diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:25:19 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:25:19 -0700 |
| commit | 53a232fbd97160255d310753ab488ad9195e38d2 (patch) | |
| tree | 3047fc921c50187967c28f309edb56c0daa0091d /5314-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '5314-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 5314-h/5314-h.htm | 28992 |
1 files changed, 28992 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/5314-h/5314-h.htm b/5314-h/5314-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d1cd5d --- /dev/null +++ b/5314-h/5314-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,28992 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Household Tales by Brothers Grimm, by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify } + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 175%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +h3 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: 90%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Household Tales by Brothers Grimm, by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Household Tales by Brothers Grimm</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: Margaret Hunt</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March, 2004 [eBook #5314]<br /> +[Most recently updated: March 1, 2022]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Veronica LeGrow, Katie Nicholson, Erin Shea, David Baird, David Skinner, all undergraduates at Memorial University of Newfoundland, William Barker and Leon Kuperman</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOUSEHOLD TALES BY BROTHERS GRIMM ***</div> + +<h1>Household Tales by Brothers Grimm</h1> + +<h2>by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm</h2> + +<h3> +Translated by Margaret Hunt +</h3> + +<hr /> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + +<table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">1 The Frog King, or Iron Henry (Der Froschkönig oder der eiserne Heinrich)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">2 Cat and Mouse in Partnership (Katze und Maus in Gesellschaft)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">3 Our Lady’s Child (Marienkind)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">4 The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was (Märchen von einem, der auszog, das Fürchten zu lernen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">5 The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids (Der Wolf und die sieben jungen Geißlein)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">6 Faithful John (Der treue Johannes)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">7 The Good Bargain (Der gute Handel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">8 The Strange Musician (Der wunderliche Spielmann)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">9 The Twelve Brothers (Die zwölf Brüder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">10 The Pack of Ragamuffins (Das Lumpengesindel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">11 Little Brother and Little Sister (Brüderchen und Schwesterchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">12 Rapunzel (Rapunzel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap13">13 The Three Little Men in the Forest (Die drei Männlein im Walde)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap14">14 The Three Spinning Women (Die drei Spinnerinnen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap15">15 Hansel and Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap16">16 The Three Snake-Leaves (Die drei Schlangenblätter)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap17">17 The White Snake (Die weiße Schlange)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap18">18 Straw, Coal, and Bean (Strohhalm, Kohle und Bohne)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap19">19 The Fisherman and His Wife (Von dem Fischer un syner Fru)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap20">20 The Brave Little Tailor (Das tapfere Schneiderlein)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap21">21 Cinderella (Aschenputtel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap22">22 The Riddle (Das Rätsel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap23">23 The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage (Von dem Mäuschen, Vögelchen und der Bratwurst)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap24">24 Frau Holle (Frau Holle)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap25">25 The Seven Ravens (Die sieben Raben)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap26">26 Little Red-Cap (Rotkäppchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap27">27 The Bremen Town Musicians (Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap28">28 The Singing Bone (Der singende Knochen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap29">29 The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (Der Teufel mit den drei goldenen Haaren)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap30">30 Little Louse and Little Flea (Läuschen und Flöhchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap31">31 The Girl without Hands (Das Mädchen ohne Hände)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap32">32 Clever Hans (Der gescheite Hans)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap33">33 The Three Languages (Die drei Sprachen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap34">34 Clever Elsie (Die kluge Else)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap35">35 The Tailor in Heaven (Der Schneider im Himmel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap36">36 The Wishing-table, the Gold-ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack (Tischchendeckdich, Goldesel und Knüppel aus dem Sack)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap37">37 Thumbling (Daumesdick)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap38">38 The Wedding of Mrs. Fox (Die Hochzeit der Frau Füchsin)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap39">39 The Elves (Die Wichtelmänner)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap40">40 The Robber Bridegroom (Der Räuberbräutigam)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap41">41 Herr Korbes (Herr Korbes)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap42">42 The Godfather (Der Herr Gevatter)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap43">43 Frau Trude (Frau Trude)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap44">44 Godfather Death (Der Gevatter Tod)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap45">45 Thumbling as Journeyman [Thumbling’s Travels] (Daumerlings Wanderschaft)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap46">46 Fitcher’s Bird [Fowler’s Fowl] (Fitchers Vogel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap47">47 The Juniper-Tree (Von dem Machandelboom)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap48">48 Old Sultan (Der alte Sultan)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap49">49 The Six Swans (Die sechs Schwäne)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap50">50 Little Briar-Rose (Dornröschen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap51">51 Foundling-Bird (Fundevogel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap52">52 King Thrushbeard (König Drosselbart)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap53">53 Little Snow-White (Sneewittchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap54">54 The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn (Der Ranzen, das Hütlein und das Hörnlein)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap55">55 Rumpelstiltskin (Rumpelstilzchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap56">56 Sweetheart Roland (Der Liebste Roland)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap57">57 The Golden Bird (Der goldene Vogel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap58">58 The Dog and the Sparrow (Der Hund und der Sperling)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap59">59 Frederick and Catherine (Der Frieder und das Catherlieschen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap60">60 The Two Brothers (Die zwei Brüder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap61">61 The Little Peasant (Das Bürle)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap62">62 The Queen Bee (Die Bienenkönigin)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap63">63 The Three Feathers (Die drei Federn)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap64">64 The Golden Goose (Die goldene Gans)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap65">65 Allerleirauh [All-Kinds-Of-Fur] (Allerleirauh)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap66">66 The Hare’s Bride (Häsichenbraut)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap67">67 The Twelve Huntsmen (Die zwölf Jäger)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap68">68 The Thief and His Master (De Gaudeif un sien Meester)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap69">69 Jorinde and Joringel (Jorinde und Joringel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap70">70 The Three Children of Fortune (Die drei Glückskinder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap71">71 How Six Men Got On in the World (Sechse kommen durch die ganze Welt)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap72">72 The Wolf and the Man (Der Wolf und der Mensch)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap73">73 The Wolf and the Fox (Der Wolf und der Fuchs)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap74">74 The Fox and His Cousin (Der Fuchs und die Frau Gevatterin)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap75">75 The Fox and the Cat (Der Fuchs und die Katze)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap76">76 The Pink (Die Nelke)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap77">77 Clever Grethel (Das kluge Gretel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap78">78 The Old Man and His Grandson (Der alte Großvater und der Enkel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap70">79 The Water-Nix (Die Wassernixe)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap80">80 The Death of the Little Hen (Von dem Tode des Hühnchens)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap81">81 Brother Lustig (Bruder Lustig)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap82">82 Gambling Hansel (De Spielhansl)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap83">83 Hans in Luck (Hans im Glück)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap84">84 Hans Married (Hans heiratet)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap85">85 The Gold-Children (Die Goldkinder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap86">86 The Fox and the Geese (Der Fuchs und die Gänse)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap87">87 The Poor Man and the Rich Man (Der Arme und der Reiche)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap88">88 The Singing, Springing Lark (Das singende springende Löweneckerchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap89">89 The Goose-Girl (Die Gänsemagd)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap90">90 The Young Giant (Der junge Riese)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap91">91 The Gnome (Dat Erdmänneken)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap92">92 The King of the Golden Mountain (Der König vom goldenen Berg)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap93">93 The Raven (Die Rabe)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap94">94 The Peasant’s Clever Daughter (Die kluge Bauerntochter)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap95">95 Old Hildebrand (Der alte Hildebrand)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap96">96 The Three Little Birds (De drei Vügelkens)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap97">97 The Water of Life (Das Wasser des Lebens)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap98">98 Dr. Know-All (Doktor Allwissend)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap99">99 The Spirit in the Bottle (Der Geist im Glas)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap100">100 The Devil’s Sooty Brother (Des Teufels rußiger Bruder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap101">101 Bearskin (Der Bärenhäuter)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap102">102 The Willow-Wren and the Bear (Der Zaunkönig und der Bär)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap103">103 Sweet Porridge (Der süße Brei)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap104">104 Wise Folks (Die klugen Leute)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap105">105 Stories about Snakes (Märchen von der Unke)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap106">106 The Poor Miller’s Boy and the Cat (Der arme Müllerbursch und das Kätzchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap107">107 The Two Travellers (Die beiden Wanderer)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap108">108 Hans the Hedgehog (Hans mein Igel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap109">109 The Shroud (Das Totenhemdchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap110">110 The Jew among Thorns (Der Jude im Dorn)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap111">111 The Skilful Huntsman (Der gelernte Jäger)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap112">112 The Flail from Heaven (Der Dreschflegel vom Himmel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap113">113 The Two Kings’ Children (De beiden Künigeskinner)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap114">114 The Cunning Little Tailor (Vom klugen Schneiderlein)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap115">115 The Bright Sun Brings It to Light (Die klare Sonne bringt’s an den Tag)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap116">116 The Blue Light (Das blaue Licht)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap117">117 The Wilful Child (Das eigensinnige Kind)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap118">118 The Three Army Surgeons (Die drei Feldscherer)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap119">119 The Seven Swabians (Die sieben Schwaben)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap120">120 The Three Apprentices (Die drei Handwerksburschen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap121">121 The King’s Son Who Feared Nothing (Der Königssohn, der sich vor nichts fürchtet)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap122">122 Donkey Cabbages (Der Krautesel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap123">123 The Old Woman in the Wood (Die Alte im Wald)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap124">124 The Three Brothers (Die drei Brüder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap125">125 The Devil and His Grandmother (Der Teufel und seine Großmutter)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap126">126 Ferdinand the Faithful (Ferenand getrü un Ferenand ungetrü)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap127">127 The Iron Stove (Der Eisenofen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap128">128 The Lazy Spinner (Die faule Spinnerin)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap129">129 The Four Skilful Brothers (Die vier kunstreichen Brüder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap130">130 One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes (Einäuglein, Zweiäuglein und Dreiäuglein)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap131">131 Fair Katrinelje and Pif Paf Poltrie (Die schöne Katrinelje und Pif Paf Poltrie)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap132">132 The Fox and the Horse (Der Fuchs und das Pferd)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap133">133 The Shoes that Were Danced to Pieces (Die zertanzten Schuhe)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap134">134 The Six Servants (Die sechs Diener)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap135">135 The White Bride and the Black One (Die weiße und die schwarze Braut)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap136">136 Iron John (Der Eisenhans)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap137">137 The Three Black Princesses (De drei schwatten Prinzessinnen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap138">138 Knoist and His Three Sons (Knoist un sine dre Sühne)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap139">139 The Maid of Brakel (Dat Mäken von Brakel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap140">140 Domestic Servants (Das Hausgesinde)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap141">141 The Lambkin and the Little Fish (Das Lämmchen und Fischchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap142">142 Simeli Mountain (Simeliberg)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap143">143 Going A-Travelling (Up Reisen gohn)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap144">144 The Donkey (Das Eselein)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap145">145 The Ungrateful Son (Der undankbare Sohn)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap146">146 The Turnip (Die Rübe)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap147">147 The Old Man Made Young Again (Das junggeglühte Männlein)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap148">148 The Lord’s Animals and the Devil’s (Des Herrn und des Teufels Getier)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap149">149 The Beam (Der Hahnenbalken)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap150">150 The Old Beggar-Woman (Die alte Bettelfrau)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap151">151 The Three Sluggards (Die drei Faulen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap151a">151* The Twelve Idle Servants (Die zwölf faulen Knechte)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap152">152 The Shepherd Boy (Das Hirtenbüblein)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap153">153 The Star-Money (Die Sterntaler)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap154">154 The Stolen Farthings (Der gestohlene Heller)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap155">155 Brides on their Trial (Die Brautschau)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap156">156 Odds and Ends (Die Schlickerlinge)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap157">157 The Sparrow and His Four Children (Der Sperling und seine vier Kinder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap158">158 The Story of Schlauraffen Land [The Tale of Cockaigne] (Das Märchen vom Schlauraffenland)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap159">159 The Ditmarsh Tale of Wonders (Das Diethmarsische Lügenmärchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap160">160 A Riddling Tale (Rätselmärchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap161">161 Snow-White and Rose-Red (Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap162">162 The Wise Servant (Der kluge Knecht)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap163">163 The Glass Coffin (Der gläserne Sarg)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap164">164 Lazy Harry (Der faule Heinz)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap165">165 The Griffin (Der Vogel Greif)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap166">166 Strong Hans (Der starke Hans)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap167">167 The Peasant in Heaven (Das Bürle im Himmel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap168">168 Lean Lisa (Die hagere Liese)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap169">169 The Hut in the Forest (Das Waldhaus)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap170">170 Sharing Joy and Sorrow (Lieb und Leid teilen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap171">171 The Willow-Wren (Der Zaunkönig)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap172">172 The Sole [The Flounder] (Die Scholle)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap173">173 The Bittern and Hoopoe (Rohrdommel und Wiedehopf)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap174">174 The Owl (Die Eule)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap175">175 The Moon (Der Mond)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap176">176 The Duration of Life (Die Lebenszeit)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap177">177 Death’s Messengers (Die Boten des Todes)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap178">178 Master Pfriem (Meister Pfriem)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap179">179 The Goose-Girl at the Well (Die Gänsehirtin am Brunnen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap180">180 Eve’s Various Children (Die ungleichen Kinder Evas)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap181">181 The Nixie of the Mill-Pond (Die Nixe im Teich)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap182">182 The Little Folks’ Presents (Die Geschenke des kleinen Volkes)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap183">183 The Giant and the Tailor (Der Riese und der Schneider)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap184">184 The Nail (Der Nagel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap185">185 The Poor Boy in the Grave (Der arme Junge im Grab)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap186">186 The True Sweetheart [The True Bride] (Die wahre Braut)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap187">187 The Hare and the Hedgehog (Der Hase und der Igel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap188">188 The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle (Spindel, Weberschiffchen und Nadel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap189">189 The Peasant and the Devil (Der Bauer und der Teufel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap190">190 The Crumbs on the Table (Die Brosamen auf dem Tisch)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap191">191 The Sea-Hare (Das Meerhäschen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap192">192 The Master Thief (Der Meisterdieb)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap193">193 The Drummer (Der Trommler)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap194">194 The Ear of Corn (Die Kornähre)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap195">195 The Grave Mound (Der Grabhügel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap196">196 Old Rinkrank (Oll Rinkrank)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap197">197 The Crystal Ball (Die Kristallkugel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap198">198 Maid Maleen (Jungfrau Maleen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap199">199 The Boot of Buffalo Leather (Der Stiefel von Büffelleder)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap200">200 The Golden Key (Der goldene Schlüssel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap201">Children’s Legends</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap202">Legend 1 St. Joseph in the Forest (Der heilige Joseph im Walde)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap203">Legend 2 The Twelve Apostles (Die zwölf Apostel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap204">Legend 3 The Rose (Die Rose)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap205">Legend 4 Poverty and Humility Lead to Heaven (Armut und Demut führen zum Himmel)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap206">Legend 5 God’s Food (Gottes Speise)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap207">Legend 6 The Three Green Twigs (Die drei grünen Zweige)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap208">Legend 7 Our Lady’s Little Glass (Muttergottesgläschen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap209">Legend 8 The Aged Mother (Die alte Mütterchen)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap210">Legend 9 The Heavenly Wedding (Die himmlische Hochzeit)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap211">Legend 10 The Hazel Branch (Die Haselrute)</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap01"></a>1 The Frog-King, or Iron Henry</h3> + +<p> +In old times when wishing still helped one, there lived a king whose daughters +were all beautiful, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun itself, +which has seen so much, was astonished whenever it shone in her face. Close by +the King’s castle lay a great dark forest, and under an old lime-tree in +the forest was a well, and when the day was very warm, the King’s child +went out into the forest and sat down by the side of the cool fountain, and +when she was dull she took a golden ball, and threw it up on high and caught +it, and this ball was her favorite plaything. +</p> + +<p> +Now it so happened that on one occasion the princess’s golden ball did +not fall into the little hand which she was holding up for it, but on to the +ground beyond, and rolled straight into the water. The King’s daughter +followed it with her eyes, but it vanished, and the well was deep, so deep that +the bottom could not be seen. On this she began to cry, and cried louder and +louder, and could not be comforted. And as she thus lamented some one said to +her, “What ails thee, King’s daughter? Thou weepest so that even a +stone would show pity.” She looked round to the side from whence the +voice came, and saw a frog stretching forth its thick, ugly head from the +water. “Ah! old water-splasher, is it thou?” said she; “I am +weeping for my golden ball, which has fallen into the well.” +</p> + +<p> +“Be quiet, and do not weep,” answered the frog, “I can help +thee, but what wilt thou give me if I bring thy plaything up again?” +“Whatever thou wilt have, dear frog,” said she—“My +clothes, my pearls and jewels, and even the golden crown which I am +wearing.” +</p> + +<p> +The frog answered, “I do not care for thy clothes, thy pearls and jewels, +or thy golden crown, but if thou wilt love me and let me be thy companion and +play-fellow, and sit by thee at thy little table, and eat off thy little golden +plate, and drink out of thy little cup, and sleep in thy little bed—if +thou wilt promise me this I will go down below, and bring thee thy golden ball +up again.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh yes,” said she, “I promise thee all thou wishest, if thou +wilt but bring me my ball back again.” She, however, thought, “How +the silly frog does talk! He lives in the water with the other frogs, and +croaks, and can be no companion to any human being!” +</p> + +<p> +But the frog when he had received this promise, put his head into the water and +sank down, and in a short while came swimmming up again with the ball in his +mouth, and threw it on the grass. The King’s daughter was delighted to +see her pretty plaything once more, and picked it up, and ran away with it. +“Wait, wait,” said the frog. “Take me with thee. I +can’t run as thou canst.” But what did it avail him to scream his +croak, croak, after her, as loudly as he could? She did not listen to it, but +ran home and soon forgot the poor frog, who was forced to go back into his well +again. +</p> + +<p> +The next day when she had seated herself at table with the King and all the +courtiers, and was eating from her little golden plate, something came creeping +splish splash, splish splash, up the marble staircase, and when it had got to +the top, it knocked at the door and cried, “Princess, youngest princess, +open the door for me.” She ran to see who was outside, but when she +opened the door, there sat the frog in front of it. Then she slammed the door +to, in great haste, sat down to dinner again, and was quite frightened. The +King saw plainly that her heart was beating violently, and said, “My +child, what art thou so afraid of? Is there perchance a giant outside who wants +to carry thee away?” “Ah, no,” replied she. “It is no +giant but a disgusting frog.” +</p> + +<p> +“What does a frog want with thee?” “Ah, dear father, +yesterday as I was in the forest sitting by the well, playing, my golden ball +fell into the water. And because I cried so, the frog brought it out again for +me, and because he so insisted, I promised him he should be my companion, but I +never thought he would be able to come out of his water! And now he is outside +there, and wants to come in to me.” +</p> + +<p> +In the meantime it knocked a second time, and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Princess! youngest princess!<br/> +Open the door for me!<br/> +Dost thou not know what thou saidst to me<br/> +Yesterday by the cool waters of the fountain?<br/> +Princess, youngest princess!<br/> +Open the door for me!” +</p> + +<p> +Then said the King, “That which thou hast promised must thou perform. Go +and let him in.” She went and opened the door, and the frog hopped in and +followed her, step by step, to her chair. There he sat and cried, “Lift +me up beside thee.” She delayed, until at last the King commanded her to +do it. When the frog was once on the chair he wanted to be on the table, and +when he was on the table he said, “Now, push thy little golden plate +nearer to me that we may eat together.” She did this, but it was easy to +see that she did not do it willingly. The frog enjoyed what he ate, but almost +every mouthful she took choked her. At length he said, “I have eaten and +am satisfied; now I am tired, carry me into thy little room and make thy little +silken bed ready, and we will both lie down and go to sleep.” +</p> + +<p> +The King’s daughter began to cry, for she was afraid of the cold frog +which she did not like to touch, and which was now to sleep in her pretty, +clean little bed. But the King grew angry and said, “He who helped thee +when thou wert in trouble ought not afterwards to be despised by thee.” +So she took hold of the frog with two fingers, carried him upstairs, and put +him in a corner. But when she was in bed he crept to her and said, “I am +tired, I want to sleep as well as thou, lift me up or I will tell thy +father.” Then she was terribly angry, and took him up and threw him with +all her might against the wall. “Now, thou wilt be quiet, odious +frog,” said she. But when he fell down he was no frog but a King’s +son with beautiful kind eyes. He by her father’s will was now her dear +companion and husband. Then he told her how he had been bewitched by a wicked +witch, and how no one could have delivered him from the well but herself, and +that to-morrow they would go together into his kingdom. Then they went to +sleep, and next morning when the sun awoke them, a carriage came driving up +with eight white horses, which had white ostrich feathers on their heads, and +were harnessed with golden chains, and behind stood the young King’s +servant Faithful Henry. Faithful Henry had been so unhappy when his master was +changed into a frog, that he had caused three iron bands to be laid round his +heart, lest it should burst with grief and sadness. The carriage was to conduct +the young King into his Kingdom. Faithful Henry helped them both in, and placed +himself behind again, and was full of joy because of this deliverance. And when +they had driven a part of the way the King’s son heard a cracking behind +him as if something had broken. So he turned round and cried, “Henry, the +carriage is breaking.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, master, it is not the carriage. It is a band from my heart, which +was put there in my great pain when you were a frog and imprisoned in the +well.” Again and once again while they were on their way something +cracked, and each time the King’s son thought the carriage was breaking; +but it was only the bands which were springing from the heart of faithful Henry +because his master was set free and was happy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap02"></a>2 Cat and Mouse in Partnership</h3> + +<p> +A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her +about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse +agreed that they should live and keep house together. “But we must make a +provision for winter, or else we shall suffer from hunger,” said the cat, +“and you, little mouse, cannot venture everywhere, or you will be caught +in a trap some day.” The good advice was followed, and a pot of fat was +bought, but they did not know where to put it. At length, after much +consideration, the cat said, “I know no place where it will be better +stored up than in the church, for no one dares take anything away from there. +We will set it beneath the altar, and not touch it until we are really in need +of it.” So the pot was placed in safety, but it was not long before the +cat had a great yearning for it, and said to the mouse, “I want to tell +you something, little mouse; my cousin has brought a little son into the world, +and has asked me to be godmother; he is white with brown spots, and I am to +hold him over the font at the christening. Let me go out to-day, and you look +after the house by yourself.” “Yes, yes,” answered the mouse, +“by all means go, and if you get anything very good, think of me, I +should like a drop of sweet red christening wine too.” All this, however, +was untrue; the cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She +went straight to the church, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it, and +licked the top of the fat off. Then she took a walk upon the roofs of the town, +looked out for opportunities, and then stretched herself in the sun, and licked +her lips whenever she thought of the pot of fat, and not until it was evening +did she return home. “Well, here you are again,” said the mouse, +“no doubt you have had a merry day.” “All went off +well,” answered the cat. “What name did they give the child?” +“Top off!” said the cat quite coolly. “Top off!” cried +the mouse, “that is a very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one in +your family?” “What does it signify,” said the cat, “it +is no worse than Crumb-stealer, as your god-children are called.” +</p> + +<p> +Before long the cat was seized by another fit of longing. She said to the +mouse, “You must do me a favour, and once more manage the house for a day +alone. I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has a white ring +round its neck, I cannot refuse.” The good mouse consented, but the cat +crept behind the town walls to the church, and devoured half the pot of fat. +“Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to oneself,” said +she, and was quite satisfied with her day’s work. When she went home the +mouse inquired, “And what was this child christened?” +“Half-done,” answered the cat. “Half-done! What are you +saying? I never heard the name in my life, I’ll wager anything it is not +in the calendar!” +</p> + +<p> +The cat’s mouth soon began to water for some more licking. “All +good things go in threes,” said she, “I am asked to stand godmother +again. The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but with that +exception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body; this only happens +once every few years, you will let me go, won’t you?” +“Top-off! Half-done!” answered the mouse, “they are such odd +names, they make me very thoughtful.” “You sit at home,” said +the cat, “in your dark-grey fur coat and long tail, and are filled with +fancies, that’s because you do not go out in the daytime.” During +the cat’s absence the mouse cleaned the house, and put it in order but +the greedy cat entirely emptied the pot of fat. “When everything is eaten +up one has some peace,” said she to herself, and well filled and fat she +did not return home till night. The mouse at once asked what name had been +given to the third child. “It will not please you more than the +others,” said the cat. “He is called All-gone.” +“All-gone,” cried the mouse, “that is the most suspicious +name of all! I have never seen it in print. All-gone; what can that +mean?” and she shook her head, curled herself up, and lay down to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +From this time forth no one invited the cat to be god-mother, but when the +winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found outside, the mouse +thought of their provision, and said, “Come cat, we will go to our pot of +fat which we have stored up for ourselves—we shall enjoy that.” +“Yes,” answered the cat, “you will enjoy it as much as you +would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the window.” They +set out on their way, but when they arrived, the pot of fat certainly was still +in its place, but it was empty. “Alas!” said the mouse, “now +I see what has happened, now it comes to light! You are a true friend! You have +devoured all when you were standing godmother. First top off, then half done, +then—.” “Will you hold your tongue,” cried the cat, +“one word more and I will eat you too.” “All gone” was +already on the poor mouse’s lips; scarcely had she spoken it before the +cat sprang on her, seized her, and swallowed her down. Verily, that is the way +of the world. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap03"></a>3 Our Lady’s Child</h3> + +<p> +Hard by a great forest dwelt a wood-cutter with his wife, who had an only +child, a little girl three years old. They were so poor, however, that they no +longer had daily bread, and did not know how to get food for her. One morning +the wood-cutter went out sorrowfully to his work in the forest, and while he +was cutting wood, suddenly there stood before him a tall and beautiful woman +with a crown of shining stars on her head, who said to him, “I am the +Virgin Mary, mother of the child Jesus. Thou art poor and needy, bring thy +child to me, I will take her with me and be her mother, and care for +her.” The wood-cutter obeyed, brought his child, and gave her to the +Virgin Mary, who took her up to heaven with her. There the child fared well, +ate sugar-cakes, and drank sweet milk, and her clothes were of gold, and the +little angels played with her. And when she was fourteen years of age, the +Virgin Mary called her one day and said, “Dear child, I am about to make +a long journey, so take into thy keeping the keys of the thirteen doors of +heaven. Twelve of these thou mayest open, and behold the glory which is within +them, but the thirteenth, to which this little key belongs, is forbidden thee. +Beware of opening it, or thou wilt bring misery on thyself.” The girl +promised to be obedient, and when the Virgin Mary was gone, she began to +examine the dwellings of the kingdom of heaven. Each day she opened one of +them, until she had made the round of the twelve. In each of them sat one of +the Apostles in the midst of a great light, and she rejoiced in all the +magnificence and splendour, and the little angels who always accompanied her +rejoiced with her. Then the forbidden door alone remained, and she felt a great +desire to know what could be hidden behind it, and said to the angels, “I +will not quite open it, and I will not go inside it, but I will unlock it so +that we can just see a little through the opening.” “Oh no,” +said the little angels, “that would be a sin. The Virgin Mary has +forbidden it, and it might easily cause thy unhappiness.” Then she was +silent, but the desire in her heart was not stilled, but gnawed there and +tormented her, and let her have no rest. And once when the angels had all gone +out, she thought, “Now I am quite alone, and I could peep in. If I do it, +no one will ever know.” She sought out the key, and when she had got it +in her hand, she put it in the lock, and when she had put it in, she turned it +round as well. Then the door sprang open, and she saw there the Trinity sitting +in fire and splendour. She stayed there awhile, and looked at everything in +amazement; then she touched the light a little with her finger, and her finger +became quite golden. Immediately a great fear fell on her. She shut the door +violently, and ran away. Her terror too would not quit her, let her do what she +might, and her heart beat continually and would not be still; the gold too +stayed on her finger, and would not go away, let her rub it and wash it never +so much. +</p> + +<p> +It was not long before the Virgin Mary came back from her journey. She called +the girl before her, and asked to have the keys of heaven back. When the maiden +gave her the bunch, the Virgin looked into her eyes and said, “Hast thou +not opened the thirteenth door also?” “No,” she replied. Then +she laid her hand on the girl’s heart, and felt how it beat and beat, and +saw right well that she had disobeyed her order and had opened the door. Then +she said once again, “Art thou certain that thou hast not done it?” +“Yes,” said the girl, for the second time. Then she perceived the +finger which had become golden from touching the fire of heaven, and saw well +that the child had sinned, and said for the third time “Hast thou not +done it?” “No,” said the girl for the third time. Then said +the Virgin Mary, “Thou hast not obeyed me, and besides that thou hast +lied, thou art no longer worthy to be in heaven.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the girl fell into a deep sleep, and when she awoke she lay on the earth +below, and in the midst of a wilderness. She wanted to cry out, but she could +bring forth no sound. She sprang up and wanted to run away, but whithersoever +she turned herself, she was continually held back by thick hedges of thorns +through which she could not break. In the desert, in which she was imprisoned, +there stood an old hollow tree, and this had to be her dwelling-place. Into +this she crept when night came, and here she slept. Here, too, she found a +shelter from storm and rain, but it was a miserable life, and bitterly did she +weep when she remembered how happy she had been in heaven, and how the angels +had played with her. Roots and wild berries were her only food, and for these +she sought as far as she could go. In the autumn she picked up the fallen nuts +and leaves, and carried them into the hole. The nuts were her food in winter, +and when snow and ice came, she crept amongst the leaves like a poor little +animal that she might not freeze. Before long her clothes were all torn, and +one bit of them after another fell off her. As soon, however, as the sun shone +warm again, she went out and sat in front of the tree, and her long hair +covered her on all sides like a mantle. Thus she sat year after year, and felt +the pain and the misery of the world. One day, when the trees were once more +clothed in fresh green, the King of the country was hunting in the forest, and +followed a roe, and as it had fled into the thicket which shut in this part of +the forest, he got off his horse, tore the bushes asunder, and cut himself a +path with his sword. When he had at last forced his way through, he saw a +wonderfully beautiful maiden sitting under the tree; and she sat there and was +entirely covered with her golden hair down to her very feet. He stood still and +looked at her full of surprise, then he spoke to her and said, “Who art +thou? Why art thou sitting here in the wilderness?” But she gave no +answer, for she could not open her mouth. The King continued, “Wilt thou +go with me to my castle?” Then she just nodded her head a little. The +King took her in his arms, carried her to his horse, and rode home with her, +and when he reached the royal castle he caused her to be dressed in beautiful +garments, and gave her all things in abundance. Although she could not speak, +she was still so beautiful and charming that he began to love her with all his +heart, and it was not long before he married her. +</p> + +<p> +After a year or so had passed, the Queen brought a son into the world. +Thereupon the Virgin Mary appeared to her in the night when she lay in her bed +alone, and said, “If thou wilt tell the truth and confess that thou didst +unlock the forbidden door, I will open thy mouth and give thee back thy speech, +but if thou perseverest in thy sin, and deniest obstinately, I will take thy +new-born child away with me.” Then the queen was permitted to answer, but +she remained hard, and said, “No, I did not open the forbidden +door;” and the Virgin Mary took the new-born child from her arms, and +vanished with it. Next morning when the child was not to be found, it was +whispered among the people that the Queen was a man-eater, and had killed her +own child. She heard all this and could say nothing to the contrary, but the +King would not believe it, for he loved her so much. +</p> + +<p> +When a year had gone by the Queen again bore a son, and in the night the Virgin +Mary again came to her, and said, “If thou wilt confess that thou +openedst the forbidden door, I will give thee thy child back and untie thy +tongue; but if you continuest in sin and deniest it, I will take away with me +this new child also.” Then the Queen again said, “No, I did not +open the forbidden door;” and the Virgin took the child out of her arms, +and away with her to heaven. Next morning, when this child also had +disappeared, the people declared quite loudly that the Queen had devoured it, +and the King’s councillors demanded that she should be brought to +justice. The King, however, loved her so dearly that he would not believe it, +and commanded the councillors under pain of death not to say any more about it. +</p> + +<p> +The following year the Queen gave birth to a beautiful little daughter, and for +the third time the Virgin Mary appeared to her in the night and said, +“Follow me.” She took the Queen by the hand and led her to heaven, +and showed her there her two eldest children, who smiled at her, and were +playing with the ball of the world. When the Queen rejoiced thereat, the Virgin +Mary said, “Is thy heart not yet softened? If thou wilt own that thou +openedst the forbidden door, I will give thee back thy two little sons.” +But for the third time the Queen answered, “No, I did not open the +forbidden door.” Then the Virgin let her sink down to earth once more, +and took from her likewise her third child. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning, when the loss was reported abroad, all the people cried loudly, +“The Queen is a man-eater. She must be judged,” and the King was no +longer able to restrain his councillors. Thereupon a trial was held, and as she +could not answer, and defend herself, she was condemned to be burnt alive. The +wood was got together, and when she was fast bound to the stake, and the fire +began to burn round about her, the hard ice of pride melted, her heart was +moved by repentance, and she thought, “If I could but confess before my +death that I opened the door.” Then her voice came back to her, and she +cried out loudly, “Yes, Mary, I did it;” and straight-way rain fell +from the sky and extinguished the flames of fire, and a light broke forth above +her, and the Virgin Mary descended with the two little sons by her side, and +the new-born daughter in her arms. She spoke kindly to her, and said, “He +who repents his sin and acknowledges it, is forgiven.” Then she gave her +the three children, untied her tongue, and granted her happiness for her whole +life. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap04"></a>4 The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What +Fear Was</h3> + +<p> +A certain father had two sons, the elder of whom was smart and sensible, and +could do everything, but the younger was stupid and could neither learn nor +understand anything, and when people saw him they said, “There’s a +fellow who will give his father some trouble!” When anything had to be +done, it was always the elder who was forced to do it; but if his father bade +him fetch anything when it was late, or in the night-time, and the way led +through the churchyard, or any other dismal place, he answered “Oh, no, +father, I’ll not go there, it makes me shudder!” for he was afraid. +Or when stories were told by the fire at night which made the flesh creep, the +listeners sometimes said “Oh, it makes us shudder!” The younger sat +in a corner and listened with the rest of them, and could not imagine what they +could mean. “They are always saying ‘it makes me shudder, it makes +me shudder!’ It does not make me shudder,” thought he. “That, +too, must be an art of which I understand nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +Now it came to pass that his father said to him one day “Hearken to me, +thou fellow in the corner there, thou art growing tall and strong, and thou too +must learn something by which thou canst earn thy living. Look how thy brother +works, but thou dost not even earn thy salt.” “Well, father,” +he replied, “I am quite willing to learn something—indeed, if it +could but be managed, I should like to learn how to shudder. I don’t +understand that at all yet.” The elder brother smiled when he heard that, +and thought to himself, “Good God, what a blockhead that brother of mine +is! He will never be good for anything as long as he lives. He who wants to be +a sickle must bend himself betimes.” +</p> + +<p> +The father sighed, and answered him “thou shalt soon learn what it is to +shudder, but thou wilt not earn thy bread by that.” +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit, and the father +bewailed his trouble, and told him how his younger son was so backward in every +respect that he knew nothing and learnt nothing. “Just think,” said +he, “when I asked him how he was going to earn his bread, he actually +wanted to learn to shudder.” “If that be all,” replied the +sexton, “he can learn that with me. Send him to me, and I will soon +polish him.” The father was glad to do it, for he thought, “It will +train the boy a little.” The sexton therefore took him into his house, +and he had to ring the bell. After a day or two, the sexton awoke him at +midnight, and bade him arise and go up into the church tower and ring the bell. +“Thou shalt soon learn what shuddering is,” thought he, and +secretly went there before him; and when the boy was at the top of the tower +and turned round, and was just going to take hold of the bell rope, he saw a +white figure standing on the stairs opposite the sounding hole. “Who is +there?” cried he, but the figure made no reply, and did not move or stir. +“Give an answer,” cried the boy, “or take thy self off, thou +hast no business here at night.” +</p> + +<p> +The sexton, however, remained standing motionless that the boy might think he +was a ghost. The boy cried a second time, “What do you want +here?—speak if thou art an honest fellow, or I will throw thee down the +steps!” The sexton thought, “he can’t intend to be as bad as +his words,” uttered no sound and stood as if he were made of stone. Then +the boy called to him for the third time, and as that was also to no purpose, +he ran against him and pushed the ghost down the stairs, so that it fell down +ten steps and remained lying there in a corner. Thereupon he rang the bell, +went home, and without saying a word went to bed, and fell asleep. The +sexton’s wife waited a long time for her husband, but he did not come +back. At length she became uneasy, and wakened the boy, and asked, “Dost +thou not know where my husband is? He climbed up the tower before thou +didst.” “No, I don’t know,” replied the boy, “but +some one was standing by the sounding hole on the other side of the steps, and +as he would neither give an answer nor go away, I took him for a scoundrel, and +threw him downstairs, just go there and you will see if it was he. I should be +sorry if it were.” The woman ran away and found her husband, who was +lying moaning in the corner, and had broken his leg. +</p> + +<p> +She carried him down, and then with loud screams she hastened to the +boy’s father. “Your boy,” cried she, “has been the +cause of a great misfortune! He has thrown my husband down the steps and made +him break his leg. Take the good-for-nothing fellow away from our house.” +The father was terrified, and ran thither and scolded the boy. “What +wicked tricks are these?” said he, “the devil must have put this +into thy head.” “Father,” he replied, “do listen to me. +I am quite innocent. He was standing there by night like one who is intending +to do some evil. I did not know who it was, and I entreated him three times +either to speak or to go away.” “Ah,” said the father, +“I have nothing but unhappiness with you. Go out of my sight. I will see +thee no more.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, father, right willingly, wait only until it is day. Then will I go +forth and learn how to shudder, and then I shall, at any rate, understand one +art which will support me.” “Learn what thou wilt,” spake the +father, “it is all the same to me. Here are fifty thalers for thee. Take +these and go into the wide world, and tell no one from whence thou comest, and +who is thy father, for I have reason to be ashamed of thee.” “Yes, +father, it shall be as you will. If you desire nothing more than that, I can +easily keep it in mind.” +</p> + +<p> +When day dawned, therefore, the boy put his fifty thalers into his pocket, and +went forth on the great highway, and continually said to himself, “If I +could but shudder! If I could but shudder!” Then a man approached who +heard this conversation which the youth was holding with himself, and when they +had walked a little farther to where they could see the gallows, the man said +to him, “Look, there is the tree where seven men have married the +ropemaker’s daughter, and are now learning how to fly. Sit down below it, +and wait till night comes, and you will soon learn how to shudder.” +“If that is all that is wanted,” answered the youth, “it is +easily done; but if I learn how to shudder as fast as that, thou shalt have my +fifty thalers. Just come back to me early in the morning.” Then the youth +went to the gallows, sat down below it, and waited till evening came. And as he +was cold, he lighted himself a fire, but at midnight the wind blew so sharply +that in spite of his fire, he could not get warm. And as the wind knocked the +hanged men against each other, and they moved backwards and forwards, he +thought to himself “Thou shiverest below by the fire, but how those up +above must freeze and suffer!” And as he felt pity for them, he raised +the ladder, and climbed up, unbound one of them after the other, and brought +down all seven. Then he stirred the fire, blew it, and set them all round it to +warm themselves. But they sat there and did not stir, and the fire caught their +clothes. So he said, “Take care, or I will hang you up again.” The +dead men, however, did not hear, but were quite silent, and let their rags go +on burning. On this he grew angry, and said, “If you will not take care, +I cannot help you, I will not be burnt with you,” and he hung them up +again each in his turn. Then he sat down by his fire and fell asleep, and the +next morning the man came to him and wanted to have the fifty thalers, and +said, “Well, dost thou know how to shudder?” “No,” +answered he, “how was I to get to know? Those fellows up there did not +open their mouths, and were so stupid that they let the few old rags which they +had on their bodies get burnt.” Then the man saw that he would not get +the fifty thalers that day, and went away saying, “One of this kind has +never come my way before.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth likewise went his way, and once more began to mutter to himself, +“Ah, if I could but shudder! Ah, if I could but shudder!” A +waggoner who was striding behind him heard that and asked, “Who are +you?” “I don’t know,” answered the youth. Then the +waggoner asked, “From whence comest thou?” “I know +not.” “Who is thy father?” “That I may not tell +thee.” “What is it that thou art always muttering between thy +teeth.” “Ah,” replied the youth, “I do so wish I could +shudder, but no one can teach me how to do it.” “Give up thy +foolish chatter,” said the waggoner. “Come, go with me, I will see +about a place for thee.” The youth went with the waggoner, and in the +evening they arrived at an inn where they wished to pass the night. Then at the +entrance of the room the youth again said quite loudly, “If I could but +shudder! If I could but shudder!” The host who heard this, laughed and +said, “If that is your desire, there ought to be a good opportunity for +you here.” “Ah, be silent,” said the hostess, “so many +inquisitive persons have already lost their lives, it would be a pity and a +shame if such beautiful eyes as these should never see the daylight +again.” +</p> + +<p> +But the youth said, “However difficult it may be, I will learn it and for +this purpose indeed have I journeyed forth.” He let the host have no +rest, until the latter told him, that not far from thence stood a haunted +castle where any one could very easily learn what shuddering was, if he would +but watch in it for three nights. The King had promised that he who would +venture should have his daughter to wife, and she was the most beautiful maiden +the sun shone on. Great treasures likewise lay in the castle, which were +guarded by evil spirits, and these treasures would then be freed, and would +make a poor man rich enough. Already many men had gone into the castle, but as +yet none had come out again. Then the youth went next morning to the King and +said if he were allowed he would watch three nights in the haunted castle. The +King looked at him, and as the youth pleased him, he said, “Thou mayest +ask for three things to take into the castle with thee, but they must be things +without life.” Then he answered, “Then I ask for a fire, a turning +lathe, and a cutting-board with the knife.” The King had these things +carried into the castle for him during the day. When night was drawing near, +the youth went up and made himself a bright fire in one of the rooms, placed +the cutting-board and knife beside it, and seated himself by the turning-lathe. +“Ah, if I could but shudder!” said he, “but I shall not learn +it here either.” Towards midnight he was about to poke his fire, and as +he was blowing it, something cried suddenly from one corner, “Au, miau! +how cold we are!” “You simpletons!” cried he, “what are +you crying about? If you are cold, come and take a seat by the fire and warm +yourselves.” And when he had said that, two great black cats came with +one tremendous leap and sat down on each side of him, and looked savagely at +him with their fiery eyes. After a short time, when they had warmed themselves, +they said, “Comrade, shall we have a game at cards?” “Why +not?” he replied, “but just show me your paws.” Then they +stretched out their claws. “Oh,” said he, “what long nails +you have! Wait, I must first cut them for you.” Thereupon he seized them +by the throats, put them on the cutting-board and screwed their feet fast. +“I have looked at your fingers,” said he, “and my fancy for +card-playing has gone,” and he struck them dead and threw them out into +the water. But when he had made away with these two, and was about to sit down +again by his fire, out from every hole and corner came black cats and black +dogs with red-hot chains, and more and more of them came until he could no +longer stir, and they yelled horribly, and got on his fire, pulled it to +pieces, and tried to put it out. He watched them for a while quietly, but at +last when they were going too far, he seized his cutting-knife, and cried, +“Away with ye, vermin,” and began to cut them down. Part of them +ran away, the others he killed, and threw out into the fish-pond. When he came +back he fanned the embers of his fire again and warmed himself. And as he thus +sat, his eyes would keep open no longer, and he felt a desire to sleep. Then he +looked round and saw a great bed in the corner. “That is the very thing +for me,” said he, and got into it. When he was just going to shut his +eyes, however, the bed began to move of its own accord, and went over the whole +of the castle. “That’s right,” said he, “but go +faster.” Then the bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it, up +and down, over thresholds and steps, but suddenly hop, hop, it turned over +upside down, and lay on him like a mountain. But he threw quilts and pillows up +in the air, got out and said, “Now any one who likes, may drive,” +and lay down by his fire, and slept till it was day. In the morning the King +came, and when he saw him lying there on the ground, he thought the evil +spirits had killed him and he was dead. Then said he, “After all it is a +pity,—he is a handsome man.” The youth heard it, got up, and said, +“It has not come to that yet.” Then the King was astonished, but +very glad, and asked how he had fared. “Very well indeed,” answered +he; “one night is past, the two others will get over likewise.” +Then he went to the innkeeper, who opened his eyes very wide, and said, +“I never expected to see thee alive again! Hast thou learnt how to +shudder yet?” “No,” said he, “it is all in vain. If +some one would but tell me.” +</p> + +<p> +The second night he again went up into the old castle, sat down by the fire, +and once more began his old song, “If I could but shudder.” When +midnight came, an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard; at first it was +low, but it grew louder and louder. Then it was quiet for awhile, and at length +with a loud scream, half a man came down the chimney and fell before him. +“Hollo!” cried he, “another half belongs to this. This is too +little!” Then the uproar began again, there was a roaring and howling, +and the other half fell down likewise. “Wait,” said he, “I +will just blow up the fire a little for thee.” When he had done that and +looked round again, the two pieces were joined together, and a frightful man +was sitting in his place. “That is no part of our bargain,” said +the youth, “the bench is mine.” The man wanted to push him away; +the youth, however, would not allow that, but thrust him off with all his +strength, and seated himself again in his own place. Then still more men fell +down, one after the other; they brought nine dead men’s legs and two +skulls, and set them up and played at nine-pins with them. The youth also +wanted to play and said “Hark you, can I join you?” “Yes, if +thou hast any money.” “Money enough,” replied he, “but +your balls are not quite round.” Then he took the skulls and put them in +the lathe and turned them till they were round. “There, now, they will +roll better!” said he. “Hurrah! Now it goes merrily!” He +played with them and lost some of his money, but when it struck twelve, +everything vanished from his sight. He lay down and quietly fell asleep. Next +morning the King came to inquire after him. “How has it fared with you +this time?” asked he. “I have been playing at nine-pins,” he +answered, “and have lost a couple of farthings.” “Hast thou +not shuddered then?” “Eh, what?” said he, “I have made +merry. If I did but know what it was to shudder!” +</p> + +<p> +The third night he sat down again on his bench and said quite sadly, “If +I could but shudder.” When it grew late, six tall men came in and brought +a coffin. Then said he, “Ha, ha, that is certainly my little cousin, who +died only a few days ago,” and he beckoned with his finger, and cried +“Come, little cousin, come.” They placed the coffin on the ground, +but he went to it and took the lid off, and a dead man lay therein. He felt his +face, but it was cold as ice. “Stop,” said he, “I will warm +thee a little,” and went to the fire and warmed his hand and laid it on +the dead man’s face, but he remained cold. Then he took him out, and sat +down by the fire and laid him on his breast and rubbed his arms that the blood +might circulate again. As this also did no good, he thought to himself +“When two people lie in bed together, they warm each other,” and +carried him to the bed, covered him over and lay down by him. After a short +time the dead man became warm too, and began to move. Then said the youth, +“See, little cousin, have I not warmed thee?” The dead man, +however, got up and cried, “Now will I strangle thee.” +</p> + +<p> +“What!” said he, “is that the way thou thankest me? Thou +shalt at once go into thy coffin again,” and he took him up, threw him +into it, and shut the lid. Then came the six men and carried him away again. +“I cannot manage to shudder,” said he. “I shall never learn +it here as long as I live.” +</p> + +<p> +Then a man entered who was taller than all others, and looked terrible. He was +old, however, and had a long white beard. “Thou wretch,” cried he, +“thou shalt soon learn what it is to shudder, for thou shalt die.” +“Not so fast,” replied the youth. “If I am to die, I shall +have to have a say in it.” “I will soon seize thee,” said the +fiend. “Softly, softly, do not talk so big. I am as strong as thou art, +and perhaps even stronger.” “We shall see,” said the old man. +“If thou art stronger, I will let thee go—come, we will try.” +Then he led him by dark passages to a smith’s forge, took an axe, and +with one blow struck an anvil into the ground. “I can do better than +that,” said the youth, and went to the other anvil. The old man placed +himself near and wanted to look on, and his white beard hung down. Then the +youth seized the axe, split the anvil with one blow, and struck the old +man’s beard in with it. “Now I have thee,” said the youth. +“Now it is thou who will have to die.” Then he seized an iron bar +and beat the old man till he moaned and entreated him to stop, and he would +give him great riches. The youth drew out the axe and let him go. The old man +led him back into the castle, and in a cellar showed him three chests full of +gold. “Of these,” said he, “one part is for the poor, the +other for the king, the third is thine.” In the meantime it struck +twelve, and the spirit disappeared; the youth, therefore, was left in darkness. +“I shall still be able to find my way out,” said he, and felt +about, found the way into the room, and slept there by his fire. Next morning +the King came and said “Now thou must have learnt what shuddering +is?” “No,” he answered; “what can it be? My dead cousin +was here, and a bearded man came and showed me a great deal of money down +below, but no one told me what it was to shudder.” “Then,” +said the King, “thou hast delivered the castle, and shalt marry my +daughter.” “That is all very well,” said he, “but still +I do not know what it is to shudder.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the gold was brought up and the wedding celebrated; but howsoever much the +young king loved his wife, and however happy he was, he still said always +“If I could but shudder—if I could but shudder.” And at last +she was angry at this. Her waiting-maid said, “I will find a cure for +him; he shall soon learn what it is to shudder.” She went out to the +stream which flowed through the garden, and had a whole bucketful of gudgeons +brought to her. At night when the young king was sleeping, his wife was to draw +the clothes off him and empty the bucketful of cold water with the gudgeons in +it over him, so that the little fishes would sprawl about him. When this was +done, he woke up and cried “Oh, what makes me shudder so?—what +makes me shudder so, dear wife? Ah! now I know what it is to shudder!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap05"></a>5 The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids, and loved +them with all the love of a mother for her children. One day she wanted to go +into the forest and fetch some food. So she called all seven to her and said, +“Dear children, I have to go into the forest, be on your guard against +the wolf; if he come in, he will devour you all—skin, hair, and all. The +wretch often disguises himself, but you will know him at once by his rough +voice and his black feet.” The kids said, “Dear mother, we will +take good care of ourselves; you may go away without any anxiety.” Then +the old one bleated, and went on her way with an easy mind. +</p> + +<p> +It was not long before some one knocked at the house-door and called, +“Open the door, dear children; your mother is here, and has brought +something back with her for each of you.” But the little kids knew that +it was the wolf, by the rough voice; “We will not open the door,” +cried they, “thou art not our mother. She has a soft, pleasant voice, but +thy voice is rough; thou art the wolf!” Then the wolf went away to a +shopkeeper and bought himself a great lump of chalk, ate this and made his +voice soft with it. The he came back, knocked at the door of the house, and +cried, “Open the door, dear children, your mother is here and has brought +something back with her for each of you.” But the wolf had laid his black +paws against the window, and the children saw them and cried, “We will +not open the door, our mother has not black feet like thee; thou art the +wolf.” Then the wolf ran to a baker and said, “I have hurt my feet, +rub some dough over them for me.” And when the baker had rubbed his feet +over, he ran to the miller and said, “Strew some white meal over my feet +for me.” The miller thought to himself, “The wolf wants to deceive +someone,” and refused; but the wolf said, “If thou wilt not do it, +I will devour thee.” Then the miller was afraid, and made his paws white +for him. Truly men are like that. +</p> + +<p> +So now the wretch went for the third time to the house-door, knocked at it and +said, “Open the door for me, children, your dear little mother has come +home, and has brought every one of you something back from the forest with +her.” The little kids cried, “First show us thy paws that we may +know if thou art our dear little mother.” Then he put his paws in through +the window, and when the kids saw that they were white, they believed that all +he said was true, and opened the door. But who should come in but the wolf! +They were terrified and wanted to hide themselves. One sprang under the table, +the second into the bed, the third into the stove, the fourth into the kitchen, +the fifth into the cupboard, the sixth under the washing-bowl, and the seventh +into the clock-case. But the wolf found them all, and used no great ceremony; +one after the other he swallowed them down his throat. The youngest, who was in +the clock-case, was the only one he did not find. When the wolf had satisfied +his appetite he took himself off, laid himself down under a tree in the green +meadow outside, and began to sleep. Soon afterwards the old goat came home +again from the forest. Ah! What a sight she saw there! The house-door stood +wide open. The table, chairs, and benches were thrown down, the washing-bowl +lay broken to pieces, and the quilts and pillows were pulled off the bed. She +sought her children, but they were nowhere to be found. She called them one +after another by name, but no one answered. At last, when she came to the +youngest, a soft voice cried, “Dear mother, I am in the +clock-case.” She took the kid out, and it told her that the wolf had come +and had eaten all the others. Then you may imagine how she wept over her poor +children. +</p> + +<p> +At length in her grief she went out, and the youngest kid ran with her. When +they came to the meadow, there lay the wolf by the tree and snored so loud that +the branches shook. She looked at him on every side and saw that something was +moving and struggling in his gorged belly. “Ah, heavens,” said she, +“is it possible that my poor children whom he has swallowed down for his +supper, can be still alive?” Then the kid had to run home and fetch +scissors, and a needle and thread, and the goat cut open the monster’s +stomach, and hardly had she make one cut, than one little kid thrust its head +out, and when she cut farther, all six sprang out one after another, and were +all still alive, and had suffered no injury whatever, for in his greediness the +monster had swallowed them down whole. What rejoicing there was! They embraced +their dear mother, and jumped like a sailor at his wedding. The mother, +however, said, “Now go and look for some big stones, and we will fill the +wicked beast’s stomach with them while he is still asleep.” Then +the seven kids dragged the stones thither with all speed, and put as many of +them into his stomach as they could get in; and the mother sewed him up again +in the greatest haste, so that he was not aware of anything and never once +stirred. +</p> + +<p> +When the wolf at length had had his sleep out, he got on his legs, and as the +stones in his stomach made him very thirsty, he wanted to go to a well to +drink. But when he began to walk and move about, the stones in his stomach +knocked against each other and rattled. Then cried he, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“What rumbles and tumbles<br/> +Against my poor bones?<br/> +I thought ’t was six kids,<br/> +But it’s naught but big stones.” +</p> + +<p> +And when he got to the well and stooped over the water and was just about to +drink, the heavy stones made him fall in, and there was no help, but he had to +drown miserably. When the seven kids saw that, they came running to the spot +and cried aloud, “The wolf is dead! The wolf is dead!” and danced +for joy round about the well with their mother. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap06"></a>6 Faithful John</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time an old king who was ill, and thought to himself, +“I am lying on what must be my death-bed.” Then said he, +“Tell Faithful John to come to me.” Faithful John was his favourite +servant, and was so called, because he had for his whole life long been so true +to him. When therefore he came beside the bed, the King said to him, +“Most faithful John, I feel my end approaching, and have no anxiety +except about my son. He is still of tender age, and cannot always know how to +guide himself. If thou dost not promise me to teach him everything that he +ought to know, and to be his foster-father, I cannot close my eyes in +peace.” Then answered Faithful John, “I will not forsake him, and +will serve him with fidelity, even if it should cost me my life.” On +this, the old King said, “Now I die in comfort and peace.” Then he +added, “After my death, thou shalt show him the whole castle: all the +chambers, halls, and vaults, and all the treasures which lie therein, but the +last chamber in the long gallery, in which is the picture of the princess of +the Golden Dwelling, shalt thou not show. If he sees that picture, he will fall +violently in love with her, and will drop down in a swoon, and go through great +danger for her sake, therefore thou must preserve him from that.” And +when Faithful John had once more given his promise to the old King about this, +the King said no more, but laid his head on his pillow, and died. +</p> + +<p> +When the old King had been carried to his grave, Faithful John told the young +King all that he had promised his father on his deathbed, and said, “This +will I assuredly perform, and will be faithful to thee as I have been faithful +to him, even if it should cost me my life.” When the mourning was over, +Faithful John said to him, “It is now time that thou shouldst see thine +inheritance. I will show thee thy father’s palace.” Then he took +him about everywhere, up and down, and let him see all the riches, and the +magnificent apartments, only there was one room which he did not open, that in +which hung the dangerous picture. The picture was, however, so placed that when +the door was opened you looked straight on it, and it was so admirably painted +that it seemed to breathe and live, and there was nothing more charming or more +beautiful in the whole world. The young King, however, plainly remarked that +Faithful John always walked past this one door, and said, “Why dost thou +never open this one for me?” “There is something within it,” +he replied, “which would terrify thee.” But the King answered, +“I have seen all the palace, and I will know what is in this room +also,” and he went and tried to break open the door by force. Then +Faithful John held him back and said, “I promised thy father before his +death that thou shouldst not see that which is in this chamber, it might bring +the greatest misfortune on thee and on me.” “Ah, no,” replied +the young King, “if I do not go in, it will be my certain destruction. I +should have no rest day or night until I had seen it with my own eyes. I shall +not leave the place now until thou hast unlocked the door.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Faithful John saw that there was no help for it now, and with a heavy +heart and many sighs, sought out the key from the great bunch. When he had +opened the door, he went in first, and thought by standing before him he could +hide the portrait so that the King should not see it in front of him, but what +availed that? The King stood on tip-toe and saw it over his shoulder. And when +he saw the portrait of the maiden, which was so magnificent and shone with gold +and precious stones, he fell fainting to the ground. Faithful John took him up, +carried him to his bed, and sorrowfully thought, “The misfortune has +befallen us, Lord God, what will be the end of it?” Then he strengthened +him with wine, until he came to himself again. The first words the King said +were, “Ah, the beautiful portrait! whose it it?” “That is the +princess of the Golden Dwelling,” answered Faithful John. Then the King +continued, “My love for her is so great, that if all the leaves on all +the trees were tongues, they could not declare it. I will give my life to win +her. Thou art my most Faithful John, thou must help me.” +</p> + +<p> +The faithful servant considered within himself for a long time how to set about +the matter, for it was difficult even to obtain a sight of the King’s +daughter. At length he thought of a way, and said to the King, +“Everything which she has about her is of gold—tables, chairs, +dishes, glasses, bowls, and household furniture. Among thy treasures are five +tons of gold; let one of the goldsmiths of the Kingdom work these up into all +manner of vessels and utensils, into all kinds of birds, wild beasts and +strange animals, such as may please her, and we will go there with them and try +our luck.” +</p> + +<p> +The King ordered all the goldsmiths to be brought to him, and they had to work +night and day until at last the most splendid things were prepared. When +everything was stowed on board a ship, Faithful John put on the dress of a +merchant, and the King was forced to do the same in order to make himself quite +unrecognizable. Then they sailed across the sea, and sailed on until they came +to the town wherein dwelt the princess of the Golden Dwelling. +</p> + +<p> +Faithful John bade the King stay behind on the ship, and wait for him. +“Perhaps I shall bring the princess with me,” said he, +“therefore see that everything is in order; have the golden vessels set +out and the whole ship decorated.” Then he gathered together in his apron +all kinds of gold things, went on shore and walked straight to the royal +palace. When he entered the courtyard of the palace, a beautiful girl was +standing there by the well with two golden buckets in her hand, drawing water +with them. And when she was just turning round to carry away the sparkling +water she saw the stranger, and asked who he was. So he answered, “I am a +merchant,” and opened his apron, and let her look in. Then she cried, +“Oh, what beautiful gold things!” and put her pails down and looked +at the golden wares one after the other. Then said the girl, “The +princess must see these, she has such great pleasure in golden things, that she +will buy all you have.” She took him by the hand and led him upstairs, +for she was the waiting-maid. When the King’s daughter saw the wares, she +was quite delighted and said, “They are so beautifully worked, that I +will buy them all of thee.” But Faithful John said, “I am only the +servant of a rich merchant. The things I have here are not to be compared with +those my master has in his ship. They are the most beautiful and valuable +things that have ever been made in gold.” She wanted to have everything +brought to her there, but he said, “There are so many of them that it +would take a great many days to do that, and so many rooms would be required to +exhibit them, that your house is not big enough.” Then her curiosity and +longing were still more excited, until at last she said, “Conduct me to +the ship, I will go there myself, and behold the treasures of thine +master.” +</p> + +<p> +On this Faithful John was quite delighted, and led her to the ship, and when +the King saw her, he perceived that her beauty was even greater than the +picture had represented it to be, and thought no other than that his heart +would burst in twain. Then she got into the ship, and the King led her within. +Faithful John, however, remained behind with the pilot, and ordered the ship to +be pushed off, saying, “Set all sail, till it fly like a bird in +air.” Within, however, the King showed her the golden vessels, every one +of them, also the wild beasts and strange animals. Many hours went by whilst +she was seeing everything, and in her delight she did not observe that the ship +was sailing away. After she had looked at the last, she thanked the merchant +and wanted to go home, but when she came to the side of the ship, she saw that +it was on the deep sea far from land, and hurrying onwards with all sail set. +“Ah,” cried she in her alarm, “I am betrayed! I am carried +away and have fallen into the power of a merchant—I would die +rather!” The King, however, seized her hand, and said, “I am not a +merchant. I am a king, and of no meaner origin than thou art, and if I have +carried thee away with subtlety, that has come to pass because of my exceeding +great love for thee. The first time that I looked on thy portrait, I fell +fainting to the ground.” When the princess of the Golden Dwelling heard +that, she was comforted, and her heart was inclined unto him, so that she +willingly consented to be his wife. +</p> + +<p> +It so happened, however, while they were sailing onwards over the deep sea, +that Faithful John, who was sitting on the fore part of the vessel, making +music, saw three ravens in the air, which came flying towards them. On this he +stopped playing and listened to what they were saying to each other, for that +he well understood. One cried, “Oh, there he is carrying home the +princess of the Golden Dwelling.” “Yes,” replied the second, +“but he has not got her yet.” Said the third, “But he has got +her, she is sitting beside him in the ship.” Then the first began again, +and cried, “What good will that do him? When they reach land a chestnut +horse will leap forward to meet him, and the prince will want to mount it, but +if he does that, it will run away with him, and rise up into the air with him, +and he will never see his maiden more.” Spake the second, “But is +there no escape?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, yes, if any one else gets on it swiftly, and takes out the pistol +which must be in its holster, and shoots the horse dead with it, the young King +is saved. But who knows that? And whosoever does know it, and tells it to him, +will be turned to stone from the toe to the knee.” Then said the second, +“I know more than that; even if the horse be killed, the young King will +still not keep his bride. When they go into the castle together, a wrought +bridal garment will be lying there in a dish, and looking as if it were woven +of gold and silver; it is, however, nothing but sulphur and pitch, and if he +put it on, it will burn him to the very bone and marrow.” Said the third, +“Is there no escape at all?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, yes,” replied the second, “if any one with gloves on +seizes the garment and throws it into the fire and burns it, the young King +will be saved. “But what avails that?” “Whosoever knows it +and tells it to him, half his body will become stone from the knee to the +heart.” +</p> + +<p> +Then said the third, “I know still more; even if the bridal garment be +burnt, the young King will still not have his bride. After the wedding, when +the dancing begins and the young queen is dancing, she will suddenly turn pale +and fall down as if dead, and if some one does not lift her up and draw three +drops of blood from her right breast and spit them out again, she will die. But +if any one who knows that were to declare it, he would become stone from the +crown of his head to the sole of his foot.” When the ravens had spoken of +this together, they flew onwards, and Faithful John had well understood +everything, but from that time forth he became quiet and sad, for if he +concealed what he had heard from his master, the latter would be unfortunate, +and if he discovered it to him, he himself must sacrifice his life. At length, +however, he said to himself, “I will save my master, even if it bring +destruction on myself.” +</p> + +<p> +When therefore they came to shore, all happened as had been foretold by the +ravens, and a magnificent chestnut horse sprang forward. “Good,” +said the King, “he shall carry me to my palace,” and was about to +mount it when Faithful John got before him, jumped quickly on it, drew the +pistol out of the holster, and shot the horse. Then the other attendants of the +King, who after all were not very fond of Faithful John, cried, “How +shameful to kill the beautiful animal, that was to have carried the King to his +palace.” But the King said, “Hold your peace and leave him alone, +he is my most faithful John, who knows what may be the good of that!” +They went into the palace, and in the hall there stood a dish, and therein lay +the bridal garment looking no otherwise than as if it were made of gold and +silver. The young King went towards it and was about to take hold of it, but +Faithful John pushed him away, seized it with gloves on, carried it quickly to +the fire and burnt it. The other attendants again began to murmur, and said, +“Behold, now he is even burning the King’s bridal garment!” +But the young King said, “Who knows what good he may have done, leave him +alone, he is my most faithful John.” +</p> + +<p> +And now the wedding was solemnized: the dance began, and the bride also took +part in it; then Faithful John was watchful and looked into her face, and +suddenly she turned pale and fell to the ground, as if she were dead. On this +he ran hastily to her, lifted her up and bore her into a chamber—then he +laid her down, and knelt and sucked the three drops of blood from her right +breast, and spat them out. Immediately she breathed again and recovered +herself, but the young King had seen this, and being ignorant why Faithful John +had done it, was angry and cried, “Throw him into a dungeon.” Next +morning Faithful John was condemned, and led to the gallows, and when he stood +on high, and was about to be executed, he said, “Every one who has to die +is permitted before his end to make one last speech; may I too claim the +right?” “Yes,” answered the King, “it shall be granted +unto thee.” Then said Faithful John, “I am unjustly condemned, and +have always been true to thee,” and he related how he had hearkened to +the conversation of the ravens when on the sea, and how he had been obliged to +do all these things in order to save his master. Then cried the King, +“Oh, my most Faithful John. Pardon, pardon—bring him down.” +But as Faithful John spoke the last word he had fallen down lifeless and become +a stone. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the King and the Queen suffered great anguish, and the King said, +“Ah, how ill I have requited great fidelity!” and ordered the stone +figure to be taken up and placed in his bedroom beside his bed. And as often as +he looked on it he wept and said, “Ah, if I could bring thee to life +again, my most faithful John.” Some time passed and the Queen bore twins, +two sons who grew fast and were her delight. Once when the Queen was at church +and the two children were sitting playing beside their father, the latter full +of grief again looked at the stone figure, sighed and said, “Ah, if I +could but bring thee to life again, my most faithful John.” Then the +stone began to speak and said, “Thou canst bring me to life again if thou +wilt use for that purpose what is dearest to thee.” Then cried the King, +“I will give everything I have in the world for thee.” The stone +continued, “If thou wilt will cut off the heads of thy two children with +thine own hand, and sprinkle me with their blood, I shall be restored to +life.” +</p> + +<p> +The King was terrified when he heard that he himself must kill his dearest +children, but he thought of faithful John’s great fidelity, and how he +had died for him, drew his sword, and with his own hand cut off the +children’s heads. And when he had smeared the stone with their blood, +life returned to it, and Faithful John stood once more safe and healthy before +him. He said to the King, “Thy truth shall not go unrewarded,” and +took the heads of the children, put them on again, and rubbed the wounds with +their blood, on which they became whole again immediately, and jumped about, +and went on playing as if nothing had happened. Then the King was full of joy, +and when he saw the Queen coming he hid Faithful John and the two children in a +great cupboard. When she entered, he said to her, “Hast thou been praying +in the church?” “Yes,” answered she, “but I have +constantly been thinking of Faithful John and what misfortune has befallen him +through us.” Then said he, “Dear wife, we can give him his life +again, but it will cost us our two little sons, whom we must sacrifice.” +The Queen turned pale, and her heart was full of terror, but she said, +“We owe it to him, for his great fidelity.” Then the King was +rejoiced that she thought as he had thought, and went and opened the cupboard, +and brought forth Faithful John and the children, and said, “God be +praised, he is delivered, and we have our little sons again also,” and +told her how everything had occurred. Then they dwelt together in much +happiness until their death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap07"></a>7 The Good Bargain</h3> + +<p> +There was once a peasant who had driven his cow to the fair, and sold her for +seven thalers. On the way home he had to pass a pond, and already from afar he +heard the frogs crying, “Aik, aik, aik, aik.” “Well,” +said he to himself, “they are talking without rhyme or reason, it is +seven that I have received, not eight.” When he got to the water, he +cried to them, “Stupid animals that you are! Don’t you know better +than that? It is seven thalers and not eight.” The frogs, however, stood +to their, “aik aik, aik, aik.” “Come, then, if you +won’t believe it, I can count it out to you.” And he took his money +out of his pocket and counted out the seven thalers, always reckoning four and +twenty groschen to a thaler. The frogs, however, paid no attention to his +reckoning, but still cried, “aik, aik, aik, aik.” +“What,” cried the peasant, quite angry, “since you are +determined to know better than I, count it yourselves,” and threw all the +money into the water to them. He stood still and wanted to wait until they were +done and had brought him his own again, but the frogs maintained their opinion +and cried continually, “aik, aik, aik, aik,” and besides that, did +not throw the money out again. He still waited a long while until evening came +on and he was forced to go home. Then he abused the frogs and cried, “You +water-splashers, you thick-heads, you goggle-eyes, you have great mouths and +can screech till you hurt one’s ears, but you cannot count seven thalers! +Do you think I’m going to stand here till you get done?” And with +that he went away, but the frogs still cried, “aik, aik, aik, aik,” +after him till he went home quite angry. +</p> + +<p> +After a while he bought another cow, which he killed, and he made the +calculation that if he sold the meat well he might gain as much as the two cows +were worth, and have the skin into the bargain. When therefore he got to the +town with the meat, a great troop of dogs were gathered together in front of +the gate, with a large greyhound at the head of them, which jumped at the meat, +snuffed at it, and barked, “Wow, wow, wow.” As there was no +stopping him, the peasant said to him, “Yes, yes, I know quite well that +thou art saying, ‘wow, wow, wow,’ because thou wantest some of the +meat; but I should fare badly if I were to give it to thee.” The dog, +however, answered nothing but “wow, wow.” “Wilt thou promise +not to devour it all then, and wilt thou go bail for thy companions?” +“Wow, wow, wow,” said the dog. “Well, if thou insistest on +it, I will leave it for thee; I know thee well, and know who is thy master; but +this I tell thee, I must have my money in three days or else it will go ill +with thee; thou must just bring it out to me.” Thereupon he unloaded the +meat and turned back again, the dogs fell upon it and loudly barked, +“wow, wow.” +</p> + +<p> +The countryman, who heard them from afar, said to himself, “Hark, now +they all want some, but the big one is responsible to me for it.” +</p> + +<p> +When three days had passed, the countryman thought, “To-night my money +will be in my pocket,” and was quite delighted. But no one would come and +pay it. “There is no trusting any one now,” said he; and at last he +lost patience, and went into the town to the butcher and demanded his money. +The butcher thought it was a joke, but the peasant said, “Jesting apart, +I will have my money! Did not the great dog bring you the whole of the +slaughtered cow three days ago?” Then the butcher grew angry, snatched a +broomstick and drove him out. “Wait a while,” said the peasant, +“there is still some justice in the world!” and went to the royal +palace and begged for an audience. He was led before the King, who sat there +with his daughter, and asked him what injury he had suffered. +“Alas!” said he, “the frogs and the dogs have taken from me +what is mine, and the butcher has paid me for it with the stick,” and he +related at full length all that had happened. Thereupon the King’s +daughter began to laugh heartily, and the King said to him, “I cannot +give you justice in this, but you shall have my daughter to wife for +it,—in her whole life she has never yet laughed as she has just done at +thee, and I have promised her to him who could make her laugh. Thou mayst thank +God for thy good fortune!” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh,” answered the peasant, “I will not have her, I have a +wife already, and she is one too many for me; when I go home, it is just as bad +as if I had a wife standing in every corner.” Then the King grew angry, +and said, “Thou art a boor.” “Ah, Lord King,” replied +the peasant, “what can you expect from an ox, but beef?” +“Stop,” answered the King, “thou shalt have another reward. +Be off now, but come back in three days, and then thou shalt have five hundred +counted out in full.” +</p> + +<p> +When the peasant went out by the gate, the sentry said, “Thou hast made +the King’s daughter laugh, so thou wilt certainly receive something +good.” “Yes, that is what I think,” answered the peasant; +“five hundred are to be counted out to me.” “Hark +thee,” said the soldier, “give me some of it. What canst thou do +with all that money?” “As it is thou,” said the peasant, +“thou shalt have two hundred; present thyself in three days’ time +before the King, and let it be paid to thee.” A Jew, who was standing by +and had heard the conversation, ran after the peasant, held him by the coat, +and said, “Oh, wonder! what a luck-child thou art! I will change it for +thee, I will change it for thee into small coins, what dost thou want with the +great thalers?” “Jew,” said the countryman, “three +hundred canst thou still have; give it to me at once in coin, in three days +from this, thou wilt be paid for it by the King.” The Jew was delighted +with the profit, and brought the sum in bad groschen, three of which were worth +two good ones. After three days had passed, according to the King’s +command, the peasant went before the King. “Pull his coat off,” +said the latter, “and he shall have his five hundred.” +“Ah!” said the peasant, “they no longer belong to me; I +presented two hundred of them to the sentinel, and three hundred the Jew has +changed for me, so by right nothing at all belongs to me.” In the +meantime the soldier and the Jew entered and claimed what they had gained from +the peasant, and they received the blows strictly counted out. The soldier bore +it patiently and knew already how it tasted, but the Jew said sorrowfully, +“Alas, alas, are these the heavy thalers?” The King could not help +laughing at the peasant, and as all his anger was gone, he said, “As thou +hast already lost thy reward before it fell to thy lot, I will give thee +something in the place of it. Go into my treasure chamber and get some money +for thyself, as much as thou wilt.” The peasant did not need to be told +twice, and stuffed into his big pockets whatsoever would go in. Afterwards he +went to an inn and counted out his money. The Jew had crept after him and heard +how he muttered to himself, “That rogue of a King has cheated me after +all, why could he not have given me the money himself, and then I should have +known what I had? How can I tell now if what I have had the luck to put in my +pockets is right or not?” “Good heavens!” said the Jew to +himself, “that man is speaking disrespectfully of our lord the King, I +will run and inform, and then I shall get a reward, and he will be punished as +well.” +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard of the peasant’s words he fell into a passion, and +commanded the Jew to go and bring the offender to him. The Jew ran to the +peasant, “You are to go at once to the lord King in the very clothes you +have on.” “I know what’s right better than that,” +answered the peasant, “I shall have a new coat made first. Dost thou +think that a man with so much money in his pocket is to go there in his ragged +old coat?” The Jew, as he saw that the peasant would not stir without +another coat, and as he feared that if the King’s anger cooled, he +himself would lose his reward, and the peasant his punishment, said, “I +will out of pure friendship lend thee a coat for the short time. What will +people not do for love!” The peasant was contented with this, put the +Jew’s coat on, and went off with him. +</p> + +<p> +The King reproached the countryman because of the evil speaking of which the +Jew had informed him. “Ah,” said the peasant, “what a Jew +says is always false—no true word ever comes out of his mouth! That +rascal there is capable of maintaining that I have his coat on.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is that?” shrieked the Jew. “Is the coat not mine? Have +I not lent it to thee out of pure friendship, in order that thou might appear +before the lord King?” When the King heard that, he said, “The Jew +has assuredly deceived one or the other of us, either myself or the +peasant,” and again he ordered something to be counted out to him in hard +thalers. The peasant, however, went home in the good coat, with the good money +in his pocket, and said to himself, “This time I have hit it!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap08"></a>8 The Wonderful Musician</h3> + +<p> +There was once a wonderful musician, who went quite alone through a forest and +thought of all manner of things, and when nothing was left for him to think +about, he said to himself, “Time is beginning to pass heavily with me +here in the forest, I will fetch hither a good companion for myself.” +Then he took his fiddle from his back, and played so that it echoed through the +trees. It was not long before a wolf came trotting through the thicket towards +him. “Ah, here is a wolf coming! I have no desire for him!” said +the musician; but the wolf came nearer and said to him, “Ah, dear +musician, how beautifully thou dost play. I should like to learn that, +too.” “It is soon learnt,” the musician replied, “thou +hast only to do all that I bid thee.” “Oh, musician,” said +the wolf, “I will obey thee as a scholar obeys his master.” The +musician bade him follow, and when they had gone part of the way together, they +came to an old oak-tree which was hollow inside, and cleft in the middle. +“Look,” said the musician, “if thou wilt learn to fiddle, put +thy fore paws into this crevice.” The wolf obeyed, but the musician +quickly picked up a stone and with one blow wedged his two paws so fast that he +was forced to stay there like a prisoner. “Stay there until I come back +again,” said the musician, and went his way. +</p> + +<p> +After a while he again said to himself, “Time is beginning to pass +heavily with me here in the forest, I will fetch hither another +companion,” and took his fiddle and again played in the forest. It was +not long before a fox came creeping through the trees towards him. “Ah, +there’s a fox coming!” said the musician. “I have no desire +for him.” The fox came up to him and said, “Oh, dear musician, how +beautifully thou dost play! I should like to learn that too.” “That +is soon learnt,” said the musician. “Thou hast only to do +everything that I bid thee.” “Oh, musician,” then said the +fox, “I will obey thee as a scholar obeys his master.” +“Follow me,” said the musician; and when they had walked a part of +the way, they came to a footpath, with high bushes on both sides of it. There +the musician stood still, and from one side bent a young hazel-bush down to the +ground, and put his foot on the top of it, then he bent down a young tree from +the other side as well, and said, “Now little fox, if thou wilt learn +something, give me thy left front paw.” The fox obeyed, and the musician +fastened his paw to the left bough. “Little fox,” said he, +“now reach me thy right paw” and he tied it to the right bough. +When he had examined whether they were firm enough, he let go, and the bushes +sprang up again, and jerked up the little fox, so that it hung struggling in +the air. “Wait there till I come back again,” said the musician, +and went his way. +</p> + +<p> +Again he said to himself, “Time is beginning to pass heavily with me here +in the forest, I will fetch hither another companion,” so he took his +fiddle, and the sound echoed through the forest. Then a little hare came +springing towards him. “Why, a hare is coming,” said the musician, +“I do not want him.” “Ah, dear musician,” said the +hare, “how beautifully thou dost fiddle; I too, should like to learn +that.” “That is soon learnt,” said the musician, “thou +hast only to do everything that I bid thee.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, musician,” replied the little hare, “I will obey thee as +a scholar obeys his master.” They went a part of the way together until +they came to an open space in the forest, where stood an aspen tree. The +musician tied a long string round the little hare’s neck, the other end +of which he fastened to the tree. “Now briskly, little hare, run twenty +times round the tree!” cried the musician, and the little hare obeyed, +and when it had run round twenty times, it had twisted the string twenty times +round the trunk of the tree, and the little hare was caught, and let it pull +and tug as it liked, it only made the string cut into its tender neck. +“Wait there till I come back,” said the musician, and went onwards. +</p> + +<p> +The wolf, in the meantime, had pushed and pulled and bitten at the stone, and +had worked so long that he had set his feet at liberty and had drawn them once +more out of the cleft. Full of anger and rage he hurried after the musician and +wanted to tear him to pieces. When the fox saw him running, he began to lament, +and cried with all his might, “Brother wolf, come to my help, the +musician has betrayed me!” The wolf drew down the little tree, bit the +cord in two, and freed the fox, who went with him to take revenge on the +musician. They found the tied-up hare, whom likewise they delivered, and then +they all sought the enemy together. +</p> + +<p> +The musician had once more played his fiddle as he went on his way, and this +time he had been more fortunate. The sound reached the ears of a poor +wood-cutter, who instantly, whether he would or no, gave up his work and came +with his hatchet under his arm to listen to the music. “At last comes the +right companion,” said the musician, “for I was seeking a human +being, and no wild beast.” And he began and played so beautifully and +delightfully that the poor man stood there as if bewitched, and his heart +leaped with gladness. And as he thus stood, the wolf, the fox, and the hare +came up, and he saw well that they had some evil design. So he raised his +glittering axe and placed himself before the musician, as if to say, +“Whoso wishes to touch him let him beware, for he will have to do with +me!” Then the beasts were terrified and ran back into the forest. The +musician, however, played once more to the man out of gratitude, and then went +onwards. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap09"></a>9 The Twelve Brothers</h3> + +<p> +There were once on a time a king and a queen who lived happily together and had +twelve children, but they were all boys. Then said the King to his wife, +“If the thirteenth child which thou art about to bring into the world, is +a girl, the twelve boys shall die, in order that her possessions may be great, +and that the kingdom may fall to her alone.” He caused likewise twelve +coffins to be made, which were already filled with shavings, and in each lay +the little pillow for the dead, and he had them taken into a locked-up room, +and then he gave the Queen the key of it, and bade her not to speak of this to +any one. +</p> + +<p> +The mother, however, now sat and lamented all day long, until the youngest son, +who was always with her, and whom she had named Benjamin, from the Bible, said +to her, “Dear mother, why art thou so sad?” +</p> + +<p> +“Dearest child,” she answered, “I may not tell thee.” +But he let her have no rest until she went and unlocked the room, and showed +him the twelve coffins ready filled with shavings. Then she said, “my +dearest Benjamin, thy father has had these coffins made for thee and for thy +eleven brothers, for if I bring a little girl into the world, you are all to be +killed and buried in them.” And as she wept while she was saying this, +the son comforted her and said, “Weep not, dear mother, we will save +ourselves, and go hence.” But she said, “Go forth into the forest +with thy eleven brothers, and let one sit constantly on the highest tree which +can be found, and keep watch, looking towards the tower here in the castle. If +I give birth to a little son, I will put up a white flag, and then you may +venture to come back, but if I bear a daughter, I will hoist a red flag, and +then fly hence as quickly as you are able, and may the good God protect you. +And every night I will rise up and pray for you—in winter that you may be +able to warm yourself at a fire, and in summer that you may not faint away in +the heat.” +</p> + +<p> +After she had blessed her sons therefore, they went forth into the forest. They +each kept watch in turn, and sat on the highest oak and looked towards the +tower. When eleven days had passed and the turn came to Benjamin, he saw that a +flag was being raised. It was, however, not the white, but the blood-red flag +which announced that they were all to die. When the brothers heard that, they +were very angry and said, “Are we all to suffer death for the sake of a +girl? We swear that we will avenge ourselves!—wheresoever we find a girl, +her red blood shall flow.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon they went deeper into the forest, and in the midst of it, where it +was the darkest, they found a little bewitched hut, which was standing empty. +Then said they, “Here we will dwell, and thou Benjamin, who art the +youngest and weakest, thou shalt stay at home and keep house, we others will go +out and get food.” Then they went into the forest and shot hares, wild +deer, birds and pigeons, and whatsoever there was to eat; this they took to +Benjamin, who had to dress it for them in order that they might appease their +hunger. They lived together ten years in the little hut, and the time did not +appear long to them. +</p> + +<p> +The little daughter which their mother the Queen had given birth to, was now +grown up; she was good of heart, and fair of face, and had a golden star on her +forehead. Once, when it was the great washing, she saw twelve men’s +shirts among the things, and asked her mother, “To whom do these twelve +shirts belong, for they are far too small for father?” Then the Queen +answered with a heavy heart, “Dear child, these belong to thy twelve +brothers.” Said the maiden, “Where are my twelve brothers, I have +never yet heard of them?” She replied, “God knows where they are, +they are wandering about the world.” Then she took the maiden and opened +the chamber for her, and showed her the twelve coffins with the shavings, and +pillows for the head. “These coffins,” said she, “were +destined for thy brothers, but they went away secretly before thou wert +born,” and she related to her how everything had happened; then said the +maiden, “Dear mother, weep not, I will go and seek my brothers.” +</p> + +<p> +So she took the twelve shirts and went forth, and straight into the great +forest. She walked the whole day, and in the evening she came to the bewitched +hut. Then she entered it and found a young boy, who asked, “From whence +comest thou, and whither art thou bound?” and was astonished that she was +so beautiful, and wore royal garments, and had a star on her forehead. And she +answered, “I am a king’s daughter, and am seeking my twelve +brothers, and I will walk as far as the sky is blue until I find them.” +She likewise showed him the twelve shirts which belonged to them. Then Benjamin +saw that she was his sister, and said, “I am Benjamin, thy youngest +brother.” And she began to weep for joy, and Benjamin wept also, and they +kissed and embraced each other with the greatest love. But after this he said, +“Dear sister, there is still one difficulty. We have agreed that every +maiden whom we meet shall die, because we have been obliged to leave our +kingdom on account of a girl.” Then said she, “I will willingly +die, if by so doing I can deliver my twelve brothers.” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” answered he, “thou shalt not die, seat thyself beneath +this tub until our eleven brothers come, and then I will soon come to an +agreement with them.” +</p> + +<p> +She did so, and when it was night the others came from hunting, and their +dinner was ready. And as they were sitting at table, and eating, they asked, +“What news is there?” Said Benjamin, “Don’t you know +anything?” “No,” they answered. He continued, “You have +been in the forest and I have stayed at home, and yet I know more than you +do.” “Tell us then,” they cried. He answered, “But +promise me that the first maiden who meets us shall not be killed.” +“Yes,” they all cried, “she shall have mercy, only do tell +us.” +</p> + +<p> +Then said he, “Our sister is here,” and he lifted up the tub, and +the King’s daughter came forth in her royal garments with the golden star +on her forehead, and she was beautiful, delicate and fair. Then they were all +rejoiced, and fell on her neck, and kissed and loved her with all their hearts. +</p> + +<p> +Now she stayed at home with Benjamin and helped him with the work. The eleven +went into the forest and caught game, and deer, and birds, and wood-pigeons +that they might have food, and the little sister and Benjamin took care to make +it ready for them. She sought for the wood for cooking and herbs for +vegetables, and put the pans on the fire so that the dinner was always ready +when the eleven came. She likewise kept order in the little house, and put +beautifully white clean coverings on the little beds, and the brothers were +always contented and lived in great harmony with her. +</p> + +<p> +Once on a time the two at home had prepared a beautiful entertainment, and when +they were all together, they sat down and ate and drank and were full of +gladness. There was, however, a little garden belonging to the bewitched house +wherein stood twelve lily flowers, which are likewise called students. She +wished to give her brothers pleasure, and plucked the twelve flowers, and +thought she would present each brother with one while at dinner. But at the +self-same moment that she plucked the flowers the twelve brothers were changed +into twelve ravens, and flew away over the forest, and the house and garden +vanished likewise. And now the poor maiden was alone in the wild forest, and +when she looked around, an old woman was standing near her who said, “My +child, what hast thou done? Why didst thou not leave the twelve white flowers +growing? They were thy brothers, who are now for evermore changed into +ravens.” The maiden said, weeping, “Is there no way of delivering +them?” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” said the woman, “there is but one in the whole world, +and that is so hard that thou wilt not deliver them by it, for thou must be +dumb for seven years, and mayst not speak or laugh, and if thou speakest one +single word, and only an hour of the seven years is wanting, all is in vain, +and thy brothers will be killed by the one word.” +</p> + +<p> +Then said the maiden in her heart, “I know with certainty that I shall +set my brothers free,” and went and sought a high tree and seated herself +in it and span, and neither spoke nor laughed. Now it so happened that a king +was hunting in the forest, who had a great greyhound which ran to the tree on +which the maiden was sitting, and sprang about it, whining, and barking at her. +Then the King came by and saw the beautiful King’s daughter with the +golden star on her brow, and was so charmed with her beauty that he called to +ask her if she would be his wife. She made no answer, but nodded a little with +her head. So he climbed up the tree himself, carried her down, placed her on +his horse, and bore her home. Then the wedding was solemnized with great +magnificence and rejoicing, but the bride neither spoke nor smiled. When they +had lived happily 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, +“This is a common beggar girl whom thou hast brought back with thee. Who +knows what impious tricks she practises secretly! Even if she be dumb, and not +able to speak, she still might laugh for once; but those who do not laugh have +bad consciences.” At first the King would not believe it, but the old +woman urged this so long, and accused her of so many evil things, that at last +the King let himself be persuaded and sentenced her to death. +</p> + +<p> +And now a great fire was lighted in the courtyard in which she was to be burnt, +and the King stood above at the window and looked on with tearful eyes, because +he still loved her so much. And when she was bound fast to the stake, and the +fire was licking at her clothes with its red tongue, the last instant of the +seven years expired. Then a whirring sound was heard in the air, and twelve +ravens came flying towards the place, and sank downwards, and when they touched +the earth they were her twelve brothers, whom she had delivered. They tore the +fire asunder, extinguished the flames, set their dear sister free, and kissed +and embraced her. And now as she dared to open her mouth and speak, she told +the King why she had been dumb, and had never laughed. The King rejoiced when +he heard that she was innocent, and they all lived in great unity until their +death. The wicked step-mother was taken before the judge, and put into a barrel +filled with boiling oil and venomous snakes, and died an evil death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap10"></a>10 The Pack of Ragamuffins</h3> + +<p> +The cock once said to the hen, “It is now the time when our nuts are +ripe, so let us go to the hill together and for once eat our fill before the +squirrel takes them all away.” “Yes,” replied the hen, +“come, we will have some pleasure together.” Then they went away to +the hill, and on it was a bright day they stayed till evening. Now I do not +know whether it was that they had eaten till they were too fat, or whether they +had become proud, but they would not go home on foot, and the cock had to build +a little carriage of nut-shells. When it was ready, the little hen seated +herself in it and said to the cock, “Thou canst just harness thyself to +it.” “I like that!” said the cock, “I would rather go +home on foot than let myself be harnessed to it; no, that is not our bargain. I +do not mind being coachman and sitting on the box, but drag it myself I will +not.” +</p> + +<p> +As they were thus disputing, a duck quacked to them, “You thieving folks, +who bade you go to my nut-hill? Well, you shall suffer for it!” and ran +with open beak at the cock. But the cock also was not idle, and fell boldly on +the duck, and at last wounded her so with his spurs that she also begged for +mercy, and willingly let herself be harnessed to the carriage as a punishment. +The little cock now seated himself on the box and was coachman, and thereupon +they went off in a gallop, with “Duck, go as fast as thou canst.” +When they had driven 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 +as dark as pitch, and then they could not go a step further, and that it was so +dirty on the road, and asked if they could not get into the carriage for a +while. They had been at the tailor’s public-house by the gate, and had +stayed too long over the beer. As they were thin people, who did not take up +much room, the cock let them both get in, but they had to promise him and his +little hen not to step on their feet. Late in the evening they came to an inn, +and as they did not like to go further by night, and as the duck also was not +strong on her feet, and fell from one side to the other, they went in. The host +at first made many objections, his house was already full, besides he thought +they could not be very distinguished persons; but at last, as they made +pleasant speeches, and told him that he should have the egg which the little +hen has laid on the way, and should likewise keep the duck, which laid one +every day, he at length said that they might stay the night. And now they had +themselves well served, and feasted and rioted. Early in the morning, when day +was breaking, and every one was asleep, the cock awoke the hen, brought the +egg, pecked it open, and they ate it together, but they threw the shell on the +hearth. Then they went to the needle which was still asleep, took it by the +head and stuck it into the cushion of the landlord’s chair, and put the +pin in his towel, and at the last without more ado they flew away over the +heath. The duck who liked to sleep in the open air and had stayed in the yard, +heard them going away, made herself merry and found a stream, down which she +swam, which was a much quicker way of travelling than being harnessed to a +carriage. The host did not get out of bed for two hours after this; he washed +himself and wanted to dry himself, then the pin went over his face and made a +red streak from one ear to the other. After this he went into the kitchen and +wanted to light a pipe, but when he came to the hearth the egg-shell darted +into his eyes. “This morning everything attacks my head,” said he, +and angrily sat down on his grandfather’s chair, but he quickly started +up again and cried, “Woe is me,” for the needle had pricked him +still worse than the pin, and not in the head. Now he was thoroughly angry, and +suspected the guests who had come so late the night before, and when he went +and looked about for them, they were gone. Then he made a vow to take no more +ragamuffins into his house, for they consume much, pay for nothing, and play +mischievous tricks into the bargain by way of gratitude. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap11"></a>11 Little Brother and Little Sister</h3> + +<p> +Little brother took his little sister by the hand and said, “Since our +mother died we have had no happiness; our step-mother beats us every day, and +if we come near her she kicks us away with her foot. Our meals are the hard +crusts of bread that are left over; and the little dog under the table is +better off, for she often throws it a nice bit. May Heaven pity us. If our +mother only knew! Come, we will go forth together into the wide world.” +</p> + +<p> +They walked the whole day over meadows, fields, and stony places; and when it +rained the little sister said, “Heaven and our hearts are weeping +together.” In the evening they came to a large forest, and they were so +weary with sorrow and hunger and the long walk, that they lay down in a hollow +tree and fell asleep. +</p> + +<p> +The next day when they awoke, the sun was already high in the sky, and shone +down hot into the tree. Then the brother said, “Sister, I am thirsty; if +I knew of a little brook I would go and just take a drink; I think I hear one +running.” The brother got up and took the little sister by the hand, and +they set off to find the brook. +</p> + +<p> +But the wicked step-mother was a witch, and had seen how the two children had +gone away, and had crept after them privily, as witches do creep, and had +bewitched all the brooks in the forest. +</p> + +<p> +Now when they found a little brook leaping brightly over the stones, the +brother was going to drink out of it, but the sister heard how it said as it +ran, “Who drinks of me will be a tiger; who drinks of me will be a +tiger.” Then the sister cried, “Pray, dear brother, do not drink, +or you will become a wild beast, and tear me to pieces.” The brother did +not drink, although he was so thirsty, but said, “I will wait for the +next spring.” +</p> + +<p> +When they came to the next brook the sister heard this also say, “Who +drinks of me will be a wolf; who drinks of me will be a wolf.” Then the +sister cried out, “Pray, dear brother, do not drink, or you will become a +wolf, and devour me.” The brother did not drink, and said, “I will +wait until we come to the next spring, but then I must drink, say what you +like; for my thirst is too great.” +</p> + +<p> +And when they came to the third brook the sister heard how it said as it ran, +“Who drinks of me will be a roebuck; who drinks of me will be a +roebuck.” The sister said, “Oh, I pray you, dear brother, do not +drink, or you will become a roebuck, and run away from me.” But the +brother had knelt down at once by the brook, and had bent down and drunk some +of the water, and as soon as the first drops touched his lips he lay there a +young roebuck. +</p> + +<p> +And now the sister wept over her poor bewitched brother, and the little roe +wept also, and sat sorrowfully near to her. But at last the girl said, +“Be quiet, dear little roe, I will never, never leave you.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she untied her golden garter and put it round the roebuck’s neck, +and she plucked rushes and wove them into a soft cord. With this she tied the +little beast and led it on, and she walked deeper and deeper into the forest. +</p> + +<p> +And when they had gone a very long way they came at last to a little house, and +the girl looked in; and as it was empty, she thought, “We can stay here +and live.” Then she sought for leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the +roe; and every morning she went out and gathered roots and berries and nuts for +herself, and brought tender grass for the roe, who ate out of her hand, and was +content and played round about her. In the evening, when the sister was tired, +and had said her prayer, she laid her head upon the roebuck’s back: that +was her pillow, and she slept softly on it. And if only the brother had had his +human form it would have been a delightful life. +</p> + +<p> +For some time they were alone like this in the wilderness. But it happened that +the King of the country held a great hunt in the forest. Then the blasts of the +horns, the barking of dogs, and the merry shouts of the huntsmen rang through +the trees, and the roebuck heard all, and was only too anxious to be there. +“Oh,” said he, to his sister, “let me be off to the hunt, I +cannot bear it any longer;” and he begged so much that at last she +agreed. “But,” said she to him, “come back to me in the +evening; I must shut my door for fear of the rough huntsmen, so knock and say, +‘My little sister, let me in!’ that I may know you; and if you do +not say that, I shall not open the door.” Then the young roebuck sprang +away; so happy was he and so merry in the open air. +</p> + +<p> +The King and the huntsmen saw the pretty creature, and started after him, but +they could not catch him, and when they thought that they surely had him, away +he sprang through the bushes and could not be seen. When it was dark he ran to +the cottage, knocked, and said, “My little sister, let me in.” Then +the door was opened for him, and he jumped in, and rested himself the whole +night through upon his soft bed. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the hunt went on afresh, and when the roebuck again heard the +bugle-horn, and the ho! ho! of the huntsmen, he had no peace, but said, +“Sister, let me out, I must be off.” His sister opened the door for +him, and said, “But you must be here again in the evening and say your +pass-word.” +</p> + +<p> +When the King and his huntsmen again saw the young roebuck with the golden +collar, they all chased him, but he was too quick and nimble for them. This +went on for the whole day, but at last by the evening the huntsmen had +surrounded him, and one of them wounded him a little in the foot, so that he +limped and ran slowly. Then a hunter crept after him to the cottage and heard +how he said, “My little sister, let me in,” and saw that the door +was opened for him, and was shut again at once. The huntsman took notice of it +all, and went to the King and told him what he had seen and heard. Then the +King said, “To-morrow we will hunt once more.” +</p> + +<p> +The little sister, however, was dreadfully frightened when she saw that her +fawn was hurt. She washed the blood off him, laid herbs on the wound, and said, +“Go to your bed, dear roe, that you may get well again.” But the +wound was so slight that the roebuck, next morning, did not feel it any more. +And when he again heard the sport outside, he said, “I cannot bear it, I +must be there; they shall not find it so easy to catch me.” The sister +cried, and said, “This time they will kill you, and here am I alone in +the forest and forsaken by all the world. I will not let you out.” +“Then you will have me die of grief,” answered the roe; “when +I hear the bugle-horns I feel as if I must jump out of my skin.” Then the +sister could not do otherwise, but opened the door for him with a heavy heart, +and the roebuck, full of health and joy, bounded into the forest. +</p> + +<p> +When the King saw him, he said to his huntsmen, “Now chase him all day +long till night-fall, but take care that no one does him any harm.” +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the sun had set, the King said to the huntsman, “Now come and +show me the cottage in the wood;” and when he was at the door, he knocked +and called out, “Dear little sister, let me in.” Then the door +opened, and the King walked in, and there stood a maiden more lovely than any +he had ever seen. The maiden was frightened when she saw, not her little roe, +but a man come in who wore a golden crown upon his head. But the King looked +kindly at her, stretched out his hand, and said, “Will you go with me to +my palace and be my dear wife?” “Yes, indeed,” answered the +maiden, “but the little roe must go with me, I cannot leave him.” +The King said, “It shall stay with you as long as you live, and shall +want nothing.” Just then he came running in, and the sister again tied +him with the cord of rushes, took it in her own hand, and went away with the +King from the cottage. +</p> + +<p> +The King took the lovely maiden upon his horse and carried her to his palace, +where the wedding was held with great pomp. She was now the Queen, and they +lived for a long time happily together; the roebuck was tended and cherished, +and ran about in the palace-garden. +</p> + +<p> +But the wicked step-mother, because of whom the children had gone out into the +world, thought all the time that the sister had been torn to pieces by the wild +beasts in the wood, and that the brother had been shot for a roebuck by the +huntsmen. Now when she heard that they were so happy, and so well off, envy and +hatred rose in her heart and left her no peace, and she thought of nothing but +how she could bring them again to misfortune. Her own daughter, who was ugly as +night, and had only one eye, grumbled at her and said, “A Queen! that +ought to have been my luck.” “Only be quiet,” answered the +old woman, and comforted her by saying, “when the time comes I shall be +ready.” +</p> + +<p> +As time went on, the Queen had a pretty little boy, and it happened that the +King was out hunting; so the old witch took the form of the chamber-maid, went +into the room where the Queen lay, and said to her, “Come, the bath is +ready; it will do you good, and give you fresh strength; make haste before it +gets cold.” +</p> + +<p> +The daughter also was close by; so they carried the weakly Queen into the +bath-room, and put her into the bath; then they shut the door and ran away. But +in the bath-room they had made a fire of such deadly heat that the beautiful +young Queen was soon suffocated. +</p> + +<p> +When this was done the old woman took her daughter, put a nightcap on her head, +and laid her in bed in place of the Queen. She gave her too the shape and the +look of the Queen, only she could not make good the lost eye. But in order that +the King might not see it, she was to lie on the side on which she had no eye. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening when he came home and heard that he had a son he was heartily +glad, and was going to the bed of his dear wife to see how she was. But the old +woman quickly called out, “For your life leave the curtains closed; the +Queen ought not to see the light yet, and must have rest.” The King went +away, and did not find out that a false Queen was lying in the bed. +</p> + +<p> +But at midnight, when all slept, the nurse, who was sitting in the nursery by +the cradle, and who was the only person awake, saw the door open and the true +Queen walk in. She took the child out of the cradle, laid it on her arm, and +suckled it. Then she shook up its pillow, laid the child down again, and +covered it with the little quilt. And she did not forget the roebuck, but went +into the corner where it lay, and stroked its back. Then she went quite +silently out of the door again. The next morning the nurse asked the guards +whether anyone had come into the palace during the night, but they answered, +“No, we have seen no one.” +</p> + +<p> +She came thus many nights and never spoke a word: the nurse always saw her, but +she did not dare to tell anyone about it. +</p> + +<p> +When some time had passed in this manner, the Queen began to speak in the +night, and said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“How fares my child, how fares my roe?<br/> +Twice shall I come, then never more.” +</p> + +<p> +The nurse did not answer, but when the Queen had gone again, went to the King +and told him all. The King said, “Ah, heavens! what is this? To-morrow +night I will watch by the child.” In the evening he went into the +nursery, and at midnight the Queen again appeared and said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“How fares my child, how fares my roe?<br/> +Once will I come, then never more.” +</p> + +<p> +And she nursed the child as she was wont to do before she disappeared. The King +dared not speak to her, but on the next night he watched again. Then she +said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“How fares my child, how fares my roe?<br/> +This time I come, then never more.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then the King could not restrain himself; he sprang towards her, and said, +“You can be none other than my dear wife.” She answered, +“Yes, I am your dear wife,” and at the same moment she received +life again, and by God’s grace became fresh, rosy, and full of health. +</p> + +<p> +Then she told the King the evil deed which the wicked witch and her daughter +had been guilty of towards her. The King ordered both to be led before the +judge, and judgment was delivered against them. The daughter was taken into the +forest where she was torn to pieces by wild beasts, but the witch was cast into +the fire and miserably burnt. And as soon as she was burnt the roebuck changed +his shape, and received his human form again, so the sister and brother lived +happily together all their lives. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap12"></a>12 Rapunzel</h3> + +<p> +There were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a child. At +length the woman hoped that God was about to grant her desire. These people had +a little window at the back of their house from which a splendid garden could +be seen, which was full of the most beautiful flowers and herbs. It was, +however, surrounded by a high wall, and no one dared to go into it because it +belonged to an enchantress, who had great power and was dreaded by all the +world. One day the woman was standing by this window and looking down into the +garden, when she saw a bed which was planted with the most beautiful rampion +(rapunzel), and it looked so fresh and green that she longed for it, and had +the greatest desire to eat some. This desire increased every day, and as she +knew that she could not get any of it, she quite pined away, and looked pale +and miserable. Then her husband was alarmed, and asked, “What aileth +thee, dear wife?” “Ah,” she replied, “if I can’t +get some of the rampion, which is in the garden behind our house, to eat, I +shall die.” The man, who loved her, thought, “Sooner than let thy +wife die, bring her some of the rampion thyself, let it cost thee what it +will.” In the twilight of the evening, he clambered down over the wall +into the garden of the enchantress, hastily clutched a handful of rampion, and +took it to his wife. She at once made herself a salad of it, and ate it with +much relish. She, however, liked it so much—so very much, that the next +day she longed for it three times as much as before. If he was to have any +rest, her husband must once more descend into the garden. In the gloom of +evening, therefore, he let himself down again; but when he had clambered down +the wall he was terribly afraid, for he saw the enchantress standing before +him. “How canst thou dare,” said she with angry look, “to +descend into my garden and steal my rampion like a thief? Thou shalt suffer for +it!” “Ah,” answered he, “let mercy take the place of +justice, I only made up my mind to do it out of necessity. My wife saw your +rampion from the window, and felt such a longing for it that she would have +died if she had not got some to eat.” Then the enchantress allowed her +anger to be softened, and said to him, “If the case be as thou sayest, I +will allow thee to take away with thee as much rampion as thou wilt, only I +make one condition, thou must give me the child which thy wife will bring into +the world; it shall be well treated, and I will care for it like a +mother.” The man in his terror consented to everything, and when the +woman was brought to bed, the enchantress appeared at once, gave the child the +name of Rapunzel, and took it away with her. +</p> + +<p> +Rapunzel grew into the most beautiful child beneath the sun. When she was +twelve years old, the enchantress shut her into a tower, which lay in a forest, +and had neither stairs nor door, but quite at the top was a little window. When +the enchantress wanted to go in, she placed herself beneath it and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Rapunzel, Rapunzel,<br/> +Let down thy hair to me.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Rapunzel had magnificent long hair, fine as spun gold, and when she heard the +voice of the enchantress she unfastened her braided tresses, wound them round +one of the hooks of the window above, and then the hair fell twenty ells down, +and the enchantress climbed up by it. +</p> + +<p> +After a year or two, it came to pass that the King’s son rode through the +forest and went by the tower. Then he heard a song, which was so charming that +he stood still and listened. This was Rapunzel, who in her solitude passed her +time in letting her sweet voice resound. The King’s son wanted to climb +up to her, and looked for the door of the tower, but none was to be found. He +rode home, but the singing had so deeply touched his heart, that every day he +went out into the forest and listened to it. Once when he was thus standing +behind a tree, he saw that an enchantress came there, and he heard how she +cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Rapunzel, Rapunzel,<br/> +Let down thy hair.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then Rapunzel let down the braids of her hair, and the enchantress climbed up +to her. “If that is the ladder by which one mounts, I will for once try +my fortune,” said he, and the next day when it began to grow dark, he +went to the tower and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Rapunzel, Rapunzel,<br/> +Let down thy hair.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Immediately the hair fell down and the King’s son climbed up. +</p> + +<p> +At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man such as her eyes had never +yet beheld, came to her; but the King’s son began to talk to her quite +like a friend, and told her that his heart had been so stirred that it had let +him have no rest, and he had been forced to see her. Then Rapunzel lost her +fear, and when he asked her if she would take him for her husband, and she saw +that he was young and handsome, she thought, “He will love me more than +old Dame Gothel does;” and she said yes, and laid her hand in his. She +said, “I will willingly go away with thee, but I do not know how to get +down. Bring with thee a skein of silk every time that thou comest, and I will +weave a ladder with it, and when that is ready I will descend, and thou wilt +take me on thy horse.” They agreed that until that time he should come to +her every evening, for the old woman came by day. The enchantress remarked +nothing of this, until once Rapunzel said to her, “Tell me, Dame Gothel, +how it happens that you are so much heavier for me to draw up than the young +King’s son—he is with me in a moment.” “Ah! thou wicked +child,” cried the enchantress “What do I hear thee say! I thought I +had separated thee from all the world, and yet thou hast deceived me.” In +her anger she clutched Rapunzel’s beautiful tresses, wrapped them twice +round her left hand, seized a pair of scissors with the right, and snip, snap, +they were cut off, and the lovely braids lay on the ground. And she was so +pitiless that she took poor Rapunzel into a desert where she had to live in +great grief and misery. +</p> + +<p> +On the same day, however, that she cast out Rapunzel, the enchantress in the +evening fastened the braids of hair which she had cut off, to the hook of the +window, and when the King’s son came and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Rapunzel, Rapunzel,<br/> +Let down thy hair,” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +she let the hair down. The King’s son ascended, but he did not find his +dearest Rapunzel above, but the enchantress, who gazed at him with wicked and +venomous looks. “Aha!” she cried mockingly, “Thou wouldst +fetch thy dearest, but the beautiful bird sits no longer singing in the nest; +the cat has got it, and will scratch out thy eyes as well. Rapunzel is lost to +thee; thou wilt never see her more.” The King’s son was beside +himself with pain, and in his despair he leapt down from the tower. He escaped +with his life, but the thorns into which he fell, pierced his eyes. Then he +wandered quite blind about the forest, ate nothing but roots and berries, and +did nothing but lament and weep over the loss of his dearest wife. Thus he +roamed about in misery for some years, and at length came to the desert where +Rapunzel, with the twins to which she had given birth, a boy and a girl, lived +in wretchedness. He heard a voice, and it seemed so familiar to him that he +went towards it, and when he approached, Rapunzel knew him and fell on his neck +and wept. Two of her tears wetted his eyes and they grew clear again, and he +could see with them as before. He led her to his kingdom where he was joyfully +received, and they lived for a long time afterwards, happy and contented. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap13"></a>13 The Three Little Men in the Wood</h3> + +<p> +There was once a man whose wife died, and a woman whose husband died, and the +man had a daughter, and the woman also had a daughter. The girls were +acquainted with each other, and went out walking together, and afterwards came +to the woman in her house. Then said she to the man’s daughter, +“Listen, tell thy father that I would like to marry him, and then thou +shalt wash thyself in milk every morning, and drink wine, but my own daughter +shall wash herself in water and drink water.” 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 length as he could come to no +decision, he pulled off his boot, and said, “Take this boot, it has a +hole in the sole of it. Go with it up to the loft, hang it on the big nail, and +then pour water into it. If it hold the water, then I will again take a wife, +but if it run through, I will not.” The girl did as she was ordered, but +the water drew the hole together, and the boot became full to the top. She +informed her father how it had turned out. Then he himself went up, and when he +saw that she was right, he went to the widow and wooed her, and the wedding was +celebrated. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning, when the two girls got up, there stood before the man’s +daughter milk for her to wash in and wine for her to drink, but before the +woman’s daughter stood water to wash herself with and water for drinking. +On the second morning, stood water for washing and water for drinking before +the man’s daughter as well as before the woman’s daughter. And on +the third morning stood water for washing and water for drinking before the +man’s daughter, and milk for washing and wine for drinking, before the +woman’s daughter, and so it continued. The woman became bitterly unkind +to her step-daughter, and day by day did her best to treat her still worse. She +was also envious because her step-daughter was beautiful and lovable, and her +own daughter ugly and repulsive. +</p> + +<p> +Once, in winter, when everything was frozen as hard as a stone, and hill and +vale lay covered with snow, the woman made a frock of paper, called her +step-daughter, and said, “Here, put on this dress and go out into the +wood, and fetch me a little basketful of strawberries,—I have a fancy for +some.” “Good heavens!” said the girl, “no strawberries +grow in winter! The ground is frozen, and besides the snow has covered +everything. And why am I to go in this paper frock? It is so cold outside that +one’s very breath freezes! The wind will blow through the frock, and the +thorns will tear it off my body.” “Wilt thou contradict me +again?” said the stepmother, “See that thou goest, and do not show +thy face again until thou hast the basketful of strawberries!” Then she +gave her a little piece of hard bread, and said, “This will last thee the +day,” and thought, “Thou wilt die of cold and hunger outside, and +wilt never be seen again by me.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the maiden was obedient, and put on the paper frock, and went out with the +basket. Far and wide there was nothing but snow, and not a green blade to be +seen. When she got into the wood she saw a small house out of which peeped +three dwarfs. She wished them good day, and knocked modestly at the door. They +cried, “Come in,” and she entered the room and seated herself on +the bench by the stove, where she began to warm herself and eat her breakfast. +The elves said, “Give us, too, some of it.” +“Willingly,” she said, and divided her bit of bread in two and gave +them the half. They asked, “What dost thou here in the forest in the +winter time, in thy thin dress?” “Ah,” she answered, “I +am to look for a basketful of strawberries, and am not to go home until I can +take them with me.” When she had eaten her bread, they gave her a broom +and said, “Sweep away the snow at the back door with it.” But when +she was outside, the three little men said to each other, “What shall we +give her as she is so good, and has shared her bread with us?” Then said +the first, “My gift is, that she shall every day grow more +beautiful.” The second said, “My gift is, that gold pieces shall +fall out of her mouth every time she speaks.” The third said, “My +gift is, that a king shall come and take her to wife.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl, however, did as the little men had bidden her, swept away the snow +behind the little house with the broom, and what did she find but real ripe +strawberries, which came up quite dark-red out of the snow! In her joy she +hastily gathered her basket full, thanked the little men, shook hands with each +of them, and ran home to take her step-mother what she had longed for so much. +When she went in and said good-evening, a piece of gold at once fell from her +mouth. Thereupon she related what had happened to her in the wood, but with +every word she spoke, gold pieces fell from her mouth, until very soon the +whole room was covered with them. “Now look at her arrogance,” +cried the step-sister, “to throw about gold in that way!” but she +was secretly envious of it, and wanted to go into the forest also to seek +strawberries. The mother said, “No, my dear little daughter, it is too +cold, thou mightest die of cold.” However, as her daughter let her have +no peace, the mother at last yielded, made her a magnificent dress of fur, +which she was obliged to put on, and gave her bread-and-butter and cake with +her. +</p> + +<p> +The girl went into the forest and straight up to the little house. The three +little elves peeped out again, but she did not greet them, and without looking +round at them and without speaking to them, she went awkwardly into the room, +seated herself by the stove, and began to eat her bread-and-butter and cake. +“Give us some of it,” cried the little men; but she replied, +“There is not enough for myself, so how can I give it away to other +people?” When she had done eating, they said, “There is a broom for +thee, sweep all clean for us outside by the back-door.” “Humph! +Sweep for yourselves,” she answered, “I am not your servant.” +When she saw that they were not going to give her anything, she went out by the +door. Then the little men said to each other, “What shall we give her as +she is so naughty, and has a wicked envious heart, that will never let her do a +good turn to any one?” The first said, “I grant that she may grow +uglier every day.” The second said, “I grant that at every word she +says, a toad shall spring out of her mouth.” The third said, “I +grant that she may die a miserable death.” The maiden looked for +strawberries outside, but as she found none, she went angrily home. And when +she opened her mouth, and was about to tell her mother what had happened to her +in the wood, with every word she said, a toad sprang out of her mouth, so that +every one was seized with horror of her. +</p> + +<p> +Then the step-mother was still more enraged, and thought of nothing but how to +do every possible injury to the man’s daughter, whose beauty, however, +grew daily greater. At length she took a cauldron, set it on the fire, and +boiled yarn in it. When it was boiled, she flung it on the poor girl’s +shoulder, and gave her an axe in order that she might go on the frozen river, +cut a hole in the ice, and rinse the yarn. She was obedient, went thither and +cut a hole in the ice; and while she was in the midst of her cutting, a +splendid carriage came driving up, in which sat the King. The carriage stopped, +and the King asked,”My child, who are thou, and what art thou doing +here?” “I am a poor girl, and I am rinsing yarn.” Then the +King felt compassion, and when he saw that she was so very beautiful, he said +to her, “Wilt thou go away with me?” “Ah, yes, with all my +heart,” she answered, for she was glad to get away from the mother and +sister. +</p> + +<p> +So she got into the carriage and drove away with the King, and when they +arrived at his palace, the wedding was celebrated with great pomp, as the +little men had granted to the maiden. When a year was over, the young Queen +bore a son, and as the step-mother had heard of her great good-fortune, she +came with her daughter to the palace and pretended that she wanted to pay her a +visit. Once, however, when the King had gone out, and no one else was present, +the wicked woman seized the Queen by the head, and her daughter seized her by +the feet, and they lifted her out of the bed, and threw her out of the window +into the stream which flowed by. Then the ugly daughter laid herself in the +bed, and the old woman covered her up over her head. When the King came home +again and wanted to speak to his wife, the old woman cried, “Hush, hush, +that can’t be now, she is lying in a violent perspiration; you must let +her rest to-day.” The King suspected no evil, and did not come back again +till next morning; and as he talked with his wife and she answered him, with +every word a toad leaped out, whereas formerly a piece of gold had fallen out. +Then he asked what that could be, but the old woman said that she had got that +from the violent perspiration, and would soon lose it again. During the night, +however, the scullion saw a duck come swimming up the gutter, and it said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“King, what art thou doing now?<br/> +Sleepest thou, or wakest thou?” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as he returned no answer, it said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“And my guests, What may they do?” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The scullion said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“They are sleeping soundly, too.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then it asked again, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“What does little baby mine?” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Sleepeth in her cradle fine.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she went upstairs in the form of the Queen, nursed the baby, shook up its +little bed, covered it over, and then swam away again down the gutter in the +shape of a duck. She came thus for two nights; on the third, she said to the +scullion, “Go and tell the King to take his sword and swing it three +times over me on the threshold.” Then the scullion ran and told this to +the King, who came with his sword and swung it thrice over the spirit, and at +the third time, his wife stood before him strong, living, and healthy as she +had been before. Thereupon the King was full of great joy, but he kept the +Queen hidden in a chamber until the Sunday, when the baby was to be christened. +And when it was christened he said, “What does a person deserve who drags +another out of bed and throws him in the water?” “The wretch +deserves nothing better,” answered the old woman, “than to be taken +and put in a barrel stuck full of nails, and rolled down hill into the +water.” “Then,” said the King, “Thou hast pronounced +thine own sentence;” and he ordered such a barrel to be brought, and the +old woman to be put into it with her daughter, and then the top was hammered +on, and the barrel rolled down hill until it went into the river. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap14"></a>14 The Three Spinners</h3> + +<p> +There was once a girl who was idle and would not spin, and let her mother say +what she would, she could not bring her to it. At last the mother was once so +overcome with anger and impatience, that she beat her, on which the girl began +to weep loudly. Now at this very moment the Queen drove by, and when she heard +the weeping she stopped her carriage, went into the house and asked the mother +why she was beating her daughter so that the cries could be heard out on the +road? Then the woman was ashamed to reveal the laziness of her daughter and +said, “I cannot get her to leave off spinning. She insists on spinning +for ever and ever, and I am poor, and cannot procure the flax.” Then +answered the Queen, “There is nothing that I like better to hear than +spinning, and I am never happier than when the wheels are humming. Let me have +your daughter with me in the palace. I have flax enough, and there she shall +spin as much as she likes.” The mother was heartily satisfied with this, +and the Queen took the girl with her. When they had arrived at the palace, she +led her up into three rooms which were filled from the bottom to the top with +the finest flax. “Now spin me this flax,” said she, “and when +thou hast done it, thou shalt have my eldest son for a husband, even if thou +art poor. I care not for that, thy indefatigable industry is dowry +enough.” The girl was secretly terrified, for she could not have spun the +flax, no, not if she had lived till she was three hundred years old, and had +sat at it every day from morning till night. When therefore she was alone, she +began to weep, and sat thus for three days without moving a finger. On the +third day came the Queen, and when she saw that nothing had been spun yet, she +was surprised; but the girl excused herself by saying that she had not been +able to begin because of her great distress at leaving her mother’s +house. The queen was satisfied with this, but said when she was going away, +“To-morrow thou must begin to work.” +</p> + +<p> +When the girl was alone again, she did not know what to do, and in her distress +went to the window. Then she saw three women coming towards her, the first of +whom had a broad flat foot, the second had such a great underlip that it hung +down over her chin, and the third had a broad thumb. They remained standing +before the window, looked up, and asked the girl what was amiss with her? She +complained of her trouble, and then they offered her their help and said, +“If thou wilt invite us to the wedding, not be ashamed of us, and wilt +call us thine aunts, and likewise wilt place us at thy table, we will spin up +the flax for thee, and that in a very short time.” “With all my +heart,” she replied, “do but come in and begin the work at +once.” Then she let in the three strange women, and cleared a place in +the first room, where they seated themselves and began their spinning. The one +drew the thread and trod the wheel, the other wetted the thread, the third +twisted it, and struck the table with her finger, and as often as she struck +it, a skein of thread fell to the ground that was spun in the finest manner +possible. The girl concealed the three spinners from the Queen, and showed her +whenever she came the great quantity of spun thread, until the latter could not +praise her enough. When the first room was empty she went to the second, and at +last to the third, and that too was quickly cleared. Then the three women took +leave and said to the girl, “Do not forget what thou hast promised +us,—it will make thy fortune.” +</p> + +<p> +When the maiden showed the Queen the empty rooms, and the great heap of yarn, +she gave orders for the wedding, and the bridegroom rejoiced that he was to +have such a clever and industrious wife, and praised her mightily. “I +have three aunts,” said the girl, “and as they have been very kind +to me, I should not like to forget them in my good fortune; allow me to invite +them to the wedding, and let them sit with us at table.” The Queen and +the bridegroom said, “Why should we not allow that?” Therefore when +the feast began, the three women entered in strange apparel, and the bride +said, “Welcome, dear aunts.” “Ah,” said the bridegroom, +“how comest thou by these odious friends?” Thereupon he went to the +one with the broad flat foot, and said, “How do you come by such a broad +foot?” “By treading,” she answered, “by +treading.” Then the bridegroom went to the second, and said, “How +do you come by your falling lip?” “By licking,” she answered, +“by licking.” Then he asked the third, “How do you come by +your broad thumb?” “By twisting the thread,” she answered, +“by twisting the thread.” On this the King’s son was alarmed +and said, “Neither now nor ever shall my beautiful bride touch a +spinning-wheel.” And thus she got rid of the hateful flax-spinning. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap15"></a>15 Hansel and Grethel</h3> + +<p> +Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two +children. The boy was called Hansel and the girl Grethel. He had little to bite +and to break, and once when great scarcity fell on the land, he could no longer +procure daily bread. Now when he thought over this by night in his bed, and +tossed about in his anxiety, he groaned and said to his wife, “What is to +become of us? How are we to feed our poor children, when we no longer have +anything even for ourselves?” “I’ll tell you what, +husband,” answered the woman, “Early to-morrow morning we will take +the children out into the forest to where it is the thickest, there we will +light a fire for them, and give each of them one piece of bread more, and then +we will go to our work and leave them alone. They will not find the way home +again, and we shall be rid of them.” “No, wife,” said the +man, “I will not do that; how can I bear to leave my children alone in +the forest?—the wild animals would soon come and tear them to +pieces.” “O, thou fool!” said she, “Then we must all +four die of hunger, thou mayest as well plane the planks for our +coffins,” and she left him no peace until he consented. “But I feel +very sorry for the poor children, all the same,” said the man. +</p> + +<p> +The two children had also not been able to sleep for hunger, and had heard what +their step-mother had said to their father. Grethel wept bitter tears, and said +to Hansel, “Now all is over with us.” “Be quiet, +Grethel,” said Hansel, “do not distress thyself, I will soon find a +way to help us.” And when the old folks had fallen asleep, he got up, put +on his little coat, opened the door below, and crept outside. The moon shone +brightly, and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house glittered like +real silver pennies. Hansel stooped and put as many of them in the little +pocket of his coat as he could possibly get in. Then he went back and said to +Grethel, “Be comforted, dear little sister, and sleep in peace, God will +not forsake us,” and he lay down again in his bed. When day dawned, but +before the sun had risen, the woman came and awoke the two children, saying +“Get up, you sluggards! we are going into the forest to fetch +wood.” She gave each a little piece of bread, and said, “There is +something for your dinner, but do not eat it up before then, for you will get +nothing else.” Grethel took the bread under her apron, as Hansel had the +stones in his pocket. Then they all set out together on the way to the forest. +When they had walked a short time, Hansel stood still and peeped back at the +house, and did so again and again. His father said, “Hansel, what art +thou looking at there and staying behind for? Mind what thou art about, and do +not forget how to use thy legs.” “Ah, father,” said Hansel, +“I am looking at my little white cat, which is sitting up on the roof, +and wants to say good-bye to me.” The wife said, “Fool, that is not +thy little cat, that is the morning sun which is shining on the +chimneys.” Hansel, however, had not been looking back at the cat, but had +been constantly throwing one of the white pebble-stones out of his pocket on +the road. +</p> + +<p> +When they had reached the middle of the forest, the father said, “Now, +children, pile up some wood, and I will light a fire that you may not be +cold.” Hansel and Grethel gathered brushwood together, as high as a +little hill. The brushwood was lighted, and when the flames were burning very +high, the woman said, “Now, children, lay yourselves down by the fire and +rest, we will go into the forest and cut some wood. When we have done, we will +come back and fetch you away.” +</p> + +<p> +Hansel and Grethel sat by the fire, and when noon came, each ate a little piece +of bread, and as they heard the strokes of the wood-axe they believed that +their father was near. It was not, however, the axe, it was a branch which he +had fastened to a withered tree which the wind was blowing backwards and +forwards. And as they had been sitting such a long time, their eyes shut with +fatigue, and they fell fast asleep. When at last they awoke, it was already +dark night. Grethel began to cry and said, “How are we to get out of the +forest now?” But Hansel comforted her and said, “Just wait a +little, until the moon has risen, and then we will soon find the way.” +And when the full moon had risen, Hansel took his little sister by the hand, +and followed the pebbles which shone like newly-coined silver pieces, and +showed them the way. +</p> + +<p> +They walked the whole night long, and by break of day came once more to their +father’s house. They knocked at the door, and when the woman opened it +and saw that it was Hansel and Grethel, she said, “You naughty children, +why have you slept so long in the forest?—we thought you were never +coming back at all!” The father, however, rejoiced, for it had cut him to +the heart to leave them behind alone. +</p> + +<p> +Not long afterwards, there was once more great scarcity in all parts, and the +children heard their mother saying at night to their father, “Everything +is eaten again, we have one half loaf left, and after that there is an end. The +children must go, we will take them farther into the wood, so that they will +not find their way out again; there is no other means of saving +ourselves!” The man’s heart was heavy, and he thought “it +would be better for thee to share the last mouthful with thy children.” +The woman, however, would listen to nothing that he had to say, but scolded and +reproached him. He who says A must say B, likewise, and as he had yielded the +first time, he had to do so a second time also. +</p> + +<p> +The children were, however, still awake and had heard the conversation. When +the old folks were asleep, Hansel again got up, and wanted to go out and pick +up pebbles as he had done before, but the woman had locked the door, and Hansel +could not get out. Nevertheless he comforted his little sister, and said, +“Do not cry, Grethel, go to sleep quietly, the good God will help +us.” +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning came the woman, and took the children out of their beds. +Their bit of bread was given to them, but it was still smaller than the time +before. On the way into the forest Hansel crumbled his in his pocket, and often +stood still and threw a morsel on the ground. “Hansel, why dost thou stop +and look round?” said the father, “go on.” “I am +looking back at my little pigeon which is sitting on the roof, and wants to say +good-bye to me,” answered Hansel. “Simpleton!” said the +woman, “that is not thy little pigeon, that is the morning sun that is +shining on the chimney.” Hansel, however, little by little, threw all the +crumbs on the path. +</p> + +<p> +The woman led the children still deeper into the forest, where they had never +in their lives been before. Then a great fire was again made, and the mother +said, “Just sit there, you children, and when you are tired you may sleep +a little; we are going into the forest to cut wood, and in the evening when we +are done, we will come and fetch you away.” When it was noon, Grethel +shared her piece of bread with Hansel, who had scattered his by the way. Then +they fell asleep and evening came and went, but no one came to the poor +children. They did not awake until it was dark night, and Hansel comforted his +little sister and said, “Just wait, Grethel, until the moon rises, and +then we shall see the crumbs of bread which I have strewn about, they will show +us our way home again.” When the moon came they set out, but they found +no crumbs, for the many thousands of birds which fly about in the woods and +fields had picked them all up. Hansel said to Grethel, “We shall soon +find the way,” but they did not find it. They walked the whole night and +all the next day too from morning till evening, but they did not get out of the +forest, and were very hungry, for they had nothing to eat but two or three +berries, which grew on the ground. And as they were so weary that their legs +would carry them no longer, they lay down beneath a tree and fell asleep. +</p> + +<p> +It was now three mornings since they had left their father’s house. They +began to walk again, but they always got deeper into the forest, and if help +did not come soon, they must die of hunger and weariness. When it was mid-day, +they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on a bough, which sang so +delightfully that they stood still and listened to it. And when it had finished +its song, it spread its wings and flew away before them, and they followed it +until they reached a little house, on the roof of which it alighted; and when +they came quite up to little house they saw that it was built of bread and +covered with cakes, but that the windows were of clear sugar. “We will +set to work on that,” said Hansel, “and have a good meal. I will +eat a bit of the roof, and thou, Grethel, canst eat some of the window, it will +taste sweet.” Hansel reached up above, and broke off a little of the roof +to try how it tasted, and Grethel leant against the window and nibbled at the +panes. Then a soft voice cried from the room, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Nibble, nibble, gnaw,<br/> +Who is nibbling at my little house?” +</p> + +<p> +The children answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The wind, the wind,<br/> +The heaven-born wind,” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +and went on eating without disturbing themselves. Hansel, who thought the roof +tasted very nice, tore down a great piece of it, and Grethel pushed out the +whole of one round window-pane, sat down, and enjoyed herself with it. Suddenly +the door opened, and a very, very old woman, who supported herself on crutches, +came creeping out. Hansel and Grethel were so terribly frightened that they let +fall what they had in their hands. The old woman, however, nodded her head, and +said, “Oh, you dear children, who has brought you here? Do come in, and +stay with me. No harm shall happen to you.” She took them both by the +hand, and led them into her little house. Then good food was set before them, +milk and pancakes, with sugar, apples, and nuts. Afterwards two pretty little +beds were covered with clean white linen, and Hansel and Grethel lay down in +them, and thought they were in heaven. +</p> + +<p> +The old woman had only pretended to be so kind; she was in reality a wicked +witch, who lay in wait for children, and had only built the little house of +bread in order to entice them there. When a child fell into her power, she +killed it, cooked and ate it, and that was a feast day with her. Witches have +red eyes, and cannot see far, but they have a keen scent like the beasts, and +are aware when human beings draw near. When Hansel and Grethel came into her +neighborhood, she laughed maliciously, and said mockingly, “I have them, +they shall not escape me again!” Early in the morning before the children +were awake, she was already up, and when she saw both of them sleeping and +looking so pretty, with their plump red cheeks, she muttered to herself, +“That will be a dainty mouthful!” Then she seized Hansel with her +shrivelled hand, carried him into a little stable, and shut him in with a +grated door. He might scream as he liked, that was of no use. Then she went to +Grethel, shook her till she awoke, and cried, “Get up, lazy thing, fetch +some water, and cook something good for thy brother, he is in the stable +outside, and is to be made fat. When he is fat, I will eat him.” Grethel +began to weep bitterly, but it was all in vain, she was forced to do what the +wicked witch ordered her. +</p> + +<p> +And now the best food was cooked for poor Hansel, but Grethel got nothing but +crab-shells. Every morning the woman crept to the little stable, and cried, +“Hansel, stretch out thy finger that I may feel if thou wilt soon be +fat.” Hansel, however, stretched out a little bone to her, and the old +woman, who had dim eyes, could not see it, and thought it was Hansel’s +finger, and was astonished that there was no way of fattening him. When four +weeks had gone by, and Hansel still continued thin, she was seized with +impatience and would not wait any longer. “Hola, Grethel,” she +cried to the girl, “be active, and bring some water. Let Hansel be fat or +lean, to-morrow I will kill him, and cook him.” Ah, how the poor little +sister did lament when she had to fetch the water, and how her tears did flow +down over her cheeks! “Dear God, do help us,” she cried. “If +the wild beasts in the forest had but devoured us, we should at any rate have +died together.” “Just keep thy noise to thyself,” said the +old woman, “all that won’t help thee at all.” +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning, Grethel had to go out and hang up the cauldron with the +water, and light the fire. “We will bake first,” said the old +woman, “I have already heated the oven, and kneaded the dough.” She +pushed poor Grethel out to the oven, from which flames of fire were already +darting. “Creep in,” said the witch, “and see if it is +properly heated, so that we can shut the bread in.” And when once Grethel +was inside, she intended to shut the oven and let her bake in it, and then she +would eat her, too. But Grethel saw what she had in her mind, and said, +“I do not know how I am to do it; how do you get in?” “Silly +goose,” said the old woman, “The door is big enough; just look, I +can get in myself!” and she crept up and thrust her head into the oven. +Then Grethel gave her a push that drove her far into it, and shut the iron +door, and fastened the bolt. Oh! then she began to howl quite horribly, but +Grethel ran away, and the godless witch was miserably burnt to death. +</p> + +<p> +Grethel, however, ran like lightning to Hansel, opened his little stable, and +cried, “Hansel, we are saved! The old witch is dead!” Then Hansel +sprang out like a bird from its cage when the door is opened for it. How they +did rejoice and embrace each other, and dance about and kiss each other! And as +they had no longer any need to fear her, they went into the witch’s +house, and in every corner there stood chests full of pearls and jewels. +“These are far better than pebbles!” said Hansel, and thrust into +his pockets whatever could be got in, and Grethel said, “I, too, will +take something home with me,” and filled her pinafore full. “But +now we will go away.” said Hansel, “that we may get out of the +witch’s forest.” +</p> + +<p> +When they had walked for two hours, they came to a great piece of water. +“We cannot get over,” said Hansel, “I see no foot-plank, and +no bridge.” “And no boat crosses either,” answered Grethel, +“but a white duck is swimming there; if I ask her, she will help us +over.” Then she cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Little duck, little duck, dost thou see,<br/> +Hansel and Grethel are waiting for thee?<br/> +There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight,<br/> +Take us across on thy back so white.” +</p> + +<p> +The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his +sister to sit by him. “No,” replied Grethel, “that will be +too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the +other.” The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely +across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more +familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house. +Then they began to run, rushed into the parlour, and threw themselves into +their father’s arms. The man had not known one happy hour since he had +left the children in the forest; the woman, however, was dead. Grethel emptied +her pinafore until pearls and precious stones ran about the room, and Hansel +threw one handful after another out of his pocket to add to them. Then all +anxiety was at an end, and they lived together in perfect happiness. My tale is +done, there runs a mouse, whosoever catches it, may make himself a big fur cap +out of it. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap16"></a>16 The Three Snake-Leaves</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a poor man, who could no longer support his only son. +Then said the son, “Dear father, things go so badly with us that I am a +burden to you. I would rather go away and see how I can earn my bread.” +So the father gave him his blessing, and with great sorrow took leave of him. +At this time the King of a mighty empire was at war, and the youth took service +with him, and with him went out to fight. And when he came before the enemy, +there was a battle, and great danger, and it rained shot until his comrades +fell on all sides, and when the leader also was killed, those left were about +to take flight, but the youth stepped forth, spoke boldly to them, and cried, +“We will not let our fatherland be ruined!” Then the others +followed him, and he pressed on and conquered the enemy. When the King heard +that he owed the victory to him alone, he raised him above all the others, gave +him great treasures, and made him the first in the kingdom. +</p> + +<p> +The King had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also very strange. +She had made a vow to take no one as her lord and husband who did not promise +to let himself be buried alive with her if she died first. “If he loves +me with all his heart,” said she, “of what use will life be to him +afterwards?” On her side she would do the same, and if he died first, +would go down to the grave with him. This strange oath had up to this time +frightened away all wooers, but the youth became so charmed with her beauty +that he cared for nothing, but asked her father for her. “But dost thou +know what thou must promise?” said the King. “I must be buried with +her,” he replied, “if I outlive her, but my love is so great that I +do not mind the danger.” Then the King consented, and the wedding was +solemnized with great splendour. +</p> + +<p> +They lived now for a while happy and contented with each other, and then it +befell that the young Queen was attacked by a severe illness, and no physician +could save her. And as she lay there dead, the young King remembered what he +had been obliged to promise, and was horrified at having to lie down alive in +the grave, but there was no escape. The King had placed sentries at all the +gates, and it was not possible to avoid his fate. When the day came when the +corpse was to be buried, he was taken down into the royal vault with it and +then the door was shut and bolted. +</p> + +<p> +Near the coffin stood a table on which were four candles, four loaves of bread, +and four bottles of wine, and when this provision came to an end, he would have +to die of hunger. And now he sat there full of pain and grief, ate every day +only a little piece of bread, drank only a mouthful of wine, and nevertheless +saw death daily drawing nearer. Whilst he thus gazed before him, he saw a snake +creep out of a corner of the vault and approach the dead body. And as he +thought it came to gnaw at it, he drew his sword and said, “As long as I +live, thou shalt not touch her,” and hewed the snake in three pieces. +After a time a second snake crept out of the hole, and when it saw the other +lying dead and cut in pieces, it went back, but soon came again with three +green leaves in its mouth. Then it took the three pieces of the snake, laid +them together, as they ought to go, and placed one of the leaves on each wound. +Immediately the severed parts joined themselves together, the snake moved, and +became alive again, and both of them hastened away together. The leaves were +left lying on the ground, and a desire came into the mind of the unhappy man +who had been watching all this, to know if the wondrous power of the leaves +which had brought the snake to life again, could not likewise be of service to +a human being. So he picked up the leaves and laid one of them on the mouth of +his dead wife, and the two others on her eyes. And hardly had he done this than +the blood stirred in her veins, rose into her pale face, and coloured it again. +Then she drew breath, opened her eyes, and said, “Ah, God, where am +I?” “Thou art with me, dear wife,” he answered, and told her +how everything had happened, and how he had brought her back again to life. +Then he gave her some wine and bread, and when she had regained her strength, +he raised her up and they went to the door and knocked, and called so loudly +that the sentries heard it, and told the King. The King came down himself and +opened the door, and there he found both strong and well, and rejoiced with +them that now all sorrow was over. The young King, however, took the three +snake-leaves with him, gave them to a servant and said, “Keep them for me +carefully, and carry them constantly about thee; who knows in what trouble they +may yet be of service to us!” +</p> + +<p> +A change had, however, taken place in his wife; after she had been restored to +life, it seemed as if all love for her husband had gone out of her heart. After +some time, when he wanted to make a voyage over the sea, to visit his old +father, and they had gone on board a ship, she forgot the great love and +fidelity which he had shown her, and which had been the means of rescuing her +from death, and conceived a wicked inclination for the skipper. And once when +the young King lay there asleep, she called in the skipper and seized the +sleeper by the head, and the skipper took him by the feet, and thus they threw +him down into the sea. When the shameful deed was done, she said, “Now +let us return home, and say that he died on the way. I will extol and praise +thee so to my father that he will marry me to thee, and make thee the heir to +his crown.” But the faithful servant who had seen all that they did, +unseen by them, unfastened a little boat from the ship, got into it, sailed +after his master, and let the traitors go on their way. He fished up the dead +body, and by the help of the three snake-leaves which he carried about with +him, and laid on the eyes and mouth, he fortunately brought the young King back +to life. +</p> + +<p> +They both rowed with all their strength day and night, and their little boat +flew so swiftly that they reached the old King before the others did. He was +astonished when he saw them come alone, and asked what had happened to them. +When he learnt the wickedness of his daughter he said, “I cannot believe +that she has behaved so ill, but the truth will soon come to light,” and +bade both go into a secret chamber and keep themselves hidden from every one. +Soon afterwards the great ship came sailing in, and the godless woman appeared +before her father with a troubled countenance. He said, “Why dost thou +come back alone? Where is thy husband?” “Ah, dear father,” +she replied, “I come home again in great grief; during the voyage, my +husband became suddenly ill and died, and if the good skipper had not given me +his help, it would have gone ill with me. He was present at his death, and can +tell you all.” The King said, “I will make the dead alive +again,” and opened the chamber, and bade the two come out. When the woman +saw her husband, she was thunderstruck, and fell on her knees and begged for +mercy. The King said, “There is no mercy. He was ready to die with thee +and restored thee to life again, but thou hast murdered him in his sleep, and +shalt receive the reward that thou deservest.” Then she was placed with +her accomplice in a ship which had been pierced with holes, and sent out to +sea, where they soon sank amid the waves. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap17"></a>17 The White Snake</h3> + +<p> +A long time ago there lived a king who was famed for his wisdom through all the +land. Nothing was hidden from him, and it seemed as if news of the most secret +things was brought to him through the air. But he had a strange custom; every +day after dinner, when the table was cleared, and no one else was present, a +trusty servant had to bring him one more dish. It was covered, however, and +even the servant did not know what was in it, neither did anyone know, for the +King never took off the cover to eat of it until he was quite alone. +</p> + +<p> +This had gone on for a long time, when one day the servant, who took away the +dish, was overcome with such curiosity that he could not help carrying the dish +into his room. When he had carefully locked the door, he lifted up the cover, +and saw a white snake lying on the dish. But when he saw it he could not deny +himself the pleasure of tasting it, so he cut off a little bit and put it into +his mouth. No sooner had it touched his tongue than he heard a strange +whispering of little voices outside his window. He went and listened, and then +noticed that it was the sparrows who were chattering together, and telling one +another of all kinds of things which they had seen in the fields and woods. +Eating the snake had given him power of understanding the language of animals. +</p> + +<p> +Now it so happened that on this very day the Queen lost her most beautiful +ring, and suspicion of having stolen it fell upon this trusty servant, who was +allowed to go everywhere. The King ordered the man to be brought before him, +and threatened with angry words that unless he could before the morrow point +out the thief, he himself should be looked upon as guilty and executed. In vain +he declared his innocence; he was dismissed with no better answer. +</p> + +<p> +In his trouble and fear he went down into the courtyard and took thought how to +help himself out of his trouble. Now some ducks were sitting together quietly +by a brook and taking their rest; and, whilst they were making their feathers +smooth with their bills, they were having a confidential conversation together. +The servant stood by and listened. They were telling one another of all the +places where they had been waddling about all the morning, and what good food +they had found, and one said in a pitiful tone, “Something lies heavy on +my stomach; as I was eating in haste I swallowed a ring which lay under the +Queen’s window.” The servant at once seized her by the neck, +carried her to the kitchen, and said to the cook, “Here is a fine duck; +pray, kill her.” “Yes,” said the cook, and weighed her in his +hand; “she has spared no trouble to fatten herself, and has been waiting +to be roasted long enough.” So he cut off her head, and as she was being +dressed for the spit, the Queen’s ring was found inside her. +</p> + +<p> +The servant could now easily prove his innocence; and the King, to make amends +for the wrong, allowed him to ask a favor, and promised him the best place in +the court that he could wish for. The servant refused everything, and only +asked for a horse and some money for traveling, as he had a mind to see the +world and go about a little. +</p> + +<p> +When his request was granted he set out on his way, and one day came to a pond, +where he saw three fishes caught in the reeds and gasping for water. Now, +though it is said that fishes are dumb, he heard them lamenting that they must +perish so miserably, and, as he had a kind heart, he got off his horse and put +the three prisoners back into the water. They quivered with delight, put out +their heads, and cried to him, “We will remember you and repay you for +saving us!” +</p> + +<p> +He rode on, and after a while it seemed to him that he heard a voice in the +sand at his feet. He listened, and heard an ant-king complain, “Why +cannot folks, with their clumsy beasts, keep off our bodies? That stupid horse, +with his heavy hoofs, has been treading down my people without mercy!” So +he turned on to a side path and the ant-king cried out to him, “We will +remember you—one good turn deserves another!” +</p> + +<p> +The path led him into a wood, and here he saw two old ravens standing by their +nest, and throwing out their young ones. “Out with you, you idle, +good-for-nothing creatures!” cried they; “we cannot find food for +you any longer; you are big enough, and can provide for yourselves.” But +the poor young ravens lay upon the ground, flapping their wings, and crying, +“Oh, what helpless chicks we are! We must shift for ourselves, and yet we +cannot fly! What can we do, but lie here and starve?” So the good young +fellow alighted and killed his horse with his sword, and gave it to them for +food. Then they came hopping up to it, satisfied their hunger, and cried, +“We will remember you—one good turn deserves another!” +</p> + +<p> +And now he had to use his own legs, and when he had walked a long way, he came +to a large city. There was a great noise and crowd in the streets, and a man +rode up on horseback, crying aloud, “The King’s daughter wants a +husband; but whoever sues for her hand must perform a hard task, and if he does +not succeed he will forfeit his life.” Many had already made the attempt, +but in vain; nevertheless when the youth saw the King’s daughter he was +so overcome by her great beauty that he forgot all danger, went before the +King, and declared himself a suitor. +</p> + +<p> +So he was led out to the sea, and a gold ring was thrown into it, in his sight; +then the King ordered him to fetch this ring up from the bottom of the sea, and +added, “If you come up again without it you will be thrown in again and +again until you perish amid the waves.” All the people grieved for the +handsome youth; then they went away, leaving him alone by the sea. +</p> + +<p> +He stood on the shore and considered what he should do, when suddenly he saw +three fishes come swimming towards him, and they were the very fishes whose +lives he had saved. The one in the middle held a mussel in its mouth, which it +laid on the shore at the youth’s feet, and when he had taken it up and +opened it, there lay the gold ring in the shell. Full of joy he took it to the +King, and expected that he would grant him the promised reward. +</p> + +<p> +But when the proud princess perceived that he was not her equal in birth, she +scorned him, and required him first to perform another task. She went down into +the garden and strewed with her own hands ten sacks-full of millet-seed on the +grass; then she said, “To-morrow morning before sunrise these must be +picked up, and not a single grain be wanting.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth sat down in the garden and considered how it might be possible to +perform this task, but he could think of nothing, and there he sat sorrowfully +awaiting the break of day, when he should be led to death. But as soon as the +first rays of the sun shone into the garden he saw all the ten sacks standing +side by side, quite full, and not a single grain was missing. The ant-king had +come in the night with thousands and thousands of ants, and the grateful +creatures had by great industry picked up all the millet-seed and gathered them +into the sacks. +</p> + +<p> +Presently the King’s daughter herself came down into the garden, and was +amazed to see that the young man had done the task she had given him. But she +could not yet conquer her proud heart, and said, “Although he has +performed both the tasks, he shall not be my husband until he has brought me an +apple from the Tree of Life.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth did not know where the Tree of Life stood, but he set out, and would +have gone on for ever, as long as his legs would carry him, though he had no +hope of finding it. After he had wandered through three kingdoms, he came one +evening to a wood, and lay down under a tree to sleep. But he heard a rustling +in the branches, and a golden apple fell into his hand. At the same time three +ravens flew down to him, perched themselves upon his knee, and said, “We +are the three young ravens whom you saved from starving; when we had grown big, +and heard that you were seeking the Golden Apple, we flew over the sea to the +end of the world, where the Tree of Life stands, and have brought you the +apple.” The youth, full of joy, set out homewards, and took the Golden +Apple to the King’s beautiful daughter, who had no more excuses left to +make. They cut the Apple of Life in two and ate it together; and then her heart +became full of love for him, and they lived in undisturbed happiness to a great +age. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap18"></a>18 The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean</h3> + +<p> +In a village dwelt a poor old woman, who had gathered together a dish of beans +and wanted to cook them. So she made a fire on her hearth, and that it might +burn the quicker, she lighted it with a handful of straw. When she was emptying +the beans into the pan, one dropped without her observing it, and lay on the +ground beside a straw, and soon afterwards a burning coal from the fire leapt +down to the two. Then the straw began and said, “Dear friends, from +whence do you come here?” The coal replied, “I fortunately sprang +out of the fire, and if I had not escaped by main force, my death would have +been certain,—I should have been burnt to ashes.” The bean said, +“I too have escaped with a whole skin, but if the old woman had got me +into the pan, I should have been made into broth without any mercy, like my +comrades.” “And would a better fate have fallen to my lot?” +said the straw. “The old woman has destroyed all my brethren in fire and +smoke; she seized sixty of them at once, and took their lives. I luckily +slipped through her fingers.” +</p> + +<p> +“But what are we to do now?” said the coal. +</p> + +<p> +“I think,” answered the bean, “that as we have so fortunately +escaped death, we should keep together like good companions, and lest a new +mischance should overtake us here, we should go away together, and repair to a +foreign country.” +</p> + +<p> +The proposition pleased the two others, and they set out on their way in +company. Soon, however, they came to a little brook, and as there was no bridge +or foot-plank, they did not know how they were to get over it. The straw hit on +a good idea, and said, “I will lay myself straight across, and then you +can walk over on me as on a bridge.” The straw therefore stretched itself +from one bank to the other, and the coal, who was of an impetuous disposition, +tripped quite boldly on to the newly-built bridge. But when she had reached the +middle, and heard the water rushing beneath her, she was, after all, afraid, +and stood still, and ventured no farther. The straw, however, began to burn, +broke in two pieces, and fell into the stream. The coal slipped after her, +hissed when she got into the water, and breathed her last. The bean, who had +prudently stayed behind on the shore, could not but laugh at the event, was +unable to stop, and laughed so heartily that she burst. It would have been all +over with her, likewise, if, by good fortune, a tailor who was traveling in +search of work, had not sat down to rest by the brook. As he had a +compassionate heart he pulled out his needle and thread, and sewed her +together. The bean thanked him most prettily, but as the tailor used black +thread, all beans since then have a black seam. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap19"></a>19 The Fisherman and His Wife</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a Fisherman who lived with his wife in a miserable +hovel close by the sea, and every day he went out fishing. And once as he was +sitting with his rod, looking at the clear water, his line suddenly went down, +far down below, and when he drew it up again he brought out a large Flounder. +Then the Flounder said to him, “Hark, you Fisherman, I pray you, let me +live, I am no Flounder really, but an enchanted prince. What good will it do +you to kill me? I should not be good to eat, put me in the water again, and let +me go.” “Come,” said the Fisherman, “there is no need +for so many words about it—a fish that can talk I should certainly let +go, anyhow,” with that he put him back again into the clear water, and +the Flounder went to the bottom, leaving a long streak of blood behind him. +Then the Fisherman got up and went home to his wife in the hovel. +</p> + +<p> +“Husband,” said the woman, “have you caught nothing +to-day?” “No,” said the man, “I did catch a Flounder, +who said he was an enchanted prince, so I let him go again.” “Did +you not wish for anything first?” said the woman. “No,” said +the man; “what should I wish for?” “Ah,” said the +woman, “it is surely hard to have to live always in this dirty hovel; you +might have wished for a small cottage for us. Go back and call him. Tell him we +want to have a small cottage, he will certainly give us that.” +“Ah,” said the man, “why should I go there again?” +“Why,” said the woman, “you did catch him, and you let him go +again; he is sure to do it. Go at once.” The man still did not quite like +to go, but did not like to oppose his wife, and went to the sea. +</p> + +<p> +When he got there the sea was all green and yellow, and no longer so smooth; so +he stood still and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Flounder, flounder in the sea,<br/> +Come, I pray thee, here to me;<br/> +For my wife, good Ilsabil,<br/> +Wills not as I’d have her will.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then the Flounder came swimming to him and said, “Well what does she +want, then?” “Ah,” said the man, “I did catch you, and +my wife says I really ought to have wished for something. She does not like to +live in a wretched hovel any longer. She would like to have a cottage.” +“Go, then,” said the Flounder, “she has it already.” +</p> + +<p> +When the man went home, his wife was no longer in the hovel, but instead of it +there stood a small cottage, and she was sitting on a bench before the door. +Then she took him by the hand and said to him, “Just come inside, look, +now isn’t this a great deal better?” So they went in, and there was +a small porch, and a pretty little parlor and bedroom, and a kitchen and +pantry, with the best of furniture, and fitted up with the most beautiful +things made of tin and brass, whatsoever was wanted. And behind the cottage +there was a small yard, with hens and ducks, and a little garden with flowers +and fruit. “Look,” said the wife, “is not that nice!” +“Yes,” said the husband, “and so we must always think +it,—now we will live quite contented.” “We will think about +that,” said the wife. With that they ate something and went to bed. +</p> + +<p> +Everything went well for a week or a fortnight, and then the woman said, +“Hark you, husband, this cottage is far too small for us, and the garden +and yard are little; the Flounder might just as well have given us a larger +house. I should like to live in a great stone castle; go to the Flounder, and +tell him to give us a castle.” “Ah, wife,” said the man, +“the cottage is quite good enough; why should we live in a castle?” +“What!” said the woman; “just go there, the Flounder can +always do that.” “No, wife,” said the man, “the +Flounder has just given us the cottage, I do not like to go back so soon, it +might make him angry.” “Go,” said the woman, “he can do +it quite easily, and will be glad to do it; just you go to him.” +</p> + +<p> +The man’s heart grew heavy, and he would not go. He said to himself, +“It is not right,” and yet he went. And when he came to the sea the +water was quite purple and dark-blue, and grey and thick, and no longer so +green and yellow, but it was still quiet. And he stood there and said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Flounder, flounder in the sea,<br/> +Come, I pray thee, here to me;<br/> +For my wife, good Ilsabil,<br/> +Wills not as I’d have her will.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what does she want, then?” said the Flounder. +“Alas,” said the man, half scared, “she wants to live in a +great stone castle.” “Go to it, then, she is standing before the +door,” said the Flounder. +</p> + +<p> +Then the man went away, intending to go home, but when he got there, he found a +great stone palace, and his wife was just standing on the steps going in, and +she took him by the hand and said, “Come in.” So he went in with +her, and in the castle was a great hall paved with marble, and many servants, +who flung wide the doors; And the walls were all bright with beautiful +hangings, and in the rooms were chairs and tables of pure gold, and crystal +chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and all the rooms and bed-rooms had carpets, +and food and wine of the very best were standing on all the tables, so that +they nearly broke down beneath it. Behind the house, too, there was a great +court-yard, with stables for horses and cows, and the very best of carriages; +there was a magnificent large garden, too, with the most beautiful flowers and +fruit-trees, and a park quite half a mile long, in which were stags, deer, and +hares, and everything that could be desired. “Come,” said the +woman, “isn’t that beautiful?” “Yes, indeed,” +said the man, “now let it be; and we will live in this beautiful castle +and be content.” “We will consider about that,” said the +woman, “and sleep upon it;” thereupon they went to bed. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the wife awoke first, and it was just daybreak, and from her bed +she saw the beautiful country lying before her. Her husband was still +stretching himself, so she poked him in the side with her elbow, and said, +“Get up, husband, and just peep out of the window. Look you, +couldn’t we be the King over all that land? Go to the Flounder, we will +be the King.” “Ah, wife,” said the man, “why should we +be King? I do not want to be King.” “Well,” said the wife, +“if you won’t be King, I will; go to the Flounder, for I will be +King.” “Ah, wife,” said the man, “why do you want to be +King? I do not like to say that to him.” “Why not?” said the +woman; “go to him this instant; I must be King!” So the man went, +and was quite unhappy because his wife wished to be King. “It is not +right; it is not right,” thought he. He did not wish to go, but yet he +went. +</p> + +<p> +And when he came to the sea, it was quite dark-grey, and the water heaved up +from below, and smelt putrid. Then he went and stood by it, and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Flounder, flounder in the sea,<br/> +Come, I pray thee, here to me;<br/> +For my wife, good Ilsabil,<br/> +Wills not as I’d have her will” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what does she want, then?” said the Flounder. +“Alas,” said the man, “she wants to be King.” “Go +to her; she is King already.” +</p> + +<p> +So the man went, and when he came to the palace, the castle had become much +larger, and had a great tower and magnificent ornaments, and the sentinel was +standing before the door, and there were numbers of soldiers with kettle-drums +and trumpets. And when he went inside the house, everything was of real marble +and gold, with velvet covers and great golden tassels. Then the doors of the +hall were opened, and there was the court in all its splendour, and his wife +was sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds, with a great crown of gold +on her head, and a sceptre of pure gold and jewels in her hand, and on both +sides of her stood her maids-in-waiting in a row, each of them always one head +shorter than the last. +</p> + +<p> +Then he went and stood before her, and said, “Ah, wife, and now you are +King.” “Yes,” said the woman, “now I am King.” So +he stood and looked at her, and when he had looked at her thus for some time, +he said, “And now that you are King, let all else be, now we will wish +for nothing more.” “Nay, husband,” said the woman, quite +anxiously, “I find time pass very heavily, I can bear it no longer; go to +the Flounder—I am King, but I must be Emperor, too.” “Alas, +wife, why do you wish to be Emperor?” “Husband,” said she, +“go to the Flounder. I will be Emperor.” “Alas, wife,” +said the man, “he cannot make you Emperor; I may not say that to the +fish. There is only one Emperor in the land. An Emperor the Flounder cannot +make you! I assure you he cannot.” +</p> + +<p> +“What!” said the woman, “I am the King, and you are nothing +but my husband; will you go this moment? go at once! If he can make a King he +can make an emperor. I will be Emperor; go instantly.” So he was forced +to go. As the man went, however, he was troubled in mind, and thought to +himself, “It will not end well; it will not end well! Emperor is too +shameless! The Flounder will at last be tired out.” +</p> + +<p> +With that he reached the sea, and the sea was quite black and thick, and began +to boil up from below, so that it threw up bubbles, and such a sharp wind blew +over it that it curdled, and the man was afraid. Then he went and stood by it, +and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Flounder, flounder in the sea,<br/> +Come, I pray thee, here to me;<br/> +For my wife, good Ilsabil,<br/> +Wills not as I’d have her will.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what does she want, then?” said the Flounder. “Alas, +Flounder,” said he, “my wife wants to be Emperor.” “Go +to her,” said the Flounder; “she is Emperor already.” +</p> + +<p> +So the man went, and when he got there the whole palace was made of polished +marble with alabaster figures and golden ornaments, and soldiers were marching +before the door blowing trumpets, and beating cymbals and drums; and in the +house, barons, and counts, and dukes were going about as servants. Then they +opened the doors to him, which were of pure gold. And when he entered, there +sat his wife on a throne, which was made of one piece of gold, and was quite +two miles high; and she wore a great golden crown that was three yards high, +and set with diamonds and carbuncles, and in one hand she had the sceptre, and +in the other the imperial orb; and on both sides of her stood the yeomen of the +guard in two rows, each being smaller than the one before him, from the biggest +giant, who was two miles high, to the very smallest dwarf, just as big as my +little finger. And before it stood a number of princes and dukes. +</p> + +<p> +Then the man went and stood among them, and said, “Wife, are you Emperor +now?” “Yes,” said she, “now I am Emperor.” Then +he stood and looked at her well, and when he had looked at her thus for some +time, he said, “Ah, wife, be content, now that you are Emperor.” +“Husband,” said she, “why are you standing there? Now, I am +Emperor, but I will be Pope too; go to the Flounder.” “Alas, +wife,” said the man, “what will you not wish for? You cannot be +Pope. There is but one in Christendom. He cannot make you Pope.” +“Husband,” said she, “I will be Pope; go immediately, I must +be Pope this very day.” “No, wife,” said the man, “I do +not like to say that to him; that would not do, it is too much; the Flounder +can’t make you Pope.” “Husband,” said she, “what +nonsense! If he can make an emperor he can make a pope. Go to him directly. I +am Emperor, and you are nothing but my husband; will you go at once?” +</p> + +<p> +Then he was afraid and went; but he was quite faint, and shivered and shook, +and his knees and legs trembled. And a high wind blew over the land, and the +clouds flew, and towards evening all grew dark, and the leaves fell from the +trees, and the water rose and roared as if it were boiling, and splashed upon +the shore. And in the distance he saw ships which were firing guns in their +sore need, pitching and tossing on the waves. And yet in the midst of the sky +there was still a small bit of blue, though on every side it was as red as in a +heavy storm. So, full of despair, he went and stood in much fear and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Flounder, flounder in the sea,<br/> +Come, I pray thee, here to me;”<br/> +For my wife, good Ilsabil,<br/> +Wills not as I’d have her will. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what does she want, then?” said the Flounder. +“Alas,” said the man, “she wants to be Pope.” “Go +to her then,” said the Flounder; “she is Pope already.” +</p> + +<p> +So he went, and when he got there, he saw what seemed to be a large church +surrounded by palaces. He pushed his way through the crowd. Inside, however, +everything was lighted up with thousands and thousands of candles, and his wife +was clad in gold, and she was sitting on a much higher throne, and had three +great golden crowns on, and round about her there was much ecclesiastical +splendour; and on both sides of her was a row of candles the largest of which +was as tall as the very tallest tower, down to the very smallest kitchen +candle, and all the emperors and kings were on their knees before her, kissing +her shoe. “Wife,” said the man, and looked attentively at her, +“are you now Pope?” “Yes,” said she, “I am +Pope.” So he stood and looked at her, and it was just as if he was +looking at the bright sun. When he had stood looking at her thus for a short +time, he said, “Ah, wife, if you are Pope, do let well alone!” But +she looked as stiff as a post, and did not move or show any signs of life. Then +said he, “Wife, now that you are Pope, be satisfied, you cannot become +anything greater now.” “I will consider about that,” said the +woman. Thereupon they both went to bed, but she was not satisfied, and +greediness let her have no sleep, for she was continually thinking what there +was left for her to be. +</p> + +<p> +The man slept well and soundly, for he had run about a great deal during the +day; but the woman could not fall asleep at all, and flung herself from one +side to the other the whole night through, thinking always what more was left +for her to be, but unable to call to mind anything else. At length the sun +began to rise, and when the woman saw the red of dawn, she sat up in bed and +looked at it. And when, through the window, she saw the sun thus rising, she +said, “Cannot I, too, order the sun and moon to rise?” +“Husband,” she said, poking him in the ribs with her elbows, +“wake up! go to the Flounder, for I wish to be even as God is.” The +man was still half asleep, but he was so horrified that he fell out of bed. He +thought he must have heard amiss, and rubbed his eyes, and said, “Alas, +wife, what are you saying?” “Husband,” said she, “if I +can’t order the sun and moon to rise, and have to look on and see the sun +and moon rising, I can’t bear it. I shall not know what it is to have +another happy hour, unless I can make them rise myself.” Then she looked +at him so terribly that a shudder ran over him, and said, “Go at once; I +wish to be like unto God.” “Alas, wife,” said the man, +falling on his knees before her, “the Flounder cannot do that; he can +make an emperor and a pope; I beseech you, go on as you are, and be +Pope.” Then she fell into a rage, and her hair flew wildly about her +head, and she cried, “I will not endure this, I’ll not bear it any +longer; wilt thou go?” Then he put on his trousers and ran away like a +madman. But outside a great storm was raging, and blowing so hard that he could +scarcely keep his feet; houses and trees toppled over, the mountains trembled, +rocks rolled into the sea, the sky was pitch black, and it thundered and +lightened, and the sea came in with black waves as high as church-towers and +mountains, and all with crests of white foam at the top. Then he cried, but +could not hear his own words, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Flounder, flounder in the sea,<br/> +Come, I pray thee, here to me;<br/> +For my wife, good Ilsabil,<br/> +Wills not as I’d have her will.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what does she want, then?” said the Flounder. +“Alas,” said he, “she wants to be like unto God.” +“Go to her, and you will find her back again in the dirty hovel.” +And there they are living still at this very time. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap20"></a>20 The Valiant Little Tailor</h3> + +<p> +One summer’s morning a little tailor was sitting on his table by the +window; he was in good spirits, and sewed with all his might. Then came a +peasant woman down the street crying, “Good jams, cheap! Good jams, +cheap!” This rang pleasantly in the tailor’s ears; he stretched his +delicate head out of the window, and called, “Come up here, dear woman; +here you will get rid of your goods.” The woman came up the three steps +to the tailor with her heavy basket, and he made her unpack the whole of the +pots for him. He inspected all of them, lifted them up, put his nose to them, +and at length said, “The jam seems to me to be good, so weigh me out four +ounces, dear woman, and if it is a quarter of a pound that is of no +consequence.” The woman who had hoped to find a good sale, gave him what +he desired, but went away quite angry and grumbling. “Now, God bless the +jam to my use,” cried the little tailor, “and give me health and +strength;” so he brought the bread out of the cupboard, cut himself a +piece right across the loaf and spread the jam over it. “This won’t +taste bitter,” said he, “but I will just finish the jacket before I +take a bite.” He laid the bread near him, sewed on, and in his joy, made +bigger and bigger stitches. In the meantime the smell of the sweet jam ascended +so to the wall, where the flies were sitting in great numbers, that they were +attracted and descended on it in hosts. “Hola! who invited you?” +said the little tailor, and drove the unbidden guests away. The flies, however, +who understood no German, would not be turned away, but came back again in +ever-increasing companies. The little tailor at last lost all patience, and got +a bit of cloth from the hole under his work-table, and saying, “Wait, and +I will give it to you,” struck it mercilessly on them. When he drew it +away and counted, there lay before him no fewer than seven, dead and with legs +stretched out. “Art thou a fellow of that sort?” said he, and could +not help admiring his own bravery. “The whole town shall know of +this!” And the little tailor hastened to cut himself a girdle, stitched +it, and embroidered on it in large letters, “Seven at one stroke!” +“What, the town!” he continued, “The whole world shall hear +of it!” and his heart wagged with joy like a lamb’s tail. The +tailor put on the girdle, and resolved to go forth into the world, because he +thought his workshop was too small for his valour. Before he went away, he +sought about in the house to see if there was anything which he could take with +him; however, he found nothing but an old cheese, and that he put in his +pocket. In front of the door he observed a bird which had caught itself in the +thicket. It had to go into his pocket with the cheese. Now he took to the road +boldly, and as he was light and nimble, he felt no fatigue. The road led him up +a mountain, and when he had reached the highest point of it, there sat a +powerful giant looking about him quite comfortably. The little tailor went +bravely up, spoke to him, and said, “Good day, comrade, so thou art +sitting there overlooking the wide-spread world! I am just on my way thither, +and want to try my luck. Hast thou any inclination to go with me?” The +giant looked contemptuously at the tailor, and said, “Thou ragamuffin! +Thou miserable creature!” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, indeed?” answered the little tailor, and unbuttoned his coat, +and showed the giant the girdle, “There mayst thou read what kind of a +man I am!” The giant read, “Seven at one stroke,” and thought +that they had been men whom the tailor had killed, and began to feel a little +respect for the tiny fellow. Nevertheless, he wished to try him first, and took +a stone in his hand and squeezed it together so that water dropped out of it. +“Do that likewise,” said the giant, “if thou hast +strength?” “Is that all?” said the tailor, “that is +child’s play with us!” and put his hand into his pocket, brought +out the soft cheese, and pressed it until the liquid ran out of it. +“Faith,” said he, “that was a little better, wasn’t +it?” The giant did not know what to say, and could not believe it of the +little man. Then the giant picked up a stone and threw it so high that the eye +could scarcely follow it. “Now, little mite of a man, do that +likewise.” “Well thrown,” said the tailor, “but after +all the stone came down to earth again; I will throw you one which shall never +come back at all.” And he put his hand into his pocket, took out the +bird, and threw it into the air. The bird, delighted with its liberty, rose, +flew away and did not come back. “How does that shot please you, +comrade?” asked the tailor. “Thou canst certainly throw,” +said the giant, “but now we will see if thou art able to carry anything +properly.” He took the little tailor to a mighty oak tree which lay there +felled on the ground, and said, “If thou art strong enough, help me to +carry the tree out of the forest.” “Readily,” answered the +little man; “take thou the trunk on thy shoulders, and I will raise up +the branches and twigs; after all, they are the heaviest.” The giant took +the trunk on his shoulder, but the tailor seated himself on a branch, and the +giant who could not look round, had to carry away the whole tree, and the +little tailor into the bargain: he behind, was quite merry and happy, and +whistled the song, “Three tailors rode forth from the gate,” as if +carrying the tree were child’s play. The giant, after he had dragged the +heavy burden part of the way, could go no further, and cried, “Hark you, +I shall have to let the tree fall!” The tailor sprang nimbly down, seized +the tree with both arms as if he had been carrying it, and said to the giant, +“Thou art such a great fellow, and yet canst not even carry the +tree!” +</p> + +<p> +They went on together, and as they passed a cherry-tree, the giant laid hold of +the top of the tree where the ripest fruit was hanging, bent it down, gave it +into the tailor’s hand, and bade him eat. But the little tailor was much +too weak to hold the tree, and when the giant let it go, it sprang back again, +and the tailor was hurried into the air with it. When he had fallen down again +without injury, the giant said, “What is this? Hast thou not strength +enough to hold the weak twig?” “There is no lack of +strength,” answered the little tailor. “Dost thou think that could +be anything to a man who has struck down seven at one blow? I leapt over the +tree because the huntsmen are shooting down there in the thicket. Jump as I +did, if thou canst do it.” The giant made the attempt, but could not get +over the tree, and remained hanging in the branches, so that in this also the +tailor kept the upper hand. +</p> + +<p> +The giant said, “If thou art such a valiant fellow, come with me into our +cavern and spend the night with us.” The little tailor was willing, and +followed him. When they went into the cave, other giants were sitting there by +the fire, and each of them had a roasted sheep in his hand and was eating it. +The little tailor looked round and thought, “It is much more spacious +here than in my workshop.” The giant showed him a bed, and said he was to +lie down in it and sleep. The bed, however, was too big for the little tailor; +he did not lie down in it, but crept into a corner. When it was midnight, and +the giant thought that the little tailor was lying in a sound sleep, he got up, +took a great iron bar, cut through the bed with one blow, and thought he had +given the grasshopper his finishing stroke. With the earliest dawn the giants +went into the forest, and had quite forgotten the little tailor, when all at +once he walked up to them quite merrily and boldly. The giants were terrified, +they were afraid that he would strike them all dead, and ran away in a great +hurry. +</p> + +<p> +The little tailor went onwards, always following his own pointed nose. After he +had walked for a long time, he came to the courtyard of a royal palace, and as +he felt weary, he lay down on the grass and fell asleep. Whilst he lay there, +the people came and inspected him on all sides, and read on his girdle, +“Seven at one stroke.” “Ah,” said they, “What +does the great warrior here in the midst of peace? He must be a mighty +lord.” They went and announced him to the King, and gave it as their +opinion that if war should break out, this would be a weighty and useful man +who ought on no account to be allowed to depart. The counsel pleased the King, +and he sent one of his courtiers to the little tailor to offer him military +service when he awoke. The ambassador remained standing by the sleeper, waited +until he stretched his limbs and opened his eyes, and then conveyed to him this +proposal. “For this very reason have I come here,” the tailor +replied, “I am ready to enter the King’s service.” He was +therefore honorably received and a special dwelling was assigned him. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers, however, were set against the little tailor, and wished him a +thousand miles away. “What is to be the end of this?” they said +amongst themselves. “If we quarrel with him, and he strikes about him, +seven of us will fall at every blow; not one of us can stand against +him.” They came therefore to a decision, betook themselves in a body to +the King, and begged for their dismissal. “We are not prepared,” +said they, “to stay with a man who kills seven at one stroke.” The +King was sorry that for the sake of one he should lose all his faithful +servants, wished that he had never set eyes on the tailor, and would willingly +have been rid of him again. But he did not venture to give him his dismissal, +for he dreaded lest he should strike him and all his people dead, and place +himself on the royal throne. He thought about it for a long time, and at last +found good counsel. He sent to the little tailor and caused him to be informed +that as he was such a great warrior, he had one request to make to him. In a +forest of his country lived two giants who caused great mischief with their +robbing, murdering, ravaging, and burning, and no one could approach them +without putting himself in danger of death. If the tailor conquered and killed +these two giants, he would give him his only daughter to wife, and half of his +kingdom as a dowry, likewise one hundred horsemen should go with him to assist +him. “That would indeed be a fine thing for a man like me!” thought +the little tailor. “One is not offered a beautiful princess and half a +kingdom every day of one’s life!” “Oh, yes,” he +replied, “I will soon subdue the giants, and do not require the help of +the hundred horsemen to do it; he who can hit seven with one blow has no need +to be afraid of two.” +</p> + +<p> +The little tailor went forth, and the hundred horsemen followed him. When he +came to the outskirts of the forest, he said to his followers, “Just stay +waiting here, I alone will soon finish off the giants.” Then he bounded +into the forest and looked about right and left. After a while he perceived +both giants. They lay sleeping under a tree, and snored so that the branches +waved up and down. The little tailor, not idle, gathered two pocketsful of +stones, and with these climbed up the tree. When he was half-way up, he slipped +down by a branch, until he sat just above the sleepers, and then let one stone +after another fall on the breast of one of the giants. For a long time the +giant felt nothing, but at last he awoke, pushed his comrade, and said, +“Why art thou knocking me?” “Thou must be dreaming,” +said the other, “I am not knocking thee.” They laid themselves down +to sleep again, and then the tailor threw a stone down on the second. +“What is the meaning of this?” cried the other. “Why art thou +pelting me?” “I am not pelting thee,” answered the first, +growling. They disputed about it for a time, but as they were weary they let +the matter rest, and their eyes closed once more. The little tailor began his +game again, picked out the biggest stone, and threw it with all his might on +the breast of the first giant. “That is too bad!” cried he, and +sprang up like a madman, and pushed his companion against the tree until it +shook. The other paid him back in the same coin, and they got into such a rage +that they tore up trees and belabored each other so long, that at last they +both fell down dead on the ground at the same time. Then the little tailor +leapt down. “It is a lucky thing,” said he, “that they did +not tear up the tree on which I was sitting, or I should have had to spring on +to another like a squirrel; but we tailors are nimble.” He drew out his +sword and gave each of them a couple of thrusts in the breast, and then went +out to the horsemen and said, “The work is done; I have given both of +them their finishing stroke, but it was hard work! They tore up trees in their +sore need, and defended themselves with them, but all that is to no purpose +when a man like myself comes, who can kill seven at one blow.” “But +are you not wounded?” asked the horsemen. “You need not concern +yourself about that,” answered the tailor, “They have not bent one +hair of mine.” The horsemen would not believe him, and rode into the +forest; there they found the giants swimming in their blood, and all round +about lay the torn-up trees. +</p> + +<p> +The little tailor demanded of the King the promised reward; he, however, +repented of his promise, and again bethought himself how he could get rid of +the hero. “Before thou receivest my daughter, and the half of my +kingdom,” said he to him, “thou must perform one more heroic deed. +In the forest roams a unicorn which does great harm, and thou must catch it +first.” “I fear one unicorn still less than two giants. Seven at +one blow, is my kind of affair.” He took a rope and an axe with him, went +forth into the forest, and again bade those who were sent with him to wait +outside. He had to seek long. The unicorn soon came towards him, and rushed +directly on the tailor, as if it would spit him on his horn without more +ceremony. “Softly, softly; it can’t be done as quickly as +that,” said he, and stood still and waited until the animal was quite +close, and then sprang nimbly behind the tree. The unicorn ran against the tree +with all its strength, and struck its horn so fast in the trunk that it had not +strength enough to draw it out again, and thus it was caught. “Now, I +have got the bird,” said the tailor, and came out from behind the tree +and put the rope round its neck, and then with his axe he hewed the horn out of +the tree, and when all was ready he led the beast away and took it to the King. +</p> + +<p> +The King still would not give him the promised reward, and made a third demand. +Before the wedding the tailor was to catch him a wild boar that made great +havoc in the forest, and the huntsmen should give him their help. +“Willingly,” said the tailor, “that is child’s +play!” He did not take the huntsmen with him into the forest, and they +were well pleased that he did not, for the wild boar had several times received +them in such a manner that they had no inclination to lie in wait for him. When +the boar perceived the tailor, it ran on him with foaming mouth and whetted +tusks, and was about to throw him to the ground, but the active hero sprang +into a chapel which was near, and up to the window at once, and in one bound +out again. The boar ran in after him, but the tailor ran round outside and shut +the door behind it, and then the raging beast, which was much too heavy and +awkward to leap out of the window, was caught. The little tailor called the +huntsmen thither that they might see the prisoner with their own eyes. The +hero, however went to the King, who was now, whether he liked it or not, +obliged to keep his promise, and gave him his daughter and the half of his +kingdom. Had he known that it was no warlike hero, but a little tailor who was +standing before him, it would have gone to his heart still more than it did. +The wedding was held with great magnificence and small joy, and out of a tailor +a king was made. +</p> + +<p> +After some time the young Queen heard her husband say in his dreams at night, +“Boy, make me the doublet, and patch the pantaloons, or else I will rap +the yard-measure over thine ears.” Then she discovered in what state of +life the young lord had been born, and next morning complained of her wrongs to +her father, and begged him to help her to get rid of her husband, who was +nothing else but a tailor. The King comforted her and said, “Leave thy +bed-room door open this night, and my servants shall stand outside, and when he +has fallen asleep shall go in, bind him, and take him on board a ship which +shall carry him into the wide world.” The woman was satisfied with this; +but the King’s armour-bearer, who had heard all, was friendly with the +young lord, and informed him of the whole plot. “I’ll put a screw +into that business,” said the little tailor. At night he went to bed with +his wife at the usual time, and when she thought that he had fallen asleep, she +got up, opened the door, and then lay down again. The little tailor, who was +only pretending to be asleep, began to cry out in a clear voice, “Boy, +make me the doublet and patch me the pantaloons, or I will rap the yard-measure +over thine ears. I smote seven at one blow. I killed two giants, I brought away +one unicorn and caught a wild boar, and am I to fear those who are standing +outside the room.” When these men heard the tailor speaking thus, they +were overcome by a great dread, and ran as if the wild huntsman were behind +them, and none of them would venture anything further against him. So the +little tailor was a king and remained one, to the end of his life. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap21"></a>21 Cinderella</h3> + +<p> +The wife of a rich man fell sick, and as she felt that her end was drawing +near, she called her only daughter to her bedside and said, “Dear child, +be good and pious, and then the good God will always protect thee, and I will +look down on thee from heaven and be near thee.” Thereupon she closed her +eyes and departed. Every day the maiden went out to her mother’s grave, +and wept, and she remained pious and good. When winter came the snow spread a +white sheet over the grave, and when the spring sun had drawn it off again, the +man had taken another wife. +</p> + +<p> +The woman had brought two daughters into the house with her, who were beautiful +and fair of face, but vile and black of heart. Now began a bad time for the +poor step-child. “Is the stupid goose to sit in the parlour with +us?” said they. “He who wants to eat bread must earn it; out with +the kitchen-wench.” They took her pretty clothes away from her, put an +old grey bedgown on her, and gave her wooden shoes. “Just look at the +proud princess, how decked out she is!” they cried, and laughed, and led +her into the kitchen. There she had to do hard work from morning till night, +get up before daybreak, carry water, light fires, cook and wash. Besides this, +the sisters did her every imaginable injury—they mocked her and emptied +her peas and lentils into the ashes, so that she was forced to sit and pick +them out again. In the evening when she had worked till she was weary she had +no bed to go to, but had to sleep by the fireside in the ashes. And as on that +account she always looked dusty and dirty, they called her Cinderella. It +happened that the father was once going to the fair, and he asked his two +step-daughters what he should bring back for them. “Beautiful +dresses,” said one, “Pearls and jewels,” said the second. +“And thou, Cinderella,” said he, “what wilt thou have?” +“Father, break off for me the first branch which knocks against your hat +on your way home.” So he bought beautiful dresses, pearls and jewels for +his two step-daughters, and on his way home, as he was riding through a green +thicket, a hazel twig brushed against him and knocked off his hat. Then he +broke off the branch and took it with him. When he reached home he gave his +step-daughters the things which they had wished for, and to Cinderella he gave +the branch from the hazel-bush. Cinderella thanked him, went to her +mother’s grave and planted the branch on it, and wept so much that the +tears fell down on it and watered it. And it grew, however, and became a +handsome tree. Thrice a day Cinderella went and sat beneath it, and wept and +prayed, and a little white bird always came on the tree, and if Cinderella +expressed a wish, the bird threw down to her what she had wished for. +</p> + +<p> +It happened, however, that the King appointed a festival which was to last +three days, and to which all the beautiful young girls in the country were +invited, in order that his son might choose himself a bride. When the two +step-sisters heard that they too were to appear among the number, they were +delighted, called Cinderella and said, “Comb our hair for us, brush our +shoes and fasten our buckles, for we are going to the festival at the +King’s palace.” Cinderella obeyed, but wept, because she too would +have liked to go with them to the dance, and begged her step-mother to allow +her to do so. “Thou go, Cinderella!” said she; “Thou art +dusty and dirty and wouldst go to the festival? Thou hast no clothes and shoes, +and yet wouldst dance!” As, however, Cinderella went on asking, the +step-mother at last said, “I have emptied a dish of lentils into the +ashes for thee, if thou hast picked them out again in two hours, thou shalt go +with us.” The maiden went through the back-door into the garden, and +called, “You tame pigeons, you turtle-doves, and all you birds beneath +the sky, come and help me to pick +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The good into the pot,<br/> +The bad into the crop.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen-window, and afterwards the +turtle-doves, and at last all the birds beneath the sky, came whirring and +crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes. And the pigeons nodded with their +heads and began pick, pick, pick, pick, and the rest began also pick, pick, +pick, pick, and gathered all the good grains into the dish. Hardly had one hour +passed before they had finished, and all flew out again. Then the girl took the +dish to her step-mother, and was glad, and believed that now she would be +allowed to go with them to the festival. But the step-mother said, “No, +Cinderella, thou hast no clothes and thou canst not dance; thou wouldst only be +laughed at.” And as Cinderella wept at this, the step-mother said, +“If thou canst pick two dishes of lentils out of the ashes for me in one +hour, thou shalt go with us.” And she thought to herself, “That she +most certainly cannot do.” When the step-mother had emptied the two +dishes of lentils amongst the ashes, the maiden went through the back-door into +the garden and cried, You tame pigeons, you turtle-doves, and all you birds +under heaven, come and help me to pick +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The good into the pot,<br/> +The bad into the crop.” +</p> + +<p> +Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen-window, and afterwards the +turtle-doves, and at length all the birds beneath the sky, came whirring and +crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes. And the doves nodded with their +heads and began pick, pick, pick, pick, and the others began also pick, pick, +pick, pick, and gathered all the good seeds into the dishes, and before half an +hour was over they had already finished, and all flew out again. Then the +maiden carried the dishes to the step-mother and was delighted, and believed +that she might now go with them to the festival. But the step-mother said, +“All this will not help thee; thou goest not with us, for thou hast no +clothes and canst not dance; we should be ashamed of thee!” On this she +turned her back on Cinderella, and hurried away with her two proud daughters. +</p> + +<p> +As no one was now at home, Cinderella went to her mother’s grave beneath +the hazel-tree, and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Shiver and quiver, little tree,<br/> +Silver and gold throw down over me.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the bird threw a gold and silver dress down to her, and slippers +embroidered with silk and silver. She put on the dress with all speed, and went +to the festival. Her step-sisters and the step-mother however did not know her, +and thought she must be a foreign princess, for she looked so beautiful in the +golden dress. They never once thought of Cinderella, and believed that she was +sitting at home in the dirt, picking lentils out of the ashes. The prince went +to meet her, took her by the hand and danced with her. He would dance with no +other maiden, and never left loose of her hand, and if any one else came to +invite her, he said, “This is my partner.” +</p> + +<p> +She danced till it was evening, and then she wanted to go home. But the +King’s son said, “I will go with thee and bear thee company,” +for he wished to see to whom the beautiful maiden belonged. She escaped from +him, however, and sprang into the pigeon-house. The King’s son waited +until her father came, and then he told him that the stranger maiden had leapt +into the pigeon-house. The old man thought, “Can it be Cinderella?” +and they had to bring him an axe and a pickaxe that he might hew the +pigeon-house to pieces, but no one was inside it. And when they got home +Cinderella lay in her dirty clothes among the ashes, and a dim little oil-lamp +was burning on the mantle-piece, for Cinderella had jumped quickly down from +the back of the pigeon-house and had run to the little hazel-tree, and there +she had taken off her beautiful clothes and laid them on the grave, and the +bird had taken them away again, and then she had placed herself in the kitchen +amongst the ashes in her grey gown. +</p> + +<p> +Next day when the festival began afresh, and her parents and the step-sisters +had gone once more, Cinderella went to the hazel-tree and said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Shiver and quiver, my little tree,<br/> +Silver and gold throw down over me.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the bird threw down a much more beautiful dress than on the preceding day. +And when Cinderella appeared at the festival in this dress, every one was +astonished at her beauty. The King’s son had waited until she came, and +instantly took her by the hand and danced with no one but her. When others came +and invited her, he said, “She is my partner.” When evening came +she wished to leave, and the King’s son followed her and wanted to see +into which house she went. But she sprang away from him, and into the garden +behind the house. Therein stood a beautiful tall tree on which hung the most +magnificent pears. She clambered so nimbly between the branches like a squirrel +that the King’s son did not know where she was gone. He waited until her +father came, and said to him, “The stranger-maiden has escaped from me, +and I believe she has climbed up the pear-tree.” The father thought, +“Can it be Cinderella?” and had an axe brought and cut the tree +down, but no one was on it. And when they got into the kitchen, Cinderella lay +there amongst the ashes, as usual, for she had jumped down on the other side of +the tree, had taken the beautiful dress to the bird on the little hazel-tree, +and put on her grey gown. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day, when the parents and sisters had gone away, Cinderella went +once more to her mother’s grave and said to the little tree— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Shiver and quiver, my little tree,<br/> +Silver and gold throw down over me.” +</p> + +<p> +And now the bird threw down to her a dress which was more splendid and +magnificent than any she had yet had, and the slippers were golden. And when +she went to the festival in the dress, no one knew how to speak for +astonishment. The King’s son danced with her only, and if any one invited +her to dance, he said, “She is my partner.” +</p> + +<p> +When evening came, Cinderella wished to leave, and the King’s son was +anxious to go with her, but she escaped from him so quickly that he could not +follow her. The King’s son had, however, used a strategem, and had caused +the whole staircase to be smeared with pitch, and there, when she ran down, had +the maiden’s left slipper remained sticking. The King’s son picked +it up, and it was small and dainty, and all golden. Next morning, he went with +it to the father, and said to him, “No one shall be my wife but she whose +foot this golden slipper fits.” Then were the two sisters glad, for they +had pretty feet. The eldest went with the shoe into her room and wanted to try +it on, and her mother stood by. But she could not get her big toe into it, and +the shoe was too small for her. Then her mother gave her a knife and said, +“Cut the toe off; when thou art Queen thou wilt have no more need to go +on foot.” The maiden cut the toe off, forced the foot into the shoe, +swallowed the pain, and went out to the King’s son. Then he took her on +his horse as his bride and rode away with her. They were, however, obliged to +pass the grave, and there, on the hazel-tree, sat the two pigeons and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Turn and peep, turn and peep,<br/> +There’s blood within the shoe,<br/> +The shoe it is too small for her,<br/> +The true bride waits for you.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he looked at her foot and saw how the blood was streaming from it. He +turned his horse round and took the false bride home again, and said she was +not the true one, and that the other sister was to put the shoe on. Then this +one went into her chamber and got her toes safely into the shoe, but her heel +was too large. So her mother gave her a knife and said, “Cut a bit off +thy heel; when thou art Queen thou wilt have no more need to go on foot.” +The maiden cut a bit off her heel, forced her foot into the shoe, swallowed the +pain, and went out to the King’s son. He took her on his horse as his +bride, and rode away with her, but when they passed by the hazel-tree, two +little pigeons sat on it and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Turn and peep, turn and peep,<br/> +There’s blood within the shoe<br/> +The shoe it is too small for her,<br/> +The true bride waits for you.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He looked down at her foot and saw how the blood was running out of her shoe, +and how it had stained her white stocking. Then he turned his horse and took +the false bride home again. “This also is not the right one,” said +he, “have you no other daughter?” “No,” said the man, +“There is still a little stunted kitchen-wench which my late wife left +behind her, but she cannot possibly be the bride.” The King’s son +said he was to send her up to him; but the mother answered, “Oh, no, she +is much too dirty, she cannot show herself!” He absolutely insisted on +it, and Cinderella had to be called. She first washed her hands and face clean, +and then went and bowed down before the King’s son, who gave her the +golden shoe. Then she seated herself on a stool, drew her foot out of the heavy +wooden shoe, and put it into the slipper, which fitted like a glove. And when +she rose up and the King’s son looked at her face he recognized the +beautiful maiden who had danced with him and cried, “That is the true +bride!” The step-mother and the two sisters were terrified and became +pale with rage; he, however, took Cinderella on his horse and rode away with +her. As they passed by the hazel-tree, the two white doves cried— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Turn and peep, turn and peep,<br/> +No blood is in the shoe,<br/> +The shoe is not too small for her,<br/> +The true bride rides with you,” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +and when they had cried that, the two came flying down and placed themselves on +Cinderella’s shoulders, one on the right, the other on the left, and +remained sitting there. +</p> + +<p> +When the wedding with the King’s son had to be celebrated, the two false +sisters came and wanted to get into favour with Cinderella and share her good +fortune. When the betrothed couple went to church, the elder was at the right +side and the younger at the left, and the pigeons pecked out one eye of each of +them. Afterwards as they came back, the elder was at the left, and the younger +at the right, and then the pigeons pecked out the other eye of each. And thus, +for their wickedness and falsehood, they were punished with blindness as long +as they lived. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap22"></a>22 The Riddle</h3> + +<p> +There was once a King’s son who was seized with a desire to travel about +the world, and took no one with him but a faithful servant. One day he came to +a great forest, and when darkness overtook him he could find no shelter, and +knew not where to pass the night. Then he saw a girl who was going towards a +small house, and when he came nearer, he saw that the maiden was young and +beautiful. He spoke to her, and said, “Dear child, can I and my servant +find shelter for the night in the little house?” “Oh, yes,” +said the girl in a sad voice, “that you certainly can, but I do not +advise you to venture it. Do not go in.” “Why not?” asked the +King’s son. The maiden sighed and said, “My step-mother practises +wicked arts; she is ill-disposed toward strangers.” Then he saw very well +that he had come to the house of a witch, but as it was dark, and he could not +go farther, and also was not afraid, he entered. The old woman was sitting in +an armchair by the fire, and looked at the stranger with her red eyes. +“Good evening,” growled she, and pretended to be quite friendly. +“Take a seat and rest yourselves.” She blew up the fire on which +she was cooking something in a small pot. The daughter warned the two to be +prudent, to eat nothing, and drink nothing, for the old woman brewed evil +drinks. They slept quietly until early morning. When they were making ready for +their departure, and the King’s son was already seated on his horse, the +old woman said, “Stop a moment, I will first hand you a parting +draught.” Whilst she fetched it, the King’s son rode away, and the +servant who had to buckle his saddle tight, was the only one present when the +wicked witch came with the drink. “Take that to your master,” said +she. But at that instant the glass broke and the poison spirted on the horse, +and it was so strong that the animal immediately fell down dead. The servant +ran after his master and told him what had happened, but would not leave his +saddle behind him, and ran back to fetch it. When, however, he came to the dead +horse a raven was already sitting on it devouring it. “Who knows whether +we shall find anything better to-day?” said the servant; so he killed the +raven, and took it with him. And now they journeyed onwards into the forest the +whole day, but could not get out of it. By nightfall they found an inn and +entered it. The servant gave the raven to the innkeeper to make ready for +supper. They had, however, stumbled on a den of murderers, and during the +darkness twelve of these came, intending to kill the strangers and rob them. +Before they set about this work, they sat down to supper, and the innkeeper and +the witch sat down with them, and together they ate a dish of soup in which was +cut up the flesh of the raven. Hardly, however, had they swallowed a couple of +mouthfuls, before they all fell down dead, for the raven had communicated to +them the poison from the horse-flesh. There was no no one else left in the +house but the innkeeper’s daughter, who was honest, and had taken no part +in their godless deeds. She opened all doors to the stranger and showed him the +heaped-up treasures. But the King’s son said she might keep everything, +he would have none of it, and rode onwards with his servant. +</p> + +<p> +After they had traveled about for a long time, they came to a town in which was +a beautiful but proud princess, who had caused it to be proclaimed that +whosoever should set her a riddle which she could not guess, that man should be +her husband; but if she guessed it, his head must be cut off. She had three +days to guess it in, but was so clever that she always found the answer to the +riddle given her, before the appointed time. Nine suitors had already perished +in this manner, when the King’s son arrived, and blinded by her great +beauty, was willing to stake his life for it. Then he went to her and laid his +riddle before her. “What is this?” said he, “One slew none, +and yet slew twelve.” She did not know what that was, she thought and +thought, but she could not find out, she opened her riddle-books, but it was +not in them—in short, her wisdom was at an end. As she did not know how +to help herself, she ordered her maid to creep into the lord’s +sleeping-chamber, and listen to his dreams, and thought that he would perhaps +speak in his sleep and discover the riddle. But the clever servant had placed +himself in the bed instead of his master, and when the maid came there, he tore +off from her the mantle in which she had wrapped herself, and chased her out +with rods. The second night the King’s daughter sent her maid-in-waiting, +who was to see if she could succeed better in listening, but the servant took +her mantle also away from her, and hunted her out with rods. Now the master +believed himself safe for the third night, and lay down in his own bed. Then +came the princess herself, and she had put on a misty-grey mantle, and she +seated herself near him. And when she thought that he was asleep and dreaming, +she spoke to him, and hoped that he would answer in his sleep, as many do, but +he was awake, and understood and heard everything quite well. Then she asked, +“One slew none, what is that?” He replied, “A raven, which +ate of a dead and poisoned horse, and died of it.” She inquired further, +“And yet slew twelve, what is that?” He answered, “That means +twelve murderers, who ate the raven and died of it.” +</p> + +<p> +When she knew the answer to the riddle she wanted to steal away, but he held +her mantle so fast that she was forced to leave it behind her. Next morning, +the King’s daughter announced that she had guessed the riddle, and sent +for the twelve judges and expounded it before them. But the youth begged for a +hearing, and said, “She stole into my room in the night and questioned +me, otherwise she could not have discovered it.” The judges said, +“Bring us a proof of this.” Then were the three mantles brought +thither by the servant, and when the judges saw the misty-grey one which the +King’s daughter usually wore, they said, “Let the mantle be +embroidered with gold and silver, and then it will be your wedding-mantle. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap23"></a>23 The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage</h3> + +<p> +Once on a time a mouse, a bird, and a sausage became companions, kept house +together, lived well and happily with each other, and wonderfully increased +their possessions. The bird’s work was to fly every day into the forest +and bring back wood. The mouse had to carry water, light the fire, and lay the +table, but the sausage had to cook. +</p> + +<p> +He who is too well off is always longing for something new. One day, therefore, +the bird met with another bird, on the way, to whom it related its excellent +circumstances and boasted of them. The other bird, however, called it a poor +simpleton for his hard work, but said that the two at home had good times. For +when the mouse had made her fire and carried her water, she went into her +little room to rest until they called her to lay the table. The sausage stayed +by the pot, saw that the food was cooking well, and, when it was nearly time +for dinner, it rolled itself once or twice through the broth or vegetables and +then they were buttered, salted, and ready. When the bird came home and laid +his burden down, they sat down to dinner, and after they had had their meal, +they slept their fill till next morning, and that was a splendid life. +</p> + +<p> +Next day the bird, prompted by the other bird, would go no more into the wood, +saying that he had been servant long enough, and had been made a fool of by +them, and that they must change about for once, and try to arrange it in +another way. And, though the mouse and the sausage also begged most earnestly, +the bird would have his way, and said it must be tried. They cast lots about +it, and the lot fell on the sausage who was to carry wood, the mouse became +cook, and the bird was to fetch water. +</p> + +<p> +What happened? The little sausage went out towards the wood, the little bird +lighted the fire, the mouse stayed by the pot and waited alone until little +sausage came home and brought wood for next day. But the little sausage stayed +so long on the road that they both feared something was amiss, and the bird +flew out a little way in the air to meet it. Not far off, however, it met a dog +on the road who had fallen on the poor sausage as lawful booty, and had seized +and swallowed it. The bird charged the dog with an act of barefaced robbery, +but it was in vain to speak, for the dog said he had found forged letters on +the sausage, on which account its life was forfeited to him. +</p> + +<p> +The bird sadly took up the wood, flew home, and related what he had seen and +heard. They were much troubled, but agreed to do their best and remain +together. The bird therefore laid the cloth, and the mouse made ready the food, +and wanted to dress it, and to get into the pot as the sausage used to do, and +roll and creep amongst the vegetables to mix them; but before she got into the +midst of them she was stopped, and lost her skin and hair and life in the +attempt. +</p> + +<p> +When the bird came to carry up the dinner, no cook was there. In its distress +the bird threw the wood here and there, called and searched, but no cook was to +be found! Owing to his carelessness the wood caught fire, so that a +conflagration ensued, the bird hastened to fetch water, and then the bucket +dropped from his claws into the well, and he fell down with it, and could not +recover himself, but had to drown there. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap24"></a>24 Mother Holle</h3> + +<p> +There was once a widow who had two daughters—one of whom was pretty and +industrious, whilst the other was ugly and idle. But she was much fonder of the +ugly and idle one, because she was her own daughter; and the other, who was a +step-daughter, was obliged to do all the work, and be the Cinderella of the +house. Every day the poor girl had to sit by a well, in the highway, and spin +and spin till her fingers bled. +</p> + +<p> +Now it happened that one day the shuttle was marked with her blood, so she +dipped it in the well, to wash the mark off; but it dropped out of her hand and +fell to the bottom. She began to weep, and ran to her step-mother and told her +of the mishap. But she scolded her sharply, and was so merciless as to say, +“Since you have let the shuttle fall in, you must fetch it out +again.” +</p> + +<p> +So the girl went back to the well, and did not know what to do; and in the +sorrow of her heart she jumped into the well to get the shuttle. She lost her +senses; and when she awoke and came to herself again, she was in a lovely +meadow where the sun was shining and many thousands of flowers were growing. +Along this meadow she went, and at last came to a baker’s oven full of +bread, and the bread cried out, “Oh, take me out! take me out! or I shall +burn; I have been baked a long time!” So she went up to it, and took out +all the loaves one after another with the bread-shovel. After that she went on +till she came to a tree covered with apples, which called out to her, +“Oh, shake me! shake me! we apples are all ripe!” So she shook the +tree till the apples fell like rain, and went on shaking till they were all +down, and when she had gathered them into a heap, she went on her way. +</p> + +<p> +At last she came to a little house, out of which an old woman peeped; but she +had such large teeth that the girl was frightened, and was about to run away. +</p> + +<p> +But the old woman called out to her, “What are you afraid of, dear child? +Stay with me; if you will do all the work in the house properly, you shall be +the better for it. Only you must take care to make my bed well, and shake it +thoroughly till the feathers fly—for then there is snow on the earth. I +am Mother Holle. +</p> + +<p> +As the old woman spoke so kindly to her, the girl took courage and agreed to +enter her service. She attended to everything to the satisfaction of her +mistress, and always shook her bed so vigorously that the feathers flew about +like snow-flakes. So she had a pleasant life with her; never an angry word; and +boiled or roast meat every day. +</p> + +<p> +She stayed some time with Mother Holle, and then she became sad. At first she +did not know what was the matter with her, but found at length that it was +home-sickness: although she was many thousand times better off here than at +home, still she had a longing to be there. At last she said to the old woman, +“I have a longing for home; and however well off I am down here, I cannot +stay any longer; I must go up again to my own people.” Mother Holle said, +“I am pleased that you long for your home again, and as you have served +me so truly, I myself will take you up again.” Thereupon she took her by +the hand, and led her to a large door. The door was opened, and just as the +maiden was standing beneath the doorway, a heavy shower of golden rain fell, +and all the gold remained sticking to her, so that she was completely covered +over with it. +</p> + +<p> +“You shall have that because you have been so industrious,” said +Mother Holle, and at the same time she gave her back the shuttle which she had +let fall into the well. Thereupon the door closed, and the maiden found herself +up above upon the earth, not far from her mother’s house. +</p> + +<p> +And as she went into the yard the cock was standing by the well-side, and +cried— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Cock-a-doodle-doo!<br/> +Your golden girl’s come back to you!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +So she went in to her mother, and as she arrived thus covered with gold, she +was well received, both by her and her sister. +</p> + +<p> +The girl told all that had happened to her; and as soon as the mother heard how +she had come by so much wealth, she was very anxious to obtain the same good +luck for the ugly and lazy daughter. She had to seat herself by the well and +spin; and in order that her shuttle might be stained with blood, she stuck her +hand into a thorn bush and pricked her finger. Then she threw her shuttle into +the well, and jumped in after it. +</p> + +<p> +She came, like the other, to the beautiful meadow and walked along the very +same path. When she got to the oven the bread again cried, “Oh, take me +out! take me out! or I shall burn; I have been baked a long time!” But +the lazy thing answered, “As if I had any wish to make myself +dirty?” and on she went. Soon she came to the apple-tree, which cried, +“Oh, shake me! shake me! we apples are all ripe!” But she answered, +“I like that! one of you might fall on my head,” and so went on. +</p> + +<p> +When she came to Mother Holle’s house she was not afraid, for she had +already heard of her big teeth, and she hired herself to her immediately. +</p> + +<p> +The first day she forced herself to work diligently, and obeyed Mother Holle +when she told her to do anything, for she was thinking of all the gold that she +would give her. But on the second day she began to be lazy, and on the third +day still more so, and then she would not get up in the morning at all. Neither +did she make Mother Holle’s bed as she ought, and did not shake it so as +to make the feathers fly up. Mother Holle was soon tired of this, and gave her +notice to leave. The lazy girl was willing enough to go, and thought that now +the golden rain would come. Mother Holle led her also to the great door; but +while she was standing beneath it, instead of the gold a big kettleful of pitch +was emptied over her. “That is the reward for your service,” said +Mother Holle, and shut the door. +</p> + +<p> +So the lazy girl went home; but she was quite covered with pitch, and the cock +by the well-side, as soon as he saw her, cried out— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Cock-a-doodle-doo!<br/> +Your pitchy girl’s come back to you!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But the pitch stuck fast to her, and could not be got off as long as she lived. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap25"></a>25 The Seven Ravens</h3> + +<p> +There was once a man who had seven sons, and still he had no daughter, however +much he wished for one. At length his wife again gave him hope of a child, and +when it came into the world it was a girl. The joy was great, but the child was +sickly and small, and had to be privately baptized on account of its weakness. +The father sent one of the boys in haste to the spring to fetch water for the +baptism. The other six went with him, and as each of them wanted to be first to +fill it, the jug fell into the well. There they stood and did not know what to +do, and none of them dared to go home. As they still did not return, the father +grew impatient, and said, “They have certainly forgotten it for some +game, the wicked boys!” He became afraid that the girl would have to die +without being baptized, and in his anger cried, “I wish the boys were all +turned into ravens.” Hardly was the word spoken before he heard a +whirring of wings over his head in the air, looked up and saw seven coal-black +ravens flying away. The parents could not recall the curse, and however sad +they were at the loss of their seven sons, they still to some extent comforted +themselves with their dear little daughter, who soon grew strong and every day +became more beautiful. For a long time she did not know that she had had +brothers, for her parents were careful not to mention them before her, but one +day she accidentally heard some people saying of herself, “that the girl +was certainly beautiful, but that in reality she was to blame for the +misfortune which had befallen her seven brothers.” Then she was much +troubled, and went to her father and mother and asked if it was true that she +had had brothers, and what had become of them? The parents now dared keep the +secret no longer, but said that what had befallen her brothers was the will of +Heaven, and that her birth had only been the innocent cause. But the maiden +took it to heart daily, and thought she must deliver her brothers. She had no +rest or peace until she set out secretly, and went forth into the wide world to +trace out her brothers and set them free, let it cost what it might. She took +nothing with her but a little ring belonging to her parents as a keepsake, a +loaf of bread against hunger, a little pitcher of water against thirst, and a +little chair as a provision against weariness. +</p> + +<p> +And now she went continually onwards, far, far to the very end of the world. +Then she came to the sun, but it was too hot and terrible, and devoured little +children. Hastily she ran away, and ran to the moon, but it was far too cold, +and also awful and malicious, and when it saw the child, it said, “I +smell, I smell the flesh of men.” On this she ran swiftly away, and came +to the stars, which were kind and good to her, and each of them sat on its own +particular little chair. But the morning star arose, and gave her the drumstick +of a chicken, and said, “If you thou hast not that drumstick thou canst +not open the Glass mountain, and in the Glass mountain are thy brothers.” +</p> + +<p> +The maiden took the drumstick, wrapped it carefully in a cloth, and went +onwards again until she came to the Glass mountain. The door was shut, and she +thought she would take out the drumstick; but when she undid the cloth, it was +empty, and she had lost the good star’s present. What was she now to do? +She wished to rescue her brothers, and had no key to the Glass mountain. The +good sister took a knife, cut off one of her little fingers, put it in the +door, and succeeded in opening it. When she had gone inside, a little dwarf +came to meet her, who said, “My child, what are you looking for?” +“I am looking for my brothers, the seven ravens,” she replied. The +dwarf said, “The lord ravens are not at home, but if you will wait here +until they come, step in.” Thereupon the little dwarf carried the +ravens’ dinner in, on seven little plates, and in seven little glasses, +and the little sister ate a morsel from each plate, and from each little glass +she took a sip, but in the last little glass she dropped the ring which she had +brought away with her. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly she heard a whirring of wings and a rushing through the air, and then +the little dwarf said, “Now the lord ravens are flying home.” Then +they came, and wanted to eat and drink, and looked for their little plates and +glasses. Then said one after the other, “Who has eaten something from my +plate? Who has drunk out of my little glass? It was a human mouth.” And +when the seventh came to the bottom of the glass, the ring rolled against his +mouth. Then he looked at it, and saw that it was a ring belonging to his father +and mother, and said, “God grant that our sister may be here, and then we +shall be free.” When the maiden, who was standing behind the door +watching, heard that wish, she came forth, and on this all the ravens were +restored to their human form again. And they embraced and kissed each other, +and went joyfully home. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap26"></a>26 Little Red-Cap</h3> + +<p> +Once upon a time there was a dear little girl who was loved by every one who +looked at her, but most of all by her grandmother, and there was nothing that +she would not have given to the child. Once she gave her a little cap of red +velvet, which suited her so well that she would never wear anything else; so +she was always called “Little Red-Cap.” +</p> + +<p> +One day her mother said to her, “Come, Little Red-Cap, here is a piece of +cake and a bottle of wine; take them to your grandmother, she is ill and weak, +and they will do her good. Set out before it gets hot, and when you are going, +walk nicely and quietly and do not run off the path, or you may fall and break +the bottle, and then your grandmother will get nothing; and when you go into +her room, don’t forget to say, ‘Good-morning,’ and +don’t peep into every corner before you do it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will take great care,” said Little Red-Cap to her mother, and +gave her hand on it. +</p> + +<p> +The grandmother lived out in the wood, half a league from the village, and just +as Little Red-Cap entered the wood, a wolf met her. Red-Cap did not know what a +wicked creature he was, and was not at all afraid of him. +</p> + +<p> +“Good-day, Little Red-Cap,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you kindly, wolf.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whither away so early, Little Red-Cap?” +</p> + +<p> +“To my grandmother’s.” +</p> + +<p> +“What have you got in your apron?” +</p> + +<p> +“Cake and wine; yesterday was baking-day, so poor sick grandmother is to +have something good, to make her stronger.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where does your grandmother live, Little Red-Cap?” +</p> + +<p> +“A good quarter of a league farther on in the wood; her house stands +under the three large oak-trees, the nut-trees are just below; you surely must +know it,” replied Little Red-Cap. +</p> + +<p> +The wolf thought to himself, “What a tender young creature! what a nice +plump mouthful—she will be better to eat than the old woman. I must act +craftily, so as to catch both.” So he walked for a short time by the side +of Little Red-Cap, and then he said, “See Little Red-Cap, how pretty the +flowers are about here—why do you not look round? I believe, too, that +you do not hear how sweetly the little birds are singing; you walk gravely +along as if you were going to school, while everything else out here in the +wood is merry.” +</p> + +<p> +Little Red-Cap raised her eyes, and when she saw the sunbeams dancing here and +there through the trees, and pretty flowers growing everywhere, she thought, +“Suppose I take grandmother a fresh nosegay; that would please her too. +It is so early in the day that I shall still get there in good time;” and +so she ran from the path into the wood to look for flowers. And whenever she +had picked one, she fancied that she saw a still prettier one farther on, and +ran after it, and so got deeper and deeper into the wood. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the wolf ran straight to the grandmother’s house and knocked at +the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is there?” +</p> + +<p> +“Little Red-Cap,” replied the wolf. “She is bringing cake and +wine; open the door.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lift the latch,” called out the grandmother, “I am too weak, +and cannot get up.” +</p> + +<p> +The wolf lifted the latch, the door flew open, and without saying a word he +went straight to the grandmother’s bed, and devoured her. Then he put on +her clothes, dressed himself in her cap, laid himself in bed and drew the +curtains. +</p> + +<p> +Little Red-Cap, however, had been running about picking flowers, and when she +had gathered so many that she could carry no more, she remembered her +grandmother, and set out on the way to her. +</p> + +<p> +She was surprised to find the cottage-door standing open, and when she went +into the room, she had such a strange feeling that she said to herself, +“Oh dear! how uneasy I feel to-day, and at other times I like being with +grandmother so much.” She called out, “Good morning,” but +received no answer; so she went to the bed and drew back the curtains. There +lay her grandmother with her cap pulled far over her face, and looking very +strange. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! grandmother,” she said, “what big ears you have!” +</p> + +<p> +“The better to hear you with, my child,” was the reply. +</p> + +<p> +“But, grandmother, what big eyes you have!” she said. +</p> + +<p> +“The better to see you with, my dear.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, grandmother, what large hands you have!” +</p> + +<p> +“The better to hug you with.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! but, grandmother, what a terrible big mouth you have!” +</p> + +<p> +“The better to eat you with!” +</p> + +<p> +And scarcely had the wolf said this, than with one bound he was out of bed and +swallowed up Red-Cap. +</p> + +<p> +When the wolf had appeased his appetite, he lay down again in the bed, fell +asleep and began to snore very loud. The huntsman was just passing the house, +and thought to himself, “How the old woman is snoring! I must just see if +she wants anything.” So he went into the room, and when he came to the +bed, he saw that the wolf was lying in it. “Do I find thee here, thou old +sinner!” said he. “I have long sought thee!” Then just as he +was going to fire at him, it occurred to him that the wolf might have devoured +the grandmother, and that she might still be saved, so he did not fire, but +took a pair of scissors, and began to cut open the stomach of the sleeping +wolf. When he had made two snips, he saw the little Red-Cap shining, and then +he made two snips more, and the little girl sprang out, crying, “Ah, how +frightened I have been! How dark it was inside the wolf;” and after that +the aged grandmother came out alive also, but scarcely able to breathe. +Red-Cap, however, quickly fetched great stones with which they filled the +wolf’s body, and when he awoke, he wanted to run away, but the stones +were so heavy that he fell down at once, and fell dead. +</p> + +<p> +Then all three were delighted. The huntsman drew off the wolf’s skin and +went home with it; the grandmother ate the cake and drank the wine which +Red-Cap had brought, and revived, but Red-Cap thought to herself, “As +long as I live, I will never by myself leave the path, to run into the wood, +when my mother has forbidden me to do so.” +</p> + +<p> + * * * * * * * +</p> + +<p> +It is also related that once when Red-Cap was again taking cakes to the old +grandmother, another wolf spoke to her, and tried to entice her from the path. +Red-Cap, however, was on her guard, and went straight forward on her way, and +told her grandmother that she had met the wolf, and that he had said +“good-morning” to her, but with such a wicked look in his eyes, +that if they had not been on the public road she was certain he would have +eaten her up. “Well,” said the grandmother, “we will shut the +door, that he may not come in.” Soon afterwards the wolf knocked, and +cried, “Open the door, grandmother, I am little Red-Cap, and am fetching +you some cakes.” But they did not speak, or open the door, so the +grey-beard stole twice or thrice round the house, and at last jumped on the +roof, intending to wait until Red-Cap went home in the evening, and then to +steal after her and devour her in the darkness. But the grandmother saw what +was in his thoughts. In front of the house was a great stone trough, so she +said to the child, “Take the pail, Red-Cap; I made some sausages +yesterday, so carry the water in which I boiled them to the trough.” +Red-Cap carried until the great trough was quite full. Then the smell of the +sausages reached the wolf, and he sniffed and peeped down, and at last +stretched out his neck so far that he could no longer keep his footing and +began to slip, and slipped down from the roof straight into the great trough, +and was drowned. But Red-Cap went joyously home, and never did anything to harm +any one. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap27"></a>27 The Bremen Town-Musicians</h3> + +<p> +A certain man had a donkey, which had carried the corn-sacks to the mill +indefatigably for many a long year; but his strength was going, and he was +growing more and more unfit for work. Then his master began to consider how he +might best save his keep; but the donkey, seeing that no good wind was blowing, +ran away and set out on the road to Bremen. “There,” he thought, +“I can surely be town-musician.” When he had walked some distance, +he found a hound lying on the road, gasping like one who had run till he was +tired. “What are you gasping so for, you big fellow?” asked the +donkey. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah,” replied the hound, “as I am old, and daily grow weaker, +and no longer can hunt, my master wanted to kill me, so I took to flight; but +now how am I to earn my bread?” +</p> + +<p> +“I tell you what,” said the donkey, “I am going to Bremen, +and shall be town-musician there; go with me and engage yourself also as a +musician. I will play the lute, and you shall beat the kettledrum.” +</p> + +<p> +The hound agreed, and on they went. +</p> + +<p> +Before long they came to a cat, sitting on the path, with a face like three +rainy days! “Now then, old shaver, what has gone askew with you?” +asked the donkey. +</p> + +<p> +“Who can be merry when his neck is in danger?” answered the cat. +“Because I am now getting old, and my teeth are worn to stumps, and I +prefer to sit by the fire and spin, rather than hunt about after mice, my +mistress wanted to drown me, so I ran away. But now good advice is scarce. +Where am I to go?” +</p> + +<p> +“Go with us to Bremen. You understand night-music, you can be a +town-musician.” +</p> + +<p> +The cat thought well of it, and went with them. After this the three fugitives +came to a farm-yard, where the cock was sitting upon the gate, crowing with all +his might. “Your crow goes through and through one,” said the +donkey. “What is the matter?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have been foretelling fine weather, because it is the day on which Our +Lady washes the Christ-child’s little shirts, and wants to dry +them,” said the cock; “but guests are coming for Sunday, so the +housewife has no pity, and has told the cook that she intends to eat me in the +soup to-morrow, and this evening I am to have my head cut off. Now I am crowing +at full pitch while I can.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, but red-comb,” said the donkey, “you had better come +away with us. We are going to Bremen; you can find something better than death +everywhere: you have a good voice, and if we make music together it must have +some quality!” +</p> + +<p> +The cock agreed to this plan, and all four went on together. They could not, +however, reach the city of Bremen in one day, and in the evening they came to a +forest where they meant to pass the night. The donkey and the hound laid +themselves down under a large tree, the cat and the cock settled themselves in +the branches; but the cock flew right to the top, where he was most safe. +Before he went to sleep he looked round on all four sides, and thought he saw +in the distance a little spark burning; so he called out to his companions that +there must be a house not far off, for he saw a light. The donkey said, +“If so, we had better get up and go on, for the shelter here is +bad.” The hound thought that a few bones with some meat on would do him +good too! +</p> + +<p> +So they made their way to the place where the light was, and soon saw it shine +brighter and grow larger, until they came to a well-lighted robber’s +house. The donkey, as the biggest, went to the window and looked in. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you see, my grey-horse?” asked the cock. “What do I +see?” answered the donkey; “a table covered with good things to eat +and drink, and robbers sitting at it enjoying themselves.” “That +would be the sort of thing for us,” said the cock. “Yes, yes; ah, +how I wish we were there!” said the donkey. +</p> + +<p> +Then the animals took counsel together how they should manage to drive away the +robbers, and at last they thought of a plan. The donkey was to place himself +with his fore-feet upon the window-ledge, the hound was to jump on the +donkey’s back, the cat was to climb upon the dog, and lastly the cock was +to fly up and perch upon the head of the cat. +</p> + +<p> +When this was done, at a given signal, they began to perform their music +together: the donkey brayed, the hound barked, the cat mewed, and the cock +crowed; then they burst through the window into the room, so that the glass +clattered! At this horrible din, the robbers sprang up, thinking no otherwise +than that a ghost had come in, and fled in a great fright out into the forest. +The four companions now sat down at the table, well content with what was left, +and ate as if they were going to fast for a month. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the four minstrels had done, they put out the light, and each sought +for himself a sleeping-place according to his nature and to what suited him. +The donkey laid himself down upon some straw in the yard, the hound behind the +door, the cat upon the hearth near the warm ashes, and the cock perched himself +upon a beam of the roof; and being tired from their long walk, they soon went +to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +When it was past midnight, and the robbers saw from afar that the light was no +longer burning in their house, and all appeared quiet, the captain said, +“We ought not to have let ourselves be frightened out of our wits;” +and ordered one of them to go and examine the house. +</p> + +<p> +The messenger finding all still, went into the kitchen to light a candle, and, +taking the glistening fiery eyes of the cat for live coals, he held a +lucifer-match to them to light it. But the cat did not understand the joke, and +flew in his face, spitting and scratching. He was dreadfully frightened, and +ran to the back-door, but the dog, who lay there sprang up and bit his leg; and +as he ran across the yard by the straw-heap, the donkey gave him a smart kick +with its hind foot. The cock, too, who had been awakened by the noise, and had +become lively, cried down from the beam, “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the robber ran back as fast as he could to his captain, and said, +“Ah, there is a horrible witch sitting in the house, who spat on me and +scratched my face with her long claws; and by the door stands a man with a +knife, who stabbed me in the leg; and in the yard there lies a black monster, +who beat me with a wooden club; and above, upon the roof, sits the judge, who +called out, ‘Bring the rogue here to me!’ so I got away as well as +I could.” +</p> + +<p> +After this the robbers did not trust themselves in the house again; but it +suited the four musicians of Bremen so well that they did not care to leave it +any more. And the mouth of him who last told this story is still warm. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap28"></a>28 The Singing Bone</h3> + +<p> +In a certain country there was once great lamentation over a wild boar that +laid waste the farmer’s fields, killed the cattle, and ripped up +people’s bodies with his tusks. The King promised a large reward to +anyone who would free the land from this plague; but the beast was so big and +strong that no one dared to go near the forest in which it lived. At last the +King gave notice that whosoever should capture or kill the wild boar should +have his only daughter to wife. +</p> + +<p> +Now there lived in the country two brothers, sons of a poor man, who declared +themselves willing to undertake the hazardous enterprise; the elder, who was +crafty and shrewd, out of pride; the younger, who was innocent and simple, from +a kind heart. The King said, “In order that you may be the more sure of +finding the beast, you must go into the forest from opposite sides.” So +the elder went in on the west side, and the younger on the east. +</p> + +<p> +When the younger had gone a short way, a little man stepped up to him. He held +in his hand a black spear and said, “I give you this spear because your +heart is pure and good; with this you can boldly attack the wild boar, and it +will do you no harm.” +</p> + +<p> +He thanked the little man, shouldered the spear, and went on fearlessly. +</p> + +<p> +Before long he saw the beast, which rushed at him; but he held the spear +towards it, and in its blind fury it ran so swiftly against it that its heart +was cloven in twain. Then he took the monster on his back and went homewards +with it to the King. +</p> + +<p> +As he came out at the other side of the wood, there stood at the entrance a +house where people were making merry with wine and dancing. His elder brother +had gone in here, and, thinking that after all the boar would not run away from +him, was going to drink until he felt brave. But when he saw his young brother +coming out of the wood laden with his booty, his envious, evil heart gave him +no peace. He called out to him, “Come in, dear brother, rest and refresh +yourself with a cup of wine.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth, who suspected no evil, went in and told him about the good little +man who had given him the spear wherewith he had slain the boar. +</p> + +<p> +The elder brother kept him there until the evening, and then they went away +together, and when in the darkness they came to a bridge over a brook, the +elder brother let the other go first; and when he was half-way across he gave +him such a blow from behind that he fell down dead. He buried him beneath the +bridge, took the boar, and carried it to the King, pretending that he had +killed it; whereupon he obtained the King’s daughter in marriage. And +when his younger brother did not come back he said, “The boar must have +killed him,” and every one believed it. +</p> + +<p> +But as nothing remains hidden from God, so this black deed also was to come to +light. +</p> + +<p> +Years afterwards a shepherd was driving his herd across the bridge, and saw +lying in the sand beneath, a snow-white little bone. He thought that it would +make a good mouth-piece, so he clambered down, picked it up, and cut out of it +a mouth-piece for his horn. But when he blew through it for the first time, to +his great astonishment, the bone began of its own accord to sing: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Ah, friend, thou blowest upon my bone!<br/> +Long have I lain beside the water;<br/> +My brother slew me for the boar,<br/> +And took for his wife the King’s young daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“What a wonderful horn!” said the shepherd; “it sings by +itself; I must take it to my lord the King.” And when he came with it to +the King the horn again began to sing its little song. The King understood it +all, and caused the ground below the bridge to be dug up, and then the whole +skeleton of the murdered man came to light. The wicked brother could not deny +the deed, and was sewn up in a sack and drowned. But the bones of the murdered +man were laid to rest in a beautiful tomb in the churchyard. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap29"></a>29 The Devil With the Three Golden Hairs</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor woman who gave birth to a little son; and as he came into +the world with a caul on, it was predicted that in his fourteenth year he would +have the King’s daughter for his wife. It happened that soon afterwards +the King came into the village, and no one knew that he was the King, and when +he asked the people what news there was, they answered, “A child has just +been born with a caul on; whatever any one so born undertakes turns out well. +It is prophesied, too, that in his fourteenth year he will have the +King’s daughter for his wife.” +</p> + +<p> +The King, who had a bad heart, and was angry about the prophecy, went to the +parents, and, seeming quite friendly, said, “You poor people, let me have +your child, and I will take care of it.” At first they refused, but when +the stranger offered them a large amount of gold for it, and they thought, +“It is a luck-child, and everything must turn out well for it,” +they at last consented, and gave him the child. +</p> + +<p> +The King put it in a box and rode away with it until he came to a deep piece of +water; then he threw the box into it and thought, “I have freed my +daughter from her unlooked-for suitor.” +</p> + +<p> +The box, however, did not sink, but floated like a boat, and not a drop of +water made its way into it. And it floated to within two miles of the +King’s chief city, where there was a mill, and it came to a stand-still +at the mill-dam. A miller’s boy, who by good luck was standing there, +noticed it and pulled it out with a hook, thinking that he had found a great +treasure, but when he opened it there lay a pretty boy inside, quite fresh and +lively. He took him to the miller and his wife, and as they had no children +they were glad, and said, “God has given him to us.” They took +great care of the foundling, and he grew up in all goodness. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that once in a storm, the King went into the mill, and he asked the +mill-folk if the tall youth was their son. “No,” answered they, +“he’s a foundling. Fourteen years ago he floated down to the +mill-dam in a box, and the mill-boy pulled him out of the water.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the King knew that it was none other than the luck-child which he had +thrown into the water, and he said, “My good people, could not the youth +take a letter to the Queen; I will give him two gold pieces as a reward?” +“Just as the King commands,” answered they, and they told the boy +to hold himself in readiness. Then the King wrote a letter to the Queen, +wherein he said, “As soon as the boy arrives with this letter, let him be +killed and buried, and all must be done before I come home.” +</p> + +<p> +The boy set out with this letter; but he lost his way, and in the evening came +to a large forest. In the darkness he saw a small light; he went towards it and +reached a cottage. When he went in, an old woman was sitting by the fire quite +alone. She started when she saw the boy, and said, “Whence do you come, +and whither are you going?” “I come from the mill,” he +answered, “and wish to go to the Queen, to whom I am taking a letter; but +as I have lost my way in the forest I should like to stay here over +night.” “You poor boy,” said the woman, “you have come +into a den of thieves, and when they come home they will kill you.” +“Let them come,” said the boy, “I am not afraid; but I am so +tired that I cannot go any farther:” and he stretched himself upon a +bench and fell asleep. +</p> + +<p> +Soon afterwards the robbers came, and angrily asked what strange boy was lying +there? “Ah,” said the old woman, “it is an innocent child who +has lost himself in the forest, and out of pity I have let him come in; he has +to take a letter to the Queen.” The robbers opened the letter and read +it, and in it was written that the boy as soon as he arrived should be put to +death. Then the hard-hearted robbers felt pity, and their leader tore up the +letter and wrote another, saying, that as soon as the boy came, he should be +married at once to the King’s daughter. Then they let him lie quietly on +the bench until the next morning, and when he awoke they gave him the letter, +and showed him the right way. +</p> + +<p> +And the Queen, when she had received the letter and read it, did as was written +in it, and had a splendid wedding-feast prepared, and the King’s daughter +was married to the luck-child, and as the youth was handsome and agreeable she +lived with him in joy and contentment. +</p> + +<p> +After some time the King returned to his palace and saw that the prophecy was +fulfilled, and the luck-child married to his daughter. “How has that come +to pass?” said he; “I gave quite another order in my letter.” +</p> + +<p> +So the Queen gave him the letter, and said that he might see for himself what +was written in it. The King read the letter and saw quite well that it had been +exchanged for the other. He asked the youth what had become of the letter +entrusted to him, and why he had brought another instead of it. “I know +nothing about it,” answered he; “it must have been changed in the +night, when I slept in the forest.” The King said in a passion, +“You shall not have everything quite so much your own way; whosoever +marries my daughter must fetch me from hell three golden hairs from the head of +the devil; bring me what I want, and you shall keep my daughter.” In this +way the King hoped to be rid of him for ever. But the luck-child answered, +“I will fetch the golden hairs, I am not afraid of the Devil;” +thereupon he took leave of them and began his journey. +</p> + +<p> +The road led him to a large town, where the watchman by the gates asked him +what his trade was, and what he knew. “I know everything,” answered +the luck-child. “Then you can do us a favour,” said the watchman, +“if you will tell us why our market-fountain, which once flowed with wine +has become dry, and no longer gives even water?” “That you shall +know,” answered he; “only wait until I come back.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he went farther and came to another town, and there also the gatekeeper +asked him what was his trade, and what he knew. “I know +everything,” answered he. “Then you can do us a favour and tell us +why a tree in our town which once bore golden apples now does not even put +forth leaves?” “You shall know that,” answered he; +“only wait until I come back.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he went on and came to a wide river over which he must go. The ferryman +asked him what his trade was, and what he knew. “I know +everything,” answered he. “Then you can do me a favour,” said +the ferryman, “and tell me why I must always be rowing backwards and +forwards, and am never set free?” “You shall know that,” +answered he; “only wait until I come back.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had crossed the water he found the entrance to Hell. It was black and +sooty within, and the Devil was not at home, but his grandmother was sitting in +a large arm-chair. “What do you want?” said she to him, but she did +not look so very wicked. “I should like to have three golden hairs from +the devil’s head,” answered he, “else I cannot keep my +wife.” “That is a good deal to ask for,” said she; “if +the devil comes home and finds you, it will cost you your life; but as I pity +you, I will see if I cannot help you.” +</p> + +<p> +She changed him into an ant and said, “Creep into the folds of my dress, +you will be safe there.” “Yes,” answered he, “so far, +so good; but there are three things besides that I want to know: why a fountain +which once flowed with wine has become dry, and no longer gives even water; why +a tree which once bore golden apples does not even put forth leaves; and why a +ferry-man must always be going backwards and forwards, and is never set +free?” +</p> + +<p> +“Those are difficult questions,” answered she, “but only be +silent and quiet and pay attention to what the devil says when I pull out the +three golden hairs.” +</p> + +<p> +As the evening came on, the devil returned home. No sooner had he entered than +he noticed that the air was not pure. “I smell man’s flesh,” +said he; “all is not right here.” Then he pried into every corner, +and searched, but could not find anything. His grandmother scolded him. +“It has just been swept,” said she, “and everything put in +order, and now you are upsetting it again; you have always got man’s +flesh in your nose. Sit down and eat your supper.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had eaten and drunk he was tired, and laid his head in his +grandmother’s lap, and before long he was fast asleep, snoring and +breathing heavily. Then the old woman took hold of a golden hair, pulled it +out, and laid it down near her. “Oh!” cried the devil, “what +are you doing?” “I have had a bad dream,” answered the +grandmother, “so I seized hold of your hair.” “What did you +dream then?” said the devil. “I dreamed that a fountain in a +market-place from which wine once flowed was dried up, and not even water would +flow out of it; what is the cause of it?” “Oh, ho! if they did but +know it,” answered the devil; “there is a toad sitting under a +stone in the well; if they killed it, the wine would flow again.” +</p> + +<p> +He went to sleep again and snored until the windows shook. Then she pulled the +second hair out. “Ha! what are you doing?” cried the devil angrily. +“Do not take it ill,” said she, “I did it in a dream.” +“What have you dreamt this time?” asked he. “I dreamt that in +a certain kingdom there stood an apple-tree which had once borne golden apples, +but now would not even bear leaves. What, think you, was the reason?” +“Oh! if they did but know,” answered the devil. “A mouse is +gnawing at the root; if they killed this they would have golden apples again, +but if it gnaws much longer the tree will wither altogether. But leave me alone +with your dreams: if you disturb me in my sleep again you will get a box on the +ear.” +</p> + +<p> +The grandmother spoke gently to him until he fell asleep again and snored. Then +she took hold of the third golden hair and pulled it out. The devil jumped up, +roared out, and would have treated her ill if she had not quieted him once more +and said, “Who can help bad dreams?” “What was the dream, +then?” asked he, and was quite curious. “I dreamt of a ferry-man +who complained that he must always ferry from one side to the other, and was +never released. What is the cause of it?” “Ah! the fool,” +answered the devil; “when any one comes and wants to go across he must +put the oar in his hand, and the other man will have to ferry and he will be +free.” As the grandmother had plucked out the three golden hairs, and the +three questions were answered, she let the old serpent alone, and he slept +until daybreak. +</p> + +<p> +When the devil had gone out again the old woman took the ant out of the folds +of her dress, and gave the luck-child his human shape again. “There are +the three golden hairs for you,” said she. “What the Devil said to +your three questions, I suppose you heard?” “Yes,” answered +he, “I heard, and will take care to remember.” “You have what +you want,” said she, “and now you can go your way.” He +thanked the old woman for helping him in his need, and left hell well content +that everything had turned out so fortunately. +</p> + +<p> +When he came to the ferry-man he was expected to give the promised answer. +“Ferry me across first,” said the luck-child, “and then I +will tell you how you can be set free,” and when he reached the opposite +shore he gave him the devil’s advice: “Next time any one comes, who +wants to be ferried over, just put the oar in his hand.” +</p> + +<p> +He went on and came to the town wherein stood the unfruitful tree, and there +too the watchman wanted an answer. So he told him what he had heard from the +devil: “Kill the mouse which is gnawing at its root, and it will again +bear golden apples.” Then the watchman thanked him, and gave him as a +reward two asses laden with gold, which followed him. +</p> + +<p> +At last he came to the town whose well was dry. He told the watchman what the +devil had said: “A toad is in the well beneath a stone; you must find it +and kill it, and the well will again give wine in plenty.” The watchman +thanked him, and also gave him two asses laden with gold. +</p> + +<p> +At last the luck-child got home to his wife, who was heartily glad to see him +again, and to hear how well he had prospered in everything. To the King he took +what he had asked for, the devil’s three golden hairs, and when the King +saw the four asses laden with gold he was quite content, and said, “Now +all the conditions are fulfilled, and you can keep my daughter. But tell me, +dear son-in-law, where did all that gold come from? this is tremendous +wealth!” “I was rowed across a river,” answered he, +“and got it there; it lies on the shore instead of sand.” +“Can I too fetch some of it?” said the King; and he was quite eager +about it. “As much as you like,” answered he. “There is a +ferry-man on the river; let him ferry you over, and you can fill your sacks on +the other side.” The greedy King set out in all haste, and when he came +to the river he beckoned to the ferry-man to put him across. The ferry-man came +and bade him get in, and when they got to the other shore he put the oar in his +hand and sprang out. But from this time forth the King had to ferry, as a +punishment for his sins. Perhaps he is ferrying still? If he is, it is because +no one has taken the oar from him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap30"></a>30 The Louse and the Flea</h3> + +<p> +A louse and a flea kept house together and were brewing beer in an egg-shell. +Then the little louse fell in and burnt herself. On this the little flea began +to scream loudly. Then said the little room-door, “Little flea, why art +thou screaming?” “Because the louse has burnt herself.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the little door began to creak. On this a little broom in the corner said, +“Why art thou creaking, little door?” “Have I not reason to +creak?” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The little louse has burnt herself,<br/> +The little flea is weeping.” +</p> + +<p> +So the little broom began to sweep frantically. Then a little cart passed by +and said, “Why art thou sweeping, little broom?” “Have I not +reason to sweep?” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The little louse has burnt herself,<br/> +The little flea is weeping,<br/> +The little door is creaking.” +</p> + +<p> +So the little cart said, “Then I will run,” and began to run +wildly. Then said the ash-heap by which it ran, “Why art thou running so, +little cart?” “Have I not reason to run?” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The little louse has burnt herself,<br/> +The little flea is weeping,<br/> +The little door is creaking,<br/> +The little broom is sweeping.” +</p> + +<p> +The ash-heap said, “Then I will burn furiously,” and began to burn +in clear flames. A little tree stood near the ash-heap and said, +“Ash-heap, why art thou burning?” “Have I not reason to +burn?” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The little louse has burnt herself,<br/> +The little flea is weeping,<br/> +The little door is creaking,<br/> +The little broom is sweeping,<br/> +The little cart is running.” +</p> + +<p> +The little tree said, “Then I will shake myself,” and began to +shake herself so that all her leaves fell off; a girl who came up with her +water-pitcher saw that, and said, “Little tree, why art thou shaking +thyself?” “Have I not reason to shake myself?” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The little louse has burnt herself,<br/> +The little flea is weeping,<br/> +The little door is creaking,<br/> +The little broom is sweeping,<br/> +The little cart is running,<br/> +The little ash-heap is burning.” +</p> + +<p> +On this the girl said, “Then I will break my little water-pitcher,” +and she broke her little water-pitcher. Then said the little spring from which +ran the water, “Girl, why art thou breaking thy water-jug?” +“Have I not reason to break my water-jug?” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The little louse has burnt herself,<br/> +The little flea is weeping,<br/> +The little door is creaking,<br/> +The little broom is sweeping,<br/> +The little cart is running,<br/> +The little ash-heap is burning,<br/> +The little tree is shaking itself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, ho!” said the spring, “then I will begin to flow,” +and began to flow violently. And in the water everything was drowned, the girl, +the little tree, the little ash-heap, the little cart, the broom, the little +door, the little flea, the little louse, all together. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap31"></a>31 The Girl Without Hands</h3> + +<p> +A certain miller had little by little fallen into poverty, and had nothing left +but his mill and a large apple-tree behind it. Once when he had gone into the +forest to fetch wood, an old man stepped up to him whom he had never seen +before, and said, “Why dost thou plague thyself with cutting wood, I will +make thee rich, if thou wilt promise me what is standing behind thy +mill?” “What can that be but my apple-tree?” thought the +miller, and said, “Yes,” and gave a written promise to the +stranger. He, however, laughed mockingly and said, “When three years have +passed, I will come and carry away what belongs to me,” and then he went. +When the miller got home, his wife came to meet him and said, “Tell me, +miller, from whence comes this sudden wealth into our house? All at once every +box and chest was filled; no one brought it in, and I know not how it +happened.” He answered, “It comes from a stranger who met me in the +forest, and promised me great treasure. I, in return, have promised him what +stands behind the mill; we can very well give him the big apple-tree for +it.” “Ah, husband,” said the terrified wife, “that must +have been the devil! He did not mean the apple-tree, but our daughter, who was +standing behind the mill sweeping the yard.” +</p> + +<p> +The miller’s daughter was a beautiful, pious girl, and lived through the +three years in the fear of God and without sin. When therefore the time was +over, and the day came when the Evil-one was to fetch her, she washed herself +clean, and made a circle round herself with chalk. The devil appeared quite +early, but he could not come near to her. Angrily, he said to the miller, +“Take all water away from her, that she may no longer be able to wash +herself, for otherwise I have no power over her.” The miller was afraid, +and did so. The next morning the devil came again, but she had wept on her +hands, and they were quite clean. Again he could not get near her, and +furiously said to the miller, “Cut her hands off, or else I cannot get +the better of her.” The miller was shocked and answered, “How could +I cut off my own child’s hands?” Then the Evil-one threatened him +and said, “If thou dost not do it thou art mine, and I will take thee +thyself.” The father became alarmed, and promised to obey him. So he went +to the girl and said, “My child, if I do not cut off both thine hands, +the devil will carry me away, and in my terror I have promised to do it. Help +me in my need, and forgive me the harm I do thee.” She replied, +“Dear father, do with me what you will, I am your child.” Thereupon +she laid down both her hands, and let them be cut off. The devil came for the +third time, but she had wept so long and so much on the stumps, that after all +they were quite clean. Then he had to give in, and had lost all right over her. +</p> + +<p> +The miller said to her, “I have by means of thee received such great +wealth that I will keep thee most delicately as long as thou livest.” But +she replied, “Here I cannot stay, I will go forth, compassionate people +will give me as much as I require.” Thereupon she caused her maimed arms +to be bound to her back, and by sunrise she set out on her way, and walked the +whole day until night fell. Then she came to a royal garden, and by the +shimmering of the moon she saw that trees covered with beautiful fruits grew in +it, but she could not enter, for there was much water round about it. And as +she had walked the whole day and not eaten one mouthful, and hunger tormented +her, she thought, “Ah, if I were but inside, that I might eat of the +fruit, else must I die of hunger!” Then she knelt down, called on God the +Lord, and prayed. And suddenly an angel came towards her, who made a dam in the +water, so that the moat became dry and she could walk through it. And now she +went into the garden and the angel went with her. She saw a tree covered with +beautiful pears, but they were all counted. Then she went to them, and to still +her hunger, ate one with her mouth from the tree, but no more. The gardener was +watching; but as the angel was standing by, he was afraid and thought the +maiden was a spirit, and was silent, neither did he dare to cry out, or to +speak to the spirit. When she had eaten the pear, she was satisfied, and went +and concealed herself among the bushes. The King to whom the garden belonged, +came down to it next morning, and counted, and saw that one of the pears was +missing, and asked the gardener what had become of it, as it was not lying +beneath the tree, but was gone. Then answered the gardener, “Last night, +a spirit came in, who had no hands, and ate off one of the pears with its +mouth.” The King said, “How did the spirit get over the water, and +where did it go after it had eaten the pear?” The gardener answered, +“Some one came in a snow-white garment from heaven who made a dam, and +kept back the water, that the spirit might walk through the moat. And as it +must have been an angel, I was afraid, and asked no questions, and did not cry +out. When the spirit had eaten the pear, it went back again.” The King +said, “If it be as thou sayest, I will watch with thee to-night.” +</p> + +<p> +When it grew dark the King came into the garden and brought a priest with him, +who was to speak to the spirit. All three seated themselves beneath the tree +and watched. At midnight the maiden came creeping out of the thicket, went to +the tree, and again ate one pear off it with her mouth, and beside her stood +the angel in white garments. Then the priest went out to them and said, +“Comest thou from heaven or from earth? Art thou a spirit, or a human +being?” She replied, “I am no spirit, but an unhappy mortal +deserted by all but God.” The King said, “If thou art forsaken by +all the world, yet will I not forsake thee.” He took her with him into +his royal palace, and as she was so beautiful and good, he loved her with all +his heart, had silver hands made for her, and took her to wife. +</p> + +<p> +After a year the King had to take the field, so he commended his young Queen to +the care of his mother and said, “If she is brought to bed take care of +her, nurse her well, and tell me of it at once in a letter.” Then she +gave birth to a fine boy. So the old mother made haste to write and announce +the joyful news to him. But the messenger rested by a brook on the way, and as +he was fatigued by the great distance, he fell asleep. Then came the Devil, who +was always seeking to injure the good Queen, and exchanged the letter for +another, in which was written that the Queen had brought a monster into the +world. When the King read the letter he was shocked and much troubled, but he +wrote in answer that they were to take great care of the Queen and nurse her +well until his arrival. The messenger went back with the letter, but rested at +the same place and again fell asleep. Then came the Devil once more, and put a +different letter in his pocket, in which it was written that they were to put +the Queen and her child to death. The old mother was terribly shocked when she +received the letter, and could not believe it. She wrote back again to the +King, but received no other answer, because each time the Devil substituted a +false letter, and in the last letter it was also written that she was to +preserve the Queen’s tongue and eyes as a token that she had obeyed. +</p> + +<p> +But the old mother wept to think such innocent blood was to be shed, and had a +hind brought by night and cut out her tongue and eyes, and kept them. Then said +she to the Queen, “I cannot have thee killed as the King commands, but +here thou mayst stay no longer. Go forth into the wide world with thy child, +and never come here again.” The poor woman tied her child on her back, +and went away with eyes full of tears. She came into a great wild forest, and +then she fell on her knees and prayed to God, and the angel of the Lord +appeared to her and led her to a little house on which was a sign with the +words, “Here all dwell free.” A snow-white maiden came out of the +little house and said, “Welcome, Lady Queen,” and conducted her +inside. Then they unbound the little boy from her back, and held him to her +breast that he might feed, and laid him in a beautifully-made little bed. Then +said the poor woman, “From whence knowest thou that I was a queen?” +The white maiden answered, “I am an angel sent by God, to watch over thee +and thy child.” The Queen stayed seven years in the little house, and was +well cared for, and by God’s grace, because of her piety, her hands which +had been cut off, grew once more. +</p> + +<p> +At last the King came home again from the war, and his first wish was to see +his wife and the child. Then his aged mother began to weep and said, +“Thou wicked man, why didst thou write to me that I was to take those two +innocent lives?” and she showed him the two letters which the Evil-one +had forged, and then continued, “I did as thou badest me,” and she +showed the tokens, the tongue and eyes. Then the King began to weep for his +poor wife and his little son so much more bitterly than she was doing, that the +aged mother had compassion on him and said, “Be at peace, she still +lives; I secretly caused a hind to be killed, and took these tokens from it; +but I bound the child to thy wife’s back and bade her go forth into the +wide world, and made her promise never to come back here again, because thou +wert so angry with her.” Then spoke the King, “I will go as far as +the sky is blue, and will neither eat nor drink until I have found again my +dear wife and my child, if in the meantime they have not been killed, or died +of hunger.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the King travelled about for seven long years, and sought her in +every cleft of the rocks and in every cave, but he found her not, and thought +she had died of want. During the whole of this time he neither ate nor drank, +but God supported him. At length he came into a great forest, and found therein +the little house whose sign was, “Here all dwell free.” Then forth +came the white maiden, took him by the hand, led him in, and said, +“Welcome, Lord King,” and asked him from whence he came. He +answered, “Soon shall I have travelled about for the space of seven +years, and I seek my wife and her child, but cannot find them.” The angel +offered him meat and drink, but he did not take anything, and only wished to +rest a little. Then he lay down to sleep, and put a handkerchief over his face. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the angel went into the chamber where the Queen sat with her son, +whom she usually called “Sorrowful,” and said to her, “Go out +with thy child, thy husband hath come.” So she went to the place where he +lay, and the handkerchief fell from his face. Then said she, “Sorrowful, +pick up thy father’s handkerchief, and cover his face again.” The +child picked it up, and put it over his face again. The King in his sleep heard +what passed, and had pleasure in letting the handkerchief fall once more. But +the child grew impatient, and said, “Dear mother, how can I cover my +father’s face when I have no father in this world? I have learnt to say +the prayer, ‘Our Father, which art in Heaven,’ thou hast told me +that my father was in Heaven, and was the good God, and how can I know a wild +man like this? He is not my father.” When the King heard that, he got up, +and asked who they were. Then said she, “I am thy wife, and that is thy +son, Sorrowful.” And he saw her living hands, and said, “My wife +had silver hands.” She answered, “The good God has caused my +natural hands to grow again;” and the angel went into the inner room, and +brought the silver hands, and showed them to him. Hereupon he knew for a +certainty that it was his dear wife and his dear child, and he kissed them, and +was glad, and said, “A heavy stone has fallen from off mine heart.” +Then the angel of God gave them one meal with her, and after that they went +home to the King’s aged mother. There were great rejoicings everywhere, +and the King and Queen were married again, and lived contentedly to their happy +end. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap32"></a>32 Clever Hans</h3> + +<p> +The mother of Hans said, “Whither away, Hans?” Hans answered, +“To Grethel.” “Behave well, Hans.” “Oh, +I’ll behave well. Good-bye, mother.” “Good-bye, Hans.” +Hans comes to Grethel, “Good day, Grethel.” “Good day, Hans. +What dost thou bring that is good?” “I bring nothing, I want to +have something given me.” Grethel presents Hans with a needle. Hans says, +“Good-bye, Grethel.” “Good-bye, Hans.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans takes the needle, sticks it into a hay-cart, and follows the cart home. +“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou +been?” “With Grethel.” “What didst thou take +her?” “Took nothing; had something given me.” “What did +Grethel give thee?” “Gave me a needle.” “Where is the +needle, Hans?” “Stuck it in the hay-cart.” “That was +ill done, Hans. Thou shouldst have stuck the needle in thy sleeve.” +“Never mind, I’ll do better next time.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel, mother.” +“Behave well, Hans.” “Oh,<br/> +I’ll behave well. Good-bye, mother.” “Good-bye, +Hans.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans comes to Grethel. “Good day, Grethel.” “Good day, Hans. +What dost thou bring that is good?” “I bring nothing; I want to +have something given to me.” Grethel presents Hans with a knife. +“Good-bye, Grethel.” “Good-bye Hans.” Hans takes the +knife, sticks it in his sleeve, and goes home. “Good evening, +mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?” +“With Grethel.” “What didst thou take her?” “Took +her nothing, she gave me something.” “What did Grethel give +thee?” “Gave me a knife.” “Where is the knife, +Hans?” “Stuck in my sleeve.” “That’s ill done, +Hans, thou shouldst have put the knife in thy pocket.” “Never mind, +will do better next time.” “Whither away, Hans?” “To +Grethel, mother.” “Behave well, Hans.” “Oh, I’ll +behave well. Good-bye, mother.” “Good-bye, Hans.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans comes to Grethel. “Good day, Grethel.” “Good day, Hans. +What good thing dost thou bring?” “I bring nothing, I want +something given me.” Grethel presents Hans with a young goat. +“Good-bye, Grethel.” “Good-bye, Hans.” Hans takes the +goat, ties its legs, and puts it in his pocket. When he gets home it is +suffocated. “Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. +Where hast thou been?” “With Grethel.” “What didst thou +take her?” “Took nothing, she gave me something.” “What +did Grethel give thee?” “She gave me a goat.” “Where is +the goat, Hans?” “Put it in my pocket.” “That was ill +done, Hans, thou shouldst have put a rope round the goat’s neck.” +“Never mind, will do better next time.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel, mother.” +“Behave well, Hans.” “Oh,<br/> +I’ll behave well. Good-bye, mother.” “Good-bye, Hans.” +Hans comes to<br/> +Grethel. “Good day, Grethel.” “Good day, Hans. What good +thing dost thou<br/> +bring?” “I bring nothing, I want something given me.” Grethel +presents<br/> +Hans with a piece of bacon. “Good-bye, Grethel.” “Good-bye, +Hans.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans takes the bacon, ties it to a rope, and drags it away behind him. The dogs +come and devour the bacon. When he gets home, he has the rope in his hand, and +there is no longer anything hanging to it. “Good evening, mother.” +“Good evening, Hans.” “Where hast thou been?” +“With Grethel.” “What didst thou take her?” “I +took her nothing, she gave me something.” “What did Grethel give +thee?” “Gave me a bit of bacon.” “Where is the bacon, +Hans?” “I tied it to a rope, brought it home, dogs took it.” +“That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have carried the bacon on thy +head.” “Never mind, will do better next time.” “Whither +away, Hans?” “To Grethel, mother.” “Behave well, +Hans.” “I’ll behave well. Good-bye, mother.” +“Good-bye, Hans.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans comes to Grethel. “Good day, Grethel.” “Good day, +Hans.” “What good thing dost thou bring?” “I bring +nothing, but would have something given.” Grethel presents Hans with a +calf. “Good-bye, Grethel.” “Good-bye, Hans.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans takes the calf, puts it on his head, and the calf kicks his face. +“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou +been?” “With Grethel.” “What didst thou take +her?” “I took nothing, but had something given me.” +“What did Grethel give thee?” “A calf.” “Where +hast thou the calf, Hans?” “I set it on my head and it kicked my +face.” “That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have led the calf, +and put it in the stall.” “Never mind, will do better next +time.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel, mother.” +“Behave well, Hans.” “I’ll behave well. Good-bye, +mother.” “Good-bye, Hans.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans comes to Grethel. “Good day, Grethel.” “Good day, Hans. +What good thing dost thou bring?” “I bring nothing, but would have +something given.” Grethel says to Hans, “I will go with +thee.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans takes Grethel, ties her to a rope, leads her to the rack and binds her +fast. Then Hans goes to his mother. “Good evening, mother.” +“Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?” “With +Grethel.” “What didst thou take her?” “I took her +nothing.” “What did Grethel give thee?” “She gave me +nothing, she came with me.” “Where hast thou left Grethel?” +“I led her by the rope, tied her to the rack, and scattered some grass +for her.” “That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have cast +friendly eyes on her.” “Never mind, will do better.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans went into the stable, cut out all the calves’ and sheep’s +eyes, and threw them in Grethel’s face. Then Grethel became angry, tore +herself loose and ran away, and became the bride of Hans. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap33"></a>33 The Three Languages</h3> + +<p> +An aged count once lived in Switzerland, who had an only son, but he was +stupid, and could learn nothing. Then said the father, “Hark thee, my +son, I can get nothing into thy head, let me try as I will. Thou must go from +hence, I will give thee into the care of a celebrated master, who shall see +what he can do with thee.” The youth was sent into a strange town, and +remained a whole year with the master. At the end of this time, he came home +again, and his father asked, “Now, my son, what hast thou learnt?” +“Father, I have learnt what the dogs say when they bark.” +“Lord have mercy on us!” cried the father; “is that all thou +hast learnt? I will send thee into another town, to another master.” The +youth was taken thither, and stayed a year with this master likewise. When he +came back the father again asked, “My son, what hast thou learnt?” +He answered, “Father, I have learnt what the birds say.” Then the +father fell into a rage and said, “Oh, thou lost man, thou hast spent the +precious time and learnt nothing; art thou not ashamed to appear before mine +eyes? I will send thee to a third master, but if thou learnest nothing this +time also, I will no longer be thy father.” The youth remained a whole +year with the third master also, and when he came home again, and his father +inquired, “My son, what hast thou learnt?” he answered, “Dear +father, I have this year learnt what the frogs croak.” Then the father +fell into the most furious anger, sprang up, called his people thither, and +said, “This man is no longer my son, I drive him forth, and command you +to take him out into the forest, and kill him.” They took him forth, but +when they should have killed him, they could not do it for pity, and let him +go, and they cut the eyes and the tongue out of a deer that they might carry +them to the old man as a token. +</p> + +<p> +The youth wandered on, and after some time came to a fortress where he begged +for a night’s lodging. “Yes,” said the lord of the castle, +“if thou wilt pass the night down there in the old tower, go thither; but +I warn thee, it is at the peril of thy life, for it is full of wild dogs, which +bark and howl without stopping, and at certain hours a man has to be given to +them, whom they at once devour.” The whole district was in sorrow and +dismay because of them, and yet no one could do anything to stop this. The +youth, however, was without fear, and said, “Just let me go down to the +barking dogs, and give me something that I can throw to them; they will do +nothing to harm me.” As he himself would have it so, they gave him some +food for the wild animals, and led him down to the tower. When he went inside, +the dogs did not bark at him, but wagged their tails quite amicably around him, +ate what he set before them, and did not hurt one hair of his head. Next +morning, to the astonishment of everyone, he came out again safe and unharmed, +and said to the lord of the castle, “The dogs have revealed to me, in +their own language, why they dwell there, and bring evil on the land. They are +bewitched, and are obliged to watch over a great treasure which is below in the +tower, and they can have no rest until it is taken away, and I have likewise +learnt, from their discourse, how that is to be done.” Then all who heard +this rejoiced, and the lord of the castle said he would adopt him as a son if +he accomplished it successfully. He went down again, and as he knew what he had +to do, he did it thoroughly, and brought a chest full of gold out with him. The +howling of the wild dogs was henceforth heard no more; they had disappeared, +and the country was freed from the trouble. +</p> + +<p> +After some time he took it into his head that he would travel to Rome. On the +way he passed by a marsh, in which a number of frogs were sitting croaking. He +listened to them, and when he became aware of what they were saying, he grew +very thoughtful and sad. At last he arrived in Rome, where the Pope had just +died, and there was great difficulty as to whom they should appoint as his +successor. They at length agreed that the person should be chosen as pope who +should be distinguished by some divine and miraculous token. And just as that +was decided on, the young count entered into the church, and suddenly two +snow-white doves flew on his shoulders and remained sitting there. The +ecclesiastics recognized therein the token from above, and asked him on the +spot if he would be pope. He was undecided, and knew not if he were worthy of +this, but the doves counselled him to do it, and at length he said yes. Then +was he anointed and consecrated, and thus was fulfilled what he had heard from +the frogs on his way, which had so affected him, that he was to be his Holiness +the Pope. Then he had to sing a mass, and did not know one word of it, but the +two doves sat continually on his shoulders, and said it all in his ear. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap34"></a>34 Clever Elsie</h3> + +<p> +There was once a man who had a daughter who was called Clever Elsie. And when +she had grown up her father said, “We will get her married.” +“Yes,” said the mother; “if only any one would come who would +have her.” At length a man came from a distance and wooed her, who was +called Hans; but he stipulated that Clever Elsie should be really wise. +“Oh,” said the father, “she’s sharp enough;” and +the mother said, “Oh, she can see the wind coming up the street, and hear +the flies coughing.” “Well,” said Hans, “if she is not +really wise, I won’t have her.” When they were sitting at dinner +and had eaten, the mother said, “Elsie, go into the cellar and fetch some +beer.” Then Clever Elsie took the pitcher from the wall, went into the +cellar, and tapped the lid briskly as she went, so that the time might not +appear long. When she was below she fetched herself a chair, and set it before +the barrel so that she had no need to stoop, and did not hurt her back or do +herself any unexpected injury. Then she placed the can before her, and turned +the tap, and while the beer was running she would not let her eyes be idle, but +looked up at the wall, and after much peering here and there, saw a pick-axe +exactly above her, which the masons had accidentally left there. +</p> + +<p> +Then Clever Elsie began to weep, and said, “If I get Hans, and we have a +child, and he grows big, and we send him into the cellar here to draw beer, +then the pick-axe will fall on his head and kill him.” Then she sat and +wept and screamed with all the strength of her body, over the misfortune which +lay before her. Those upstairs waited for the drink, but Clever Elsie still did +not come. Then the woman said to the servant, “Just go down into the +cellar and see where Elsie is.” The maid went and found her sitting in +front of the barrel, screaming loudly. “Elsie, why weepest thou?” +asked the maid. “Ah,” she answered, “have I not reason to +weep? If I get Hans, and we have a child, and he grows big, and has to draw +beer here, the pick-axe will perhaps fall on his head, and kill him.” +Then said the maid, “What a clever Elsie we have!” and sat down +beside her and began loudly to weep over the misfortune. After a while, as the +maid did not come back, those upstairs were thirsty for the beer, the man said +to the boy, “Just go down into the cellar and see where Elsie and the +girl are.” The boy went down, and there sat Clever Elsie and the girl +both weeping together. Then he asked, “Why are ye weeping?” +“Ah,” said Elsie, “have I not reason to weep? If I get Hans, +and we have a child, and he grows big, and has to draw beer here, the pick-axe +will fall on his head and kill him.” Then said the boy, “What a +clever Elsie we have!” and sat down by her, and likewise began to howl +loudly. Upstairs they waited for the boy, but as he still did not return, the +man said to the woman, “Just go down into the cellar and see where Elsie +is!” The woman went down, and found all three in the midst of their +lamentations, and inquired what was the cause; then Elsie told her also that +her future child was to be killed by the pick-axe, when it grew big and had to +draw beer, and the pick-axe fell down. Then said the mother likewise, +“What a clever Elsie we have!” and sat down and wept with them. The +man upstairs waited a short time, but as his wife did not come back and his +thirst grew ever greater, he said, “I must go into the cellar myself and +see where Elsie is.” But when he got into the cellar, and they were all +sitting together crying, and he heard the reason, and that Elsie’s child +was the cause, and that Elsie might perhaps bring one into the world some day, +and that it might be killed by the pick-axe, if it should happen to be sitting +beneath it, drawing beer just at the very time when it fell down, he cried, +“Oh, what a clever Elsie!” and sat down, and likewise wept with +them. The bridegroom stayed upstairs alone for a long time; then as no one +would come back he thought, “They must be waiting for me below; I too +must go there and see what they are about.” When he got down, five of +them were sitting screaming and lamenting quite piteously, each out-doing the +other. “What misfortune has happened then?” he asked. “Ah, +dear Hans,” said Elsie, “if we marry each other and have a child, +and he is big, and we perhaps send him here to draw something to drink, then +the pick-axe which has been left up there might dash his brains out if it were +to fall down, so have we not reason to weep?” “Come,” said +Hans, “more understanding than that is not needed for my household, as +thou art such a clever Elsie, I will have thee,” and he seized her hand, +took her upstairs with him, and married her. +</p> + +<p> +After Hans had had her some time, he said, “Wife, I am going out to work +and earn some money for us; go into the field and cut the corn that we may have +some bread.” “Yes, dear Hans, I will do that.” After Hans had +gone away, she cooked herself some good broth and took it into the field with +her. When she came to the field she said to herself, “What shall I do; +shall I shear first, or shall I eat first? Oh, I will eat first.” Then +she emptied her basin of broth, and when she was fully satisfied, she once more +said, “What shall I do? Shall I shear first, or shall I sleep first? I +will sleep first.” Then she lay down among the corn and fell asleep. Hans +had been at home for a long time, but Elsie did not come; then said he, +“What a clever Elsie I have; she is so industrious that she does not even +come home to eat.” As, however, she still stayed away, and it was +evening, Hans went out to see what she had cut, but nothing was cut, and she +was lying among the corn asleep. Then Hans hastened home and brought a +fowler’s net with little bells and hung it round about her, and she still +went on sleeping. Then he ran home, shut the house-door, and sat down in his +chair and worked. At length, when it was quite dark, Clever Elsie awoke and +when she got up there was a jingling all round about her, and the bells rang at +each step which she took. Then she was alarmed, and became uncertain whether +she really was Clever Elsie or not, and said, “Is it I, or is it not +I?” But she knew not what answer to make to this, and stood for a time in +doubt; at length she thought, “I will go home and ask if it be I, or if +it be not I, they will be sure to know.” She ran to the door of her own +house, but it was shut; then she knocked at the window and cried, “Hans, +is Elsie within?” “Yes,” answered Hans, “she is +within.” Hereupon she was terrified, and said, “Ah, heavens! Then +it is not I,” and went to another door; but when the people heard the +jingling of the bells they would not open it, and she could get in nowhere. +Then she ran out of the village, and no one has seen her since. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap35"></a>35 The Tailor in Heaven</h3> + +<p> +One very fine day it came to pass that the good God wished to enjoy himself in +the heavenly garden, and took all the apostles and saints with him, so that no +one stayed in heaven but Saint Peter. The Lord had commanded him to let no one +in during his absence, so Peter stood by the door and kept watch. Before long +some one knocked. Peter asked who was there, and what he wanted? “I am a +poor, honest tailor who prays for admission,” replied a smooth voice. +“Honest indeed,” said Peter, “like the thief on the gallows! +Thou hast been light-fingered and hast snipped folks’ clothes away. Thou +wilt not get into heaven. The Lord hath forbidden me to let any one in while he +is out.” “Come, do be merciful,” cried the tailor. +“Little scraps which fall off the table of their own accord are not +stolen, and are not worth speaking about. Look, I am lame, and have blisters on +my feet with walking here, I cannot possibly turn back again. Only let me in, +and I will do all the rough work. I will carry the children, and wash their +clothes, and wash and clean the benches on which they have been playing, and +patch all their torn clothes.” Saint Peter let himself be moved by pity, +and opened the door of heaven just wide enough for the lame tailor to slip his +lean body in. He was forced to sit down in a corner behind the door, and was to +stay quietly and peaceably there, in order that the Lord, when he returned, +might not observe him and be angry. The tailor obeyed, but once when Saint +Peter went outside the door, he got up, and full of curiosity, went round about +into every corner of heaven, and inspected the arrangement of every place. At +length he came to a spot where many beautiful and delightful chairs were +standing, and in the midst was a seat all of gold which was set with shining +jewels, likewise it was much higher than the other chairs, and a footstool of +gold was before it. It was, however, the seat on which the Lord sat when he was +at home, and from which he could see everything which happened on earth. The +tailor stood still, and looked at the seat for a long time, for it pleased him +better than all else. At last he could master his curiosity no longer, and +climbed up and seated himself in the chair. Then he saw everything which was +happening on earth, and observed an ugly old woman who was standing washing by +the side of a stream, secretly laying two veils on one side for herself. The +sight of this made the tailor so angry that he laid hold of the golden +footstool, and threw it down to earth through heaven, at the old thief. As, +however, he could not bring the stool back again, he slipped quietly out of the +chair, seated himself in his place behind the door, and behaved as if he had +never stirred from the spot. +</p> + +<p> +When the Lord and master came back again with his heavenly companions, he did +not see the tailor behind the door, but when he seated himself on his chair the +footstool was missing. He asked Saint Peter what had become of the stool, but +he did not know. Then he asked if he had let anyone come in. “I know of +no one who has been here,” answered Peter, “but a lame tailor, who +is still sitting behind the door.” Then the Lord had the tailor brought +before him, and asked him if he had taken away the stool, and where he had put +it? “Oh, Lord,” answered the tailor joyously, “I threw it in +my anger down to earth at an old woman whom I saw stealing two veils at the +washing.” “Oh, thou knave,” said the Lord, “were I to +judge as thou judgest, how dost thou think thou couldst have escaped so long? I +should long ago have had no chairs, benches, seats, nay, not even an oven-fork, +but should have thrown everything down at the sinners. Henceforth thou canst +stay no longer in heaven, but must go outside the door again. Then go where +thou wilt. No one shall give punishment here, but I alone, the Lord.” +</p> + +<p> +Peter was obliged to take the tailor out of heaven again, and as he had torn +shoes, and feet covered with blisters, he took a stick in his hand, and went to +“Wait-a-bit,” where the good soldiers sit and make merry. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap36"></a>36 The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in +the Sack</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a tailor who had three sons, and only one goat. But +as the goat supported the whole of them with her milk, she was obliged to have +good food, and to be taken every day to pasture. The sons, therefore, did this, +in turn. Once the eldest took her to the churchyard, where the finest herbs +were to be found, and let her eat and run about there. At night when it was +time to go home he asked, “Goat, hast thou had enough?” The goat +answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I have eaten so much,<br/> +Not a leaf more I’ll touch, meh! meh!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Come home, then,” said the youth, and took hold of the cord round +her neck, led her into the stable and tied her up securely. “Well,” +said the old tailor, “has the goat had as much food as she ought?” +“Oh,” answered the son, “she has eaten so much, not a leaf +more she’ll touch.” But the father wished to satisfy himself, and +went down to the stable, stroked the dear animal and asked, “Goat, art +thou satisfied?” The goat answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Wherewithal should I be satisfied?<br/> +Among the graves I leapt about,<br/> +And found no food, so went without, meh! meh!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What do I hear?” cried the tailor, and ran upstairs and said to +the youth, “Hollo, thou liar: thou saidest the goat had had enough, and +hast let her hunger!” and in his anger he took the yard-measure from the +wall, and drove him out with blows. +</p> + +<p> +Next day it was the turn of the second son, who looked out for a place in the +fence of the garden, where nothing but good herbs grew, and the goat cleared +them all off. At night when he wanted to go home, he asked, “Goat, art +thou satisfied?” The goat answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I have eaten so much,<br/> +Not a leaf more I’ll touch, meh! meh!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Come home, then,” said the youth, and led her home, and tied her +up in the stable. “Well,” said the old tailor, “has the goat +had as much food as she ought?” “Oh,” answered the son, +“she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she’ll touch.” The +tailor would not rely on this, but went down to the stable and said, +“Goat, hast thou had enough?” The goat answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Wherewithal should I be satisfied?<br/> +Among the graves I leapt about,<br/> +And found no food, so went without, meh! meh!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“The godless wretch!” cried the tailor, “to let such a good +animal hunger,” and he ran up and drove the youth out of doors with the +yard-measure. +</p> + +<p> +Now came the turn of the third son, who wanted to do the thing well, and sought +out some bushes with the finest leaves, and let the goat devour them. In the +evening when he wanted to go home, he asked, “Goat, hast thou had +enough?” The goat answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I have eaten so much,<br/> +Not a leaf more I’ll touch, meh! meh!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Come home, then,” said the youth, and led her into the stable, and +tied her up. “Well,” said the old tailor, “has the goat had a +proper amount of food?” “She has eaten so much, not a leaf more +she’ll touch.” The tailor did not trust to that, but went down and +asked, “Goat, hast thou had enough?” The wicked beast answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Wherewithal should I be satisfied?<br/> +Among the graves I leapt about,<br/> +And found no leaves, so went without, meh! meh!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Oh, the brood of liars!” cried the tailor, “each as wicked +and forgetful of his duty as the other! Ye shall no longer make a fool of +me,” and quite beside himself with anger, he ran upstairs and belabored +the poor young fellow so vigorously with the yard-measure that he sprang out of +the house. +</p> + +<p> +The old tailor was now alone with his goat. Next morning he went down into the +stable, caressed the goat and said, “Come, my dear little animal, I will +take thee to feed myself.” He took her by the rope and conducted her to +green hedges, and amongst milfoil, and whatever else goats like to eat. +“There thou mayest for once eat to thy heart’s content,” said +he to her, and let her browse till evening. Then he asked, “Goat, art +thou satisfied?” She replied, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I have eaten so much,<br/> +Not a leaf more I’ll touch, meh! meh!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Come home, then,” said the tailor, and led her into the stable, +and tied her fast. When he was going away, he turned round again and said, +“Well, art thou satisfied for once?” But the goat did not behave +the better to him, and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Wherewithal should I be satisfied?<br/> +Among the graves I leapt about,<br/> +And found no leaves, so went without, meh! meh!” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the tailor heard that, he was shocked, and saw clearly that he had driven +away his three sons without cause. “Wait, thou ungrateful +creature,” cried he, “it is not enough to drive thee forth, I will +mark thee so that thou wilt no more dare to show thyself amongst honest +tailors.” In great haste he ran upstairs, fetched his razor, lathered the +goat’s head, and shaved her as clean as the palm of his hand. And as the +yard-measure would have been too good for her, he brought the horsewhip, and +gave her such cuts with it that she ran away in violent haste. +</p> + +<p> +When the tailor was thus left quite alone in his house he fell into great +grief, and would gladly have had his sons back again, but no one knew whither +they were gone. The eldest had apprenticed himself to a joiner, and learnt +industriously and indefatigably, and when the time came for him to go +travelling, his master presented him with a little table which had no +particular appearance, and was made of common wood, but it had one good +property; if anyone set it out, and said, “Little table, spread +thyself,” the good little table was at once covered with a clean little +cloth, and a plate was there, and a knife and fork beside it, and dishes with +boiled meats and roasted meats, as many as there was room for, and a great +glass of red wine shone so that it made the heart glad. The young journeyman +thought, “With this thou hast enough for thy whole life,” and went +joyously about the world and never troubled himself at all whether an inn was +good or bad, or if anything was to be found in it or not. When it suited him he +did not enter an inn at all, but either on the plain, in a wood, a meadow, or +wherever he fancied, he took his little table off his back, set it down before +him, and said, “Cover thyself,” and then everything appeared that +his heart desired. At length he took it into his head to go back to his father, +whose anger would now be appeased, and who would now willingly receive him with +his wishing-table. It came to pass that on his way home, he came one evening to +an inn which was filled with guests. They bade him welcome, and invited him to +sit and eat with them, for otherwise he would have difficulty in getting +anything. “No,” answered the joiner, “I will not take the few +bites out of your mouths; rather than that, you shall be my guests.” They +laughed, and thought he was jesting with them; he, however, placed his wooden +table in the middle of the room, and said, “Little table, cover +thyself.” Instantly it was covered with food, so good that the host could +never have procured it, and the smell of it ascended pleasantly to the nostrils +of the guests. “Fall to, dear friends,” said the joiner; and the +guests when they saw that he meant it, did not need to be asked twice, but drew +near, pulled out their knives and attacked it valiantly. And what surprised +them the most was that when a dish became empty, a full one instantly took its +place of its own accord. The innkeeper stood in one corner and watched the +affair; he did not at all know what to say, but thought, “Thou couldst +easily find a use for such a cook as that in thy kitchen.” The joiner and +his comrades made merry until late into the night; at length they lay down to +sleep, and the young apprentice also went to bed, and set his magic table +against the wall. The host’s thoughts, however, let him have no rest; it +occurred to him that there was a little old table in his lumber-room which +looked just like the apprentice’s and he brought it out quite softly, and +exchanged it for the wishing-table. Next morning, the joiner paid for his bed, +took up his table, never thinking that he had got a false one, and went his +way. At mid-day he reached his father, who received him with great joy. +“Well, my dear son, what hast thou learnt?” said he to him. +“Father, I have become a joiner.” +</p> + +<p> +“A good trade,” replied the old man; “but what hast thou +brought back with thee from thy apprenticeship?” “Father, the best +thing which I have brought back with me is this little table.” The tailor +inspected it on all sides and said, “Thou didst not make a masterpiece +when thou mad’st that; it is a bad old table.” “But it is a +table which furnishes itself,” replied the son. “When I set it out, +and tell it to cover itself, the most beautiful dishes stand on it, and a wine +also, which gladdens the heart. Just invite all our relations and friends, they +shall refresh and enjoy themselves for once, for the table will give them all +they require.” When the company was assembled, he put his table in the +middle of the room and said, “Little table, cover thyself,” but the +little table did not bestir itself, and remained just as bare as any other +table which did not understand language. Then the poor apprentice became aware +that his table had been changed, and was ashamed at having to stand there like +a liar. The relations, however, mocked him, and were forced to go home without +having eaten or drunk. The father brought out his patches again, and went on +tailoring, but the son went to a master in the craft. +</p> + +<p> +The second son had gone to a miller and had apprenticed himself to him. When +his years were over, the master said, “As thou hast conducted thyself so +well, I give thee an ass of a peculiar kind, which neither draws a cart nor +carries a sack.” “To what use is he put, then?” asked the +young apprentice. “He lets gold drop from his mouth,” answered the +miller. “If thou settest him on a cloth and sayest +‘Bricklebrit,’ the good animal will drop gold pieces for +thee.” “That is a fine thing,” said the apprentice, and +thanked the master, and went out into the world. When he had need of gold, he +had only to say “Bricklebrit” to his ass, and it rained gold +pieces, and he had nothing to do but pick them off the ground. Wheresoever he +went, the best of everything was good enough for him, and the dearer the +better, for he had always a full purse. When he had looked about the world for +some time, he thought, “Thou must seek out thy father; if thou goest to +him with the gold-ass he will forget his anger, and receive thee well.” +It came to pass that he came to the same public-house in which his +brother’s table had been exchanged. He led his ass by the bridle, and the +host was about to take the animal from him and tie him up, but the young +apprentice said, “Don’t trouble yourself, I will take my grey horse +into the stable, and tie him up myself too, for I must know where he +stands.” This struck the host as odd, and he thought that a man who was +forced to look after his ass himself, could not have much to spend; but when +the stranger put his hand in his pocket and brought out two gold pieces, and +said he was to provide something good for him, the host opened his eyes wide, +and ran and sought out the best he could muster. After dinner the guest asked +what he owed. The host did not see why he should not double the reckoning, and +said the apprentice must give two more gold pieces. He felt in his pocket, but +his gold was just at an end. “Wait an instant, sir host,” said he, +“I will go and fetch some money;” but he took the table-cloth with +him. The host could not imagine what this could mean, and being curious, stole +after him, and as the guest bolted the stable-door, he peeped through a hole +left by a knot in the wood. The stranger spread out the cloth under the animal +and cried, “Bricklebrit,” and immediately the beast began to let +gold pieces fall, so that it fairly rained down money on the ground. “Eh, +my word,” said the host, “ducats are quickly coined there! A purse +like that is not amiss.” The guest paid his score, and went to bed, but +in the night the host stole down into the stable, led away the master of the +mint, and tied up another ass in his place. Early next morning the apprentice +travelled away with his ass, and thought that he had his gold-ass. At mid-day +he reached his father, who rejoiced to see him again, and gladly took him in. +“What hast thou made of thyself, my son?” asked the old man. +“A miller,” dear father, he answered. “What hast thou brought +back with thee from thy travels?” “Nothing else but an ass.” +“There are asses enough here,” said the father, “I would +rather have had a good goat.” “Yes,” replied the son, +“but it is no common ass, but a gold-ass, when I say +‘Bricklebrit,’ the good beast opens its mouth and drops a whole +sheetful of gold pieces. Just summon all our relations hither, and I will make +them rich folks.” “That suits me well,” said the tailor, +“for then I shall have no need to torment myself any longer with the +needle,” and ran out himself and called the relations together. As soon +as they were assembled, the miller bade them make way, spread out his cloth, +and brought the ass into the room. “Now watch,” said he, and cried, +“Bricklebrit,” but no gold pieces fell, and it was clear that the +animal knew nothing of the art, for every ass does not attain such perfection. +Then the poor miller pulled a long face, saw that he was betrayed, and begged +pardon of the relatives, who went home as poor as they came. There was no help +for it, the old man had to betake him to his needle once more, and the youth +hired himself to a miller. +</p> + +<p> +The third brother had apprenticed himself to a turner, and as that is skilled +labour, he was the longest in learning. His brothers, however, told him in a +letter how badly things had gone with them, and how the innkeeper had cheated +them of their beautiful wishing-gifts on the last evening before they reached +home. When the turner had served his time, and had to set out on his travels, +as he had conducted himself so well, his master presented him with a sack and +said, “There is a cudgel in it.” “I can put on the +sack,” said he, “and it may be of good service to me, but why +should the cudgel be in it? It only makes it heavy.” “I will tell +thee why,” replied the master; “if any one has done anything to +injure thee, do but say, ‘Out of the sack, Cudgel!’ and the cudgel +will leap forth among the people, and play such a dance on their backs that +they will not be able to stir or move for a week, and it will not leave off +until thou sayest, ‘Into the sack, Cudgel!’” The apprentice +thanked him, and put the sack on his back, and when any one came too near him, +and wished to attack him, he said, “Out of the sack, Cudgel!” and +instantly the cudgel sprang out, and dusted the coat or jacket of one after the +other on their backs, and never stopped until it had stripped it off them, and +it was done so quickly, that before anyone was aware, it was already his own +turn. In the evening the young turner reached the inn where his brothers had +been cheated. He laid his sack on the table before him, and began to talk of +all the wonderful things which he had seen in the world. “Yes,” +said he, “people may easily find a table which will cover itself, a +gold-ass, and things of that kind—extremely good things which I by no +means despise—but these are nothing in comparison with the treasure which +I have won for myself, and am carrying about with me in my sack there.” +The inn-keeper pricked up his ears, “What in the world can that +be?” thought he; “the sack must be filled with nothing but jewels; +I ought to get them cheap too, for all good things go in threes.” When it +was time for sleep, the guest stretched himself on the bench, and laid his sack +beneath him for a pillow. When the inn-keeper thought his guest was lying in a +sound sleep, he went to him and pushed and pulled quite gently and carefully at +the sack to see if he could possibly draw it away and lay another in its place. +The turner had, however, been waiting for this for a long time, and now just as +the inn-keeper was about to give a hearty tug, he cried, “Out of the +sack, Cudgel!” Instantly the little cudgel came forth, and fell on the +inn-keeper and gave him a sound thrashing. +</p> + +<p> +The host cried for mercy; but the louder he cried, so much more heavily the +cudgel beat the time on his back, until at length he fell to the ground +exhausted. Then the turner said, “If thou dost not give back the table +which covers itself, and the gold-ass, the dance shall begin afresh.” +“Oh, no,” cried the host, quite humbly, “I will gladly +produce everything, only make the accursed kobold creep back into the +sack.” Then said the apprentice, “I will let mercy take the place +of justice, but beware of getting into mischief again!” So he cried, +“Into the sack, Cudgel!” and let him have rest. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the turner went home to his father with the wishing-table, and the +gold-ass. The tailor rejoiced when he saw him once more, and asked him likewise +what he had learned in foreign parts. “Dear father,” said he, +“I have become a turner.” “A skilled trade,” said the +father. “What hast thou brought back with thee from thy travels?” +</p> + +<p> +“A precious thing, dear father,” replied the son, “a cudgel +in the sack.” +</p> + +<p> +“What!” cried the father, “a cudgel! That’s worth thy +trouble, indeed! From every tree thou can cut thyself one.” “But +not one like this, dear father. If I say, ‘Out of the sack, +Cudgel!’ the cudgel springs out and leads any one who means ill with me a +weary dance, and never stops until he lies on the ground and prays for fair +weather. Look you, with this cudgel have I got back the wishing-table and the +gold-ass which the thievish inn-keeper took away from my brothers. Now let them +both be sent for, and invite all our kinsmen. I will give them to eat and to +drink, and will fill their pockets with gold into the bargain.” The old +tailor would not quite believe, but nevertheless got the relatives together. +Then the turner spread a cloth in the room and led in the gold-ass, and said to +his brother, “Now, dear brother, speak to him.” The miller said, +“Bricklebrit,” and instantly the gold pieces fell down on the cloth +like a thunder-shower, and the ass did not stop until every one of them had so +much that he could carry no more. (I can see in thy face that thou also wouldst +like to be there.) +</p> + +<p> +Then the turner brought the little table, and said, “Now dear brother, +speak to it.” And scarcely had the carpenter said, “Table, cover +thyself,” than it was spread and amply covered with the most exquisite +dishes. Then such a meal took place as the good tailor had never yet known in +his house, and the whole party of kinsmen stayed together till far in the +night, and were all merry and glad. The tailor locked away needle and thread, +yard-measure and goose, in a press, and lived with his three sons in joy and +splendour. (What, however, has become of the goat who was to blame for the +tailor driving out his three sons? That I will tell thee. She was ashamed that +she had a bald head, and ran to a fox’s hole and crept into it. When the +fox came home, he was met by two great eyes shining out of the darkness, and +was terrified and ran away. A bear met him, and as the fox looked quite +disturbed, he said, “What is the matter with thee, brother Fox, why dost +thou look like that?” “Ah,” answered Redskin, “a fierce +beast is in my cave and stared at me with its fiery eyes.” “We will +soon drive him out,” said the bear, and went with him to the cave and +looked in, but when he saw the fiery eyes, fear seized on him likewise; he +would have nothing to do with the furious beast, and took to his heels. The bee +met him, and as she saw that he was ill at ease, she said, “Bear, thou +art really pulling a very pitiful face; what has become of all thy +gaiety?” “It is all very well for thee to talk,” replied the +bear, “a furious beast with staring eyes is in Redskin’s house, and +we can’t drive him out.” The bee said, “Bear I pity thee, I +am a poor weak creature whom thou wouldst not turn aside to look at, but still, +I believe, I can help thee.” She flew into the fox’s cave, lighted +on the goat’s smoothly-shorn head, and stung her so violently, that she +sprang up, crying “Meh, meh,” and ran forth into the world as if +mad, and to this hour no one knows where she has gone.) +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap37"></a>37 Thumbling</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor peasant who sat in the evening by the hearth and poked +the fire, and his wife sat and span. Then said he, “How sad it is that we +have no children! With us all is so quiet, and in other houses it is noisy and +lively.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” replied the wife, and sighed, “even if we had only +one, and it were quite small, and only as big as a thumb, I should be quite +satisfied, and we would still love it with all our hearts.” Now it so +happened that the woman fell ill, and after seven months gave birth to a child, +that was perfect in all its limbs, but no longer than a thumb. Then said they, +“It is as we wished it to be, and it shall be our dear child;” and +because of its size, they called it Thumbling. They did not let it want for +food, but the child did not grow taller, but remained as it had been at the +first, nevertheless it looked sensibly out of its eyes, and soon showed itself +to be a wise and nimble creature, for everything it did turned out well. +</p> + +<p> +One day the peasant was getting ready to go into the forest to cut wood, when +he said as if to himself, “How I wish that there was any one who would +bring the cart to me!” “Oh father,” cried Thumbling, “I +will soon bring the cart, rely on that; it shall be in the forest at the +appointed time.” The man smiled and said, “How can that be done, +thou art far too small to lead the horse by the reins?” +“That’s of no consequence, father, if my mother will only harness +it, I shall sit in the horse’s ear and call out to him how he is to +go.” “Well,” answered the man, “for once we will try +it.” +</p> + +<p> +When the time came, the mother harnessed the horse, and placed Thumbling in its +ear, and then the little creature cried, “Gee up, gee up!” +</p> + +<p> +Then it went quite properly as if with its master, and the cart went the right +way into the forest. It so happened that just as he was turning a corner, and +the little one was crying, “Gee up,” two strange men came towards +him. “My word!” said one of them, “What is this? There is a +cart coming, and a driver is calling to the horse and still he is not to be +seen!” “That can’t be right,” said the other, “we +will follow the cart and see where it stops.” The cart, however, drove +right into the forest, and exactly to the place where the wood had been cut. +When Thumbling saw his father, he cried to him, “Seest thou, father, here +I am with the cart; now take me down.” The father got hold of the horse +with his left hand and with the right took his little son out of the ear. +Thumbling sat down quite merrily on a straw, but when the two strange men saw +him, they did not know what to say for astonishment. Then one of them took the +other aside and said, “Hark, the little fellow would make our fortune if +we exhibited him in a large town, for money. We will buy him.” They went +to the peasant and said, “Sell us the little man. He shall be well +treated with us.” “No,” replied the father, “he is the +apple of my eye, and all the money in the world cannot buy him from me.” +Thumbling, however, when he heard of the bargain, had crept up the folds of his +father’s coat, placed himself on his shoulder, and whispered in his ear, +“Father do give me away, I will soon come back again.” Then the +father parted with him to the two men for a handsome bit of money. “Where +wilt thou sit?” they said to him. “Oh just set me on the rim of +your hat, and then I can walk backwards and forwards and look at the country, +and still not fall down.” They did as he wished, and when Thumbling had +taken leave of his father, they went away with him. They walked until it was +dusk, and then the little fellow said, “Do take me down, I want to come +down.” The man took his hat off, and put the little fellow on the ground +by the wayside, and he leapt and crept about a little between the sods, and +then he suddenly slipped into a mouse-hole which he had sought out. “Good +evening, gentlemen, just go home without me,” he cried to them, and +mocked them. They ran thither and stuck their sticks into the mouse-hole, but +it was all lost labour. Thumbling crept still farther in, and as it soon became +quite dark, they were forced to go home with their vexation and their empty +purses. +</p> + +<p> +When Thumbling saw that they were gone, he crept back out of the subterranean +passage. “It is so dangerous to walk on the ground in the dark,” +said he; “how easily a neck or a leg is broken!” Fortunately he +knocked against an empty snail-shell. “Thank God!” said he. +“In that I can pass the night in safety,” and got into it. Not long +afterwards, when he was just going to sleep, he heard two men go by, and one of +them was saying, “How shall we contrive to get hold of the rich +pastor’s silver and gold?” “I could tell thee that,” +cried Thumbling, interrupting them. “What was that?” said one of +the thieves in fright, “I heard some one speaking.” They stood +still listening, and Thumbling spoke again, and said, “Take me with you, +and I’ll help you.” +</p> + +<p> +“But where art thou?” “Just look on the ground, and observe +from whence my voice comes,” he replied. There the thieves at length +found him, and lifted him up. “Thou little imp, how wilt thou help +us?” they said. “A great deal,” said he, “I will creep +into the pastor’s room through the iron bars, and will reach out to you +whatever you want to have.” “Come then,” they said, +“and we will see what thou canst do.” When they got to the +pastor’s house, Thumbling crept into the room, but instantly cried out +with all his might, “Do you want to have everything that is here?” +The thieves were alarmed, and said, “But do speak softly, so as not to +waken any one!” Thumbling however, behaved as if he had not understood +this, and cried again, “What do you want? Do you want to have everything +that is here?” The cook, who slept in the next room, heard this and sat +up in bed, and listened. The thieves, however, had in their fright run some +distance away, but at last they took courage, and thought, “The little +rascal wants to mock us.” They came back and whispered to him, +“Come, be serious, and reach something out to us.” Then Thumbling +again cried as loudly as he could, “I really will give you everything, +just put your hands in.” The maid who was listening, heard this quite +distinctly, and jumped out of bed and rushed to the door. The thieves took +flight, and ran as if the Wild Huntsman were behind them, but as the maid could +not see anything, she went to strike a light. When she came to the place with +it, Thumbling, unperceived, betook himself to the granary, and the maid, after +she had examined every corner and found nothing, lay down in her bed again, and +believed that, after all, she had only been dreaming with open eyes and ears. +</p> + +<p> +Thumbling had climbed up among the hay and found a beautiful place to sleep in; +there he intended to rest until day, and then go home again to his parents. But +he had other things to go through. Truly, there is much affliction and misery +in this world! When day dawned, the maid arose from her bed to feed the cows. +Her first walk was into the barn, where she laid hold of an armful of hay, and +precisely that very one in which poor Thumbling was lying asleep. He, however, +was sleeping so soundly that he was aware of nothing, and did not awake until +he was in the mouth of the cow, who had picked him up with the hay. “Ah, +heavens!” cried he, “how have I got into the fulling mill?” +but he soon discovered where he was. Then it was necessary to be careful not to +let himself go between the teeth and be dismembered, but he was nevertheless +forced to slip down into the stomach with the hay. “In this little room +the windows are forgotten,” said he, “and no sun shines in, neither +will a candle be brought.” His quarters were especially unpleasing to +him, and the worst was, more and more hay was always coming in by the door, and +the space grew less and less. Then at length in his anguish, he cried as loud +as he could, “Bring me no more fodder, bring me no more fodder.” +The maid was just milking the cow, and when she heard some one speaking, and +saw no one, and perceived that it was the same voice that she had heard in the +night, she was so terrified that she slipped off her stool, and spilt the milk. +She ran in great haste to her master, and said, “Oh heavens, pastor, the +cow has been speaking!” “Thou art mad,” replied the pastor; +but he went himself to the byre to see what was there. Hardly, however had he +set his foot inside when Thumbling again cried, “Bring me no more fodder, +bring me no more fodder.” Then the pastor himself was alarmed, and +thought that an evil spirit had gone into the cow, and ordered her to be +killed. She was killed, but the stomach, in which Thumbling was, was thrown on +the midden. Thumbling had great difficulty in working his way; however, he +succeeded so far as to get some room, but just as he was going to thrust his +head out, a new misfortune occurred. A hungry wolf ran thither, and swallowed +the whole stomach at one gulp. Thumbling did not lose courage. +“Perhaps,” thought he, “the wolf will listen to what I have +got to say,” and he called to him from out of his stomach, “Dear +wolf, I know of a magnificent feast for you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is it to be had?” said the wolf. +</p> + +<p> +“In such and such a house; thou must creep into it through the +kitchen-sink, and wilt find cakes, and bacon, and sausages, and as much of them +as thou canst eat,” and he described to him exactly his father’s +house. The wolf did not require to be told this twice, squeezed himself in at +night through the sink, and ate to his heart’s content in the larder. +When he had eaten his fill, he wanted to go out again, but he had become so big +that he could not go out by the same way. Thumbling had reckoned on this, and +now began to make a violent noise in the wolf’s body, and raged and +screamed as loudly as he could. “Wilt thou be quiet,” said the +wolf, “thou wilt waken up the people!” “Eh, what,” +replied the little fellow, “thou hast eaten thy fill, and I will make +merry likewise,” and began once more to scream with all his strength. At +last his father and mother were aroused by it, and ran to the room and looked +in through the opening in the door. When they saw that a wolf was inside, they +ran away, and the husband fetched his axe, and the wife the scythe. “Stay +behind,” said the man, when they entered the room. “When I have +given him a blow, if he is not killed by it, thou must cut him down and hew his +body to pieces.” Then Thumbling heard his parents, voices and cried, +“Dear father, I am here; I am in the wolf’s body.” Said the +father, full of joy, “Thank God, our dear child has found us +again,” and bade the woman take away her scythe, that Thumbling might not +be hurt with it. After that he raised his arm, and struck the wolf such a blow +on his head that he fell down dead, and then they got knives and scissors and +cut his body open and drew the little fellow forth. “Ah,” said the +father, “what sorrow we have gone through for thy sake.” “Yes +father, I have gone about the world a great deal. Thank heaven, I breathe fresh +air again!” “Where hast thou been, then?” “Ah, father, +I have been in a mouse’s hole, in a cow’s stomach, and then in a +wolf’s; now I will stay with you.” “And we will not sell thee +again, no, not for all the riches in the world,” said his parents, and +they embraced and kissed their dear Thumbling. They gave him to eat and to +drink, and had some new clothes made for him, for his own had been spoiled on +his journey. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap38"></a>38 The Wedding of Mrs. Fox</h3> + +<h5>FIRST STORY</h5> + +<p> +There was once on a time an old fox with nine tails, who believed that his wife +was not faithful to him, and wished to try her. He stretched himself out under +the bench, did not move a limb, and behaved as if he were stone dead. Mrs. Fox +went up to her room, shut herself in, and her maid, Miss Cat, sat by the fire, +and did the cooking. When it became known that the old fox was dead, wooers +presented themselves. The maid heard some one standing at the house-door, +knocking. She went and opened it, and it was a young fox, who said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“What may you be about, Miss Cat?<br/> +Do you sleep or do you wake?” +</p> + +<p> +She answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I am not sleeping, I am waking,<br/> +Wouldst thou know what I am making?<br/> +I am boiling warm beer with butter so nice,<br/> +Will the gentleman enter and drink some likewise?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, thank you, miss,” said the fox, “what is Mrs. Fox +doing?” The maid replied, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“She sits all alone,<br/> +And makes her moan,<br/> +Weeping her little eyes quite red,<br/> +Because old Mr. Fox is dead.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do just tell her, miss, that a young fox is here, who would like to woo +her.” “Certainly, young sir.” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +The cat goes up the stairs trip, trap,<br/> +The door she knocks at tap, tap, tap,<br/> +“Mistress Fox, are you inside?”<br/> +“Oh yes, my little cat,” she cried.<br/> +“A wooer he stands at the door out there.”<br/> +“Tell me what he is like, my dear?” +</p> + +<p> +“But has he nine as beautiful tails as the late Mr. Fox?” +“Oh, no,” answered the cat, “he has only one.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will not have him.” Miss Cat went downstairs and sent the +wooer away. Soon afterwards there was another knock, and another fox was at the +door who wished to woo Mrs. Fox. He had two tails, but he did not fare better +than the first. After this still more came, each with one tail more than the +other, but they were all turned away, until at last one came who had nine +tails, like old Mr. Fox. When the widow heard that, she said joyfully to the +cat, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Now open the gates and doors all wide,<br/> +And carry old Mr. Fox outside.” +</p> + +<p> +But just as the wedding was going to be solemnized, old Mr. Fox stirred under +the bench, and cudgelled all the rabble, and drove them and Mrs. Fox out of the +house. +</p> + +<h5>SECOND STORY</h5> + +<p> +When old Mr. Fox was dead, the wolf came as a wooer, and knocked at the door, +and the cat who was servant to Mrs. Fox, opened it for him. The wolf greeted +her, and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Good day, Mrs. Cat of Kehrewit,<br/> +“How comes it that alone you sit?<br/> +What are you making good?” +</p> + +<p> +The cat replied, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“In milk I’m breaking bread so sweet,<br/> +Will the gentleman please come in and eat?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, thank you, Mrs. Cat,” answered the wolf. “Is Mrs. Fox +not at home?” +</p> + +<p> +The cat said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“She sits upstairs in her room,<br/> +Bewailing her sorrowful doom,<br/> +Bewailing her trouble so sore,<br/> +For old Mr. Fox is no more.” +</p> + +<p> +The wolf answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“If she’s in want of a husband now,<br/> +Then will it please her to step below?”<br/> +The cat runs quickly up the stair,<br/> +And lets her tail fly here and there,<br/> +Until she comes to the parlour door.<br/> +With her five gold rings at the door she knocks,<br/> +“Are you within, good Mistress Fox?<br/> +If you’re in want of a husband now,<br/> +Then will it please you to step below? +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Fox asked, “Has the gentleman red stockings on’ and has he a +pointed mouth?” “No,” answered the cat. “Then he +won’t do for me.” +</p> + +<p> +When the wolf was gone, came a dog, a stag, a hare, a bear, a lion, and all the +beasts of the forest, one after the other. But one of the good points which old +Mr. Fox had possessed, was always lacking, and the cat had continually to send +the wooers away. At length came a young fox. Then Mrs. Fox said, “Has the +gentleman red stockings on, and has he a little pointed mouth?” +“Yes,” said the cat, “he has.” “Then let him come +upstairs,” said Mrs. Fox, and ordered the servant to prepare the +wedding-feast. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Sweep me the room as clean as you can,<br/> +Up with the window, fling out my old man!<br/> +For many a fine fat mouse he brought,<br/> +Yet of his wife he never thought,<br/> +But ate up every one he caught.” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then the wedding was solemnized with young Mr. Fox, and there was much +rejoicing and dancing; and if they have not left off, they are dancing still. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap39"></a>39 The Elves</h3> + +<h5>FIRST STORY</h5> + +<p> +A shoemaker, by no fault of his own, had become so poor that at last he had +nothing left but leather for one pair of shoes. So in the evening, he cut out +the shoes which he wished to begin to make the next morning, and as he had a +good conscience, he lay down quietly in his bed, commended himself to God, and +fell asleep. In the morning, after he had said his prayers, and was just going +to sit down to work, the two shoes stood quite finished on his table. He was +astounded, and knew not what to say to it. He took the shoes in his hands to +observe them closer, and they were so neatly made that there was not one bad +stitch in them, just as if they were intended as a masterpiece. Soon after, a +buyer came in, and as the shoes pleased him so well, he paid more for them than +was customary, and, with the money, the shoemaker was able to purchase leather +for two pairs of shoes. He cut them out at night, and next morning was about to +set to work with fresh courage; but he had no need to do so, for, when he got +up, they were already made, and buyers also were not wanting, who gave him +money enough to buy leather for four pairs of shoes. The following morning, +too, he found the four pairs made; and so it went on constantly, what he cut +out in the evening was finished by the morning, so that he soon had his honest +independence again, and at last became a wealthy man. Now it befell that one +evening not long before Christmas, when the man had been cutting out, he said +to his wife, before going to bed, “What think you if we were to stay up +to-night to see who it is that lends us this helping hand?” The woman +liked the idea, and lighted a candle, and then they hid themselves in a corner +of the room, behind some clothes which were hanging up there, and watched. When +it was midnight, two pretty little naked men came, sat down by the +shoemaker’s table, took all the work which was cut out before them and +began to stitch, and sew, and hammer so skilfully and so quickly with their +little fingers that the shoemaker could not turn away his eyes for +astonishment. They did not stop until all was done, and stood finished on the +table, and they ran quickly away. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the woman said, “The little men have made us rich, and we +really must show that we are grateful for it. They run about so, and have +nothing on, and must be cold. I’ll tell thee what I’ll do: I will +make them little shirts, and coats, and vests, and trousers, and knit both of +them a pair of stockings, and do thou, too, make them two little pairs of +shoes.” The man said, “I shall be very glad to do it;” and +one night, when everything was ready, they laid their presents all together on +the table instead of the cut-out work, and then concealed themselves to see how +the little men would behave. At midnight they came bounding in, and wanted to +get to work at once, but as they did not find any leather cut out, but only the +pretty little articles of clothing, they were at first astonished, and then +they showed intense delight. They dressed themselves with the greatest +rapidity, putting the pretty clothes on, and singing, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Now we are boys so fine to see,<br/> +Why should we longer cobblers be?” +</p> + +<p> +Then they danced and skipped and leapt over chairs and benches. At last they +danced out of doors. From that time forth they came no more, but as long as the +shoemaker lived all went well with him, and all his undertakings prospered. +</p> + +<h5>SECOND STORY</h5> + +<p> +There was once a poor servant-girl, who was industrious and cleanly, and swept +the house every day, and emptied her sweepings on the great heap in front of +the door. One morning when she was just going back to her work, she found a +letter on this heap, and as she could not read, she put her broom in the +corner, and took the letter to her master and mistress, and behold it was an +invitation from the elves, who asked the girl to hold a child for them at its +christening. The girl did not know what to do, but at length, after much +persuasion, and as they told her that it was not right to refuse an invitation +of this kind, she consented. Then three elves came and conducted her to a +hollow mountain, where the little folks lived. Everything there was small, but +more elegant and beautiful than can be described. The baby’s mother lay +in a bed of black ebony ornamented with pearls, the coverlids were embroidered +with gold, the cradle was of ivory, the bath of gold. The girl stood as +godmother, and then wanted to go home again, but the little elves urgently +entreated her to stay three days with them. So she stayed, and passed the time +in pleasure and gaiety, and the little folks did all they could to make her +happy. At last she set out on her way home. Then first they filled her pockets +quite full of money, and after that they led her out of the mountain again. +When she got home, she wanted to begin her work, and took the broom, which was +still standing in the corner, in her hand and began to sweep. Then some +strangers came out of the house, who asked her who she was, and what business +she had there? And she had not, as she thought, been three days with the little +men in the mountains, but seven years, and in the meantime her former masters +had died. +</p> + +<h5>THIRD STORY</h5> + +<p> +A certain mother’s child had been taken away out of its cradle by the +elves, and a changeling with a large head and staring eyes, which would do +nothing but eat and drink, laid in its place. In her trouble she went to her +neighbour, and asked her advice. The neighbour said that she was to carry the +changeling into the kitchen, set it down on the hearth, light a fire, and boil +some water in two egg-shells, which would make the changeling laugh, and if he +laughed, all would be over with him. The woman did everything that her +neighbour bade her. When she put the egg-shells with water on the fire, the imp +said, “I am as old now as the Wester forest, but never yet have I seen +any one boil anything in an egg-shell!” And he began to laugh at it. +Whilst he was laughing, suddenly came a host of little elves, who brought the +right child, set it down on the hearth, and took the changeling away with them. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap40"></a>40 The Robber Bridegroom</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was +grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, +“If any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to +him.” Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, +and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to +him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like +the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, +or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, “Thou +art my betrothed, and yet thou hast never once paid me a visit.” The +maiden replied, “I know not where thy house is.” Then said the +bridegroom, “My house is out there in the dark forest.” She tried +to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom +said, “Next Sunday thou must come out there to me; I have already invited +the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that thou mayst find thy way +through the forest.” When Sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on +her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark +her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn +at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she +threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she +reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a +solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal. She +went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned. +Suddenly a voice cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear,<br/> +’Tis a murderer’s house you enter here.” +</p> + +<p> +The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was +hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear,<br/> +’Tis a murderer’s house you enter here.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked +through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was +to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely +aged woman, whose head shook constantly. “Can you not tell me,” +said the maiden, “if my betrothed lives here?” +</p> + +<p> +“Alas, poor child,” replied the old woman, “whither hast thou +come? Thou art in a murderer’s den. Thou thinkest thou art a bride soon +to be married, but thou wilt keep thy wedding with death. Look, I have been +forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have +thee in their power, they will cut thee to pieces without mercy, will cook +thee, and eat thee, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have +compassion on thee, and save thee, thou art lost.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be +seen. “Be as still as a mouse,” said she, “do not make a +sound, or move, or all will be over with thee. At night, when the robbers are +asleep, we will escape; I have long waited for an opportunity.” Hardly +was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another +young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations. +They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one +glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. +Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her +beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the +cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had +destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the little finger of the +murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the +finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight +into the bride’s bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for +it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, “Hast thou looked +behind the great hogshead?” But the old woman cried, “Come and get +something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger +won’t run away from you.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the robbers said, “The old woman is right,” and gave up their +search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in +their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. +When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to +step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her +terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got +safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried +out of the murderers’ den with all the speed in their power. The wind had +blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown +up, and showed them the way in the moonlight. They walked the whole night, +until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her +father everything exactly as it had happened. +</p> + +<p> +When the day came when the wedding was to be celebrated, the bridegroom +appeared, and the Miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat +at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said +nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, “Come, my darling, dost +thou know nothing? Relate something to us like the rest.” She replied, +“Then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at +last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was +a bird in a cage which cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear,<br/> +’Tis a murderer’s house you enter here.” +</p> + +<p> +And this it cried once more. ‘My darling, I only dreamt this. Then I went +through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so +horrible about them! At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very +very old woman, whose head shook; I asked her, ‘Does my bridegroom live +in this house? She answered, ‘Alas poor child, thou hast got into a +murderer’s den, thy bridegroom does live here, but he will hew thee in +pieces, and kill thee, and then he will cook thee, and eat thee.’ My +darling, I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, +and, scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with +them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, +with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this. Thereupon +they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a +table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of +the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was +hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in +the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there +is the finger with the ring!” And with these words she drew it forth, and +showed it to those present. +</p> + +<p> +The robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and +wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to +justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap41"></a>41 Herr Korbes</h3> + +<p> +There were once a cock and a hen who wanted to take a journey together. So the +cock built a beautiful carriage, which had four red wheels, and harnessed four +mice to it. The hen seated herself in it with the cock, and they drove away +together. Not long afterwards they met a cat who said, “Where are you +going?” The cock replied, “We are going to the house of Herr +Korbes.” “Take me with you,” said the cat. The cock answered, +“Most willingly, get up behind, lest you fall off in front. Take great +care not to dirty my little red wheels. And you little wheels, roll on, and you +little mice pipe out, as we go forth on our way to the house of Herr +Korbes.” +</p> + +<p> +After this came a millstone, then an egg, then a duck, then a pin, and at last +a needle, who all seated themselves in the carriage, and drove with them. When, +however, they reached the house of Herr Korbes, Herr Korbes was not there. The +mice drew the carriage into the barn, the hen flew with the cock upon a perch. +The cat sat down by the hearth, the duck on the well-pole. The egg rolled +itself into a towel, the pin stuck itself into the chair-cushion, the needle +jumped on to the bed in the middle of the pillow, and the millstone laid itself +over the door. Then Herr Korbes came home, went to the hearth, and was about to +light the fire, when the cat threw a quantity of ashes in his face. He ran into +the kitchen in a great hurry to wash it off, and the duck splashed some water +in his face. He wanted to dry it with the towel, but the egg rolled up against +him, broke, and glued up his eyes. He wanted to rest, and sat down in the +chair, and then the pin pricked him. He fell in a passion, and threw himself on +his bed, but as soon as he laid his head on the pillow, the needle pricked him, +so that he screamed aloud, and was just going to run out into the wide world in +his rage, but when he came to the house-door, the millstone leapt down and +struck him dead. Herr Korbes must have been a very wicked man! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap42"></a>42 The Godfather</h3> + +<p> +A poor man had so many children that he had already asked every one in the +world to be godfather, and when still another child was born, no one else was +left whom he could invite. He knew not what to do, and, in his perplexity, he +lay down and fell asleep. Then he dreamt that he was to go outside the gate, +and ask the first person who met him to be godfather. When he awoke, he +determined to obey his dream, and went outside the gate, and asked the first +person who came up to him to be godfather. The stranger presented him with a +little glass of water, and said, “This is a wonderful water, with it thou +canst heal the sick, only thou must see where Death is standing. If he is +standing by the patient’s head, give the patient some of the water and he +will be healed, but if Death is standing by his feet, all trouble will be in +vain, for the sick man must die.” From this time forth, the man could +always say whether a patient could be saved or not, and became famous for his +skill, and earned a great deal of money. Once he was called in to the child of +the King, and when he entered, he saw death standing by the child’s head +and cured it with the water, and he did the same a second time, but the third +time Death was standing by its feet, and then he knew the child was forced to +die. +</p> + +<p> +Once the man thought he would visit the godfather, and tell him how he had +succeeded with the water. But when he entered the house, it was such a strange +establishment! On the first flight of stairs, the broom and shovel were +disputing, and knocking each other about violently. He asked them, “Where +does the godfather live?” The broom replied, “One flight of stairs +higher up.” When he came to the second flight, he saw a heap of dead +fingers lying. He asked, “Where does the godfather live?” One of +the fingers replied, “One flight of stairs higher.” On the third +flight lay a heap of dead heads, which again directed him to the flight beyond. +On the fourth flight, he saw fishes on the fire, which frizzled in the pans and +baked themselves. They, too, said, “One flight of stairs higher.” +And when he had ascended the fifth, he came to the door of a room and peeped +through the keyhole, and there he saw the godfather who had a pair of long +horns. When he opened the door and went in, the godfather got into bed in a +great hurry and covered himself up. Then said the man, “Sir godfather, +what a strange household you have! When I came to your first flight of stairs, +the shovel and broom were quarreling, and beating each other violently.” +</p> + +<p> +“How stupid you are!” said the godfather. “That was the boy +and the maid talking to each other.” “But on the second flight I +saw dead fingers lying.” “Oh, how silly you are! Those were some +roots of scorzonera.” “On the third flight lay a heap of dead +men’s heads.” “Foolish man, those were cabbages.” +“On the fourth flight, I saw fishes in a pan, which were hissing and +baking themselves.” When he had said that, the fishes came and served +themselves up. “And when I got to the fifth flight, I peeped through the +keyhole of a door, and there, godfather, I saw you, and you had long, long +horns.” “Oh, that is a lie!” The man became alarmed, and ran +out, and if he had not, who knows what the godfather would have done to him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap43"></a>43 Frau Trude</h3> + +<p> +There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and when her +parents told her to do anything, she did not obey them, so how could she fare +well? One day she said to her parents, “I have heard so much of Frau +Trude, I will go to her some day. People say that everything about her does +look so strange, and that there are such odd things in her house, that I have +become quite curious!” Her parents absolutely forbade her, and said, +“Frau Trude is a bad woman, who does wicked things, and if thou goest to +her; thou art no longer our child.” But the maiden did not let herself be +turned aside by her parent’s prohibition, and still went to Frau Trude. +And when she got to her, Frau Trude said, “Why art thou so pale?” +“Ah,” she replied, and her whole body trembled, “I have been +so terrified at what I have seen.” “What hast thou seen?” +“I saw a black man on your steps.” “That was a +collier.” “Then I saw a green man.” “That was a +huntsman.” “After that I saw a blood-red man.” “That +was a butcher.” “Ah, Frau Trude, I was terrified; I looked through +the window and saw not you, but, as I verily believe, the devil himself with a +head of fire.” “Oho!” said she, “then thou hast seen +the witch in her proper costume. I have been waiting for thee, and wanting thee +a long time already; thou shalt give me some light.” Then she changed the +girl into a block of wood, and threw it into the fire. And when it was in full +blaze she sat down close to it, and warmed herself by it, and said, “That +shines bright for once in a way.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap44"></a>44 Godfather Death</h3> + +<p> +A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give +them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not +what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to +ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the +good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, “Poor +man, I pity thee. I will hold thy child at its christening, and will take +charge of it and make it happy on earth.” The man said, “Who art +thou?” “I am God.” “Then I do not desire to have thee +for a godfather,” said the man; “thou givest to the rich, and +leavest the poor to hunger.” Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how +wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the +Lord, and went farther. Then the Devil came to him and said, “What +seekest thou? If thou wilt take me as a godfather for thy child, I will give +him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well.” The man asked, +“Who art thou?” “I am the Devil.” “Then I do not +desire to have thee for godfather,” said the man; “thou deceivest +men and leadest them astray.” He went onwards, and then came Death +striding up to him with withered legs, and said, “Take me as +godfather.” The man asked, “Who art thou?” “I am Death, +and I make all equal.” Then said the man, “Thou art the right one, +thou takest the rich as well as the poor, without distinction; thou shalt be +godfather.” Death answered, “I will make thy child rich and famous, +for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing.” The man said, +“Next Sunday is the christening; be there at the right time.” Death +appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. +</p> + +<p> +When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with +him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, +and said, “Now shalt thou receive thy godfather’s present. I make +thee a celebrated physician. When thou art called to a patient, I will always +appear to thee. If I stand by the head of the sick man, thou mayst say with +confidence that thou wilt make him well again, and if thou givest him of this +herb he will recover; but if I stand by the patient’s feet, he is mine, +and thou must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the +world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might +fare ill with thee.” +</p> + +<p> +It was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole +world. “He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at +once, and if he would recover, or must needs die.” So they said of him, +and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had any one +ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so +befell that the King became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say +if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, Death was standing by +the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. +“If I could but cheat Death for once,” thought the physician, +“he is sure to take it ill if I do, but, as I am his godson, he will shut +one eye; I will risk it.” He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him +the other way, so that now Death was standing by his head. Then he gave the +King some of the herb, and he recovered and grew healthy again. But Death came +to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, +and said, “Thou hast overreached me; this time I will pardon it, as thou +art my godson; but if thou venturest it again, it will cost thee thy neck, for +I will take thee thyself away with me.” +</p> + +<p> +Soon afterwards the King’s daughter fell into a severe illness. She was +his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight +of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from +death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to +the sick girl’s bed, he saw Death by her feet. He ought to have +remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the +great beauty of the King’s daughter, and the happiness of becoming her +husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that Death was +casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and +threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed +her head where her feet had lain. Then he gave her some of the herb, and +instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her. +</p> + +<p> +When Death saw that for a second time he was defrauded of his own property, he +walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, “All is over with +thee, and now the lot falls on thee,” and seized him so firmly with his +ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the +earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in +countless rows, some large, others half-sized, others small. Every instant some +were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap +hither and thither in perpetual change. “See,” said Death, +“these are the lights of men’s lives. The large ones belong to +children, the half-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones +belong to old people; but children and young folks likewise have often only a +tiny candle.” “Show me the light of my life,” said the +physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a +little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, “Behold, it is +there.” “Ah, dear godfather,” said the horrified physician, +“light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, +be King, and the husband of the King’s beautiful daughter.” +“I cannot,” answered Death, “one must go out before a new one +is lighted.” “Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on +burning at once when the old one has come to an end,” pleaded the +physician. Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold +of a tall new candle; but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a +mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. +Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the +hands of Death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap45"></a>45 Thumbling as Journeyman</h3> + +<p> +A certain tailor had a son, who happened to be small, and no bigger than a +Thumb, and on this account he was always called Thumbling. He had, however, +some courage in him, and said to his father, “Father, I must and will go +out into the world.” “That’s right, my son,” said the +old man, and took a long darning-needle and made a knob of sealing-wax on it at +the candle, “and there is a sword for thee to take with thee on the +way.” Then the little tailor wanted to have one more meal with them, and +hopped into the kitchen to see what his lady mother had cooked for the last +time. It was, however, just dished up, and the dish stood on the hearth. Then +he said, “Mother, what is there to eat to-day?” “See for +thyself,” said his mother. So Thumbling jumped on to the hearth, and +peeped into the dish, but as he stretched his neck in too far the steam from +the food caught hold of him, and carried him up the chimney. He rode about in +the air on the steam for a while, until at length he sank down to the ground +again. Now the little tailor was outside in the wide world, and he travelled +about, and went to a master in his craft, but the food was not good enough for +him. “Mistress, if you give us no better food,” said Thumbling, +“I will go away, and early to-morrow morning I will write with chalk on +the door of your house, ‘Too many potatoes, too little meat! Farewell, +Mr. Potato-King.’” “What wouldst thou have forsooth, +grasshopper?” said the mistress, and grew angry, and seized a dishcloth, +and was just going to strike him; but my little tailor crept nimbly under a +thimble, peeped out from beneath it, and put his tongue out at the mistress. +She took up the thimble, and wanted to get hold of him, but little Thumbling +hopped into the cloth, and while the mistress was opening it out and looking +for him, he got into a crevice in the table. “Ho, ho, lady +mistress,” cried he, and thrust his head out, and when she began to +strike him he leapt down into the drawer. At last, however, she caught him and +drove him out of the house. +</p> + +<p> +The little tailor journeyed on and came to a great forest, and there he fell in +with a band of robbers who had a design to steal the King’s treasure. +When they saw the little tailor, they thought, “A little fellow like that +can creep through a key-hole and serve as picklock to us.” +“Hollo,” cried one of them, “thou giant Goliath, wilt thou go +to the treasure-chamber with us? Thou canst slip thyself in and throw out the +money.” Thumbling reflected a while, and at length he said, +“yes,” and went with them to the treasure-chamber. Then he looked +at the doors above and below, to see if there was any crack in them. It was not +long before he espied one which was broad enough to let him in. He was +therefore about to get in at once, but one of the two sentries who stood before +the door, observed him, and said to the other, “What an ugly spider is +creeping there; I will kill it.” “Let the poor creature +alone,” said the other; “it has done thee no harm.” Then +Thumbling got safely through the crevice into the treasure-chamber, opened the +window beneath which the robbers were standing, and threw out to them one +thaler after another. When the little tailor was in the full swing of his work, +he heard the King coming to inspect his treasure-chamber, and crept hastily +into a hiding-place. The King noticed that several solid thalers were missing, +but could not conceive who could have stolen them, for locks and bolts were in +good condition, and all seemed well guarded. Then he went away again, and said +to the sentries, “Be on the watch, some one is after the money.” +When therefore Thumbling recommenced his labours, they heard the money moving, +and a sound of klink, klink, klink. They ran swiftly in to seize the thief, but +the little tailor, who heard them coming, was still swifter, and leapt into a +corner and covered himself with a thaler, so that nothing could be seen of him, +and at the same time he mocked the sentries and cried, “Here am I!” +The sentries ran thither, but as they got there, he had already hopped into +another corner under a thaler, and was crying, “Ho, ho, here am I!” +The watchmen sprang there in haste, but Thumbling had long ago got into a third +corner, and was crying, “Ho, ho, here am I!” And thus he made fools +of them, and drove them so long round about the treasure-chamber that they were +weary and went away. Then by degrees he threw all the thalers out, dispatching +the last with all his might, then hopped nimbly upon it, and flew down with it +through the window. The robbers paid him great compliments. “Thou art a +valiant hero,” said they; “wilt thou be our captain?” +</p> + +<p> +Thumbling, however, declined, and said he wanted to see the world first. They +now divided the booty, but the little tailor only asked for a kreuzer because +he could not carry more. +</p> + +<p> +Then he once more buckled on his sword, bade the robbers goodbye, and took to +the road. First, he went to work with some masters, but he had no liking for +that, and at last he hired himself as man-servant in an inn. The maids, +however, could not endure him, for he saw all they did secretly, without their +seeing him, and he told their master and mistress what they had taken off the +plates, and carried away out of the cellar, for themselves. Then said they, +“Wait, and we will pay thee off!” and arranged with each other to +play him a trick. Soon afterwards when one of the maids was mowing in the +garden, and saw Thumbling jumping about and creeping up and down the plants, +she mowed him up quickly with the grass, tied all in a great cloth, and +secretly threw it to the cows. Now amongst them there was a great black one, +who swallowed him down without hurting him. Down below, however, it pleased him +ill, for it was quite dark, neither was any candle burning. When the cow was +being milked he cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Strip, strap, strull,<br/> +Will the pail soon be full?” +</p> + +<p> +But the noise of the milking prevented his being understood. After this the +master of the house came into the cow-byre and said, “That cow shall be +killed to-morrow.” Then Thumbling was so alarmed that he cried out in a +clear voice, “Let me out first, for I am shut up inside her.” The +master heard that quite well, but did not know from whence the voice came. +“Where art thou?” asked he. “In the black one,” +answered Thumbling, but the master did not understand what that meant, and went +out. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the cow was killed. Happily Thumbling did not meet with one blow +at the cutting up and chopping; he got among the sausage-meat. And when the +butcher came in and began his work, he cried out with all his might, +“Don’t chop too deep, don’t chop too deep, I am amongst +it.” No one heard this because of the noise of the chopping-knife. Now +poor Thumbling was in trouble, but trouble sharpens the wits, and he sprang out +so adroitly between the blows that none of them touched him, and he escaped +with a whole skin. But still he could not get away, there was nothing for it +but to let himself be thrust into a black-pudding with the bits of bacon. His +quarters there were rather confined, and besides that he was hung up in the +chimney to be smoked, and there time did hang terribly heavy on his hands. +</p> + +<p> +At length in winter he was taken down again, as the black-pudding had to be set +before a guest. When the hostess was cutting it in slices, he took care not to +stretch out his head too far lest a bit of it should be cut off; at last he saw +his opportunity, cleared a passage for himself, and jumped out. +</p> + +<p> +The little tailor, however, would not stay any longer in a house where he fared +so ill, so at once set out on his journey again. But his liberty did not last +long. In the open country he met with a fox who snapped him up in a fit of +absence. “Hollo, Mr. Fox,” cried the little tailor, “it is I +who am sticking in your throat, set me at liberty again.” “Thou art +right,” answered the fox. “Thou art next to nothing for me, but if +thou wilt promise me the fowls in thy father’s yard I will let thee +go.” “With all my heart,” replied Thumbling. “Thou +shalt have all the cocks and hens, that I promise thee.” Then the fox let +him go again, and himself carried him home. When the father once more saw his +dear son, he willingly gave the fox all the fowls which he had. “For this +I likewise bring thee a handsome bit of money,” said Thumbling, and gave +his father the kreuzer which he earned on his travels. +</p> + +<p> +“But why did the fox get the poor chickens to eat?” “Oh, you +goose, your father would surely love his child far more than the fowls in the +yard!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap46"></a>46 Fitcher’s Bird</h3> + +<p> +There was once a wizard who used to take the form of a poor man, and went to +houses and begged, and caught pretty girls. No one knew whither he carried +them, for they were never seen more. One day he appeared before the door of a +man who had three pretty daughters; he looked like a poor weak beggar, and +carried a basket on his back, as if he meant to collect charitable gifts in it. +He begged for a little food, and when the eldest daughter came out and was just +reaching him a piece of bread, he did but touch her, and she was forced to jump +into his basket. Thereupon he hurried away with long strides, and carried her +away into a dark forest to his house, which stood in the midst of it. +Everything in the house was magnificent; he gave her whatsoever she could +possibly desire, and said, “My darling, thou wilt certainly be happy with +me, for thou hast everything thy heart can wish for.” This lasted a few +days, and then he said, “I must journey forth, and leave thee alone for a +short time; there are the keys of the house; thou mayst go everywhere and look +at everything except into one room, which this little key here opens, and there +I forbid thee to go on pain of death.” He likewise gave her an egg and +said, “Preserve the egg carefully for me, and carry it continually about +with thee, for a great misfortune would arise from the loss of it.” +</p> + +<p> +She took the keys and the egg, and promised to obey him in everything. When he +was gone, she went all round the house from the bottom to the top, and examined +everything. The rooms shone with silver and gold, and she thought she had never +seen such great splendour. At length she came to the forbidden door; she wished +to pass it by, but curiosity let her have no rest. She examined the key, it +looked just like any other; she put it in the keyhole and turned it a little, +and the door sprang open. But what did she see when she went in? A great bloody +basin stood in the middle of the room, and therein lay human beings, dead and +hewn to pieces, and hard by was a block of wood, and a gleaming axe lay upon +it. She was so terribly alarmed that the egg which she held in her hand fell +into the basin. She got it out and washed the blood off, but in vain, it +appeared again in a moment. She washed and scrubbed, but she could not get it +out. +</p> + +<p> +It was not long before the man came back from his journey, and the first things +which he asked for were the key and the egg. She gave them to him, but she +trembled as she did so, and he saw at once by the red spots that she had been +in the bloody chamber. “Since thou hast gone into the room against my +will,” said he, “thou shalt go back into it against thine own. Thy +life is ended.” He threw her down, dragged her thither by her hair, cut +her head off on the block, and hewed her in pieces so that her blood ran on the +ground. Then he threw her into the basin with the rest. +</p> + +<p> +“Now I will fetch myself the second,” said the wizard, and again he +went to the house in the shape of a poor man, and begged. Then the second +daughter brought him a piece of bread; he caught her like the first, by simply +touching her, and carried her away. She did not fare better than her sister. +She allowed herself to be led away by her curiosity, opened the door of the +bloody chamber, looked in, and had to atone for it with her life on the +wizard’s return. Then he went and brought the third sister, but she was +clever and crafty. When he had given her the keys and the egg, and had left +her, she first put the egg away with great care, and then she examined the +house, and at last went into the forbidden room. Alas, what did she behold! +Both her sisters lay there in the basin, cruelly murdered, and cut in pieces. +But she began to gather their limbs together and put them in order, head, body, +arms and legs. And when nothing further was wanting the limbs began to move and +unite themselves together, and both the maidens opened their eyes and were once +more alive. Then they rejoiced and kissed and caressed each other. +</p> + +<p> +On his arrival, the man at once demanded the keys and the egg, and as he could +perceive no trace of any blood on it, he said, “Thou hast stood the test, +thou shalt be my bride.” He now had no longer any power over her, and was +forced to do whatsoever she desired. “Oh, very well,” said she, +“thou shalt first take a basketful of gold to my father and mother, and +carry it thyself on thy back; in the meantime I will prepare for the +wedding.” Then she ran to her sisters, whom she had hidden in a little +chamber, and said, “The moment has come when I can save you. The wretch +shall himself carry you home again, but as soon as you are at home send help to +me.” She put both of them in a basket and covered them quite over with +gold, so that nothing of them was to be seen, then she called in the wizard and +said to him, “Now carry the basket away, but I shall look through my +little window and watch to see if thou stoppest on the way to stand or to +rest.” +</p> + +<p> +The wizard raised the basket on his back and went away with it, but it weighed +him down so heavily that the perspiration streamed from his face. Then he sat +down and wanted to rest awhile, but immediately one of the girls in the basket +cried, “I am looking through my little window, and I see that thou art +resting. Wilt thou go on at once?” He thought it was his bride who was +calling that to him; and got up on his legs again. Once more he was going to +sit down, but instantly she cried, “I am looking through my little +window, and I see that thou art resting. Wilt thou go on directly?” And +whenever he stood still, she cried this, and then he was forced to go onwards, +until at last, groaning and out of breath, he took the basket with the gold and +the two maidens into their parents’ house. At home, however, the bride +prepared the marriage-feast, and sent invitations to the friends of the wizard. +Then she took a skull with grinning teeth, put some ornaments on it and a +wreath of flowers, carried it upstairs to the garret-window, and let it look +out from thence. When all was ready, she got into a barrel of honey, and then +cut the feather-bed open and rolled herself in it, until she looked like a +wondrous bird, and no one could recognize her. Then she went out of the house, +and on her way she met some of the wedding-guests, who asked, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“O, Fitcher’s bird, how com’st thou here?”<br/> +“I come from Fitcher’s house quite near.”<br/> +“And what may the young bride be doing?”<br/> +“From cellar to garret she’s swept all clean,<br/> +And now from the window she’s peeping, I ween.” +</p> + +<p> +At last she met the bridegroom, who was coming slowly back. He, like the +others, asked, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“O, Fitcher’s bird, how com’st thou here?”<br/> +“I come from Fitcher’s house quite near.”<br/> +“And what may the young bride be doing?<br/> +“From cellar to garret she’s swept all clean,<br/> +And now from the window she’s peeping, I ween.” +</p> + +<p> +The bridegroom looked up, saw the decked-out skull, thought it was his bride, +and nodded to her, greeting her kindly. But when he and his guests had all gone +into the house, the brothers and kinsmen of the bride, who had been sent to +rescue her, arrived. They locked all the doors of the house, that no one might +escape, set fire to it, and the wizard and all his crew had to burn. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap47"></a>47 The Juniper-Tree</h3> + +<p> +It is now long ago, quite two thousand years, since there was a rich man who +had a beautiful and pious wife, and they loved each other dearly. They had, +however, no children, though they wished for them very much, and the woman +prayed for them day and night, but still they had none. Now there was a +court-yard in front of their house in which was a juniper-tree, and one day in +winter the woman was standing beneath it, paring herself an apple, and while +she was paring herself the apple she cut her finger, and the blood fell on the +snow. “Ah,” said the woman, and sighed right heavily, and looked at +the blood before her, and was most unhappy, “ah, if I had but a child as +red as blood and as white as snow!” And while she thus spake, she became +quite happy in her mind, and felt just as if that were going to happen. Then +she went into the house and a month went by and the snow was gone, and two +months, and then everything was green, and three months, and then all the +flowers came out of the earth, and four months, and then all the trees in the +wood grew thicker, and the green branches were all closely entwined, and the +birds sang until the wood resounded and the blossoms fell from the trees, then +the fifth month passed away and she stood under the juniper-tree, which smelt +so sweetly that her heart leapt, and she fell on her knees and was beside +herself with joy, and when the sixth month was over the fruit was large and +fine, and then she was quite still, and the seventh month she snatched at the +juniper-berries and ate them greedily, then she grew sick and sorrowful, then +the eighth month passed, and she called her husband to her, and wept and said, +“If I die then bury me beneath the juniper-tree.” Then she was +quite comforted and happy until the next month was over, and then she had a +child as white as snow and as red as blood, and when she beheld it she was so +delighted that she died. +</p> + +<p> +Then her husband buried her beneath the juniper-tree, and he began to weep +sore; after some time he was more at ease, and though he still wept he could +bear it, and after some time longer he took another wife. +</p> + +<p> +By the second wife he had a daughter, but the first wife’s child was a +little son, and he was as red as blood and as white as snow. When the woman +looked at her daughter she loved her very much, but then she looked at the +little boy and it seemed to cut her to the heart, for the thought came into her +mind that he would always stand in her way, and she was for ever thinking how +she could get all the fortune for her daughter, and the Evil One filled her +mind with this till she was quite wroth with the little boy, and slapped him +here and cuffed him there, until the unhappy child was in continual terror, for +when he came out of school he had no peace in any place. +</p> + +<p> +One day the woman had gone upstairs to her room, and her little daughter went +up too, and said, “Mother, give me an apple.” “Yes, my +child,” said the woman, and gave her a fine apple out of the chest, but +the chest had a great heavy lid with a great sharp iron lock. +“Mother,” said the little daughter, “is brother not to have +one too?” This made the woman angry, but she said, “Yes, when he +comes out of school.” And when she saw from the window that he was +coming, it was just as if the Devil entered into her, and she snatched at the +apple and took it away again from her daughter, and said, “Thou shalt not +have one before thy brother.” Then she threw the apple into the chest, +and shut it. Then the little boy came in at the door, and the Devil made her +say to him kindly, “My son, wilt thou have an apple?” and she +looked wickedly at him. “Mother,” said the little boy, “how +dreadful you look! Yes, give me an apple.” Then it seemed to her as if +she were forced to say to him, “Come with me,” and she opened the +lid of the chest and said, “Take out an apple for thyself,” and +while the little boy was stooping inside, the Devil prompted her, and crash! +she shut the lid down, and his head flew off and fell among the red apples. +Then she was overwhelmed with terror, and thought, “If I could but make +them think that it was not done by me!” So she went upstairs to her room +to her chest of drawers, and took a white handkerchief out of the top drawer, +and set the head on the neck again, and folded the handkerchief so that nothing +could be seen, and she set him on a chair in front of the door, and put the +apple in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +After this Marlinchen came into the kitchen to her mother, who was standing by +the fire with a pan of hot water before her which she was constantly stirring +round. “Mother,” said Marlinchen, “brother is sitting at the +door, and he looks quite white and has an apple in his hand. I asked him to +give me the apple, but he did not answer me, and I was quite frightened.” +“Go back to him,” said her mother, “and if he will not answer +thee, give him a box on the ear.” So Marlinchen went to him and said, +“Brother, give me the apple.” But he was silent, and she gave him a +box on the ear, on which his head fell down. Marlinchen was terrified, and +began crying and screaming, and ran to her mother, and said, “Alas, +mother, I have knocked my brother’s head off!” and she wept and +wept and could not be comforted. “Marlinchen,” said the mother, +“what hast thou done? but be quiet and let no one know it; it cannot be +helped now, we will make him into black-puddings.” Then the mother took +the little boy and chopped him in pieces, put him into the pan and made him +into black puddings; but Marlinchen stood by weeping and weeping, and all her +tears fell into the pan and there was no need of any salt. +</p> + +<p> +Then the father came home, and sat down to dinner and said, “But where is +my son?” And the mother served up a great dish of black-puddings, and +Marlinchen wept and could not leave off. Then the father again said, “But +where is my son?” “Ah,” said the mother, “he has gone +across the country to his mother’s great uncle; he will stay there +awhile.” “And what is he going to do there? He did not even say +good-bye to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, he wanted to go, and asked me if he might stay six weeks, he is well +taken care of there.” “Ah,” said the man, “I feel so +unhappy lest all should not be right. He ought to have said good-bye to +me.” With that he began to eat and said, “Marlinchen, why art thou +crying? Thy brother will certainly come back.” Then he said, “Ah, +wife, how delicious this food is, give me some more.” And the more he ate +the more he wanted to have, and he said, “Give me some more, you shall +have none of it. It seems to me as if it were all mine.” And he ate and +ate and threw all the bones under the table, until he had finished the whole. +But Marlinchen went away to her chest of drawers, and took her best silk +handkerchief out of the bottom drawer, and got all the bones from beneath the +table, and tied them up in her silk handkerchief, and carried them outside the +door, weeping tears of blood. Then the juniper-tree began to stir itself, and +the branches parted asunder, and moved together again, just as if some one was +rejoicing and clapping his hands. At the same time a mist seemed to arise from +the tree, and in the centre of this mist it burned like a fire, and a beautiful +bird flew out of the fire singing magnificently, and he flew high up in the +air, and when he was gone, the juniper-tree was just as it had been before, and +the handkerchief with the bones was no longer there. Marlinchen, however, was +as gay and happy as if her brother were still alive. And she went merrily into +the house, and sat down to dinner and ate. +</p> + +<p> +But the bird flew away and lighted on a goldsmith’s house, and began to +sing, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My mother she killed me,<br/> +My father he ate me,<br/> +My sister, little Marlinchen,<br/> +Gathered together all my bones,<br/> +Tied them in a silken handkerchief,<br/> +Laid them beneath the juniper-tree,<br/> +Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!” +</p> + +<p> +The goldsmith was sitting in his workshop making a gold chain, when he heard +the bird which was sitting singing on his roof, and very beautiful the song +seemed to him. He stood up, but as he crossed the threshold he lost one of his +slippers. But he went away right up the middle of the street with one shoe on +and one sock; he had his apron on, and in one hand he had the gold chain and in +the other the pincers, and the sun was shining brightly on the street. Then he +went right on and stood still, and said to the bird, “Bird,” said +he then, “how beautifully thou canst sing! Sing me that piece +again.” “No,” said the bird, “I’ll not sing it +twice for nothing! Give me the golden chain, and then I will sing it again for +thee.” “There,” said the goldsmith, “there is the +golden chain for thee, now sing me that song again.” Then the bird came +and took the golden chain in his right claw, and went and sat in front of the +goldsmith, and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My mother she killed me,<br/> +My father he ate me,<br/> +My sister, little Marlinchen,<br/> +Gathered together all my bones,<br/> +Tied them in a silken handkerchief,<br/> +Laid them beneath the juniper-tree,<br/> +Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the bird flew away to a shoemaker, and lighted on his roof and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My mother she killed me,<br/> +My father he ate me,<br/> +My sister, little Marlinchen,<br/> +Gathered together all my bones,<br/> +Tied them in a silken handkerchief,<br/> +Laid them beneath the juniper-tree,<br/> +Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!” +</p> + +<p> +The shoemaker heard that and ran out of doors in his shirt sleeves, and looked +up at his roof, and was forced to hold his hand before his eyes lest the sun +should blind him. “Bird,” said he, “how beautifully thou +canst sing!” Then he called in at his door, “Wife, just come +outside, there is a bird, look at that bird, he just can sing well.” Then +he called his daughter and children, and apprentices, boys and girls, and they +all came up the street and looked at the bird and saw how beautiful he was, and +what fine red and green feathers he had, and how like real gold his neck was, +and how the eyes in his head shone like stars. “Bird,” said the +shoemaker, “now sing me that song again.” “Nay,” said +the bird, “I do not sing twice for nothing; thou must give me +something.” “Wife,” said the man, “go to the garret, +upon the top shelf there stands a pair of red shoes, bring them down.” +Then the wife went and brought the shoes. “There, bird,” said the +man, “now sing me that piece again.” Then the bird came and took +the shoes in his left claw, and flew back on the roof, and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My mother she killed me,<br/> +My father he ate me,<br/> +My sister, little Marlinchen,<br/> +Gathered together all my bones,<br/> +Tied them in a silken handkerchief,<br/> +Laid them beneath the juniper-tree,<br/> +Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!” +</p> + +<p> +And when he had sung the whole he flew away. In his right claw he had the chain +and the shoes in his left, and he flew far away to a mill, and the mill went, +“klipp klapp, klipp klapp, klipp klapp,” and in the mill sat twenty +miller’s men hewing a stone, and cutting, hick hack, hick hack, hick +hack, and the mill went klipp klapp, klipp klapp, klipp klapp. Then the bird +went and sat on a lime-tree which stood in front of the mill, and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My mother she killed me,” +</p> + +<p> +Then one of them stopped working, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My father he ate me.” +</p> + +<p> +Then two more stopped working and listened to that, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My sister, little Marlinchen,” +</p> + +<p> +Then four more stopped, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Gathered together all my bones,<br/> +Tied them in a silken handkerchief,” +</p> + +<p> +Now eight only were hewing, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Laid them beneath” +</p> + +<p> +Now only five, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The juniper-tree,” +</p> + +<p> +And now only one, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the last stopped also, and heard the last words. “Bird,” said +he, “how beautifully thou singest! Let me, too, hear that. Sing that once +more for me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay,” said the bird, “I will not sing twice for nothing. +Give me the millstone, and then I will sing it again.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” said he, “if it belonged to me only, thou shouldst +have it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” said the others, “if he sings again he shall have +it.” Then the bird came down, and the twenty millers all set to work with +a beam and raised the stone up. And the bird stuck his neck through the hole, +and put the stone on as if it were a collar, and flew on to the tree again, and +sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My mother she killed me,<br/> +My father he ate me,<br/> +My sister, little Marlinchen,<br/> +Gathered together all my bones,<br/> +Tied them in a silken handkerchief,<br/> +Laid them beneath the juniper-tree,<br/> +Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!” +</p> + +<p> +And when he had done singing, he spread his wings, and in his right claw he had +the chain, and in his left the shoes, and round his neck the millstone, and he +flew far away to his father’s house. +</p> + +<p> +In the room sat the father, the mother, and Marlinchen at dinner, and the +father said, “How light-hearted I feel, how happy I am!” +“Nay,” said the mother, “I feel so uneasy, just as if a heavy +storm were coming.” Marlinchen, however, sat weeping and weeping, and +then came the bird flying, and as it seated itself on the roof the father said, +“Ah, I feel so truly happy, and the sun is shining so beautifully +outside, I feel just as if I were about to see some old friend again.” +“Nay,” said the woman, “I feel so anxious, my teeth chatter, +and I seem to have fire in my veins.” And she tore her stays open, but +Marlinchen sat in a corner crying, and held her plate before her eyes and cried +till it was quite wet. Then the bird sat on the juniper tree, and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My mother she killed me,” +</p> + +<p> +Then the mother stopped her ears, and shut her eyes, and would not see or hear, +but there was a roaring in her ears like the most violent storm, and her eyes +burnt and flashed like lightning, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My father he ate me,” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, mother,” says the man, “that is a beautiful bird! He +sings so splendidly, and the sun shines so warm, and there is a smell just like +cinnamon.” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My sister, little Marlinchen,” +</p> + +<p> +Then Marlinchen laid her head on her knees and wept without ceasing, but the +man said, “I am going out, I must see the bird quite close.” +“Oh, don’t go,” said the woman, “I feel as if the whole +house were shaking and on fire.” But the man went out and looked at the +bird: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Gathered together all my bones,<br/> +Tied them in a silken handkerchief,<br/> +Laid them beneath the juniper tree,<br/> +Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!” +</p> + +<p> +On this the bird let the golden chain fall, and it fell exactly round the +man’s neck, and so exactly round it that it fitted beautifully. Then he +went in and said, “Just look what a fine bird that is, and what a +handsome gold chain he has given me, and how pretty he is!” But the woman +was terrified, and fell down on the floor in the room, and her cap fell off her +head. Then sang the bird once more, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My mother she killed me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Would that I were a thousand feet beneath the earth so as not to hear +that!” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My father he ate me,” +</p> + +<p> +Then the woman fell down again as if dead. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My sister, little Marlinchen,” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah,” said Marlinchen, “I too will go out and see if the bird +will give me anything,” and she went out. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Gathered together all my bones,<br/> +Tied them in a silken handkerchief,” +</p> + +<p> +Then he threw down the shoes to her. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Laid them beneath the juniper-tree,<br/> +Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!” +</p> + +<p> +Then she was light-hearted and joyous, and she put on the new red shoes, and +danced and leaped into the house. “Ah,” said she, “I was so +sad when I went out and now I am so light-hearted; that is a splendid bird, he +has given me a pair of red shoes!” “Well,” said the woman, +and sprang to her feet and her hair stood up like flames of fire, “I feel +as if the world were coming to an end! I, too, will go out and see if my heart +feels lighter.” And as she went out at the door, crash! the bird threw +down the millstone on her head, and she was entirely crushed by it. The father +and Marlinchen heard what had happened and went out, and smoke, flames, and +fire were rising from the place, and when that was over, there stood the little +brother, and he took his father and Marlinchen by the hand, and all three were +right glad, and they went into the house to dinner, and ate. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap48"></a>48 Old Sultan</h3> + +<p> +A farmer once had a faithful dog called Sultan, who had grown old, and lost all +his teeth, so that he could no longer hold anything fast. One day the farmer +was standing with his wife before the house-door, and said, “To-morrow I +intend to shoot Old Sultan, he is no longer of any use.” +</p> + +<p> +His wife, who felt pity for the faithful beast, answered, “He has served +us so long, and been so faithful, that we might well give him his keep.” +</p> + +<p> +“Eh! what?” said the man. “You are not very sharp. He has not +a tooth left in his mouth, and not a thief is afraid of him; now he may be off. +If he has served us, he has had good feeding for it.” +</p> + +<p> +The poor dog, who was lying stretched out in the sun not far off, had heard +everything, and was sorry that the morrow was to be his last day. He had a good +friend, the wolf, and he crept out in the evening into the forest to him, and +complained of the fate that awaited him. “Hark ye, gossip,” said +the wolf, “be of good cheer, I will help you out of your trouble. I have +thought of something. To-morrow, early in the morning, your master is going +with his wife to make hay, and they will take their little child with them, for +no one will be left behind in the house. They are wont, during work-time, to +lay the child under the hedge in the shade; you lay yourself there too, just as +if you wished to guard it. Then I will come out of the wood, and carry off the +child. You must rush swiftly after me, as if you would seize it again from me. +I will let it fall, and you will take it back to its parents, who will think +that you have saved it, and will be far too grateful to do you any harm; on the +contrary, you will be in high favor, and they will never let you want for +anything again.” +</p> + +<p> +The plan pleased the dog, and it was carried out just as it was arranged. The +father screamed when he saw the Wolf running across the field with his child, +but when Old Sultan brought it back, then he was full of joy, and stroked him +and said, “Not a hair of yours shall be hurt, you shall eat my bread free +as long as you live.” And to his wife he said, “Go home at once and +make Old Sultan some bread-sop that he will not have to bite, and bring the +pillow out of my bed, I will give him that to lie upon.” +</p> + +<p> +Henceforth Old Sultan was as well off as he could wish to be. +</p> + +<p> +Soon afterwards the wolf visited him, and was pleased that everything had +succeeded so well. “But, gossip,” said he, “you will just +wink an eye if when I have a chance, I carry off one of your master’s fat +sheep.” “Do not reckon upon that,” answered the dog; “I +will remain true to my master; I cannot agree to that.” The wolf, who +thought that this could not be spoken in earnest, came creeping about in the +night and was going to take away the sheep. But the farmer, to whom the +faithful Sultan had told the wolf’s plan, caught him and dressed his hide +soundly with the flail. The wolf had to pack off, but he cried out to the dog, +“Wait a bit, you scoundrel, you shall pay for this.” +</p> + +<p> +The next morning the wolf sent the boar to challenge the dog to come out into +the forest so that they might settle the affair. Old Sultan could find no one +to stand by him but a cat with only three legs, and as they went out together +the poor cat limped along, and at the same time stretched out her tail into the +air with pain. +</p> + +<p> +The wolf and his friend were already on the spot appointed, but when they saw +their enemy coming they thought that he was bringing a sabre with him, for they +mistook the outstretched tail of the cat for one. And when the poor beast +hopped on its three legs, they could only think every time that it was picking +up a stone to throw at them. So they were both afraid; the wild boar crept into +the under-wood and the wolf jumped up a tree. +</p> + +<p> +The dog and the cat, when they came up, wondered that there was no one to be +seen. The wild boar, however, had not been able to hide himself altogether; and +one of his ears was still to be seen. Whilst the cat was looking carefully +about, the boar moved his ear; the cat, who thought it was a mouse moving +there, jumped upon it and bit it hard. The boar made a fearful noise and ran +away, crying out, “The guilty one is up in the tree.” The dog and +cat looked up and saw the wolf, who was ashamed of having shown himself so +timid, and made friends with the dog. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap49"></a>49 The Six Swans</h3> + +<p> +Once upon a time, a certain King was hunting in a great forest, and he chased a +wild beast so eagerly that none of his attendants could follow him. When +evening drew near he stopped and looked around him, and then he saw that he had +lost his way. He sought a way out, but could find none. Then he perceived an +aged woman with a head which nodded perpetually, who came towards him, but she +was a witch. “Good woman,” said he to her, “Can you not show +me the way through the forest?” “Oh, yes, Lord King,” she +answered, “that I certainly can, but on one condition, and if you do not +fulfil that, you will never get out of the forest, and will die of hunger in +it.” +</p> + +<p> +“What kind of condition is it?” asked the King. +</p> + +<p> +“I have a daughter,” said the old woman, “who is as beautiful +as any one in the world, and well deserves to be your consort, and if you will +make her your Queen, I will show you the way out of the forest.” In the +anguish of his heart the King consented, and the old woman led him to her +little hut, where her daughter was sitting by the fire. She received the King +as if she had been expecting him, and he saw that she was very beautiful, but +still she did not please him, and he could not look at her without secret +horror. After he had taken the maiden up on his horse, the old woman showed him +the way, and the King reached his royal palace again, where the wedding was +celebrated. +</p> + +<p> +The King had already been married once, and had by his first wife, seven +children, six boys and a girl, whom he loved better than anything else in the +world. As he now feared that the step-mother might not treat them well, and +even do them some injury, he took them to a lonely castle which stood in the +midst of a forest. It lay so concealed, and the way was so difficult to find +that he himself would not have found it, if a wise woman had not given him a +ball of yarn with wonderful properties. When he threw it down before him, it +unrolled itself and showed him his path. The King, however, went so frequently +away to his dear children that the Queen observed his absence; she was curious +and wanted to know what he did when he was quite alone in the forest. She gave +a great deal of money to his servants, and they betrayed the secret to her, and +told her likewise of the ball which alone could point out the way. And now she +knew no rest until she had learnt where the King kept the ball of yarn, and +then she made little shirts of white silk, and as she had learnt the art of +witchcraft from her mother, she sewed a charm inside them. And once when the +King had ridden forth to hunt, she took the little shirts and went into the +forest, and the ball showed her the way. The children, who saw from a distance +that some one was approaching, thought that their dear father was coming to +them, and full of joy, ran to meet him. Then she threw one of the little shirts +over each of them, and no sooner had the shirts touched their bodies than they +were changed into swans, and flew away over the forest. The Queen went home +quite delighted, and thought she had got rid of her step-children, but the girl +had not run out with her brothers, and the Queen knew nothing about her. Next +day the King went to visit his children, but he found no one but the little +girl. “Where are thy brothers?” asked the King. “Alas, dear +father,” she answered, “they have gone away and left me +alone!” and she told him that she had seen from her little window how her +brothers had flown away over the forest in the shape of swans, and she showed +him the feathers, which they had let fall in the courtyard, and which she had +picked up. The King mourned, but he did not think that the Queen had done this +wicked deed, and as he feared that the girl would also be stolen away from him, +he wanted to take her away with him. But she was afraid of her step-mother, and +entreated the King to let her stay just this one night more in the forest +castle. +</p> + +<p> +The poor girl thought, “I can no longer stay here. I will go and seek my +brothers.” And when night came, she ran away, and went straight into the +forest. She walked the whole night long, and next day also without stopping, +until she could go no farther for weariness. Then she saw a forest-hut, and +went into it, and found a room with six little beds, but she did not venture to +get into one of them, but crept under one, and lay down on the hard ground, +intending to pass the night there. Just before sunset, however, she heard a +rustling, and saw six swans come flying in at the window. They alighted on the +ground and blew at each other, and blew all the feathers off, and their +swan’s skins stripped off like a shirt. Then the maiden looked at them +and recognized her brothers, was glad and crept forth from beneath the bed. The +brothers were not less delighted to see their little sister, but their joy was +of short duration. “Here canst thou not abide,” they said to her. +“This is a shelter for robbers, if they come home and find thee, they +will kill thee.” “But can you not protect me?” asked the +little sister. “No,” they replied, “only for one quarter of +an hour each evening can we lay aside our swan’s skins and have during +that time our human form; after that, we are once more turned into +swans.” The little sister wept and said, “Can you not be set +free?” “Alas, no,” they answered, “the conditions are +too hard! For six years thou mayst neither speak nor laugh, and in that time +thou must sew together six little shirts of starwort for us. And if one single +word falls from thy lips, all thy work will be lost.” And when the +brothers had said this, the quarter of an hour was over, and they flew out of +the window again as swans. +</p> + +<p> +The maiden, however, firmly resolved to deliver her brothers, even if it should +cost her her life. She left the hut, went into the midst of the forest, seated +herself on a tree, and there passed the night. Next morning she went out and +gathered starwort and began to sew. She could not speak to any one, and she had +no inclination to laugh; she sat there and looked at nothing but her work. When +she had already spent a long time there it came to pass that the King of the +country was hunting in the forest, and his huntsmen came to the tree on which +the maiden was sitting. They called to her and said, “Who art +thou?” But she made no answer. “Come down to us,” said they. +“We will not do thee any harm.” She only shook her head. As they +pressed her further with questions she threw her golden necklace down to them, +and thought to content them thus. They, however, did not cease, and then she +threw her girdle down to them, and as this also was to no purpose, her garters, +and by degrees everything that she had on that she could do without until she +had nothing left but her shift. The huntsmen, however, did not let themselves +be turned aside by that, but climbed the tree and fetched the maiden down and +led her before the King. The King asked, “Who art thou? What art thou +doing on the tree?” But she did not answer. He put the question in every +language that he knew, but she remained as mute as a fish. As she was so +beautiful, the King’s heart was touched, and he was smitten with a great +love for her. He put his mantle on her, took her before him on his horse, and +carried her to his castle. Then he caused her to be dressed in rich garments, +and she shone in her beauty like bright daylight, but no word could be drawn +from her. He placed her by his side at table, and her modest bearing and +courtesy pleased him so much that he said, “She is the one whom I wish to +marry, and no other woman in the world.” And after some days he united +himself to her. +</p> + +<p> +The King, however, had a wicked mother who was dissatisfied with this marriage +and spoke ill of the young Queen. “Who knows,” said she, +“from whence the creature who can’t speak, comes? She is not worthy +of a king!” After a year had passed, when the Queen brought her first +child into the world, the old woman took it away from her, and smeared her +mouth with blood as she slept. Then she went to the King and accused the Queen +of being a man-eater. The King would not believe it, and would not suffer any +one to do her any injury. She, however, sat continually sewing at the shirts, +and cared for nothing else. The next time, when she again bore a beautiful boy, +the false step-mother used the same treachery, but the King could not bring +himself to give credit to her words. He said, “She is too pious and good +to do anything of that kind; if she were not dumb, and could defend herself, +her innocence would come to light.” But when the old woman stole away the +newly-born child for the third time, and accused the Queen, who did not utter +one word of defence, the King could do no otherwise than deliver her over to +justice, and she was sentenced to suffer death by fire. +</p> + +<p> +When the day came for the sentence to be executed, it was the last day of the +six years during which she was not to speak or laugh, and she had delivered her +dear brothers from the power of the enchantment. The six shirts were ready, +only the left sleeve of the sixth was wanting. When, therefore, she was led to +the stake, she laid the shirts on her arm, and when she stood on high and the +fire was just going to be lighted, she looked around and six swans came flying +through the air towards her. Then she saw that her deliverance was near, and +her heart leapt with joy. The swans swept towards her and sank down so that she +could throw the shirts over them, and as they were touched by them, their +swan’s skins fell off, and her brothers stood in their own bodily form +before her, and were vigorous and handsome. The youngest only lacked his left +arm, and had in the place of it a swan’s wing on his shoulder. They +embraced and kissed each other, and the Queen went to the King, who was greatly +moved, and she began to speak and said, “Dearest husband, now I may speak +and declare to thee that I am innocent, and falsely accused.” And she +told him of the treachery of the old woman who had taken away her three +children and hidden them. Then to the great joy of the King they were brought +thither, and as a punishment, the wicked step-mother was bound to the stake, +and burnt to ashes. But the King and the Queen with their six brothers lived +many years in happiness and peace. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap50"></a>50 Briar-Rose</h3> + +<p> +A long time ago there were a King and Queen who said every day, “Ah, if +only we had a child!” but they never had one. But it happened that once +when the Queen was bathing, a frog crept out of the water on to the land, and +said to her, “Your wish shall be fulfilled; before a year has gone by, +you shall have a daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +What the frog had said came true, and the Queen had a little girl who was so +pretty that the King could not contain himself for joy, and ordered a great +feast. He invited not only his kindred, friends and acquaintance, but also the +Wise Women, in order that they might be kind and well-disposed towards the +child. There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but, as he had only twelve +golden plates for them to eat out of, one of them had to be left at home. +</p> + +<p> +The feast was held with all manner of splendour and when it came to an end the +Wise Women bestowed their magic gifts upon the baby: one gave virtue, another +beauty, a third riches, and so on with everything in the world that one can +wish for. +</p> + +<p> +When eleven of them had made their promises, suddenly the thirteenth came in. +She wished to avenge herself for not having been invited, and without greeting, +or even looking at any one, she cried with a loud voice, “The +King’s daughter shall in her fifteenth year prick herself with a spindle, +and fall down dead.” And, without saying a word more, she turned round +and left the room. +</p> + +<p> +They were all shocked; but the twelfth, whose good wish still remained +unspoken, came forward, and as she could not undo the evil sentence, but only +soften it, she said, “It shall not be death, but a deep sleep of a +hundred years, into which the princess shall fall.” +</p> + +<p> +The King, who would fain keep his dear child from the misfortune, gave orders +that every spindle in the whole kingdom should be burnt. Meanwhile the gifts of +the Wise Women were plenteously fulfilled on the young girl, for she was so +beautiful, modest, good-natured, and wise, that everyone who saw her was bound +to love her. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that on the very day when she was fifteen years old, the King and +Queen were not at home, and the maiden was left in the palace quite alone. So +she went round into all sorts of places, looked into rooms and bed-chambers +just as she liked, and at last came to an old tower. She climbed up the narrow +winding-staircase, and reached a little door. A rusty key was in the lock, and +when she turned it the door sprang open, and there in a little room sat an old +woman with a spindle, busily spinning her flax. +</p> + +<p> +“Good day, old dame,” said the King’s daughter; “what +are you doing there?” “I am spinning,” said the old woman, +and nodded her head. “What sort of thing is that, that rattles round so +merrily?” said the girl, and she took the spindle and wanted to spin too. +But scarcely had she touched the spindle when the magic decree was fulfilled, +and she pricked her finger with it. +</p> + +<p> +And, in the very moment when she felt the prick, she fell down upon the bed +that stood there, and lay in a deep sleep. And this sleep extended over the +whole palace; the King and Queen who had just come home, and had entered the +great hall, began to go to sleep, and the whole of the court with them. The +horses, too, went to sleep in the stable, the dogs in the yard, the pigeons +upon the roof, the flies on the wall; even the fire that was flaming on the +hearth became quiet and slept, the roast meat left off frizzling, and the cook, +who was just going to pull the hair of the scullery boy, because he had +forgotten something, let him go, and went to sleep. And the wind fell, and on +the trees before the castle not a leaf moved again. +</p> + +<p> +But round about the castle there began to grow a hedge of thorns, which every +year became higher, and at last grew close up round the castle and all over it, +so that there was nothing of it to be seen, not even the flag upon the roof. +But the story of the beautiful sleeping “Briar-rose,” for so the +princess was named, went about the country, so that from time to time +kings’ sons came and tried to get through the thorny hedge into the +castle. +</p> + +<p> +But they found it impossible, for the thorns held fast together, as if they had +hands, and the youths were caught in them, could not get loose again, and died +a miserable death. +</p> + +<p> +After long, long years a King’s son came again to that country, and heard +an old man talking about the thorn-hedge, and that a castle was said to stand +behind it in which a wonderfully beautiful princess, named Briar-rose, had been +asleep for a hundred years; and that the King and Queen and the whole court +were asleep likewise. He had heard, too, from his grandfather, that many +kings’ sons had already come, and had tried to get through the thorny +hedge, but they had remained sticking fast in it, and had died a pitiful death. +Then the youth said, “I am not afraid, I will go and see the beautiful +Briar-rose.” The good old man might dissuade him as he would, he did not +listen to his words. +</p> + +<p> +But by this time the hundred years had just passed, and the day had come when +Briar-rose was to awake again. When the King’s son came near to the +thorn-hedge, it was nothing but large and beautiful flowers, which parted from +each other of their own accord, and let him pass unhurt, then they closed again +behind him like a hedge. In the castle-yard he saw the horses and the spotted +hounds lying asleep; on the roof sat the pigeons with their heads under their +wings. And when he entered the house, the flies were asleep upon the wall, the +cook in the kitchen was still holding out his hand to seize the boy, and the +maid was sitting by the black hen which she was going to pluck. +</p> + +<p> +He went on farther, and in the great hall he saw the whole of the court lying +asleep, and up by the throne lay the King and Queen. +</p> + +<p> +Then he went on still farther, and all was so quiet that a breath could be +heard, and at last he came to the tower, and opened the door into the little +room where Briar-rose was sleeping. There she lay, so beautiful that he could +not turn his eyes away; and he stooped down and gave her a kiss. But as soon as +he kissed her, Briar-rose opened her eyes and awoke, and looked at him quite +sweetly. +</p> + +<p> +Then they went down together, and the King awoke, and the Queen, and the whole +court, and looked at each other in great astonishment. And the horses in the +court-yard stood up and shook themselves; the hounds jumped up and wagged their +tails; the pigeons upon the roof pulled out their heads from under their wings, +looked round, and flew into the open country; the flies on the wall crept +again; the fire in the kitchen burned up and flickered and cooked the meat; the +joint began to turn and frizzle again, and the cook gave the boy such a box on +the ear that he screamed, and the maid plucked the fowl ready for the spit. +</p> + +<p> +And then the marriage of the King’s son with Briar-rose was celebrated +with all splendour, and they lived contented to the end of their days. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap51"></a>51 Fundevogel (Bird-foundling)</h3> + +<p> +There was once a forester who went into the forest to hunt, and as he entered +it he heard a sound of screaming as if a little child were there. He followed +the sound, and at last came to a high tree, and at the top of this a little +child was sitting, for the mother had fallen asleep under the tree with the +child, and a bird of prey had seen it in her arms, had flown down, snatched it +away, and set it on the high tree. +</p> + +<p> +The forester climbed up, brought the child down, and thought to himself, +“Thou wilt take him home with thee, and bring him up with thy +Lina.” He took it home, therefore, and the two children grew up together. +The one, however, which he had found on a tree was called Fundevogel, because a +bird had carried it away. Fundevogel and Lina loved each other so dearly that +when they did not see each other they were sad. +</p> + +<p> +The forester, however, had an old cook, who one evening took two pails and +began to fetch water, and did not go once only, but many times, out to the +spring. Lina saw this and said, “Hark you, old Sanna, why are you +fetching so much water?” “If thou wilt never repeat it to anyone, I +will tell thee why.” So Lina said, no, she would never repeat it to +anyone, and then the cook said, “Early to-morrow morning, when the +forester is out hunting, I will heat the water, and when it is boiling in the +kettle, I will throw in Fundevogel, and will boil him in it.” +</p> + +<p> +Betimes next morning the forester got up and went out hunting, and when he was +gone the children were still in bed. Then Lina said to Fundevogel, “If +thou wilt never leave me, I too will never leave thee.” Fundevogel said, +“Neither now, nor ever will I leave thee.” Then said Lina, +“Then I will tell thee. Last night, old Sanna carried so many buckets of +water into the house that I asked her why she was doing that, and she said that +if I would promise not to tell any one she would tell me, and I said I would be +sure not to tell any one, and she said that early to-morrow morning when father +was out hunting, she would set the kettle full of water, throw thee into it and +boil thee; but we will get up quickly, dress ourselves, and go away +together.” +</p> + +<p> +The two children therefore got up, dressed themselves quickly, and went away. +When the water in the kettle was boiling, the cook went into the bed-room to +fetch Fundevogel and throw him into it. But when she came in, and went to the +beds, both the children were gone. Then she was terribly alarmed, and she said +to herself, “What shall I say now when the forester comes home and sees +that the children are gone? They must be followed instantly to get them back +again.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the cook sent three servants after them, who were to run and overtake the +children. The children, however, were sitting outside the forest, and when they +saw from afar the three servants running, Lina said to Fundevogel, “Never +leave me, and I will never leave thee.” Fundevogel said, “Neither +now, nor ever.” Then said Lina, “Do thou become a rose-tree, and I +the rose upon it.” When the three servants came to the forest, nothing +was there but a rose-tree and one rose on it, but the children were nowhere. +Then said they, “There is nothing to be done here,” and they went +home and told the cook that they had seen nothing in the forest but a little +rose-bush with one rose on it. Then the old cook scolded and said, “You +simpletons, you should have cut the rose-bush in two, and have broken off the +rose and brought it home with you; go, and do it once.” They had +therefore to go out and look for the second time. The children, however, saw +them coming from a distance. Then Lina said, “Fundevogel, never leave me, +and I will never leave thee.” Fundevogel said, “Neither now, nor +ever.” Said Lina, “Then do thou become a church, and I’ll be +the chandelier in it.” So when the three servants came, nothing was there +but a church, with a chandelier in it. They said therefore to each other, +“What can we do here, let us go home.” When they got home, the cook +asked if they had not found them; so they said no, they had found nothing but a +church, and that there was a chandelier in it. And the cook scolded them and +said, “You fools! why did you not pull the church to pieces, and bring +the chandelier home with you?” And now the old cook herself got on her +legs, and went with the three servants in pursuit of the children. The +children, however, saw from afar that the three servants were coming, and the +cook waddling after them. Then said Lina, “Fundevogel, never leave me, +and I will never leave thee.” Then said Fundevogel, “Neither now, +nor ever.” Said Lina, “Be a fishpond, and I will be the duck upon +it.” The cook, however, came up to them, and when she saw the pond she +lay down by it, and was about to drink it up. But the duck swam quickly to her, +seized her head in its beak and drew her into the water, and there the old +witch had to drown. Then the children went home together, and were heartily +delighted, and if they are not dead, they are living still. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap52"></a>52 King Thrushbeard</h3> + +<p> +A King had a daughter who was beautiful beyond all measure, but so proud and +haughty withal that no suitor was good enough for her. She sent away one after +the other, and ridiculed them as well. +</p> + +<p> +Once the King made a great feast and invited thereto, from far and near, all +the young men likely to marry. They were all marshalled in a row according to +their rank and standing; first came the kings, then the grand-dukes, then the +princes, the earls, the barons, and the gentry. Then the King’s daughter +was led through the ranks, but to every one she had some objection to make; one +was too fat, “The wine-cask,” she said. Another was too tall, +“Long and thin has little in.” The third was too short, +“Short and thick is never quick.” The fourth was too pale, +“As pale as death.” The fifth too red, “A +fighting-cock.” The sixth was not straight enough, “A green log +dried behind the stove.” +</p> + +<p> +So she had something to say against every one, but she made herself especially +merry over a good king who stood quite high up in the row, and whose chin had +grown a little crooked. “Well,” she cried and laughed, “he +has a chin like a thrush’s beak!” and from that time he got the +name of King Thrushbeard. +</p> + +<p> +But the old King, when he saw that his daugher did nothing but mock the people, +and despised all the suitors who were gathered there, was very angry, and swore +that she should have for her husband the very first beggar that came to his +doors. +</p> + +<p> +A few days afterwards a fiddler came and sang beneath the windows, trying to +earn a small alms. When the King heard him he said, “Let him come +up.” So the fiddler came in, in his dirty, ragged clothes, and sang +before the King and his daughter, and when he had ended he asked for a trifling +gift. The King said, “Your song has pleased me so well that I will give +you my daughter there, to wife.” +</p> + +<p> +The King’s daughter shuddered, but the King said, “I have taken an +oath to give you to the very first beggar-man, and I will keep it.” All +she could say was in vain; the priest was brought, and she had to let herself +be wedded to the fiddler on the spot. When that was done the King said, +“Now it is not proper for you, a beggar-woman, to stay any longer in my +palace, you may just go away with your husband.” +</p> + +<p> +The beggar-man led her out by the hand, and she was obliged to walk away on +foot with him. When they came to a large forest she asked, “To whom does +that beautiful forest belong?” “It belongs to King Thrushbeard; if +you had taken him, it would have been yours.” “Ah, unhappy girl +that I am, if I had but taken King Thrushbeard!” +</p> + +<p> +Afterwards they came to a meadow, and she asked again, “To whom does this +beautiful green meadow belong?” “It belongs to King Thrushbeard; if +you had taken him, it would have been yours.” “Ah, unhappy girl +that I am, if I had but taken King Thrushbeard!” +</p> + +<p> +Then they came to a large town, and she asked again, “To whom does this +fine large town belong?” “It belongs to King Thrushbeard; if you +had taken him, it would have been yours.” “Ah, unhappy girl that I +am, if I had but taken King Thrushbeard!” +</p> + +<p> +“It does not please me,” said the fiddler, “to hear you +always wishing for another husband; am I not good enough for you?” At +last they came to a very little hut, and she said, “Oh goodness! what a +small house; to whom does this miserable, mean hovel belong?” The fiddler +answered, “That is my house and yours, where we shall live +together.” +</p> + +<p> +She had to stoop in order to go in at the low door. “Where are the +servants?” said the King’s daughter. “What servants?” +answered the beggar-man; “you must yourself do what you wish to have +done. Just make a fire at once, and set on water to cook my supper, I am quite +tired.” But the King’s daughter knew nothing about lighting fires +or cooking, and the beggar-man had to lend a hand himself to get anything +fairly done. When they had finished their scanty meal they went to bed; but he +forced her to get up quite early in the morning in order to look after the +house. +</p> + +<p> +For a few days they lived in this way as well as might be, and came to the end +of all their provisions. Then the man said, “Wife, we cannot go on any +longer eating and drinking here and earning nothing. You weave baskets.” +He went out, cut some willows, and brought them home. Then she began to weave, +but the tough willows wounded her delicate hands. +</p> + +<p> +“I see that this will not do,” said the man; “you had better +spin, perhaps you can do that better.” She sat down and tried to spin, +but the hard thread soon cut her soft fingers so that the blood ran down. +“See,” said the man, “you are fit for no sort of work; I have +made a bad bargain with you. Now I will try to make a business with pots and +earthenware; you must sit in the market-place and sell the ware.” +“Alas,” thought she, “if any of the people from my +father’s kingdom come to the market and see me sitting there, selling, +how they will mock me?” But it was of no use, she had to yield unless she +chose to die of hunger. +</p> + +<p> +For the first time she succeeded well, for the people were glad to buy the +woman’s wares because she was good-looking, and they paid her what she +asked; many even gave her the money and left the pots with her as well. So they +lived on what she had earned as long as it lasted, then the husband bought a +lot of new crockery. With this she sat down at the corner of the market-place, +and set it out round about her ready for sale. But suddenly there came a +drunken hussar galloping along, and he rode right amongst the pots so that they +were all broken into a thousand bits. She began to weep, and did now know what +to do for fear. “Alas! what will happen to me?” cried she; +“what will my husband say to this?” +</p> + +<p> +She ran home and told him of the misfortune. “Who would seat herself at a +corner of the market-place with crockery?” said the man; “leave off +crying, I see very well that you cannot do any ordinary work, so I have been to +our King’s palace and have asked whether they cannot find a place for a +kitchen-maid, and they have promised me to take you; in that way you will get +your food for nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +The King’s daughter was now a kitchen-maid, and had to be at the +cook’s beck and call, and do the dirtiest work. In both her pockets she +fastened a little jar, in which she took home her share of the leavings, and +upon this they lived. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that the wedding of the King’s eldest son was to be +celebrated, so the poor woman went up and placed herself by the door of the +hall to look on. When all the candles were lit, and people, each more beautiful +than the other, entered, and all was full of pomp and splendour, she thought of +her lot with a sad heart, and cursed the pride and haughtiness which had +humbled her and brought her to so great poverty. +</p> + +<p> +The smell of the delicious dishes which were being taken in and out reached +her, and now and then the servants threw her a few morsels of them: these she +put in her jars to take home. +</p> + +<p> +All at once the King’s son entered, clothed in velvet and silk, with gold +chains about his neck. And when he saw the beautiful woman standing by the door +he seized her by the hand, and would have danced with her; but she refused and +shrank with fear, for she saw that it was King Thrushbeard, her suitor whom she +had driven away with scorn. Her struggles were of no avail, he drew her into +the hall; but the string by which her pockets were hung broke, the pots fell +down, the soup ran out, and the scraps were scattered all about. And when the +people saw it, there arose general laughter and derision, and she was so +ashamed that she would rather have been a thousand fathoms below the ground. +She sprang to the door and would have run away, but on the stairs a man caught +her and brought her back; and when she looked at him it was King Thrushbeard +again. He said to her kindly, “Do not be afraid, I and the fiddler who +has been living with you in that wretched hovel are one. For love of you I +disguised myself so; and I also was the hussar who rode through your crockery. +This was all done to humble your proud spirit, and to punish you for the +insolence with which you mocked me.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she wept bitterly and said, “I have done great wrong, and am not +worthy to be your wife.” But he said, “Be comforted, the evil days +are past; now we will celebrate our wedding.” Then the maids-in-waiting +came and put on her the most splendid clothing, and her father and his whole +court came and wished her happiness in her marriage with King Thrushbeard, and +the joy now began in earnest. I wish you and I had been there too. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap53"></a>53 Little Snow-white</h3> + +<p> +Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling +like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing, and the frame of +the window was made of black ebony. And whilst she was sewing and looking out +of the window at the snow, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three +drops of blood fell upon the snow. And the red looked pretty upon the white +snow, and she thought to herself, “Would that I had a child as white as +snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window-frame.” +</p> + +<p> +Soon after that she had a little daughter, who was as white as snow, and as red +as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony; and she was therefore called +Little Snow-white. And when the child was born, the Queen died. +</p> + +<p> +After a year had passed the King took to himself another wife. She was a +beautiful woman, but proud and haughty, and she could not bear that anyone else +should surpass her in beauty. She had a wonderful looking-glass, and when she +stood in front of it and looked at herself in it, and said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,<br/> +Who in this land is the fairest of all?” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +the looking-glass answered— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all!” +</p> + +<p> +Then she was satisfied, for she knew that the looking-glass spoke the truth. +</p> + +<p> +But Snow-white was growing up, and grew more and more beautiful; and when she +was seven years old she was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful than +the Queen herself. And once when the Queen asked her looking-glass— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,<br/> +Who in this land is the fairest of all?” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +it answered— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Thou art fairer than all who are here, Lady Queen.”<br/> +But more beautiful still is Snow-white, as I ween.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the Queen was shocked, and turned yellow and green with envy. From that +hour, whenever she looked at Snow-white, her heart heaved in her breast, she +hated the girl so much. +</p> + +<p> +And envy and pride grew higher and higher in her heart like a weed, so that she +had no peace day or night. She called a huntsman, and said, “Take the +child away into the forest; I will no longer have her in my sight. Kill her, +and bring me back her heart as a token.” The huntsman obeyed, and took +her away; but when he had drawn his knife, and was about to pierce +Snow-white’s innocent heart, she began to weep, and said, “Ah dear +huntsman, leave me my life! I will run away into the wild forest, and never +come home again.” +</p> + +<p> +And as she was so beautiful the huntsman had pity on her and said, “Run +away, then, you poor child.” “The wild beasts will soon have +devoured you,” thought he, and yet it seemed as if a stone had been +rolled from his heart since it was no longer needful for him to kill her. And +as a young boar just then came running by he stabbed it, and cut out its heart +and took it to the Queen as proof that the child was dead. The cook had to salt +this, and the wicked Queen ate it, and thought she had eaten the heart of +Snow-white. +</p> + +<p> +But now the poor child was all alone in the great forest, and so terrified that +she looked at every leaf of every tree, and did not know what to do. Then she +began to run, and ran over sharp stones and through thorns, and the wild beasts +ran past her, but did her no harm. +</p> + +<p> +She ran as long as her feet would go until it was almost evening; then she saw +a little cottage and went into it to rest herself. Everything in the cottage +was small, but neater and cleaner than can be told. There was a table on which +was a white cover, and seven little plates, and on each plate a little spoon; +moreover, there were seven little knives and forks, and seven little mugs. +Against the wall stood seven little beds side by side, and covered with +snow-white counterpanes. +</p> + +<p> +Little Snow-white was so hungry and thirsty that she ate some vegetables and +bread from each plate and drank a drop of wine out of each mug, for she did not +wish to take all from one only. Then, as she was so tired, she laid herself +down on one of the little beds, but none of them suited her; one was too long, +another too short, but at last she found that the seventh one was right, and so +she remained in it, said a prayer and went to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +When it was quite dark the owners of the cottage came back; they were seven +dwarfs who dug and delved in the mountains for ore. They lit their seven +candles, and as it was now light within the cottage they saw that someone had +been there, for everything was not in the same order in which they had left it. +</p> + +<p> +The first said, “Who has been sitting on my chair?” +</p> + +<p> +The second, “Who has been eating off my plate?” +</p> + +<p> +The third, “Who has been taking some of my bread?” +</p> + +<p> +The fourth, “Who has been eating my vegetables?” +</p> + +<p> +The fifth, “Who has been using my fork?” +</p> + +<p> +The sixth, “Who has been cutting with my knife?” +</p> + +<p> +The seventh, “Who has been drinking out of my mug?” +</p> + +<p> +Then the first looked round and saw that there was a little hole on his bed, +and he said, “Who has been getting into my bed?” The others came up +and each called out, “Somebody has been lying in my bed too.” But +the seventh when he looked at his bed saw little Snow-white, who was lying +asleep therein. And he called the others, who came running up, and they cried +out with astonishment, and brought their seven little candles and let the light +fall on little Snow-white. “Oh, heavens! oh, heavens!” cried they, +“what a lovely child!” and they were so glad that they did not wake +her up, but let her sleep on in the bed. And the seventh dwarf slept with his +companions, one hour with each, and so got through the night. +</p> + +<p> +When it was morning little Snow-white awoke, and was frightened when she saw +the seven dwarfs. But they were friendly and asked her what her name was. +“My name is Snow-white,” she answered. “How have you come to +our house?” said the dwarfs. Then she told them that her step-mother had +wished to have her killed, but that the huntsman had spared her life, and that +she had run for the whole day, until at last she had found their dwelling. The +dwarfs said, “If you will take care of our house, cook, make the beds, +wash, sew, and knit, and if you will keep everything neat and clean, you can +stay with us and you shall want for nothing.” “Yes,” said +Snow-white, “with all my heart,” and she stayed with them. She kept +the house in order for them; in the mornings they went to the mountains and +looked for copper and gold, in the evenings they came back, and then their +supper had to be ready. The girl was alone the whole day, so the good dwarfs +warned her and said, “Beware of your step-mother, she will soon know that +you are here; be sure to let no one come in.” +</p> + +<p> +But the Queen, believing that she had eaten Snow-white’s heart, could not +but think that she was again the first and most beautiful of all; and she went +to her looking-glass and said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,<br/> +Who in this land is the fairest of all?” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +and the glass answered— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see,<br/> +But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,<br/> +Snow-white is still alive and well,<br/> +And none is so fair as she.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she was astounded, for she knew that the looking-glass never spoke +falsely, and she knew that the huntsman had betrayed her, and that little +Snow-white was still alive. +</p> + +<p> +And so she thought and thought again how she might kill her, for so long as she +was not the fairest in the whole land, envy let her have no rest. And when she +had at last thought of something to do, she painted her face, and dressed +herself like an old peddler-woman, and no one could have known her. In this +disguise she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, and knocked at +the door and cried, “Pretty things to sell, very cheap, very +cheap.” Little Snow-white looked out of the window and called out, +“Good-day my good woman, what have you to sell?” “Good +things, pretty things,” she answered; “stay-laces of all +colours,” and she pulled out one which was woven of bright-coloured silk. +“I may let the worthy old woman in,” thought Snow-white, and she +unbolted the door and bought the pretty laces. “Child,” said the +old woman, “what a fright you look; come, I will lace you properly for +once.” Snow-white had no suspicion, but stood before her, and let herself +be laced with the new laces. But the old woman laced so quickly and so tightly +that Snow-white lost her breath and fell down as if dead. “Now I am the +most beautiful,” said the Queen to herself, and ran away. +</p> + +<p> +Not long afterwards, in the evening, the seven dwarfs came home, but how +shocked they were when they saw their dear little Snow-white lying on the +ground, and that she neither stirred nor moved, and seemed to be dead. They +lifted her up, and, as they saw that she was laced too tightly, they cut the +laces; then she began to breathe a little, and after a while came to life +again. When the dwarfs heard what had happened they said, “The old +peddler-woman was no one else than the wicked Queen; take care and let no one +come in when we are not with you.” +</p> + +<p> +But the wicked woman when she had reached home went in front of the glass and +asked— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,<br/> +Who in this land is the fairest of all?” +</p> + +<p> +and it answered as before— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see,<br/> +But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,<br/> +Snow-white is still alive and well,<br/> +And none is so fair as she.” +</p> + +<p> +When she heard that, all her blood rushed to her heart with fear, for she saw +plainly that little Snow-white was again alive. “But now,” she +said, “I will think of something that shall put an end to you,” and +by the help of witchcraft, which she understood, she made a poisonous comb. +Then she disguised herself and took the shape of another old woman. So she went +over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, knocked at the door, and cried, +“Good things to sell, cheap, cheap!” Little Snow-white looked out +and said, “Go away; I cannot let any one come in.” “I suppose +you can look,” said the old woman, and pulled the poisonous comb out and +held it up. It pleased the girl so well that she let herself be beguiled, and +opened the door. When they had made a bargain the old woman said, “Now I +will comb you properly for once.” Poor little Snow-white had no +suspicion, and let the old woman do as she pleased, but hardly had she put the +comb in her hair than the poison in it took effect, and the girl fell down +senseless. “You paragon of beauty,” said the wicked woman, +“you are done for now,” and she went away. +</p> + +<p> +But fortunately it was almost evening, when the seven dwarfs came home. When +they saw Snow-white lying as if dead upon the ground they at once suspected the +step-mother, and they looked and found the poisoned comb. Scarcely had they +taken it out when Snow-white came to herself, and told them what had happened. +Then they warned her once more to be upon her guard and to open the door to no +one. +</p> + +<p> +The Queen, at home, went in front of the glass and said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,<br/> +Who in this land is the fairest of all?” +</p> + +<p> +then it answered as before— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see,<br/> +But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,<br/> +Snow-white is still alive and well,<br/> +And none is so fair as she.” +</p> + +<p> +When she heard the glass speak thus she trembled and shook with rage. +“Snow-white shall die,” she cried, “even if it costs me my +life!” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon she went into a quite secret, lonely room, where no one ever came, +and there she made a very poisonous apple. Outside it looked pretty, white with +a red cheek, so that everyone who saw it longed for it; but whoever ate a piece +of it must surely die. +</p> + +<p> +When the apple was ready she painted her face, and dressed herself up as a +country-woman, and so she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs. +She knocked at the door. Snow-white put her head out of the window and said, +“I cannot let any one in; the seven dwarfs have forbidden me.” +“It is all the same to me,” answered the woman, “I shall soon +get rid of my apples. There, I will give you one.” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” said Snow-white, “I dare not take anything.” +“Are you afraid of poison?” said the old woman; “look, I will +cut the apple in two pieces; you eat the red cheek, and I will eat the +white.” The apple was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was +poisoned. Snow-white longed for the fine apple, and when she saw that the woman +ate part of it she could resist no longer, and stretched out her hand and took +the poisonous half. But hardly had she a bit of it in her mouth than she fell +down dead. Then the Queen looked at her with a dreadful look, and laughed aloud +and said, “White as snow, red as blood, black as ebony-wood! this time +the dwarfs cannot wake you up again.” +</p> + +<p> +And when she asked of the Looking-glass at home— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,<br/> +Who in this land is the fairest of all?” +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +it answered at last— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, Queen, in this land thou art fairest of all.” +</p> + +<p> +Then her envious heart had rest, so far as an envious heart can have rest. +</p> + +<p> +The dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found Snow-white lying upon the +ground; she breathed no longer and was dead. They lifted her up, looked to see +whether they could find anything poisonous, unlaced her, combed her hair, +washed her with water and wine, but it was all of no use; the poor child was +dead, and remained dead. They laid her upon a bier, and all seven of them sat +round it and wept for her, and wept three days long. +</p> + +<p> +Then they were going to bury her, but she still looked as if she were living, +and still had her pretty red cheeks. They said, “We could not bury her in +the dark ground,” and they had a transparent coffin of glass made, so +that she could be seen from all sides, and they laid her in it, and wrote her +name upon it in golden letters, and that she was a king’s daughter. Then +they put the coffin out upon the mountain, and one of them always stayed by it +and watched it. And birds came too, and wept for Snow-white; first an owl, then +a raven, and last a dove. +</p> + +<p> +And now Snow-white lay a long, long time in the coffin, and she did not change, +but looked as if she were asleep; for she was as white as snow, as red as +blood, and her hair was as black as ebony. +</p> + +<p> +It happened, however, that a king’s son came into the forest, and went to +the dwarfs’ house to spend the night. He saw the coffin on the mountain, +and the beautiful Snow-white within it, and read what was written upon it in +golden letters. Then he said to the dwarfs, “Let me have the coffin, I +will give you whatever you want for it.” But the dwarfs answered, +“We will not part with it for all the gold in the world.” Then he +said, “Let me have it as a gift, for I cannot live without seeing +Snow-white. I will honour and prize her as my dearest possession.” As he +spoke in this way the good dwarfs took pity upon him, and gave him the coffin. +</p> + +<p> +And now the King’s son had it carried away by his servants on their +shoulders. And it happened that they stumbled over a tree-stump, and with the +shock the poisonous piece of apple which Snow-white had bitten off came out of +her throat. And before long she opened her eyes, lifted up the lid of the +coffin, sat up, and was once more alive. “Oh, heavens, where am I?” +she cried. The King’s son, full of joy, said, “You are with +me,” and told her what had happened, and said, “I love you more +than everything in the world; come with me to my father’s palace, you +shall be my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +And Snow-white was willing, and went with him, and their wedding was held with +great show and splendour. But Snow-white’s wicked step-mother was also +bidden to the feast. When she had arrayed herself in beautiful clothes she went +before the Looking-glass, and said— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,<br/> +Who in this land is the fairest of all?” +</p> + +<p> +the glass answered— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, Queen, of all here the fairest art thou,<br/> +But the young Queen is fairer by far as I trow.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the wicked woman uttered a curse, and was so wretched, so utterly +wretched, that she knew not what to do. At first she would not go to the +wedding at all, but she had no peace, and must go to see the young Queen. And +when she went in she knew Snow-white; and she stood still with rage and fear, +and could not stir. But iron slippers had already been put upon the fire, and +they were brought in with tongs, and set before her. Then she was forced to put +on the red-hot shoes, and dance until she dropped down dead. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap54"></a>54 The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn</h3> + +<p> +There were once three brothers who had fallen deeper and deeper into poverty, +and at last their need was so great that they had to endure hunger, and had +nothing to eat or drink. Then said they, “We cannot go on thus, we had +better go into the world and seek our fortune.” They therefore set out, +and had already walked over many a long road and many a blade of grass, but had +not yet met with good luck. One day they arrived in a great forest, and in the +midst of it was a hill, and when they came nearer they saw that the hill was +all silver. Then spoke the eldest, “Now I have found the good luck I +wished for, and I desire nothing more.” He took as much of the silver as +he could possibly carry, and then turned back and went home again. But the two +others said, “We want something more from good luck than mere +silver,” and did not touch it, but went onwards. After they had walked +for two days longer without stopping, they came to a hill which was all gold. +The second brother stopped, took thought with himself, and was undecided. +“What shall I do?” said he; “shall I take for myself so much +of this gold, that I have sufficient for all the rest of my life, or shall I go +farther?” At length he made a decision, and putting as much into his +pockets as would go in, said farewell to his brother, and went home. But the +third said, “Silver and gold do not move me, I will not renounce my +chance of fortune, perhaps something better still will be given me.” He +journeyed onwards, and when he had walked for three days, he got into a forest +which was still larger than the one before, and never would come to an end, and +as he found nothing to eat or to drink, he was all but exhausted. Then he +climbed up a high tree to find out if up there he could see the end of the +forest, but so far as his eye could pierce he saw nothing but the tops of +trees. Then he began to descend the tree again, but hunger tormented him, and +he thought to himself, “If I could but eat my fill once more!” When +he got down he saw with astonishment a table beneath the tree richly spread +with food, the steam of which rose up to meet him. “This time,” +said he, “my wish has been fulfilled at the right moment.” And +without inquiring who had brought the food, or who had cooked it, he approached +the table, and ate with enjoyment until he had appeased his hunger. When he was +done, he thought, “It would after all be a pity if the pretty little +table-cloth were to be spoilt in the forest here,” and folded it up +tidily and put it in his pocket. Then he went onwards, and in the evening, when +hunger once more made itself felt, he wanted to make a trial of his little +cloth, and spread it out and said, “I wish thee to be covered with good +cheer again,” and scarcely had the wish crossed his lips than as many +dishes with the most exquisite food on them stood on the table as there was +room for. “Now I perceive,” said he, “in what kitchen my +cooking is done. Thou shalt be dearer to me than the mountains of silver and +gold.” For he saw plainly that it was a wishing-cloth. The cloth, +however, was still not enough to enable him to sit down quietly at home; he +preferred to wander about the world and pursue his fortune farther. +</p> + +<p> +One night he met, in a lonely wood, a dusty, black charcoal-burner, who was +burning charcoal there, and had some potatoes by the fire, on which he was +going to make a meal. “Good evening, blackbird!” said the youth. +“How dost thou get on in thy solitude?” +</p> + +<p> +“One day is like another,” replied the charcoal-burner, “and +every night potatoes! Hast thou a mind to have some, and wilt thou be my +guest?” “Many thanks,” replied the traveler, “I +won’t rob thee of thy supper; thou didst not reckon on a visitor, but if +thou wilt put up with what I have, thou shalt have an invitation.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who is to prepare it for thee?” said the charcoal-burner. “I +see that thou hast nothing with thee, and there is no one within a two +hours’ walk who could give thee anything.” “And yet there +shall be a meal,” answered the youth, “and better than any thou +hast ever tasted.” Thereupon he brought his cloth out of his knapsack, +spread it on the ground, and said, “Little cloth, cover thyself,” +and instantly boiled meat and baked meat stood there, and as hot as if it had +just come out of the kitchen. The charcoal-burner stared, but did not require +much pressing; he fell to, and thrust larger and larger mouthfuls into his +black mouth. When they had eaten everything, the charcoal-burner smiled +contentedly, and said, “Hark thee, thy table-cloth has my approval; it +would be a fine thing for me in this forest, where no one ever cooks me +anything good. I will propose an exchange to thee; there in the corner hangs a +soldier’s knapsack, which is certainly old and shabby, but in it lie +concealed wonderful powers; but, as I no longer use it, I will give it to thee +for the table-cloth.” +</p> + +<p> +“I must first know what these wonderful powers are,” answered the +youth. +</p> + +<p> +“That will I tell thee,” replied the charcoal-burner; “every +time thou tappest it with thy hand, a corporal comes with six men armed from +head to foot, and they do whatsoever thou commandest them.” “So far +as I am concerned,” said the youth, “if nothing else can be done, +we will exchange,” and he gave the charcoal-burner the cloth, took the +knapsack from the hook, put it on, and bade farewell. When he had walked a +while, he wished to make a trial of the magical powers of his knapsack and +tapped it. Immediately the seven warriors stepped up to him, and the corporal +said, “What does my lord and ruler wish for?” +</p> + +<p> +“March with all speed to the charcoal-burner, and demand my wishing-cloth +back.” They faced to the left, and it was not long before they brought +what he required, and had taken it from the charcoal-burner without asking many +questions. The young man bade them retire, went onwards, and hoped fortune +would shine yet more brightly on him. By sunset he came to another +charcoal-burner, who was making his supper ready by the fire. “If thou +wilt eat some potatoes with salt, but with no dripping, come and sit down with +me,” said the sooty fellow. +</p> + +<p> +“No, he replied, this time thou shalt be my guest,” and he spread +out his cloth, which was instantly covered with the most beautiful dishes. They +ate and drank together, and enjoyed themselves heartily. After the meal was +over, the charcoal-burner said, “Up there on that shelf lies a little old +worn-out hat which has strange properties: when any one puts it on, and turns +it round on his head, the cannons go off as if twelve were fired all together, +and they shoot down everything so that no one can withstand them. The hat is of +no use to me, and I will willingly give it for thy table-cloth.” +</p> + +<p> +“That suits me very well,” he answered, took the hat, put it on, +and left his table-cloth behind him. Hardly, however, had he walked away than +he tapped on his knapsack, and his soldiers had to fetch the cloth back again. +“One thing comes on the top of another,” thought he, “and I +feel as if my luck had not yet come to an end.” Neither had his thoughts +deceived him. After he had walked on for the whole of one day, he came to a +third charcoal-burner, who like the previous ones, invited him to potatoes +without dripping. But he let him also dine with him from his wishing-cloth, and +the charcoal-burner liked it so well, that at last he offered him a horn for +it, which had very different properties from those of the hat. When any one +blew it all the walls and fortifications fell down, and all towns and villages +became ruins. He certainly gave the charcoal-burner the cloth for it, but he +afterwards sent his soldiers to demand it back again, so that at length he had +the knapsack, hat and horn, all three. “Now,” said he, “I am +a made man, and it is time for me to go home and see how my brothers are +getting on.” +</p> + +<p> +When he reached home, his brothers had built themselves a handsome house with +their silver and gold, and were living in clover. He went to see them, but as +he came in a ragged coat, with his shabby hat on his head, and his old knapsack +on his back, they would not acknowledge him as their brother. They mocked and +said, “Thou givest out that thou art our brother who despised silver and +gold, and craved for something still better for himself. He will come in his +carriage in full splendour like a mighty king, not like a beggar,” and +they drove him out of doors. Then he fell into a rage, and tapped his knapsack +until a hundred and fifty men stood before him armed from head to foot. He +commanded them to surround his brothers’ house, and two of them were to +take hazel-sticks with them, and beat the two insolent men until they knew who +he was. A violent disturbance arose, people ran together, and wanted to lend +the two some help in their need, but against the soldiers they could do +nothing. News of this at length came to the King, who was very angry, and +ordered a captain to march out with his troop, and drive this disturber of the +peace out of the town; but the man with the knapsack soon got a greater body of +men together, who repulsed the captain and his men, so that they were forced to +retire with bloody noses. The King said, “This vagabond is not brought to +order yet,” and next day sent a still larger troop against him, but they +could do even less. The youth set still more men against them, and in order to +be done the sooner, he turned his hat twice round on his head, and heavy guns +began to play, and the king’s men were beaten and put to flight. +“And now,” said he, “I will not make peace until the King +gives me his daughter to wife, and I govern the whole kingdom in his +name.” He caused this to be announced to the King, and the latter said to +his daughter, “Necessity is a hard nut to crack, what remains to me but +to do what he desires? If I want peace and to keep the crown on my head, I must +give thee away.” +</p> + +<p> +So the wedding was celebrated, but the King’s daughter was vexed that her +husband should be a common man, who wore a shabby hat, and put on an old +knapsack. She wished much to get rid of him, and night and day studied how she +could accomplished this. Then she thought to herself, “Is it possible +that his wonderful powers lie in the knapsack?” and she dissembled and +caressed him, and when his heart was softened, she said, “If thou wouldst +but lay aside that ugly knapsack, it makes disfigures thee so, that I +can’t help being ashamed of thee.” “Dear child,” said +he, “this knapsack is my greatest treasure; as long as I have it, there +is no power on earth that I am afraid of.” And he revealed to her the +wonderful virtue with which it was endowed. Then she threw herself in his arms +as if she were going to kiss him, but dexterously took the knapsack off his +shoulders, and ran away with it. As soon as she was alone she tapped it, and +commanded the warriors to seize their former master, and take him out of the +royal palace. They obeyed, and the false wife sent still more men after him, +who were to drive him quite out of the country. Then he would have been ruined +if he had not had the little hat. But his hands were scarcely at liberty before +he turned it twice. Immediately the cannon began to thunder, and struck down +everything, and the King’s daughter herself was forced to come and beg +for mercy. As she entreated in such moving terms, and promised amendment, he +allowed himself to be persuaded and granted her peace. She behaved in a +friendly manner to him, and acted as if she loved him very much, and after some +time managed so to befool him, that he confided to her that even if someone got +the knapsack into his power, he could do nothing against him so long as the old +hat was still his. When she knew the secret, she waited until he was asleep, +and then she took the hat away from him, and had it thrown out into the street. +But the horn still remained to him, and in great anger he blew it with all his +strength. Instantly all walls, fortifications, towns, and villages, toppled +down, and crushed the King and his daughter to death. And had he not put down +the horn and had blown just a little longer, everything would have been in +ruins, and not one stone would have been left standing on another. Then no one +opposed him any longer, and he made himself King of the whole country. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap55"></a>55 Rumpelstiltskin</h3> + +<p> +Once there was a miller who was poor, but who had a beautiful daughter. Now it +happened that he had to go and speak to the King, and in order to make himself +appear important he said to him, “I have a daughter who can spin straw +into gold.” The King said to the miller, “That is an art which +pleases me well; if your daughter is as clever as you say, bring her to-morrow +to my palace, and I will try what she can do.” +</p> + +<p> +And when the girl was brought to him he took her into a room which was quite +full of straw, gave her a spinning-wheel and a reel, and said, “Now set +to work, and if by to-morrow morning early you have not spun this straw into +gold during the night, you must die.” Thereupon he himself locked up the +room, and left her in it alone. So there sat the poor miller’s daughter, +and for the life of her could not tell what to do; she had no idea how straw +could be spun into gold, and she grew more and more miserable, until at last +she began to weep. +</p> + +<p> +But all at once the door opened, and in came a little man, and said, +“Good evening, Mistress Miller; why are you crying so?” +“Alas!” answered the girl, “I have to spin straw into gold, +and I do not know how to do it.” “What will you give me,” +said the manikin, “if I do it for you?” “My necklace,” +said the girl. The little man took the necklace, seated himself in front of the +wheel, and “whirr, whirr, whirr,” three turns, and the reel was +full; then he put another on, and whirr, whirr, whirr, three times round, and +the second was full too. And so it went on until the morning, when all the +straw was spun, and all the reels were full of gold. By daybreak the King was +already there, and when he saw the gold he was astonished and delighted, but +his heart became only more greedy. He had the miller’s daughter taken +into another room full of straw, which was much larger, and commanded her to +spin that also in one night if she valued her life. The girl knew not how to +help herself, and was crying, when the door again opened, and the little man +appeared, and said, “What will you give me if I spin that straw into gold +for you?” “The ring on my finger,” answered the girl. The +little man took the ring, again began to turn the wheel, and by morning had +spun all the straw into glittering gold. +</p> + +<p> +The King rejoiced beyond measure at the sight, but still he had not gold +enough; and he had the miller’s daughter taken into a still larger room +full of straw, and said, “You must spin this, too, in the course of this +night; but if you succeed, you shall be my wife.” “Even if she be a +miller’s daughter,” thought he, “I could not find a richer +wife in the whole world.” +</p> + +<p> +When the girl was alone the manikin came again for the third time, and said, +“What will you give me if I spin the straw for you this time also?” +“I have nothing left that I could give,” answered the girl. +“Then promise me, if you should become Queen, your first child.” +“Who knows whether that will ever happen?” thought the +miller’s daughter; and, not knowing how else to help herself in this +strait, she promised the manikin what he wanted, and for that he once more span +the straw into gold. +</p> + +<p> +And when the King came in the morning, and found all as he had wished, he took +her in marriage, and the pretty miller’s daughter became a Queen. +</p> + +<p> +A year after, she had a beautiful child, and she never gave a thought to the +manikin. But suddenly he came into her room, and said, “Now give me what +you promised.” The Queen was horror-struck, and offered the manikin all +the riches of the kingdom if he would leave her the child. But the manikin +said, “No, something that is living is dearer to me than all the +treasures in the world.” Then the Queen began to weep and cry, so that +the manikin pitied her. “I will give you three days’ time,” +said he, “if by that time you find out my name, then shall you keep your +child.” +</p> + +<p> +So the Queen thought the whole night of all the names that she had ever heard, +and she sent a messenger over the country to inquire, far and wide, for any +other names that there might be. When the manikin came the next day, she began +with Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar, and said all the names she knew, one after +another; but to every one the little man said, “That is not my +name.” On the second day she had inquiries made in the neighborhood as to +the names of the people there, and she repeated to the manikin the most +uncommon and curious. “Perhaps your name is Shortribs, or Sheepshanks, or +Laceleg?” but he always answered, “That is not my name.” +</p> + +<p> +On the third day the messenger came back again, and said, “I have not +been able to find a single new name, but as I came to a high mountain at the +end of the forest, where the fox and the hare bid each other good night, there +I saw a little house, and before the house a fire was burning, and round about +the fire quite a ridiculous little man was jumping: he hopped upon one leg, and +shouted— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“To-day I bake, to-morrow brew,<br/> +The next I’ll have the young Queen’s child.<br/> +Ha! glad am I that no one knew<br/> +That Rumpelstiltskin I am styled.” +</p> + +<p> +You may think how glad the Queen was when she heard the name! And when soon +afterwards the little man came in, and asked, “Now, Mistress Queen, what +is my name?” at first she said, “Is your name Conrad?” +“No.” “Is your name Harry?” “No.” +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps your name is Rumpelstiltskin?” +</p> + +<p> +“The devil has told you that! the devil has told you that!” cried +the little man, and in his anger he plunged his right foot so deep into the +earth that his whole leg went in; and then in rage he pulled at his left leg so +hard with both hands that he tore himself in two. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap56"></a>56 Sweetheart Roland</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a woman who was a real witch and had two daughters, +one ugly and wicked, and this one she loved because she was her own daughter, +and one beautiful and good, and this one she hated, because she was her +step-daughter. The step-daughter once had a pretty apron, which the other +fancied so much that she became envious, and told her mother that she must and +would have that apron. “Be quiet, my child,” said the old woman, +“and thou shalt have it. Thy step-sister has long deserved death, +to-night when she is asleep I will come and cut her head off. Only be careful +that thou art at the far-side of the bed, and push her well to the +front.” It would have been all over with the poor girl if she had not +just then been standing in a corner, and heard everything. All day long she +dared not go out of doors, and when bed-time had come, the witch’s +daughter got into bed first, so as to lie at the far side, but when she was +asleep, the other pushed her gently to the front, and took for herself the +place at the back, close by the wall. In the night, the old woman came creeping +in, she held an axe in her right hand, and felt with her left to see if anyone +was lying at the outside, and then she grasped the axe with both hands, and cut +her own child’s head off. +</p> + +<p> +When she had gone away, the girl got up and went to her sweetheart, who was +called Roland, and knocked at his door. When he came out, she said to him, +“Hear me, dearest Roland, we must fly in all haste; my step-mother wanted +to kill me, but has struck her own child. When daylight comes, and she sees +what she has done, we shall be lost.” “But,” said Roland, +“I counsel thee first to take away her magic wand, or we cannot escape if +she pursues us.” The maiden fetched the magic wand, and she took the dead +girl’s head and dropped three drops of blood on the ground, one in front +of the bed, one in the kitchen, and one on the stairs. Then she hurried away +with her lover. When the old witch got up next morning, she called her +daughter, and wanted to give her the apron, but she did not come. Then the +witch cried, “Where art thou?” “Here, on the stairs, I am +sweeping,” answered the first drop of blood. The old woman went out, but +saw no one on the stairs, and cried again, “Where art thou?” +“Here in the kitchen, I am warming myself,” cried the second drop +of blood. She went into the kitchen, but found no one. Then she cried again, +“Where art thou?” “Ah, here in the bed, I am sleeping.” +cried the third drop of blood. She went into the room to the bed. What did she +see there? Her own child, whose head she had cut off, bathed in her blood. The +witch fell into a passion, sprang to the window, and as she could look forth +quite far into the world, she perceived her step-daughter hurrying away with +her sweetheart Roland. “That shall not serve you,” cried she, +“even if you have got a long way off, you shall still not escape +me.” She put on her many league boots, in which went an hour’s walk +at every step, and it was not long before she overtook them. The girl, however, +when she saw the old woman striding towards her, changed, with her magic wand, +her sweetheart Roland into a lake, and herself into a duck swimming in the +middle of it. The witch placed herself on the shore, threw bread-crumbs in, and +gave herself every possible trouble to entice the duck; but the duck did not +let herself be enticed, and the old woman had to go home at night as she had +come. On this the girl and her sweetheart Roland resumed their natural shapes +again, and they walked on the whole night until daybreak. Then the maiden +changed herself into a beautiful flower which stood in the midst of a briar +hedge, and her sweetheart Roland into a fiddler. It was not long before the +witch came striding up towards them, and said to the musician, “Dear +musician, may I pluck that beautiful flower for myself?” “Oh, +yes,” he replied, “I will play to you while you do it.” As +she was hastily creeping into the hedge and was just going to pluck the flower, +for she well knew who the flower was, he began to play, and whether she would +or not, she was forced to dance, for it was a magical dance. The quicker he +played, the more violent springs was she forced to make, and the thorns tore +her clothes from her body, and pricked her and wounded her till she bled, and +as he did not stop, she had to dance till she lay dead on the ground. +</p> + +<p> +When they were delivered, Roland said, “Now I will go to my father and +arrange for the wedding.” “Then in the meantime I will stay here +and wait for thee,” said the girl, “and that no one may recognize +me, I will change myself into a red stone land-mark.” Then Roland went +away, and the girl stood like a red land-mark in the field and waited for her +beloved. But when Roland got home, he fell into the snares of another, who +prevailed on him so far that he forgot the maiden. The poor girl remained there +a long time, but at length, as he did not return at all, she was sad, and +changed herself into a flower, and thought, “Some one will surely come +this way, and trample me down.” +</p> + +<p> +It befell, however, that a shepherd kept his sheep in the field, and saw the +flower, and as it was so pretty, plucked it, took it with him, and laid it away +in his chest. From that time forth, strange things happened in the +shepherd’s house. When he arose in the morning, all the work was already +done, the room was swept, the table and benches cleaned, the fire on the hearth +was lighted, and the water was fetched, and at noon, when he came home, the +table was laid, and a good dinner served. He could not conceive how this came +to pass, for he never saw a human being in his house, and no one could have +concealed himself in it. He was certainly pleased with this good attendance, +but still at last he was so afraid that he went to a wise woman and asked for +her advice. The wise woman said, “There is some enchantment behind it, +listen very early some morning if anything is moving in the room, and if thou +seest anything, let it be what it may, throw a white cloth over it, and then +the magic will be stopped.” +</p> + +<p> +The shepherd did as she bade him, and next morning just as day dawned, he saw +the chest open, and the flower come out. Swiftly he sprang towards it, and +threw a white cloth over it. Instantly the transformation came to an end, and a +beautiful girl stood before him, who owned to him that she had been the flower, +and that up to this time she had attended to his housekeeping. She told him her +story, and as she pleased him he asked her if she would marry him, but she +answered, “No,” for she wanted to remain faithful to her sweetheart +Roland, although he had deserted her, but she promised not to go away, but to +keep house for the shepherd for the future. +</p> + +<p> +And now the time drew near when Roland’s wedding was to be celebrated, +and then, according to an old custom in the country, it was announced that all +the girls were to be present at it, and sing in honour of the bridal pair. When +the faithful maiden heard of this, she grew so sad that she thought her heart +would break, and she would not go thither, but the other girls came and took +her. When it came to her turn to sing, she stepped back, until at last she was +the only one left, and then she could not refuse. But when she began her song, +and it reached Roland’s ears, he sprang up and cried, “I know the +voice, that is the true bride, I will have no other!” Everything he had +forgotten, and which had vanished from his mind, had suddenly come home again +to his heart. Then the faithful maiden held her wedding with her sweetheart +Roland, and grief came to an end and joy began. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap57"></a>57 The Golden Bird</h3> + +<p> +In the olden time there was a king, who had behind his palace a beautiful +pleasure-garden in which there was a tree that bore golden apples. When the +apples were getting ripe they were counted, but on the very next morning one +was missing. This was told to the King, and he ordered that a watch should be +kept every night beneath the tree. +</p> + +<p> +The King had three sons, the eldest of whom he sent, as soon as night came on, +into the garden; but when midnight came he could not keep himself from +sleeping, and next morning again an apple was gone. +</p> + +<p> +The following night the second son had to keep watch, it fared no better with +him; as soon as twelve o’clock had struck he fell asleep, and in the +morning an apple was gone. +</p> + +<p> +Now it came to the turn of the third son to watch; and he was quite ready, but +the King had not much trust in him, and thought that he would be of less use +even than his brothers; but at last he let him go. The youth lay down beneath +the tree, but kept awake, and did not let sleep master him. When it struck +twelve, something rustled through the air, and in the moonlight he saw a bird +coming whose feathers were all shining with gold. The bird alighted on the +tree, and had just plucked off an apple, when the youth shot an arrow at him. +The bird flew off, but the arrow had struck his plumage, and one of his golden +feathers fell down. The youth picked it up, and the next morning took it to the +King and told him what he had seen in the night. The King called his council +together, and everyone declared that a feather like this was worth more than +the whole kingdom. “If the feather is so precious,” declared the +King, “one alone will not do for me; I must and will have the whole +bird!” +</p> + +<p> +The eldest son set out; he trusted to his cleverness, and thought that he would +easily find the Golden Bird. When he had gone some distance he saw a Fox +sitting at the edge of a wood, so he cocked his gun and took aim at him. The +Fox cried, “Do not shoot me! and in return I will give you some good +counsel. You are on the way to the Golden Bird; and this evening you will come +to a village in which stand two inns opposite to one another. One of them is +lighted up brightly, and all goes on merrily within, but do not go into it; go +rather into the other, even though it seems a bad one.” “How can +such a silly beast give wise advice?” thought the King’s son, and +he pulled the trigger. But he missed the Fox, who stretched out his tail and +ran quickly into the wood. +</p> + +<p> +So he pursued his way, and by evening came to the village where the two inns +were; in one they were singing and dancing; the other had a poor, miserable +look. “I should be a fool, indeed,” he thought, “if I were to +go into the shabby tavern, and pass by the good one.” So he went into the +cheerful one, lived there in riot and revel, and forgot the bird and his +father, and all good counsels. +</p> + +<p> +When some time had passed, and the eldest son for month after month did not +come back home, the second set out, wishing to find the Golden Bird. The Fox +met him as he had met the eldest, and gave him the good advice of which he took +no heed. He came to the two inns, and his brother was standing at the window of +the one from which came the music, and called out to him. He could not resist, +but went inside and lived only for pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +Again some time passed, and then the King’s youngest son wanted to set +off and try his luck, but his father would not allow it. “It is of no +use,” said he, “he will find the Golden Bird still less than his +brothers, and if a mishap were to befall him he knows not how to help himself; +he is a little wanting at the best.” But at last, as he had no peace, he +let him go. +</p> + +<p> +Again the Fox was sitting outside the wood, and begged for his life, and +offered his good advice. The youth was good-natured, and said, “Be easy, +little Fox, I will do you no harm.” “You shall not repent +it,” answered the Fox; “and that you may get on more quickly, get +up behind on my tail.” And scarcely had he seated himself when the Fox +began to run, and away he went over stock and stone till his hair whistled in +the wind. When they came to the village the youth got off; he followed the good +advice, and without looking round turned into the little inn, where he spent +the night quietly. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning, as soon as he got into the open country, there sat the Fox +already, and said, “I will tell you further what you have to do. Go on +quite straight, and at last you will come to a castle, in front of which a +whole regiment of soldiers is lying, but do not trouble yourself about them, +for they will all be asleep and snoring. Go through the midst of them straight +into the castle, and go through all the rooms, till at last you will come to a +chamber where a Golden Bird is hanging in a wooden cage. Close by, there stands +an empty gold cage for show, but beware of taking the bird out of the common +cage and putting it into the fine one, or it may go badly with you.” With +these words the Fox again stretched out his tail, and the King’s son +seated himself upon it, and away he went over stock and stone till his hair +whistled in the wind. +</p> + +<p> +When he came to the castle he found everything as the Fox had said. The +King’s son went into the chamber where the Golden Bird was shut up in a +wooden cage, whilst a golden one stood hard by; and the three golden apples lay +about the room. “But,” thought he, “it would be absurd if I +were to leave the beautiful bird in the common and ugly cage,” so he +opened the door, laid hold of it, and put it into the golden cage. But at the +same moment the bird uttered a shrill cry. The soldiers awoke, rushed in, and +took him off to prison. The next morning he was taken before a court of +justice, and as he confessed everything, was sentenced to death. +</p> + +<p> +The King, however, said that he would grant him his life on one condition +namely, if he brought him the Golden Horse which ran faster than the wind; and +in that case he should receive, over and above, as a reward, the Golden Bird. +</p> + +<p> +The King’s son set off, but he sighed and was sorrowful, for how was he +to find the Golden Horse? But all at once he saw his old friend the Fox sitting +on the road. “Look you,” said the Fox, “this has happened +because you did not give heed to me. However, be of good courage. I will give +you my help, and tell you how to get to the Golden Horse. You must go straight +on, and you will come to a castle, where in the stable stands the horse. The +grooms will be lying in front of the stable; but they will be asleep and +snoring, and you can quietly lead out the Golden Horse. But of one thing you +must take heed; put on him the common saddle of wood and leather, and not the +golden one, which hangs close by, else it will go ill with you.” Then the +Fox stretched out his tail, the King’s son seated himself upon it, and +away he went over stock and stone until his hair whistled in the wind. +</p> + +<p> +Everything happened just as the Fox had said; the prince came to the stable in +which the Golden Horse was standing, but just as he was going to put the common +saddle upon him, he thought, “It will be a shame to such a beautiful +beast, if I do not give him the good saddle which belongs to him by +right.” But scarcely had the golden saddle touched the horse than he +began to neigh loudly. The grooms awoke, seized the youth, and threw him into +prison. The next morning he was sentenced by the court to death; but the King +promised to grant him his life, and the Golden Horse as well, if he could bring +back the beautiful princess from the Golden Castle. +</p> + +<p> +With a heavy heart the youth set out; yet luckily for him he soon found the +trusty Fox. “I ought only to leave you to your ill-luck,” said the +Fox, “but I pity you, and will help you once more out of your trouble. +This road takes you straight to the Golden Castle, you will reach it by +eventide; and at night when everything is quiet the beautiful princess goes to +the bathing-house to bathe. When she enters it, run up to her and give her a +kiss, then she will follow you, and you can take her away with you; only do not +allow her to take leave of her parents first, or it will go ill with +you.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the Fox stretched out his tail, the King’s son seated himself upon +it, and away the Fox went, over stock and stone, till his hair whistled in the +wind. +</p> + +<p> +When he reached the Golden Castle it was just as the Fox had said. He waited +until midnight, when everything lay in deep sleep, and the beautiful princess +was going to the bathing-house. Then he sprang out and gave her a kiss. She +said that she would like to go with him, but she asked him pitifully, and with +tears, to allow her first to take leave of her parents. At first he withstood +her prayer, but when she wept more and more, and fell at his feet, he at last +gave in. But no sooner had the maiden reached the bedside of her father than he +and all the rest in the castle awoke, and the youth was laid hold of and put +into prison. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning the King said to him, “Your life is forfeited, and you +can only find mercy if you take away the hill which stands in front of my +windows, and prevents my seeing beyond it; and you must finish it all within +eight days. If you do that you shall have my daughter as your reward.” +</p> + +<p> +The King’s son began, and dug and shovelled without leaving off, but when +after seven days he saw how little he had done, and how all his work was as +good as nothing, he fell into great sorrow 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 take any trouble about you; but just go away and lie down to +sleep, and I will do the work for you.” +</p> + +<p> +The next morning when he awoke and looked out of the window the hill had gone. +The youth ran, full of joy, to the King, and told him that the task was +fulfilled, and whether he liked it or not, the King had to hold to his word and +give him his daughter. +</p> + +<p> +So the two set forth together, and it was not long before the trusty Fox came +up with them. “You have certainly got what is best,” said he, +“but the Golden Horse also belongs to the maiden of the Golden +Castle.” “How shall I get it?” asked the youth. “That I +will tell you,” answered the Fox; “first take the beautiful maiden +to the King who sent you to the Golden Castle. There will be unheard-of +rejoicing; they will gladly give you the Golden Horse, and will bring it out to +you. Mount it as soon as possible, and offer your hand to all in farewell; last +of all to the beautiful maiden. And as soon as you have taken her hand swing +her up on to the horse, and gallop away, and no one will be able to bring you +back, for the horse runs faster than the wind.” +</p> + +<p> +All was carried out successfully, and the King’s son carried off the +beautiful princess on the Golden Horse. +</p> + +<p> +The Fox did not remain behind, and he said to the youth, “Now I will help +you to get the Golden Bird. When you come near to the castle where the Golden +Bird is to be found, let the maiden get down, and I will take her into my care. +Then ride with the Golden Horse into the castle-yard; there will be great +rejoicing at the sight, and they will bring out the Golden Bird for you. As +soon as you have the cage in your hand gallop back to us, and take the maiden +away again.” +</p> + +<p> +When the plan had succeeded, and the King’s son was about to ride home +with his treasures, the Fox said, “Now you shall reward me for my +help.” “What do you require for it?” asked the youth. +“When you get into the wood yonder, shoot me dead, and chop off my head +and feet.” +</p> + +<p> +“That would be fine gratitude,” said the King’s son. “I +cannot possibly do that for you.” +</p> + +<p> +The Fox said, “If you will not do it I must leave you, but before I go +away I will give you a piece of good advice. Be careful about two things. Buy +no gallows’-flesh, and do not sit at the edge of any well.” And +then he ran into the wood. +</p> + +<p> +The youth thought, “That is a wonderful beast, he has strange whims; who +is going to buy gallows’-flesh? and the desire to sit at the edge of a +well it has never yet seized me.” +</p> + +<p> +He rode on with the beautiful maiden, and his road took him again through the +village in which his two brothers had remained. There was a great stir and +noise, and, when he asked what was going on, he was told that two men were +going to be hanged. As he came nearer to the place he saw that they were his +brothers, who had been playing all kinds of wicked pranks, and had squandered +all their wealth. He inquired whether they could not be set free. “If you +will pay for them,” answered the people; “but why should you waste +your money on wicked men, and buy them free.” He did not think twice +about it, but paid for them, and when they were set free they all went on their +way together. +</p> + +<p> +They came to the wood where the Fox had first met them, as it was cool and +pleasant within it, the two brothers said, “Let us rest a little by the +well, and eat and drink.” He agreed, and whilst they were talking he +forgot himself, and sat down upon the edge of the well without thinking of any +evil. But the two brothers threw him backwards into the well, took the maiden, +the Horse, and the Bird, and went home to their father. “Here we bring +you not only the Golden Bird,” said they; “we have won the Golden +Horse also, and the maiden from the Golden Castle.” Then was there great +joy; but the Horse would not eat, the Bird would not sing, and the maiden sat +and wept. +</p> + +<p> +But the youngest brother was not dead. By good fortune the well was dry, and he +fell upon soft moss without being hurt, but he could not get out again. Even in +this strait the faithful Fox did not leave him: it came and leapt down to him, +and upbraided him for having forgotten its advice. “But yet I cannot give +it up so,” he said; “I will help you up again into daylight.” +He bade him grasp his tail and keep tight hold of it; and then he pulled him +up. +</p> + +<p> +“You are not out of all danger yet,” said the Fox. “Your +brothers were not sure of your death, and have surrounded the wood with +watchers, who are to kill you if you let yourself be seen.” But a poor +man was sitting upon the road, with whom the youth changed clothes, and in this +way he got to the King’s palace. +</p> + +<p> +No one knew him, but the Bird began to sing, the Horse began to eat, and the +beautiful maiden left off weeping. The King, astonished, asked, “What +does this mean?” Then the maiden said, “I do not know, but I have +been so sorrowful and now I am so happy! I feel as if my true bridegroom had +come.” She told him all that had happened, although the other brothers +had threatened her with death if she were to betray anything. +</p> + +<p> +The King commanded that all people who were in his castle should be brought +before him; and amongst them came the youth in his ragged clothes; but the +maiden knew him at once and fell upon his neck. The wicked brothers were seized +and put to death, but he was married to the beautiful maiden and declared heir +to the King. +</p> + +<p> +But how did it fare with the poor Fox? Long afterwards the King’s son was +once again walking in the wood, when the Fox met him and said, “You have +everything now that you can wish for, but there is never an end to my misery, +and yet it is in your power to free me,” and again he asked him with +tears to shoot him dead and chop off his head and feet. So he did it, and +scarcely was it done when the Fox was changed into a man, and was no other than +the brother of the beautiful princess, who at last was freed from the magic +charm which had been laid upon him. And now nothing more was wanting to their +happiness as long as they lived. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap58"></a>58 The Dog and the Sparrow</h3> + +<p> +A sheep-dog had not a good master, but, on the contrary, one who let him suffer +hunger. As he could stay no longer with him, he went quite sadly away. On the +road he met a sparrow who said, “Brother dog, why art thou so sad?” +The dog replied, “I am hungry, and have nothing to eat.” Then said +the sparrow, “Dear brother, come into the town with me, and I will +satisfy thy hunger.” So they went into the town together, and when they +came in front of a butcher’s shop the sparrow said to the dog, +“Stay there, and I will pick a bit of meat down for thee,” and he +alighted on the stall, looked about him to see that no one was observing him, +and pecked and pulled and tore so long at a piece which lay on the edge, that +it slipped down. Then the dog seized it, ran into a corner, and devoured it. +The sparrow said, “Now come with me to another shop, and then I will get +thee one more piece that thou mayst be satisfied.” When the dog had +devoured the second piece as well, the sparrow asked, “Brother dog, hast +thou now had enough?” “Yes, I have had meat enough,” he +answered, “but I have had no bread yet.” Said the sparrow, +“Thou shalt have that also, come with me.” Then he took him to a +baker’s shop, and pecked at a couple of little buns till they rolled +down, and as the dog wanted still more, he led him to another stall, and again +got bread for him. When that was consumed, the sparrow said, “Brother +dog, hast thou now had enough?” “Yes,” he replied, “now +we will walk awhile outside the town.” Then they both went out on to the +highway. It was, however, warm weather, and when they had walked a little way +the dog said, “I am tired, and would like to sleep.” “Well, +do sleep,” answered the sparrow, “and in the meantime I will seat +myself on a branch.” So the dog lay down on the road, and fell fast +asleep. Whilst he lay sleeping there, a waggoner came driving by, who had a +cart with three horses, laden with two barrels of wine. The sparrow, however, +saw that he was not going to turn aside, but was staying in the wheel track in +which the dog was lying, so it cried, “Waggoner, don’t do it, or I +will make thee poor.” The waggoner, however, growled to himself, +“Thou wilt not make me poor,” and cracked his whip and drove the +cart over the dog, and the wheels killed him. Then the sparrow cried, +“Thou hast run over my brother dog and killed him, it shall cost thee thy +cart and horses.” “Cart and horses indeed!” said the +waggoner. “What harm canst thou do me?” and drove onwards. Then the +sparrow crept under the cover of the cart, and pecked so long at the same +bung-hole that he got the bung out, and then all the wine ran out without the +driver noticing it. But once when he was looking behind him he saw that the +cart was dripping, and looked at the barrels and saw that one of them was +empty. “Unfortunate fellow that I am,” cried he. “Not +unfortunate enough yet,” said the sparrow, and flew on to the head of one +of the horses and pecked his eyes out. When the driver saw that, he drew out +his axe and wanted to hit the sparrow, but the sparrow flew into the air, and +he hit his horse on the head, and it fell down dead. “Oh, what an +unfortunate man I am,” cried he. “Not unfortunate enough +yet,” said the sparrow, and when the driver drove on with the two horses, +the sparrow again crept under the cover, and pecked the bung out of the second +cask, so all the wine was spilt. When the driver became aware of it, he again +cried, “Oh, what an unfortunate man I am,” but the sparrow replied, +“Not unfortunate enough yet,” and seated himself on the head of the +second horse, and pecked his eyes out. The driver ran up to it and raised his +axe to strike, but the sparrow flew into the air and the blow struck the horse, +which fell. “Oh, what an unfortunate man I am.” “Not +unfortunate enough yet,” said the sparrow, and lighted on the third +horse’s head, and pecked out his eyes. The driver, in his rage, struck at +the sparrow without looking round, and did not hit him but killed his third +horse likewise. “Oh, what an unfortunate man I am,” cried he. +“Not unfortunate enough yet,” answered the sparrow. “Now will +I make thee unfortunate in thy home,” and flew away. +</p> + +<p> +The driver had to leave the waggon standing, and full of anger and vexation +went home. “Ah,” said he to his wife, “what misfortunes I +have had! My wine has run out, and the horses are all three dead!” +“Alas, husband,” she answered, “what a malicious bird has +come into the house! It has gathered together every bird there is in the world, +and they have fallen on our corn up there, and are devouring it.” Then he +went upstairs, and thousands and thousands of birds were sitting in the loft +and had eaten up all the corn, and the sparrow was sitting in the midst of +them. Then the driver cried, “Oh, what an unfortunate man I am?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not unfortunate enough yet!” answered the sparrow; +“waggoner, it shall cost thee thy life as well,” and flew out. +</p> + +<p> +Then the waggoner had lost all his property, and he went downstairs into the +room, sat down behind the stove and was quite furious and bitter. But the +sparrow sat outside in front of the window, and cried, “Waggoner, it +shall cost thee thy life.” Then the waggoner snatched the axe and threw +it at the sparrow, but it only broke the window, and did not hit the bird. The +sparrow now hopped in, placed itself on the stove and cried, “Waggoner, +it shall cost thee thy life.” The latter, quite mad and blind with rage, +smote the stove in twain, and as the sparrow flew from one place to another so +it fared with all his household furniture, looking-glass, benches, table, and +at last the walls of his house, and yet he could not hit the bird. At length, +however, he caught it with his hand. Then his wife said, “Shall I kill +it?” “No,” cried he, “that would be too merciful. It +shall die much more cruelly,” and he took it and swallowed it whole. The +sparrow, however, began to flutter about in his body, and fluttered up again +into the man’s mouth; then it stretched out its head, and cried, +“Waggoner, it shall still cost thee thy life.” The driver gave the +axe to his wife, and said, “Wife, kill the bird in my mouth for +me.” The woman struck, but missed her blow, and hit the waggoner right on +his head, so that he fell dead. But the sparrow flew up and away. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap59"></a>59 Frederick and Catherine</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a man who was called Frederick and a woman called +Catherine, who had married each other and lived together as young married +folks. One day Frederick said, “I will now go and plough, Catherine; when +I come back, there must be some roast meat on the table for hunger, and a fresh +draught for thirst.” “Just go, Frederick,” answered Kate, +“just go, I will have all ready for you.” Therefore when +dinner-time drew near she got a sausage out of the chimney, put it in the +frying-pan, put some butter to it, and set it on the fire. The sausage began to +fry and to hiss, Catherine stood beside it and held the handle of the pan, and +had her own thoughts as she was doing it. Then it occurred to her, “While +the sausage is getting done thou couldst go into the cellar and draw +beer.” So she set the frying-pan safely on the fire, took a can, and went +down into the cellar to draw beer. The beer ran into the can and Kate watched +it, and then she thought, “Oh, dear! The dog upstairs is not fastened up, +it might get the sausage out of the pan. Well thought of.” And in a trice +she was up the cellar-steps again, but the Spitz had the sausage in its mouth +already, and trailed it away on the ground. But Catherine, who was not idle, +set out after it, and chased it a long way into the field; the dog, however, +was swifter than Catherine and did not let the sausage journey easily, but +skipped over the furrows with it. “What’s gone is gone!” said +Kate, and turned round, and as she had run till she was weary, she walked +quietly and comfortably, and cooled herself. During this time the beer was +still running out of the cask, for Kate had not turned the tap. And when the +can was full and there was no other place for it, it ran into the cellar and +did not stop until the whole cask was empty. As soon as Kate was on the steps +she saw the mischance. “Good gracious!” she cried. “What +shall I do now to stop Frederick knowing it!” She thought for a while, +and at last she remembered that up in the garret was still standing a sack of +the finest wheat flour from the last fair, and she would fetch that down and +strew it over the beer. “Yes,” said she, “he who saves a +thing when he ought, has it afterwards when he needs it,” and she climbed +up to the garret and carried the sack below, and threw it straight down on the +can of beer, which she knocked over, and Frederick’s draught swam also in +the cellar. “It is all right,” said Kate, “where the one is +the other ought to be also,” and she strewed the meal over the whole +cellar. When it was done she was heartily delighted with her work, and said, +“How clean and wholesome it does look here!” At mid-day home came +Frederick: “Now, wife, what have you ready for me?” “Ah, +Freddy,” she answered, “I was frying a sausage for you, but whilst +I was drawing the beer to drink with it, the dog took it away out of the pan, +and whilst I was running after the dog, all the beer ran out, and whilst I was +drying up the beer with the flour, I knocked over the can as well, but be easy, +the cellar is quite dry again.” Said Frederick, “Kate, Kate, you +should not have done that! to let the sausage be carried off and the beer run +out of the cask, and throw out all our flour into the bargain!” +“Indeed, Frederick, I did not know that, you should have told me.” +The man thought, “If my wife is like this, I must look after things +more.” Now he had got together a good number of thalers which he changed +into gold, and said to Catherine, “Look, these are counters for playing +games; I will put them in a pot and bury them in the stable under the +cow’s manger, but mind you keep away from them, or it will be the worse +for you.” Said she, “Oh, no, Frederick, I certainly will not +go.” And when Frederick was gone some pedlars came into the village who +had cheap earthen-bowls and pots, and asked the young woman if there was +nothing she wanted to bargain with them for? “Oh, dear people,” +said Catherine, “I have no money and can buy nothing, but if you have any +use for yellow counters I will buy of you.” “Yellow counters, why +not? But just let us see them.” “Then go into the stable and dig +under the cow’s manger, and you will find the yellow counters. I am not +allowed to go there.” The rogues went thither, dug and found pure gold. +Then they laid hold of it, ran away, and left their pots and bowls behind in +the house. Catherine thought she must use her new things, and as she had no +lack in the kitchen already without these, she knocked the bottom out of every +pot, and set them all as ornaments on the paling which went round about the +house. When Frederick came and saw the new decorations, he said, +“Catherine, what have you been about?” “I have bought them, +Frederick, for the counters which were under the cow’s manger. I did not +go there myself, the pedlars had to dig them out for themselves.” +“Ah, wife,” said Frederick, “what have you done? Those were +not counters, but pure gold, and all our wealth; you should not have done +that.” “Indeed, Frederick,” said she, “I did not know +that, you should have forewarned me.” +</p> + +<p> +Catherine stood for a while and bethought to herself; then she said, +“Listen, Frederick, we will soon get the gold back again, we will run +after the thieves.” “Come, then,” said Frederick, “we +will try it; but take with you some butter and cheese that we may have +something to eat on the way.” “Yes, Frederick, I will take +them.” They set out, and as Frederick was the better walker, Catherine +followed him. “It is to my advantage,” thought she, “when we +turn back I shall be a little way in advance.” Then she came to a hill +where there were deep ruts on both sides of the road. “There one can +see,” said Catherine, “how they have torn and skinned and galled +the poor earth, it will never be whole again as long as it lives,” and in +her heart’s compassion she took her butter and smeared the ruts right and +left, that they might not be so hurt by the wheels, and as she was thus bending +down in her charity, one of the cheeses rolled out of her pocket down the hill. +Said Catherine, “I have made my way once up here, I will not go down +again; another may run and fetch it back.” So she took another cheese and +rolled it down. But the cheeses did not come back, so she let a third run down, +thinking. “Perhaps they are waiting for company, and do not like to walk +alone.” As all three stayed away she said, “I do not know what that +can mean, but it may perhaps be that the third has not found the way, and has +gone wrong, I will just send the fourth to call it.” But the fourth did +no better than the third. Then Catherine was angry, and threw down the fifth +and sixth as well, and these were her last. She remained standing for some time +watching for their coming, but when they still did not come, she said, +“Oh, you are good folks to send in search of death, you stay a fine long +time away! Do you think I will wait any longer for you? I shall go my way, you +may run after me; you have younger legs than I.” Catherine went on and +found Frederick, who was standing waiting for her because he wanted something +to eat. “Now just let us have what you have brought with you,” said +he. She gave him the dry bread. “Where have you the butter and the +cheeses?” asked the man. “Ah, Freddy,” said Catherine, +“I smeared the cart-ruts with the butter and the cheeses will come soon; +one ran away from me, so I sent the others after to call it.” Said +Frederick, “You should not have done that, Catherine, to smear the butter +on the road, and let the cheeses run down the hill!” “Really, +Frederick, you should have told me.” Then they ate the dry bread +together, and Frederick said, “Catherine, did you make the house safe +when you came away?” “No, Frederick, you should have told me to do +it before.” “Then go home again, and make the house safe before we +go any farther, and bring with you something else to eat. I will wait here for +you.” Catherine went back and thought, “Frederick wants something +more to eat, he does not like butter and cheese, so I will take with me a +handkerchief full of dried pears and a pitcher of vinegar for him to +drink.” Then she bolted the upper half of the door fast, but unhinged the +lower door, and took it on her back, believing that when she had placed the +door in security the house must be well taken care of. Catherine took her time +on the way, and thought, “Frederick will rest himself so much the +longer.” When she had once reached him she said, “Here is the +house-door for you, Frederick, and now you can take care of the house +yourself.” “Oh, heavens,” said he, “what a wise wife I +have! She takes the under-door off the hinges that everything may run in, and +bolts the upper one. It is now too late to go back home again, but since you +have brought the door here, you shall just carry it farther.” “I +will carry the door, Frederick, but the dried pears and the vinegar-jug will be +too heavy for me, I will hang them on the door, it may carry them.” +</p> + +<p> +And now they went into the forest, and sought the rogues, but did not find +them. At length as it grew dark they climbed into a tree and resolved to spend +the night there. Scarcely, however, had they sat down at the top of it than the +rascals came thither who carry away with them what does not want to go, and +find things before they are lost. They sat down under the very tree in which +Frederick and Catherine were sitting, lighted a fire, and were about to share +their booty. Frederick got down on the other side and collected some stones +together. Then he climbed up again with them, and wished to throw them at the +thieves and kill them. The stones, however, did not hit them, and the knaves +cried, “It will soon be morning, the wind is shaking down the +fir-apples.” Catherine still had the door on her back, and as it pressed +so heavily on her, she thought it was the fault of the dried pears, and said, +“Frederick, I must throw the pears down.” “No, Catherine, not +now,” he replied, “they might betray us.” “Oh, but, +Frederick, I must! They weigh me down far too much.” “Do it, then, +and be hanged!” Then the dried pears rolled down between the branches, +and the rascals below said, “The leaves are falling.” +</p> + +<p> +A short time afterwards, as the door was still heavy, Catherine said, +“Ah, Frederick, I must pour out the vinegar.” “No, Catherine, +you must not, it might betray us.” “Ah, but, Frederick, I must, it +weighs me down far too much.” “Then do it and be hanged!” So +she emptied out the vinegar, and it besprinkled the robbers. They said amongst +themselves, “The dew is already falling.” At length Catherine +thought, “Can it really be the door which weighs me down so?” and +said, “Frederick, I must throw the door down.” “No, not now, +Catherine, it might discover us.” “Oh, but, Frederick, I must. It +weighs me down far too much.” “Oh, no, Catherine, do hold it +fast.” “Ah, Frederick, I am letting it fall!” “Let it +go, then, in the devil’s name.” Then it fell down with a violent +clatter, and the rascals below cried, “The devil is coming down the +tree!” and they ran away and left everything behind them. Early next +morning, when the two came down they found all their gold again, and carried it +home. +</p> + +<p> +When they were once more at home, Frederick said, “And now, Catherine, +you, too, must be industrious and work.” “Yes, Frederick, I will +soon do that, I will go into the field and cut corn.” When Catherine got +into the field, she said to herself, “Shall I eat before I cut, or shall +I sleep before I cut? Oh, I will eat first.” Then Catherine ate and +eating made her sleepy, and she began to cut, and half in a dream cut all her +clothes to pieces, her apron, her gown, and her shift. When Catherine awoke +again after a long sleep she was standing there half-naked, and said to +herself, “Is it I, or is it not I? Alas, it is not I.” In the +meantime night came, and Catherine ran into the village, knocked at her +husband’s window, and cried, “Frederick.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter?” “I should very much like to know if +Catherine is in?” “Yes, yes,” replied Frederick, “she +must be in and asleep.” +</p> + +<p> +Said she, “’Tis well, then I am certainly at home already,” +and ran away. +</p> + +<p> +Outside Catherine found some vagabonds who were going to steal. Then she went +to them and said, “I will help you to steal.” The rascals thought +that she knew the situation of the place, and were willing. Catherine went in +front of the houses, and cried, “Good folks, have you anything? We want +to steal.” The thieves thought to themselves, “That’s a fine +way of doing things,” and wished themselves once more rid of Catherine. +Then they said to her, “Outside the village the pastor has some turnips +in the field. Go there and pull up some turnips for us.” Catherine went +to the ground, and began to pull them up, but was so idle that she did not +gather them together. Then a man came by, saw her, and stood still and thought +that it was the devil who was thus rooting amongst the turnips. He ran away +into the village to the pastor, and said, “Mr. Pastor, the devil is in +your turnip-ground, rooting up turnips.” “Ah, heavens,” +answered the pastor, “I have a lame foot, I cannot go out and drive him +away.” Said the man, “Then I will carry you on my back,” and +he carried him out on his back. And when they came to the ground, Catherine +arose and stood up her full height. “Ah, the devil!” cried the +pastor, and both hurried away, and in his great fright the pastor could run +better with his lame foot than the man who had carried him on his back could do +with his sound one. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap60"></a>60 The Two Brothers</h3> + +<p> +There were once upon a time two brothers, one rich and the other poor. The rich +one was a goldsmith and evil-hearted. The poor one supported himself by making +brooms, and was good and honourable. The poor one had two children, who were +twin brothers and as like each other as two drops of water. The two boys went +backwards and forwards to the rich house, and often got some of the scraps to +eat. It happened once when the poor man was going into the forest to fetch +brush-wood, that he saw a bird which was quite golden and more beautiful than +any he had ever chanced to meet with. He picked up a small stone, threw it at +him, and was lucky enough to hit him, but one golden feather only fell down, +and the bird flew away. The man took the feather and carried it to his brother, +who looked at it and said, “It is pure gold!” and gave him a great +deal of money for it. Next day the man climbed into a birch-tree, and was about +to cut off a couple of branches when the same bird flew out, and when the man +searched he found a nest, and an egg lay inside it, which was of gold. He took +the egg home with him, and carried it to his brother, who again said, “It +is pure gold,” and gave him what it was worth. At last the goldsmith +said, “I should indeed like to have the bird itself.” The poor man +went into the forest for the third time, and again saw the golden bird sitting +on the tree, so he took a stone and brought it down and carried it to his +brother, who gave him a great heap of gold for it. “Now I can get +on,” thought he, and went contentedly home. +</p> + +<p> +The goldsmith was crafty and cunning, and knew very well what kind of a bird it +was. He called his wife and said, “Roast me the gold bird, and take care +that none of it is lost. I have a fancy to eat it all myself.” The bird, +however, was no common one, but of so wondrous a kind that whosoever ate its +heart and liver found every morning a piece of gold beneath his pillow. The +woman made the bird ready, put it on the spit, and let it roast. Now it +happened that while it was at the fire, and the woman was forced to go out of +the kitchen on account of some other work, the two children of the poor +broom-maker ran in, stood by the spit and turned it round once or twice. And as +at that very moment two little bits of the bird fell down into the +dripping-tin, one of the boys said, “We will eat these two little bits; I +am so hungry, and no one will ever miss them.” Then the two ate the +pieces, but the woman came into the kitchen and saw that they were eating +something and said, “What have ye been eating?” “Two little +morsels which fell out of the bird,” answered they. “That must have +been the heart and the liver,” said the woman, quite frightened, and in +order that her husband might not miss them and be angry, she quickly killed a +young cock, took out his heart and liver, and put them beside the golden bird. +When it was ready, she carried it to the goldsmith, who consumed it all alone, +and left none of it. Next morning, however, when he felt beneath his pillow, +and expected to bring out the piece of gold, no more gold pieces were there +than there had always been. +</p> + +<p> +The two children did not know what a piece of good-fortune had fallen to their +lot. Next morning when they arose, something fell rattling to the ground, and +when they picked it up there were two gold pieces! They took them to their +father, who was astonished and said, “How can that have happened?” +When next morning they again found two, and so on daily, he went to his brother +and told him the strange story. The goldsmith at once knew how it had come to +pass, and that the children had eaten the heart and liver of the golden bird, +and in order to revenge himself, and because he was envious and hard-hearted, +he said to the father, “Thy children are in league with the Evil One, do +not take the gold, and do not suffer them to stay any longer in thy house, for +he has them in his power, and may ruin thee likewise.” The father feared +the Evil One, and painful as it was to him, he nevertheless led the twins forth +into the forest, and with a sad heart left them there. +</p> + +<p> +And now the two children ran about the forest, and sought the way home again, +but could not find it, and only lost themselves more and more. At length they +met with a huntsman, who asked, “To whom do you children belong?” +“We are the poor broom-maker’s boys,” they replied, and they +told him that their father would not keep them any longer in the house because +a piece of gold lay every morning under their pillows. “Come,” said +the huntsman, “that is nothing so very bad, if at the same time you keep +honest, and are not idle.” As the good man liked the children, and had +none of his own, he took them home with him and said, “I will be your +father, and bring you up till you are big.” They learnt huntsmanship from +him, and the piece of gold which each of them found when he awoke, was kept for +them by him in case they should need it in the future. +</p> + +<p> +When they were grown up, their foster-father one day took them into the forest +with him, and said, “To-day shall you make your trial shot, so that I may +release you from your apprenticeship, and make you huntsmen.” They went +with him to lie in wait and stayed there a long time, but no game appeared. The +huntsman, however, looked above him and saw a covey of wild geese flying in the +form of a triangle, and said to one of them, “Shoot me down one from each +corner.” He did it, and thus accomplished his trial shot. Soon after +another covey came flying by in the form of the figure two, and the huntsman +bade the other also bring down one from each corner, and his trial shot was +likewise successful. “Now,” said the foster-father, “I +pronounce you out of your apprenticeship; you are skilled huntsmen.” +Thereupon the two brothers went forth together into the forest, and took +counsel with each other and planned something. And in the evening when they had +sat down to supper, they said to their foster-father, “We will not touch +food, or take one mouthful, until you have granted us a request.” Said +he, “What, then, is your request?” They replied, “We have now +finished learning, and we must prove ourselves in the world, so allow us to go +away and travel.” Then spake the old man joyfully, “You talk like +brave huntsmen, that which you desire has been my wish; go forth, all will go +well with you.” Thereupon they ate and drank joyously together. +</p> + +<p> +When the appointed day came, their foster-father presented each of them with a +good gun and a dog, and let each of them take as many of his saved-up gold +pieces as he chose. Then he accompanied them a part of the way, and when taking +leave, he gave them a bright knife, and said, “If ever you separate, +stick this knife into a tree at the place where you part, and when one of you +goes back, he will will be able to see how his absent brother is faring, for +the side of the knife which is turned in the direction by which he went, will +rust if he dies, but will remain bright as long as he is alive.” The two +brothers went still farther onwards, and came to a forest which was so large +that it was impossible for them to get out of it in one day. So they passed the +night in it, and ate what they had put in their hunting-pouches, but they +walked all the second day likewise, and still did not get out. As they had +nothing to eat, one of them said, “We must shoot something for ourselves +or we shall suffer from hunger,” and loaded his gun, and looked about +him. And when an old hare came running up towards them, he laid his gun on his +shoulder, but the hare cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Dear huntsman, do but let me live,<br/> +Two little ones to thee I’ll give,” +</p> + +<p> +and sprang instantly into the thicket, and brought two young ones. But the +little creatures played so merrily, and were so pretty, that the huntsmen could +not find it in their hearts to kill them. They therefore kept them with them, +and the little hares followed on foot. Soon after this, a fox crept past; they +were just going to shoot it, but the fox cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Dear hunstman, do but let me live,<br/> +Two little ones I’ll also give.” +</p> + +<p> +He, too, brought two little foxes, and the huntsmen did not like to kill them +either, but gave them to the hares for company, and they followed behind. It +was not long before a wolf strode out of the thicket; the huntsmen made ready +to shoot him, but the wolf cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Dear huntsman, do but let me live,<br/> +Two little ones I’ll likewise give.” +</p> + +<p> +The huntsmen put the two wolves beside the other animals, and they followed +behind them. Then a bear came who wanted to trot about a little longer, and +cried: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Dear huntsman, do but let me live,<br/> +Two little ones I, too, will give.” +</p> + +<p> +The two young bears were added to the others, and there were already eight of +them. At length who came? A lion came, and tossed his mane. But the huntsmen +did not let themselves be frightened and aimed at him likewise, but the lion +also said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Dear huntsman, do but let me live,<br/> +Two little ones I, too, will give.” +</p> + +<p> +And he brought his little ones to them, and now the huntsmen had two lions, two +bears, two wolves, two foxes, and two hares, who followed them and served them. +In thu meantime their hunger was not appeased by this, and they said to the +foxes, “Hark ye, cunning fellows, provide us with something to eat. You +are crafty and deep.” They replied, “Not far from here lies a +village, from which we have already brought many a fowl; we will show you the +way there.” So they went into the village, bought themselves something to +eat, had some food given to their beasts, and then travelled onwards. The +foxes, however, knew their way very well about the district and where the +poultry-yards were, and were able to guide the huntsmen. +</p> + +<p> +Now they travelled about for a while, but could find no situations where they +could remain together, so they said, “There is nothing else for it, we +must part.” They divided the animals, so that each of them had a lion, a +bear, a wolf, a fox, and a hare, then they took leave of each other, promised +to love each other like brothers till their death, and stuck the knife which +their foster-father had given them, into a tree, after which one went east, and +the other went west. +</p> + +<p> +The younger, however, arrived with his beasts in a town which was all hung with +black crape. He went into an inn, and asked the host if he could accommodate +his animals. The innkeeper gave him a stable, where there was a hole in the +wall, and the hare crept out and fetched himself the head of a cabbage, and the +fox fetched himself a hen, and when he had devoured that got the cock as well, +but the wolf, the bear, and the lion could not get out because they were too +big. Then the innkeeper let them be taken to a place where a cow was just then +lying on the grass, that they might eat till they were satisfied. And when the +huntsman had taken care of his animals, he asked the innkeeper why the town was +thus hung with black crape? Said the host, “Because our King’s only +daughter is to die to-morrow.” The huntsman inquired if she was +“sick unto death?” “No,” answered the host, “she +is vigorous and healthy, nevertheless she must die!” “How is +that?” asked the huntsman. “There is a high hill without the town, +whereon dwells a dragon who every year must have a pure virgin, or he lays the +whole country waste, and now all the maidens have already been given to him, +and there is no longer anyone left but the King’s daughter, yet there is +no mercy for her; she must be given up to him, and that is to be done +to-morrow.” Said the huntsman, “Why is the dragon not +killed?” “Ah,” replied the host, “so many knights have +tried it, but it has cost all of them their lives. The King has promised that +he who conquers the dragon shall have his daughter to wife, and shall likewise +govern the kingdom after his own death.” +</p> + +<p> +The huntsman said nothing more to this, but next morning took his animals, and +with them ascended the dragon’s hill. A little church stood at the top of +it, and on the altar three full cups were standing, with the inscription, +“Whosoever empties the cups will become the strongest man on earth, and +will be able to wield the sword which is buried before the threshold of the +door.” The huntsman did not drink, but went out and sought for the sword +in the ground, but was unable to move it from its place. Then he went in and +emptied the cups, and now he was strong enough to take up the sword, and his +hand could quite easily wield it. When the hour came when the maiden was to be +delivered over to the dragon, the King, the marshal, and courtiers accompanied +her. From afar she saw the huntsman on the dragon’s hill, and thought it +was the dragon standing there waiting for her, and did not want to go up to +him, but at last, because otherwise the whole town would have been destroyed, +she was forced to go the miserable journey. The King and courtiers returned +home full of grief; the King’s marshal, however, was to stand still, and +see all from a distance. +</p> + +<p> +When the King’s daughter got to the top of the hill, it was not the +dragon which stood there, but the young huntsman, who comforted her, and said +he would save her, led her into the church, and locked her in. It was not long +before the seven-headed dragon came thither with loud roaring. When he +perceived the huntsman, he was astonished and said, “What business hast +thou here on the hill?” The huntsman answered, “I want to fight +with thee.” Said the dragon, “Many knights have left their lives +here, I shall soon have made an end of thee too,” and he breathed fire +out of seven jaws. The fire was to have lighted the dry grass, and the huntsman +was to have been suffocated in the heat and smoke, but the animals came running +up and trampled out the fire. Then the dragon rushed upon the huntsman, but he +swung his sword until it sang through the air, and struck off three of his +heads. Then the dragon grew right furious, and rose up in the air, and spat out +flames of fire over the huntsman, and was about to plunge down on him, but the +huntsman once more drew out his sword, and again cut off three of his heads. +The monster became faint and sank down, nevertheless it was just able to rush +upon the huntsman, but he with his last strength smote its tail off, and as he +could fight no longer, called up his animals who tore it in pieces. When the +struggle was ended, the huntsman unlocked the church, and found the +King’s daughter lying on the floor, as she had lost her senses with +anguish and terror during the contest. He carried her out, and when she came to +herself once more, and opened her eyes, he showed her the dragon all cut to +pieces, and told her that she was now delivered. She rejoiced and said, +“Now thou wilt be my dearest husband, for my father has promised me to +him who kills the dragon.” Thereupon she took off her necklace of coral, +and divided it amongst the animals in order to reward them, and the lion +received the golden clasp. Her pocket-handkerchief, however, on which was her +name, she gave to the huntsman, who went and cut the tongues out of the +dragon’s seven heads, wrapped them in the handkerchief, and preserved +them carefully. +</p> + +<p> +That done, as he was so faint and weary with the fire and the battle, he said +to the maiden, “We are both faint and weary, we will sleep awhile.” +Then she said, “yes,” and they lay down on the ground, and the +huntsman said to the lion, “Thou shalt keep watch, that no one surprises +us in our sleep,” and both fell asleep. The lion lay down beside them to +watch, but he also was so weary with the fight, that he called to the bear and +said, “Lie down near me, I must sleep a little: if anything comes, waken +me.” Then the bear lay down beside him, but he also was tired, and called +the wolf and said, “Lie down by me, I must sleep a little, but if +anything comes, waken me.” Then the wolf lay down by him, but he was +tired likewise, and called the fox and said, “Lie down by me, I must +sleep a little; if anything comes, waken me.” Then the fox lay down +beside him, but he too was weary, and called the hare and said, “Lie down +near me, I must sleep a little, and if anything should come, waken me.” +Then the hare sat down by him, but the poor hare was tired too, and had no one +whom he could call there to keep watch, and fell asleep. And now the +King’s daughter, the huntsman, the lion, the bear, the wolf, the fox, and +the hare, were all sleeping a sound sleep. The marshal, however, who was to +look on from a distance, took courage when he did not see the dragon flying +away with the maiden, and finding that all the hill had become quiet, ascended +it. There lay the dragon hacked and hewn to pieces on the ground, and not far +from it were the King’s daughter and a huntsman with his animals, and all +of them were sunk in a sound sleep. And as he was wicked and godless he took +his sword, cut off the huntsman’s head, and seized the maiden in his +arms, and carried her down the hill. Then she awoke and was terrified, but the +marshal said, “Thou art in my hands, thou shalt say that it was I who +killed the dragon.” “I cannot do that,” she replied, +“for it was a huntsman with his animals who did it.” Then he drew +his sword, and threatened to kill her if she did not obey him, and so compelled +her that she promised it. Then he took her to the King, who did not know how to +contain himself for joy when he once more looked on his dear child in life, +whom he had believed to have been torn to pieces by the monster. The marshal +said to him, “I have killed the dragon, and delivered the maiden and the +whole kingdom as well, therefore I demand her as my wife, as was +promised.” The King said to the maiden, “Is what he says +true?” “Ah, yes,” she answered, “it must indeed be +true, but I will not consent to have the wedding celebrated until after a year +and a day,” for she thought in that time she should hear something of her +dear huntsman. +</p> + +<p> +The animals, however, were still lying sleeping beside their dead master on the +dragon’s hill, and there came a great humble-bee and lighted on the +hare’s nose, but the hare wiped it off with his paw, and went on +sleeping. The humble-bee came a second time, but the hare again rubbed it off +and slept on. Then it came for the third time, and stung his nose so that he +awoke. As soon as the hare was awake, he roused the fox, and the fox, the wolf, +and the wolf the bear, and the bear the lion. And when the lion awoke and saw +that the maiden was gone, and his master was dead, he began to roar frightfully +and cried, “Who has done that? Bear, why didst thou not waken me?” +The bear asked the wolf, “Why didst thou not waken me?” and the +wolf the fox, “Why didst thou not waken me?” and the fox the hare, +“Why didst thou not waken me?” The poor hare alone did not know +what answer to make, and the blame rested with him. Then they were just going +to fall upon him, but he entreated them and said, “Kill me not, I will +bring our master to life again. I know a mountain on which a root grows which, +when placed in the mouth of any one, cures him of all illness and every wound. +But the mountain lies two hundred hours journey from here.” The lion +said, “In four-and-twenty hours must thou have run thither and have come +back, and have brought the root with thee.” Then the hare sprang away, +and in four-and-twenty hours he was back, and brought the root with him. The +lion put the huntsman’s head on again, and the hare placed the root in +his mouth, and immediately everything united together again, and his heart +beat, and life came back. Then the huntsman awoke, and was alarmed when he did +not see the maiden, and thought, “She must have gone away whilst I was +sleeping, in order to get rid of me.” The lion in his great haste had put +his master’s head on the wrong way round, but the huntsman did not +observe it because of his melancholy thoughts about the King’s daughter. +But at noon, when he was going to eat something, he saw that his head was +turned backwards and could not understand it, and asked the animals what had +happened to him in his sleep. Then the lion told him that they, too, had all +fallen asleep from weariness, and on awaking, had found him dead with his head +cut off, that the hare had brought the life-giving root, and that he, in his +haste, had laid hold of the head the wrong way, but that he would repair his +mistake. Then he tore the huntsman’s head off again, turned it round, and +the hare healed it with the root. +</p> + +<p> +The huntsman, however, was sad at heart, and travelled about the world, and +made his animals dance before people. It came to pass that precisely at the end +of one year he came back to the same town where he had delivered the +King’s daughter from the dragon, and this time the town was gaily hung +with red cloth. Then he said to the host, “What does this mean? Last year +the town was all hung with black crape, what means the red cloth to-day?” +The host answered, “Last year our King’s daughter was to have been +delivered over to the dragon, but the marshal fought with it and killed it, and +so to-morrow their wedding is to be solemnized, and that is why the town was +then hung with black crape for mourning, and is to-day covered with red cloth +for joy?” +</p> + +<p> +Next day when the wedding was to take place, the huntsman said at mid-day to +the inn-keeper, “Do you believe, sir host, that I while with you here +to-day shall eat bread from the King’s own table?” +“Nay,” said the host, “I would bet a hundred pieces of gold +that that will not come true.” The huntsman accepted the wager, and set +against it a purse with just the same number of gold pieces. Then he called the +hare and said, “Go, my dear runner, and fetch me some of the bread which +the King is eating.” Now the little hare was the lowest of the animals, +and could not transfer this order to any the others, but had to get on his legs +himself. “Alas!” thought he, “if I bound through the streets +thus alone, the butchers’ dogs will all be after me.” It happened +as he expected, and the dogs came after him and wanted to make holes in his +good skin. But he sprang away, have you have never seen one running? and +sheltered himself in a sentry-box without the soldier being aware of it. Then +the dogs came and wanted to have him out, but the soldier did not understand a +jest, and struck them with the butt-end of his gun, till they ran away yelling +and howling. As soon as the hare saw that the way was clear, he ran into the +palace and straight to the King’s daughter, sat down under her chair, and +scratched at her foot. Then she said, “Wilt thou get away?” and +thought it was her dog. The hare scratched her foot for the second time, and +she again said, “Wilt thou get away?” and thought it was her dog. +But the hare did not let itself be turned from its purpose, and scratched her +for the third time. Then she peeped down, and knew the hare by its collar. She +took him on her lap, carried him into her chamber, and said, “Dear Hare, +what dost thou want?” He answered, “My master, who killed the +dragon, is here, and has sent me to ask for a loaf of bread like that which the +King eats.” Then she was full of joy and had the baker summoned, and +ordered him to bring a loaf such as was eaten by the King. The little hare +said, “But the baker must likewise carry it thither for me, that the +butchers’ dogs may do no harm to me.” The baker carried if for him +as far as the door of the inn, and then the hare got on his hind legs, took the +loaf in his front paws, and carried it to his master. Then said the huntsman, +“Behold, sir host, the hundred pieces of gold are mine.” The host +was astonished, but the huntsman went on to say, “Yes, sir host, I have +the bread, but now I will likewise have some of the King’s roast +meat.” +</p> + +<p> +The host said, “I should indeed like to see that,” but he would +make no more wagers. The huntsman called the fox and said, “My little +fox, go and fetch me some roast meat, such as the King eats.” The red fox +knew the bye-ways better, and went by holes and corners without any dog seeing +him, seated himself under the chair of the King’s daughter, and scratched +her foot. Then she looked down and recognized the fox by its collar, took him +into her chamber with her and said, “Dear fox, what dost thou +want?” He answered, “My master, who killed the dragon, is here, and +has sent me. I am to ask for some roast meat such as the King is eating.” +Then she made the cook come, who was obliged to prepare a roast joint, the same +as was eaten by the King, and to carry it for the fox as far as the door. Then +the fox took the dish, waved away with his tail the flies which had settled on +the meat, and then carried it to his master. “Behold, sir host,” +said the huntsman, “bread and meat are here but now I will also have +proper vegetables with it, such as are eaten by the King.” Then he called +the wolf, and said, “Dear Wolf, go thither and fetch me vegetables such +as the King eats.” Then the wolf went straight to the palace, as he +feared no one, and when he got to the King’s daughter’s chamber, he +twitched at the back of her dress, so that she was forced to look round. She +recognized him by his collar, and took him into her chamber with her, and said, +“Dear Wolf, what dost thou want?” He answered, “My master, +who killed the dragon, is here, I am to ask for some vegetables, such as the +King eats.” Then she made the cook come, and he had to make ready a dish +of vegetables, such as the King ate, and had to carry it for the wolf as far as +the door, and then the wolf took the dish from him, and carried it to his +master. “Behold, sir host,” said the huntsman, “now I have +bread and meat and vegetables, but I will also have some pastry to eat like +that which the King eats.” He called the bear, and said, “Dear +Bear, thou art fond of licking anything sweet; go and bring me some +confectionery, such as the King eats.” Then the bear trotted to the +palace, and every one got out of his way, but when he went to the guard, they +presented their muskets, and would not let him go into the royal palace. But he +got up on his hind legs, and gave them a few boxes on the ears, right and left, +with his paws, so that the whole watch broke up, and then he went straight to +the King’s daughter, placed himself behind her, and growled a little. +Then she looked behind her, knew the bear, and bade him go into her room with +her, and said, “Dear Bear, what dost thou want?” He answered, +“My master, who killed the dragon, is here, and I am to ask for some +confectionery, such as the King eats.” Then she summoned her +confectioner, who had to bake confectionery such as the King ate, and carry it +to the door for the bear; then the bear first licked up the comfits which had +rolled down, and then he stood upright, took the dish, and carried it to his +master. “Behold, sir host,” said the huntsman, “now I have +bread, meat, vegetables and confectionery, but I will drink wine also, and such +as the King drinks.” He called his lion to him and said, “Dear +Lion, thou thyself likest to drink till thou art intoxicated, go and fetch me +some wine, such as is drunk by the King.” Then the lion strode through +the streets, and the people fled from him, and when he came to the watch, they +wanted to bar the way against him, but he did but roar once, and they all ran +away. Then the lion went to the royal apartment, and knocked at the door with +his tail. Then the King’s daughter came forth, and was almost afraid of +the lion, but she knew him by the golden clasp of her necklace, and bade him go +with her into her chamber, and said, “Dear Lion, what wilt thou +have?” He answered, “My master, who killed the dragon, is here, and +I am to ask for some wine such as is drunk by the King.” Then she bade +the cup-bearer be called, who was to give the lion some wine like that which +was drunk by the King. The lion said, “I will go with him, and see that I +get the right wine.” Then he went down with the cup-bearer, and when they +were below, the cup-bearer wanted to draw him some of the common wine that was +drunk by the King’s servants, but the lion said, “Stop, I will +taste the wine first,” and he drew half a measure, and swallowed it down +at one draught. “No,” said he, “that is not right.” The +cup-bearer looked at him askance, but went on, and was about to give him some +out of another barrel which was for the King’s marshal. The lion said, +“Stop, let me taste the wine first,” and drew half a measure and +drank it. “That is better, but still not right,” said he. Then the +cup-bearer grew angry and said, “How can a stupid animal like you +understand wine?” But the lion gave him a blow behind the ears, which +made him fall down by no means gently, and when he had got up again, he +conducted the lion quite silently into a little cellar apart, where the +King’s wine lay, from which no one ever drank. The lion first drew half a +measure and tried the wine, and then he said, That may possibly be the right +sort, and bade the cup-bearer fill six bottles of it. And now they went +upstairs again, but when the lion came out of the cellar into the open air, he +reeled here and there, and was rather drunk, and the cup-bearer was forced to +carry the wine as far as the door for him, and then the lion took the handle of +the basket in his mouth, and took it to his master. The huntsman said, +“Behold, sir host, here have I bread, meat, vegetables, confectionery and +wine such as the King has, and now I will dine with my animals,” and he +sat down and ate and drank, and gave the hare, the fox, the wolf, the bear, and +the lion also to eat and to drink, and was joyful, for he saw that the +King’s daughter still loved him. And when he had finished his dinner, he +said, “Sir host, now have I eaten and drunk, as the King eats and drinks, +and now I will go to the King’s court and marry the King’s +daughter.” Said the host, “How can that be, when she already has a +betrothed husband, and when the wedding is to be solemnized to-day?” Then +the huntsman drew forth the handkerchief which the King’s daughter had +given him on the dragon’s hill, and in which were folded the +monster’s seven tongues, and said, “That which I hold in my hand +shall help me to do it.” Then the innkeeper looked at the handkerchief, +and said, “Whatever I believe, I do not believe that, and I am willing to +stake my house and courtyard on it.” The huntsman, however, took a bag +with a thousand gold pieces, put it on the table, and said, “I stake that +on it.” +</p> + +<p> +Now the King said to his daughter, at the royal table, “What did all the +wild animals want, which have been coming to thee, and going in and out of my +palace?” She replied, “I may not tell you, but send and have the +master of these animals brought, and you will do well.” The King sent a +servant to the inn, and invited the stranger, and the servant came just as the +huntsman had laid his wager with the innkeeper. Then said he, “Behold, +sir host, now the King sends his servant and invites me, but I do not go in +this way.” And he said to the servant, “I request the Lord King to +send me royal clothing, and a carriage with six horses, and servants to attend +me.” When the King heard the answer, he said to his daughter, “What +shall I do?” She said, “Cause him to be fetched as he desires to +be, and you will do well.” Then the King sent royal apparel, a carriage +with six horses, and servants to wait on him. When the huntsman saw them +coming, he said, “Behold, sir host, now I am fetched as I desired to +be,” and he put on the royal garments, took the handkerchief with the +dragon’s tongues with him, and drove off to the King. When the King saw +him coming, he said to his daughter, “How shall I receive him?” She +answered, “Go to meet him and you will do well.” Then the King went +to meet him and led him in, and his animals followed. The King gave him a seat +near himself and his daughter, and the marshal, as bridegroom, sat on the other +side, but no longer knew the huntsman. And now at this very moment, the seven +heads of the dragon were brought in as a spectacle, and the King said, +“The seven heads were cut off the dragon by the marshal, wherefore to-day +I give him my daughter to wife.” The the huntsman stood up, opened the +seven mouths, and said, “Where are the seven tongues of the +dragon?” Then was the marshal terrified, and grew pale and knew not what +answer he should make, and at length in his anguish he said, “Dragons +have no tongues.” The huntsman said, “Liars ought to have none, but +the dragon’s tongues are the tokens of the victor,” and he unfolded +the handkerchief, and there lay all seven inside it. And he put each tongue in +the mouth to which it belonged, and it fitted exactly. Then he took the +handkerchief on which the name of the princess was embroidered, and showed it +to the maiden, and asked to whom she had given it, and she replied, “To +him who killed the dragon.” And then he called his animals, and took the +collar off each of them and the golden clasp from the lion, and showed them to +the maiden and asked to whom they belonged. She answered, “The necklace +and golden clasp were mine, but I divided them among the animals who helped to +conquer the dragon.” Then spake the huntsman, “When I, tired with +the fight, was resting and sleeping, the marshal came and cut off my head. Then +he carried away the King’s daughter, and gave out that it was he who had +killed the dragon, but that he lied I prove with the tongues, the handkerchief, +and the necklace.” And then he related how his animals had healed him by +means of a wonderful root, and how he had travelled about with them for one +year, and had at length again come there and had learnt the treachery of the +marshal by the inn-keeper’s story. Then the King asked his daughter, +“Is it true that this man killed the dragon?” And she answered, +“Yes, it is true. Now can I reveal the wicked deed of the marshal, as it +has come to light without my connivance, for he wrung from me a promise to be +silent. For this reason, however, did I make the condition that the marriage +should not be solemnized for a year and a day.” Then the King bade twelve +councillors be summoned who were to pronounce judgment on the marshal, and they +sentenced him to be torn to pieces by four bulls. The marshal was therefore +executed, but the King gave his daughter to the huntsman, and named him his +viceroy over the whole kingdom. The wedding was celebrated with great joy, and +the young King caused his father and his foster-father to be brought, and +loaded them with treasures. Neither did he forget the inn-keeper, but sent for +him and said, “Behold, sir host, I have married the King’s +daughter, and your house and yard are mine.” The host said, “Yes, +according to justice it is so.” But the young King said, “It shall +be done according to mercy,” and told him that he should keep his house +and yard, and gave him the thousand pieces of gold as well. +</p> + +<p> +And now the young King and Queen were thoroughly happy, and lived in gladness +together. He often went out hunting because it was a delight to him, and the +faithful animals had to accompany him. In the neighborhood, however, there was +a forest of which it was reported that it was haunted, and that whosoever did +but enter it did not easily get out again. The young King, however, had a great +inclination to hunt in it, and let the old King have no peace until he allowed +him to do so. So he rode forth with a great following, and when he came to the +forest, he saw a snow-white hart and said to his people, “Wait here until +I return, I want to chase that beautiful creature,” and he rode into the +forest after it, followed only by his animals. The attendants halted and waited +until evening, but he did not return, so they rode home, and told the young +Queen that the young King had followed a white hart into the enchanted forest, +and had not come back again. Then she was in the greatest concern about him. +He, however, had still continued to ride on and on after the beautiful wild +animal, and had never been able to overtake it; when he thought he was near +enough to aim, he instantly saw it bound away into the far distance, and at +length it vanished altogether. And now he perceived that he had penetrated deep +into the forest, and blew his horn but he received no answer, for his +attendants could not hear it. And as night, too, was falling, he saw that he +could not get home that day, so he dismounted from his horse, lighted himself a +fire near a tree, and resolved to spend the night by it. While he was sitting +by the fire, and his animals also were lying down beside him, it seemed to him +that he heard a human voice. He looked round, but could perceived nothing. Soon +afterwards, he again heard a groan as if from above, and then he looked up, and +saw an old woman sitting in the tree, who wailed unceasingly, “Oh, oh, +oh, how cold I am!” Said he, “Come down, and warm thyself if thou +art cold.” But she said, “No, thy animals will bite me.” He +answered, “They will do thee no harm, old mother, do come down.” +She, however, was a witch, and said, “I will throw down a wand from the +tree, and if thou strikest them on the back with it, they will do me no +harm.” Then she threw him a small wand, and he struck them with it, and +instantly they lay still and were turned into stone. And when the witch was +safe from the animals, she leapt down and touched him also with a wand, and +changed him to stone. Thereupon she laughed, and dragged him and the animals +into a vault, where many more such stones already lay. +</p> + +<p> +As, however, the young King did not come back at all, the Queen’s anguish +and care grew constantly greater. And it so happened that at this very time the +other brother who had turned to the east when they separated, came into the +kingdom. He had sought a situation, and had found none, and had then travelled +about here and there, and had made his animals dance. Then it came into his +mind that he would just go and look at the knife that they had thrust in the +trunk of a tree at their parting, that he might learn how his brother was. When +he got there his brother’s side of the knife was half rusted, and half +bright. Then he was alarmed and thought, “A great misfortune must have +befallen my brother, but perhaps I can still save him, for half the knife is +still bright.” He and his animals travelled towards the west, and when he +entered the gate of the town, the guard came to meet him, and asked if he was +to announce him to his consort the young Queen, who had for a couple of days +been in the greatest sorrow about his staying away, and was afraid he had been +killed in the enchanted forest? The sentries, indeed, thought no otherwise than +that he was the young King himself, for he looked so like him, and had wild +animals running behind him. Then he saw that they were speaking of his brother, +and thought, “It will be better if I pass myself off for him, and then I +can rescue him more easily.” So he allowed himself to be escorted into +the castle by the guard, and was received with the greatest joy. The young +Queen indeed thought that he was her husband, and asked him why he had stayed +away so long. He answered, “I had lost myself in a forest, and could not +find my way out again any sooner.” At night he was taken to the royal +bed, but he laid a two-edged sword between him and the young Queen; she did not +know what that could mean, but did not venture to ask. +</p> + +<p> +He remained in the palace a couple of days, and in the meantime inquired into +everything which related to the enchanted forest, and at last he said, “I +must hunt there once more.” The King and the young Queen wanted to +persuade him not to do it, but he stood out against them, and went forth with a +larger following. When he had got into the forest, it fared with him as with +his brother; he saw a white hart and said to his people, “Stay here, and +wait until I return, I want to chase the lovely wild beast,” and then he +rode into the forest and his animals ran after him. But he could not overtake +the hart, and got so deep into the forest that he was forced to pass the night +there. And when he had lighted a fire, he heard some one wailing above him, +“Oh, oh, oh, how cold I am!” Then he looked up, and the self-same +witch was sitting in the tree. Said he, “If thou art cold, come down, +little old mother, and warm thyself.” She answered, “No, thy +animals will bite me.” But he said, “They will not hurt +thee.” Then she cried, “I will throw down a wand to thee, and if +thou smitest them with it they will do me no harm.” When the huntsman +heard that, he had no confidence in the old woman, and said, “I will not +strike my animals. Come down, or I will fetch thee.” Then she cried, +“What dost thou want? Thou shalt not touch me.” But he replied, +“If thou dost not come, I will shoot thee.” Said she, “Shoot +away, I do not fear thy bullets!” Then he aimed, and fired at her, but +the witch was proof against all leaden bullets, and laughed, and yelled and +cried, “Thou shalt not hit me.” The huntsman knew what to do, tore +three silver buttons off his coat, and loaded his gun with them, for against +them her arts were useless, and when he fired she fell down at once with a +scream. Then he set his foot on her and said, Old witch, if thou dost not +instantly confess where my brother is, I will seize thee with both my hands and +throw thee into the fire. She was in a great fright, begged for mercy and said, +He and his animals lie in a vault, turned to stone. Then he compelled her to go +thither with him, threatened her, and said, Old sea-cat, now shalt thou make my +brother and all the human beings lying here, alive again, or thou shalt go into +the fire! She took a wand and touched the stones, and then his brother with his +animals came to life again, and many others, merchants, artizans, and +shepherds, arose, thanked him for their deliverance, and went to their homes. +But when the twin brothers saw each other again, they kissed each other and +rejoiced with all their hearts. Then they seized the witch, bound her and laid +her on the fire, and when she was burnt the forest opened of its own accord, +and was light and clear, and the King’s palace could be seen at about the +distance of a three hours walk. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the two brothers went home together, and on the way told each other +their histories. And when the youngest said that he was ruler of the whole +country in the King’s stead, the other observed, “That I remarked +very well, for when I came to the town, and was taken for thee, all royal +honours were paid me; the young Queen looked on me as her husband, and I had to +eat at her side, and sleep in thy bed.” When the other heard that, he +became so jealous and angry that he drew his sword, and struck off his +brother’s head. But when he saw him lying there dead, and saw his red +blood flowing, he repented most violently: “My brother delivered +me,” cried he, “and I have killed him for it,” and he +bewailed him aloud. Then his hare came and offered to go and bring some of the +root of life, and bounded away and brought it while yet there was time, and the +dead man was brought to life again, and knew nothing about the wound. +</p> + +<p> +After this they journeyed onwards, and the youngest said, “Thou lookest +like me, hast royal apparel on as I have, and the animals follow thee as they +do me; we will go in by opposite gates, and arrive at the same time from the +two sides in the aged King’s presence.” So they separated, and at +the same time came the watchmen from the one door and from the other, and +announced that the young King and the animals had returned from the chase. The +King said, “It is not possible, the gates lie quite a mile apart.” +In the meantime, however, the two brothers entered the courtyard of the palace +from opposite sides, and both mounted the steps. Then the King said to the +daughter, “Say which is thy husband. Each of them looks exactly like the +other, I cannot tell.” Then she was in great distress, and could not +tell; but at last she remembered the necklace which she had given to the +animals, and she sought for and found her little golden clasp on the lion, and +she cried in her delight, “He who is followed by this lion is my true +husband”. Then the young King laughed and said, “Yes, he is the +right one,” and they sat down together to table, and ate and drank, and +were merry. At night when the young King went to bed, his wife said, “Why +hast thou for these last nights always laid a two-edged sword in our bed? I +thought thou hadst a wish to kill me.” Then he knew how true his brother +had been. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap61"></a>61 The Little Peasant</h3> + +<p> +There was a certain village wherein no one lived but really rich peasants, and +just one poor one, whom they called the little peasant. He had not even so much +as a cow, and still less money to buy one, and yet he and his wife did so wish +to have one. One day he said to her, “Hark you, I have a good thought, +there is our gossip the carpenter, he shall make us a wooden calf, and paint it +brown, so that it look like any other, and in time it will certainly get big +and be a cow.” The woman also liked the idea, and their gossip the +carpenter cut and planed the calf, and painted it as it ought to be, and made +it with its head hanging down as if it were eating. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning when the cows were being driven out, the little peasant called the +cow-herd and said, “Look, I have a little calf there, but it is still +small and has still to be carried.” The cow-herd said, “All right, +and took it in his arms and carried it to the pasture, and set it among the +grass.” The little calf always remained standing like one which was +eating, and the cow-herd said, “It will soon run alone, just look how it +eats already!” At night when he was going to drive the herd home again, +he said to the calf, “If thou canst stand there and eat thy fill, thou +canst also go on thy four legs; I don’t care to drag thee home again in +my arms.” But the little peasant stood at his door, and waited for his +little calf, and when the cow-herd drove the cows through the village, and the +calf was missing, he inquired where it was. The cow-herd answered, “It is +still standing out there eating. It would not stop and come with us.” But +the little peasant said, “Oh, but I must have my beast back again.” +Then they went back to the meadow together, but some one had stolen the calf, +and it was gone. The cow-herd said, “It must have run away.” The +peasant, however, said, “Don’t tell me that,” and led the +cow-herd before the mayor, who for his carelessness condemned him to give the +peasant a cow for the calf which had run away. +</p> + +<p> +And now the little peasant and his wife had the cow for which they had so long +wished, and they were heartily glad, but they had no food for it, and could +give it nothing to eat, so it soon had to be killed. They salted the flesh, and +the peasant went into the town and wanted to sell the skin there, so that he +might buy a new calf with the proceeds. On the way he passed by a mill, and +there sat a raven with broken wings, and out of pity he took him and wrapped +him in the skin. As, however, the weather grew so bad and there was a storm of +rain and wind, he could go no farther, and turned back to the mill and begged +for shelter. The miller’s wife was alone in the house, and said to the +peasant, “Lay thyself on the straw there”, and gave him a slice of +bread with cheese on it. The peasant ate it, and lay down with his skin beside +him, and the woman thought, “He is tired and has gone to sleep.” In +the meantime came the parson; the miller’s wife received him well, and +said, “My husband is out, so we will have a feast.” The peasant +listened, and when he heard about feasting he was vexed that he had been forced +to make shift with a slice of bread with cheese on it. Then the woman served up +four different things, roast meat, salad, cakes, and wine. +</p> + +<p> +Just as they were about to sit down and eat, there was a knocking outside. The +woman said, “Oh, heavens! It is my husband!” She quickly hid the +roast meat inside the tiled stove, the wine under the pillow, the salad on the +bed, the cakes under it, and the parson in the cupboard in the entrance. Then +she opened the door for her husband, and said, “Thank heaven, thou art +back again! There is such a storm, it looks as if the world were coming to an +end.” The miller saw the peasant lying on the straw, and asked, +“What is that fellow doing there?” “Ah,” said the wife, +“the poor knave came in the storm and rain, and begged for shelter, so I +gave him a bit of bread and cheese, and showed him where the straw was.” +The man said, “I have no objection, but be quick and get me something to +eat.” The woman said, “But I have nothing but bread and +cheese.” “I am contented with anything,” replied the husband, +“so far as I am concerned, bread and cheese will do,” and looked at +the peasant and said, “Come and eat some more with me.” The peasant +did not require to be invited twice, but got up and ate. After this the miller +saw the skin in which the raven was, lying on the ground, and asked, +“What hast thou there?” The peasant answered, “I have a +soothsayer inside it.” “Can he foretell anything to me?” said +the miller. “Why not?” answered the peasant, “but he only +says four things, and the fifth he keeps to himself.” The miller was +curious, and said, “Let him foretell something for once.” Then the +peasant pinched the raven’s head, so that he croaked and made a noise +like krr, krr. The miller said, “What did he say?” The peasant +answered, “In the first place, he says that there is some wine hidden +under the pillow.” “Bless me!” cried the miller, and went +there and found the wine. “Now go on,” said he. The peasant made +the raven croak again, and said, “In the second place, he says that there +is some roast meat in the tiled stove.” “Upon my word!” cried +the miller, and went thither, and found the roast meat. The peasant made the +raven prophesy still more, and said, “Thirdly, he says that there is some +salad on the bed.” “That would be a fine thing!” cried the +miller, and went there and found the salad. At last the peasant pinched the +raven once more till he croaked, and said, “Fourthly, he says that there +are some cakes under the bed.” “That would be a fine thing!” +cried the miller, and looked there, and found the cakes. +</p> + +<p> +And now the two sat down to the table together, but the miller’s wife was +frightened to death, and went to bed and took all the keys with her. The miller +would have liked much to know the fifth, but the little peasant said, +“First, we will quickly eat the four things, for the fifth is something +bad.” So they ate, and after that they bargained how much the miller was +to give for the fifth prophesy, until they agreed on three hundred thalers. +Then the peasant once more pinched the raven’s head till he croaked +loudly. The miller asked, “What did he say?” The peasant replied, +“He says that the Devil is hiding outside there in the cupboard in the +entrance.” The miller said, “The Devil must go out,” and +opened the house-door; then the woman was forced to give up the keys, and the +peasant unlocked the cupboard. The parson ran out as fast as he could, and the +miller said, “It was true; I saw the black rascal with my own +eyes.” The peasant, however, made off next morning by daybreak with the +three hundred thalers. +</p> + +<p> +At home the small peasant gradually launched out; he built a beautiful house, +and the peasants said, “The small peasant has certainly been to the place +where golden snow falls, and people carry the gold home in shovels.” Then +the small peasant was brought before the Mayor, and bidden to say from whence +his wealth came. He answered, “I sold my cow’s skin in the town, +for three hundred thalers.” When the peasants heard that, they too wished +to enjoy this great profit, and ran home, killed all their cows, and stripped +off their skins in order to sell them in the town to the greatest advantage. +The Mayor, however, said, “But my servant must go first.” When she +came to the merchant in the town, he did not give her more than two thalers for +a skin, and when the others came, he did not give them so much, and said, +“What can I do with all these skins?” +</p> + +<p> +Then the peasants were vexed that the small peasant should have thus +overreached them, wanted to take vengeance on him, and accused him of this +treachery before the Mayor. The innocent little peasant was unanimously +sentenced to death, and was to be rolled into the water, in a barrel pierced +full of holes. He was led forth, and a priest was brought who was to say a mass +for his soul. The others were all obliged to retire to a distance, and when the +peasant looked at the priest, he recognized the man who had been with the +miller’s wife. He said to him, “I set you free from the cupboard, +set me free from the barrel.” At this same moment up came, with a flock +of sheep, the very shepherd who as the peasant knew had long been wishing to be +Mayor, so he cried with all his might, “No, I will not do it; if the +whole world insists on it, I will not do it!” The shepherd hearing that, +came up to him, and asked, “What art thou about? What is it that thou +wilt not do?” The peasant said, “They want to make me Mayor, if I +will but put myself in the barrel, but I will not do it.” The shepherd +said, “If nothing more than that is needful in order to be Mayor, I would +get into the barrel at once.” The peasant said, “If thou wilt get +in, thou wilt be Mayor.” The shepherd was willing, and got in, and the +peasant shut the top down on him; then he took the shepherd’s flock for +himself, and drove it away. The parson went to the crowd, and declared that the +mass had been said. Then they came and rolled the barrel towards the water. +When the barrel began to roll, the shepherd cried, “I am quite willing to +be Mayor.” They believed no otherwise than that it was the peasant who +was saying this, and answered, “That is what we intend, but first thou +shalt look about thee a little down below there,” and they rolled the +barrel down into the water. +</p> + +<p> +After that the peasants went home, and as they were entering the village, the +small peasant also came quietly in, driving a flock of sheep and looking quite +contented. Then the peasants were astonished, and said, “Peasant, from +whence comest thou? Hast thou come out of the water?” “Yes, +truly,” replied the peasant, “I sank deep, deep down, until at last +I got to the bottom; I pushed the bottom out of the barrel, and crept out, and +there were pretty meadows on which a number of lambs were feeding, and from +thence I brought this flock away with me.” Said the peasants, “Are +there any more there?” “Oh, yes,” said he, “more than I +could do anything with.” Then the peasants made up their minds that they +too would fetch some sheep for themselves, a flock apiece, but the Mayor said, +“I come first.” So they went to the water together, and just then +there were some of the small fleecy clouds in the blue sky, which are called +little lambs, and they were reflected in the water, whereupon the peasants +cried, “We already see the sheep down below!” The Mayor pressed +forward and said, “I will go down first, and look about me, and if things +promise well I’ll call you.” So he jumped in; splash! went the +water; he made a sound as if he were calling them, and the whole crowd plunged +in after him as one man. Then the entire village was dead, and the small +peasant, as sole heir, became a rich man. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap62"></a>62 The Queen Bee</h3> + +<p> +Two kings’ sons once went out in search of adventures, and fell into a +wild, disorderly way of living, so that they never came home again. The +youngest, who was called Simpleton, set out to seek his brothers, but when at +length he found them they mocked him for thinking that he with his simplicity +could get through the world, when they two could not make their way, and yet +were so much cleverer. They all three travelled away together, and came to an +ant-hill. The two elder wanted to destroy it, to see the little ants creeping +about in their terror, and carrying their eggs away, but Simpleton said, +“Leave the creatures in peace; I will not allow you to disturb +them.” Then they went onwards and came to a lake, on which a great number +of ducks were swimming. The two brothers wanted to catch a couple and roast +them, but Simpleton would not permit it, and said, “Leave the creatures +in peace, I will not suffer you to kill them.” At length they came to a +bee’s nest, in which there was so much honey that it ran out of the trunk +of the tree where it was. The two wanted to make a fire beneath the tree, and +suffocate the bees in order to take away the honey, but Simpleton again stopped +them and said, “Leave the creatures in peace, I will not allow you to +burn them.” At length the three brothers arrived at a castle where stone +horses were standing in the stables, and no human being was to be seen, and +they went through all the halls until, quite at the end, they came to a door in +which were three locks. In the middle of the door, however, there was a little +pane, through which they could see into the room. There they saw a little grey +man, who was sitting at a table. They called him, once, twice, but he did not +hear; at last they called him for the third time, when he got up, opened the +locks, and came out. He said nothing, however, but conducted them to a +handsomely-spread table, and when they had eaten and drunk, he took each of +them to a bedroom. Next morning the little grey man came to the eldest, +beckoned to him, and conducted him to a stone table, on which were inscribed +three tasks, by the performance of which the castle could be delivered. The +first was that in the forest, beneath the moss, lay the princess’s +pearls, a thousand in number, which must be picked up, and if by sunset one +single pearl was wanting, he who had looked for them would be turned into +stone. The eldest went thither, and sought the whole day, but when it came to +an end, he had only found one hundred, and what was written on the table came +to pass, and he was changed into stone. Next day, the second brother undertook +the adventure; it did not, however, fare much better with him than with the +eldest; he did not find more than two hundred pearls, and was changed to stone. +At last the turn came to Simpleton also, who sought in the moss. It was, +however, so hard to find the pearls, and he got on so slowly, that he seated +himself on a stone, and wept. And while he was thus sitting, the King of the +ants whose life he had once saved, came with five thousand ants, and before +long the little creatures had got all the pearls together, and laid them in a +heap. The second task, however, was to fetch out of the lake the key of the +King’s daughter’s bed-chamber. When Simpleton came to the lake, the +ducks which he had saved, swam up to him, dived down, and brought the key out +of the water. But the third task was the most difficult; from amongst the three +sleeping daughters of the King was the youngest and dearest to be sought out. +They, however, resembled each other exactly, and were only to be distinguished +by their having eaten different sweetmeats before they fell asleep; the eldest +a bit of sugar; the second a little syrup; and the youngest a spoonful of +honey. Then the Queen of the bees, which Simpleton had protected from the fire, +came and tasted the lips of all three, and at last she remained sitting on the +mouth which had eaten honey, and thus the King’s son recognized the right +princess. Then the enchantment was at an end; everything was released from +sleep, and those who had been turned to stone received once more their natural +forms. Simpleton married the youngest and sweetest princess, and after her +father’s death became King, and his two brothers received the two other +sisters. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap63"></a>63 The Three Feathers</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a King who had three sons, of whom two were clever and +wise, but the third did not speak much, and was simple, and was called the +Simpleton. When the King had become old and weak, and was thinking of his end, +he did not know which of his sons should inherit the kingdom after him. Then he +said to them, “Go forth, and he who brings me the most beautiful carpet +shall be King after my death.” And that there should be no dispute +amongst them, he took them outside his castle, blew three feathers in the air, +and said, “You shall go as they fly.” One feather flew to the east, +the other to the west, but the third flew straight up and did not fly far, but +soon fell to the ground. And now one brother went to the right, and the other +to the left, and they mocked Simpleton, who was forced to stay where the third +feather had fallen. He sat down and was sad, then all at once he saw that there +was a trap-door close by the feather. He raised it up, found some steps, and +went down them, and then he came to another door, knocked at it, and heard +somebody inside calling, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Little green maiden small,<br/> +Hopping hither and thither;<br/> +Hop to the door,<br/> +And quickly see who is there.” +</p> + +<p> +The door opened, and he saw a great, fat toad sitting, and round about her a +crowd of little toads. The fat toad asked what he wanted? He answered, “I +should like to have the prettiest and finest carpet in the world.” Then +she called a young one and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Little green maiden small,<br/> +Hopping hither and thither,<br/> +Hop quickly and bring me<br/> +The great box here.” +</p> + +<p> +The young toad brought the box, and the fat toad opened it, and gave Simpleton +a carpet out of it, so beautiful and so fine, that on the earth above, none +could have been woven like it. Then he thanked her, and ascended again. The two +others had, however, looked on their youngest brother as so stupid that they +believed he would find and bring nothing at all. “Why should we give +ourselves a great deal of trouble to search?” said they, and got some +coarse handkerchiefs from the first shepherds’ wives whom they met, and +carried them home to the King. At the same time Simpleton also came back, and +brought his beautiful carpet, and when the King saw it he was astonished, and +said, “If justice be done, the kingdom belongs to the youngest.” +But the two others let their father have no peace, and said that it was +impossible that Simpleton, who in everything lacked understanding, should be +King, and entreated him to make a new agreement with them. Then the father +said, “He who brings me the most beautiful ring shall inherit the +kingdom,” and led the three brothers out, and blew into the air three +feathers, which they were to follow. Those of the two eldest again went east +and west, and Simpleton’s feather flew straight up, and fell down near +the door into the earth. Then he went down again to the fat toad, and told her +that he wanted the most beautiful ring. She at once ordered her great box to be +brought, and gave him a ring out of it, which sparkled with jewels, and was so +beautiful that no goldsmith on earth would have been able to make it. The two +eldest laughed at Simpleton for going to seek a golden ring. They gave +themselves no trouble, but knocked the nails out of an old carriage-ring, and +took it to the King; but when Simpleton produced his golden ring, his father +again said, “The kingdom belongs to him.” The two eldest did not +cease from tormenting the King until he made a third condition, and declared +that the one who brought the most beautiful woman home, should have the +kingdom. He again blew the three feathers into the air, and they flew as +before. +</p> + +<p> +Then Simpleton without more ado went down to the fat toad, and said, “I +am to take home the most beautiful woman!” “Oh,” answered the +toad, “the most beautiful woman! She is not at hand at the moment, but +still thou shalt have her.” She gave him a yellow turnip which had been +hollowed out, to which six mice were harnessed. Then Simpleton said quite +mournfully, “What am I to do with that?” The toad answered, +“Just put one of my little toads into it.” Then he seized one at +random out of the circle, and put her into the yellow coach, but hardly was she +seated inside it than she turned into a wonderfully beautiful maiden, and the +turnip into a coach, and the six mice into horses. So he kissed her, and drove +off quickly with the horses, and took her to the King. His brothers came +afterwards; they had given themselves no trouble at all to seek beautiful +girls, but had brought with them the first peasant women they chanced to meet. +When the King saw them he said, “After my death the kingdom belongs to my +youngest son.” But the two eldest deafened the King’s ears afresh +with their clamour, “We cannot consent to Simpleton’s being +King,” and demanded that the one whose wife could leap through a ring +which hung in the centre of the hall should have the preference. They thought, +“The peasant women can do that easily; they are strong enough, but the +delicate maiden will jump herself to death.” The aged King agreed +likewise to this. Then the two peasant women jumped, and jumped through the +ring, but were so stout that they fell, and their coarse arms and legs broke in +two. And then the pretty maiden whom Simpleton had brought with him, sprang, +and sprang through as lightly as a deer, and all opposition had to cease. So he +received the crown, and has ruled wisely for a length of time. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap64"></a>64 The Golden Goose</h3> + +<p> +There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was called<br/> +Dummling, and was despised, mocked, and put down on every occasion. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that the eldest wanted to go into the forest to hew wood, and +before he went his mother gave him a beautiful sweet cake and a bottle of wine +in order that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst. +</p> + +<p> +When he entered the forest there met him a little grey-haired old man who bade +him good-day, and said, “Do give me a piece of cake out of your pocket, +and let me have a draught of your wine; I am so hungry and thirsty.” But +the prudent youth answered, “If I give you my cake and wine, I shall have +none for myself; be off with you,” and he left the little man standing +and went on. +</p> + +<p> +But when he began to hew down a tree, it was not long before he made a false +stroke, and the axe cut him in the arm, so that he had to go home and have it +bound up. And this was the little grey man’s doing. +</p> + +<p> +After this the second son went into the forest, and his mother gave him, like +the eldest, a cake and a bottle of wine. The little old grey man met him +likewise, and asked him for a piece of cake and a drink of wine. But the second +son, too, said with much reason, “What I give you will be taken away from +myself; be off!” and he left the little man standing and went on. His +punishment, however, was not delayed; when he had made a few strokes at the +tree he struck himself in the leg, so that he had to be carried home. +</p> + +<p> +Then Dummling said, “Father, do let me go and cut wood.” The father +answered, “Your brothers have hurt themselves with it, leave it alone, +you do not understand anything about it.” But Dummling begged so long +that at last he said, “Just go then, you will get wiser by hurting +yourself.” His mother gave him a cake made with water and baked in the +cinders, and with it a bottle of sour beer. +</p> + +<p> +When he came to the forest the little old grey man met him likewise, and +greeting him, said, “Give me a piece of your cake and a drink out of your +bottle; I am so hungry and thirsty.” Dummling answered, “I have +only cinder-cake and sour beer; if that pleases you, we will sit down and +eat.” So they sat down, and when Dummling pulled out his cinder-cake, it +was a fine sweet cake, and the sour beer had become good wine. So they ate and +drank, and after that the little man said, “Since you have a good heart, +and are willing to divide what you have, I will give you good luck. There +stands an old tree, cut it down, and you will find something at the +roots.” Then the little man took leave of him. +</p> + +<p> +Dummling went and cut down the tree, and when it fell there was a goose sitting +in the roots with feathers of pure gold. He lifted her up, and taking her with +him, went to an inn where he thought he would stay the night. Now the host had +three daughters, who saw the goose and were curious to know what such a +wonderful bird might be, and would have liked to have one of its golden +feathers. +</p> + +<p> +The eldest thought, “I shall soon find an opportunity of pulling out a +feather,” and as soon as Dummling had gone out she seized the goose by +the wing, but her finger and hand remained sticking fast to it. +</p> + +<p> +The second came soon afterwards, thinking only of how she might get a feather +for herself, but she had scarcely touched her sister than she was held fast. +</p> + +<p> +At last the third also came with the like intent, and the others screamed out, +“Keep away; for goodness’ sake keep away!” But she did not +understand why she was to keep away. “The others are there,” she +thought, “I may as well be there too,” and ran to them; but as soon +as she had touched her sister, she remained sticking fast to her. So they had +to spend the night with the goose. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning Dummling took the goose under his arm and set out, without +troubling himself about the three girls who were hanging on to it. They were +obliged to run after him continually, now left, now right, just as he was +inclined to go. +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of the fields the parson met them, and when he saw the procession +he said, “For shame, you good-for-nothing girls, why are you running +across the fields after this young man? is that seemly?” At the same time +he seized the youngest by the hand in order to pull her away, but as soon as he +touched her he likewise stuck fast, and was himself obliged to run behind. +</p> + +<p> +Before long the sexton came by and saw his master, the parson, running behind +three girls. He was astonished at this and called out, “Hi, your +reverence, whither away so quickly? do not forget that we have a christening +to-day!” and running after him he took him by the sleeve, but was also +held fast to it. +</p> + +<p> +Whilst the five were trotting thus one behind the other, two labourers came +with their hoes from the fields; the parson called out to them and begged that +they would set him and the sexton free. But they had scarcely touched the +sexton when they were held fast, and now there were seven of them running +behind Dummling and the goose. +</p> + +<p> +Soon afterwards he came to a city, where a king ruled who had a daughter who +was so serious that no one could make her laugh. So he had put forth a decree +that whosoever should be able to make her laugh should marry her. When Dummling +heard this, he went with his goose and all her train before the King’s +daughter, and as soon as she saw the seven people running on and on, one behind +the other, she began to laugh quite loudly, and as if she would never leave +off. Thereupon Dummling asked to have her for his wife, and the wedding was +celebrated. After the King’s death, Dummling inherited the kingdom and +lived a long time contentedly with his wife. