my brother, why are you so sad?"
+
+And the dog answered,
+
+"I am hungry and have nothing to eat."
+
+Then said the sparrow,
+
+"Dear brother, come with me into the town; I will give you plenty."
+
+Then they went together into the town, and soon they came to a butcher's
+stall, and the sparrow said to the dog,
+
+"Stay here while I reach you down a piece of meat," and he perched on
+the stall, looked round to see that no one noticed him, and pecked,
+pulled, and dragged so long at a piece that lay near the edge of the
+board that at last it slid to the ground. The dog picked it up, ran with
+it into a corner, and ate it up. Then said the sparrow,
+
+"Now come with me to another stall, and I will get you another piece, so
+that your hunger may be satisfied."
+
+When the dog had devoured a second piece the sparrow asked,
+
+"Dog, my brother, are you satisfied now?"
+
+"Yes, as to meat I am," answered he, "but I have had no bread."
+
+Then said the sparrow,
+
+"That also shall you have; come with me." And he led him to a baker's
+stall and pecked at a few little rolls until they fell to the ground,
+and as the dog still wanted more, they went to another stall farther on
+and got more bread. When that was done the sparrow said,
+
+"Dog, my brother, are you satisfied yet?"
+
+"Yes," answered he, "and now we will walk a little outside the town."
+
+And they went together along the high road. It was warm weather, and
+when they had gone a little way the dog said,
+
+"I am tired, and would like to go to sleep."
+
+"Well, do so," said the sparrow; "in the meanwhile I will sit near on a
+bough." The dog laid himself in the road and fell fast asleep, and as he
+lay there a waggoner came up with a waggon and three horses, laden with
+two casks of wine; the sparrow, seeing that he was not going to turn
+aside but kept in the beaten track, just where the dog lay, cried out,
+
+"Waggoner, take care, or you shall suffer for it!"
+
+But the waggoner, muttering, "What harm can you do to me?" cracked his
+whip and drove his waggon over the dog, and he was crushed to death by
+the wheels. Then the sparrow cried,
+
+"Thou hast killed the dog my brother, and it shall cost thee horses and
+cart!"
+
+"Oh! horses and cart!" said the waggoner, "what harm can you do me, I
+should like to know?" and drove on. The sparrow crept under the covering
+of the waggon and pecked at the bung-hole of one of the casks until the
+cork came out, and all the wine ran out without the waggoner noticing.
+After a while, looking round, he saw that something dripped from the
+waggon, and on examining the casks he found that one of them was empty,
+and he cried out,
+
+"I am a ruined man!"
+
+"Not ruined enough yet!" said the sparrow, and flying to one of the
+horses he perched on his head and pecked at his eyes. When the waggoner
+saw that he took out his axe to hit the sparrow, who at that moment flew
+aloft, and the waggoner missing him struck the horse on the head, so
+that he fell down dead.
+
+"Oh, I am a ruined man!" cried he.
+
+"Not ruined enough yet!" said the sparrow, and as the waggoner drove on
+with the two horses that were left the sparrow crept again under the
+waggon-covering and pecked the cork out of the second cask, so that all
+the wine leaked out. When the waggoner became aware of it, he cried out
+again,
+
+"Oh! I am a ruined man!" But the sparrow answered, "Not ruined enough
+yet!" and perched on the second horse's head and began pecking at his
+eyes. Back ran the waggoner and raised his axe to strike, but the
+sparrow flying aloft, the stroke fell on the horse, so that he was
+killed.
+
+"Oh! I am a ruined man!" cried the waggoner.
+
+"Not ruined enough yet!" said the sparrow, and perching on the third
+horse began pecking at his eyes. The waggoner struck out in his anger at
+the sparrow without taking aim, and missing him, he laid his third horse
+dead.
+
+"Oh! I am a ruined man!" he cried.
+
+"Not ruined enough yet!" answered the sparrow, flying off; "I will see
+to that at home."
+
+So the waggoner had to leave his waggon standing, and went home full of
+rage.
+
+"Oh!" said he to his wife, "what ill-luck I have had! the wine is spilt,
+and the horses are all three dead."
+
+"O husband!" answered she, "such a terrible bird has come to this house;
+he has brought with him all the birds of the air, and there they are in
+the midst of our wheat devouring it." And he looked and there were
+thousands upon thousands of birds sitting on the ground, having eaten up
+all the wheat, and the sparrow in the midst, and the waggoner cried,
+
+"Oh! I am a ruined man!"
+
+"Not ruined enough yet!" answered the sparrow; "Waggoner, it shall cost
+thee thy life!" and he flew away.
+
+Now the waggoner, having lost everything he possessed, went in-doors and
+sat down angry and miserable behind the stove. The sparrow was perched
+outside on the window-sill, and cried, "Waggoner, it shall cost thee thy
+life!" Then the waggoner seized his axe and threw it at the sparrow, but
+it broke the window sash in two and did not touch the sparrow, who now
+hopped inside, perched on the stove, and cried.
+
+"Waggoner it shall cost thee thy life!" and he, mad and blind with rage,
+beat in the stove, and as the sparrow flew from one spot to another,
+hacked everything in pieces, furniture, looking-glasses, benches, table,
+and the very walls of his house, and yet did not touch the sparrow.
+
+At last he caught and held him in his hand.
+
+"Now," said his wife, "shall I not kill him?"
+
+"No!" cried he, "that were too easy a death; I will swallow him," and as
+the bird was fluttering in the man's mouth, it stretched out its head,
+saying,
+
+"Waggoner, it shall cost thee thy life!"
+
+Then the waggoner reached the axe to his wife saying,
+
+"Wife, strike me this bird dead."
+
+The wife struck, but missed her aim, and the blow fell on the waggoner's
+head, and he dropped down dead.
+
+But the sparrow flew over the hills and away.
+
+
+
+
+FRED and KATE
+
+
+THERE were once a young husband and wife, and their names were Fred and
+Kate. One day said Fred,
+
+"I must go now to my work in the fields, Kate, and when I come back you
+must have on the table some roast meat to satisfy my hunger, and some
+cool drink to quench my thirst."
+
+"All right, Fred," answered Kate; "be off with you, I will see to it."
+
+When dinner-time began to draw near, she took down a sausage from the
+chimney, put it in a frying-pan with some butter, and stood it over the
+fire. The sausage began to frizzle and fry, and Kate stood holding the
+handle of the pan, and fell into deep thought; at last she said to
+herself,
+
+"While the sausage is cooking I might as well be drawing the beer in the
+cellar."
+
+So she saw that the frying-pan was standing firmly, and then took a can
+and went down into the cellar to draw the beer. Now, while Kate was
+watching the beer run into the can, a sudden thought came into her mind.
+
+"Holloa! the dog is not fastened up; he may perhaps get at the sausage,"
+and in a trice she was up the cellar steps: but already the dog had it
+in his mouth, and was making off with it. Then Kate, with all haste,
+followed after him and chased him a good way into the fields, but the
+dog was quicker than Kate, and, never letting slip the sausage, was soon
+at a great distance.
+
+"Well, it can't be helped!" said Kate turning back, and as she had
+tired herself with running, she took her time about going home, and
+walked slowly to cool herself. All this time the beer was running out of
+the cask, for Kate had not turned off the tap, and as the can was soon
+full, it began to run over on the cellar floor, and ran, and ran, until
+the cask was empty. Kate stood on the steps and saw the misfortune.
+
+"Dear me!" cried she, "what am I to do to prevent Fred from noticing
+it!"
+
+She considered for a while, and then remembered that there was remaining
+in the loft from the last fair time a sack of fine wheat-flour; she
+determined to bring it down, and strew it over the beer.
+
+"To be sure," said she, "those who know how to save have somewhat in
+time of necessity."
+
+And going up to the loft, she dragged the sack down and threw it right
+upon the can full of beer, so that Fred's drink ran about the cellar
+with the rest.
+
+"It is all right," said Kate; "where some goes the rest must follow,"
+and she strewed the meal all over the cellar. When all was done, she was
+highly pleased, and thought how clean and neat it looked.
+
+At dinner-time home came Fred.
+
+"Now, wife, what have you got for me?" said he.
+
+"O Fred," answered she, "I was going to cook a sausage for you, but
+while I was drawing the beer the dog got it out of the pan, and while I
+was running after the dog the beer all ran away, and as I was going to
+stop up the beer with the wheat-meal I knocked over the can: but it is
+all right now; the cellar is quite dry again." But said Fred,
+
+"O Kate, Kate! what have you been about, letting the sausage be carried
+off, and the beer run out of the cask, and then to waste all our good
+meal into the bargain?"
+
+"Well, Fred, I did not know; you should have told me," said Kate. So the
+husband thought to himself,
+
+"If my wife is like this, I must look after things a little better."
+
+Now he had saved a very pretty sum of money, and he changed it all to
+gold, and said to Kate,
+
+"Do you see these yellow counters? I am going to make a hole in the
+stable underneath the cows' manger and bury them; see that you do not
+meddle with them, or it will be the worse for you."
+
+And she said, "Oh no, Fred, certainly I won't."
+
+Now, one day when Fred was away, there came some pedlars to the village,
+with earthen pots and basins to sell, and they asked the young wife if
+she had nothing to give in exchange for them.
+
+"O my good men," said Kate, "I have no money to buy anything with, but
+if you had any use for yellow counters, I might do some business with
+you."
+
+"Yellow counters! why not? we might as well see them," said they.
+
+"Then go into the stable and dig under the cows' manger, and you will
+find them; but I dare not go near the place."
+
+So those rogues went and dug, and found the gold accordingly. And they
+seized it quickly, and ran off with it, leaving the pots and pans behind
+them in the house. Kate thought she must make some use of her new
+possessions, so, as she had no need of them in the kitchen, she spread
+them out on the ground, and then stuck them, one after another, for
+ornament, on the fence which ran round the house. When Fred came home
+and saw the new decorations, he said, "Kate, what have you been doing?"
+
+"I bought them every one, Fred, with those yellow counters that were
+buried under the manger, and I did not go there myself; the pedlars had
+to dig them up for themselves."