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap65"></a>65 Allerleirauh</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a King who had a wife with golden hair, and she was so +beautiful that her equal was not to be found on earth. It came to pass that she +lay ill, and as she felt that she must soon die, she called the King and said, +“If thou wishest to marry again after my death, take no one who is not +quite as beautiful as I am, and who has not just such golden hair as I have: +this thou must promise me.” And after the King had promised her this she +closed her eyes and died. +</p> + +<p> +For a long time the King could not be comforted, and had no thought of taking +another wife. At length his councillors said, “There is no help for it, +the King must marry again, that we may have a Queen.” And now messengers +were sent about far and wide, to seek a bride who equalled the late Queen in +beauty. In the whole world, however, none was to be found, and even if one had +been found, still there would have been no one who had such golden hair. So the +messengers came home as they went. +</p> + +<p> +Now the King had a daughter, who was just as beautiful as her dead mother, and +had the same golden hair. When she was grown up the King looked at her one day, +and saw that in every respect she was like his late wife, and suddenly felt a +violent love for her. Then he spake to his councillors, “I will marry my +daughter, for she is the counterpart of my late wife, otherwise I can find no +bride who resembles her.” When the councillors heard that, they were +shocked, and said, “God has forbidden a father to marry his daughter, no +good can come from such a crime, and the kingdom will be involved in the +ruin.” +</p> + +<p> +The daughter was still more shocked when she became aware of her father’s +resolution, but hoped to turn him from his design. Then she said to him, +“Before I fulfil your wish, I must have three dresses, one as golden as +the sun, one as silvery as the moon, and one as bright as the stars; besides +this, I wish for a mantle of a thousand different kinds of fur and hair joined +together, and one of every kind of animal in your kingdom must give a piece of +his skin for it.” But she thought, “To get that will be quite +impossible, and thus I shall divert my father from his wicked +intentions.” The King, however, did not give it up, and the cleverest +maidens in his kingdom had to weave the three dresses, one as golden as the +sun, one as silvery as the moon, and one as bright as the stars, and his +huntsmen had to catch one of every kind of animal in the whole of his kingdom, +and take from it a piece of its skin, and out of these was made a mantle of a +thousand different kinds of fur. At length, when all was ready, the King caused +the mantle to be brought, spread it out before her, and said, “The +wedding shall be to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +When, therefore, the King’s daughter saw that there was no longer any +hope of turning her father’s heart, she resolved to run away from him. In +the night whilst every one was asleep, she got up, and took three different +things from her treasures, a golden ring, a golden spinning-wheel, and a golden +reel. The three dresses of the sun, moon, and stars she put into a nutshell, +put on her mantle of all kinds of fur, and blackened her face and hands with +soot. Then she commended herself to God, and went away, and walked the whole +night until she reached a great forest. And as she was tired, she got into a +hollow tree, and fell asleep. +</p> + +<p> +The sun rose, and she slept on, and she was still sleeping when it was full +day. Then it so happened that the King to whom this forest belonged, was +hunting in it. When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, and ran barking +round about it. The King said to the huntsmen, “Just see what kind of +wild beast has hidden itself in there.” The huntsmen obeyed his order, +and when they came back they said, “A wondrous beast is lying in the +hollow tree; we have never before seen one like it. Its skin is fur of a +thousand different kinds, but it is lying asleep.” Said the King, +“See if you can catch it alive, and then fasten it to the carriage, and +we will take it with us.” When the huntsmen laid hold of the maiden, she +awoke full of terror, and cried to them, “I am a poor child, deserted by +father and mother; have pity on me, and take me with you.” Then said +they, “Allerleirauh, thou wilt be useful in the kitchen, come with us, +and thou canst sweep up the ashes.” So they put her in the carriage, and +took her home to the royal palace. There they pointed out to her a closet under +the stairs, where no daylight entered, and said, “Hairy animal, there +canst thou live and sleep.” Then she was sent into the kitchen, and there +she carried wood and water, swept the hearth, plucked the fowls, picked the +vegetables, raked the ashes, and did all the dirty work. +</p> + +<p> +Allerleirauh lived there for a long time in great wretchedness. Alas, fair +princess, what is to become of thee now! It happened, however, that one day a +feast was held in the palace, and she said to the cook, “May I go +up-stairs for a while, and look on? I will place myself outside the +door.” The cook answered, “Yes, go, but you must be back here in +half-an-hour to sweep the hearth.” Then she took her oil-lamp, went into +her den, put off her fur-dress, and washed the soot off her face and hands, so +that her full beauty once more came to light. And she opened the nut, and took +out her dress which shone like the sun, and when she had done that she went up +to the festival, and every one made way for her, for no one knew her, and +thought no otherwise than that she was a king’s daughter. The King came +to meet her, gave his hand to her, and danced with her, and thought in his +heart, “My eyes have never yet seen any one so beautiful!” When the +dance was over she curtsied, and when the King looked round again she had +vanished, and none knew whither. The guards who stood outside the palace were +called and questioned, but no one had seen her. +</p> + +<p> +She had, however, run into her little den, had quickly taken off her dress, +made her face and hands black again, put on the fur-mantle, and again was +Allerleirauh. And now when she went into the kitchen, and was about to get to +her work and sweep up the ashes, the cook said, “Leave that alone till +morning, and make me the soup for the King; I, too, will go upstairs awhile, +and take a look; but let no hairs fall in, or in future thou shalt have nothing +to eat.” So the cook went away, and Allerleirauh made the soup for the +king, and made bread soup and the best she could, and when it was ready she +fetched her golden ring from her little den, and put it in the bowl in which +the soup was served. When the dancing was over, the King had his soup brought +and ate it, and he liked it so much that it seemed to him he had never tasted +better. But when he came to the bottom of the bowl, he saw a golden ring lying, +and could not conceive how it could have got there. Then he ordered the cook to +appear before him. The cook was terrified when he heard the order, and said to +Allerleirauh, “Thou hast certainly let a hair fall into the soup, and if +thou hast, thou shalt be beaten for it.” When he came before the King the +latter asked who had made the soup? The cook replied, “I made it.” +But the King said, “That is not true, for it was much better than usual, +and cooked differently.” He answered, “I must acknowledge that I +did not make it, it was made by the rough animal.” The King said, +“Go and bid it come up here.” +</p> + +<p> +When Allerleirauh came, the King said, “Who art thou?” “I am +a poor girl who no longer has any father or mother.” He asked further, +“Of what use art thou in my palace?” She answered, “I am good +for nothing but to have boots thrown at my head.” He continued, +“Where didst thou get the ring which was in the soup?” She +answered, “I know nothing about the ring.” So the King could learn +nothing, and had to send her away again. +</p> + +<p> +After a while, there was another festival, and then, as before, Allerleirauh +begged the cook for leave to go and look on. He answered, “Yes, but come +back again in half-an-hour, and make the King the bread soup which he so much +likes.” Then she ran into her den, washed herself quickly, and took out +of the nut the dress which was as silvery as the moon, and put it on. Then she +went up and was like a princess, and the King stepped forward to meet her, and +rejoiced to see her once more, and as the dance was just beginning they danced +it together. But when it was ended, she again disappeared so quickly that the +King could not observe where she went. She, however, sprang into her den, and +once more made herself a hairy animal, and went into the kitchen to prepare the +bread soup. When the cook had gone up-stairs, she fetched the little golden +spinning-wheel, and put it in the bowl so that the soup covered it. Then it was +taken to the King, who ate it, and liked it as much as before, and had the cook +brought, who this time likewise was forced to confess that Allerleirauh had +prepared the soup. Allerleirauh again came before the King, but she answered +that she was good for nothing else but to have boots thrown at her head, and +that she knew nothing at all about the little golden spinning-wheel. +</p> + +<p> +When, for the third time, the King held a festival, all happened just as it had +done before. The cook said, “Faith rough-skin, thou art a witch, and +always puttest something in the soup which makes it so good that the King likes +it better than that which I cook,” but as she begged so hard, he let her +go up at the appointed time. And now she put on the dress which shone like the +stars, and thus entered the hall. Again the King danced with the beautiful +maiden, and thought that she never yet had been so beautiful. And whilst she +was dancing, he contrived, without her noticing it, to slip a golden ring on +her finger, and he had given orders that the dance should last a very long +time. When it was ended, he wanted to hold her fast by her hands, but she tore +herself loose, and sprang away so quickly through the crowd that she vanished +from his sight. She ran as fast as she could into her den beneath the stairs, +but as she had been too long, and had stayed more than half-an-hour she could +not take off her pretty dress, but only threw over it her fur-mantle, and in +her haste she did not make herself quite black, but one finger remained white. +Then Allerleirauh ran into the kitchen, and cooked the bread soup for the King, +and as the cook was away, put her golden reel into it. When the King found the +reel at the bottom of it, he caused Allerleirauh to be summoned, and then he +espied the white finger, and saw the ring which he had put on it during the +dance. Then he grasped her by the hand, and held her fast, and when she wanted +to release herself and run away, her mantle of fur opened a little, and the +star-dress shone forth. The King clutched the mantle and tore it off. Then her +golden hair shone forth, and she stood there in full splendour, and could no +longer hide herself. And when she had washed the soot and ashes from her face, +she was more beautiful than anyone who had ever been seen on earth. But the +King said, “Thou art my dear bride, and we will never more part from each +other.” Thereupon the marriage was solemnized, and they lived happily +until their death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap66"></a>66 The Hare’s Bride</h3> + +<p> +There was once a woman and her daughter who lived in a pretty garden with +cabbages; and a little hare came into it, and during the winter time ate all +the cabbages. Then says the mother to the daughter, “Go into the garden, +and chase the hare away.” The girl says to the little hare, “Sh-sh, +hare, you are still eating up all our cabbages.” Says the hare, +“Come, maiden, and seat yourself on my little hare’s tail, and come +with me into my little hare’s hut.” The girl will not do it. Next +day the hare comes again and eats the cabbages, then says the mother to the +daughter, “Go into the garden, and drive the hare away.” The girl +says to the hare, “Sh-sh, little hare, you are still eating all the +cabbages.” The little hare says, “Maiden, seat thyself on my little +hare’s tail, and come with me into my little hare’s hut.” The +maiden refuses. The third day the hare comes again, and eats the cabbages. On +this the mother says to the daughter, “Go into the garden, and hunt the +hare away.” Says the maiden, “Sh-sh, little hare, you are still +eating all our cabbages.” Says the little hare, “Come, maiden, seat +thyself on my little hare’s tail, and come with me into my little +hare’s hut.” The girl seats herself on the little hare’s +tail, and then the hare takes her far away to his little hut, and says, +“Now cook green cabbage and millet-seed, and I will invite the +wedding-guests.” Then all the wedding-guests assembled. (Who were the +wedding-guests?) That I can tell you as another told it to me. They were all +hares, and the crow was there as parson to marry the bride and bridegroom, and +the fox as clerk, and the altar was under the rainbow. +</p> + +<p> +The girl, however, was sad, for she was all alone. The little hare comes and +says, “Open the doors, open the doors, the wedding-guests are +merry.” The bride says nothing, but weeps. The little hare goes away. The +little hare comes back and says, “Take off the lid, take off the lid, the +wedding-guests are hungry.” The bride again says nothing, and weeps. The +little hare goes away. The little hare comes back and says, “Take off the +lid, take off the lid, the wedding-guests are waiting.” Then the bride +says nothing, and the hare goes away, but she dresses a straw-doll in her +clothes, and gives her a spoon to stir with, and sets her by the pan with the +millet-seed, and goes back to her mother. The little hare comes once more and +says, “Take off the lid, take off the lid,” and gets up, and +strikes the doll on the head so that her cap falls off. +</p> + +<p> +Then the little hare sees that it is not his bride, and goes away and is +sorrowful. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap67"></a>67 The Twelve Huntsmen</h3> + +<p> +There was once a King’s son who was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved +very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that +his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his +end. Then he said to his beloved, “I must now go and leave thee, I give +thee a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am King, I will return and fetch +thee.” So he rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter was +dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him, “Dear son, I wished +to see thee once again before my end, promise me to marry as I wish,” and +he named a certain King’s daughter who was to be his wife. The son was in +such trouble that he did not think what he was doing, and said, “Yes, +dear father, your will shall be done,” and thereupon the King shut his +eyes, and died. +</p> + +<p> +When therefore the son had been proclaimed King, and the time of mourning was +over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had given his father, and +caused the King’s daughter to be asked in marriage, and she was promised +to him. His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted so much about his +faithlessness that she nearly died. Then her father said to her, “Dearest +child, why art thou so sad? Thou shalt have whatsoever thou wilt.” She +thought for a moment and said, “Dear father, I wish for eleven girls +exactly like myself in face, figure, and size.” The father said, +“If it be possible, thy desire shall be fulfilled,” and he caused a +search to be made in his whole kingdom, until eleven young maidens were found +who exactly resembled his daughter in face, figure, and size. +</p> + +<p> +When they came to the King’s daughter, she had twelve suits of +huntsmen’s clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to put on +the huntsmen’s clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit. +Thereupon she took leave of her father, and rode away with them, and rode to +the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly. Then she inquired +if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take the whole of them into his +service. The King looked at her and did not know her, but as they were such +handsome fellows, he said, “Yes,” and that he would willingly take +them, and now they were the King’s twelve huntsmen. +</p> + +<p> +The King, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he knew all +concealed and secret things. It came to pass that one evening he said to the +King, “Thou thinkest thou hast twelve huntsmen?” “Yes,” +said the King, “they are twelve huntsmen.” The lion continued, +“Thou art mistaken, they are twelve girls.” The King said, +“That cannot be true! How wilt thou prove that to me?” “Oh, +just let some peas be strewn in thy ante-chamber,” answered the lion, +“and then thou wilt soon see it. Men have a firm step, and when they walk +over the peas none of them stir, but girls trip and skip, and drag their feet, +and the peas roll about.” The King was well pleased with the counsel, and +caused the peas to be strewn. +</p> + +<p> +There was, however, a servant of the King’s who favored the huntsmen, and +when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went to them and +repeated everything, and said, “The lion wants to make the King believe +that you are girls.” Then the King’s daughter thanked him, and said +to her maidens, “Put on some strength, and step firmly on the +peas.” So next morning when the King had the twelve huntsmen called +before him, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were lying, they +stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure walk, that not one of +the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went away again, and the King said +to the lion, “Thou hast lied to me, they walk just like men.” The +lion said, “They have got to know that they were going to be put to the +test, and have assumed some strength. Just let twelve spinning-wheels be +brought into the ante-chamber some day, and they will go to them and be pleased +with them, and that is what no man would do.” The King liked the advice, +and had the spinning-wheels placed in the ante-chamber. +</p> + +<p> +But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them, and +disclosed the project. Then when they were alone the King’s daughter said +to her eleven girls, “Put some constraint on yourselves, and do not look +round at the spinning-wheels.” And next morning when the King had his +twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the ante-chamber, and never once +looked at the spinning wheels. Then the King again said to the lion, +“Thou hast deceived me, they are men, for they have not looked at the +spinning-wheels.” The lion replied, “They have learnt that they +were going to be put to the test, and have restrained themselves.” The +King, however, would no longer believe the lion. +</p> + +<p> +The twelve huntsmen always followed the King to the chase, and his liking for +them continually increased. Now it came to pass that once when they were out +hunting, news came that the King’s betrothed was approaching. When the +true bride heard that, it hurt her so much that her heart was almost broken, +and she fell fainting to the ground. The King thought something had happened to +his dear huntsman, ran up to him, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off. +Then he saw the ring which he had given to his first bride, and when he looked +in her face he recognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed +her, and when she opened her eyes he said, “Thou art mine, and I am +thine, and no one in the world can alter that.” He sent a messenger to +the other bride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had a +wife already, and a man who had just found an old dish did not require a new +one. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was again taken into +favour, because, after all, he had told the truth. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap68"></a>68 The Thief and his Master</h3> + +<p> +Hans wished to put his son to learn a trade, so he went into the church and +prayed to our Lord God to know which would be most advantageous for him. Then +the clerk got behind the altar, and said, “Thieving, thieving.” On +this Hans goes back to his son, and tells him he is to learn thieving, and that +the Lord God had said so. So he goes with his son to seek a man who is +acquainted with thieving. They walk a long time and come into a great forest, +where stands a little house with an old woman in it. Hans says, “Do you +know of a man who is acquainted with thieving?” “You can learn that +here quite well,” says the woman, “my son is a master of it.” +So he speaks with the son, and asks if he knows thieving really well? The +master-thief says, “I will teach him well. Come back when a year is over, +and then if you recognize your son, I will take no payment at all for teaching +him; but if you don’t know him, you must give me two hundred +thalers.” +</p> + +<p> +The father goes home again, and the son learns witchcraft and thieving, +thoroughly. When the year is out, the father is full of anxiety to know how he +is to contrive to recognize his son. As he is thus going about in his trouble, +he meets a little dwarf, who says, “Man, what ails you, that you are +always in such trouble?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh,” says Hans, “a year ago I placed my son with a +master-thief who told me I was to come back when the year was out, and that if +I then did not know my son when I saw him, I was to pay two hundred thalers; +but if I did know him I was to pay nothing, and now I am afraid of not knowing +him and can’t tell where I am to get the money.” Then the dwarf +tells him to take a small basket of bread with him, and to stand beneath the +chimney. “There on the cross-beam is a basket, out of which a little bird +is peeping, and that is your son.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans goes thither, and throws a little basket full of black bread in front of +the basket with the bird in it, and the little bird comes out, and looks up. +“Hollo, my son, art thou here?” says the father, and the son is +delighted to see his father, but the master-thief says, “The devil must +have prompted you, or how could you have known your son?” “Father, +let us go,” said the youth. +</p> + +<p> +Then the father and son set out homeward. On the way a carriage comes driving +by. Hereupon the son says to his father, “I will change myself into a +large greyhound, and then you can earn a great deal of money by me.” Then +the gentleman calls from the carriage, “My man, will you sell your +dog?” “Yes,” says the father. “How much do you want for +it?” “Thirty thalers.” “Eh, man, that is a great deal, +but as it is such a very fine dog I will have it.” The gentleman takes it +into his carriage, but when they have driven a little farther the dog springs +out of the carriage through the window, and goes back to his father, and is no +longer a greyhound. +</p> + +<p> +They go home together. Next day there is a fair in the neighboring town, so the +youth says to his father, “I will now change myself into a beautiful +horse, and you can sell me; but when you have sold me, you must take off my +bridle, or I cannot become a man again.” Then the father goes with the +horse to the fair, and the master-thief comes and buys the horse for a hundred +thalers, but the father forgets, and does not take off the bridle. So the man +goes home with the horse, and puts it in the stable. When the maid crosses the +threshold, the horse says, “Take off my bridle, take off my +bridle.” Then the maid stands still, and says, “What, canst thou +speak?” So she goes and takes the bridle off, and the horse becomes a +sparrow, and flies out at the door, and the wizard becomes a sparrow also, and +flies after him. Then they come together and cast lots, but the master loses, +and betakes himself to the water and is a fish. Then the youth also becomes a +fish, and they cast lots again, and the master loses. So the master changes +himself into a cock, and the youth becomes a fox, and bites the master’s +head off, and he died and has remained dead to this day. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap69"></a>69 Jorinda and Joringel</h3> + +<p> +There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest, and in +it an old woman who was a witch dwelt all alone. In the day-time she changed +herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper +shape again as a human being. She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, and +then she killed and boiled and roasted them. If any one came within one hundred +paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the +place until she bade him be free. But whenever an innocent maiden came within +this circle, she changed her into a bird, and shut her up in a wicker-work +cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle. She had about seven +thousand cages of rare birds in the castle. +</p> + +<p> +Now, there was once a maiden who was called Jorinda, who was fairer than all +other girls. She and a handsome youth named Joringel had promised to marry each +other. They were still in the days of betrothal, and their greatest happiness +was being together. One day in order that they might be able to talk together +in quiet they went for a walk in the forest. “Take care,” said +Joringel, “that you do not go too near the castle.” +</p> + +<p> +It was a beautiful evening; the sun shone brightly between the trunks of the +trees into the dark green of the forest, and the turtle-doves sang mournfully +upon the young boughs of the birch-trees. +</p> + +<p> +Jorinda wept now and then: she sat down in the sunshine and was sorrowful. +Joringel was sorrowful too; they were as sad as if they were about to die. Then +they looked around them, and were quite at a loss, for they did not know by +which way they should go home. The sun was still half above the mountain and +half set. +</p> + +<p> +Joringel looked through the bushes, and saw the old walls of the castle close +at hand. He was horror-stricken and filled with deadly fear. Jorinda was +singing— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“My little bird, with the necklace red,<br/> +Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow,<br/> +He sings that the dove must soon be dead,<br/> +Sings sorrow, sor—jug, jug, jug.” +</p> + +<p> +Joringel looked for Jorinda. She was changed into a nightingale, and sang, +“jug, jug, jug.” A screech-owl with glowing eyes flew three times +round about her, and three times cried, “to-whoo, to-whoo, +to-whoo!” +</p> + +<p> +Joringel could not move: he stood there like a stone, and could neither weep +nor speak, nor move hand or foot. +</p> + +<p> +The sun had now set. The owl flew into the thicket, and directly afterwards +there came out of it a crooked old woman, yellow and lean, with large red eyes +and a hooked nose, the point of which reached to her chin. She muttered to +herself, caught the nightingale, and took it away in her hand. +</p> + +<p> +Joringel could neither speak nor move from the spot; the nightingale was gone. +At last the woman came back, and said in a hollow voice, “Greet thee, +Zachiel. If the moon shines on the cage, Zachiel, let him loose at once.” +Then Joringel was freed. He fell on his knees before the woman and begged that +she would give him back his Jorinda, but she said that he should never have her +again, and went away. He called, he wept, he lamented, but all in vain, +“Ah, what is to become of me?” +</p> + +<p> +Joringel went away, and at last came to a strange village; there he kept sheep +for a long time. He often walked round and round the castle, but not too near +to it. At last he dreamt one night that he found a blood-red flower, in the +middle of which was a beautiful large pearl; that he picked the flower and went +with it to the castle, and that everything he touched with the flower was freed +from enchantment; he also dreamt that by means of it he recovered his Jorinda. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning, when he awoke, he began to seek over hill and dale if he could +find such a flower. He sought until the ninth day, and then, early in the +morning, he found the blood-red flower. In the middle of it there was a large +dew-drop, as big as the finest pearl. +</p> + +<p> +Day and night he journeyed with this flower to the castle. When he was within a +hundred paces of it he was not held fast, but walked on to the door. Joringel +was full of joy; he touched the door with the flower, and it sprang open. He +walked in through the courtyard, and listened for the sound of the birds. At +last he heard it. He went on and found the room from whence it came, and there +the witch was feeding the birds in the seven thousand cages. +</p> + +<p> +When she saw Joringel she was angry, very angry, and scolded and spat poison +and gall at him, but she could not come within two paces of him. He did not +take any notice of her, but went and looked at the cages with the birds; but +there were many hundred nightingales, how was he to find his Jorinda again? +</p> + +<p> +Just then he saw the old woman quietly take away a cage with a bird in it, and +go towards the door. +</p> + +<p> +Swiftly he sprang towards her, touched the cage with the flower, and also the +old woman. She could now no longer bewitch any one; and Jorinda was standing +there, clasping him round the neck, and she was as beautiful as ever! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap70"></a>70 The Three Sons of Fortune</h3> + +<p> +A father once called his three sons before him, and he gave to the first a +cock, to the second a scythe, and to the third a cat. “I am already +aged,” said he, “my death is nigh, and I have wished to take +thought for you before my end; money I have not, and what I now give you seems +of little worth, but all depends on your making a sensible use of it. Only seek +out a country where such things are still unknown, and your fortune is +made.” +</p> + +<p> +After the father’s death the eldest went away with his cock, but wherever +he came the cock was already known; in the towns he saw him from a long +distance, sitting upon the steeples and turning round with the wind, and in the +villages he heard more than one crowing; no one would show any wonder at the +creature, so that it did not look as if he would make his fortune by it. +</p> + +<p> +At last, however, it happened that he came to an island where the people knew +nothing about cocks, and did not even understand how to divide their time. They +certainly knew when it was morning or evening, but at night, if they did not +sleep through it, not one of them knew how to find out the time. +</p> + +<p> +“Look!” said he, “what a proud creature! it has a ruby-red +crown upon its head, and wears spurs like a knight; it calls you three times +during the night, at fixed hours, and when it calls for the last time, the sun +soon rises. But if it crows by broad daylight, then take notice, for there will +certainly be a change of weather.” +</p> + +<p> +The people were well pleased; for a whole night they did not sleep, and +listened with great delight as the cock at two, four, and six o’clock, +loudly and clearly proclaimed the time. They asked if the creature were for +sale, and how much he wanted for it? “About as much gold as an ass can +carry,” answered he. “A ridiculously small price for such a +precious creature!” they cried unanimously, and willingly gave him what +he had asked. +</p> + +<p> +When he came home with his wealth his brothers were astonished, and the second +said, “Well, I will go forth and see whether I cannot get rid of my +scythe as profitably.” But it did not look as if he would, for labourers +met him everywhere, and they had scythes upon their shoulders as well as he. +</p> + +<p> +At last, however, he chanced upon an island where the people knew nothing of +scythes. When the corn was ripe there, they took cannon out to the fields and +shot it down. Now this was rather an uncertain affair; many shot right over it, +others hit the ears instead of the stems, and shot them away, whereby much was +lost, and besides all this, it made a terrible noise. So the man set to work +and mowed it down so quietly and quickly that the people opened their mouths +with astonishment. They agreed to give him what he wanted for the scythe, and +he received a horse laden with as much gold as it could carry. +</p> + +<p> +And now the third brother wanted to take his cat to the right man. He fared +just like the others; so long as he stayed on the mainland there was nothing to +be done. Every place had cats, and there were so many of them that new-born +kittens were generally drowned in the ponds. +</p> + +<p> +At last he sailed over to an island, and it luckily happened that no cats had +ever yet been seen there, and that the mice had got the upper hand so much that +they danced upon the tables and benches whether the master were at home or not. +The people complained bitterly of the plague; the King himself in his palace +did not know how to secure himself against them; mice squeaked in every corner, +and gnawed whatever they could lay hold of with their teeth. But now the cat +began her chase, and soon cleared a couple of rooms, and the people begged the +King to buy the wonderful beast for the country. The King willingly gave what +was asked, which was a mule laden with gold, and the third brother came home +with the greatest treasure of all. +</p> + +<p> +The cat made herself merry with the mice in the royal palace, and killed so +many that they could not be counted. At last she grew warm with the work and +thirsty, so she stood still, lifted up her head and cried, “Mew. +Mew!” When they heard this strange cry, the King and all his people were +frightened, and in their terror ran all at once out of the palace. Then the +King took counsel what was best to be done; at last it was determined to send a +herald to the cat, and demand that she should leave the palace, or if not, she +was to expect that force would be used against her. The councillors said, +“Rather will we let ourselves be plagued with the mice, for to that +misfortune we are accustomed, than give up our lives to such a monster as +this.” A noble youth, therefore, was sent to ask the cat “whether +she would peaceably quit the castle?” But the cat, whose thirst had +become still greater, merely answered, “Mew! Mew!” The youth +understood her to say, “Most certainly not! most certainly not!” +and took this answer to the King. “Then,” said the councillors, +“she shall yield to force.” Cannon were brought out, and the palace +was soon in flames. When the fire reached the room where the cat was sitting, +she sprang safely out of the window; but the besiegers did not leave off until +the whole palace was shot down to the ground. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap71"></a>71 How Six Men Got on in the World</h3> + +<p> +There was once a man who understood all kinds of arts; he served in war, and +behaved well and bravely, but when the war was over he received his dismissal, +and three farthings for his expenses on the way. “Stop,” said he, +“I shall not be content with this. If I can only meet with the right +people, the King will yet have to give me all the treasure of the +country.” Then full of anger he went into the forest, and saw a man +standing therein who had plucked up six trees as if they were blades of corn. +He said to him, “Wilt thou be my servant and go with me?” +“Yes,” he answered, “but, first, I will take this little +bundle of sticks home to my mother,” and he took one of the trees, and +wrapped it round the five others, lifted the bundle on his back, and carried it +away. Then he returned and went with his master, who said, “We two ought +to be able to get through the world very well,” and when they had walked +on for a short while they found a huntsman who was kneeling, had shouldered his +gun, and was about to fire. The master said to him, “Huntsman, what art +thou going to shoot?” He answered, “Two miles from here a fly is +sitting on the branch of an oak-tree, and I want to shoot its left eye +out.” “Oh, come with me,” said the man, “if we three +are together, we certainly ought to be able to get on in the world!” The +huntsman was ready, and went with him, and they came to seven windmills whose +sails were turning round with great speed, and yet no wind was blowing either +on the right or the left, and no leaf was stirring. Then said the man, “I +know not what is driving the windmills, not a breath of air is stirring,” +and he went onwards with his servants, and when they had walked two miles they +saw a man sitting on a tree who was shutting one nostril, and blowing out of +the other. “Good gracious! what are you doing up there?” He +answered, “Two miles from here are seven windmills; look, I am blowing +them till they turn round.” “Oh, come with me,” said the man. +“If we four are together, we shall carry the whole world before +us!” Then the blower came down and went with him, and after a while they +saw a man who was standing on one leg and had taken off the other, and laid it +beside him. Then the master said, “You have arranged things very +comfortably to have a rest.” “I am a runner,” he replied, +“and to stop myself running far too fast, I have taken off one of my +legs, for if I run with both, I go quicker than any bird can fly.” +“Oh, go with me. If we five are together, we shall carry the whole world +before us.” So he went with them, and it was not long before they met a +man who wore a cap, but had put it quite on one ear. Then the master said to +him, “Gracefully, gracefully, don’t stick your cap on one ear, you +look just like a tom-fool!” “I must not wear it otherwise,” +said he, “for if I set my hat straight, a terrible frost comes on, and +all the birds in the air are frozen, and drop dead on the ground.” +“Oh, come with me,” said the master. “If we six are together, +we can carry the whole world before us.” +</p> + +<p> +Now the six came to a town where the King had proclaimed that whosoever ran a +race with his daughter and won the victory, should be her husband, but +whosoever lost it, must lose his head. Then the man presented himself and said, +“I will, however, let my servant run for me.” The King replied, +“Then his life also must be staked, so that his head and thine are both +set on the victory.” When that was settled and made secure, the man +buckled the other leg on the runner, and said to him, “Now be nimble, and +help us to win.” It was fixed that the one who was first to bring some +water from a far distant well was to be the victor. The runner received a +pitcher, and the King’s daughter one too, and they began to run at the +same time, but in an instant, when the King’s daughter had got a very +little way, the people who were looking on could see no more of the runner, and +it was just as if the wind had whistled by. In a short time he reached the +well, filled his pitcher with water, and turned back. Half-way home, however, +he was overcome with fatigue, and set his pitcher down, lay down himself, and +fell asleep. He had, however, made a pillow of a horse’s skull which was +lying on the ground, in order that he might lie uncomfortably, and soon wake up +again. In the meantime the King’s daughter, who could also run very well +quite as well as any ordinary mortal can had reached the well, and was hurrying +back with her pitcher full of water, and when she saw the runner lying there +asleep, she was glad and said, “My enemy is delivered over into my +hands,” emptied his pitcher, and ran on. And now all would have been lost +if by good luck the huntsman had not been standing at the top of the castle, +and had not seen everything with his sharp eyes. Then said he, “The +King’s daughter shall still not prevail against us;” and he loaded +his gun, and shot so cleverly, that he shot the horse’s skull away from +under the runner’s head without hurting him. Then the runner awoke, leapt +up, and saw that his pitcher was empty, and that the King’s daughter was +already far in advance. He did not lose heart, however, but ran back to the +well with his pitcher, again drew some water, and was at home again, ten +minutes before the King’s daughter. “Behold!” said he, +“I have not bestirred myself till now, it did not deserve to be called +running before.” +</p> + +<p> +But it pained the King, and still more his daughter, that she should be carried +off by a common disbanded soldier like that; so they took counsel with each +other how to get rid of him and his companions. Then said the King to her, +“I have thought of a way; don’t be afraid, they shall not come back +again.” And he said to them, “You shall now make merry together, +and eat and drink,” and he conducted them to a room which had a floor of +iron, and the doors also were of iron, and the windows were guarded with iron +bars. There was a table in the room covered with delicious food, and the King +said to them, “Go in, and enjoy yourselves.” And when they were +inside, he ordered the doors to be shut and bolted. Then he sent for the cook, +and commanded him to make a fire under the room until the iron became red-hot. +This the cook did, and the six who were sitting at table began to feel quite +warm, and they thought the heat was caused by the food; but as it became still +greater, and they wanted to get out, and found that the doors and windows were +bolted, they became aware that the King must have an evil intention, and wanted +to suffocate them. “He shall not succeed, however,” said the one +with the cap. “I will cause a frost to come, before which the fire shall +be ashamed, and creep away.” Then he put his cap on straight, and +immediately there came such a frost that all heat disappeared, and the food on +the dishes began to freeze. When an hour or two had passed by, and the King +believed that they had perished in the heat, he had the doors opened to behold +them himself. But when the doors were opened, all six were standing there, +alive and well, and said that they should very much like to get out to warm +themselves, for the very food was fast frozen to the dishes with the cold. +Then, full of anger, the King went down to the cook, scolded him, and asked why +he had not done what he had been ordered to do. But the cook replied, +“There is heat enough there, just look yourself.” Then the King saw +that a fierce fire was burning under the iron room, and perceived that there +was no getting the better of the six in this way. +</p> + +<p> +Again the King considered how to get rid of his unpleasant guests, and caused +their chief to be brought and said, “If thou wilt take gold and renounce +my daughter, thou shalt have as much as thou wilt.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, yes, Lord King,” he answered, “give me as much as my +servant can carry, and I will not ask for your daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +On this the King was satisfied, and the other continued, “In fourteen +days, I will come and fetch it.” Thereupon he summoned together all the +tailors in the whole kingdom, and they were to sit for fourteen days and sew a +sack. And when it was ready, the strong one who could tear up trees had to take +it on his back, and go with it to the King. Then said the King, “Who can +that strong fellow be who is carrying a bundle of linen on his back that is as +big as a house?” and he was alarmed and said, “What a lot of gold +he can carry away!” Then he commanded a ton of gold to be brought; it +took sixteen of his strongest men to carry it, but the strong one snatched it +up in one hand, put it in his sack, and said, “Why don’t you bring +more at the same time? that hardly covers the bottom!” Then, little by +little, the King caused all his treasure to be brought thither, and the strong +one pushed it into the sack, and still the sack was not half full with it. +“Bring more,” cried he, “these few crumbs don’t fill +it.” Then seven thousand carts with gold had to be gathered together in +the whole kingdom, and the strong one thrust them and the oxen harnessed to +them into his sack. “I will examine it no longer,” said he, +“but will just take what comes, so long as the sack is but full.” +When all that was inside, there was still room for a great deal more; then he +said, “I will just make an end of the thing; people do sometimes tie up a +sack even when it is not full.” So he took it on his back, and went away +with his comrades. When the King now saw how one single man was carrying away +the entire wealth of the country, he became enraged, and bade his horsemen +mount and pursue the six, and ordered them to take the sack away from the +strong one. Two regiments speedily overtook the six, and called out, “You +are prisoners, put down the sack with the gold, or you will all be cut to +pieces!” “What say you?” cried the blower, “that we are +prisoners! Rather than that should happen, all of you shall dance about in the +air.” And he closed one nostril, and with the other blew on the two +regiments. Then they were driven away from each other, and carried into the +blue sky over all the mountains one here, the other there. One sergeant cried +for mercy; he had nine wounds, and was a brave fellow who did not deserve ill +treatment. The blower stopped a little so that he came down without injury, and +then the blower said to him, “Now go home to thy King, and tell him he +had better send some more horsemen, and I will blow them all into the +air.” When the King was informed of this he said, “Let the rascals +go. They have the best of it.” Then the six conveyed the riches home, +divided it amongst them, and lived in content until their death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap72"></a>72 The Wolf and the Man</h3> + +<p> +Once on a time the fox was talking to the wolf of the strength of man; how no +animal could withstand him, and how all were obliged to employ cunning in order +to preserve themselves from him. Then the wolf answered, “If I had but +the chance of seeing a man for once, I would set on him notwithstanding.” +“I can help thee to do that,” said the fox. “Come to me early +to-morrow morning, and I will show thee one.” The wolf presented himself +betimes, and the fox took him out on the road by which the huntsmen went daily. +First came an old discharged soldier. “Is that a man?” inquired the +wolf. “No,” answered the fox, “that was one.” +Afterwards came a little boy who was going to school. “Is that a +man?” “No, that is going to be one.” At length came a hunter +with his double-barrelled gun at his back, and hanger by his side. Said the fox +to the wolf, “Look, there comes a man, thou must attack him, but I will +take myself off to my hole.” The wolf then rushed on the man. When the +huntsman saw him he said, “It is a pity that I have not loaded with a +bullet,” aimed, and fired his small shot in his face. The wolf pulled a +very wry face, but did not let himself be frightened, and attacked him again, +on which the huntsman gave him the second barrel. The wolf swallowed his pain, +and rushed on the huntsman, but he drew out his bright hanger, and gave him a +few cuts with it right and left, so that, bleeding everywhere, he ran howling +back to the fox. “Well, brother wolf,” said the fox, “how +hast thou got on with man?” “Ah!” replied the wolf, “I +never imagined the strength of man to be what it is! First, he took a stick +from his shoulder, and blew into it, and then something flew into my face which +tickled me terribly; then he breathed once more into the stick, and it flew +into my nose like lightning and hail; when I was quite close, he drew a white +rib out of his side, and he beat me so with it that I was all but left lying +dead.” “See what a braggart thou art!” said the fox. +“Thou throwest thy hatchet so far that thou canst not fetch it back +again!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap73"></a>73 The Wolf and the Fox</h3> + +<p> +The wolf had the fox with him, and whatsoever the wolf wished, that the fox was +compelled to do, for he was the weaker, and he would gladly have been rid of +his master. It chanced that once as they were going through the forest, the +wolf said, “Red-fox, get me something to eat, or else I will eat thee +thyself.” Then the fox answered, “I know a farm-yard where there +are two young lambs; if thou art inclined, we will fetch one of them.” +That suited the wolf, and they went thither, and the fox stole the little lamb, +took it to the wolf, and went away. The wolf devoured it, but was not satisfied +with one; he wanted the other as well, and went to get it. As, however, he did +it so awkwardly, the mother of the little lamb heard him, and began to cry out +terribly, and to bleat so that the farmer came running there. They found the +wolf, and beat him so mercilessly, that he went to the fox limping and howling. +“Thou hast misled me finely,” said he; “I wanted to fetch the +other lamb, and the country folks surprised me, and have beaten me to a +jelly.” The fox replied, “Why art thou such a glutton?” +</p> + +<p> +Next day they again went into the country, and the greedy wolf once more said, +“Red-fox, get me something to eat, or I will eat thee thyself.” +Then answered the fox, “I know a farm-house where the wife is baking +pancakes to-night; we will get some of them for ourselves.” They went +there, and the fox slipped round the house, and peeped and sniffed about until +he discovered where the dish was, and then drew down six pancakes and carried +them to the wolf. “There is something for thee to eat,” said he to +him, and then went his way. The wolf swallowed down the pancakes in an instant, +and said, “They make one want more,” and went thither and tore the +whole dish down so that it broke in pieces. This made such a great noise that +the woman came out, and when she saw the wolf she called the people, who +hurried there, and beat him as long as their sticks would hold together, till +with two lame legs, and howling loudly, he got back to the fox in the forest. +“How abominably thou hast misled me!” cried he, “the peasants +caught me, and tanned my skin for me.” But the fox replied, “Why +art thou such a glutton?” +</p> + +<p> +On the third day, when they were out together, and the wolf could only limp +along painfully, he again said, “Red-fox, get me something to eat, or I +will eat thee thyself.” The fox answered, “I know a man who has +been killing, and the salted meat is lying in a barrel in the cellar; we will +get that.” Said the wolf, “I will go when thou dost, that thou +mayest help me if I am not able to get away.” “I am willing,” +said the fox, and showed him the by-paths and ways by which at length they +reached the cellar. There was meat in abundance, and the wolf attacked it +instantly and thought, “There is plenty of time before I need leave +off!” The fox liked it also, but looked about everywhere, and often ran +to the hole by which they had come in, and tried if his body was still thin +enough to slip through it. The wolf said, “Dear fox, tell me why thou art +running here and there so much, and jumping in and out?” +</p> + +<p> +“I must see that no one is coming,” replied the crafty fellow. +“Don’t eat too much!” Then said the wolf, “I shall not +leave until the barrel is empty.” In the meantime the farmer, who had +heard the noise of the fox’s jumping, came into the cellar. When the fox +saw him he was out of the hole at one bound. The wolf wanted to follow him, but +he had made himself so fat with eating that he could no longer get through, but +stuck fast. Then came the farmer with a cudgel and struck him dead, but the fox +bounded into the forest, glad to be rid of the old glutton. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap74"></a>74 The Fox and His Cousin</h3> + +<p> +The she-wolf brought forth a young one, and invited the fox to be godfather. +“After all, he is a near relative of ours,” said she, “he has +a good understanding, and much talent; he can instruct my little son, and help +him forward in the world.” The fox, too, appeared quite honest, and said, +“Worthy Mrs. Gossip, I thank you for the honour which you are doing me; I +will, however, conduct myself in such a way that you shall be repaid for +it.” He enjoyed himself at the feast, and made merry; afterwards he said, +“Dear Mrs. Gossip, it is our duty to take care of the child, it must have +good food that it may be strong. I know a sheep-fold from which we might fetch +a nice morsel.” The wolf was pleased with the ditty, and she went out +with the fox to the farm-yard. He pointed out the fold from afar, and said, +“You will be able to creep in there without being seen, and in the +meantime I will look about on the other side to see if I can pick up a +chicken.” He, however, did not go there, but sat down at the entrance to +the forest, stretched his legs and rested. The she-wolf crept into the stable. +A dog was lying there, and it made such a noise that the peasants came running +out, caught Gossip Wolf, and poured a strong burning mixture, which had been +prepared for washing, over her skin. At last she escaped, and dragged herself +outside. There lay the fox, who pretended to be full of complaints, and said, +“Ah, dear Mistress Gossip, how ill I have fared, the peasants have fallen +on me, and have broken every limb I have; if you do not want me to lie where I +am and perish, you must carry me away.” The she-wolf herself was only +able to go away slowly, but she was in such concern about the fox that she took +him on her back, and slowly carried him perfectly safe and sound to her house. +Then the fox cried to her, “Farewell, dear Mistress Gossip, may the +roasting you have had do you good,” laughed heartily at her, and bounded +off. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap75"></a>75 The Fox and the Cat</h3> + +<p> +It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thought to +herself, “He is clever and full of experience, and much esteemed in the +world,” she spoke to him in a friendly way. “Good-day, dear Mr. +Fox, how are you? How is all with you? How are you getting through this dear +season?” The fox, full of all kinds of arrogance, looked at the cat from +head to foot, and for a long time did not know whether he would give any answer +or not. At last he said, “Oh, thou wretched beard-cleaner, thou piebald +fool, thou hungry mouse-hunter, what canst thou be thinking of? Dost thou +venture to ask how I am getting on? What hast thou learnt? How many arts dost +thou understand?” “I understand but one,” replied the cat, +modestly. “What art is that?” asked the fox. “When the hounds +are following me, I can spring into a tree and save myself.” “Is +that all?” said the fox. “I am master of a hundred arts, and have +into the bargain a sackful of cunning. Thou makest me sorry for thee; come with +me, I will teach thee how people get away from the hounds.” Just then +came a hunter with four dogs. The cat sprang nimbly up a tree, and sat down on +top of it, where the branches and foliage quite concealed her. “Open your +sack, Mr. Fox, open your sack,” cried the cat to him, but the dogs had +already seized him, and were holding him fast. “Ah, Mr. Fox,” cried +the cat. “You with your hundred arts are left in the lurch! Had you been +able to climb like me, you would not have lost your life.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap76"></a>76 The Pink</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a Queen to whom God had given no children. Every +morning she went into the garden and prayed to God in heaven to bestow on her a +son or a daughter. Then an angel from heaven came to her and said, “Be at +rest, thou shalt have a son with the power of wishing, so that whatsoever in +the world he wishes for, that shall he have.” Then she went to the King, +and told him the joyful tidings, and when the time was come she gave birth to a +son, and the King was filled with gladness. Every morning she went with the +child to the garden where the wild beasts were kept, and washed herself there +in a clear stream. It happened once when the child was a little older, that it +was lying in her arms and she fell asleep. Then came the old cook, who knew +that the child had the power of wishing, and stole it away, and he took a hen, +and cut it in pieces, and dropped some of its blood on the Queen’s apron +and on her dress. Then he carried the child away to a secret place, where a +nurse was obliged to suckle it, and he ran to the King and accused the Queen of +having allowed her child to be taken from her by the wild beasts. When the King +saw the blood on her apron, he believed this, fell into such a passion that he +ordered a high tower to be built, in which neither sun nor moon could be seen, +and had his wife put into it, and walled up. Here she was to stay for seven +years without meat or drink, and die of hunger. But God sent two angels from +heaven in the shape of white doves, which flew to her twice a day, and carried +her food until the seven years were over. +</p> + +<p> +The cook, however, thought to himself, “If the child has the power of +wishing, and I am here, he might very easily get me into trouble.” So he +left the palace and went to the boy, who was already big enough to speak, and +said to him, “Wish for a beautiful palace for thyself with a garden, and +all else that pertains to it.” Scarcely were the words out of the +boy’s mouth, when everything was there that he had wished for. After a +while the cook said to him, “It is not well for thee to be so alone, wish +for a pretty girl as a companion.” Then the King’s son wished for +one, and she immediately stood before him, and was more beautiful than any +painter could have painted her. The two played together, and loved each other +with all their hearts, and the old cook went out hunting like a nobleman. The +thought, however, occurred to him that the King’s son might some day wish +to be with his father, and thus bring him into great peril. So he went out and +took the maiden aside, and said, “To-night when the boy is asleep, go to +his bed and plunge this knife into his heart, and bring me his heart and +tongue, and if thou dost not do it, thou shalt lose thy life.” Thereupon +he went away, and when he returned next day she had not done it, and said, +“Why should I shed the blood of an innocent boy who has never harmed any +one?” The cook once more said, “If thou dost not do it, it shall +cost thee thy own life.” When he had gone away, she had a little hind +brought to her, and ordered her to be killed, and took her heart and tongue, +and laid them on a plate, and when she saw the old man coming, she said to the +boy, “Lie down in thy bed, and draw the clothes over thee.” Then +the wicked wretch came in and said, “Where are the boy’s heart and +tongue?” The girl reached the plate to him, but the King’s son +threw off the quilt, and said, “Thou old sinner, why didst thou want to +kill me? Now will I pronounce thy sentence. Thou shalt become a black poodle +and have a gold collar round thy neck, and shalt eat burning coals, till the +flames burst forth from thy throat.” And when he had spoken these words, +the old man was changed into a poodle dog, and had a gold collar round his +neck, and the cooks were ordered to bring up some live coals, and these he ate, +until the flames broke forth from his throat. The King’s son remained +there a short while longer, and he thought of his mother, and wondered if she +were still alive. At length he said to the maiden, “I will go home to my +own country; if thou wilt go with me, I will provide for thee.” +“Ah,” she replied, “the way is so long, and what shall I do +in a strange land where I am unknown?” As she did not seem quite willing, +and as they could not be parted from each other, he wished that she might be +changed into a beautiful pink, and took her with him. Then he went away to his +own country, and the poodle had to run after him. He went to the tower in which +his mother was confined, and as it was so high, he wished for a ladder which +would reach up to the very top. Then he mounted up and looked inside, and +cried, “Beloved mother, Lady Queen, are you still alive, or are you +dead?” She answered, “I have just eaten, and am still +satisfied,” for she thought the angels were there. Said he, “I am +your dear son, whom the wild beasts were said to have torn from your arms; but +I am alive still, and will speedily deliver you.” Then he descended +again, and went to his father, and caused himself to be announced as a strange +huntsman, and asked if he could give him a place. The King said yes, if he was +skilful and could get game for him, he should come to him, but that deer had +never taken up their quarters in any part of the district or country. Then the +huntsman promised to procure as much game for him as he could possibly use at +the royal table. So he summoned all the huntsmen together, and bade them go out +into the forest with him. And he went with them and made them form a great +circle, open at one end where he stationed himself, and began to wish. Two +hundred deer and more came running inside the circle at once, and the huntsmen +shot them. Then they were all placed on sixty country carts, and driven home to +the King, and for once he was able to deck his table with game, after having +had none at all for years. +</p> + +<p> +Now the King felt great joy at this, and commanded that his entire household +should eat with him next day, and made a great feast. When they were all +assembled together, he said to the huntsmen, “As thou art so clever, thou +shalt sit by me.” He replied, “Lord King, your majesty must excuse +me, I am a poor huntsman.” But the King insisted on it, and said, +“Thou shalt sit by me,” until he did it. Whilst he was sitting +there, he thought of his dearest mother, and wished that one of the +King’s principal servants would begin to speak of her, and would ask how +it was faring with the Queen in the tower, and if she were alive still, or had +perished. Hardly had he formed the wish than the marshal began, and said, +“Your majesty, we live joyously here, but how is the Queen living in the +tower? Is she still alive, or has she died?” But the King replied, +“She let my dear son be torn to pieces by wild beasts; I will not have +her named.” Then the huntsman arose and said, “Gracious lord +father, she is alive still, and I am her son, and I was not carried away by +wild beasts, but by that wretch the old cook, who tore me from her arms when +she was asleep, and sprinkled her apron with the blood of a chicken.” +Thereupon he took the dog with the golden collar, and said, “That is the +wretch!” and caused live coals to be brought, and these the dog was +compelled to devour before the sight of all, until flames burst forth from its +throat. On this the huntsman asked the King if he would like to see the dog in +his true shape, and wished him back into the form of the cook, in the which he +stood immediately, with his white apron, and his knife by his side. When the +King saw him he fell into a passion, and ordered him to be cast into the +deepest dungeon. Then the huntsman spoke further and said, “Father, will +you see the maiden who brought me up so tenderly and who was afterwards to +murder me, but did not do it, though her own life depended on it?” The +King replied, “Yes, I would like to see her.” The son said, +“Most gracious father, I will show her to you in the form of a beautiful +flower,” and he thrust his hand into his pocket and brought forth the +pink, and placed it on the royal table, and it was so beautiful that the King +had never seen one to equal it. Then the son said, “Now will I show her +to you in her own form,” and wished that she might become a maiden, and +she stood there looking so beautiful that no painter could have made her look +more so. +</p> + +<p> +And the King sent two waiting-maids and two attendants into the tower, to fetch +the Queen and bring her to the royal table. But when she was led in she ate +nothing, and said, “The gracious and merciful God who has supported me in +the tower, will speedily deliver me.” She lived three days more, and then +died happily, and when she was buried, the two white doves which had brought +her food to the tower, and were angels of heaven, followed her body and seated +themselves on her grave. The aged King ordered the cook to be torn in four +pieces, but grief consumed the King’s own heart, and he soon died. His +son married the beautiful maiden whom he had brought with him as a flower in +his pocket, and whether they are still alive or not, is known to God. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap77"></a>77 Clever Grethel</h3> + +<p> +There was once a cook named Grethel, who wore shoes with red rosettes, and when +she walked out with them on, she turned herself this way and that, and thought, +“You certainly are a pretty girl!” And when she came home she +drank, in her gladness of heart, a draught of wine, and as wine excites a +desire to eat, she tasted the best of whatever she was cooking until she was +satisfied, and said, “The cook must know what the food is like.” +</p> + +<p> +It came to pass that the master one day said to her, “Grethel, there is a +guest coming this evening; prepare me two fowls very daintily.” “I +will see to it, master,” answered Grethel. She killed two fowls, scalded +them, plucked them, put them on the spit, and towards evening set them before +the fire, that they might roast. The fowls began to turn brown, and were nearly +ready, but the guest had not yet arrived. Then Grethel called out to her +master, “If the guest does not come, I must take the fowls away from the +fire, but it will be a sin and a shame if they are not eaten directly, when +they are juiciest.” The master said, “I will run myself, and fetch +the guest.” When the master had turned his back, Grethel laid the spit +with the fowls on one side, and thought, “Standing so long by the fire +there, makes one hot and thirsty; who knows when they will come? Meanwhile, I +will run into the cellar, and take a drink.” She ran down, set a jug, +said, “God bless it to thy use, Grethel,” and took a good drink, +and took yet another hearty draught. +</p> + +<p> +Then she went and put the fowls down again to the fire, basted them, and drove +the spit merrily round. But as the roast meat smelt so good, Grethel thought, +“Something might be wrong, it ought to be tasted!” She touched it +with her finger, and said, “Ah! how good fowls are! It certainly is a sin +and a shame that they are not eaten directly!” She ran to the window, to +see if the master was not coming with his guest, but she saw no one, and went +back to the fowls and thought, “One of the wings is burning! I had better +take it off and eat it.” So she cut it off, ate it, and enjoyed it, and +when she had done, she thought, “the other must go down too, or else +master will observe that something is missing.” When the two wings were +eaten, she went and looked for her master, and did not see him. It suddenly +occurred to her, “Who knows? They are perhaps not coming at all, and have +turned in somewhere.” Then she said, “Hallo, Grethel, enjoy +yourself, one fowl has been cut into, take another drink, and eat it up +entirely; when it is eaten you will have some peace, why should God’s +good gifts be spoilt?” So she ran into the cellar again, took an enormous +drink and ate up the one chicken in great glee. When one of the chickens was +swallowed down, and still her master did not come, Grethel looked at the other +and said, “Where one is, the other should be likewise, the two go +together; what’s right for the one is right for the other; I think if I +were to take another draught it would do me no harm.” So she took another +hearty drink, and let the second chicken rejoin the first. +</p> + +<p> +While she was just in the best of the eating, her master came and cried, hurry +up, “Haste thee, Grethel, the guest is coming directly after me!” +“Yes, sir, I will soon serve up,” answered Grethel. Meantime the +master looked to see that the table was properly laid, and took the great +knife, wherewith he was going to carve the chickens, and sharpened it on the +steps. Presently the guest came, and knocked politely and courteously at the +house-door. Grethel ran, and looked to see who was there, and when she saw the +guest, she put her finger to her lips and said, “Hush! hush! get away as +quickly as you can, if my master catches you it will be the worse for you; he +certainly did ask you to supper, but his intention is to cut off your two ears. +Just listen how he is sharpening the knife for it!” The guest heard the +sharpening, and hurried down the steps again as fast as he could. Grethel was +not idle; she ran screaming to her master, and cried, “You have invited a +fine guest!” “Eh, why, Grethel? What do you mean by that?” +“Yes,” said she, “he has taken the chickens which I was just +going to serve up, off the dish, and has run away with them!” +“That’s a nice trick!” said her master, and lamented the fine +chickens. “If he had but left me one, so that something remained for me +to eat.” He called to him to stop, but the guest pretended not to hear. +Then he ran after him with the knife still in his hand, crying, “Just +one, just one,” meaning that the guest should leave him just one chicken, +and not take both. The guest, however, thought no otherwise than that he was to +give up one of his ears, and ran as if fire were burning under him, in order to +take them both home with him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap78"></a>78 The Old Man and His Grandson</h3> + +<p> +There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of +hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the +spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth. +His son and his son’s wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather +at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food +in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards +the table with his eyes full of tears. Once, too, his trembling hands could not +hold the bowl, and it fell to the ground and broke. The young wife scolded him, +but he said nothing and only sighed. Then they bought him a wooden bowl for a +few half-pence, out of which he had to eat. +</p> + +<p> +They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to +gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. “What are you doing +there?” asked the father. “I am making a little trough,” +answered the child, “for father and mother to eat out of when I am +big.” +</p> + +<p> +The man and his wife looked at each other for a while, and presently began to +cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth always let +him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a little of +anything. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap79"></a>79 The Water-Nix</h3> + +<p> +A little brother and sister were once playing by a well, and while they were +thus playing, they both fell in. A water-nix lived down below, who said, +“Now I have got you, now you shall work hard for me!” and carried +them off with her. She gave the girl dirty tangled flax to spin, and she had to +fetch water in a bucket with a hole in it, and the boy had to hew down a tree +with a blunt axe, and they got nothing to eat but dumplings as hard as stones. +Then at last the children became so impatient, that they waited until one +Sunday, when the nix was at church, and ran away. But when church was over, the +nix saw that the birds were flown, and followed them with great strides. The +children saw her from afar, and the girl threw a brush behind her which formed +an immense hill of bristles, with thousands and thousands of spikes, over which +the nix was forced to scramble with great difficulty; at last, however, she got +over. When the children saw this, the boy threw behind him a comb which made a +great hill of combs with a thousand times a thousand teeth, but the nix managed +to keep herself steady on them, and at last crossed over that. Then the girl +threw behind her a looking-glass which formed a hill of mirrors, and was so +slippery that it was impossible for the nix to cross it. Then she thought, +“I will go home quickly and fetch my axe, and cut the hill of glass in +half.” Long before she returned, however, and had hewn through the glass, +the children had escaped to a great distance, and the water-nix was obliged to +betake herself to her well again. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap80"></a>80 The Death of the Little Hen</h3> + +<p> +Once upon a time the little hen went with the little cock to the nut-hill, and +they agreed together that whichsoever of them found a kernel of a nut should +share it with the other. Then the hen found a large, large nut, but said +nothing about it, intending to eat the kernel herself. The kernel, however, was +so large that she could not swallow it, and it remained sticking in her throat, +so that she was alarmed lest she should be choked. Then she cried, “Cock, +I entreat thee to run as fast thou canst, and fetch me some water, or I shall +choke.” The little cock did run as fast as he could to the spring, and +said, “Stream, thou art to give me some water; the little hen is lying on +the nut-hill, and she has swallowed a large nut, and is choking.” The +well answered, “First run to the bride, and get her to give thee some red +silk.” The little cock ran to the bride and said, “Bride, you are +to give me some red silk; I want to give red silk to the well, the well is to +give me some water, I am to take the water to the little hen who is lying on +the nut-hill and has swallowed a great nut-kernel, and is choking with +it.” The bride answered, “First run and bring me my little wreath +which is hanging to a willow.” So the little cock ran to the willow, and +drew the wreath from the branch and took it to the bride, and the bride gave +him some water for it. Then the little cock took the water to the hen, but when +he got there the hen had choked in the meantime, and lay there dead and +motionless. Then the cock was so distressed that he cried aloud, and every +animal came to lament the little hen, and six mice built a little carriage to +carry her to her grave, and when the carriage was ready they harnessed +themselves to it, and the cock drove. On the way, however, they met the fox, +who said, “Where art thou going, little cock?” “I am going to +bury my little hen.” “May I drive with thee?” “Yes, but +seat thyself at the back of the carriage, for in the front my little horses +could not drag thee.” Then the fox seated himself at the back, and after +that the wolf, the bear, the stag, the lion, and all the beasts of the forest +did the same. Then the procession went onwards, and they reached the stream. +“How are we to get over?” said the little cock. A straw was lying +by the stream, and it said, “I will lay myself across, and you shall +drive over me.” But when the six mice came to the bridge, the straw +slipped and fell into the water, and the six mice all fell in and were drowned. +Then they were again in difficulty, and a coal came and said, “I am large +enough, I will lay myself across and you shall drive over me.” So the +coal also laid itself across the water, but unhappily just touched it, on which +the coal hissed, was extinguished and died. When a stone saw that, it took pity +on the little cock, wished to help him, and laid itself over the water. Then +the cock drew the carriage himself, but when he got it over and reached the +other shore with the dead hen, and was about to draw over the others who were +sitting behind as well, there were too many of them, the carriage ran back, and +they all fell into the water together, and were drowned. Then the little cock +was left alone with the dead hen, and dug a grave for her and laid her in it, +and made a mound above it, on which he sat down and fretted until he died too, +and then every one was dead. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap81"></a>81 Brother Lustig</h3> + +<p> +There was one on a time a great war, and when it came to an end, many soldiers +were discharged. Then Brother Lustig also received his dismissal, and besides +that, nothing but a small loaf of contract-bread, and four kreuzers in money, +with which he departed. St. Peter had, however, placed himself in his way in +the shape of a poor beggar, and when Brother Lustig came up, he begged alms of +him. Brother Lustig replied, “Dear beggar-man, what am I to give you? I +have been a soldier, and have received my dismissal, and have nothing but this +little loaf of contract-bread, and four kreuzers of money; when that is gone, I +shall have to beg as well as you. Still I will give you something.” +Thereupon he divided the loaf into four parts, and gave the apostle one of +them, and a kreuzer likewise. St. Peter thanked him, went onwards, and threw +himself again in the soldier’s way as a beggar, but in another shape; and +when he came up begged a gift of him as before. Brother Lustig spoke as he had +done before, and again gave him a quarter of the loaf and one kreuzer. St. +Peter thanked him, and went onwards, but for the third time placed himself in +another shape as a beggar on the road, and spoke to Brother Lustig. Brother +Lustig gave him also the third quarter of bread and the third kreuzer. St. +Peter thanked him, and Brother Lustig went onwards, and had but a quarter of +the loaf, and one kreuzer. With that he went into an inn, ate the bread, and +ordered one kreuzer’s worth of beer. When he had had it, he journeyed +onwards, and then St. Peter, who had assumed the appearance of a discharged +soldier, met and spoke to him thus: “Good day, comrade, canst thou not +give me a bit of bread, and a kreuzer to get a drink?” “Where am I +to procure it?” answered Brother Lustig; “I have been discharged, +and I got nothing but a loaf of ammunition-bread and four kreuzers in money. I +met three beggars on the road, and I gave each of them a quarter of my bread, +and one kreuzer. The last quarter I ate in the inn, and had a drink with the +last kreuzer. Now my pockets are empty, and if thou also hast nothing we can go +a-begging together.” “No,” answered St. Peter, “we need +not quite do that. I know a little about medicine, and I will soon earn as much +as I require by that.” “Indeed,” said Brother Lustig, +“I know nothing of that, so I must go and beg alone.” “Just +come with me,” said St. Peter, “and if I earn anything, thou shalt +have half of it.” “All right,” said Brother Lustig, so they +went away together. +</p> + +<p> +Then they came to a peasant’s house inside which they heard loud +lamentations and cries; so they went in, and there the husband was lying sick +unto death, and very near his end, and his wife was crying and weeping quite +loudly. “Stop that howling and crying,” said St. Peter, “I +will make the man well again,” and he took a salve out of his pocket, and +healed the sick man in a moment, so that he could get up, and was in perfect +health. In great delight the man and his wife said, “How can we reward +you? What shall we give you?” But St. Peter would take nothing, and the +more the peasant folks offered him, the more he refused. Brother Lustig, +however, nudged St. Peter, and said, “Take something; sure enough we are +in need of it.” At length the woman brought a lamb and said to St. Peter +that he really must take that, but he would not. Then Brother Lustig gave him a +poke in the side, and said, “Do take it, you stupid fool; we are in great +want of it!” Then St. Peter said at last, “Well, I will take the +lamb, but I won’t carry it; if thou wilt insist on having it, thou must +carry it.” “That is nothing,” said Brother Lustig. “I +will easily carry it,” and took it on his shoulder. Then they departed +and came to a wood, but Brother Lustig had begun to feel the lamb heavy, and he +was hungry, so he said to St. Peter, “Look, that’s a good place, we +might cook the lamb there, and eat it.” “As you like,” +answered St. Peter, “but I can’t have anything to do with the +cooking; if thou wilt cook, there is a kettle for thee, and in the meantime I +will walk about a little until it is ready. Thou must, however, not begin to +eat until I have come back, I will come at the right time.” “Well, +go, then,” said Brother Lustig, “I understand cookery, I will +manage it.” Then St. Peter went away, and Brother Lustig killed the lamb, +lighted a fire, threw the meat into the kettle, and boiled it. The lamb was, +however, quite ready, and the apostle Peter had not come back, so Brother +Lustig took it out of the kettle, cut it up, and found the heart. “That +is said to be the best part,” said he, and tasted it, but at last he ate +it all up. At length St. Peter returned and said, “Thou mayst eat the +whole of the lamb thyself, I will only have the heart, give me that.” +Then Brother Lustig took a knife and fork, and pretended to look anxiously +about amongst the lamb’s flesh, but not to be able to find the heart, and +at last he said abruptly, “There is none here.” “But where +can it be?” said the apostle. “I don’t know,” replied +Brother Lustig, “but look, what fools we both are, to seek for the +lamb’s heart, and neither of us to remember that a lamb has no +heart!” “Oh,” said St. Peter, “that is something quite +new! Every animal has a heart, why is a lamb to have none?” “No, be +assured, my brother,” said Brother Lustig, “that a lamb has no +heart; just consider it seriously, and then you will see that it really has +none.” “Well, it is all right,” said St. Peter, “if +there is no heart, then I want none of the lamb; thou mayst eat it +alone.” “What I can’t eat now, I will carry away in my +knapsack,” said Brother Lustig, and he ate half the lamb, and put the +rest in his knapsack. +</p> + +<p> +They went farther, and then St. Peter caused a great stream of water to flow +right across their path, and they were obliged to pass through it. Said St. +Peter, “Do thou go first.” “No,” answered Brother +Lustig, “thou must go first,” and he thought, “if the water +is too deep I will stay behind.” Then St. Peter strode through it, and +the water just reached to his knee. So Brother Lustig began to go through also, +but the water grew deeper and reached to his throat. Then he cried, +“Brother, help me!” St. Peter said, “Then wilt thou confess +that thou hast eaten the lamb’s heart?” “No,” said he, +“I have not eaten it.” Then the water grew deeper still and rose to +his mouth. “Help me, brother,” cried the soldier. St. Peter said, +“Then wilt thou confess that thou hast eaten the lamb’s +heart?” “No,” he replied, “I have not eaten it.” +St. Peter, however, would not let him be drowned, but made the water sink and +helped him through it. +</p> + +<p> +Then they journeyed onwards, and came to a kingdom where they heard that the +King’s daughter lay sick unto death. “Hollo, brother!” said +the soldier to St. Peter, “this is a chance for us; if we can heal her we +shall be provided for, for life!” But St. Peter was not half quick enough +for him, “Come, lift your legs, my dear brother,” said he, +“that we may get there in time.” But St. Peter walked slower and +slower, though Brother Lustig did all he could to drive and push him on, and at +last they heard that the princess was dead. “Now we are done for!” +said Brother Lustig; “that comes of thy sleepy way of walking!” +“Just be quiet,” answered St. Peter, “I can do more than cure +sick people; I can bring dead ones to life again.” “Well, if thou +canst do that,” said Brother Lustig, “it’s all right, but +thou shouldst earn at least half the kingdom for us by that.” Then they +went to the royal palace, where every one was in great grief, but St. Peter +told the King that he would restore his daughter to life. He was taken to her, +and said, “Bring me a kettle and some water,” and when that was +brought, he bade everyone go out, and allowed no one to remain with him but +Brother Lustig. Then he cut off all the dead girl’s limbs, and threw them +in the water, lighted a fire beneath the kettle, and boiled them. And when the +flesh had fallen away from the bones, he took out the beautiful white bones, +and laid them on a table, and arranged them together in their natural order. +When he had done that, he stepped forward and said three times, “In the +name of the holy Trinity, dead woman, arise.” And at the third time, the +princess arose, living, healthy and beautiful. Then the King was in the +greatest joy, and said to St. Peter, “Ask for thy reward; even if it were +half my kingdom, I would give it thee.” But St. Peter said, “I want +nothing for it.” “Oh, thou tomfool!” thought Brother Lustig +to himself, and nudged his comrade’s side, and said, “Don’t +be so stupid! If thou hast no need of anything, I have.” St. Peter, +however, would have nothing, but as the King saw that the other would very much +like to have something, he ordered his treasurer to fill Brother Lustig’s +knapsack with gold. Then they went on their way, and when they came to a +forest, St. Peter said to Brother Lustig, “Now, we will divide the +gold.” “Yes,” he replied, “we will.” So St. Peter +divided the gold, and divided it into three heaps. Brother Lustig thought to +himself, “What craze has he got in his head now? He is making three +shares, and there are only two of us!” But St. Peter said, “I have +divided it exactly; there is one share for me, one for thee, and one for him +who ate the lamb’s heart.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I ate that!” replied Brother Lustig, and hastily swept up the +gold. “You may trust what I say.” “But how can that be +true,” said St. Peter, “when a lamb has no heart?” “Eh, +what, brother, what can you be thinking of? Lambs have hearts like other +animals, why should only they have none?” “Well, so be it,” +said St. Peter, “keep the gold to yourself, but I will stay with you no +longer; I will go my way alone.” “As you like, dear brother,” +answered Brother Lustig. “Farewell.” +</p> + +<p> +Then St. Peter went a different road, but Brother Lustig thought, “It is +a good thing that he has taken himself off, he is certainly a strange saint, +after all.” Then he had money enough, but did not know how to manage it, +squandered it, gave it away, and and when some time had gone by, once more had +nothing. Then he arrived in a certain country where he heard that a +King’s daughter was dead. “Oh, ho!” thought he, “that +may be a good thing for me; I will bring her to life again, and see that I am +paid as I ought to be.” So he went to the King, and offered to raise the +dead girl to life again. Now the King had heard that a discharged soldier was +traveling about and bringing dead persons to life again, and thought that +Brother Lustig was the man; but as he had no confidence in him, he consulted +his councillors first, who said that he might give it a trial as his daughter +was dead. Then Brother Lustig ordered water to be brought to him in a kettle, +bade every one go out, cut the limbs off, threw them in the water and lighted a +fire beneath, just as he had seen St. Peter do. The water began to boil, the +flesh fell off, and then he took the bones out and laid them on the table, but +he did not know the order in which to lay them, and placed them all wrong and +in confusion. Then he stood before them and said, “In the name of the +most holy Trinity, dead maiden, I bid thee arise,” and he said this +thrice, but the bones did not stir. So he said it thrice more, but also in +vain: “Confounded girl that you are, get up!” cried he, “Get +up, or it shall be worse for you!” When he had said that, St. Peter +suddenly appeared in his former shape as a discharged soldier; he entered by +the window and said, “Godless man, what art thou doing? How can the dead +maiden arise, when thou hast thrown about her bones in such confusion?” +“Dear brother, I have done everything to the best of my ability,” +he answered. “This once, I will help thee out of thy difficulty, but one +thing I tell thee, and that is that if ever thou undertakest anything of the +kind again, it will be the worse for thee, and also that thou must neither +demand nor accept the smallest thing from the King for this!” Thereupon +St. Peter laid the bones in their right order, said to the maiden three times, +“In the name of the most holy Trinity, dead maiden, arise,” and the +King’s daughter arose, healthy and beautiful as before. Then St. Peter +went away again by the window, and Brother Lustig was rejoiced to find that all +had passed off so well, but was very much vexed to think that after all he was +not to take anything for it. “I should just like to know,” thought +he, “what fancy that fellow has got in his head, for what he gives with +one hand he takes away with the other there is no sense whatever in it!” +Then the King offered Brother Lustig whatsoever he wished to have, but he did +not dare to take anything; however, by hints and cunning, he contrived to make +the King order his knapsack to be filled with gold for him, and with that he +departed. When he got out, St. Peter was standing by the door, and said, +“Just look what a man thou art; did I not forbid thee to take anything, +and there thou hast thy knapsack full of gold!” “How can I help +that,” answered Brother Lustig, “if people will put it in for +me?” “Well, I tell thee this, that if ever thou settest about +anything of this kind again thou shalt suffer for it!” “Eh, +brother, have no fear, now I have money, why should I trouble myself with +washing bones?” “Faith,” said St. Peter, “the gold will +last a long time! In order that after this thou mayst never tread in forbidden +paths, I will bestow on thy knapsack this property, namely, that whatsoever +thou wishest to have inside it, shall be there. Farewell, thou wilt now never +see me more.” “Good-bye,” said Brother Lustig, and thought to +himself, “I am very glad that thou hast taken thyself off, thou strange +fellow; I shall certainly not follow thee.” But of the magical power +which had been bestowed on his knapsack, he thought no more. +</p> + +<p> +Brother Lustig travelled about with his money, and squandered and wasted what +he had as before. When at last he had no more than four kreuzers, he passed by +an inn and thought, “The money must go,” and ordered three +kreuzers’ worth of wine and one kreuzer’s worth of bread for +himself. As he was sitting there drinking, the smell of roast goose made its +way to his nose. Brother Lustig looked about and peeped, and saw that the host +had two geese standing in the oven. Then he remembered that his comrade had +said that whatsoever he wished to have in his knapsack should be there, so he +said, “Oh, ho! I must try that with the geese.” So he went out, and +when he was outside the door, he said, “I wish those two roasted geese +out of the oven and in my knapsack,” and when he had said that, he +unbuckled it and looked in, and there they were inside it. “Ah, +that’s right!” said he, “now I am a made man!” and went +away to a meadow and took out the roast meat. When he was in the midst of his +meal, two journeymen came up and looked at the second goose, which was not yet +touched, with hungry eyes. Brother Lustig thought to himself, “One is +enough for me,” and called the two men up and said, “Take the +goose, and eat it to my health.” They thanked him, and went with it to +the inn, ordered themselves a half bottle of wine and a loaf, took out the +goose which had been given them, and began to eat. The hostess saw them and +said to her husband, “Those two are eating a goose; just look and see if +it is not one of ours, out of the oven.” The landlord ran thither, and +behold the oven was empty! “What!” cried he, “you thievish +crew, you want to eat goose as cheap as that? Pay for it this moment; or I will +wash you well with green hazel-sap.” The two said, “We are no +thieves, a discharged soldier gave us the goose, outside there in the +meadow.” “You shall not throw dust in my eyes that way! the soldier +was here but he went out by the door, like an honest fellow. I looked after him +myself; you are the thieves and shall pay!” But as they could not pay, he +took a stick, and cudgeled them out of the house. +</p> + +<p> +Brother Lustig went his way and came to a place where there was a magnificent +castle, and not far from it a wretched inn. He went to the inn and asked for a +night’s lodging, but the landlord turned him away, and said, “There +is no more room here, the house is full of noble guests.” “It +surprises me that they should come to you and not go to that splendid +castle,” said Brother Lustig. “Ah, indeed,” replied the host, +“but it is no slight matter to sleep there for a night; no one who has +tried it so far, has ever come out of it alive.” +</p> + +<p> +“If others have tried it,” said Brother Lustig, “I will try +it too.” +</p> + +<p> +“Leave it alone,” said the host, “it will cost you your +neck.” “It won’t kill me at once,” said Brother Lustig, +“just give me the key, and some good food and wine.” So the host +gave him the key, and food and wine, and with this Brother Lustig went into the +castle, enjoyed his supper, and at length, as he was sleepy, he lay down on the +ground, for there was no bed. He soon fell asleep, but during the night was +disturbed by a great noise, and when he awoke, he saw nine ugly devils in the +room, who had made a circle, and were dancing around him. Brother Lustig said, +“Well, dance as long as you like, but none of you must come too +close.” But the devils pressed continually nearer to him, and almost +stepped on his face with their hideous feet. “Stop, you devils’ +ghosts,” said he, but they behaved still worse. Then Brother Lustig grew +angry, and cried, “Hola! but I will soon make it quiet,” and got +the leg of a chair and struck out into the midst of them with it. But nine +devils against one soldier were still too many, and when he struck those in +front of him, the others seized him behind by the hair, and tore it +unmercifully. “Devils’ crew,” cried he, “it is getting +too bad, but wait. Into my knapsack, all nine of you!” In an instant they +were in it, and then he buckled it up and threw it into a corner. After this +all was suddenly quiet, and Brother Lustig lay down again, and slept till it +was bright day. Then came the inn-keeper, and the nobleman to whom the castle +belonged, to see how he had fared; but when they perceived that he was merry +and well they were astonished, and asked, “Have the spirits done you no +harm, then?” “The reason why they have not,” answered Brother +Lustig, “is because I have got the whole nine of them in my knapsack! You +may once more inhabit your castle quite tranquilly, none of them will ever +haunt it again.” The nobleman thanked him, made him rich presents, and +begged him to remain in his service, and he would provide for him as long as he +lived. “No,” replied Brother Lustig, “I am used to wandering +about, I will travel farther.” Then he went away, and entered into a +smithy, laid the knapsack, which contained the nine devils on the anvil, and +asked the smith and his apprentices to strike it. So they smote with their +great hammers with all their strength, and the devils uttered howls which were +quite pitiable. When he opened the knapsack after this, eight of them were +dead, but one which had been lying in a fold of it, was still alive, slipped +out, and went back again to hell. Thereupon Brother Lustig travelled a long +time about the world, and those who know them can tell many a story about him, +but at last he grew old, and thought of his end, so he went to a hermit who was +known to be a pious man, and said to him, “I am tired of wandering about, +and want now to behave in such a manner that I shall enter into the kingdom of +Heaven.” The hermit replied, “There are two roads, one is broad and +pleasant, and leads to hell, the other is narrow and rough, and leads to +heaven.” “I should be a fool,” thought Brother Lustig, +“if I were to take the narrow, rough road.” So he set out and took +the broad and pleasant road, and at length came to a great black door, which +was the door of Hell. Brother Lustig knocked, and the door-keeper peeped out to +see who was there. But when he saw Brother Lustig, he was terrified, for he was +the very same ninth devil who had been shut up in the knapsack, and had escaped +from it with a black eye. So he pushed the bolt in again as quickly as he +could, ran to the devil’s lieutenant, and said, “There is a fellow +outside with a knapsack, who wants to come in, but as you value your lives +don’t allow him to enter, or he will wish the whole of hell into his +knapsack. He once gave me a frightful hammering when I was inside it.” So +they called out to Brother Lustig that he was to go away again, for he should +not get in there! “If they won’t have me here,” thought he, +“I will see if I can find a place for myself in heaven, for I must be +somewhere.” So he turned about and went onwards until he came to the door +of Heaven, where he knocked. St. Peter was sitting hard by as door-keeper. +Brother Lustig recognised him at once, and thought, “Here I find an old +friend, I shall get on better.” But St. Peter said, “I really +believe that thou wantest to come into Heaven.” “Let me in, +brother; I must get in somewhere; if they would have taken me into Hell, I +should not have come here.” “No,” said St. Peter, “thou +shalt not enter.” “Then if thou wilt not let me in, take thy +knapsack back, for I will have nothing at all from thee.” “Give it +here, then,” said St. Peter. Then Brother Lustig gave him the knapsack +into Heaven through the bars, and St. Peter took it, and hung it beside his +seat. Then said Brother Lustig, “And now I wish myself inside my +knapsack,” and in a second he was in it, and in Heaven, and St. Peter was +forced to let him stay there. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap82"></a>82 Gambling Hansel</h3> + +<p> +Once upon a time there was a man who did nothing but gamble, and for that +reason people never called him anything but Gambling Hansel, and as he never +ceased to gamble, he played away his house and all that he had. Now the very +day before his creditors were to take his house from him, came the Lord and St. +Peter, and asked him to give them shelter for the night. Then Gambling Hansel +said, “For my part, you may stay the night, but I cannot give you a bed +or anything to eat.” So the Lord said he was just to take them in, and +they themselves would buy something to eat, to which Gambling Hansel made no +objection. Thereupon St. Peter gave him three groschen, and said he was to go +to the baker’s and fetch some bread. So Gambling Hansel went, but when he +reached the house where the other gambling vagabonds were gathered together, +they, although they had won all that he had, greeted him clamorously, and said, +“Hansel, do come in.” “Oh,” said he, “do you want +to win the three groschen too?” On this they would not let him go. So he +went in, and played away the three groschen also. Meanwhile St. Peter and the +Lord were waiting, and as he was so long in coming, they set out to meet him. +When Gambling Hansel came, however, he pretended that the money had fallen into +the gutter, and kept raking about in it all the while to find it, but our Lord +already knew that he had lost it in play. St. Peter again gave him three +groschen, and now he did not allow himself to be led away once more, but +fetched them the loaf. Our Lord then inquired if he had no wine, and he said, +“Alack, sir, the casks are all empty!” But the Lord said he was to +go down into the cellar, for the best wine was still there. For a long time he +would not believe this, but at length he said, “Well, I will go down, but +I know that there is none there.” When he turned the tap, however, lo and +behold, the best of wine ran out! So he took it to them, and the two passed the +night there. Early next day our Lord told Gambling Hansel that he might beg +three favours. The Lord expected that he would ask to go to Heaven; but +Gambling Hansel asked for a pack of cards with which he could win everything, +for dice with which he would win everything, and for a tree whereon every kind +of fruit would grow, and from which no one who had climbed up, could descend +until he bade him do so. The Lord gave him all that he had asked, and departed +with St. Peter. +</p> + +<p> +And now Gambling Hansel at once set about gambling in real earnest, and before +long he had gained half the world. Upon this St. Peter said to the Lord, +“Lord, this thing must not go on, he will win, and thou lose, the whole +world. We must send Death to him.” When Death appeared, Gambling Hansel +had just seated himself at the gaming-table, and Death said, “Hansel, +come out a while.” But Gambling Hansel said, “Just wait a little +until the game is done, and in the meantime get up into that tree out there, +and gather a little fruit that we may have something to munch on our +way.” Thereupon Death climbed up, but when he wanted to come down again, +he could not, and Gambling Hansel left him up there for seven years, during +which time no one died. +</p> + +<p> +So St. Peter said to the Lord, “Lord, this thing must not go on. People +no longer die; we must go ourselves.” And they went themselves, and the +Lord commanded Hansel to let Death come down. So Hansel went at once to Death +and said to him, “Come down,” and Death took him directly and put +an end to him. They went away together and came to the next world, and then +Gambling Hansel made straight for the door of Heaven, and knocked at it. +“Who is there?” “Gambling Hansel.” “Ah, we will +have nothing to do with him! Begone!” So he went to the door of +Purgatory, and knocked once more. “Who is there?” “Gambling +Hansel.” “Ah, there is quite enough weeping and wailing here +without him. We do not want to gamble, just go away again.” Then he went +to the door of Hell, and there they let him in. There was, however, no one at +home but old Lucifer and the crooked devils who had just been doing their evil +work in the world. And no sooner was Hansel there than he sat down to gamble +again. Lucifer, however, had nothing to lose, but his mis-shapen devils, and +Gambling Hansel won them from him, as with his cards he could not fail to do. +And now he was off again with his crooked devils, and they went to Hohenfuert +and pulled up a hop-pole, and with it went to Heaven and began to thrust the +pole against it, and Heaven began to crack. So again St. Peter said, +“Lord, this thing cannot go on, we must let him in, or he will throw us +down from Heaven.” And they let him in. But Gambling Hansel instantly +began to play again, and there was such a noise and confusion that there was no +hearing what they themselves were saying. Therefore St. Peter once more said, +“Lord, this cannot go on, we must throw him down, or he will make all +Heaven rebellious.” So they went to him at once, and threw him down, and +his soul broke into fragments, and went into the gambling vagabonds who are +living this very day. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap83"></a>83 Hans in Luck</h3> + +<p> +Hans had served his master for seven years, so he said to him, “Master, +my time is up; now I should be glad to go back home to my mother; give me my +wages.” The master answered, “You have served me faithfully and +honestly; as the service was so shall the reward be;” and he gave Hans a +piece of gold as big as his head. Hans pulled his handkerchief out of his +pocket, wrapped up the lump in it, put it on his shoulder, and set out on the +way home. +</p> + +<p> +As he went on, always putting one foot before the other, he saw a horseman +trotting quickly and merrily by on a lively horse. “Ah!” said Hans +quite loud, “what a fine thing it is to ride! There you sit as on a +chair; you stumble over no stones, you save your shoes, and get on, you +don’t know how.” +</p> + +<p> +The rider, who had heard him, stopped and called out, “Hollo! Hans, why +do you go on foot, then?” +</p> + +<p> +“I must,” answered he, “for I have this lump to carry home; +it is true that it is gold, but I cannot hold my head straight for it, and it +hurts my shoulder.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell you what,” said the rider, “we will exchange: I +will give you my horse, and you can give me your lump.” +</p> + +<p> +“With all my heart,” said Hans, “but I can tell you, you will +have to crawl along with it.” +</p> + +<p> +The rider got down, took the gold, and helped Hans up; then gave him the bridle +tight in his hands and said, “If you want to go at a really good pace, +you must click your tongue and call out, “Jup! Jup!” +</p> + +<p> +Hans was heartily delighted as he sat upon the horse and rode away so bold and +free. After a little while he thought that it ought to go faster, and he began +to click with his tongue and call out, “Jup! Jup!” The horse put +himself into a sharp trot, and before Hans knew where he was, he was thrown off +and lying in a ditch which separated the field from the highway. The horse +would have gone off too if it had not been stopped by a countryman, who was +coming along the road and driving a cow before him. +</p> + +<p> +Hans got his limbs together and stood up on his legs again, but he was vexed, +and said to the countryman, “It is a poor joke, this riding, especially +when one gets hold of a mare like this, that kicks and throws one off, so that +one has a chance of breaking one’s neck. Never again will I mount it. Now +I like your cow, for one can walk quietly behind her, and have, over and above, +one’s milk, butter and cheese every day without fail. What would I not +give to have such a cow.” “Well,” said the countryman, +“if it would give you so much pleasure, I do not mind giving the cow for +the horse.” Hans agreed with the greatest delight; the countryman jumped +upon the horse, and rode quickly away. +</p> + +<p> +Hans drove his cow quietly before him, and thought over his lucky bargain. +“If only I have a morsel of bread—and that can hardly fail +me—I can eat butter and cheese with it as often as I like; if I am +thirsty, I can milk my cow and drink the milk. Good heart, what more can I +want?” +</p> + +<p> +When he came to an inn he made a halt, and in his great content ate up what he +had with him—his dinner and supper—and all he had, and with his +last few farthings had half a glass of beer. Then he drove his cow onwards +along the road to his mother’s village. +</p> + +<p> +As it drew nearer mid-day, the heat was more oppressive, and Hans found himself +upon a moor which it took about an hour to cross. He felt it very hot and his +tongue clave to the roof of his mouth with thirst. “I can find a cure for +this,” thought Hans; “I will milk the cow now and refresh myself +with the milk.” He tied her to a withered tree, and as he had no pail he +put his leather cap underneath; but try as he would, not a drop of milk came. +And as he set himself to work in a clumsy way, the impatient beast at last gave +him such a blow on his head with its hind foot, that he fell on the ground, and +for a long time could not think where he was. +</p> + +<p> +By good fortune a butcher just then came along the road with a wheel-barrow, in +which lay a young pig. “What sort of a trick is this?” cried he, +and helped the good Hans up. Hans told him what had happened. The butcher gave +him his flask and said, “Take a drink and refresh yourself. The cow will +certainly give no milk, it is an old beast; at the best it is only fit for the +plough, or for the butcher.” “Well, well,” said Hans, as he +stroked his hair down on his head, “who would have thought it? Certainly +it is a fine thing when one can kill a beast like that at home; what meat one +has! But I do not care much for beef, it is not juicy enough for me. A young +pig like that now is the thing to have, it tastes quite different; and then +there are the sausages!” +</p> + +<p> +“Hark ye, Hans,” said the butcher, “out of love for you I +will exchange, and will let you have the pig for the cow.” “Heaven +repay you for your kindness!” said Hans as he gave up the cow, whilst the +pig was unbound from the barrow, and the cord by which it was tied was put in +his hand. +</p> + +<p> +Hans went on, and thought to himself how everything was going just as he +wished; if he did meet with any vexation it was immediately set right. +Presently there joined him a lad who was carrying a fine white goose under his +arm. They said good morning to each other, and Hans began to tell of his good +luck, and how he had always made such good bargains. The boy told him that he +was taking the goose to a christening-feast. “Just lift her,” added +he, and laid hold of her by the wings; “how heavy she is—she has +been fattened up for the last eight weeks. Whoever has a bit of her when she is +roasted will have to wipe the fat from both sides of his mouth.” +“Yes,” said Hans, as he weighed her in one hand, “she is a +good weight, but my pig is no bad one.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the lad looked suspiciously from one side to the other, and shook his +head. “Look here,” he said at length, “it may not be all +right with your pig. In the village through which I passed, the Mayor himself +had just had one stolen out of its sty. I fear—I fear that you have got +hold of it there. They have sent out some people and it would be a bad business +if they caught you with the pig; at the very least, you would be shut up in the +dark hole.” +</p> + +<p> +The good Hans was terrified. “Goodness!” he said, “help me +out of this fix; you know more about this place than I do, take my pig and +leave me your goose.” “I shall risk something at that game,” +answered the lad, “but I will not be the cause of your getting into +trouble.” So he took the cord in his hand, and drove away the pig quickly +along a by-path. +</p> + +<p> +The good Hans, free from care, went homewards with the goose under his arm. +“When I think over it properly,” said he to himself, “I have +even gained by the exchange; first there is the good roast-meat, then the +quantity of fat which will drip from it, and which will give me dripping for my +bread for a quarter of a year, and lastly the beautiful white feathers; I will +have my pillow stuffed with them, and then indeed I shall go to sleep without +rocking. How glad my mother will be!” +</p> + +<p> +As he was going through the last village, there stood a scissors-grinder with +his barrow; as his wheel whirred he sang— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I sharpen scissors and quickly grind,<br/> +My coat blows out in the wind behind.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans stood still and looked at him; at last he spoke to him and said, +“All’s well with you, as you are so merry with your +grinding.” “Yes,” answered the scissors-grinder, “the +trade has a golden foundation. A real grinder is a man who as often as he puts +his hand into his pocket finds gold in it. But where did you buy that fine +goose?” +</p> + +<p> +“I did not buy it, but exchanged my pig for it.” +</p> + +<p> +“And the pig?” +</p> + +<p> +“That I got for a cow.” +</p> + +<p> +“And the cow?” +</p> + +<p> +“I took that instead of a horse.” +</p> + +<p> +“And the horse?” +</p> + +<p> +“For that I gave a lump of gold as big as my head.” +</p> + +<p> +“And the gold?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, that was my wages for seven years’ service.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have known how to look after yourself each time,” said the +grinder. “If you can only get on so far as to hear the money jingle in +your pocket whenever you stand up, you will have made your fortune.” +</p> + +<p> +“How shall I manage that?” said Hans. “You must be a grinder, +as I am; nothing particular is wanted for it but a grindstone, the rest finds +itself. I have one here; it is certainly a little worn, but you need not give +me anything for it but your goose; will you do it?” +</p> + +<p> +“How can you ask?” answered Hans. “I shall be the luckiest +fellow on earth; if I have money whenever I put my hand in my pocket, what need +I trouble about any longer?” and he handed him the goose and received the +grindstone in exchange. “Now,” said the grinder, as he took up an +ordinary heavy stone that lay by him, “here is a strong stone for you +into the bargain; you can hammer well upon it, and straighten your old nails. +Take it with you and keep it carefully.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans loaded himself with the stones, and went on with a contented heart; his +eyes shone with joy. “I must have been born with a caul,” he cried; +“everything I want happens to me just as if I were a Sunday-child.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, as he had been on his legs since daybreak, he began to feel tired. +Hunger also tormented him, for in his joy at the bargain by which he got the +cow he had eaten up all his store of food at once. At last he could only go on +with great trouble, and was forced to stop every minute; the stones, too, +weighed him down dreadfully. Then he could not help thinking how nice it would +be if he had not to carry them just then. +</p> + +<p> +He crept like a snail to a well in a field, and there he thought that he would +rest and refresh himself with a cool draught of water, but in order that he +might not injure the stones in sitting down, he laid them carefully by his side +on the edge of the well. Then he sat down on it, and was to stoop and drink, +when he made a slip, pushed against the stones, and both of them fell into the +water. When Hans saw them with his own eyes sinking to the bottom, he jumped +for joy, and then knelt down, and with tears in his eyes thanked God for having +shown him this favour also, and delivered him in so good a way, and without his +having any need to reproach himself, from those heavy stones which had been the +only things that troubled him. +</p> + +<p> +“There is no man under the sun so fortunate as I,” he cried out. +With a light heart and free from every burden he now ran on until he was with +his mother at home. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap84"></a>84 Hans Married</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a young peasant named Hans, whose uncle wanted to +find him a rich wife. He therefore seated Hans behind the stove, and had it +made very hot. Then he fetched a pot of milk and plenty of white bread, gave +him a bright newly-coined farthing in his hand, and said, “Hans, hold +that farthing fast, crumble the white bread into the milk, and stay where you +are, and do not stir from that spot till I come back.” “Yes,” +said Hans, “I will do all that.” Then the wooer put on a pair of +old patched trousers, went to a rich peasant’s daughter in the next +village, and said, “Won’t you marry my nephew Hans—you will +get an honest and sensible man who will suit you?” The covetous father +asked, “How is it with regard to his means? Has he bread to break?” +“Dear friend,” replied the wooer, “my young nephew has a snug +berth, a nice bit of money in hand, and plenty of bread to break, besides he +has quite as many patches as I have,” (and as he spoke, he slapped the +patches on his trousers, but in that district small pieces of land were called +patches also.) “If you will give yourself the trouble to go home with me, +you shall see at once that all is as I have said.” Then the miser did not +want to lose this good opportunity, and said, “If that is the case, I +have nothing further to say against the marriage.” +</p> + +<p> +So the wedding was celebrated on the appointed day, and when the young wife +went out of doors to see the bridegroom’s property, Hans took off his +Sunday coat and put on his patched smock-frock and said, “I might spoil +my good coat.” Then together they went out and wherever a boundary line +came in sight, or fields and meadows were divided from each other, Hans pointed +with his finger and then slapped either a large or a small patch on his +smock-frock, and said, “That patch is mine, and that too, my dearest, +just look at it,” meaning thereby that his wife should not stare at the +broad land, but look at his garment, which was his own. +</p> + +<p> +“Were you indeed at the wedding?” “Yes, indeed I was there, +and in full dress. My head-dress was of snow; then the sun came out, and it was +melted. My coat was of cobwebs, and I had to pass by some thorns which tore it +off me, my shoes were of glass, and I pushed against a stone and they said, +“Klink,” and broke in two. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap85"></a>85 The Gold-Children</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor man and a poor woman who had nothing but a little +cottage, and who earned their bread by fishing, and always lived from hand to +mouth. But it came to pass one day when the man was sitting by the water-side, +and casting his net, that he drew out a fish entirely of gold. As he was +looking at the fish, full of astonishment, it began to speak and said, +“Hark you, fisherman, if you will throw me back again into the water, I +will change your little hut into a splendid castle.” Then the fisherman +answered, “Of what use is a castle to me, if I have nothing to +eat?” The gold fish continued, “That shall be taken care of, there +will be a cupboard in the castle in which, when you open it, shall be dishes of +the most delicate meats, and as many of them as you can desire.” +“If that be true,” said the man, “then I can well do you a +favour.” “Yes,” said the fish, “there is, however, the +condition that you shall disclose to no one in the world, whosoever he may be, +whence your good luck has come, if you speak but one single word, all will be +over.” Then the man threw the wonderful fish back again into the water, +and went home. But where his hovel had formerly stood, now stood a great +castle. He opened wide his eyes, entered, and saw his wife dressed in beautiful +clothes, sitting in a splendid room, and she was quite delighted, and said, +“Husband, how has all this come to pass? It suits me very well.” +“Yes,” said the man, “it suits me too, but I am frightfully +hungry, just give me something to eat.” Said the wife, “But I have +got nothing and don’t know where to find anything in this new +house.” “There is no need of your knowing,” said the man, +“for I see yonder a great cupboard, just unlock it.” When she +opened it, there stood cakes, meat, fruit, wine, quite a bright prospect. +</p> + +<p> +Then the woman cried joyfully, “What more can you want, my dear?” +and they sat down, and ate and drank together. When they had had enough, the +woman said, “But husband, whence come all these riches?” +“Alas,” answered he, “do not question me about it, for I dare +not tell you anything; if I disclose it to any one, then all our good fortune +will fly.” “Very good,” said she, “if I am not to know +anything, then I do not want to know anything.” However, she was not in +earnest; she never rested day or night, and she goaded her husband until in his +impatience he revealed that all was owing to a wonderful golden fish which he +had caught, and to which in return he had given its liberty. And as soon as the +secret was out, the splendid castle with the cupboard immediately disappeared, +they were once more in the old fisherman’s hut, and the man was obliged +to follow his former trade and fish. But fortune would so have it, that he once +more drew out the golden fish. “Listen,” said the fish, “if +you will throw me back into the water again, I will once more give you the +castle with the cupboard full of roast and boiled meats; only be firm, for your +life’s sake don’t reveal from whom you have it, or you will lose it +all again!” “I will take good care,” answered the fisherman, +and threw the fish back into the water. Now at home everything was once more in +its former magnificence, and the wife was overjoyed at their good fortune, but +curiosity left her no peace, so that after a couple of days she began to ask +again how it had come to pass, and how he had managed to secure it. The man +kept silence for a short time, but at last she made him so angry that he broke +out, and betrayed the secret. In an instant the castle disappeared, and they +were back again in their old hut. “Now you have got what you want,” +said he; “and we can gnaw at a bare bone again.” “Ah,” +said the woman, “I had rather not have riches if I am not to know from +whom they come, for then I have no peace.” +</p> + +<p> +The man went back to fish, and after a while he chanced to draw out the gold +fish for a third time. “Listen,” said the fish, “I see very +well that I am fated to fall into your hands, take me home and cut me into six +pieces; give your wife two of them to eat, two to your horse and bury two of +them in the ground, then they will bring you a blessing.” The fisherman +took the fish home with him, and did as it had bidden him. It came to pass, +however, that from the two pieces that were buried in the ground two golden +lilies sprang up, that the horse had two golden foals, and the +fisherman’s wife bore two children who were made entirely of gold. The +children grew up, became tall and handsome, and the lilies and horses grew +likewise. Then they said, “Father, we want to mount our golden steeds and +travel out in the world.” But he answered sorrowfully, “How shall I +bear it if you go away, and I know not how it fares with you?” Then they +said, “The two golden lilies remain here. By them you can see how it is +with us; if they are fresh, then we are in health; if they are withered, we are +ill; if they perish, then we are dead.” So they rode forth and came to an +inn, in which were many people, and when they perceived the gold-children they +began to laugh, and jeer. When one of them heard the mocking he felt ashamed +and would not go out into the world, but turned back and went home again to his +father. But the other rode forward and reached a great forest. As he was about +to enter it, the people said, It is not safe for you to ride through, the wood +is full of robbers who would treat you badly. You will fare ill, and when they +see that you are all of gold, and your horse likewise, they will assuredly kill +you.’ +</p> + +<p> +But he would not allow himself to be frightened, and said, “I must and +will ride through it.” Then he took bear-skins and covered himself and +his horse with them, so that the gold was no more to be seen, and rode +fearlessly into the forest. When he had ridden onward a little he heard a +rustling in the bushes, and heard voices speaking together. From one side came +cries of, “There is one,” but from the other, “Let him go, +’tis an idle fellow, as poor and bare as a church-mouse, what should we +gain from him?” +</p> + +<p> +So the gold-child rode joyfully through the forest, and no evil befell him. One +day he entered a village wherein he saw a maiden, who was so beautiful that he +did not believe that any more beautiful than she existed in the world. And as +such a mighty love took possession of him, he went up to her and said, “I +love thee with my whole heart, wilt thou be my wife?” He, too, pleased +the maiden so much that she agreed and said, “Yes, I will be thy wife, +and be true to thee my whole life long.” Then they were married, and just +as they were in the greatest happiness, home came the father of the bride, and +when he saw that his daughter’s wedding was being celebrated, he was +astonished, and said, “Where is the bridegroom?” They showed him +the gold-child, who, however, still wore his bear-skins. Then the father said +wrathfully, “A vagabond shall never have my daughter!” and was +about to kill him. Then the bride begged as hard as she could, and said, +“He is my husband, and I love him with all my heart!” until at last +he allowed himself to be appeased. Nevertheless the idea never left his +thoughts, so that next morning he rose early, wishing to see whether his +daughter’s husband was a common ragged beggar. But when he peeped in, he +saw a magnificent golden man in the bed, and the cast-off bear-skins lying on +the ground. Then he went back and thought, “What a good thing it was that +I restrained my anger! I should have committed a great crime.” But the +gold-child dreamed that he rode out to hunt a splendid stag, and when he awoke +in the morning, he said to his wife, “I must go out hunting.” She +was uneasy, and begged him to stay there, and said, “You might easily +meet with a great misfortune,” but he answered, “I must and will +go.