+
+"O wife!" cried Fred, "what have you done? they were not counters, but
+pure gold, and all our capital; you should not have done so."
+
+"Well, Fred, I did not know; you should have told me that before,"
+answered Kate.
+
+Then Kate stood still a little while to consider, and at last she said,
+"Listen, Fred, we may be able to get the gold back again. Let us run
+after the thieves."
+
+"Very well," said Fred, "we will try; only let us take some bread and
+cheese with us, that we may have something to eat on the way."
+
+"All right," she answered. So they set out, and as Fred was a better
+walker than Kate, she was soon left behind.
+
+"All the better for me," said she, "for when we turn back I shall have
+so much the less distance to go."
+
+And they came to a mountain, where, on both sides of the road, there
+were deep cart-ruts. And Kate said to herself,
+
+"How sad to see the poor earth torn, and vexed, and oppressed in this
+way! it will never be healed again in all its life."
+
+And with a compassionate heart, she took out her butter and smeared the
+cart-ruts right and left, so that they might not be so cut by the
+wheels; and as she was stooping to perform this merciful act a cheese
+fell out of her pocket and rolled down the mountain. And Kate said,
+
+"I have walked over the ground once, and I am not going to do it again,
+but another shall run after that cheese, and bring it back." So saying,
+she took another cheese, and rolled it after the first one: and as it
+did not seem to be coming back again, she sent a third racing after
+them, thinking, "Perhaps they are waiting for company, and are not used
+to travelling alone." But when they all three delayed coming, she said,
+
+"I can't think what this means! perhaps it is that the third one has
+lost his way, so I will send a fourth that he may call out to him as he
+goes by." But it went no better with the fourth than with the third. And
+Kate lost all patience and threw down the fifth and sixth, and that was
+all. A long while she stood and waited for them to come up, but as still
+they did not come, she said,
+
+"Oh, it's like sending good money after bad; there is no getting you
+back again. If you suppose I am going to wait for you any longer, you
+are very much mistaken: I shall go on my way and you may overtake me;
+your legs are younger than mine." Kate then went on until she overtook
+Fred, who was standing still and waiting, as he wanted something to eat.
+
+"Now, be quick," he said, "and hand over what you have brought." And she
+handed him the dry bread.
+
+"Now for the butter and the cheese," said the man.
+
+"O Fred," said Kate, "I anointed the cart-ruts with the butter, and the
+cheeses will soon be here, they are upon the road; one of them ran away,
+and I sent the others to fetch it back."
+
+Then said Fred,
+
+"It was very wrong of you, Kate, to waste the butter, and roll the
+cheeses down the hill."
+
+And Kate answered, "Well then, you should have told me so."
+
+As they were eating the dry bread together, Fred said,
+
+"Kate, did you lock up the house before leaving?"
+
+"No, Fred; you ought to have told me that before."
+
+And her husband answered,
+
+"Well, you must go home at once and lock up the house before we go any
+farther, and you might as well bring something more to eat with you, and
+I will wait for you here."
+
+So Kate went, and she thought to herself,
+
+"As Fred wants something more to eat, and he does not care much about
+butter and cheese, I will bring some dried apples and a jug of vinegar
+back with me."
+
+Then she bolted the front door, but the back door she took off its
+hinges, and lifted it on her shoulders, thinking that if she had the
+door all safe no harm could come to the house. And she took her time on
+the way back, and thought to herself, "Fred will have so much the longer
+to rest." So when she got back to him, she called out,
+
+"Fred, if the house-door is safe, no harm can come to the house!"
+
+"Oh dear!" cried he, "what a prudent wife have I! to carry away the
+back-door, so that any one may get in, and to bolt the front door! It is
+too late now to go home, but as you have brought the door so far, you
+may carry it on farther."
+
+"All right, I will carry the door, Fred," said she, "but the dried
+apples and the vinegar will be too heavy for me; I will hang them on the
+door and make it carry them."
+
+Now they went into the wood to look for the thieves, but they could not
+find them. When it grew dark they got up into a tree to pass the night
+there. No sooner had they settled down when up came the pedlars, some of
+those fellows who carry away what should not go with them, and who find
+things before they are lost. They laid themselves down directly under
+the tree where Fred and Kate were, and they made a fire, and began to
+divide their spoil. Then Fred got down on the farther side of the tree
+and gathered together some stones, and then got up again, intending to
+stone the robbers to death with them. The stones, however, did not hit
+them, and they said,
+
+"It will soon be morning; the wind is rising and shaking down the
+fir-cones."
+
+Now all the time Kate had the door on her shoulder, and as it weighed
+upon her heavily, she thought it must be the dried apples, and she said,
+
+"Fred, I must throw down the dried apples."
+
+"No, Kate, not now," answered he; "we might be discovered."
+
+"Oh dear, Fred, but I must! they weigh me down so!" said she.
+
+"Well then, do it, if you must, in the name of all that's tormenting!"
+cried he; and down rolled the apples between the boughs, and the robbers
+cried,
+
+"There are birds in this tree!"
+
+After a while, as the door still weighed her down heavily, Kate said, "O
+Fred, I must pour away the vinegar;" and he answered,
+
+"No, Kate, you must not do that; we might be discovered."
+
+"Oh dear me, Fred, but I must! it weighs me down so!"
+
+"Then do it, if you must, in the name of all that's tormenting!"
+
+And she poured out the vinegar, so that the men were all besprinkled.
+
+And they said one to another,
+
+"The morning dew is beginning to fall already."
+
+At last Kate began to think that it must really be the door that weighed
+so heavy, and she said,
+
+"Fred, I must throw down the door!" and he answered,
+
+"No, Kate, not now; we might be discovered."
+
+"Oh dear me, Fred, but I must! it weighs me down so."
+
+"No, Kate, you must hold it fast."
+
+"O Fred, it's slipping, it's falling!"
+
+"Well then, let it fall in the name of torment!" cried Fred in a
+passion. And so it fell with a great crash, and the thieves below cried,
+
+"There is something wrong about this tree!" and they got up in a great
+hurry and ran off, leaving their spoil behind them. And early in the
+morning when Fred and Kate came down from the tree they got all their
+gold again and carried it home.
+
+And when they reached their house again Fred said,
+
+"Now, Kate, you must fall to and be very industrious and work hard."
+
+"All right, Fred, I will go into the field and cut corn," said she.
+
+And when she came into the field she said to herself,
+
+"Shall I eat before I cut, or shall I sleep before I cut? well, I will
+eat first." And so she ate, and after that she felt sleepy, but she
+began to cut and went on half asleep cutting her own clothes, skirts,
+gown, and all, and when she at last woke up and found herself in rags,
+she said to herself,
+
+"Is this really I or not? oh dear, it is not I!"
+
+After a while night came on, and Kate ran into the village and knocked
+at her husband's door calling out, "Fred!"
+
+"What is it?" said he.
+
+"I want to know if Kate is at home," said she.
+
+"Oh yes," he answered, "she is lying here fast asleep."
+
+So she said to herself, "All right then, I am certainly at home," and
+she ran on farther.
+
+Soon she came upon some thieves who were looking about for something to
+steal, and she went up to them and offered to help them, and the thieves
+thought she knew of a good place and opportunity, and were glad of her
+offer. But Kate walked in front of the houses calling out,
+
+"Good people, what have you for us to steal?"
+
+So the thieves thought to themselves, "This will never do," and wished
+themselves quit of her. At last they said to her,
+
+"Just at the end of the village there are some turnips in the parson's
+field; go and fetch us some."
+
+So Kate went into the field and began to pull some up, but very lazily,
+and never raised herself. Presently came by a man who saw her, and
+thought she was some evil thing grubbing for the turnips. So he ran
+quickly into the village and said to the parson,
+
+"O parson, some evil creature is grubbing in your turnip-field!"
+
+"Oh dear!" answered the parson, "I have a lame foot, I cannot go to
+drive it away."
+
+And the man at once offered to take him on his back, and he did so.
+
+Just as they reached the field Kate got up and stood upright.
+
+"Oh, the devil!" cried the parson, and both took to their heels, and the
+parson was able, out of his great fear, to run faster with his lame foot
+than the man who had carried him on his back with both legs sound.
+
+
+
+
+THE LITTLE FARMER
+
+
+THERE was a certain village where lived many rich farmers and only one
+poor one, whom they called the Little Farmer. He had not even a cow, and
+still less had he money to buy one; and he and his wife greatly wished
+for such a thing. One day he said to her,
+
+"Listen, I have a good idea; it is that your godfather the joiner shall
+make us a calf of wood and paint it brown, so as to look just like any
+other; and then in time perhaps it will grow big and become a cow."
+
+This notion pleased the wife, and godfather joiner set to work to saw
+and plane, and soon turned out a calf complete, with its head down and
+neck stretched out as if it were grazing.
+
+The next morning, as the cows were driven to pasture, the Little Farmer
+called out to the drover,
+
+"Look here, I have got a little calf to go, but it is still young and
+must be carried."
+
+"All right!" said the drover, and tucked it under his arm, carried it
+into the meadows, and stood it in the grass. So the calf stayed where it
+was put, and seemed to be eating all the time, and the drover thought to
+himself,
+
+"It will soon be able to run alone, if it grazes at that rate!"
+
+In the evening, when the herds had to be driven home, he said to the
+calf, "If you can stand there eating like that, you can just walk off on
+your own four legs; I am not going to lug you under my arm again!"
+
+But the Little Farmer was standing by his house-door, and waiting for
+his calf; and when he saw the cow-herd coming through the village
+without it, he asked what it meant. The cow-herd answered, "It is still
+out there eating away, and never attended to the call, and would not
+come with the rest."
+
+Then the Little Farmer said,
+
+"I will tell you what, I must have my beast brought home."
+
+And they went together through the fields in quest of it, but some one
+had stolen it, and it was gone. And the drover said,
+
+"Most likely it has run away."
+
+But the Little Farmer said "Not it!" and brought the cow-herd before the
+bailiff, who ordered him for his carelessness to give the Little Farmer
+a cow for the missing calf.
+
+So now the Little Farmer and his wife possessed their long-wished-for
+cow; they rejoiced with all their hearts, but unfortunately they had no
+fodder for it, and could give it nothing to eat, so that before long
+they had to kill it. Its flesh they salted down, and the Little Farmer
+went to the town to sell the skin and buy a new calf with what he got
+for it. On the way he came to a mill, where a raven was sitting with
+broken wings, and he took it up out of pity and wrapped it in the skin.
+The weather was very stormy, and it blew and rained, so he turned into
+the mill and asked for shelter. The miller's wife was alone in the
+house, and she said to the Little Farmer,
+
+"Well, come in and lay thee down in the straw," and she gave him a piece
+of bread and cheese. So the Little Farmer ate, and then lay down with
+his skin near him, and the miller's wife thought he was sleeping with
+fatigue. After a while in came another man, and the miller's wife
+received him very well, saying,
+
+"My husband is out; we will make good cheer."
+
+The Little Farmer listened to what they said, and when he heard good
+cheer spoken of, he grew angry to think he had been put off with bread
+and cheese. For the miller's wife presently brought out roast meat,
+salad, cakes, and wine.
+
+Now as the pair were sitting down to their feast, there came a knock at
+the door.
+
+"Oh dear," cried the woman, "it is my husband!" In a twinkling she
+popped the roast meat into the oven, the wine under the pillow, the
+salad in the bed, the cakes under the bed, and the man in the
+linen-closet. Then she opened the door to her husband, saying,
+
+"Thank goodness, you are here! what weather it is, as if the world were
+coming to an end!"
+
+When the miller saw the Little Farmer lying in the straw, he said,
+
+"What fellow have you got there?"
+
+"Oh!" said the wife, "the poor chap came in the midst of the wind and
+rain and asked for shelter, and I gave him some bread and cheese and
+spread some straw for him."
+
+The husband answered, "Oh well, I have no objection, only get me
+something to eat at once."
+
+But the wife said, "There is nothing but bread and cheese."
+
+"Anything will do for me," answered the miller, "bread and cheese for
+ever!" and catching sight of the Little Farmer, he cried,
+
+"Come along, and keep me company!" The Little Farmer did not wait to be
+asked twice, but sat down and ate. After a while the miller noticed the
+skin lying on the ground with the raven wrapped up in it, and he said,
+"What have you got there?"
+
+The Little Farmer answered, "A fortune-teller."
+
+And the miller asked "Can he tell my fortune?"
+
+"Why not?" answered the Little Farmer. "He will tell four things, and
+the fifth he keeps to himself." Now the miller became very curious, and
+said, "Ask him to say something."
+
+And the Little Farmer pinched the raven, so that it croaked, "Crr, crr."
+"What does he say?" asked the miller. And the Little Farmer answered,
+
+"First he says that there is wine under the pillow."
+
+"That would be jolly!" cried the miller, and he went to look, and found
+the wine, and then asked, "What next?"
+
+So the Little Farmer made the raven croak again, and then said,
+
+"He says, secondly, that there is roast meat in the oven."
+
+"That would be jolly!" cried the miller, and he went and looked, and
+found the roast meat. The Little Farmer made the fortune-teller speak
+again, and then said,
+
+"He says, thirdly, that there is salad in the bed."
+
+"That would be jolly!" cried the miller, and went and looked, and found
+the salad. Once more the Little Farmer pinched the raven, so that he
+croaked, and said,
+
+"He says, fourthly and lastly, that there are cakes under the bed."
+
+"That would be jolly!" cried the miller, and he went and looked, and
+found the cakes.
+
+And now the two sat down to table, and the miller's wife felt very
+uncomfortable, and she went to bed and took all the keys with her. The
+miller was eager to know what the fifth thing could be, but the Little
+Farmer said,
+
+"Suppose we eat the four things in peace first, for the fifth thing is a
+great deal worse."
+
+So they sat and ate, and while they ate, they bargained together as to
+how much the miller would give for knowing the fifth thing; and at last
+they agreed upon three hundred dollars. Then the Little Farmer pinched
+the raven, so that he croaked aloud. And the miller asked what he said,
+and the Little Farmer answered,
+
+"He says that there is a demon in the linen-closet."
+
+"Then," said the miller, "that demon must out of the linen-closet," and
+he unbarred the house-door, while the Little Farmer got the key of the
+linen-closet from the miller's wife, and opened it. Then the man rushed
+forth, and out of the house, and the miller said,
+
+"I saw the black rogue with my own eyes; so that is a good riddance."
+
+And the Little Farmer took himself off by daybreak next morning with the
+three hundred dollars.
+
+And after this the Little Farmer by degrees got on in the world, and
+built himself a good house, and the other farmers said,
+
+"Surely the Little Farmer has been where it rains gold pieces, and has
+brought home money by the bushel."
+
+And he was summoned before the bailiff to say whence his riches came.
+And all he said was,
+
+"I sold my calf's skin for three hundred dollars."
+
+When the other farmers heard this they wished to share such good luck,
+and ran home, killed all their cows, skinned them in order to sell them
+also for the same high price as the Little Farmer. And the bailiff
+said, "I must be beforehand with them." So he sent his servant into the
+town to the skin-buyer, and he only gave her three dollars for the skin,
+and that was faring better than the others, for when they came, they did
+not get as much as that, for the skin-buyer said,
+
+"What am I to do with all these skins?"
+
+Now the other farmers were very angry with the Little Farmer for
+misleading them, and they vowed vengeance against him, and went to
+complain of his deceit to the bailiff. The poor Little Farmer was with
+one voice sentenced to death, and to be put into a cask with holes in
+it, and rolled into the water. So he was led to execution, and a priest
+was fetched to say a mass for him, and the rest of the people had to
+stand at a distance. As soon as the Little Farmer caught sight of the
+priest he knew him for the man who was hid in the linen-closet at the
+miller's. And he said to him,
+
+"As I let you out of the cupboard, you must let me out of the cask."
+
+At that moment a shepherd passed with a flock of sheep, and the Little
+Farmer knowing him to have a great wish to become bailiff himself,
+called out with all his might,
+
+"No, I will not, and if all the world asked me, I would not!"
+
+The shepherd, hearing him, came up and asked what it was he would not
+do. The Little Farmer answered,
+
+"They want to make me bailiff, if I sit in this cask, but I will not do
+it!"
+
+The shepherd said,
+
+"If that is all there is to do in order to become bailiff I will sit in
+the cask and welcome." And the Little Farmer answered,
+
+"Yes, that is all, just you get into the cask, and you will become
+bailiff." So the shepherd agreed, and got in, and the Little Farmer
+fastened on the top; then he collected the herd of sheep and drove them
+away. The priest went back to the parish-assembly, and told them the
+mass had been said. Then they came and began to roll the cask into the
+water, and as it went the shepherd inside called out, "I consent to be
+bailiff!"
+
+They thought that it was the Little Farmer who spoke, and they
+answered,
+
+"All right; but first you must go down below and look about you a
+little," and they rolled the cask into the water.
+
+Upon that the farmers went home, and when they reached the village,
+there they met the Little Farmer driving a flock of sheep, and looking
+quite calm and contented. The farmers were astonished and cried,
+
+"Little Farmer, whence come you? how did you get out of the water?"
+
+"Oh, easily," answered he, "I sank and sank until I came to the bottom;
+then I broke through the cask and came out of it, and there were
+beautiful meadows and plenty of sheep feeding, so I brought away this
+flock with me."
+
+Then said the farmers, "Are there any left?"
+
+"Oh yes," answered the Little Farmer, "more than you can possibly need."
+
+Then the farmers agreed that they would go and fetch some sheep also,
+each man a flock for himself; and the bailiff said, "Me first." And they
+all went together, and in the blue sky there were little fleecy clouds
+like lambkins, and they were reflected in the water; and the farmers
+cried out,
+
+"There are the sheep down there at the bottom."
+
+When the bailiff heard that he pressed forward and said,
+
+"I will go first and look about me, and if things look well, I will call
+to you."
+
+And he jumped plump into the water, and they all thought that the noise
+he made meant "Come," so the whole company jumped in one after the
+other. So perished all the proprietors of the village, and the Little
+Farmer, as sole heir, became a rich man.
+
+
+
+
+THE QUEEN BEE
+
+
+TWO king's sons once started to seek adventures, and fell into a wild,
+reckless way of living, and gave up all thoughts of going home again.
+Their third and youngest brother, who was called Witling, and had
+remained behind, started off to seek them; and when at last he found
+them, they jeered at his simplicity in thinking that he could make his
+way in the world, while they who were so much cleverer were
+unsuccessful. But they all three went on together until they came to an
+ant-hill, which the two eldest brothers wished to stir up, that they
+might see the little ants hurry about in their fright and carrying off
+their eggs, but Witling said,
+
+"Leave the little creatures alone, I will not suffer them to be
+disturbed."
+
+And they went on farther until they came to a lake, where a number of
+ducks were swimming about. The two eldest brothers wanted to catch a
+couple and cook them, but Witling would not allow it, and said, "Leave
+the creatures alone, I will not suffer them to be killed."
+
+And then they came to a bee's-nest in a tree, and there was so much
+honey in it that it overflowed and ran down the trunk. The two eldest
+brothers then wanted to make a fire beneath the tree, that the bees
+might be stifled by the smoke, and then they could get at the honey. But
+Witling prevented them, saying,
+
+"Leave the little creatures alone, I will not suffer them to be
+stifled."
+
+At last the three brothers came to a castle where there were in the
+stables many horses standing, all of stone, and the brothers went
+through all the rooms until they came to a door at the end secured with
+three locks, and in the middle of the door a small opening through which
+they could look into the room. And they saw a little grey-haired man
+sitting at a table. They called out to him once, twice, and he did not
+hear, but at the third time he got up, undid the locks, and came out.
+Without speaking a word he led them to a table loaded with all sorts of
+good things, and when they had eaten and drunk he showed to each his
+bed-chamber. The next morning the little grey man came to the eldest
+brother, and beckoning him, brought him to a table of stone, on which
+were written three things directing by what means the castle could be
+delivered from its enchantment. The first thing was, that in the wood
+under the moss lay the pearls belonging to the princess--a thousand in
+number--and they were to be sought for and collected, and if he who
+should undertake the task had not finished it by sunset,--if but one
+pearl were missing,--he must be turned to stone. So the eldest brother
+went out, and searched all day, but at the end of it he had only found
+one hundred; just as was said on the table of stone came to pass and he
+was turned into stone. The second brother undertook the adventure next
+day, but it fared with him no better than with the first; he found two
+hundred pearls, and was turned into stone.
+
+And so at last it was Witling's turn, and he began to search in the
+moss; but it was a very tedious business to find the pearls, and he grew
+so out of heart that he sat down on a stone and began to weep. As he was
+sitting thus, up came the ant-king with five thousand ants, whose lives
+had been saved through Witling's pity, and it was not very long before
+the little insects had collected all the pearls and put them in a heap.
+
+Now the second thing ordered by the table of stone was to get the key of
+the princess's sleeping-chamber out of the lake.
+
+And when Witling came to the lake, the ducks whose lives he had saved
+came swimming, and dived below, and brought up the key from the bottom.
+The third thing that had to be done was the most difficult, and that was
+to choose out the youngest and loveliest of the three princesses, as
+they lay sleeping. All bore a perfect resemblance each to the other, and
+only differed in this, that before they went to sleep each one had eaten
+a different sweetmeat,--the eldest a piece of sugar, the second a little
+syrup, and the third a spoonful of honey. Now the Queen-bee of those
+bees that Witling had protected from the fire came at this moment, and
+trying the lips of all three, settled on those of the one that had eaten
+honey, and so it was that the king's son knew which to choose. Then the
+spell was broken; every one awoke from stony sleep, and took their right
+form again.
+
+And Witling married the youngest and loveliest princess, and became king
+after her father's death. But his two brothers had to put up with the
+two other sisters.
+
+
+
+
+THE GOLDEN GOOSE
+
+
+THERE was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was called the
+Simpleton, and was despised, laughed at, and neglected, on every
+occasion. It happened one day that the eldest son wished to go into the
+forest to cut wood, and before he went his mother gave him a delicious
+pancake and a flask of wine, that he might not suffer from hunger or
+thirst. When he came into the forest a little old grey man met him, who
+wished him good day, and said,
+
+"Give me a bit of cake out of your pocket, and let me have a drink of
+your wine; I am so hungry and thirsty."
+
+But the prudent youth answered,
+
+"Give you my cake and my wine? I haven't got any; be off with you."
+
+And leaving the little man standing there, he went off. Then he began to
+fell a tree, but he had not been at it long before he made a wrong
+stroke, and the hatchet hit him in the arm, so that he was obliged to go
+home and get it bound up. That was what came of the little grey man.
+
+Afterwards the second son went into the wood, and the mother gave to
+him, as to the eldest, a pancake and a flask of wine. The little old
+grey man met him also, and begged for a little bit of cake and a drink
+of wine. But the second son spoke out plainly, saying,
+
+"What I give you I lose myself, so be off with you."
+
+And leaving the little man standing there, he went off. The punishment
+followed; as he was chopping away at the tree, he hit himself in the leg
+so severely that he had to be carried home.
+
+Then said the Simpleton,
+
+"Father, let me go for once into the forest to cut wood;" and the father
+answered, "Your brothers have hurt themselves by so doing; give it up,
+you understand nothing about it."
+
+But the Simpleton went on begging so long, that the father said at last,
+
+"Well, be off with you; you will only learn by experience."
+
+The mother gave him a cake (it was only made with water, and baked in
+the ashes), and with it a flask of sour beer. When he came into the
+forest the little old grey man met him, and greeted him, saying,
+
+"Give me a bit of your cake, and a drink from your flask; I am so hungry
+and thirsty."
+
+And the Simpleton answered, "I have only a flour and water cake and sour
+beer; but if that is good enough for you, let us sit down together and
+eat." Then they sat down, and as the Simpleton took out his flour and
+water cake it became a rich pancake, and his sour beer became good wine;
+then they ate and drank, and afterwards the little man said,
+
+"As you have such a kind heart, and share what you have so willingly, I
+will bestow good luck upon you. Yonder stands an old tree; cut it down,
+and at its roots you will find some thing," and thereupon the little man
+took his departure.
+
+The Simpleton went there, and hewed away at the tree, and when it fell
+he saw, sitting among the roots, a goose with feathers of pure gold. He
+lifted it out and took it with him to an inn where he intended to stay
+the night. The landlord had three daughters who, when they saw the
+goose, were curious to know what wonderful kind of bird it was, and
+ended by longing for one of its golden feathers. The eldest thought, "I
+will wait for a good opportunity, and then I will pull out one of its
+feathers for myself;" and so, when the Simpleton was gone out, she
+seized the goose by its wing--but there her finger and hand had to stay,
+held fast. Soon after came the second sister with the same idea of
+plucking out one of the golden feathers for herself; but scarcely had
+she touched her sister, than she also was obliged to stay, held fast.
+Lastly came the third with the same intentions; but the others screamed
+out,
+
+"Stay away! for heaven's sake stay away!"
+
+But she did not see why she should stay away, and thought, "If they do
+so, why should not I?" and went towards them. But when she reached her
+sisters there she stopped, hanging on with them. And so they had to
+stay, all night. The next morning the Simpleton took the goose under his
+arm and went away, unmindful of the three girls that hung on to it. The
+three had always to run after him, left and right, wherever his legs
+carried him. In the midst of the fields they met the parson, who, when
+he saw the procession, said,
+
+"Shame on you, girls, running after a young fellow through the fields
+like this," and forthwith he seized hold of the youngest by the hand to
+drag her away, but hardly had he touched her when he too was obliged to
+run after them himself. Not long after the sexton came that way, and
+seeing the respected parson following at the heels of the three girls,
+he called out,
+
+"Ho, your reverence, whither away so quickly? You forget that we have
+another christening to-day;" and he seized hold of him by his gown; but
+no sooner had he touched him than he was obliged to follow on too. As
+the five tramped on, one after another, two peasants with their hoes
+came up from the fields, and the parson cried out to them, and begged
+them to come and set him and the sexton free, but no sooner had they
+touched the sexton than they had to follow on too; and now there were
+seven following the Simpleton and the goose.
+
+By and by they came to a town where a king reigned, who had an only
+daughter who was so serious that no one could make her laugh; therefore
+the king had given out that whoever should make her laugh should have
+her in marriage. The Simpleton, when he heard this, went with his goose
+and his hangers-on into the presence of the king's daughter, and as soon
+as she saw the seven people following always one after the other, she
+burst out laughing, and seemed as if she could never stop. And so the
+Simpleton earned a right to her as his bride; but the king did not like
+him for a son-in-law and made all kinds of objections, and said he must
+first bring a man who could drink up a whole cellar of wine. The
+Simpleton thought that the little grey man would be able to help him,
+and went out into the forest, and there, on the very spot where he
+felled the tree, he saw a man sitting with a very sad countenance. The
+Simpleton asked him what was the matter, and he answered,
+
+"I have a great thirst, which I cannot quench: cold water does not agree
+with me; I have indeed drunk up a whole cask of wine, but what good is a
+drop like that?"
+
+Then said the Simpleton,
+
+"I can help you; only come with me, and you shall have enough."
+
+He took him straight to the king's cellar, and the man sat himself down
+before the big vats, and drank, and drank, and before a day was over he
+had drunk up the whole cellar-full. The Simpleton again asked for his
+bride, but the king was annoyed that a wretched fellow, called the
+Simpleton by everybody, should carry off his daughter, and so he made
+new conditions. He was to produce a man who could eat up a mountain of
+bread. The Simpleton did not hesitate long, but ran quickly off to the
+forest, and there in the same place sat a man who had fastened a strap
+round his body, making a very piteous face, and saying,
+
+"I have eaten a whole bakehouse full of rolls, but what is the use of
+that when one is so hungry as I am? My stomach feels quite empty, and I
+am obliged to strap myself together, that I may not die of hunger."
+
+The Simpleton was quite glad of this, and said,
+
+"Get up quickly, and come along with me, and you shall have enough to
+eat."
+
+He led him straight to the king's courtyard, where all the meal in the
+kingdom had been collected and baked into a mountain of bread. The man
+out of the forest settled himself down before it and hastened to eat,
+and in one day the whole mountain had disappeared.
+
+Then the Simpleton asked for his bride the third time. The king,
+however, found one more excuse, and said he must have a ship that should
+be able to sail on land or on water.
+
+"So soon," said he, "as you come sailing along with it, you shall have
+my daughter for your wife."
+
+The Simpleton went straight to the forest, and there sat the little old
+grey man with whom he had shared his cake, and he said,
+
+"I have eaten for you, and I have drunk for you, I will also give you
+the ship; and all because you were kind to me at the first."
+
+Then he gave him the ship that could sail on land and on water, and when
+the king saw it he knew he could no longer withhold his daughter. The
+marriage took place immediately, and at the death of the king the
+Simpleton possessed the kingdom, and lived long and happily with his
+wife.
+
+____________________
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+There are 225 illustrations and illustrated drop-caps in the original
+book. In this text version, I have only indicated those illustrations
+having captions. The html version contains many beautiful and intricate
+drawings and woodcuts.
+
+There are several inconsistencies in hyphenation. The following words
+appear in the text both with and without a hyphen: bed-chamber,
+bed-time, egg-shell, god-father, house-door, in-doors, mill-stone,
+sea-side, step-mother, up-stairs.
+
+I have changed or added wrong or missing punctuation in the following
+phrases:
+
+ --"Little sister, let me out, I must go[added .]"
+
+ --stood a maiden more beautiful than any he had seen before[added .]
+
+ --put a cap on her, and laid her in the bed in the Queen's place.
+ [changed . to ,]
+
+ --So Kate went, and she thought to herself.[changed . to ,]
+
+ --as it weighed upon her heavily, she thought it must be the the
+ [deleted repeated word] dried apples, and she said,
+
+ --neck is in danger'[changed ' to ? and added "] answered the cat.
+
+ --"Father, let me go for once into the forest to cut wood;[added "]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm, by
+Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOUSEHOLD STORIES ***
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