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon he got up, and rode forth into the forest, and it was not long before +a fine stag crossed his path exactly according to his dream. He aimed and was +about to shoot it, when the stag ran away. He gave chase over hedges and +ditches for the whole day without feeling tired, but in the evening the stag +vanished from his sight, and when the gold-child looked round him, he was +standing before a little house, wherein was a witch. He knocked, and a little +old woman came out and asked, “What are you doing so late in the midst of +the great forest?” “Have you not seen a stag?” +“Yes,” answered she, “I know the stag well,” and +thereupon a little dog which had come out of the house with her, barked at the +man violently. “Wilt thou be silent, thou odious toad,” said he, +“or I will shoot thee dead.” Then the witch cried out in a passion, +“What! will you slay my little dog?” and immediately transformed +him, so that he lay like a stone, and his bride awaited him in vain and +thought, “That which I so greatly dreaded, which lay so heavily on my +heart, has come upon him!” But at home the other brother was standing by +the gold-lilies, when one of them suddenly drooped. “Good heavens!” +said he, “my brother has met with some great misfortune! I must away to +see if I can possibly rescue him.” Then the father said, “Stay +here, if I lose you also, what shall I do?” But he answered, “I +must and will go forth!” +</p> + +<p> +Then he mounted his golden horse, and rode forth and entered the great forest, +where his brother lay turned to stone. The old witch came out of her house and +called him, wishing to entrap him also, but he did not go near her, and said, +“I will shoot you, if you will not bring my brother to life again.” +She touched the stone, though very unwillingly, with her forefinger, and he was +immediately restored to his human shape. But the two gold-children rejoiced +when they saw each other again, kissed and caressed each other, and rode away +together out of the forest, the one home to his bride, and the other to his +father. The father then said, “I knew well that you had rescued your +brother, for the golden lily suddenly rose up and blossomed out again.” +Then they lived happily, and all prospered with them until their death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap86"></a>86 The Fox and the Geese</h3> + +<p> +The fox once came to a meadow in which was a flock of fine fat geese, on which +he smiled and said, “I come in the nick of time, you are sitting together +quite beautifully, so that I can eat you up one after the other.” The +geese cackled with terror, sprang up, and began to wail and beg piteously for +their lives. But the fox would listen to nothing, and said, “There is no +mercy to be had! You must die.” At length one of them took heart and +said, “If we poor geese are to yield up our vigorous young lives, show us +the only possible favour and allow us one more prayer, that we may not die in +our sins, and then we will place ourselves in a row, so that you can always +pick yourself out the fattest.” “Yes,” said the fox, +“that is reasonable, and a pious request. Pray away, I will wait till you +are done.” Then the first began a good long prayer, for ever saying, +“Ga! Ga!” and as she would make no end, the second did not wait +until her turn came, but began also, “Ga! Ga!” The third and fourth +followed her, and soon they were all cackling together. +</p> + +<p> +When they have done praying, the story shall be continued further, but at +present they are still praying without stopping.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap87"></a>87 The Poor Man and the Rich Man</h3> + +<p> +In olden times, when the Lord himself still used to walk about on this earth +amongst men, it once happened that he was tired and overtaken by the darkness +before he could reach an inn. Now there stood on the road before him two houses +facing each other; the one large and beautiful, the other small and poor. The +large one belonged to a rich man, and the small one to a poor man. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Lord thought, “I shall be no burden to the rich man, I will stay +the night with him.” When the rich man heard some one knocking at his +door, he opened the window and asked the stranger what he wanted. The Lord +answered, “I only ask for a night’s lodging.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the rich man looked at the traveler from head to foot, and as the Lord was +wearing common clothes, and did not look like one who had much money in his +pocket, he shook his head, and said, “No, I cannot take you in, my rooms +are full of herbs and seeds; and if I were to lodge everyone who knocked at my +door, I might very soon go begging myself. Go somewhere else for a +lodging,” and with this he shut down the window and left the Lord +standing there. +</p> + +<p> +So the Lord turned his back on the rich man, and went across to the small house +and knocked. He had hardly done so when the poor man opened the little door and +bade the traveler come in. “Pass the night with me, it is already +dark,” said he; “you cannot go any further to-night.” This +pleased the Lord, and he went in. The poor man’s wife shook hands with +him, and welcomed him, and said he was to make himself at home and put up with +what they had got; they had not much to offer him, but what they had they would +give him with all their hearts. Then she put the potatoes on the fire, and +while they were boiling, she milked the goat, that they might have a little +milk with them. When the cloth was laid, the Lord sat down with the man and his +wife, and he enjoyed their coarse food, for there were happy faces at the +table. When they had had supper and it was bed-time, the woman called her +husband apart and said, “Hark you, dear husband, let us make up a bed of +straw for ourselves to-night, and then the poor traveler can sleep in our bed +and have a good rest, for he has been walking the whole day through, and that +makes one weary.” “With all my heart,” he answered, “I +will go and offer it to him;” and he went to the stranger and invited +him, if he had no objection, to sleep in their bed and rest his limbs properly. +But the Lord was unwilling to take their bed from the two old folks; however, +they would not be satisfied, until at length he did it and lay down in their +bed, while they themselves lay on some straw on the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning they got up before daybreak, and made as good a breakfast as they +could for the guest. When the sun shone in through the little window, and the +Lord had got up, he again ate with them, and then prepared to set out on his +journey. +</p> + +<p> +But as he was standing at the door he turned round and said, “As you are +so kind and good, you may wish three things for yourselves and I will grant +them.” Then the man said, “What else should I wish for but eternal +happiness, and that we two, as long as we live, may be healthy and have every +day our daily bread; for the third wish, I do not know what to have.” And +the Lord said to him, “Will you wish for a new house instead of this old +one?” “Oh, yes,” said the man; “if I can have that, +too, I should like it very much.” And the Lord fulfilled his wish, and +changed their old house into a new one, again gave them his blessing, and went +on. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was high when the rich man got up and leaned out of his window and saw, +on the opposite side of the way, a new clean-looking house with red tiles and +bright windows where the old hut used to be. He was very much astonished, and +called his wife and said to her, “Tell me, what can have happened? Last +night there was a miserable little hut standing there, and to-day there is a +beautiful new house. Run over and see how that has come to pass.” +</p> + +<p> +So his wife went and asked the poor man, and he said to her, “Yesterday +evening a traveler came here and asked for a night’s lodging, and this +morning when he took leave of us he granted us three wishes—eternal +happiness, health during this life and our daily bread as well, and besides +this, a beautiful new house instead of our old hut.” +</p> + +<p> +When the rich man’s wife heard this, she ran back in haste and told her +husband how it had happened. The man said, “I could tear myself to +pieces! If I had but known that! That traveler came to our house too, and +wanted to sleep here, and I sent him away.” “Quick!” said his +wife, “get on your horse. You can still catch the man up, and then you +must ask to have three wishes granted to you.” +</p> + +<p> +The rich man followed the good counsel and galloped away on his horse, and soon +came up with the Lord. He spoke to him softly and pleasantly, and begged him +not to take it amiss that he had not let him in directly; he was looking for +the front-door key, and in the meantime the stranger had gone away, if he +returned the same way he must come and stay with him. “Yes,” said +the Lord; “if I ever come back again, I will do so.” Then the rich +man asked if might not wish for three things too, as his neighbor had done? +“Yes,” said the Lord, he might, but it would not be to his +advantage, and he had better not wish for anything; but the rich man thought +that he could easily ask for something which would add to his happiness, if he +only knew that it would be granted. So the Lord said to him, “Ride home, +then, and three wishes which you shall form, shall be fulfilled.” +</p> + +<p> +The rich man had now gained what he wanted, so he rode home, and began to +consider what he should wish for. As he was thus thinking he let the bridle +fall, and the horse began to caper about, so that he was continually disturbed +in his meditations, and could not collect his thoughts at all. He patted its +neck, and said, “Gently, Lisa,” but the horse only began new +tricks. Then at last he was angry, and cried quite impatiently, “I wish +your neck was broken!” Directly he had said the words, down the horse +fell on the ground, and there it lay dead and never moved again. And thus was +his first wish fulfilled. As he was miserly by nature, he did not like to leave +the harness lying there; so he cut it off, and put it on his back; and now he +had to go on foot. “I have still two wishes left,” said he, and +comforted himself with that thought. +</p> + +<p> +And now as he was walking slowly through the sand, and the sun was burning hot +at noon-day, he grew quite hot-tempered and angry. The saddle hurt his back, +and he had not yet any idea what to wish for. “If I were to wish for all +the riches and treasures in the world,” said he to himself, “I +should still to think of all kinds of other things later on, I know that, +beforehand. But I will manage so that there is nothing at all left me to wish +for afterwards.” Then he sighed and said, “Ah, if I were but that +Bavarian peasant, who likewise had three wishes granted to him, and knew quite +well what to do, and in the first place wished for a great deal of beer, and in +the second for as much beer as he was able to drink, and in the third for a +barrel of beer into the bargain.” +</p> + +<p> +Many a time he thought he had found it, but then it seemed to him to be, after +all, too little. Then it came into his mind, what an easy life his wife had, +for she stayed at home in a cool room and enjoyed herself. This really did vex +him, and before he was aware, he said, “I just wish she was sitting there +on this saddle, and could not get off it, instead of my having to drag it along +on my back.” And as the last word was spoken, the saddle disappeared from +his back, and he saw that his second wish had been fulfilled. Then he really +did feel warm. He began to run and wanted to be quite alone in his own room at +home, to think of something really large for his last wish. But when he arrived +there and opened the parlour-door, he saw his wife sitting in the middle of the +room on the saddle, crying and complaining, and quite unable to get off it. So +he said, “Do bear it, and I will wish for all the riches on earth for +thee, only stay where thou art.” She, however, called him a fool, and +said, “What good will all the riches on earth do me, if I am to sit on +this saddle? Thou hast wished me on it, so thou must help me off.” So +whether he would or not, he was forced to let his third wish be that she should +be quit of the saddle, and able to get off it, and immediately the wish was +fulfilled. So he got nothing by it but vexation, trouble, abuse, and the loss +of his horse; but the poor people lived happily, quietly, and piously until +their happy death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap88"></a>88 The Singing, Springing Lark</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a man who was about to set out on a long journey, and +on parting he asked his three daughters what he should bring back with him for +them. Whereupon the eldest wished for pearls, the second wished for diamonds, +but the third said, “Dear father, I should like a singing, soaring +lark.” The father said, “Yes, if I can get it, you shall have +it,” kissed all three, and set out. Now when the time had come for him to +be on his way home again, he had brought pearls and diamonds for the two +eldest, but he had sought everywhere in vain for a singing, soaring lark for +the youngest, and he was very unhappy about it, for she was his favorite child. +Then his road lay through a forest, and in the midst of it was a splendid +castle, and near the castle stood a tree, but quite on the top of the tree, he +saw a singing, soaring lark. “Aha, you come just at the right +moment!” he said, quite delighted, and called to his servant to climb up +and catch the little creature. But as he approached the tree, a lion leapt from +beneath it, shook himself, and roared till the leaves on the trees trembled. +“He who tries to steal my singing, soaring lark,” he cried, +“will I devour.” Then the man said, “I did not know that the +bird belonged to thee. I will make amends for the wrong I have done and ransom +myself with a large sum of money, only spare my life.” The lion said, +“Nothing can save thee, unless thou wilt promise to give me for mine own +what first meets thee on thy return home; and if thou wilt do that, I will +grant thee thy life, and thou shalt have the bird for thy daughter, into the +bargain.” But the man hesitated and said, “That might be my +youngest daughter, she loves me best, and always runs to meet me on my return +home.” The servant, however, was terrified and said, “Why should +your daughter be the very one to meet you, it might as easily be a cat, or +dog?” Then the man allowed himself to be over-persuaded, took the +singing, soaring lark, and promised to give the lion whatsoever should first +meet him on his return home. +</p> + +<p> +When he reached home and entered his house, the first who met him was no other +than his youngest and dearest daughter, who came running up, kissed and +embraced him, and when she saw that he had brought with him a singing, soaring +lark, she was beside herself with joy. The father, however, could not rejoice, +but began to weep, and said, “My dearest child, I have bought the little +bird dear. In return for it, I have been obliged to promise thee to a savage +lion, and when he has thee he will tear thee in pieces and devour thee,” +and he told her all, just as it had happened, and begged her not to go there, +come what might. But she consoled him and said, “Dearest father, indeed +your promise must be fulfilled. I will go thither and soften the lion, so that +I may return to thee safely.” Next morning she had the road pointed out +to her, took leave, and went fearlessly out into the forest. The lion, however, +was an enchanted prince and was by day a lion, and all his people were lions +with him, but in the night they resumed their natural human shapes. On her +arrival she was kindly received and led into the castle. When night came, the +lion turned into a handsome man, and their wedding was celebrated with great +magnificence. They lived happily together, remained awake at night, and slept +in the daytime. One day he came and said, “To-morrow there is a feast in +thy father’s house, because your eldest sister is to be married, and if +thou art inclined to go there, my lions shall conduct thee.” She said, +“Yes, I should very much like to see my father again,” and went +thither, accompanied by the lions. There was great joy when she arrived, for +they had all believed that she had been torn in pieces by the lion, and had +long ceased to live. But she told them what a handsome husband she had, and how +well off she was, remained with them while the wedding-feast lasted, and then +went back again to the forest. When the second daughter was about to be +married, and she was again invited to the wedding, she said to the lion, +“This time I will not be alone, thou must come with me.” The lion, +however, said that it was too dangerous for him, for if when there a ray from a +burning candle fell on him, he would be changed into a dove, and for seven +years long would have to fly about with the doves. She said, “Ah, but do +come with me, I will take great care of thee, and guard thee from all +light.” So they went away together, and took with them their little child +as well. She had a chamber built there, so strong and thick that no ray could +pierce through it; in this he was to shut himself up when the candles were lit +for the wedding-feast. But the door was made of green wood which warped and +left a little crack which no one noticed. The wedding was celebrated with +magnificence, but when the procession with all its candles and torches came +back from church, and passed by this apartment, a ray about the breadth of a +hair fell on the King’s son, and when this ray touched him, he was +transformed in an instant, and when she came in and looked for him, she did not +see him, but a white dove was sitting there. The dove said to her, “For +seven years must I fly about the world, but at every seventh step that you take +I will let fall a drop of red blood and a white feather, and these will show +thee the way, and if thou followest the trace thou canst release me.” +Thereupon the dove flew out at the door, and she followed him, and at every +seventh step a red drop of blood and a little white feather fell down and +showed her the way. +</p> + +<p> +So she went continually further and further in the wide world, never looking +about her or resting, and the seven years were almost past; then she rejoiced +and thought that they would soon be delivered, and yet they were so far from +it! Once when they were thus moving onwards, no little feather and no drop of +red blood fell, and when she raised her eyes the dove had disappeared. And as +she thought to herself, “In this no man can help thee,” she climbed +up to the sun, and said to him, “Thou shinest into every crevice, and +over every peak, hast thou not seen a white dove flying?” +“No,” said the sun, “I have seen none, but I present thee +with a casket, open it when thou art in sorest need.” Then she thanked +the sun, and went on until evening came and the moon appeared; she then asked +her, “Thou shinest the whole night through, and on every field and +forest, hast thou not seen a white dove flying?” “No,” said +the moon, “I have seen no dove, but here I give thee an egg, break it +when thou art in great need.” She thanked the moon, and went on until the +night wind came up and blew on her, then she said to it, “Thou blowest +over every tree and under every leaf, hast thou not seen a white dove +flying?” “No,” said the night wind, “I have seen none, +but I will ask the three other winds, perhaps they have seen it.” The +east wind and the west wind came, and had seen nothing, but the south wind +said, “I have seen the white dove, it has flown to the Red Sea, where it +has become a lion again, for the seven years are over, and the lion is there +fighting with a dragon; the dragon, however, is an enchanted princess.” +The night wind then said to her, “I will advise thee; go to the Red Sea, +on the right bank are some tall reeds, count them, break off the eleventh, and +strike the dragon with it, then the lion will be able to subdue it, and both +then will regain their human form. After that, look round and thou wilt see the +griffin which is by the Red Sea; swing thyself, with thy beloved, on to his +back, and the bird will carry you over the sea to your own home. Here is a nut +for thee, when thou are above the center of the sea, let the nut fall, it will +immediately shoot up, and a tall nut-tree will grow out of the water on which +the griffin may rest; for if he cannot rest, he will not be strong enough to +carry you across, and if thou forgettest to throw down the nut, he will let you +fall into the sea.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she went thither, and found everything as the night wind had said. She +counted the reeds by the sea, and cut off the eleventh, struck the dragon +therewith, whereupon the lion overcame it, and immediately both of them +regained their human shapes. But when the princess, who had before been the +dragon, was delivered from enchantment, she took the youth by the arm, seated +herself on the griffin, and carried him off with her. There stood the poor +maiden who had wandered so far and was again forsaken. She sat down and cried, +but at last she took courage and said, “Still I will go as far as the +wind blows and as long as the cock crows, until I find him,” and she went +forth by long, long roads, until at last she came to the castle where both of +them were living together; there she heard that soon a feast was to be held, in +which they would celebrate their wedding, but she said, “God still helps +me,” and opened the casket that the sun had given her. A dress lay +therein as brilliant as the sun itself. So she took it out and put it on, and +went up into the castle, and everyone, even the bride herself, looked at her +with astonishment. The dress pleased the bride so well that she thought it +might do for her wedding-dress, and asked if it was for sale? “Not for +money or land,” answered she, “but for flesh and blood.” The +bride asked her what she meant by that, so she said, “Let me sleep a +night in the chamber where the bridegroom sleeps.” The bride would not, +yet wanted very much to have the dress; at last she consented, but the page was +to give the prince a sleeping-draught. When it was night, therefore, and the +youth was already asleep, she was led into the chamber; she seated herself on +the bed and said, “I have followed after thee for seven years. I have +been to the sun and the moon, and the four winds, and have enquired for thee, +and have helped thee against the dragon; wilt thou, then quite forget +me?” But the prince slept so soundly that it only seemed to him as if the +wind were whistling outside in the fir-trees. When therefore day broke, she was +led out again, and had to give up the golden dress. And as that even had been +of no avail, she was sad, went out into a meadow, sat down there, and wept. +While she was sitting there, she thought of the egg which the moon had given +her; she opened it, and there came out a clucking hen with twelve chickens all +of gold, and they ran about chirping, and crept again under the old hen’s +wings; nothing more beautiful was ever seen in the world! Then she arose, and +drove them through the meadow before her, until the bride looked out of the +window. The little chickens pleased her so much that she immediately came down +and asked if they were for sale. “Not for money or land, but for flesh +and blood; let me sleep another night in the chamber where the bridegroom +sleeps.” The bride said, “Yes,” intending to cheat her as on +the former evening. But when the prince went to bed he asked the page what the +murmuring and rustling in the night had been? On this the page told all; that +he had been forced to give him a sleeping-draught, because a poor girl had +slept secretly in the chamber, and that he was to give him another that night. +The prince said, “Pour out the draught by the bed-side.” At night, +she was again led in, and when she began to relate how ill all had fared with +her, he immediately recognized his beloved wife by her voice, sprang up and +cried, “Now I really am released! I have been as it were in a dream, for +the strange princess has bewitched me so that I have been compelled to forget +thee, but God has delivered me from the spell at the right time.” Then +they both left the castle secretly in the night, for they feared the father of +the princess, who was a sorcerer, and they seated themselves on the griffin +which bore them across the Red Sea, and when they were in the midst of it, she +let fall the nut. Immediately a tall nut-tree grew up, whereon the bird rested, +and then carried them home, where they found their child, who had grown tall +and beautiful, and they lived thenceforth happily until their death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap89"></a>89 The Goose-Girl</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time an old Queen whose husband had been dead for many +years, and she had a beautiful daughter. When the princess grew up she was +betrothed to a prince who lived at a great distance. When the time came for her +to be married, and she had to journey forth into the distant kingdom, the aged +Queen packed up for her many costly vessels of silver and gold, and trinkets +also of gold and silver; and cups and jewels, in short, everything which +appertained to a royal dowry, for she loved her child with all her heart. She +likewise sent her maid in waiting, who was to ride with her, and hand her over +to the bridegroom, and each had a horse for the journey, but the horse of the +King’s daughter was called Falada, and could speak. So when the hour of +parting had come, the aged mother went into her bedroom, took a small knife and +cut her finger with it until it bled, then she held a white handkerchief to it +into which she let three drops of blood fall, gave it to her daughter and said, +“Dear child, preserve this carefully, it will be of service to you on +your way.” +</p> + +<p> +So they took a sorrowful leave of each other; the princess put the piece of +cloth in her bosom, mounted her horse, and then went away to her bridegroom. +After she had ridden for a while she felt a burning thirst, and said to her +waiting-maid, “Dismount, and take my cup which thou hast brought with +thee for me, and get me some water from the stream, for I should like to +drink.” “If you are thirsty,” said the waiting-maid, +“get off your horse yourself, and lie down and drink out of the water, I +don’t choose to be your servant.” So in her great thirst the +princess alighted, bent down over the water in the stream and drank, and was +not allowed to drink out of the golden cup. Then she said, “Ah, +Heaven!” and the three drops of blood answered, “If thy mother +knew, her heart would break.” But the King’s daughter was humble, +said nothing, and mounted her horse again. She rode some miles further, but the +day was warm, the sun scorched her, and she was thirsty once more, and when +they came to a stream of water, she again cried to her waiting-maid, +“Dismount, and give me some water in my golden cup,” for she had +long ago forgotten the girl’s ill words. But the waiting-maid said still +more haughtily, “If you wish to drink, drink as you can, I don’t +choose to be your maid.” Then in her great thirst the King’s +daughter alighted, bent over the flowing stream, wept and said, “Ah, +Heaven!” and the drops of blood again replied, “If thy mother knew +this, her heart would break.” And as she was thus drinking and leaning +right over the stream, the handkerchief with the three drops of blood fell out +of her bosom, and floated away with the water without her observing it, so +great was her trouble. The waiting-maid, however, had seen it, and she rejoiced +to think that she had now power over the bride, for since the princess had lost +the drops of blood, she had become weak and powerless. So now when she wanted +to mount her horse again, the one that was called Falada, the waiting-maid +said, “Falada is more suitable for me, and my nag will do for thee” +and the princess had to be content with that. Then the waiting-maid, with many +hard words, bade the princess exchange her royal apparel for her own shabby +clothes; and at length she was compelled to swear by the clear sky above her, +that she would not say one word of this to any one at the royal court, and if +she had not taken this oath she would have been killed on the spot. But Falada +saw all this, and observed it well. +</p> + +<p> +The waiting-maid now mounted Falada, and the true bride the bad horse, and thus +they traveled onwards, until at length they entered the royal palace. There +were great rejoicings over her arrival, and the prince sprang forward to meet +her, lifted the waiting-maid from her horse, and thought she was his consort. +She was conducted upstairs, but the real princess was left standing below. Then +the old King looked out of the window and saw her standing in the courtyard, +and how dainty and delicate and beautiful she was, and instantly went to the +royal apartment, and asked the bride about the girl she had with her who was +standing down below in the courtyard, and who she was? “I picked her up +on my way for a companion; give the girl something to work at, that she may not +stand idle.” But the old King had no work for her, and knew of none, so +he said, “I have a little boy who tends the geese, she may help +him.” The boy was called Conrad, and the true bride had to help him to +tend the geese. Soon afterwards the false bride said to the young King, +“Dearest husband, I beg you to do me a favour.” He answered, +“I will do so most willingly.” “Then send for the knacker, +and have the head of the horse on which I rode here cut off, for it vexed me on +the way.” In reality, she was afraid that the horse might tell how she +had behaved to the King’s daughter. Then she succeeded in making the King +promise that it should be done, and the faithful Falada was to die; this came +to the ears of the real princess, and she secretly promised to pay the knacker +a piece of gold if he would perform a small service for her. There was a great +dark-looking gateway in the town, through which morning and evening she had to +pass with the geese: would he be so good as to nail up Falada’s head on +it, so that she might see him again, more than once. The knacker’s man +promised to do that, and cut off the head, and nailed it fast beneath the dark +gateway. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning, when she and Conrad drove out their flock beneath this +gateway, she said in passing, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Alas, Falada, hanging there!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the head answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Alas, young Queen, how ill you fare!<br/> +If this your tender mother knew,<br/> +Her heart would surely break in two.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they went still further out of the town, and drove their geese into the +country. And when they had come to the meadow, she sat down and unbound her +hair which was like pure gold, and Conrad saw it and delighted in its +brightness, and wanted to pluck out a few hairs. Then she said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Blow, blow, thou gentle wind, I say,<br/> +Blow Conrad’s little hat away,<br/> +And make him chase it here and there,<br/> +Until I have braided all my hair,<br/> +And bound it up again.” +</p> + +<p> +And there came such a violent wind that it blew Conrad’s hat far away +across country, and he was forced to run after it. When he came back she had +finished combing her hair and was putting it up again, and he could not get any +of it. Then Conrad was angry, and would not speak to her, and thus they watched +the geese until the evening, and then they went home. +</p> + +<p> +Next day when they were driving the geese out through the dark gateway, the +maiden said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Alas, Falada, hanging there!” +</p> + +<p> +Falada answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Alas, young Queen, how ill you fare!<br/> +If this your tender mother knew,<br/> +Her heart would surely break in two.” +</p> + +<p> +And she sat down again in the field and began to comb out her hair, and Conrad +ran and tried to clutch it, so she said in haste, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Blow, blow, thou gentle wind, I say,<br/> +Blow Conrad’s little hat away,<br/> +And make him chase it here and there,<br/> +Until I have braided all my hair,<br/> +And bound it up again.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the wind blew, and blew his little hat off his head and far away, and +Conrad was forced to run after it, and when he came back, her hair had been put +up a long time, and he could get none of it, and so they looked after their +geese till evening came. +</p> + +<p> +But in the evening after they had got home, Conrad went to the old King, and +said, “I won’t tend the geese with that girl any longer!” +“Why not?” inquired the aged King. “Oh, because she vexes me +the whole day long.” Then the aged King commanded him to relate what it +was that she did to him. And Conrad said, “In the morning when we pass +beneath the dark gateway with the flock, there is a sorry horse’s head on +the wall, and she says to it, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Alas, Falada, hanging there!” +</p> + +<p> +And the head replies, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Alas, young Queen how ill you fare!<br/> +If this your tender mother knew,<br/> +Her heart would surely break in two.” +</p> + +<p> +And Conrad went on to relate what happened on the goose pasture, and how when +there he had to chase his hat. +</p> + +<p> +The aged King commanded him to drive his flock out again next day, and as soon +as morning came, he placed himself behind the dark gateway, and heard how the +maiden spoke to the head of Falada, and then he too went into the country, and +hid himself in the thicket in the meadow. There he soon saw with his own eyes +the goose-girl and the goose-boy bringing their flock, and how after a while +she sat down and unplaited her hair, which shone with radiance. And soon she +said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Blow, blow, thou gentle wind, I say,<br/> +Blow Conrad’s little hat away,<br/> +And make him chase it here and there,<br/> +Until I have braided all my hair,<br/> +And bound it up again.” +</p> + +<p> +Then came a blast of wind and carried off Conrad’s hat, so that he had to +run far away, while the maiden quietly went on combing and plaiting her hair, +all of which the King observed. Then, quite unseen, he went away, and when the +goose-girl came home in the evening, he called her aside, and asked why she did +all these things. “I may not tell you that, and I dare not lament my +sorrows to any human being, for I have sworn not to do so by the heaven which +is above me; if I had not done that, I should have lost my life.” He +urged her and left her no peace, but he could draw nothing from her. Then said +he, “If thou wilt not tell me anything, tell thy sorrows to the +iron-stove there,” and he went away. Then she crept into the iron-stove, +and began to weep and lament, and emptied her whole heart, and said, +“Here am I deserted by the whole world, and yet I am a King’s +daughter, and a false waiting-maid has by force brought me to such a pass that +I have been compelled to put off my royal apparel, and she has taken my place +with my bridegroom, and I have to perform menial service as a goose-girl. If my +mother did but know that, her heart would break.” +</p> + +<p> +The aged King, however, was standing outside by the pipe of the stove, and was +listening to what she said, and heard it. Then he came back again, and bade her +come out of the stove. And royal garments were placed on her, and it was +marvellous how beautiful she was! The aged King summoned his son, and revealed +to him that he had got the false bride who was only a waiting-maid, but that +the true one was standing there, as the sometime goose-girl. The young King +rejoiced with all his heart when he saw her beauty and youth, and a great feast +was made ready to which all the people and all good friends were invited. At +the head of the table sat the bridegroom with the King’s daughter at one +side of him, and the waiting-maid on the other, but the waiting-maid was +blinded, and did not recognize the princess in her dazzling array. When they +had eaten and drunk, and were merry, the aged King asked the waiting-maid as a +riddle, what a person deserved who had behaved in such and such a way to her +master, and at the same time related the whole story, and asked what sentence +such an one merited? Then the false bride said, “She deserves no better +fate than to be stripped entirely naked, and put in a barrel which is studded +inside with pointed nails, and two white horses should be harnessed to it, +which will drag her along through one street after another, till she is +dead.” “It is thou,” said the aged King, “and thou hast +pronounced thine own sentence, and thus shall it be done unto thee.” And +when the sentence had been carried out, the young King married his true bride, +and both of them reigned over their kingdom in peace and happiness. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap90"></a>90 The Young Giant</h3> + +<p> +Once on a time a countryman had a son who was as big as a thumb, and did not +become any bigger, and during several years did not grow one hair’s +breadth. Once when the father was going out to plough, the little one said, +“Father, I will go out with you.” “Thou wouldst go out with +me?” said the father. “Stay here, thou wilt be of no use out there, +besides thou mightest get lost!” Then Thumbling began to cry, and for the +sake of peace his father put him in his pocket, and took him with him. When he +was outside in the field, he took him out again, and set him in a freshly-cut +furrow. Whilst he was there, a great giant came over the hill. “Do thou +see that great bogie?” said the father, for he wanted to frighten the +little fellow to make him good; “he is coming to fetch thee.” The +giant, however, had scarcely taken two steps with his long legs before he was +in the furrow. He took up little Thumbling carefully with two fingers, examined +him, and without saying one word went away with him. His father stood by, but +could not utter a sound for terror, and he thought nothing else but that his +child was lost, and that as long as he lived he should never set eyes on him +again. +</p> + +<p> +The giant, however, carried him home, suckled him, and Thumbling grew and +became tall and strong after the manner of giants. When two years had passed, +the old giant took him into the forest, wanted to try him, and said, +“Pull up a stick for thyself.” Then the boy was already so strong +that he tore up a young tree out of the earth by the roots. But the giant +thought, “We must do better than that,” took him back again, and +suckled him two years longer. When he tried him, his strength had increased so +much that he could tear an old tree out of the ground. That was still not +enough for the giant; he again suckled him for two years, and when he then went +with him into the forest and said, “Now just tear up a proper stick for +me,” the boy tore up the strongest oak-tree from the earth, so that it +split, and that was a mere trifle to him. “Now that will do,” said +the giant, “thou art perfect,” and took him back to the field from +whence he had brought him. His father was there following the plough. The young +giant went up to him, and said, “Does my father see what a fine man his +son has grown into?” +</p> + +<p> +The farmer was alarmed, and said, “No, thou art not my son; I don’t +want thee leave me!” “Truly I am your son; allow me to do your +work, I can plough as well as you, nay better.” “No, no, thou art +not my son; and thou canst not plough go away!” However, as he was afraid +of this great man, he left go of the plough, stepped back and stood at one side +of the piece of land. Then the youth took the plough, and just pressed it with +one hand, but his grasp was so strong that the plough went deep into the earth. +The farmer could not bear to see that, and called to him, “If thou art +determined to plough, thou must not press so hard on it, that makes bad +work.” The youth, however, unharnessed the horses, and drew the plough +himself, saying, “Just go home, father, and bid my mother make ready a +large dish of food, and in the meantime I will go over the field.” Then +the farmer went home, and ordered his wife to prepare the food; but the youth +ploughed the field which was two acres large, quite alone, and then he +harnessed himself to the harrow, and harrowed the whole of the land, using two +harrows at once. When he had done it, he went into the forest, and pulled up +two oak-trees, laid them across his shoulders, and hung on them one harrow +behind and one before, and also one horse behind and one before, and carried +all as if it had been a bundle of straw, to his parents’ house. When he +entered the yard, his mother did not recognize him, and asked, “Who is +that horrible tall man?” The farmer said, “That is our son.” +She said, “No that cannot be our son, we never had such a tall one, ours +was a little thing.” She called to him, “Go away, we do not want +thee!” The youth was silent, but led his horses to the stable, gave them +some oats and hay, and all that they wanted. When he had done this, he went +into the parlour, sat down on the bench and said, “Mother, now I should +like something to eat, will it soon be ready?” Then she said, +“Yes,” and brought in two immense dishes full of food, which would +have been enough to satisfy herself and her husband for a week. The youth, +however, ate the whole of it himself, and asked if she had nothing more to set +before him. “No,” she replied, “that is all we have.” +“But that was only a taste, I must have more.” She did not dare to +oppose him, and went and put a huge caldron full of food on the fire, and when +it was ready, carried it in. “At length come a few crumbs,” said +he, and ate all there was, but it was still not sufficient to appease his +hunger. Then said he, “Father, I see well that with you I shall never +have food enough; if you will get me an iron staff which is strong, and which I +cannot break against my knees, I will go out into the world.” The farmer +was glad, put his two horses in his cart, and fetched from the smith a staff so +large and thick, that the two horses could only just bring it away. The youth +laid it across his knees, and snap! he broke it in two in the middle like a +bean-stalk, and threw it away. The father then harnessed four horses, and +brought a bar which was so long and thick, that the four horses could only just +drag it. The son snapped this also in twain against his knees, threw it away, +and said, “Father, this can be of no use to me, you must harness more +horses, and bring a stronger staff.” So the father harnessed eight +horses, and brought one which was so long and thick, that the eight horses +could only just carry it. When the son took it in his hand, he broke off a bit +from the top of it also, and said, “Father, I see that you will not be +able to procure me any such staff as I want, I will remain no longer with +you.” +</p> + +<p> +So he went away, and gave out that he was a smith’s apprentice. He +arrived at a village, wherein lived a smith who was a greedy fellow, who never +did a kindness to any one, but wanted everything for himself. The youth went +into the smithy and asked if he needed a journeyman. “Yes,” said +the smith, and looked at him, and thought, “That is a strong fellow who +will strike out well, and earn his bread.” So he asked, “How much +wages dost thou want?” “I don’t want any at all,” he +replied, “only every fortnight, when the other journeymen are paid, I +will give thee two blows, and thou must bear them.” The miser was +heartily satisfied, and thought he would thus save much money. Next morning, +the strange journeyman was to begin to work, but when the master brought the +glowing bar, and the youth struck his first blow, the iron flew asunder, and +the anvil sank so deep into the earth, that there was no bringing it out again. +Then the miser grew angry, and said, “Oh, but I can’t make any use +of you, you strike far too powerfully; what will you have for the one +blow?” +</p> + +<p> +Then said he, “I will only give you quite a small blow, that’s +all.” And he raised his foot, and gave him such a kick that he flew away +over four loads of hay. Then he sought out the thickest iron bar in the smithy +for himself, took it as a stick in his hand and went onwards. +</p> + +<p> +When he had walked for some time, he came to a small farm, and asked the +bailiff if he did not require a head-servant. “Yes,” said the +bailiff, “I can make use of one; you look a strong fellow who can do +something, how much a year do you want as wages?” He again replied that +he wanted no wages at all, but that every year he would give him three blows, +which he must bear. Then the bailiff was satisfied, for he, too, was a covetous +fellow. Next morning all the servants were to go into the wood, and the others +were already up, but the head-servant was still in bed. Then one of them called +to him, “Get up, it is time; we are going into the wood, and thou must go +with us.” “Ah,” said he quite roughly and surlily, “you +may just go, then; I shall be back again before any of you.” Then the +others went to the bailiff, and told him that the head-man was still lying in +bed, and would not go into the wood with them. The bailiff said they were to +awaken him again, and tell him to harness the horses. The head-man, however, +said as before, “Just go there, I shall be back again before any of +you.” And then he stayed in bed two hours longer. At length he arose from +the feathers, but first he got himself two bushels of peas from the loft, made +himself some broth with them, ate it at his leisure, and when that was done, +went and harnessed the horses, and drove into the wood. Not far from the wood +was a ravine through which he had to pass, so he first drove the horses on, and +then stopped them, and went behind the cart, took trees and brushwood, and made +a great barricade, so that no horse could get through. When he was entering the +wood, the others were just driving out of it with their loaded carts to go +home; then said he to them, “Drive on, I will still get home before you +do.” He did not drive far into the wood, but at once tore two of the very +largest trees of all out of the earth, threw them on his cart, and turned +round. When he came to the barricade, the others were still standing there, not +able to get through. “Don’t you see,” said he, “that if +you had stayed with me, you would have got home just as quickly, and would have +had another hour’s sleep?” He now wanted to drive on, but his +horses could not work their way through, so he unharnessed them, laid them on +the top of the cart, took the shafts in his own hands, and pulled it all +through, and he did this just as easily as if it had been laden with feathers. +When he was over, he said to the others, “There, you see, I have got over +quicker than you,” and drove on, and the others had to stay where they +were. In the yard, however, he took a tree in his hand, showed it to the +bailiff, and said, “Isn’t that a fine bundle of wood?” Then +said the bailiff to his wife, “The servant is a good one, if he does +sleep long, he is still home before the others.” So he served the bailiff +for a year, and when that was over, and the other servants were getting their +wages, he said it was time for him to take his too. The bailiff, however, was +afraid of the blows which he was to receive, and earnestly entreated him to +excuse him from having them; for rather than that, he himself would be +head-servant, and the youth should be bailiff. “No,” said he, +“I will not be a bailiff, I am head-servant, and will remain so, but I +will administer that which we agreed on.” The bailiff was willing to give +him whatsoever he demanded, but it was of no use, the head-servant said no to +everything. Then the bailiff did not know what to do, and begged for a +fortnight’s delay, for he wanted to find some way of escape. The +head-servant consented to this delay. The bailiff summoned all his clerks +together, and they were to think the matter over, and give him advice. The +clerks pondered for a long time, but at last they said that no one was sure of +his life with the head-servant, for he could kill a man as easily as a midge, +and that the bailiff ought to make him get into the well and clean it, and when +he was down below, they would roll up one of the mill-stones which was lying +there, and throw it on his head; and then he would never return to daylight. +The advice pleased the bailiff, and the head-servant was quite willing to go +down the well. When he was standing down below at the bottom, they rolled down +the largest mill-stone and thought they had broken his skull, but he cried, +“Chase away those hens from the well, they are scratching in the sand up +there, and throwing the grains into my eyes, so that I can’t see.” +So the bailiff cried, “Sh-sh,” and pretended to frighten the hens +away. When the head-servant had finished his work, he climbed up and said, +“Just look what a beautiful neck-tie I have on,” and behold it was +the mill-stone which he was wearing round his neck. The head-servant now wanted +to take his reward, but the bailiff again begged for a fortnight’s delay. +The clerks met together and advised him to send the head-servant to the haunted +mill to grind corn by night, for from thence as yet no man had ever returned in +the morning alive. The proposal pleased the bailiff, he called the head-servant +that very evening, and ordered him to take eight bushels of corn to the mill, +and grind it that night, for it was wanted. So the head-servant went to the +loft, and put two bushels in his right pocket, and two in his left, and took +four in a wallet, half on his back, and half on his breast, and thus laden went +to the haunted mill. The miller told him that he could grind there very well by +day, but not by night, for the mill was haunted, and that up to the present +time whosoever had gone into it at night had been found in the morning lying +dead inside. He said, “I will manage it, just you go away to bed.” +Then he went into the mill, and poured out the corn. About eleven o’clock +he went into the miller’s room, and sat down on the bench. When he had +sat there a while, a door suddenly opened, and a large table came in, and on +the table, wine and roasted meats placed themselves, and much good food +besides, but everything came of itself, for no one was there to carry it. After +this the chairs pushed themselves up, but no people came, until all at once he +beheld fingers, which handled knives and forks, and laid food on the plates, +but with this exception he saw nothing. As he was hungry, and saw the food, he, +too, place himself at the table, ate with those who were eating and enjoyed it. +When he had had enough, and the others also had quite emptied their dishes, he +distinctly heard all the candles being suddenly snuffed out, and as it was now +pitch dark, he felt something like a box on the ear. Then he said, “If +anything of that kind comes again, I shall strike out in return.” And +when he had received a second box on the ear, he, too struck out. And so it +continued the whole night. He took nothing without returning it, but repaid +everything with interest, and did not lay about him in vain. At daybreak, +however, everything ceased. When the miller had got up, he wanted to look after +him, and wondered if he were still alive. Then the youth said, “I have +eaten my fill, have received some boxes on the ears, but I have given some in +return.” The miller rejoiced, and said that the mill was now released +from the spell, and wanted to give him much money as a reward. But he said, +“Money, I will not have, I have enough of it.” So he took his meal +on his back, went home, and told the bailiff that he had done what he had been +told to do, and would now have the reward agreed on. When the bailiff heard +that, he was seriously alarmed and quite beside himself; he walked backwards +and forwards in the room, and drops of perspiration ran down from his forehead. +Then he opened the window to get some fresh air, but before he was aware, the +head-servant had given him such a kick that he flew through the window out into +the air, and so far away that no one ever saw him again. Then said the +head-servant to the bailiff’s wife, “If he does not come back, you +must take the other blow.” She cried, “No, no I cannot bear +it,” and opened the other window, because drops of perspiration were +running down her forehead. Then he gave her such a kick that she, too, flew +out, and as she was lighter she went much higher than her husband. Her husband +cried, “Do come to me,” but she replied, “Come thou to me, I +cannot come to thee.” And they hovered about there in the air, and could +not get to each other, and whether they are still hovering about, or not, I do +not know, but the young giant took up his iron bar, and went on his way. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap91"></a>91 The Gnome</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a rich King who had three daughters, who daily went +to walk in the palace garden, and the King was a great lover of all kinds of +fine trees, but there was one for which he had such an affection, that if +anyone gathered an apple from it he wished him a hundred fathoms underground. +And when harvest time came, the apples on this tree were all as red as blood. +The three daughters went every day beneath the tree, and looked to see if the +wind had not blown down an apple, but they never by any chance found one, and +the tree was so loaded with them that it was almost breaking, and the branches +hung down to the ground. Then the King’s youngest child had a great +desire for an apple, and said to her sisters, “Our father loves us far +too much to wish us underground, it is my belief that he would only do that to +people who were strangers.” And while she was speaking, the child plucked +off quite a large apple, and ran to her sisters, saying, “Just taste, my +dear little sisters, for never in my life have I tasted anything so +delightful.” Then the two other sisters also ate some of the apple, +whereupon all three sank deep down into the earth, where they could hear no +cock crow. +</p> + +<p> +When mid-day came, the King wished to call them to come to dinner, but they +were nowhere to be found. He sought them everywhere in the palace and garden, +but could not find them. Then he was much troubled, and made known to the whole +land that whosoever brought his daughters back again should have one of them to +wife. Hereupon so many young men went about the country in search, that there +was no counting them, for every one loved the three children because they were +so kind to all, and so fair of face. Three young huntsmen also went out, and +when they had travelled about for eight days, they arrived at a great castle, +in which were beautiful apartments, and in one room a table was laid on which +were delicate dishes which were still so warm that they were smoking, but in +the whole of the castle no human being was either to be seen or heard. They +waited there for half a day, and the food still remained warm and smoking, and +at length they were so hungry that they sat down and ate, and agreed with each +other that they would stay and live in that castle, and that one of them, who +should be chosen by casting lots, should remain in the house, and the two +others seek the King’s daughters. They cast lots, and the lot fell on the +eldest; so next day the two younger went out to seek, and the eldest had to +stay home. At mid-day came a small, small mannikin and begged for a piece of +bread, then the huntsman took the bread which he had found there, and cut a +round off the loaf and was about to give it to him, but whilst he was giving it +to the mannikin, the latter let it fall, and asked the huntsman to be so good +as to give him that piece again. The huntsman was about to do so and stooped, +on which the mannikin took a stick, seized him by the hair, and gave him a good +beating. Next day, the second stayed at home, and he fared no better. When the +two others returned in the evening, the eldest said, “Well, how have you +got on?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, very badly,” said he, and then they lamented their misfortune +together, but they said nothing about it to the youngest, for they did not like +him at all, and always called him Stupid Hans, because he did not exactly +belong to the forest. On the third day, the youngest stayed at home, and again +the little mannikin came and begged for a piece of bread. When the youth gave +it to him, the elf let it fall as before, and asked him to be so good as to +give him that piece again. Then said Hans to the little mannikin, “What! +canst thou not pick up that piece thyself? If thou wilt not take as much +trouble as that for thy daily bread, thou dost not deserve to have it.” +Then the mannikin grew very angry and said he was to do it, but the huntsman +would not, and took my dear mannikin, and gave him a thorough beating. Then the +mannikin screamed terribly, and cried, “Stop, stop, and let me go, and I +will tell thee where the King’s daughters are.” When Hans heard +that, he left off beating him and the mannikin told him that he was an earth +mannikin, and that there were more than a thousand like him, and that if he +would go with him he would show him where the King’s daughters were. Then +he showed him a deep well, but there was no water in it. And the elf said that +he knew well that the companions Hans had with him did not intend to deal +honourably with him, therefore if he wished to deliver the King’s +children, he must do it alone. The two other brothers would also be very glad +to recover the King’s daughters, but they did not want to have any +trouble or danger. Hans was therefore to take a large basket, and he must seat +himself in it with his hanger and a bell, and be let down. Below were three +rooms, and in each of them was a princess, with a many-headed dragon, whose +heads she was to comb and trim, but he must cut them off. And having said all +this, the elf vanished. When it was evening the two brothers came and asked how +he had got on, and he said, “pretty well so far,” and that he had +seen no one except at mid-day when a little mannikin had come and begged for a +piece of bread, that he had given some to him, but that the mannikin had let it +fall and had asked him to pick it up again; but as he did not choose to do +that, the elf had begun to lose his temper, and that he had done what he ought +not, and had given the elf a beating, on which he had told him where the +King’s daughters were. Then the two were so angry at this that they grew +green and yellow. Next morning they went to the well together, and drew lots +who should first seat himself in the basket, and again the lot fell on the +eldest, and he was to seat himself in it, and take the bell with him. Then he +said, “If I ring, you must draw me up again immediately.” When he +had gone down for a short distance, he rang, and they at once drew him up +again. Then the second seated himself in the basket, but he did just the same +as the first, and then it was the turn of the youngest, but he let himself be +lowered quite to the bottom. When he had got out of the basket, he took his +hanger, and went and stood outside the first door and listened, and heard the +dragon snoring quite loudly. He opened the door slowly, and one of the +princesses was sitting there, and had nine dragon’s heads lying upon her +lap, and was combing them. Then he took his hanger and hewed at them, and the +nine fell off. The princess sprang up, threw her arms round his neck, embraced +and kissed him repeatedly, and took her stomacher, which was made of pure gold, +and hung it round his neck. Then he went to the second princess, who had a +dragon with five heads to comb, and delivered her also, and to the youngest, +who had a dragon with four heads, he went likewise. And they all rejoiced, and +embraced him and kissed him without stopping. Then he rang very loud, so that +those above heard him, and he placed the princesses one after the other in the +basket, and had them all drawn up, but when it came to his own turn he +remembered the words of the elf, who had told him that his comrades did not +mean well by him. So he took a great stone which was lying there, and placed it +in the basket, and when it was about half way up, his false brothers above cut +the rope, so that the basket with the stone fell to the ground, and they +thought that he was dead, and ran away with the three princesses, making them +promise to tell their father that it was they who had delivered them, and then +they went to the King, and each demanded a princess in marriage. +</p> + +<p> +In the meantime the youngest huntsman was wandering about the three chambers in +great trouble, fully expecting to have to end his days there, when he saw, +hanging on the wall, a flute; then said he, “Why dost thou hang there, no +one can be merry here?” He looked at the dragons, heads likewise and +said, “You too cannot help me now.” He walked backwards and +forwards for such a long time that he made the surface of the ground quite +smooth. But at last other thoughts came to his mind, and he took the flute from +the wall, and played a few notes on it, and suddenly a number of elves +appeared, and with every note that he sounded one more came. Then he played +until the room was entirely filled. They all asked what he desired, so he said +he wished to get above ground back to daylight, on which they seized him by +every hair that grew on his head, and thus they flew with him onto the earth +again. When he was above ground, he at once went to the King’s palace, +just as the wedding of one princess was about to be celebrated, and he went to +the room where the King and his three daughters were. When the princesses saw +him they fainted. Hereupon the King was angry, and ordered him to be put in +prison at once, because he thought he must have done some injury to the +children. When the princesses came to themselves, however, they entreated the +King to set him free again. The King asked why, and they said that they were +not allowed to tell that, but their father said that they were to tell it to +the stove. And he went out, listened at the door, and heard everything. Then he +caused the two brothers to be hanged on the gallows, and to the third he gave +his youngest daughter, and on that occasion I wore a pair of glass shoes, and I +struck them against a stone, and they said, “Klink,” and were +broken. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap92"></a>92 The King of the Golden Mountain</h3> + +<p> +There was a certain merchant who had two children, a boy and a girl; they were +both young, and could not walk. And two richly-laden ships of his sailed forth +to sea with all his property on board, and just as he was expecting to win much +money by them, news came that they had gone to the bottom, and now instead of +being a rich man he was a poor one, and had nothing left but one field outside +the town. In order to drive his misfortune a little out of his thoughts, he +went out to this field, and as he was walking forwards and backwards in it, a +little black mannikin stood suddenly by his side, and asked why he was so sad, +and what he was taking so much to heart. Then said the merchant, “If thou +couldst help me I would willingly tell thee.” “Who knows?” +replied the black dwarf. “Perhaps, I can help thee.” Then the +merchant told him that all he possessed had gone to the bottom of the sea, and +that he had nothing left but this field. “Do not trouble thyself,” +said the dwarf. “If thou wilt promise to give me the first thing that +rubs itself against thy leg when thou art at home again, and to bring it here +to this place in twelve years’ time, thou shalt have as much money as +thou wilt.” The merchant thought, “What can that be but my +dog?” and did not remember his little boy, so he said yes, gave the black +man a written and sealed promise, and went home. +</p> + +<p> +When he reached home, his little boy was so delighted that he held by a bench, +tottered up to him and seized him fast by the legs. The father was shocked, for +he remembered his promise, and now knew what he had pledged himself to do; as +however, he still found no money in his chest, he thought the dwarf had only +been jesting. A month afterwards he went up to the garret, intending to gather +together some old tin and to sell it, and saw a great heap of money lying. Then +he was happy again, made purchases, became a greater merchant than before, and +felt that this world was well-governed. In the meantime the boy grew tall, and +at the same time sharp and clever. But the nearer the twelfth year approached +the more anxious grew the merchant, so that his distress might be seen in his +face. One day his son asked what ailed him, but the father would not say. The +boy, however, persisted so long, that at last he told him that without being +aware of what he was doing, he had promised him to a black dwarf, and had +received much money for doing so. He said likewise that he had set his hand and +seal to this, and that now when twelve years had gone by he would have to give +him up. Then said the son, “Oh, father, do not be uneasy, all will go +well. The black man has no power over me.” The son had himself blessed by +the priest, and when the time came, father and son went together to the field, +and the son made a circle and placed himself inside it with his father. Then +came the black dwarf and said to the old man, “Hast thou brought with +thee that which thou hast promised me?” He was silent, but the son asked, +“What dost thou want here?” Then said the black dwarf, “I +have to speak with thy father, and not with thee.” The son replied, +“Thou hast betrayed and misled my father, give back the writing.” +“No,” said the black dwarf, “I will not give up my +rights.” They spoke together for a long time after this, but at last they +agreed that the son, as he did not belong to the enemy of mankind, nor yet to +his father, should seat himself in a small boat, which should lie on water +which was flowing away from them, and that the father should push it off with +his own foot, and then the son should remain given up to the water. So he took +leave of his father, placed himself in a little boat, and the father had to +push it off with his own foot. The boat capsized so that the keel was +uppermost, and the father believed his son was lost, and went home and mourned +for him. +</p> + +<p> +The boat, however, did not sink, but floated quietly away, and the boy sat +safely inside it, and it floated thus for a long time, until at last it stopped +by an unknown shore. Then he landed and saw a beautiful castle before him, and +set out to go to it. But when he entered it, he found that it was bewitched. He +went through every room, but all were empty until he reached the last, where a +snake lay coiled in a ring. The snake, however, was an enchanted maiden, who +rejoiced to see him, and said, “Hast thou come, oh, my deliverer? I have +already waited twelve years for thee; this kingdom is bewitched, and thou must +set it free.” “How can I do that?” he inquired. +“To-night come twelve black men, covered with chains who will ask what +thou art doing here; keep silent; give them no answer, and let them do what +they will with thee; they will torment thee, beat thee, stab thee; let +everything pass, only do not speak; at twelve o’clock, they must go away +again. On the second night twelve others will come; on the third, +four-and-twenty, who will cut off thy head, but at twelve o’clock their +power will be over, and then if thou hast endured all, and hast not spoken the +slightest word, I shall be released. I will come to thee, and will have, in a +bottle, some of the water of life. I will rub thee with that, and then thou +wilt come to life again, and be as healthy as before.” Then said he, +“I will gladly set thee free.” And everything happened just as she +had said; the black men could not force a single word from him, and on the +third night the snake became a beautiful princess, who came with the water of +life and brought him back to life again. So she threw herself into his arms and +kissed him, and there was joy and gladness in the whole castle. After this +their marriage was celebrated, and he was King of the Golden Mountain. +</p> + +<p> +They lived very happily together, and the Queen bore a fine boy. Eight years +had already gone by, when the King bethought him of his father; his heart was +moved, and he wished to visit him. The Queen, however, would not let him go +away, and said, “I know beforehand that it will cause my +unhappiness;” but he suffered her to have no rest until she consented. At +their parting she gave him a wishing-ring, and said, “Take this ring and +put it on thy finger, and then thou wilt immediately be transported +whithersoever thou wouldst be, only thou must promise me not to use it in +wishing me away from this place and with thy father.” That he promised +her, put the ring on his finger, and wished himself at home, just outside the +town where his father lived. Instantly he found himself there, and made for the +town, but when he came to the gate, the sentries would not let him in, because +he wore such strange and yet such rich and magnificent clothing. Then he went +to a hill where a shepherd was watching his sheep, changed clothes with him, +put on his old shepherd’s-coat, and then entered the town without +hindrance. When he came to his father, he made himself known to him, but he did +not at all believe that the shepherd was his son, and said he certainly had had +a son, but that he was dead long ago; however, as he saw he was a poor, needy +shepherd, he would give him something to eat. Then the shepherd said to his +parents, “I am verily your son. Do you know of no mark on my body by +which you could recognize me?” “Yes,” said his mother, +“our son had a raspberry mark under his right arm.” He slipped back +his shirt, and they saw the raspberry under his right arm, and no longer +doubted that he was their son. Then he told them that he was King of the Golden +Mountain, and a king’s daughter was his wife, and that they had a fine +son of seven years old. Then said the father, “That is certainly not +true; it is a fine kind of a king who goes about in a ragged +shepherd’s-coat.” On this the son fell in a passion, and without +thinking of his promise, turned his ring round, and wished both his wife and +child with him. They were there in a second, but the Queen wept, and reproached +him, and said that he had broken his word, and had brought misfortune upon her. +He said, “I have done it thoughtlessly, and not with evil +intention,” and tried to calm her, and she pretended to believe this; but +she had mischief in her mind. +</p> + +<p> +Then he led her out of the town into the field, and showed her the stream where +the little boat had been pushed off, and then he said, “I am tired; sit +down, I will sleep awhile on thy lap.” And he laid his head on her lap, +and fell asleep. When he was asleep, she first drew the ring from his finger, +then she drew away the foot which was under him, leaving only the slipper +behind her, and she took her child in her arms, and wished herself back in her +own kingdom. When he awoke, there he lay quite deserted, and his wife and child +were gone, and so was the ring from his finger, the slipper only was still +there as a token. “Home to thy parents thou canst not return,” +thought he, “they would say that thou wast a wizard; thou must be off, +and walk on until thou arrivest in thine own kingdom.” So he went away +and came at length to a hill by which three giants were standing, disputing +with each other because they did not know how to divide their father’s +property. When they saw him passing by, they called to him and said little men +had quick wits, and that he was to divide their inheritance for them. The +inheritance, however, consisted of a sword, which had this property that if any +one took it in his hand, and said, “All heads off but mine,” every +head would lie on the ground; secondly, of a cloak which made any one who put +it on invisible; thirdly, of a pair of boots which could transport the wearer +to any place he wished in a moment. He said, “Give me the three things +that I may see if they are still in good condition.” They gave him the +cloak, and when he had put it on, he was invisible and changed into a fly. Then +he resumed his own form and said, “The cloak is a good one, now give me +the sword.” They said, “No, we will not give thee that; if thou +were to say, All heads off but mine,’ all our heads would be off, and +thou alone wouldst be left with thine.” Nevertheless they gave it to him +with the condition that he was only to try it against a tree. This he did, and +the sword cut in two the trunk of a tree as if it had been a blade of straw. +Then he wanted to have the boots likewise, but they said, “No, we will +not give them; if thou hadst them on thy feet and wert to wish thyself at the +top of the hill, we should be left down here with nothing.” “Oh, +no,” said he, “I will not do that.” So they gave him the +boots as well. And now when he had got all these things, he thought of nothing +but his wife and his child, and said as though to himself, “Oh, if I were +but on the Golden Mountain,” and at the same moment he vanished from the +sight of the giants, and thus their inheritance was divided. When he was near +his palace, he heard sounds of joy, and fiddles, and flutes, and the people +told him that his wife was celebrating her wedding with another. Then he fell +into a rage, and said, “False woman, she betrayed and deserted me whilst +I was asleep!” So he put on his cloak, and unseen by all went into the +palace. When he entered the dining-hall a great table was spread with delicious +food, and the guests were eating and drinking, and laughing, and jesting. She +sat on a royal seat in the midst of them in splendid apparel, with a crown on +her head. He placed himself behind her, and no one saw him. When she put a +piece of meat on a plate for herself, he took it away and ate it, and when she +poured out a glass of wine for herself, he took it away and drank it. She was +always helping herself to something, and yet she never got anything, for plate +and glass disappeared immediately. Then dismayed and ashamed, she arose and +went to her chamber and wept, but he followed her there. She said, “Has +the devil power over me, or did my deliverer never come?” Then he struck +her in the face, and said, “Did thy deliverer never come? It is he who +has thee in his power, thou traitor. Have I deserved this from thee?” +Then he made himself visible, went into the hall, and cried, “The wedding +is at an end, the true King has returned.” The kings, princes, and +councillors who were assembled there, ridiculed and mocked him, but he did not +trouble to answer them, and said, “Will you go away, or not?” On +this they tried to seize him and pressed upon him, but he drew his sword and +said, “All heads off but mine,” and all the heads rolled on the +ground, and he alone was master, and once more King of the Golden Mountain. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap93"></a>93 The Raven</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a Queen who had a little daughter who was still so +young that she had to be carried. One day the child was naughty, and the mother +might say what she liked, but the child would not be quiet. Then she became +impatient, and as the ravens were flying about the palace, she opened the +window and said, “I wish you were a raven and would fly away, and then I +should have some rest.” Scarcely had she spoken the words, before the +child was changed into a raven, and flew from her arms out of the window. It +flew into a dark forest, and stayed in it a long time, and the parents heard +nothing of their child. Then one day a man was on his way through this forest +and heard the raven crying, and followed the voice, and when he came nearer, +the bird said, “I am a king’s daughter by birth, and am bewitched, +but thou canst set me free.” “What am I to do,” asked he. She +said, “Go further into the forest, and thou wilt find a house, wherein +sits an aged woman, who will offer thee meat and drink, but you must accept +nothing, for if you eatest and drinkest anything, thou wilt fall into a sleep, +and then thou wilt not be able to deliver me. In the garden behind the house +there is a great heap of tan, and on this thou shalt stand and wait for me. For +three days I will come every afternoon at two o’clock in a carriage. On +the first day four white horses will be harnessed to it, then four chestnut +horses, and lastly four black ones; but if thou art not awake, but sleeping, I +shall not be set free.” The man promised to do everything that she +desired, but the raven said, alas, “I know already that thou wilt not +deliver me; thou wilt accept something from the woman.” Then the man once +more promised that he would certainly not touch anything either to eat or to +drink. But when he entered the house the old woman came to him and said, +“Poor man, how faint you are; come and refresh yourself; eat and +drink.” “No,” said the man, “I will not eat or +drink.” She, however, let him have no peace, and said, “If you will +not eat, take one drink out of the glass; one is nothing.” Then he let +himself be persuaded, and drank. Shortly before two o’clock in the +afternoon he went into the garden to the tan heap to wait for the raven. As he +was standing there, his weariness all at once became so great that he could not +struggle against it, and lay down for a short time, but he was determined not +to go to sleep. Hardly, however, had he lain down, than his eyes closed of +their own accord, and he fell asleep and slept so soundly that nothing in the +world could have aroused him. At two o’clock the raven came driving up +with four white horses, but she was already in deep grief and said, “I +know he is asleep.” And when she came into the garden, he was indeed +lying there asleep on the heap of tan. She alighted from the carriage, went to +him, shook him, and called him, but he did not awake. Next day about noon, the +old woman came again and brought him food and drink, but he would not take any +of it. But she let him have no rest and persuaded him until at length he again +took one drink out of the glass. Towards two o’clock he went into the +garden to the tan heap to wait for the raven, but all at once felt such a great +weariness that his limbs would no longer support him. He could not help +himself, and was forced to lie down, and fell into a heavy sleep. When the +raven drove up with four brown horses, she was already full of grief, and said, +“I know he is asleep.” She went to him, but there he lay sleeping, +and there was no wakening him. Next day the old woman asked what was the +meaning of this? He was neither eating nor drinking anything; did he want to +die? He replied, “I am not allowed to eat or drink, and will not do +so.” But she set a dish with food, and a glass with wine before him, and +when he smelt it he could not resist, and swallowed a deep draught. When the +time came, he went out into the garden to the heap of tan, and waited for the +King’s daughter; but he became still more weary than on the day before, +and lay down and slept as soundly as if he had been a stone. At two +o’clock the raven came with four black horses, and the coachman and +everything else was black. She was already in the deepest grief, and said, +“I know that he is asleep and cannot deliver me.” When she came to +him, there he was lying fast asleep. She shook him and called him, but she +could not waken him. Then she laid a loaf beside him, and after that a piece of +meat, and thirdly a bottle of wine, and he might consume as much of all of them +as he liked, but they would never grow less. After this she took a gold ring +from her finger, and put it on his, and her name was graven on it. Lastly, she +laid a letter beside him wherein was written what she had given him, and that +none of the things would ever grow less; and in it was also written, “I +see right well that here you will never be able to deliver me, but if thou art +still willing to deliver me, come to the golden castle of Stromberg; it lies in +thy power, of that I am certain.” And when she had given him all these +things, she seated herself in her carriage, and drove to the golden castle of +Stromberg. +</p> + +<p> +When the man awoke and saw that he had slept, he was sad at heart, and said, +“She has certainly driven by, and I have not set her free.” Then he +perceived the things which were lying beside him, and read the letter wherein +was written how everything had happened. So he arose and went away, intending +to go to the golden castle of Stromberg, but he did not know where it was. +After he had walked about the world for a long time, he entered into a dark +forest, and walked for fourteen days, and still could not find his way out. +Then it was once more evening, and he was so tired that he lay down in a +thicket and fell asleep. Next day he went onwards, and in the evening, as he +was again about to lie down beneath some bushes, he heard such a howling and +crying that he could not go to sleep. And at the time when people light the +candles, he saw one glimmering, and arose and went towards it. Then he came to +a house which seemed very small, for in front of it a great giant was standing. +He thought to himself, “If I go in, and the giant sees me, it will very +likely cost me my life.” +</p> + +<p> +At length he ventured it and went in. When the giant saw him, he said, +“It is well that thou comest, for it is long since I have eaten; I will +at once eat thee for my supper.” “I’d rather you would leave +that alone,” said the man, “I do not like to be eaten; but if thou +hast any desire to eat, I have quite enough here to satisfy thee.” +“If that be true,” said the giant, “thou mayst be easy, I was +only going to devour thee because I had nothing else.” Then they went, +and sat down to the table, and the man took out the bread, wine, and meat which +would never come to an end. “This pleases me well,” said the giant, +and ate to his heart’s content. Then the man said to him, “Canst +thou tell me where the golden castle of Stromberg is?” The giant said, +“I will look at my map; all the towns, and villages, and houses are to be +found on it.” He brought out the map which he had in the room and looked +for the castle, but it was not to be found on it. “It’s no +matter!” said he, “I have some still larger maps in my cupboard +upstairs, and we will look in them.” But there, too, it was in vain. The +man now wanted to go onwards, but the giant begged him to wait a few days +longer until his brother, who had gone out to bring some provisions, came home. +When the brother came home they inquired about the golden castle of Stromberg. +He replied, “When I have eaten and have had enough, I will look in the +map.” Then he went with them up to his chamber, and they searched in his +map, but could not find it. Then he brought out still older maps, and they +never rested until they found the golden castle of Stromberg, but it was many +thousand miles away. “How am I to get there?” asked the man. The +giant said, “I have two hours’ time, during which I will carry you +into the neighbourhood, but after that I must be at home to suckle the child +that we have.” So the giant carried the man to about a hundred leagues +from the castle, and said, “Thou canst very well walk the rest of the way +alone.” And he turned back, but the man went onwards day and night, until +at length he came to the golden castle of Stromberg. It stood on a +glass-mountain, and the bewitched maiden drove in her carriage round the +castle, and then went inside it. He rejoiced when he saw her and wanted to +climb up to her, but when he began to do so he always slipped down the glass +again. And when he saw that he could not reach her, he was filled with trouble, +and said to himself, “I will stay down here below, and wait for +her.” So he built himself a hut and stayed in it for a whole year, and +every day saw the King’s daughter driving about above, but never could go +to her. Then one day he saw from his hut three robbers who were beating each +other, and cried to them, “God be with ye!” They stopped when they +heard the cry, but as they saw no one, they once more began to beat each other, +and that too most dangerously. So he again cried, “God be with ye!” +Again they stopped, looked round about, but as they saw no one they went on +beating each other. Then he cried for the third time, “God be with +ye,” and thought, “I must see what these three are about,” +and went thither and asked why they were beating each other so furiously. One +of them said that he found a stick, and that when he struck a door with it, +that door would spring open. The next said that he had found a mantle, and that +whenever he put it on, he was invisible, but the third said he had found a +horse on which a man could ride everywhere, even up the glass-mountain. And now +they did not know whether they ought to have these things in common, or whether +they ought to divide them. Then the man said, “I will give you something +in exchange for these three things. Money indeed have I not, but I have other +things of more value; but first I must try yours to see if you have told the +truth.” Then they put him on the horse, threw the mantle round him, and +gave him the stick in his hand, and when he had all these things they were no +longer able to see him. So he gave them some vigorous blows and cried, +“Now, vagabonds, you have got what you deserve, are you satisfied?” +And he rode up the glass-mountain, but when he came in front of the castle at +the top, it was shut. Then he struck the door with his stick, and it sprang +open immediately. He went in and ascended the stairs until he came to the hall +where the maiden was sitting with a golden cup full of wine before her. She, +however, could not see him because he had the mantle on. And when he came up to +her, he drew from his finger the ring which she had given him, and threw it +into the cup so that it rang. Then she cried, “That is my ring, so the +man who is to set me free must be here.” They searched the whole castle +and did not find him, but he had gone out, and had seated himself on the horse +and thrown off the mantle. When they came to the door, they saw him and cried +aloud in their delight.* Then he alighted and took the King’s daughter in +his arms, but she kissed him and said, “Now hast thou set me free, and +to-morrow we will celebrate our wedding.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap94"></a>94 The Peasant’s Wise Daughter</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor peasant who had no land, but only a small house, and one +daughter. Then said the daughter, “We ought to ask our lord the King for +a bit of newly-cleared land.” When the King heard of their poverty, he +presented them with a piece of land, which she and her father dug up, and +intended to sow with a little corn and grain of that kind. When they had dug +nearly the whole of the field, they found in the earth a mortar made of pure +gold. “Listen,” said the father to the girl, “as our lord the +King has been so gracious and presented us with the field, we ought to give him +this mortar in return for it.” The daughter, however, would not consent +to this, and said, “Father, if we have the mortar without having the +pestle as well, we shall have to get the pestle, so you had much better say +nothing about it.” He would, however, not obey her, but took the mortar +and carried it to the King, said that he had found it in the cleared land, and +asked if he would accept it as a present. The King took the mortar, and asked +if he had found nothing besides that? “No,” answered the +countryman. Then the King said that he must now bring him the pestle. The +peasant said they had not found that, but he might just as well have spoken to +the wind; he was put in prison, and was to stay there until he produced the +pestle. The servants had daily to carry him bread and water, which is what +people get in prison, and they heard how the man cried out continually, +“Ah! if I had but listened to my daughter! Alas, alas, if I had but +listened to my daughter!” and would neither eat nor drink. So he +commanded the servants to bring the prisoner before him, and then the King +asked the peasant why he was always crying, “Ah! if I had but listened to +my daughter!” and what it was that his daughter had said. “She told +me that I ought not to take the mortar to you, for I should have to produce the +pestle as well.” “If you have a daughter who is as wise as that, +let her come here.” She was therefore obliged to appear before the King, +who asked her if she really was so wise, and said he would set her a riddle, +and if she could guess that, he would marry her. She at once said yes, she +would guess it. Then said the King, “Come to me not clothed, not naked, +not riding, not walking, not in the road, and not out of the road, and if thou +canst do that I will marry thee.” So she went away, put off everything +she had on, and then she was not clothed, and took a great fishing net, and +seated herself in it and wrapped it entirely round and round her, so that she +was not naked, and she hired an ass, and tied the fisherman’s net to its +tail, so that it was forced to drag her along, and that was neither riding nor +walking. The ass had also to drag her in the ruts, so that she only touched the +ground with her great toe, and that was neither being in the road nor out of +the road. And when she arrived in that fashion, the King said she had guessed +the riddle and fulfilled all the conditions. Then he ordered her father to be +released from the prison, took her to wife, and gave into her care all the +royal possessions. +</p> + +<p> +Now when some years had passed, the King was once drawing up his troops on +parade, when it happened that some peasants who had been selling wood stopped +with their waggons before the palace; some of them had oxen yoked to them, and +some horses. There was one peasant who had three horses, one of which was +delivered of a young foal, and it ran away and lay down between two oxen which +were in front of the waggon. When the peasants came together, they began to +dispute, to beat each other and make a disturbance, and the peasant with the +oxen wanted to keep the foal, and said one of the oxen had given birth to it, +and the other said his horse had had it, and that it was his. The quarrel came +before the King, and he give the verdict that the foal should stay where it had +been found, and so the peasant with the oxen, to whom it did not belong, got +it. Then the other went away, and wept and lamented over his foal. Now he had +heard how gracious his lady the Queen was because she herself had sprung from +poor peasant folks, so he went to her and begged her to see if she could not +help him to get his foal back again. Said she, “Yes, I will tell you what +to do, if thou wilt promise me not to betray me. Early to-morrow morning, when +the King parades the guard, place thyself there in the middle of the road by +which he must pass, take a great fishing-net and pretend to be fishing; go on +fishing, too, and empty out the net as if thou hadst got it full” and +then she told him also what he was to say if he was questioned by the King. The +next day, therefore, the peasant stood there, and fished on dry ground. When +the King passed by, and saw that, he sent his messenger to ask what the stupid +man was about? He answered, “I am fishing.” The messenger asked how +he could fish when there was no water there? The peasant said, “It is as +easy for me to fish on dry land as it is for an ox to have a foal.” The +messenger went back and took the answer to the King, who ordered the peasant to +be brought to him and told him that this was not his own idea, and he wanted to +know whose it was? The peasant must confess this at once. The peasant, however, +would not do so, and said always, God forbid he should! the idea was his own. +They laid him, however, on a heap of straw, and beat him and tormented him so +long that at last he admitted that he had got the idea from the Queen. +</p> + +<p> +When the King reached home again, he said to his wife, “Why hast thou +behaved so falsely to me? I will not have thee any longer for a wife; thy time +is up, go back to the place from whence thou camest to thy peasant’s +hut.” One favour, however, he granted her; she might take with her the +one thing that was dearest and best in her eyes; and thus was she dismissed. +She said, “Yes, my dear husband, if you command this, I will do +it,” and she embraced him and kissed him, and said she would take leave +of him. Then she ordered a powerful sleeping draught to be brought, to drink +farewell to him; the King took a long draught, but she took only a little. He +soon fell into a deep sleep, and when she perceived that, she called a servant +and took a fair white linen cloth and wrapped the King in it, and the servant +was forced to carry him into a carriage that stood before the door, and she +drove with him to her own little house. She laid him in her own little bed, and +he slept one day and one night without awakening, and when he awoke he looked +round and said, “Good God! where am I?” He called his attendants, +but none of them were there. At length his wife came to his bedside and said, +“My dear lord and King, you told me I might bring away with me from the +palace that which was dearest and most precious in my eyes I have nothing more +precious and dear than yourself, so I have brought you with me.” Tears +rose to the King’s eyes and he said, “Dear wife, thou shalt be mine +and I will be thine,” and he took her back with him to the royal palace +and was married again to her, and at the present time they are very likely +still living. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap95"></a>95 Old Hildebrand</h3> + +<p> +Once upon a time lived a peasant and his wife, and the parson of the village +had a fancy for the wife, and had wished for a long while to spend a whole day +happily with her. The peasant woman, too, was quite willing. One day, +therefore, he said to the woman, “Listen, my dear friend, I have now +thought of a way by which we can for once spend a whole day happily together. +I’ll tell you what; on Wednesday, you must take to your bed, and tell +your husband you are ill, and if you only complain and act being ill properly, +and go on doing so until Sunday when I have to preach, I will then say in my +sermon that whosoever has at home a sick child, a sick husband, a sick wife, a +sick father, a sick mother, a sick brother or whosoever else it may be, and +makes a pilgrimage to the Göckerli hill in Italy, where you can get a peck of +laurel-leaves for a kreuzer, the sick child, the sick husband, the sick wife, +the sick father, or sick mother, the sick sister, or whosoever else it may be, +will be restored to health immediately.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will manage it,” said the woman promptly. Now therefore on the +Wednesday, the peasant woman took to her bed, and complained and lamented as +agreed on, and her husband did everything for her that he could think of, but +nothing did her any good, and when Sunday came the woman said, “I feel as +ill as if I were going to die at once, but there is one thing I should like to +do before my end I should like to hear the parson’s sermon that he is +going to preach to-day.” On that the peasant said, “Ah, my child, +do not do it—thou mightest make thyself worse if thou wert to get up. +Look, I will go to the sermon, and will attend to it very carefully, and will +tell thee everything the parson says.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said the woman, “go, then, and pay great attention, +and repeat to me all that thou hearest.” So the peasant went to the +sermon, and the parson began to preach and said, if any one had at home a sick +child, a sick husband, a sick wife, a sick father a sick mother, a sick sister, +brother or any one else, and would make a pilgrimage to the Göckerli hill in +Italy, where a peck of laurel-leaves costs a kreuzer, the sick child, sick +husband, sick wife, sick father, sick mother, sick sister, brother, or +whosoever else it might be, would be restored to health instantly, and +whosoever wished to undertake the journey was to go to him after the service +was over, and he would give him the sack for the laurel-leaves and the kreuzer. +</p> + +<p> +Then no one was more rejoiced than the peasant, and after the service was over, +he went at once to the parson, who gave him the bag for the laurel-leaves and +the kreuzer. After that he went home, and even at the house door he cried, +“Hurrah! dear wife, it is now almost the same thing as if thou wert well! +The parson has preached to-day that whosoever had at home a sick child, a sick +husband, a sick wife, a sick father, a sick mother, a sick sister, brother or +whoever it might be, and would make a pilgrimage to the Göckerli hill in Italy, +where a peck of laurel-leaves costs a kreuzer, the sick child, sick husband, +sick wife, sick father, sick mother, sick sister, brother, or whosoever else it +was, would be cured immediately, and now I have already got the bag and the +kreuzer from the parson, and will at once begin my journey so that thou mayst +get well the faster,” and thereupon he went away. He was, however, hardly +gone before the woman got up, and the parson was there directly. +</p> + +<p> +But now we will leave these two for a while, and follow the peasant, who walked +on quickly without stopping, in order to get the sooner to the Göckerli hill, +and on his way he met his gossip. His gossip was an egg-merchant, and was just +coming from the market, where he had sold his eggs. “May you be +blessed,” said the gossip, “where are you off to so fast?” +</p> + +<p> +“To all eternity, my friend,” said the peasant, “my wife is +ill, and I have been to-day to hear the parson’s sermon, and he preached +that if any one had in his house a sick child, a sick husband, a sick wife, a +sick father, a sick mother, a sick sister, brother or any one else, and made a +pilgrimage to the Göckerli hill in Italy, where a peck of laurel-leaves costs a +kreuzer, the sick child, the sick husband, the sick wife, the sick father, the +sick mother, the sick sister, brother or whosoever else it was, would be cured +immediately, and so I have got the bag for the laurel-leaves and the kreuzer +from the parson, and now I am beginning my pilgrimage.” “But +listen, gossip,” said the egg-merchant to the peasant, “are you, +then, stupid enough to believe such a thing as that? Don’t you know what +it means? The parson wants to spend a whole day alone with your wife in peace, +so he has given you this job to do to get you out of the way.” +</p> + +<p> +“My word!” said the peasant. “How I’d like to know if +that’s true!” +</p> + +<p> +“Come, then,” said the gossip, “I’ll tell you what to +do. Get into my egg-basket and I will carry you home, and then you will see for +yourself.” So that was settled, and the gossip put the peasant into his +egg-basket and carried him home. +</p> + +<p> +When they got to the house, hurrah! but all was going merry there! The woman +had already had nearly everything killed that was in the farmyard, and had made +pancakes, and the parson was there, and had brought his fiddle with him. The +gossip knocked at the door, and woman asked who was there. “It is I, +gossip,” said the egg-merchant, “give me shelter this night; I have +not sold my eggs at the market, so now I have to carry them home again, and +they are so heavy that I shall never be able to do it, for it is dark +already.” +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed, my friend,” said the woman, “thou comest at a very +inconvenient time for me, but as thou art here it can’t be helped, come +in, and take a seat there on the bench by the stove.” Then she placed the +gossip and the basket which he carried on his back on the bench by the stove. +The parson, however, and the woman, were as merry as possible. At length the +parson said, “Listen, my dear friend, thou canst sing beautifully; sing +something to me.” “Oh,” said the woman, “I cannot sing +now, in my young days indeed I could sing well enough, but that’s all +over now.” +</p> + +<p> +“Come,” said the parson once more, “do sing some little +song.” +</p> + +<p> +On that the woman began and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I’ve sent my husband away from me<br/> +To the Göckerli hill in Italy.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the parson sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I wish ’twas a year before he came back,<br/> +I’d never ask him for the laurel-leaf sack.”<br/> +Hallelujah. +</p> + +<p> +Then the gossip who was in the background began to sing (but I ought to tell +you the peasant was called Hildebrand), so the gossip sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“What art thou doing, my Hildebrand dear,<br/> +There on the bench by the stove so near?”<br/> +Hallelujah. +</p> + +<p> +And then the peasant sang from his basket, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“All singing I ever shall hate from this day,<br/> +And here in this basket no longer I’ll stay.”<br/> +Hallelujah. +</p> + +<p> +And he got out of the basket, and cudgelled the parson out of the house. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap96"></a>96 The Three Little Birds</h3> + +<p> +About a thousand or more years ago, there were in this country nothing but +small kings, and one of them who lived on the Keuterberg was very fond of +hunting. Once on a time when he was riding forth from his castle with his +huntsmen, three girls were watching their cows upon the mountain, and when they +saw the King with all his followers, the eldest girl pointed to him, and called +to the two other girls, “If I do not get that one, I will have +none.” Then the second girl answered from the other side of the hill, and +pointed to the one who was on the King’s right hand, “Hilloa! +hilloa! If I do not get him, I will have no one.” These, however, were +the two ministers. The King heard all this, and when he had come back from the +chase, he caused the three girls to be brought to him, and asked them what they +had said yesterday on the mountain. This they would not tell him, so the King +asked the eldest if she really would take him for her husband? Then she said, +“Yes,” and the two ministers married the two sisters, for they were +all three fair and beautiful of face, especially the Queen, who had hair like +flax. But the two sisters had no children, and once when the King was obliged +to go from home he invited them to come to the Queen in order to cheer her, for +she was about to bear a child. She had a little boy who brought a bright red +star into the world with him. Then the two sisters said to each other that they +would throw the beautiful boy into the water. When they had thrown him in (I +believe it was into the Weser) a little bird flew up into the air, which sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“To thy death art thou sped,<br/> +Until God’s word be said.<br/> +In the white lily bloom,<br/> +Brave boy, is thy tomb.” +</p> + +<p> +When the two heard that, they were frightened to death, and ran away in great +haste. When the King came home they told him that the Queen had been delivered +of a dog. Then the King said, “What God does, is well done!” But a +fisherman who dwelt near the water fished the little boy out again while he was +still alive, and as his wife had no children, they reared him. When a year had +gone by, the King again went away, and the Queen had another little boy, whom +the false sisters likewise took and threw into the water. Then up flew a little +bird again and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“To thy death art thou sped,<br/> +Until God’s word be said.<br/> +In the white lily bloom,<br/> +Brave boy, is thy tomb.” +</p> + +<p> +And when the King came back, they told him that the Queen had once more given +birth to a dog, and he again said, “What God does, is well done.” +The fisherman, however, fished this one also out of the water, and reared him. +</p> + +<p> +Then the King again journeyed forth, and the Queen had a little girl, whom also +the false sisters threw into the water. Then again a little bird flew up on +high and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“To thy death art thou sped<br/> +Until God’s word be said.<br/> +In the white lily bloom,<br/> +Bonny girl, is thy tomb.” +</p> + +<p> +And when the King came home they told him that the Queen had been delivered of +a cat. Then the King grew angry, and ordered his wife to be cast into prison, +and therein was she shut up for many long years. +</p> + +<p> +In the meantime the children had grown up. Then eldest once went out with some +other boys to fish, but the other boys would not have him with them, and said, +“Go thy way, foundling.” +</p> + +<p> +Hereupon he was much troubled, and asked the old fisherman if that was true? +The fisherman told him that once when he was fishing he had drawn him out of +the water. So the boy said he would go forth and seek his father. The +fisherman, however, entreated him to stay, but he would not let himself be +hindered, and at last the fisherman consented. Then the boy went on his way and +walked for many days, and at last he came to a great piece of water by the side +of which stood an old woman fishing. “Good day, mother,” said the +boy. +</p> + +<p> +“Many thanks,” said she. +</p> + +<p> +“Thou wilt fish long enough before thou catchest anything.” +</p> + +<p> +“And thou wilt seek long enough before thou findest thy father. How wilt +thou get over the water?” said the woman. +</p> + +<p> +“God knows.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the old woman took him up on her back and carried him through it, and he +sought for a long time, but could not find his father. +</p> + +<p> +When a year had gone by, the second boy set out to seek his brother. He came to +the water, and all fared with him just as with his brother. And now there was +no one at home but the daughter, and she mourned for her brothers so much that +at last she also begged the fisherman to let her set forth, for she wished to +go in search of her brothers. Then she likewise came to the great piece of +water, and she said to the old woman, “Good day, mother.” +</p> + +<p> +“Many thanks,” replied the old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“May God help you with your fishing,” said the maiden. When the old +woman heard that, she became quite friendly, and carried her over the water, +gave her a wand, and said to her, “Go, my daughter, ever onwards by this +road, and when you come to a great black dog, you must pass it silently and +boldly, without either laughing or looking at it. Then you will come to a great +high castle, on the threshold of which you must let the wand fall, and go +straight through the castle, and out again on the other side. There you will +see an old fountain out of which a large tree has grown, whereon hangs a bird +in a cage which you must take down. Take likewise a glass of water out of the +fountain, and with these two things go back by the same way. Pick up the wand +again from the threshold and take it with you, and when you again pass by the +dog, strike him in the face with it, but be sure that you hit him, and then +just come back here to me.” The maiden found everything exactly as the +old woman had said, and on her way back she found her two brothers who had +sought each other over half the world. They went together to the place where +the black dog was lying on the road; she struck it in the face, and it turned +into a handsome prince who went with them to the river. There the old woman was +still standing. She rejoiced much to see them again, and carried them all over +the water, and then she too went away, for now she was freed. The others, +however, went to the old fisherman, and all were glad that they had found each +other again, but they hung the bird on the wall. +</p> + +<p> +But the second son could not settle at home, and took his cross-bow and went +a-hunting. When he was tired he took his flute, and made music. The King was +hunting too, and heard that and went thither, and when he met the youth, he +said, “Who has given thee leave to hunt here?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, no one.” +</p> + +<p> +“To whom dost thou belong, then?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am the fisherman’s son.” +</p> + +<p> +“But he has no children.” +</p> + +<p> +“If thou wilt not believe, come with me.” +</p> + +<p> +That the King did, and questioned the fisherman, who told everything to him, +and the little bird on the wall began to sing, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“The mother sits alone<br/> +There in the prison small,<br/> +O King of royal blood,<br/> +These are thy children all.<br/> +The sisters twain so false,<br/> +They wrought the children woe,<br/> +There in the waters deep<br/> +Where the fishermen come and go.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they were all terrified, and the King took the bird, the fisherman and the +three children back with him to the castle, and ordered the prison to be opened +and brought his wife out again. She had, however, grown quite ill and weak. +Then the daughter gave her some of the water of the fountain to drink, and she +became strong and healthy. But the two false sisters were burnt, and the +daughter married the prince. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap97"></a>97 The Water of Life</h3> + +<p> +There was once a King who had an illness, and no one believed that he would +come out of it with his life. He had three sons who were much distressed about +it, and went down into the palace-garden and wept. There they met an old man +who inquired as to the cause of their grief. They told him that their father +was so ill that he would most certainly die, for nothing seemed to cure him. +Then the old man said, “I know of one more remedy, and that is the water +of life; if he drinks of it he will become well again; but it is hard to +find.” The eldest said, “I will manage to find it,” and went +to the sick King, and begged to be allowed to go forth in search of the water +of life, for that alone could save him. “No,” said the King, +“the danger of it is too great. I would rather die.” But he begged +so long that the King consented. The prince thought in his heart, “If I +bring the water, then I shall be best beloved of my father, and shall inherit +the kingdom.” So he set out, and when he had ridden forth a little +distance, a dwarf stood there in the road who called to him and said, +“Whither away so fast?” “Silly shrimp,” said the +prince, very haughtily, “it is nothing to do with you,” and rode +on. But the little dwarf had grown angry, and had wished an evil wish. Soon +after this the prince entered a ravine, and the further he rode the closer the +mountains drew together, and at last the road became so narrow that he could +not advance a step further; it was impossible either to turn his horse or to +dismount from the saddle, and he was shut in there as if in prison. The sick +King waited long for him, but he came not. Then the second son said, +“Father, let me go forth to seek the water,” and thought to +himself, “If my brother is dead, then the kingdom will fall to me.” +At first the King would not allow him to go either, but at last he yielded, so +the prince set out on the same road that his brother had taken, and he too met +the dwarf, who stopped him to ask, whither he was going in such haste? +“Little shrimp,” said the prince, “that is nothing to +thee,” and rode on without giving him another look. But the dwarf +bewitched him, and he, like the other, rode into a ravine, and could neither go +forwards nor backwards. So fare haughty people. +</p> + +<p> +As the second son also remained away, the youngest begged to be allowed to go +forth to fetch the water, and at last the King was obliged to let him go. When +he met the dwarf and the latter asked him whither he was going in such haste, +he stopped, gave him an explanation, and said, “I am seeking the water of +life, for my father is sick unto death.” “Dost thou know, then, +where that is to be found?” “No,” said the prince. “As +thou hast borne thyself as is seemly, and not haughtily like thy false +brothers, I will give thee the information and tell thee how thou mayst obtain +the water of life. It springs from a fountain in the courtyard of an enchanted +castle, but thou wilt not be able to make thy way to it, if I do not give thee +an iron wand and two small loaves of bread. Strike thrice with the wand on the +iron door of the castle and it will spring open: inside lie two lions with +gaping jaws, but if thou throwest a loaf to each of them, they will be quieted. +Then hasten to fetch some of the water of life before the clock strikes twelve, +else the door will shut again, and thou wilt be imprisoned.” The prince +thanked him, took the wand and the bread, and set out on his way. When he +arrived, everything was as the dwarf had said. The door sprang open at the +third stroke of the wand, and when he had appeased the lions with the bread, he +entered the castle, and came to a large and splendid hall, wherein sat some +enchanted princes whose rings he drew off their fingers. A sword and a loaf of +bread were lying there, which he carried away. After this, he entered a +chamber, in which was a beautiful maiden who rejoiced when she saw him, kissed +him, and told him that he had delivered her, and should have the whole of her +kingdom, and that if he would return in a year their wedding should be +celebrated; likewise she told him where the spring of the water of life was, +and that he was to hasten and draw some of it before the clock struck twelve. +Then he went onwards, and at last entered a room where there was a beautiful +newly-made bed, and as he was very weary, he felt inclined to rest a little. So +he lay down and fell asleep. When he awoke, it was striking a quarter to +twelve. He sprang up in a fright, ran to the spring, drew some water in a cup +which stood near, and hastened away. But just as he was passing through the +iron door, the clock struck twelve, and the door fell to with such violence +that it carried away a piece of his heel. He, however, rejoicing at having +obtained the water of life, went homewards, and again passed the dwarf. When +the latter saw the sword and the loaf, he said, “With these thou hast won +great wealth; with the sword thou canst slay whole armies, and the bread will +never come to an end.” But the prince would not go home to his father +without his brothers, and said, “Dear dwarf, canst thou not tell me where +my two brothers are? They went out before I did in search of the water of life, +and have not returned.” “They are imprisoned between two +mountains,” said the dwarf. “I have condemned them to stay there, +because they were so haughty.” Then the prince begged until the dwarf +released them; but he warned him, however, and said, “Beware of them, for +they have bad hearts.” When his brothers came, he rejoiced, and told them +how things had gone with him, that he had found the water of life and had +brought a cupful away with him, and had rescued a beautiful princess, who was +willing to wait a year for him, and then their wedding was to be celebrated and +he would obtain a great kingdom. After that they rode on together, and chanced +upon a land where war and famine reigned, and the King already thought he must +perish, for the scarcity was so great. Then the prince went to him and gave him +the loaf, wherewith he fed and satisfied the whole of his kingdom, and then the +prince gave him the sword also wherewith he slew the hosts of his enemies, and +could now live in rest and peace. The prince then took back his loaf and his +sword, and the three brothers rode on. But after this they entered two more +countries where war and famine reigned and each time the prince gave his loaf +and his sword to the Kings, and had now delivered three kingdoms, and after +that they went on board a ship and sailed over the sea. During the passage, the +two eldest conversed apart and said, “The youngest has found the water of +life and not we, for that our father will give him the kingdom the kingdom +which belongs to us, and he will rob us of all our fortune.” They then +began to seek revenge, and plotted with each other to destroy him. They waited +until they found him fast asleep, then they poured the water of life out of the +cup, and took it for themselves, but into the cup they poured salt sea-water. +Now therefore, when they arrived home, the youngest took his cup to the sick +King in order that he might drink out of it, and be cured. But scarcely had he +drunk a very little of the salt sea-water than he became still worse than +before. And as he was lamenting over this, the two eldest brothers came, and +accused the youngest of having intended to poison him, and said that they had +brought him the true water of life, and handed it to him. He had scarcely +tasted it, when he felt his sickness departing, and became strong and healthy +as in the days of his youth. After that they both went to the youngest, mocked +him, and said, “You certainly found the water of life, but you have had +the pain, and we the gain; you should have been sharper, and should have kept +your eyes open. We took it from you whilst you were asleep at sea, and when a +year is over, one of us will go and fetch the beautiful princess. But beware +that you do not disclose aught of this to our father; indeed he does not trust +you, and if you say a single word, you shall lose your life into the bargain, +but if you keep silent, you shall have it as a gift.” +</p> + +<p> +The old King was angry with his youngest son, and thought he had plotted +against his life. So he summoned the court together and had sentence pronounced +upon his son, that he should be secretly shot. And once when the prince was +riding forth to the chase, suspecting no evil, the King’s huntsman had to +go with him, and when they were quite alone in the forest, the huntsman looked +so sorrowful that the prince said to him, “Dear huntsman, what ails +you?” The huntsman said, “I cannot tell you, and yet I +ought.” Then the prince said, “Say openly what it is, I will pardon +you.” “Alas!” said the huntsman, “I am to shoot you +dead, the King has ordered me to do it.” Then the prince was shocked, and +said, “Dear huntsman, let me live; there, I give you my royal garments; +give me your common ones in their stead.” The huntsman said, “I +will willingly do that, indeed I should not have been able to shoot you.” +Then they exchanged clothes, and the huntsman returned home; the prince, +however, went further into the forest. After a time three waggons of gold and +precious stones came to the King for his youngest son, which were sent by the +three Kings who had slain their enemies with the prince’s sword, and +maintained their people with his bread, and who wished to show their gratitude +for it. The old King then thought, “Can my son have been innocent?” +and said to his people, “Would that he were still alive, how it grieves +me that I have suffered him to be killed!” “He still lives,” +said the huntsman, “I could not find it in my heart to carry out your +command,” and told the King how it had happened. Then a stone fell from +the King’s heart, and he had it proclaimed in every country that his son +might return and be taken into favour again. +</p> + +<p> +The princess, however, had a road made up to her palace which was quite bright +and golden, and told her people that whosoever came riding straight along it to +her, would be the right wooer and was to be admitted, and whoever rode by the +side of it, was not the right one, and was not to be admitted. As the time was +now close at hand, the eldest thought he would hasten to go to the King’s +daughter, and give himself out as her deliverer, and thus win her for his +bride, and the kingdom to boot. Therefore he rode forth, and when he arrived in +front of the palace, and saw the splendid golden road, he thought, it would be +a sin and a shame if he were to ride over that, and turned aside, and rode on +the right side of it. But when he came to the door, the servants told him that +he was not the right man, and was to go away again. Soon after this the second +prince set out, and when he came to the golden road, and his horse had put one +foot on it, he thought, it would be a sin and a shame to tread a piece of it +off, and he turned aside and rode on the left side of it, and when he reached +the door, the attendants told him he was not the right one, and he was to go +away again. When at last the year had entirely expired, the third son likewise +wished to ride out of the forest to his beloved, and with her forget his +sorrows. So he set out and thought of her so incessantly, and wished to be with +her so much, that he never noticed the golden road at all. So his horse rode +onwards up the middle of it, and when he came to the door, it was opened and +the princess received him with joy, and said he was her deliverer, and lord of +the kingdom, and their wedding was celebrated with great rejoicing. When it was +over she told him that his father invited him to come to him, and had forgiven +him. So he rode thither, and told him everything; how his brothers had betrayed +him, and how he had nevertheless kept silence. The old King wished to punish +them, but they had put to sea, and never came back as long as they lived. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap98"></a>98 Doctor Knowall</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a poor peasant called Crabb, who drove with two oxen a +load of wood to the town, and sold it to a doctor for two thalers. When the +money was being counted out to him, it so happened that the doctor was sitting +at table, and when the peasant saw how daintily he ate and drank, his heart +desired what he saw, and he would willingly have been a doctor too. So he +remained standing a while, and at length inquired if he too could not be a +doctor. “Oh, yes,” said the doctor, “that is soon +managed.” “What must I do?” asked the peasant. “In the +first place buy thyself an A B C book of the kind which has a cock on the +frontispiece: in the second, turn thy cart and thy two oxen into money, and get +thyself some clothes, and whatsoever else pertains to medicine; thirdly, have a +sign painted for thyself with the words, “I am Doctor Knowall,” and +have that nailed up above thy house-door.” The peasant did everything +that he had been told to do. When he had doctored people awhile, but not long, +a rich and great lord had some money stolen. Then he was told about Doctor +Knowall who lived in such and such a village, and must know what had become of +the money. So the lord had the horses put in his carriage, drove out to the +village, and asked Crabb if he were Doctor Knowall? Yes, he was, he said. Then +he was to go with him and bring back the stolen money. “Oh, yes, but +Grethe, my wife, must go too.” The lord was willing and let both of them +have a seat in the carriage, and they all drove away together. When they came +to the nobleman’s castle, the table was spread, and Crabb was told to sit +down and eat. “Yes, but my wife, Grethe, too,” said he, and he +seated himself with her at the table. And when the first servant came with a +dish of delicate fare, the peasant nudged his wife, and said, “Grethe, +that was the first,” meaning that was the servant who brought the first +dish. The servant, however, thought he intended by that to say, “That is +the first thief,” and as he actually was so, he was terrified, and said +to his comrade outside, “The doctor knows all: we shall fare ill, he said +I was the first.” The second did not want to go in at all, but was +forced. So when he went in with his dish, the peasant nudged his wife, and +said, “Grethe, that is the second.” This servant was just as much +alarmed, and he got out. The third did not fare better, for the peasant again +said, “Grethe, that is the third.” The fourth had to carry in a +dish that was covered, and the lord told the doctor that he was to show his +skill, and guess what was beneath the cover. The doctor looked at the dish, had +no idea what to say, and cried, “Ah, poor Crabb.” When the lord +heard that, he cried, “There! he knows it, he knows who has the +money!” +</p> + +<p> +On this the servants looked terribly uneasy, and made a sign to the doctor that +they wished him to step outside for a moment. When therefore he went out, all +four of them confessed to him that they had stolen the money, and said that +they would willingly restore it and give him a heavy sum into the bargain, if +he would not denounce them, for if he did they would be hanged. They led him to +the spot where the money was concealed. With this the doctor was satisfied, and +returned to the hall, sat down to the table, and said, “My lord, now will +I search in my book where the gold is hidden.” The fifth servant, +however, crept into the stove to hear if the doctor knew still more. The +Doctor, however, sat still and opened his A B C book, turned the pages +backwards and forwards, and looked for the cock. As he could not find it +immediately he said, “I know you are there, so you had better show +yourself.” Then the fellow in the stove thought that the doctor meant +him, and full of terror, sprang out, crying, “That man knows +everything!” Then Dr. Knowall showed the count where the money was, but +did not say who had stolen it, and received from both sides much money in +reward, and became a renowned man. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap99"></a>99 The Spirit in the Bottle</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor woodcutter who toiled from early morning till late night. +When at last he had laid by some money he said to his boy, “You are my +only child, I will spend the money which I have earned with the sweat of my +brow on your education; if you learn some honest trade you can support me in my +old age, when my limbs have grown stiff and I am obliged to stay at +home.” Then the boy went to a High School and learned diligently so that +his masters praised him, and he remained there a long time. When he had worked +through two classes, but was still not yet perfect in everything, the little +pittance which the father had earned was all spent, and the boy was obliged to +return home to him. “Ah,” said the father, sorrowfully, “I +can give you no more, and in these hard times I cannot earn a farthing more +than will suffice for our daily bread.” “Dear father,” +answered the son, “don’t trouble yourself about it, if it is +God’s will, it will turn to my advantage I shall soon accustom myself to +it.” When the father wanted to go into the forest to earn money by +helping to pile and stack wood and also chop it, the son said, “I will go +with you and help you.” “Nay, my son,” said the father, +“that would be hard for you; you are not accustomed to rough work, and +will not be able to bear it, besides I have only one axe and no money left +wherewith to buy another.” “Just go to the neighbour,” +answered the son, “he will lend you his axe until I have earned one for +myself.” The father then borrowed an axe of the neighbour, and next +morning at break of day they went out into the forest together. The son helped +his father and was quite merry and brisk about it. But when the sun was right +over their heads, the father said, “We will rest, and have our dinner, +and then we shall work as well again.” The son took his bread in his +hands, and said, “Just you rest, father, I am not tired; I will walk up +and down a little in the forest, and look for birds’ nests.” +“Oh, you fool,” said the father, “why should you want to run +about there? Afterwards you will be tired, and no longer able to raise your +arm; stay here, and sit down beside me.” The son, however, went into the +forest, ate his bread, was very merry and peered in among the green branches to +see if he could discover a bird’s nest anywhere. So he went up and down +to see if he could find a bird’s nest until at last he came to a great +dangerous-looking oak, which certainly was already many hundred years old, and +which five men could not have spanned. He stood still and looked at it, and +thought, “Many a bird must have built its nest in that.” Then all +at once it seemed to him that he heard a voice. He listened and became aware +that someone was crying in a very smothered voice, “Let me out, let me +out!” He looked around, but could discover nothing; nevertheless, he +fancied that the voice came out of the ground. Then he cried, “Where art +thou?” The voice answered, “I am down here amongst the roots of the +oak-tree. Let me out! Let me out!” The scholar began to loosen the earth +under the tree, and search among the roots, until at last he found a glass +bottle in a little hollow. He lifted it up and held it against the light, and +then saw a creature shaped like a frog, springing up and down in it. “Let +me out! Let me out!” it cried anew, and the scholar thinking no evil, +drew the cork out of the bottle. Immediately a spirit ascended from it, and +began to grow, and grew so fast that in a very few moments he stood before the +scholar, a terrible fellow as big as half the tree by which he was standing. +“Knowest thou,” he cried in an awful voice, “what thy wages +are for having let me out?” “No,” replied the scholar +fearlessly, “how should I know that?” “Then I will tell +thee,” cried the spirit; “I must strangle thee for it.” +“Thou shouldst have told me that sooner,” said the scholar, +“for I should then have left thee shut up, but my head shall stand fast +for all thou canst do; more persons than one must be consulted about +that.” “More persons here, more persons there,” said the +spirit. “Thou shalt have the wages thou hast earned. Dost thou think that +I was shut up there for such a long time as a favour. No, it was a punishment +for me. I am the mighty Mercurius. Whoso releases me, him must I +strangle.” “Softly,” answered the scholar, “not so +fast. I must first know that thou really wert shut up in that little bottle, +and that thou art the right spirit. If, indeed, thou canst get in again, I will +believe and then thou mayst do as thou wilt with me.” The spirit said +haughtily, “that is a very trifling feat,” drew himself together, +and made himself as small and slender as he had been at first, so that he crept +through the same opening, and right through the neck of the bottle in again. +Scarcely was he within than the scholar thrust the cork he had drawn back into +the bottle, and threw it among the roots of the oak into its old place, and the +spirit was betrayed. +</p> + +<p> +And now the scolar was about to return to his father, but the spirit cried very +piteously, “Ah, do let me out! ah, do let me out!” +“No,” answered the scholar, “not a second time! He who has +once tried to take my life shall not be set free by me, now that I have caught +him again.” “If thou wilt set me free,” said the spirit, +“I will give thee so much that thou wilt have plenty all the days of thy +life.” “No,” answered the boy, “thou wouldst cheat me +as thou didst the first time.” “Thou art playing away with thy own +good luck,” said the spirit; “I will do thee no harm but will +reward thee richly.” The scholar thought, “I will venture it, +perhaps he will keep his word, and anyhow he shall not get the better of +me.” Then he took out the cork, and the spirit rose up from the bottle as +he had done before, stretched himself out and became as big as a giant. +“Now thou shalt have thy reward,” said he, and handed the scholar a +little bag just like a plaster, and said, “If thou spreadest one end of +this over a wound it will heal, and if thou rubbest steel or iron with the +other end it will be changed into silver.” “I must just try +that,” said the scholar, and went to a tree, tore off the bark with his +axe, and rubbed it with one end of the plaster. It immediately closed together +and was healed. “Now, it is all right,” he said to the spirit, +“and we can part.” The spirit thanked him for his release, and the +boy thanked the spirit for his present, and went back to his father. +</p> + +<p> +“Where hast thou been racing about?” said the father; “why +hast thou forgotten thy work? I said at once that thou wouldst never get on +with anything.” “Be easy, father, I will make it up.” +“Make it up indeed,” said the father angrily, “there’s +no art in that.” “Take care, father, I will soon hew that tree +there, so that it will split.” Then he took his plaster, rubbed the axe +with it, and dealt a mighty blow, but as the iron had changed into silver, the +edge turned; “Hollo, father, just look what a bad axe you’ve given +me, it has become quite crooked.” The father was shocked and said, +“Ah, what hast thou done? now I shall have to pay for that, and have not +the wherewithal, and that is all the good I have got by thy work.” +“Don’t get angry,” said the son, “I will soon pay for +the axe.” “Oh, thou blockhead,” cried the father, +“wherewith wilt thou pay for it? Thou hast nothing but what I give thee. +These are students’ tricks that are sticking in thy head, but thou hast +no idea of wood-cutting.” After a while the scholar said, “Father, +I can really work no more, we had better take a holiday.” “Eh, +what!” answered he, “Dost thou think I will sit with my hands lying +in my lap like thee? I must go on working, but thou mayst take thyself off +home.” “Father, I am here in this wood for the first time, I +don’t know my way alone. Do go with me.” As his anger had now +abated, the father at last let himself be persuaded and went home with him. +Then he said to the son, “Go and sell thy damaged axe, and see what thou +canst get for it, and I must earn the difference, in order to pay the +neighbour.” The son took the axe, and carried it into town to a +goldsmith, who tested it, laid it in the scales, and said, “It is worth +four hundred thalers, I have not so much as that by me.” The son said, +“Give me what thou hast, I will lend you the rest.” The goldsmith +gave him three hundred thalers, and remained a hundred in his debt. The son +thereupon went home and said, “Father, I have got the money, go and ask +the neighbour what he wants for the axe.” “I know that +already,” answered the old man, “one thaler, six groschen.” +“Then give him two thalers, twelve groschen, that is double and enough; +see, I have money in plenty,” and he gave the father a hundred thalers, +and said, “You shall never know want, live as comfortably as you +like.” “Good heavens!” said the father, “how hast thou +come by these riches?” The scholar then told how all had come to pass, +and how he, trusting in his luck, had made such a good hit. But with the money +that was left, he went back to the High School and went on learning more, and +as he could heal all wounds with his plaster, he became the most famous doctor +in the whole world. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap100"></a>100 The Devil’s Sooty Brother</h3> + +<p> +A disbanded soldier had nothing to live on, and did not know how to get on. So +he went out into the forest and when he had walked for a short time, he met a +little man who was, however, the Devil. The little man said to him, “What +ails you, you seem so very sorrowful?” Then the soldier said, “I am +hungry, but have no money.” The Devil said, “If you will hire +yourself to me, and be my serving-man, you shall have enough for all your life. +You shall serve me for seven years, and after that you shall again be free. But +one thing I must tell you, and that is, you must not wash, comb, or trim +yourself, or cut your hair or nails, or wipe the water from your eyes.” +The soldier said, “All right, if there is no help for it,” and went +off with the little man, who straightway led him down into hell. Then he told +him what he had to do. He was to poke the fire under the kettles wherein the +hell-broth was stewing, keep the house clean, drive all the sweepings behind +the doors, and see that everything was in order, but if he once peeped into the +kettles, it would go ill with him. The soldier said, “Good, I will take +care.” And then the old Devil went out again on his wanderings, and the +soldier entered upon his new duties, made the fire, and swept the dirt well +behind the doors, just as he had been bidden. When the old Devil came back +again, he looked to see if all had been done, appeared satisfied, and went +forth a second time. The soldier now took a good look on every side; the +kettles were standing all round hell with a mighty fire below them, and inside +they were boiling and sputtering. He would have given anything to look inside +them, if the Devil had not so particularly forbidden him: at last, he could no +longer restrain himself, slightly raised the lid of the first kettle, and +peeped in, and there he saw his former corporal shut in. “Aha, old +bird!” said he, “Do I meet you here? You once had me in your power, +now I have you,” and he quickly let the lid fall, poked the fire, and +added a fresh log. After that, he went to the second kettle, raised its lid +also a little, and peeped in; his former ensign was in that. “Aha, old +bird, so I find you here! you once had me in your power, now I have you.” +He closed the lid again, and fetched yet another log to make it really hot. +Then he wanted to see who might be sitting up in the third kettle it was +actually be but a general. “Aha, old bird, do I meet you here? Once you +had me in your power, now I have you.” And he fetched the bellows and +made hell-fire blaze right under him. So he did his work seven years in hell, +did not wash, comb, or trim himself, or cut his hair or nails, or wash the +water out of his eyes, and the seven years seemed so short to him that he +thought he had only been half a year. Now when the time had fully gone by, the +Devil came and said, “Well Hans, what have you done?” “I +poked the fire under the kettles, and I have swept all the dirt well behind the +doors.” +</p> + +<p> +“But you have peeped into the kettles as well; it is lucky for you that +you added fresh logs to them, or else your life would have been forfeited; now +that your time is up, will you go home again?” “Yes,” said +the soldier, “I should very much like to see what my father is doing at +home.” The Devil said, “In order that you may receive the wages you +have earned, go and fill your knapsack full of the sweepings, and take it home +with you. You must also go unwashed and uncombed, with long hair on your head +and beard, and with uncut nails and dim eyes, and when you are asked whence you +come, you must say, “From hell,” and when you are asked who you +are, you are to say, “The Devil’s sooty brother, and my King as +well.” The soldier held his peace, and did as the Devil bade him, but he +was not at all satisfied with his wages. Then as soon as he was up in the +forest again, he took his knapsack from his back, to empty it, but on opening +it, the sweepings had become pure gold. “I should never have expected +that,” said he, and was well pleased, and entered the town. The landlord +was standing in front of the inn, and when he saw the soldier approaching, he +was terrified, because Hans looked so horrible, worse than a scare-crow. He +called to him and asked, “Whence comest thou?” “From +hell.” “Who art thou?” “The Devil’s sooty +brother, and my King as well.” Then the host would not let him enter, but +when Hans showed him the gold, he came and unlatched the door himself. Hans +then ordered the best room and attendance, ate, and drank his fill, but neither +washed nor combed himself as the Devil had bidden him, and at last lay down to +sleep. But the knapsack full of gold remained before the eyes of the landlord, +and left him no peace, and during the night he crept in and stole it away. Next +morning, however, when Hans got up and wanted to pay the landlord and travel +further, behold his knapsack was gone! But he soon composed himself and +thought, “Thou hast been unfortunate from no fault of thine own,” +and straightway went back again to hell, complained of his misfortune to the +old Devil, and begged for his help. The Devil said, “Seat yourself, I +will wash, comb, and trim you, cut your hair and nails, and wash your eyes for +you,” and when he had done with him, he gave him the knapsack back again +full of sweepings, and said, “Go and tell the landlord that he must +return you your money, or else I will come and fetch him, and he shall poke the +fire in your place.” Hans went up and said to the landlord, “Thou +hast stolen my money; if thou dost not return it, thou shalt go down to hell in +my place, and wilt look as horrible as I.” Then the landlord gave him the +money, and more besides, only begging him to keep it secret, and Hans was now a +rich man. +</p> + +<p> +He set out on his way home to his father, bought himself a shabby smock-frock +to wear, and strolled about making music, for he had learned to do that while +he was with the Devil in hell. There was however, an old King in that country, +before whom he had to play, and the King was so delighted with his playing, +that he promised him his eldest daughter in marriage. But when she heard that +she was to be married to a common fellow in a smock-frock, she said, +“Rather than do that, I would go into the deepest water.” Then the +King gave him the youngest, who was quite willing to do it to please her +father, and thus the Devil’s sooty brother got the King’s daughter, +and when the aged King died, the whole kingdom likewise. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap101"></a>101 Bearskin</h3> + +<p> +There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself +bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war +lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and +the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had +no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, +and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were +hard-hearted and said, “What can we do with thee? thou art of no use to +us; go and make a living for thyself.” The soldier had nothing left but +his gun; he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world. He came +to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees; under +these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. “I have +no money,” thought he, “I have learnt no trade but that of +fighting, and now that they have made peace they don’t want me any +longer; so I see beforehand that I shall have to starve.” All at once he +heard a rustling, and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who +wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. +“I know already what thou art in need of,” said the man; +“gold and possessions shall thou have, as much as thou canst make away +with do what thou wilt, but first I must know if thou art fearless, that I may +not bestow my money in vain.” “A soldier and fear—how can +those two things go together?” he answered; “thou canst put me to +the proof.” “Very well, then,” answered the man, “look +behind thee.” The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came +growling towards him. “Oho!” cried the soldier, “I will +tickle thy nose for thee, so that thou shalt soon lose thy fancy for +growling,” and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle; it +fell down and never stirred again. “I see quite well,” said the +stranger, “that thou art not wanting in courage, but there is still +another condition which thou wilt have to fulfil.” “If it does not +endanger my salvation,” replied the soldier, who knew very well who was +standing by him. “If it does, I’ll have nothing to do with +it.” “Thou wilt look to that for thyself,” answered +Greencoat; “thou shalt for the next seven years neither wash thyself, nor +comb thy beard, nor thy hair, nor cut thy nails, nor say one paternoster. I +will give thee a coat and a cloak, which during this time thou must wear. If +thou diest during these seven years, thou art mine; if thou remainest alive, +thou art free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of thy life.” The +soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he +so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to +the terms. The Devil took off his green coat, gave it to the soldier, and said, +“If thou hast this coat on thy back and puttest thy hand into the pocket, +thou wilt always find it full of money.” Then he pulled the skin off the +bear and said, “This shall be thy cloak, and thy bed also, for thereon +shalt thou sleep, and in no other bed shalt thou lie, and because of this +apparel shalt thou be called Bearskin.” After this the Devil vanished. +</p> + +<p> +The soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the +thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the +world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his +money harm. During the first year his appearance was passable, but during the +second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of +his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and +his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would +have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor +money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well +for everything he still always found shelter. In the fourth year, he entered an +inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a +place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as +Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, +the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin +was, however, obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn +should get a bad name. +</p> + +<p> +As Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of +his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a +neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw +an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but +the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man +perceived that Bearskin’s voice was human he let himself be prevailed on, +and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause +of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters +would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, +and was to be put in prison. “If that is your only trouble,” said +Bearskin, “I have plenty of money.” He caused the innkeeper to be +brought thither, paid him and put a purse full of gold into the poor old +man’s pocket besides. +</p> + +<p> +When the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how +to be grateful enough. “Come with me,” said he to Bearskin; +“my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for thyself +as a wife. When she hears what thou hast done for me, she will not refuse thee. +Thou dost in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put thee to rights +again.” This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him +she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The +second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, +“How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven +bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, +for at any rate it wore a hussar’s dress and white gloves. If it were +nothing but ugliness, I might get used to that.” The youngest, however, +said, “Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of +your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise +must be kept.” It was a pity that Bearskin’s face was covered with +dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when +he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave +her one half, the other he kept for himself. He wrote his name, however, on her +half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully, and then he +took his leave and said, “I must still wander about for three years, and +if I do not return then, thou art free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to +preserve my life.” +</p> + +<p> +The poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she +thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but +contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. “Take care,” +said the eldest, “if thou givest him thy hand, he will strike his claws +into it.” “Beware!” said the second. “Bears like sweet +things, and if he takes a fancy to thee, he will eat thee up.” +“Thou must always do as he likes,” began the elder again, “or +else he will growl.” And the second continued, “But the wedding +will be a merry one, for bears dance well.” The bride was silent, and did +not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, travelled about the world from one +place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor +that they might pray for him. +</p> + +<p> +At length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on +to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long +before the wind whistled, and the Devil stood before him and looked angrily at +him; then he threw Bearskin his old coat, and asked for his own green one back. +“We have not got so far as that yet,” answered Bearskin, +“thou must first make me clean.” Whether the Devil liked it or not, +he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his +nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than +he had ever been before. +</p> + +<p> +When the Devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the +town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by +four white horses, and drove to his bride’s house. No one recognized him, +the father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room +where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the +two eldest, they helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and +thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, +however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor +spoke a word. When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of +his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put +on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one. The +stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the +ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he reached across the table to her. +She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at +the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on +a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted +exactly together. Then said he, “I am thy betrothed bridegroom, whom thou +sawest as Bearskin, but through God’s grace I have again received my +human form, and have once more become clean.” He went up to her, embraced +her, and gave her a kiss. In the meantime the two sisters came back in full +dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the +youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. +One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In +the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, +it was the Devil in his green coat, who said, “Seest thou, I have now got +two souls in the place of thy one!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap102"></a>102 The Willow-Wren and the Bear</h3> + +<p> +Once in summer-time the bear and the wolf were walking in the forest, and the +bear heard a bird singing so beautifully that he said, “Brother wolf, +what bird is it that sings so well?” “That is the King of +birds,” said the wolf, “before whom we must bow down.” It +was, however, in reality the willow-wren (Zaunkönig). “If that’s +the case,” said the bear, “I should very much like to see his royal +palace; come, take me thither.” “That is not done quite as you seem +to think,” said the wolf; “you must wait until the Queen +comes.” Soon afterwards, the Queen arrived with some food in her beak, +and the lord King came too, and they began to feed their young ones. The bear +would have liked to go at once, but the wolf held him back by the sleeve, and +said, “No, you must wait until the lord and lady Queen have gone away +again.” So they observed the hole in which was the nest, and trotted +away. The bear, however, could not rest until he had seen the royal palace, and +when a short time had passed, again went to it. The King and Queen had just +flown out, so he peeped in and saw five or six young ones lying in it. +“Is that the royal palace?” cried the bear; “it is a wretched +palace, and you are not King’s children, you are disreputable +children!” When the young wrens heard that, they were frightfully angry, +and screamed, “No, that we are not! Our parents are honest people! Bear, +thou wilt have to pay for that!” +</p> + +<p> +The bear and the wolf grew uneasy, and turned back and went into their holes. +The young willow-wrens, however, continued to cry and scream, and when their +parents again brought food they said, “We will not so much as touch one +fly’s leg, no, not if we were dying of hunger, until you have settled +whether we are respectable children or not; the bear has been here and has +insulted us!” Then the old King said, “Be easy, he shall be +punished,” and he at once flew with the Queen to the bear’s cave, +and called in, “Old Growler, why hast thou insulted my children? Thou +shalt suffer for it we will punish thee by a bloody war.” Thus war was +announced to the Bear, and all four-footed animals were summoned to take part +in it, oxen, asses, cows, deer, and every other animal the earth contained. And +the willow-wren summoned everything which flew in the air, not only birds, +large and small, but midges, and hornets, bees and flies had to come. +</p> + +<p> +When the time came for the war to begin, the willow-wren sent out spies to +discover who was the enemy’s commander-in-chief. The gnat, who was the +most crafty, flew into the forest where the enemy was assembled, and hid +herself beneath a leaf of the tree where the watchword was to be given. There +stood the bear, and he called the fox before him and said, “Fox, thou art +the most cunning of all animals, thou shalt be general and lead us.” +“Good,” said the fox, “but what signal shall we agree +upon?” No one knew that, so the fox said, “I have a fine long bushy +tail, which almost looks like a plume of red feathers. When I lift my tail up +quite high, all is going well, and you must charge; but if I let it hang down, +run away as fast as you can.” When the gnat had heard that, she flew away +again, and revealed everything, with the greatest minuteness, to the +willow-wren. When day broke, and the battle was to begin, all the four-footed +animals came running up with such a noise that the earth trembled. The +willow-wren also came flying through the air with his army with such a humming, +and whirring, and swarming that every one was uneasy and afraid, and on both +sides they advanced against each other. But the willow-wren sent down the +hornet, with orders to get beneath the fox’s tail, and sting with all his +might. When the fox felt the first sting, he started so that he drew up one +leg, with the pain, but he bore it, and still kept his tail high in the air; at +the second sting, he was forced to put it down for a moment; at the third, he +could hold out no longer, and screamed out and put his tail between his legs. +When the animals saw that, they thought all was lost, and began to fly, each +into his hole and the birds had won the battle. +</p> + +<p> +Then the King and Queen flew home to their children and cried, “Children, +rejoice, eat and drink to your heart’s content, we have won the +battle!” But the young wrens said, “We will not eat yet, the bear +must come to the nest, and beg for pardon and say that we are honorable +children, before we will do that.” Then the willow-wren flew to the +bear’s hole and cried, “Growler, thou art to come to the nest to my +children, and beg their pardon, or else every rib of thy body shall be +broken.” So the bear crept thither in the greatest fear, and begged their +pardon. And now at last the young wrens were satisfied, and sat down together +and ate and drank, and made merry till quite late into the night. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap103"></a>103 Sweet Porridge</h3> + +<p> +There was a poor but good little girl who lived alone with her mother, and they +no longer had anything to eat. So the child went into the forest, and there an +aged woman met her who was aware of her sorrow, and presented her with a little +pot, which when she said, “Cook, little pot, cook,” would cook +good, sweet porridge, and when she said, “Stop, little pot,” it +ceased to cook. The girl took the pot home to her mother, and now they were +freed from their poverty and hunger, and ate sweet porridge as often as they +chose. Once on a time when the girl had gone out, her mother said, “Cook, +little pot, cook.” And it did cook and she ate till she was satisfied, +and then she wanted the pot to stop cooking, but did not know the word. So it +went on cooking and the porridge rose over the edge, and still it cooked on +until the kitchen and whole house were full, and then the next house, and then +the whole street, just as if it wanted to satisfy the hunger of the whole +world, and there was the greatest distress, but no one knew how to stop it. At +last when only one single house remained, the child came home and just said, +“Stop, little pot,” and it stopped and gave up cooking, and +whosoever wished to return to the town had to eat his way back. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap104"></a>104 Wise Folks</h3> + +<p> +One day a peasant took his good hazel-stick out of the corner and said to his +wife, “Trina, I am going across country, and shall not return for three +days. If during that time the cattle-dealer should happen to call and want to +buy our three cows, you may strike a bargain at once, but not unless you can +get two hundred thalers for them; nothing less, do you hear?” “For +heaven’s sake just go in peace,” answered the woman, “I will +manage that.” “You, indeed,” said the man. “You once +fell on your head when you were a little child, and that affects you even now; +but let me tell you this, if you do anything foolish, I will make your back +black and blue, and not with paint, I assure you, but with the stick which I +have in my hand, and the colouring shall last a whole year, you may rely on +that.” And having said that, the man went on his way. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the cattle-dealer came, and the woman had no need to say many +words to him. When he had seen the cows and heard the price, he said, “I +am quite willing to give that, honestly speaking, they are worth it. I will +take the beasts away with me at once.” He unfastened their chains and +drove them out of the byre, but just as he was going out of the yard-door, the +woman clutched him by the sleeve and said, “You must give me the two +hundred thalers now, or I cannot let the cows go.” “True,” +answered the man, “but I have forgotten to buckle on my money-belt. Have +no fear, however, you shall have security for my paying. I will take two cows +with me and leave one, and then you will have a good pledge.” The woman +saw the force of this, and let the man go away with the cows, and thought to +herself, “How pleased Hans will be when he finds how cleverly I have +managed it!” The peasant came home on the third day as he had said he +would, and at once inquired if the cows were sold? “Yes, indeed, dear +Hans,” answered the woman, “and as you said, for two hundred +thalers. They are scarcely worth so much, but the man took them without making +any objection.” “Where is the money?” asked the peasant. +“Oh, I have not got the money,” replied the woman; “he had +happened to forget his money-belt, but he will soon bring it, and he left good +security behind him.” “What kind of security?” asked the man. +“One of the three cows, which he shall not have until he has paid for the +other two. I have managed very cunningly, for I have kept the smallest, which +eats the least.” The man was enraged and lifted up his stick, and was +just going to give her the beating he had promised her. Suddenly he let the +stick fail and said, “You are the stupidest goose that ever waddled on +God’s earth, but I am sorry for you. I will go out into the highways and +wait for three days to see if I find anyone who is still stupider than you. If +I succeed in doing so, you shall go scot-free, but if I do not find him, you +shall receive your well-deserved reward without any discount.” +</p> + +<p> +He went out into the great highways, sat down on a stone, and waited for what +would happen. Then he saw a peasant’s waggon coming towards him, and a +woman was standing upright in the middle of it, instead of sitting on the +bundle of straw which was lying beside her, or walking near the oxen and +leading them. The man thought to himself, “That is certainly one of the +kind I am in search of,” and jumped up and ran backwards and forwards in +front of the waggon like one who is not very wise. “What do you want, my +friend?” said the woman to him; “I don’t know you, where do +you come from?” “I have fallen down from heaven,” replied the +man, “and don’t know how to get back again, couldn’t you +drive me up?” “No,” said the woman, “I don’t know +the way, but if you come from heaven you can surely tell me how my husband, who +has been there these three years is. You must have seen him?” “Oh, +yes, I have seen him, but all men can’t get on well. He keeps sheep, and +the sheep give him a great deal to do. They run up the mountains and lose their +way in the wilderness, and he has to run after them and drive them together +again. His clothes are all torn to pieces too, and will soon fall off his body. +There is no tailor there, for Saint Peter won’t let any of them in, as +you know by the story.” “Who would have thought it?” cried +the woman, “I tell you what, I will fetch his Sunday coat which is still +hanging at home in the cupboard, he can wear that and look respectable. You +will be so kind as to take it with you.” “That won’t do very +well,” answered the peasant; “people are not allowed to take +clothes into Heaven, they are taken away from one at the gate.” +“Then hark you,” said the woman, “I sold my fine wheat +yesterday and got a good lot of money for it, I will send that to him. If you +hide the purse in your pocket, no one will know that you have it.” +“If you can’t manage it any other way,” said the peasant, +“I will do you that favor.” “Just sit still where you +are,” said she, “and I will drive home and fetch the purse, I shall +soon be back again. I do not sit down on the bundle of straw, but stand up in +the waggon, because it makes it lighter for the cattle.” She drove her +oxen away, and the peasant thought, “That woman has a perfect talent for +folly, if she really brings the money, my wife may think herself fortunate, for +she will get no beating.” It was not long before she came in a great +hurry with the money, and with her own hands put it in his pocket. Before she +went away, she thanked him again a thousand times for his courtesy. +</p> + +<p> +When the woman got home again, she found her son who had come in from the +field. She told him what unlooked-for things had befallen her, and then added, +“I am truly delighted at having found an opportunity of sending something +to my poor husband. Who would ever have imagined that he could be suffering for +want of anything up in heaven?” The son was full of astonishment. +“Mother,” said he, “it is not every day that a man comes from +Heaven in this way, I will go out immediately, and see if he is still to be +found; he must tell me what it is like up there, and how the work is +done.” He saddled the horse and rode off with all speed. He found the +peasant who was sitting under a willow-tree, and was just going to count the +money in the purse. “Have you seen the man who has fallen down from +Heaven?” cried the youth to him. “Yes,” answered the peasant, +“he has set out on his way back there, and has gone up that hill, from +whence it will be rather nearer; you could still catch him up, if you were to +ride fast.” “Alas,” said the youth, “I have been doing +tiring work all day, and the ride here has completely worn me out; you know the +man, be so kind as to get on my horse, and go and persuade him to come +here.” “Aha!” thought the peasant, “here is another who +has no wick in his lamp!” “Why should I not do you this +favor?” said he, and mounted the horse and rode off in a quick trot. The +youth remained sitting there till night fell, but the peasant never came back. +“The man from Heaven must certainly have been in a great hurry, and would +not turn back,” thought he, “and the peasant has no doubt given him +the horse to take to my father.” He went home and told his mother what +had happened, and that he had sent his father the horse so that he might not +have to be always running about. “Thou hast done well,” answered +she, “thy legs are younger than his, and thou canst go on foot.” +</p> + +<p> +When the peasant got home, he put the horse in the stable beside the cow which +he had as a pledge, and then went to his wife and said, “Trina, as your +luck would have it, I have found two who are still sillier fools than you; this +time you escape without a beating, I will store it up for another +occasion.” Then he lighted his pipe, sat down in his grandfather’s +chair, and said, “It was a good stroke of business to get a sleek horse +and a great purse full of money into the bargain, for two lean cows. If +stupidity always brought in as much as that, I would be quite willing to hold +it in honor.” So thought the peasant, but you no doubt prefer the simple +folks. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap105"></a>105 Stories about Snakes</h3> + +<p> +First Story. +</p> + +<p> +There was once a little child whose mother gave her every afternoon a small +bowl of milk and bread, and the child seated herself in the yard with it. When +she began to eat however, a snake came creeping out of a crevice in the wall, +dipped its little head in the dish, and ate with her. The child had pleasure in +this, and when she was sitting there with her little dish and the snake did not +come at once, she cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Snake, snake, come swiftly<br/> +Hither come, thou tiny thing,<br/> +Thou shalt have thy crumbs of bread,<br/> +Thou shalt refresh thyself with milk.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the snake came in haste, and enjoyed its food. Moreover it showed +gratitude, for it brought the child all kinds of pretty things from its hidden +treasures, bright stones, pearls, and golden playthings. The snake, however, +only drank the milk, and left the bread-crumbs alone. Then one day the child +took its little spoon and struck the snake gently on its head with it, and +said, “Eat the bread-crumbs as well, little thing.” The mother, who +was standing in the kitchen, heard the child talking to someone, and when she +saw that she was striking a snake with her spoon, ran out with a log of wood, +and killed the good little creature. +</p> + +<p> +From that time forth, a change came over the child. As long as the snake had +eaten with her, she had grown tall and strong, but now she lost her pretty rosy +cheeks and wasted away. It was not long before the funeral bird began to cry in +the night, and the redbreast to collect little branches and leaves for a +funeral garland, and soon afterwards the child lay on her bier. +</p> + +<h5>Second Story.</h5> + +<p> +An orphan child was sitting on the town walls spinning, when she saw a snake +coming out of a hole low down in the wall. Swiftly she spread out beside this +one of the blue silk handkerchiefs which snakes have such a strong liking for, +and which are the only things they will creep on. As soon as the snake saw it, +it went back, then returned, bringing with it a small golden crown, laid it on +the handkerchief, and then went away again. The girl took up the crown, it +glittered and was of delicate golden filagree work. It was not long before the +snake came back for the second time, but when it no longer saw the crown, it +crept up to the wall, and in its grief smote its little head against it as long +as it had strength to do so, until at last it lay there dead. If the girl had +but left the crown where it was, the snake would certainly have brought still +more of its treasures out of the hole. +</p> + +<h5>Third Story.</h5> + +<p> +A snake cries, “Huhu, huhu.” A child says, “Come out.” +The snake comes out, then the child inquires about her little sister: +“Hast thou not seen little Red-stockings?” The snake says, +“No.” “Neither have I.” “Then I am like you. +Huhu, huhu, huhu.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap106"></a>106 The Poor Miller’s Boy and the Cat</h3> + +<p> +In a certain mill lived an old miller who had neither wife nor child, and three +apprentices served under him. As they had been with him several years, he one +day said to them, “I am old, and want to sit in the chimney-corner, go +out, and whichsoever of you brings me the best horse home, to him will I give +the mill, and in return for it he shall take care of me till my death.” +The third of the boys was, however, the drudge, who was looked on as foolish by +the others; they begrudged the mill to him, and afterwards he would not have +it. Then all three went out together, and when they came to the village, the +two said to stupid Hans, “Thou mayst just as well stay here, as long as +thou livest thou wilt never get a horse.” Hans, however, went with them, +and when it was night they came to a cave in which they lay down to sleep. The +two sharp ones waited until Hans had fallen asleep, then they got up, and went +away leaving him where he was. And they thought they had done a very clever +thing, but it was certain to turn out ill for them. When the sun arose, and +Hans woke up, he was lying in a deep cavern. He looked around on every side and +exclaimed, “Oh, heavens, where am I?” Then he got up and clambered +out of the cave, went into the forest, and thought, “Here I am quite +alone and deserted, how shall I obtain a horse now?” Whilst he was thus +walking full of thought, he met a small tabby-cat which said quite kindly, +“Hans, where are you going?” “Alas, thou canst not help +me.” “I well know your desire,” said the cat. “You wish +to have a beautiful horse. Come with me, and be my faithful servant for seven +years long, and then I will give you one more beautiful than any you have ever +seen in your whole life.” “Well, this is a wonderful cat!” +thought Hans, “but I am determined to see if she is telling the +truth.” So she took him with her into her enchanted castle, where there +were nothing but cats who were her servants. They leapt nimbly upstairs and +downstairs, and were merry and happy. In the evening when they sat down to +dinner, three of them had to make music. One played the bassoon, the other the +fiddle, and the third put the trumpet to his lips, and blew out his cheeks as +much as he possibly could. When they had dined, the table was carried away, and +the cat said, “Now, Hans, come and dance with me.” +“No,” said he, “I won’t dance with a pussy cat. I have +never done that yet.” “Then take him to bed,” said she to the +cats. So one of them lighted him to his bed-room, one pulled his shoes off, one +his stockings, and at last one of them blew out the candle. Next morning they +returned and helped him out of bed, one put his stockings on for him, one tied +his garters, one brought his shoes, one washed him, and one dried his face with +her tail. “That feels very soft!” said Hans. He, however, had to +serve the cat, and chop some wood every day, and to do that, he had an axe of +silver, and the wedge and saw were of silver and the mallet of copper. So he +chopped the wood small; stayed there in the house and had good meat and drink, +but never saw anyone but the tabby-cat and her servants. Once she said to him, +“Go and mow my meadow, and dry the grass,” and gave him a scythe of +silver, and a whetstone of gold, but bade him deliver them up again carefully. +So Hans went thither, and did what he was bidden, and when he had finished the +work, he carried the scythe, whetstone, and hay to the house, and asked if it +was not yet time for her to give him his reward. “No,” said the +cat, “you must first do something more for me of the same kind. There is +timber of silver, carpenter’s axe, square, and everything that is +needful, all of silver, with these build me a small house.” Then Hans +built the small house, and said that he had now done everything, and still he +had no horse. Nevertheless the seven years had gone by with him as if they were +six months. The cat asked him if he would like to see her horses? +“Yes,” said Hans. Then she opened the door of the small house, and +when she had opened it, there stood twelve horses, such horses, so bright and +shining, that his heart rejoiced at the sight of them. And now she gave him to +eat and drink, and said, “Go home, I will not give thee thy horse away +with thee; but in three days’ time I will follow thee and bring +it.” So Hans set out, and she showed him the way to the mill. She had, +however, never once given him a new coat, and he had been obliged to keep on +his dirty old smock-frock, which he had brought with him, and which during the +seven years had everywhere become too small for him. When he reached home, the +two other apprentices were there again as well, and each of them certainly had +brought a horse with him, but one of them was a blind one, and the other lame. +They asked Hans where his horse was. “It will follow me in three +days’ time.” Then they laughed and said, “Indeed, stupid +Hans, where wilt thou get a horse?” “It will be a fine one!” +Hans went into the parlour, but the miller said he should not sit down to +table, for he was so ragged and torn, that they would all be ashamed of him if +any one came in. So they gave him a mouthful of food outside, and at night, +when they went to rest, the two others would not let him have a bed, and at +last he was forced to creep into the goose-house, and lie down on a little hard +straw. In the morning when he awoke, the three days had passed, and a coach +came with six horses and they shone so bright that it was delightful to see +them! and a servant brought a seventh as well, which was for the poor +miller’s boy. And a magnificent princess alighted from the coach and went +into the mill, and this princess was the little tabby-cat whom poor Hans had +served for seven years. She asked the miller where the miller’s boy and +drudge was? Then the miller said, “We cannot have him here in the mill, +for he is so ragged; he is lying in the goose-house.” Then the +King’s daughter said that they were to bring him immediately. So they +brought him out, and he had to hold his little smock-frock together to cover +himself. The servants unpacked splendid garments, and washed him and dressed +him, and when that was done, no King could have looked more handsome. Then the +maiden desired to see the horses which the other apprentices had brought home +with them, and one of them was blind and the other lame. So she ordered the +servant to bring the seventh horse, and when the miller saw it, he said that +such a horse as that had never yet entered his yard. “And that is for the +third miller’s boy,” said she. “Then he must have the +mill,” said the miller, but the King’s daughter said that the horse +was there, and that he was to keep his mill as well, and took her faithful Hans +and set him in the coach, and drove away with him. They first drove to the +little house which he had built with the silver tools, and behold it was a +great castle, and everything inside it was of silver and gold; and then she +married him, and he was rich, so rich that he had enough for all the rest of +his life. After this, let no one ever say that anyone who is silly can never +become a person of importance. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap107"></a>107 The Two Travellers</h3> + +<p> +Hill and vale do not come together, but the children of men do, good and bad. +In this way a shoemaker and a tailor once met with each other in their travels. +The tailor was a handsome little fellow who was always merry and full of +enjoyment. He saw the shoemaker coming towards him from the other side, and as +he observed by his bag what kind of a trade he plied, he sang a little mocking +song to him, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Sew me the seam,<br/> +Draw me the thread,<br/> +Spread it over with pitch,<br/> +Knock the nail on the head.” +</p> + +<p> +The shoemaker, however, could not endure a joke; he pulled a face as if he had +drunk vinegar, and made a gesture as if he were about to seize the tailor by +the throat. But the little fellow began to laugh, reached him his bottle, and +said, “No harm was meant, take a drink, and swallow your anger +down.” The shoemaker took a very hearty drink, and the storm on his face +began to clear away. He gave the bottle back to the tailor, and said, “I +spoke civilly to you; one speaks well after much drinking, but not after much +thirst. Shall we travel together?” “All right,” answered the +tailor, “if only it suits you to go into a big town where there is no +lack of work.” “That is just where I want to go,” answered +the shoemaker. “In a small nest there is nothing to earn, and in the +country, people like to go barefoot.” They travelled therefore onwards +together, and always set one foot before the other like a weasel in the snow. +</p> + +<p> +Both of them had time enough, but little to bite and to break. When they +reached a town they went about and paid their respects to the tradesmen, and +because the tailor looked so lively and merry, and had such pretty red cheeks, +every one gave him work willingly, and when luck was good the master’s +daughters gave him a kiss beneath the porch, as well. When he again fell in +with the shoemaker, the tailor had always the most in his bundle. The +ill-tempered shoemaker made a wry face, and thought, “The greater the +rascal the more the luck,” but the tailor began to laugh and to sing, and +shared all he got with his comrade. If a couple of pence jingled in his +pockets, he ordered good cheer, and thumped the table in his joy till the +glasses danced, and it was lightly come, lightly go, with him. +</p> + +<p> +When they had travelled for some time, they came to a great forest through +which passed the road to the capital. Two foot-paths, however, led through it, +one of which was a seven days’ journey, and the other only two, but +neither of the travellers knew which way was the short one. They seated +themselves beneath an oak-tree, and took counsel together how they should +forecast, and for how many days they should provide themselves with bread. The +shoemaker said, “One must look before one leaps, I will take with me +bread for a week.” “What!” said the tailor, “drag bread +for seven days on one’s back like a beast of burden, and not be able to +look about. I shall trust in God, and not trouble myself about anything! The +money I have in my pocket is as good in summer as in winter, but in hot weather +bread gets dry, and mouldy into the bargain; even my coat does not go as far as +it might. Besides, why should we not find the right way? Bread for two days, +and that’s enough.” Each, therefore, bought his own bread, and then +they tried their luck in the forest. +</p> + +<p> +It was as quiet there as in a church. No wind stirred, no brook murmured, no +bird sang, and through the thickly-leaved branches no sunbeam forced its way. +The shoemaker spoke never a word, the heavy bread weighed down his back until +the perspiration streamed down his cross and gloomy face. The tailor, however, +was quite merry, he jumped about, whistled on a leaf, or sang a song, and +thought to himself, “God in heaven must be pleased to see me so +happy.” +</p> + +<p> +This lasted two days, but on the third the forest would not come to an end, and +the tailor had eaten up all his bread, so after all his heart sank down a yard +deeper. In the meantime he did not lose courage, but relied on God and on his +luck. On the third day he lay down in the evening hungry under a tree, and rose +again next morning hungry still; so also passed the fourth day, and when the +shoemaker seated himself on a fallen tree and devoured his dinner, the tailor +was only a looker-on. If he begged for a little piece of bread the other +laughed mockingly, and said, “Thou hast always been so merry, now thou +canst try for once what it is to be sad: the birds which sing too early in the +morning are struck by the hawk in the evening,” In short he was pitiless. +But on the fifth morning the poor tailor could no longer stand up, and was +hardly able to utter one word for weakness; his cheeks were white, and his eyes +red. Then the shoemaker said to him, “I will give thee a bit of bread +to-day, but in return for it, I will put out thy right eye.” The unhappy +tailor who still wished to save his life, could not do it in any other way; he +wept once more with both eyes, and then held them out, and the shoemaker, who +had a heart of stone, put out his right eye with a sharp knife. The tailor +called to remembrance what his mother had formerly said to him when he had been +eating secretly in the pantry. “Eat what one can, and suffer what one +must.” When he had consumed his dearly-bought bread, he got on his legs +again, forgot his misery and comforted himself with the thought that he could +always see enough with one eye. But on the sixth day, hunger made itself felt +again, and gnawed him almost to the heart. In the evening he fell down by a +tree, and on the seventh morning he could not raise himself up for faintness, +and death was close at hand. Then said the shoemaker, “I will show mercy +and give thee bread once more, but thou shalt not have it for nothing, I shall +put out thy other eye for it.” And now the tailor felt how thoughtless +his life had been, prayed to God for forgiveness, and said, “Do what thou +wilt, I will bear what I must, but remember that our Lord God does not always +look on passively, and that an hour will come when the evil deed which thou +hast done to me, and which I have not deserved of thee, will be requited. When +times were good with me, I shared what I had with thee. My trade is of that +kind that each stitch must always be exactly like the other. If I no longer +have my eyes and can sew no more I must go a-begging. At any rate do not leave +me here alone when I am blind, or I shall die of hunger.” The shoemaker, +however, who had driven God out of his heart, took the knife and put out his +left eye. Then he gave him a bit of bread to eat, held out a stick to him, and +drew him on behind him. +</p> + +<p> +When the sun went down, they got out of the forest, and before them in the open +country stood the gallows. Thither the shoemaker guided the blind tailor, and +then left him alone and went his way. Weariness, pain, and hunger made the +wretched man fall asleep, and he slept the whole night. When day dawned he +awoke, but knew not where he lay. Two poor sinners were hanging on the gallows, +and a crow sat on the head of each of them. Then one of the men who had been +hanged began to speak, and said, “Brother, art thou awake?” +“Yes, I am awake,” answered the second. “Then I will tell +thee something,” said the first; “the dew which this night has +fallen down over us from the gallows, gives every one who washes himself with +it his eyes again. If blind people did but know this, how many would regain +their sight who do not believe that to be possible.” +</p> + +<p> +When the tailor heard that, he took his pocket-handkerchief, pressed it on the +grass, and when it was moist with dew, washed the sockets of his eyes with it. +Immediately was fulfilled what the man on the gallows had said, and a couple of +healthy new eyes filled the sockets. It was not long before the tailor saw the +sun rise behind the mountains; in the plain before him lay the great royal city +with its magnificent gates and hundred towers, and the golden balls and crosses +which were on the spires began to shine. He could distinguish every leaf on the +trees, saw the birds which flew past, and the midges which danced in the air. +He took a needle out of his pocket, and as he could thread it as well as ever +he had done, his heart danced with delight. He threw himself on his knees, +thanked God for the mercy he had shown him, and said his morning prayer. He did +not forget also to pray for the poor sinners who were hanging there swinging +against each other in the wind like the pendulums of clocks. Then he took his +bundle on his back and soon forgot the pain of heart he had endured, and went +on his way singing and whistling. +</p> + +<p> +The first thing he met was a brown foal running about the fields at large. He +caught it by the mane, and wanted to spring on it and ride into the town. The +foal, however, begged to be set free. “I am still too young,” it +said, “even a light tailor such as thou art would break my back in two +let me go till I have grown strong. A time may perhaps come when I may reward +thee for it.” “Run off,” said the tailor, “I see thou +art still a giddy thing.” He gave it a touch with a switch over its back, +whereupon it kicked up its hind legs for joy, leapt over hedges and ditches, +and galloped away into the open country. +</p> + +<p> +But the little tailor had eaten nothing since the day before. “The sun to +be sure fills my eyes,” said he, “but the bread does not fill my +mouth. The first thing that comes across me and is even half edible will have +to suffer for it.” In the meantime a stork stepped solemnly over the +meadow towards him. “Halt, halt!” cried the tailor, and seized him +by the leg. “I don’t know if thou art good to eat or not, but my +hunger leaves me no great choice. I must cut thy head off, and roast +thee.” “Don’t do that,” replied the stork; “I am +a sacred bird which brings mankind great profit, and no one does me an injury. +Leave me my life, and I may do thee good in some other way.” “Well, +be off, Cousin Longlegs,” said the tailor. The stork rose up, let its +long legs hang down, and flew gently away. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s to be the end of this?” said the tailor to himself at +last, “my hunger grows greater and greater, and my stomach more and more +empty. Whatsoever comes in my way now is lost.” At this moment he saw a +couple of young ducks which were on a pond come swimming towards him. +“You come just at the right moment,” said he, and laid hold of one +of them and was about to wring its neck. On this an old duck which was hidden +among the reeds, began to scream loudly, and swam to him with open beak, and +begged him urgently to spare her dear children. “Canst thou not +imagine,” said she, “how thy mother would mourn if any one wanted +to carry thee off, and give thee thy finishing stroke?” “Only be +quiet,” said the good-tempered tailor, “thou shalt keep thy +children,” and put the prisoner back into the water. +</p> + +<p> +When he turned round, he was standing in front of an old tree which was partly +hollow, and saw some wild bees flying in and out of it. “There I shall at +once find the reward of my good deed,” said the tailor, “the honey +will refresh me.” But the Queen-bee came out, threatened him and said, +“If thou touchest my people, and destroyest my nest, our stings shall +pierce thy skin like ten thousand red-hot needles. But if thou wilt leave us in +peace and go thy way, we will do thee a service for it another time.” +</p> + +<p> +The little tailor saw that here also nothing was to be done. “Three +dishes empty and nothing on the fourth is a bad dinner!” He dragged +himself therefore with his starved-out stomach into the town, and as it was +just striking twelve, all was ready-cooked for him in the inn, and he was able +to sit down at once to dinner. When he was satisfied he said, “Now I will +get to work.” He went round the town, sought a master, and soon found a +good situation. As, however, he had thoroughly learnt his trade, it was not +long before he became famous, and every one wanted to have his new coat made by +the little tailor, whose importance increased daily. “I can go no further +in skill,” said he, “and yet things improve every day.” At +last the King appointed him court-tailor. +</p> + +<p> +But how things do happen in the world! On the very same day his former comrade +the shoemaker also became court-shoemaker. When the latter caught sight of the +tailor, and saw that he had once more two healthy eyes, his conscience troubled +him. “Before he takes revenge on me,” thought he to himself, +“I must dig a pit for him.” He, however, who digs a pit for +another, falls into it himself. In the evening when work was over and it had +grown dusk, he stole to the King and said, “Lord King, the tailor is an +arrogant fellow and has boasted that he will get the gold crown back again +which was lost in ancient times.” “That would please me very +much,” said the King, and he caused the tailor to be brought before him +next morning, and ordered him to get the crown back again, or to leave the town +for ever. “Oho!” thought the tailor, “a rogue gives more than +he has got. If the surly King wants me to do what can be done by no one, I will +not wait till morning, but will go out of the town at once, to-day.” He +packed up his bundle, therefore, but when he was without the gate he could not +help being sorry to give up his good fortune, and turn his back on the town in +which all had gone so well with him. He came to the pond where he had made the +acquaintance of the ducks; at that very moment the old one whose young ones he +had spared, was sitting there by the shore, pluming herself with her beak. She +knew him again instantly, and asked why he was hanging his head so? “Thou +wilt not be surprised when thou hearest what has befallen me,” replied +the tailor, and told her his fate. “If that be all,” said the duck, +“we can help thee. The crown fell into the water, and lies down below at +the bottom; we will soon bring it up again for thee. In the meantime just +spread out thy handkerchief on the bank.” She dived down with her twelve +young ones, and in five minutes she was up again and sat with the crown resting +on her wings, and the twelve young ones were swimming round about and had put +their beaks under it, and were helping to carry it. They swam to the shore and +put the crown on the handkerchief. No one can imagine how magnificent the crown +was; when the sun shone on it, it gleamed like a hundred thousand carbuncles. +The tailor tied his handkerchief together by the four corners, and carried it +to the King, who was full of joy, and put a gold chain round the tailor’s +neck. +</p> + +<p> +When the shoemaker saw that one stroke had failed, he contrived a second, and +went to the King and said, “Lord King, the tailor has become insolent +again; he boasts that he will copy in wax the whole of the royal palace, with +everything that pertains to it, loose or fast, inside and out.” The King +sent for the tailor and ordered him to copy in wax the whole of the royal +palace, with everything that pertained to it, movable or immovable, within and +without, and if he did not succeed in doing this, or if so much as one nail on +the wall were wanting, he should be imprisoned for his whole life under ground. +</p> + +<p> +The tailor thought, “It gets worse and worse! No one can endure +that?” and threw his bundle on his back, and went forth. When he came to +the hollow tree, he sat down and hung his head. The bees came flying out, and +the Queen-bee asked him if he had a stiff neck, since he held his head so awry? +“Alas, no,” answered the tailor, “something quite different +weighs me down,” and he told her what the King had demanded of him. The +bees began to buzz and hum amongst themselves, and the Queen-bee said, +“Just go home again, but come back to-morrow at this time, and bring a +large sheet with you, and then all will be well.” So he turned back +again, but the bees flew to the royal palace and straight into it through the +open windows, crept round about into every corner, and inspected everything +most carefully. Then they hurried back and modelled the palace in wax with such +rapidity that any one looking on would have thought it was growing before his +eyes. By the evening all was ready, and when the tailor came next morning, the +whole of the splendid building was there, and not one nail in the wall or tile +of the roof was wanting, and it was delicate withal, and white as snow, and +smelt sweet as honey. The tailor wrapped it carefully in his cloth and took it +to the King, who could not admire it enough, placed it in his largest hall, and +in return for it presented the tailor with a large stone house. +</p> + +<p> +The shoemaker, however, did not give up, but went for the third time to the +King and said, “Lord King, it has come to the tailor’s ears that no +water will spring up in the court-yard of the castle, and he has boasted that +it shall rise up in the midst of the court-yard to a man’s height and be +clear as crystal.” Then the King ordered the tailor to be brought before +him and said, “If a stream of water does not rise in my court-yard by +to-morrow as thou hast promised, the executioner shall in that very place make +thee shorter by the head.” The poor tailor did not take long to think +about it, but hurried out to the gate, and because this time it was a matter of +life and death to him, tears rolled down his face. Whilst he was thus going +forth full of sorrow, the foal to which he had formerly given its liberty, and +which had now become a beautiful chestnut horse, came leaping towards him. +“The time has come,” it said to the tailor, “when I can repay +thee for thy good deed. I know already what is needful to thee, but thou shalt +soon have help; get on me, my back can carry two such as thou.” The +tailor’s courage came back to him; he jumped up in one bound, and the +horse went full speed into the town, and right up to the court-yard of the +castle. It galloped as quick as lightning thrice round it, and at the third +time it fell violently down. At the same instant, however, there was a terrific +clap of thunder, a fragment of earth in the middle of the court-yard sprang +like a cannon-ball into the air, and over the castle, and directly after it a +jet of water rose as high as a man on horseback, and the water was as pure as +crystal, and the sunbeams began to dance on it. When the King saw that he arose +in amazement, and went and embraced the tailor in the sight of all men. +</p> + +<p> +But good fortune did not last long. The King had daughters in plenty, one still +prettier than the other, but he had no son. So the malicious shoemaker betook +himself for the fourth time to the King, and said, “Lord King, the tailor +has not given up his arrogance. He has now boasted that if he liked, he could +cause a son to be brought to the Lord king through the air.” The King +commanded the tailor to be summoned, and said, “If thou causest a son to +be brought to me within nine days, thou shalt have my eldest daughter to +wife.” “The reward is indeed great,” thought the little +tailor; “one would willingly do something for it, but the cherries grow +too high for me, if I climb for them, the bough will break beneath me, and I +shall fall.” +</p> + +<p> +He went home, seated himself cross-legged on his work-table, and thought over +what was to be done. “It can’t be managed,” cried he at last, +“I will go away; after all I can’t live in peace here.” He +tied up his bundle and hurried away to the gate. When he got to the meadow, he +perceived his old friend the stork, who was walking backwards and forwards like +a philosopher. Sometimes he stood still, took a frog into close consideration, +and at length swallowed it down. The stork came to him and greeted him. +“I see,” he began, “that thou hast thy pack on thy back. Why +art thou leaving the town?” The tailor told him what the King had +required of him, and how he could not perform it, and lamented his misfortune. +“Don’t let thy hair grow grey about that,” said the stork, +“I will help thee out of thy difficulty. For a long time now, I have +carried the children in swaddling-clothes into the town, so for once in a way I +can fetch a little prince out of the well. Go home and be easy. In nine days +from this time repair to the royal palace, and there will I come.” The +little tailor went home, and at the appointed time was at the castle. It was +not long before the stork came flying thither and tapped at the window. The +tailor opened it, and cousin Longlegs came carefully in, and walked with solemn +steps over the smooth marble pavement. He had, moreover, a baby in his beak +that was as lovely as an angel, and stretched out its little hands to the +Queen. The stork laid it in her lap, and she caressed it and kissed it, and was +beside herself with delight. Before the stork flew away, he took his travelling +bag off his back and handed it over to the Queen. In it there were little paper +parcels with colored sweetmeats, and they were divided amongst the little +princesses. The eldest, however, had none of them, but got the merry tailor for +a husband. “It seems to me,” said he, “just as if I had won +the highest prize. My mother was if right after all, she always said that +whoever trusts in God and only has good luck, can never fail.” +</p> + +<p> +The shoemaker had to make the shoes in which the little tailor danced at the +wedding festival, after which he was commanded to quit the town for ever. The +road to the forest led him to the gallows. Worn out with anger, rage, and the +heat of the day, he threw himself down. When he had closed his eyes and was +about to sleep, the two crows flew down from the heads of the men who were +hanging there, and pecked his eyes out. In his madness he ran into the forest +and must have died there of hunger, for no one has ever either seen him again +or heard of him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap108"></a>108 Hans the Hedgehog</h3> + +<p> +There was once a countryman who had money and land in plenty, but how rich +soever he was, one thing was still wanting in his happiness he had no children. +Often when he went into the town with the other peasants they mocked him and +asked why he had no children. At last he became angry, and when he got home he +said, “I will have a child, even if it be a hedgehog.” Then his +wife had a child, that was a hedgehog in the upper part of his body, and a boy +in the lower, and when she saw the child, she was terrified, and said, +“See, there thou hast brought ill-luck on us.” Then said the man, +“What can be done now? The boy must be christened, but we shall not be +able to get a godfather for him.” The woman said, “And we cannot +call him anything else but Hans the Hedgehog.” +</p> + +<p> +When he was christened, the parson said, “He cannot go into any ordinary +bed because of his spikes.” So a little straw was put behind the stove, +and Hans the Hedgehog was laid on it. His mother could not suckle him, for he +would have pricked her with his quills. So he lay there behind the stove for +eight years, and his father was tired of him and thought, “If he would +but die!” He did not die, however, but remained lying there. Now it +happened that there was a fair in the town, and the peasant was about to go to +it, and asked his wife what he should bring back with him for her. “A +little meat and a couple of white rolls which are wanted for the house,” +said she. Then he asked the servant, and she wanted a pair of slippers and some +stockings with clocks. At last he said also, “And what wilt thou have, +Hans my Hedgehog?” “Dear father,” he said, “do bring me +bagpipes.” When, therefore, the father came home again, he gave his wife +what he had bought for her; meat and white rolls, and then he gave the maid the +slippers, and the stockings with clocks; and, lastly, he went behind the stove, +and gave Hans the Hedgehog the bagpipes. And when Hans the Hedgehog had the +bagpipes, he said, “Dear father, do go to the forge and get the cock +shod, and then I will ride away, and never come back again.” On this, the +father was delighted to think that he was going to get rid of him, and had the +cock shod for him, and when it was done, Hans the Hedgehog got on it, and rode +away, but took swine and asses with him which he intended to keep in the +forest. When they got there he made the cock fly on to a high tree with him, +and there he sat for many a long year, and watched his asses and swine until +the herd was quite large, and his father knew nothing about him. While he was +sitting in the tree, however, he played his bagpipes, and made music which was +very beautiful. Once a King came travelling by who had lost his way and heard +the music. He was astonished at it, and sent his servant forth to look all +round and see from whence this music came. He spied about, but saw nothing but +a little animal sitting up aloft on the tree, which looked like a cock with a +hedgehog on it which made this music. Then the King told the servant he was to +ask why he sat there, and if he knew the road which led to his kingdom. So Hans +the Hedgehog descended from the tree, and said he would show the way if the +King would write a bond and promise him whatever he first met in the royal +courtyard as soon as he arrived at home. Then the King thought, “I can +easily do that, Hans the Hedgehog understands nothing, and I can write what I +like.” So the King took pen and ink and wrote something, and when he had +done it, Hans the Hedgehog showed him the way, and he got safely home. But his +daughter, when she saw him from afar, was so overjoyed that she ran to meet +him, and kissed him. Then he remembered Hans the Hedgehog, and told her what +had happened, and that he had been forced to promise whatsoever first met him +when he got home, to a very strange animal which sat on a cock as if it were a +horse, and made beautiful music, but that instead of writing that he should +have what he wanted, he had written that he should not have it. Thereupon the +princess was glad, and said he had done well, for she never would have gone +away with the Hedgehog. +</p> + +<p> +Hans the Hedgehog, however, looked after his asses and pigs, and was always +merry and sat on the tree and played his bagpipes. +</p> + +<p> +Now it came to pass that another King came journeying by with his attendants +and runners, and he also had lost his way, and did not know how to get home +again because the forest was so large. He likewise heard the beautiful music +from a distance, and asked his runner what that could be, and told him to go +and see. Then the runner went under the tree, and saw the cock sitting at the +top of it, and Hans the Hedgehog on the cock. The runner asked him what he was +about up there? “I am keeping my asses and my pigs; but what is your +desire?” The messenger said that they had lost their way, and could not +get back into their own kingdom, and asked if he would not show them the way. +Then Hans the Hedgehog got down the tree with the cock, and told the aged King +that he would show him the way, if he would give him for his own whatsoever +first met him in front of his royal palace. The King said, “Yes,” +and wrote a promise to Hans the Hedgehog that he should have this. That done, +Hans rode on before him on the cock, and pointed out the way, and the King +reached his kingdom again in safety. When he got to the courtyard, there were +great rejoicings. Now he had an only daughter who was very beautiful; she ran +to meet him, threw her arms round his neck, and was delighted to have her old +father back again. She asked him where in the world he had been so long. So he +told her how he had lost his way, and had very nearly not come back at all, but +that as he was travelling through a great forest, a creature, half hedgehog, +half man, who was sitting astride a cock in a high tree, and making music, had +shown him the way and helped him to get out, but that in return he had promised +him whatsoever first met him in the royal court-yard, and how that was she +herself, which made him unhappy now. But on this she promised that, for love of +her father, she would willingly go with this Hans if he came. +</p> + +<p> +Hans the Hedgehog, however, took care of his pigs, and the pigs multiplied +until they became so many in number that the whole forest was filled with them. +Then Hans the Hedgehog resolved not to live in the forest any longer, and sent +word to his father to have every stye in the village emptied, for he was coming +with such a great herd that all might kill who wished to do so. When his father +heard that, he was troubled, for he thought Hans the Hedgehog had died long +ago. Hans the Hedgehog, however, seated himself on the cock, and drove the pigs +before him into the village, and ordered the slaughter to begin. Ha! but there +was a killing and a chopping that might have been heard two miles off! After +this Hans the Hedgehog said, “Father, let me have the cock shod once more +at the forge, and then I will ride away and never come back as long as I +live.” Then the father had the cock shod once more, and was pleased that +Hans the Hedgehog would never return again. +</p> + +<p> +Hans the Hedgehog rode away to the first kingdom. There the King had commanded +that whosoever came mounted on a cock and had bagpipes with him should be shot +at, cut down, or stabbed by everyone, so that he might not enter the palace. +When, therefore, Hans the Hedgehog came riding thither, they all pressed +forward against him with their pikes, but he spurred the cock and it flew up +over the gate in front of the King’s window and lighted there, and Hans +cried that the King must give him what he had promised, or he would take both +his life and his daughter’s. Then the King began to speak his daughter +fair, and to beg her to go away with Hans in order to save her own life and her +father’s. So she dressed herself in white, and her father gave her a +carriage with six horses and magnificent attendants together with gold and +possessions. She seated herself in the carriage, and placed Hans the Hedgehog +beside her with the cock and the bagpipes, and then they took leave and drove +away, and the King thought he should never see her again. He was however, +deceived in his expectation, for when they were at a short distance from the +town, Hans the Hedgehog took her pretty clothes off, and pierced her with his +hedgehog’s skin until she bled all over. “That is the reward of +your falseness,” said he, “go your way, I will not have you!” +and on that he chased her home again, and she was disgraced for the rest of her +life. +</p> + +<p> +Hans the Hedgehog, however, rode on further on the cock, with his bagpipes, to +the dominions of the second King to whom he had shown the way. This one, +however, had arranged that if any one resembling Hans the Hedgehog should come, +they were to present arms, give him safe conduct, cry long life to him, and +lead him to the royal palace. +</p> + +<p> +But when the King’s daughter saw him she was terrified, for he looked +quite too strange. She remembered however, that she could not change her mind, +for she had given her promise to her father. So Hans the Hedgehog was welcomed +by her, and married to her, and had to go with her to the royal table, and she +seated herself by his side, and they ate and drank. When the evening came and +they wanted to go to sleep, she was afraid of his quills, but he told her she +was not to fear, for no harm would befall her, and he told the old King that he +was to appoint four men to watch by the door of the chamber, and light a great +fire, and when he entered the room and was about to get into bed, he would +creep out of his hedgehog’s skin and leave it lying there by the bedside, +and that the men were to run nimbly to it, throw it in the fire, and stay by it +until it was consumed. When the clock struck eleven, he went into the chamber, +stripped off the hedgehog’s skin, and left it lying by the bed. Then came +the men and fetched it swiftly, and threw it in the fire; and when the fire had +consumed it, he was delivered, and lay there in bed in human form, but he was +coal-black as if he had been burnt. The King sent for his physician who washed +him with precious salves, and anointed him, and he became white, and was a +handsome young man. When the King’s daughter saw that she was glad, and +the next morning they arose joyfully, ate and drank, and then the marriage was +properly solemnized, and Hans the Hedgehog received the kingdom from the aged +King. +</p> + +<p> +When several years had passed he went with his wife to his father, and said +that he was his son. The father, however, declared he had no son he had never +had but one, and he had been born like a hedgehog with spikes, and had gone +forth into the world. Then Hans made himself known, and the old father rejoiced +and went with him to his kingdom. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +My tale is done,<br/> +And away it has run<br/> +To little August’s house. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap109"></a>109 The Shroud</h3> + +<p> +There was once a mother who had a little boy of seven years old, who was so +handsome and lovable that no one could look at him without liking him, and she +herself worshipped him above everything in the world. Now it so happened that +he suddenly became ill, and God took him to himself; and for this the mother +could not be comforted, and wept both day and night. But soon afterwards, when +the child had been buried, it appeared by night in the places where it had sat +and played during its life, and if the mother wept, it wept also, and when +morning came it disappeared. As, however, the mother would not stop crying, it +came one night, in the little white shroud in which it had been laid in its +coffin, and with its wreath of flowers round its head, and stood on the bed at +her feet, and said, “Oh, mother, do stop crying, or I shall never fall +asleep in my coffin, for my shroud will not dry because of all thy tears, which +fall upon it.” The mother was afraid when she heard that, and wept no +more. The next night the child came again, and held a little light in its hand, +and said, “Look, mother, my shroud is nearly dry, and I can rest in my +grave.” Then the mother gave her sorrow into God’s keeping, and +bore it quietly and patiently, and the child came no more, but slept in its +little bed beneath the earth. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap110"></a>110 The Jew Among Thorns</h3> + +<p> +There was once a rich man, who had a servant who served him diligently and +honestly: He was every morning the first out of bed, and the last to go to rest +at night; and, whenever there was a difficult job to be done, which nobody +cared to undertake, he was always the first to set himself to it. Moreover, he +never complained, but was contented with everything, and always merry. +</p> + +<p> +When a year was ended, his master gave him no wages, for he said to himself, +“That is the cleverest way; for I shall save something, and he will not +go away, but stay quietly in my service.” The servant said nothing, but +did his work the second year as he had done it the first; and when at the end +of this, likewise, he received no wages, he made himself happy, and still +stayed on. +</p> + +<p> +When the third year also was past, the master considered, put his hand in his +pocket, but pulled nothing out. Then at last the servant said, “Master, +for three years I have served you honestly, be so good as to give me what I +ought to have, for I wish to leave, and look about me a little more in the +world.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, my good fellow,” answered the old miser; “you have +served me industriously, and, therefore, you shall be cheerfully +rewarded;” And he put his hand into his pocket, but counted out only +three farthings, saying, “There, you have a farthing for each year; that +is large and liberal pay, such as you would have received from few +masters.” +</p> + +<p> +The honest servant, who understood little about money, put his fortune into his +pocket, and thought, “Ah! now that I have my purse full, why need I +trouble and plague myself any longer with hard work!” So on he went, up +hill and down dale; and sang and jumped to his heart’s content. Now it +came to pass that as he was going by a thicket a little man stepped out, and +called to him, “Whither away, merry brother? I see you do not carry many +cares.” “Why should I be sad?” answered the servant; “I +have enough; three years’ wages are jingling in my pocket.” +“How much is your treasure?” the dwarf asked him. “How much? +Three farthings sterling, all told.” “Look here,” said the +dwarf, “I am a poor needy man, give me your three farthings; I can work +no longer, but you are young, and can easily earn your bread.” +</p> + +<p> +And as the servant had a good heart, and felt pity for the old man, he gave him +the three farthings, saying, “Take them in the name of Heaven, I shall +not be any the worse for it.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the little man said, “As I see you have a good heart I grant you +three wishes, one for each farthing, they shall all be fulfilled.” +</p> + +<p> +“Aha?” said the servant, “you are one of those who can work +wonders! Well, then, if it is to be so, I wish, first, for a gun, which shall +hit everything that I aim at; secondly, for a fiddle, which when I play on it, +shall compel all who hear it to dance; thirdly, that if I ask a favor of any +one he shall not be able to refuse it.” +</p> + +<p> +“All that shall you have,” said the dwarf; and put his hand into +the bush, and only think, there lay a fiddle and gun, all ready, just as if +they had been ordered. These he gave to the servant, and then said to him, +“Whatever you may ask at any time, no man in the world shall be able to +deny you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Heart alive! What can one desire more?” said the servant to +himself, and went merrily onwards. Soon afterwards he met a Jew with a long +goat’s-beard, who was standing listening to the song of a bird which was +sitting up at the top of a tree. “Good heavens,” he was exclaiming, +“that such a small creature should have such a fearfully loud voice! If +it were but mine! If only someone would sprinkle some salt upon its +tail!” +</p> + +<p> +“If that is all,” said the servant, “the bird shall soon be +down here;” And taking aim he pulled the trigger, and down fell the bird +into the thorn-bushes. “Go, you rogue,” he said to the Jew, +“and fetch the bird out for yourself!” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh!” said the Jew, “leave out the rogue, my master, and I +will do it at once. I will get the bird out for myself, as you really have hit +it.” Then he lay down on the ground, and began to crawl into the thicket. +</p> + +<p> +When he was fast among the thorns, the good servant’s humor so tempted +him that he took up his fiddle and began to play. In a moment the Jew’s +legs began to move, and to jump into the air, and the more the servant fiddled +the better went the dance. But the thorns tore his shabby coat from him, combed +his beard, and pricked and plucked him all over the body. “Oh +dear,” cried the Jew, “what do I want with your fiddling? Leave the +fiddle alone, master; I do not want to dance.” +</p> + +<p> +But the servant did not listen to him, and thought, “You have fleeced +people often enough, now the thorn-bushes shall do the same to you;” and +he began to play over again, so that the Jew had to jump higher than ever, and +scraps of his coat were left hanging on the thorns. “Oh, woe’s me! +cried the Jew; I will give the gentleman whatsoever he asks if only he leaves +off fiddling a purse full of gold.” “If you are so liberal,” +said the servant, “I will stop my music; but this I must say to your +credit, that you dance to it so well that it is quite an art;” and having +taken the purse he went his way. +</p> + +<p> +The Jew stood still and watched the servant quietly until he was far off and +out of sight, and then he screamed out with all his might, “You miserable +musician, you beer-house fiddler! wait till I catch you alone, I will hunt you +till the soles of your shoes fall off! You ragamuffin! just put five farthings +in your mouth, and then you may be worth three halfpence!” and went on +abusing him as fast as he could speak. As soon as he had refreshed himself a +little in this way, and got his breath again, he ran into the town to the +justice. +</p> + +<p> +“My lord judge,” he said, “I have come to make a complaint; +see how a rascal has robbed and ill-treated me on the public highway! a stone +on the ground might pity me; my clothes all torn, my body pricked and +scratched, my little all gone with my purse, good ducats, each piece better +than the last; for God’s sake let the man be thrown into prison!” +</p> + +<p> +“Was it a soldier,” said the judge, “who cut you thus with +his sabre?” “Nothing of the sort!” said the Jew; “it +was no sword that he had, but a gun hanging at his back, and a fiddle at his +neck; the wretch may easily be known.” +</p> + +<p> +So the judge sent his people out after the man, and they found the good +servant, who had been going quite slowly along, and they found, too, the purse +with the money upon him. As soon as he was taken before the judge he said, +“I did not touch the Jew, nor take his money; he gave it to me of his own +free will, that I might leave off fiddling because he could not bear my +music.” “Heaven defend us!” cried the Jew, “his lies +are as thick as flies upon the wall.” +</p> + +<p> +But the judge also did not believe his tale, and said, “This is a bad +defence, no Jew would do that.” And because he had committed robbery on +the public highway, he sentenced the good servant to be hanged. As he was being +led away the Jew again screamed after him, “You vagabond! you dog of a +fiddler! now you are going to receive your well-earned reward!” The +servant walked quietly with the hangman up the ladder, but upon the last step +he turned round and said to the judge, “Grant me just one request before +I die.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, if you do not ask your life,” said the judge. “I do not +ask for life,” answered the servant, “but as a last favor let me +play once more upon my fiddle.” The Jew raised a great cry of +“Murder! murder! for goodness’ sake do not allow it! Do not allow +it!” But the judge said, “Why should I not let him have this short +pleasure? it has been granted to him, and he shall have it.” However, he +could not have refused on account of the gift which had been bestowed on the +servant. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Jew cried, “Oh! woe’s me! tie me, tie me fast!” +while the good servant took his fiddle from his neck, and made ready. As he +gave the first scrape, they all began to quiver and shake, the judge, his +clerk, and the hangman and his men, and the cord fell out of the hand of the +one who was going to tie the Jew fast. At the second scrape all raised their +legs, and the hangman let go his hold of the good servant, and made himself +ready to dance. At the third scrape they all leaped up and began to dance; the +judge and the Jew being the best at jumping. Soon all who had gathered in the +market-place out of curiosity were dancing with them; old and young, fat and +lean, one with another. The dogs, likewise, which had run there got up on their +hind legs and capered about; and the longer he played, the higher sprang the +dancers, so that they knocked against each other’s heads, and began to +shriek terribly. +</p> + +<p> +At length the judge cried, quite out of breath, “I will give you your +life if you will only stop fiddling.” The good servant thereupon had +compassion, took his fiddle and hung it round his neck again, and stepped down +the ladder. Then he went up to the Jew, who was lying upon the ground panting +for breath, and said, “You rascal, now confess, whence you got the money, +or I will take my fiddle and begin to play again.” “I stole it, I +stole it!” cried he; “but you have honestly earned it.” So +the judge had the Jew taken to the gallows and hanged as a thief. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap111"></a>111 The Skilful Huntsman</h3> + +<p> +There was once a young fellow who had learnt the trade of locksmith, and told +his father he would now go out into the world and seek his fortune. “Very +well,” said the father, “I am quite content with that,” and +gave him some money for his journey. So he travelled about and looked for work. +After a time he resolved not to follow the trade of locksmith any more, for he +no longer liked it, but he took a fancy for hunting. Then there met him in his +rambles a huntsman dressed in green, who asked whence he came and whither he +was going? The youth said he was a locksmith’s apprentice, but that the +trade no longer pleased him, and he had a liking for huntsmanship, would he +teach it to him? “Oh, yes,” said the huntsman, “if thou wilt +go with me.” Then the young fellow went with him, bound himself to him +for some years, and learnt the art of hunting. After this he wished to try his +luck elsewhere, and the huntsman gave him nothing in the way of payment but an +air-gun, which had, however, this property, that it hit its mark without fail +whenever he shot with it. Then he set out and found himself in a very large +forest, which he could not get to the end of in one day. When evening came he +seated himself in a high tree in order to escape from the wild beasts. Towards +midnight, it seemed to him as if a tiny little light glimmered in the distance. +Then he looked down through the branches towards it, and kept well in his mind +where it was. But in the first place he took off his hat and threw it down in +the direction of the light, so that he might go to the hat as a mark when he +had descended. Then he got down and went to his hat, put it on again and went +straight forwards. The farther he went, the larger the light grew, and when he +got close to it he saw that it was an enormous fire, and that three giants were +sitting by it, who had an ox on the spit, and were roasting it. Presently one +of them said, “I must just taste if the meat will soon be fit to +eat,” and pulled a piece off, and was about to put it in his mouth when +the huntsman shot it out of his hand. “Well, really,” said the +giant, “if the wind has not blown the bit out of my hand!” and +helped himself to another. But when he was just about to bite into it, the +huntsman again shot it away from him. On this the giant gave the one who was +sitting next him a box on the ear, and cried angrily, “Why art thou +snatching my piece away from me?” “I have not snatched it +away,” said the other, “a sharpshooter must have shot it away from +thee.” The giant took another piece, but could not, however, keep it in +his hand, for the huntsman shot it out. Then the giant said, “That must +be a good shot to shoot the bit out of one’s very mouth, such an one +would be useful to us.” And he cried aloud, “Come here, thou +sharpshooter, seat thyself at the fire beside us and eat thy fill, we will not +hurt thee; but if thou wilt not come, and we have to bring thee by force, thou +art a lost man!” On this the youth went up to them and told them he was a +skilled huntsman, and that whatever he aimed at with his gun, he was certain to +hit. Then they said if he would go with them he should be well treated, and +they told him that outside the forest there was a great lake, behind which +stood a tower, and in the tower was imprisoned a lovely princess, whom they +wished very much to carry off. “Yes,” said he, “I will soon +get her for you.” Then they added, “But there is still something +else, there is a tiny little dog, which begins to bark directly any one goes +near, and as soon as it barks every one in the royal palace wakens up, and for +this reason we cannot get there; canst thou undertake to shoot it dead?” +“Yes,” said he, “that will be a little bit of fun for +me.” After this he got into a boat and rowed over the lake, and as soon +as he landed, the little dog came running out, and was about to bark, but the +huntsman took his air-gun and shot it dead. When the giants saw that, they +rejoiced, and thought they already had the King’s daughter safe, but the +huntsman wished first to see how matters stood, and told them that they must +stay outside until he called them. Then he went into the castle, and all was +perfectly quiet within, and every one was asleep. When he opened the door of +the first room, a sword was hanging on the wall which was made of pure silver, +and there was a golden star on it, and the name of the King, and on a table +near it lay a sealed letter which he broke open, and inside it was written that +whosoever had the sword could kill everything which opposed him. So he took the +sword from the wall, hung it at his side and went onwards: then he entered the +room where the King’s daughter was lying sleeping, and she was so +beautiful that he stood still and, holding his breath, looked at her. He +thought to himself, “How can I give an innocent maiden into the power of +the wild giants, who have evil in their minds?” He looked about further, +and under the bed stood a pair of slippers, on the right one was her +father’s name with a star, and on the left her own name with a star. She +wore also a great neck-kerchief of silk embroidered with gold, and on the right +side was her father’s name, and on the left her own, all in golden +letters. Then the huntsman took a pair of scissors and cut the right corner +off, and put it in his knapsack, and then he also took the right slipper with +the King’s name, and thrust that in. Now the maiden still lay sleeping, +and she was quite sewn into her night-dress, and he cut a morsel from this +also, and thrust it in with the rest, but he did all without touching her. Then +he went forth and left her lying asleep undisturbed, and when he came to the +gate again, the giants were still standing outside waiting for him, and +expecting that he was bringing the princess. But he cried to them that they +were to come in, for the maiden was already in their power, that he could not +open the gate to them, but there was a hole through which they must creep. Then +the first approached, and the huntsman wound the giant’s hair round his +hand, pulled the head in, and cut it off at one stroke with his sword, and then +drew the rest of him in. He called to the second and cut his head off likewise, +and then he killed the third also, and he was well pleased that he had freed +the beautiful maiden from her enemies, and he cut out their tongues and put +them in his knapsack. Then thought he, “I will go home to my father and +let him see what I have already done, and afterwards I will travel about the +world; the luck which God is pleased to grant me will easily find me.” +</p> + +<p> +But when the King in the castle awoke, he saw the three giants lying there +dead. So he went into the sleeping-room of his daughter, awoke her, and asked +who could have killed the giants? Then said she, “Dear father, I know +not, I have been asleep.” But when she arose and would have put on her +slippers, the right one was gone, and when she looked at her neck-kerchief it +was cut, and the right corner was missing, and when she looked at her +night-dress a piece was cut out of it. The King summoned his whole court +together, soldiers and every one else who was there, and asked who had set his +daughter at liberty, and killed the giants? Now it happened that he had a +captain, who was one-eyed and a hideous man, and he said that he had done it. +Then the old King said that as he had accomplished this, he should marry his +daughter. But the maiden said, “Rather than marry him, dear father, I +will go away into the world as far as my legs can carry me.” But the King +said that if she would not marry him she should take off her royal garments and +wear peasant’s clothing, and go forth, and that she should go to a +potter, and begin a trade in earthen vessels. So she put off her royal apparel, +and went to a potter and borrowed crockery enough for a stall, and she promised +him also that if she had sold it by the evening, she would pay for it. Then the +King said she was to seat herself in a corner with it and sell it, and he +arranged with some peasants to drive over it with their carts, so that +everything should be broken into a thousand pieces. When therefore the +King’s daughter had placed her stall in the street, by came the carts, +and broke all she had into tiny fragments. She began to weep and said, +“Alas, how shall I ever pay for the pots now?” The King had, +however, wished by this to force her to marry the captain; but instead of that, +she again went to the potter, and asked him if he would lend to her once more. +He said, “No,” she must first pay for the things she had already +had. Then she went to her father and cried and lamented, and said she would go +forth into the world. Then said he, “I will have a little hut built for +thee in the forest outside, and in it thou shalt stay all thy life long and +cook for every one, but thou shalt take no money for it.” When the hut +was ready, a sign was hung on the door whereon was written, “To-day +given, to-morrow sold.” There she remained a long time, and it was +rumored about the world that a maiden was there who cooked without asking for +payment, and that this was set forth on a sign outside her door. The huntsman +heard it likewise, and thought to himself, “That would suit thee. Thou +art poor, and hast no money.” So he took his air-gun and his knapsack, +wherein all the things which he had formerly carried away with him from the +castle as tokens of his truthfulness were still lying, and went into the +forest, and found the hut with the sign, “To-day given, to-morrow +sold.” He had put on the sword with which he had cut off the heads of the +three giants, and thus entered the hut, and ordered something to eat to be +given to him. He was charmed with the beautiful maiden, who was indeed as +lovely as any picture. She asked him whence he came and whither he was going, +and he said, “I am roaming about the world.” Then she asked him +where he had got the sword, for that truly her father’s name was on it. +He asked her if she were the King’s daughter. “Yes,” answered +she. “With this sword,” said he, “did I cut off the heads of +three giants.” And he took their tongues out of his knapsack in proof. +Then he also showed her the slipper, and the corner of the neck-kerchief, and +the bit of the night-dress. Hereupon she was overjoyed, and said that he was +the one who had delivered her. On this they went together to the old King, and +fetched him to the hut, and she led him into her room, and told him that the +huntsman was the man who had really set her free from the giants. And when the +aged King saw all the proofs of this, he could no longer doubt, and said that +he was very glad he knew how everything had happened, and that the huntsman +should have her to wife, on which the maiden was glad at heart. Then she +dressed the huntsman as if he were a foreign lord, and the King ordered a feast +to be prepared. When they went to table, the captain sat on the left side of +the King’s daughter, but the huntsman was on the right, and the captain +thought he was a foreign lord who had come on a visit. When they had eaten and +drunk, the old King said to the captain that he would set before him something +which he must guess. “Supposing any one said that he had killed the three +giants and he were asked where the giants’ tongues were, and he were +forced to go and look, and there were none in their heads, how could that +happen?” The captain said, “Then they cannot have had any.” +“Not so,” said the King. “Every animal has a tongue,” +and then he likewise asked what any one would deserve who made such an answer? +The captain replied, “He ought to be torn in pieces.” Then the King +said he had pronounced his own sentence, and the captain was put in prison and +then torn in four pieces; but the King’s daughter was married to the +huntsman. After this he brought his father and mother, and they lived with +their son in happiness, and after the death of the old King he received the +kingdom. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap112"></a>112 The Flail From Heaven</h3> + +<p> +A countryman was once going out to plough with a pair of oxen. When he got to +the field, both the animals’ horns began to grow, and went on growing, +and when he wanted to go home they were so big that the oxen could not get +through the gateway for them. By good luck a butcher came by just then, and he +delivered them over to him, and made the bargain in this way, that he should +take the butcher a measure of turnip-seed, and then the butcher was to count +him out a Brabant thaler for every seed. I call that well sold! The peasant now +went home, and carried the measure of turnip-seed to him on his back. On the +way, however, he lost one seed out of the bag. The butcher paid him justly as +agreed on, and if the peasant had not lost the seed, he would have had one +thaler the more. In the meantime, when he went on his way back, the seed had +grown into a tree which reached up to the sky. Then thought the peasant, +“As thou hast the chance, thou must just see what the angels are doing up +there above, and for once have them before thine eyes.” So he climbed up, +and saw that the angels above were threshing oats, and he looked on. While he +was thus watching them, he observed that the tree on which he was standing, was +beginning to totter; he peeped down, and saw that someone was just going to cut +it down. “If I were to fall down from hence it would be a bad +thing,” thought he, and in his necessity he did not know how to save +himself better than by taking the chaff of the oats which lay there in heaps, +and twisting a rope of it. He likewise snatched a hoe and a flail which were +lying about in heaven, and let himself down by the rope. But he came down on +the earth exactly in the middle of a deep, deep hole. So it was a real piece of +luck that he had brought the hoe, for he hoed himself a flight of steps with +it, and mounted up, and took the flail with him as a token of his truth, so +that no one could have any doubt of his story. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap113"></a>113 The Two Kings’ Children</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a King who had a little boy of whom it had been +foretold that he should be killed by a stag when he was sixteen years of age, +and when he had reached that age the huntsmen once went hunting with him. In +the forest, the King’s son was separated from the others, and all at once +he saw a great stag which he wanted to shoot, but could not hit. At length he +chased the stag so far that they were quite out of the forest, and then +suddenly a great tall man was standing there instead of the stag, and said, +“It is well that I have thee. I have already ruined six pairs of glass +skates with running after thee, and have not been able to get thee.” Then +he took the King’s son with him, and dragged him through a great lake to +a great palace, and then he had to sit down to table with him and eat +something. When they had eaten something together the King said, “I have +three daughters, thou must keep watch over the eldest for one night, from nine +in the evening till six in the morning, and every time the clock strikes, I +will come myself and call, and if thou then givest me no answer, to-morrow +morning thou shall be put to death, but if thou always givest me an answer, +thou shalt have her to wife.” +</p> + +<p> +When the young folks went to the bed-room there stood a stone image of St. +Christopher, and the King’s daughter said to it, “My father will +come at nine o’clock, and every hour till it strikes three; when he +calls, give him an answer instead of the King’s son.” Then the +stone image of St. Christopher nodded its head quite quickly, and then more and +more slowly till at last it stood still. The next morning the King said to him, +“Thou hast done the business well, but I cannot give my daughter away. +Thou must now watch a night by my second daughter, and then I will consider +with myself, whether thou canst have my eldest daughter to wife, but I shall +come every hour myself, and when I call thee, answer me, and if I call thee and +thou dost not reply, thy blood shall flow.” Then they both went into the +sleeping-room, and there stood a still larger stone image of St. Christopher, +and the King’s daughter said to it, “If my father calls, do you +answer him.” Then the great stone image of St. Christopher again nodded +its head quite quickly and then more and more slowly, until at last it stood +still again. And the King’s son lay down on the threshold, put his hand +under his head and slept. The next morning the King said to him, “Thou +hast done the business really well, but I cannot give my daughter away; thou +must now watch a night by the youngest princess, and then I will consider with +myself whether thou canst have my second daughter to wife, but I shall come +every hour myself, and when I call thee answer me, and if I call thee and thou +answerest not, thy blood shall flow for me.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they once more went to the sleeping-room together, and there was a much +greater and much taller image of St. Christopher than the two first had been. +The King’s daughter said to it, “When my father calls, do thou +answer.” Then the great tall stone image of St. Christopher nodded quite +half an hour with its head, until at length the head stood still again. And the +King’s son laid himself down on the threshold of the door and slept. The +next morning the King said, “Thou hast indeed watched well, but I cannot +give thee my daughter now; I have a great forest, if thou cuttest it down for +me between six o’clock this morning and six at night, I will think about +it.” Then he gave him a glass axe, a glass wedge, and a glass mallet. +When he got into the wood, he began at once to cut, but the axe broke in two, +then he took the wedge, and struck it once with the mallet, and it became as +short and as small as sand. Then he was much troubled and believed he would +have to die, and sat down and wept. +</p> + +<p> +Now when it was noon the King said, “One of you girls must take him +something to eat.” “No,” said the two eldest, “We will +not take it to him; the one by whom he last watched, can take him +something.” Then the youngest was forced to go and take him something to +eat. When she got into the forest, she asked him how he was getting on? +“Oh,” said he, “I am getting on very badly.” Then she +said he was to come and just eat a little. “Nay,” said he, “I +cannot do that, I shall still have to die, so I will eat no more.” Then +she spoke so kindly to him and begged him just to try, that he came and ate +something. When he had eaten something she said, “I will comb thy hair a +while, and then thou wilt feel happier.” +</p> + +<p> +So she combed his hair, and he became weary and fell asleep, and then she took +her handkerchief and made a knot in it, and struck it three times on the earth, +and said, “Earth-workers, come forth.” In a moment, numbers of +little earth-men came forth, and asked what the King’s daughter +commanded? Then said she, “In three hours’ time the great forest +must be cut down, and the whole of the wood laid in heaps.” So the little +earth-men went about and got together the whole of their kindred to help them +with the work. They began at once, and when the three hours were over, all was +done, and they came back to the King’s daughter and told her so. Then she +took her white handkerchief again and said, “Earth-workers, go +home.” On this they all disappeared. When the King’s son awoke, he +was delighted, and she said, “Come home when it has struck six +o’clock.” He did as she told him, and then the King asked, +“Hast thou made away with the forest?” “Yes,” said the +King’s son. When they were sitting at table, the King said, “I +cannot yet give thee my daughter to wife, thou must still do something more for +her sake.” So he asked what it was to be, then? “I have a great +fish-pond,” said the King. “Thou must go to it to-morrow morning +and clear it of all mud until it is as bright as a mirror, and fill it with +every kind of fish.” The next morning the King gave him a glass shovel +and said, “The fish-pond must be done by six o’clock.” So he +went away, and when he came to the fish-pond he stuck his shovel in the mud and +it broke in two, then he stuck his hoe in the mud, and broke it also. Then he +was much troubled. At noon the youngest daughter brought him something to eat, +and asked him how he was getting on? So the King’s son said everything +was going very ill with him, and he would certainly have to lose his head. +“My tools have broken to pieces again.” “Oh,” said she, +“thou must just come and eat something, and then thou wilt be in another +frame of mind.” “No,” said he, “I cannot eat, I am far +too unhappy for that!” Then she gave him many good words until at last he +came and ate something. Then she combed his hair again, and he fell asleep, so +once more she took her handkerchief, tied a knot in it, and struck the ground +thrice with the knot, and said, “Earth-workers, come forth.” In a +moment a great many little earth-men came and asked what she desired, and she +told them that in three hours’ time, they must have the fish-pond +entirely cleaned out, and it must be so clear that people could see themselves +reflected in it, and every kind of fish must be in it. The little earth-men +went away and summoned all their kindred to help them, and in two hours it was +done. Then they returned to her and said, “We have done as thou hast +commanded.” The King’s daughter took the handkerchief and once more +struck thrice on the ground with it, and said, “Earth-workers, go home +again.” Then they all went away. +</p> + +<p> +When the King’s son awoke the fish-pond was done. Then the King’s +daughter went away also, and told him that when it was six he was to come to +the house. When he arrived at the house the King asked, “Hast thou got +the fish-pond done?” “Yes,” said the King’s son. That +was very good. +</p> + +<p> +When they were again sitting at table the King said, “Thou hast certainly +done the fish-pond, but I cannot give thee my daughter yet; thou must just do +one thing more.” “What is that, then?” asked the King’s +son. The King said he had a great mountain on which there was nothing but +briars which must all be cut down, and at the top of it the youth must build up +a great castle, which must be as strong as could be conceived, and all the +furniture and fittings belonging to a castle must be inside it. And when he +arose next morning the King gave him a glass axe and a glass gimlet with him, +and he was to have all done by six o’clock. As he was cutting down the +first briar with the axe, it broke off short, and so small that the pieces flew +all round about, and he could not use the gimlet either. Then he was quite +miserable, and waited for his dearest to see if she would not come and help him +in his need. When it was mid-day she came and brought him something to eat. He +went to meet her and told her all, and ate something, and let her comb his hair +and fell asleep. Then she once more took the knot and struck the earth with it, +and said, “Earth-workers, come forth!” Then came once again numbers +of earth-men, and asked what her desire was. Then said she, “In the space +of three hours they must cut down the whole of the briars, and a castle must be +built on the top of the mountain that must be as strong as any one could +conceive, and all the furniture that pertains to a castle must be inside +it.” They went away, and summoned their kindred to help them and when the +time was come, all was ready. Then they came to the King’s daughter and +told her so, and the King’s daughter took her handkerchief and struck +thrice on the earth with it, and said, “Earth-workers, go home,” on +which they all disappeared. When therefore the King’s son awoke and saw +everything done, he was as happy as a bird in air. +</p> + +<p> +When it had struck six, they went home together. Then said the King, “Is +the castle ready?” “Yes,” said the King’s son. When +they sat down to table, the King said, “I cannot give away my youngest +daughter until the two eldest are married.” Then the King’s son and +the King’s daughter were quite troubled, and the King’s son had no +idea what to do. But he went by night to the King’s daughter and ran away +with her. When they had got a little distance away, the King’s daughter +peeped round and saw her father behind her. “Oh,” said she, +“what are we to do? My father is behind us, and will take us back with +him. I will at once change thee into a briar, and myself into a rose, and I +will shelter myself in the midst of the bush.” When the father reached +the place, there stood a briar with one rose on it, then he was about to gather +the rose, when the thorn came and pricked his finger so that he was forced to +go home again. His wife asked why he had not brought their daughter back with +him? So he said he had nearly got up to her, but that all at once he had lost +sight of her, and a briar with one rose was growing on the spot. +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Queen, “If thou hadst but gathered the rose, the briar +would have been forced to come too.” So he went back again to fetch the +rose, but in the meantime the two were already far over the plain, and the King +ran after them. Then the daughter once more looked round and saw her father +coming, and said, “Oh, what shall we do now? I will instantly change thee +into a church and myself into a priest, and I will stand up in the pulpit, and +preach.” When the King got to the place, there stood a church, and in the +pulpit was a priest preaching. So he listened to the sermon, and then went home +again. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Queen asked why he had not brought their daughter with him, and he +said, “Nay, I ran a long time after her, and just as I thought I should +soon overtake her, a church was standing there and a priest was in the pulpit +preaching.” “Thou shouldst just have brought the priest,” +said his wife, “and then the church would soon have come. It is no use to +send thee, I must go there myself.” When she had walked for some time, +and could see the two in the distance, the King’s daughter peeped round +and saw her mother coming, and said, “Now we are undone, for my mother is +coming herself: I will immediately change thee into a fish-pond and myself into +a fish. +</p> + +<p> +When the mother came to the place, there was a large fish-pond, and in the +midst of it a fish was leaping about and peeping out of the water, and it was +quite merry. She wanted to catch the fish, but she could not. Then she was very +angry, and drank up the whole pond in order to catch the fish, but it made her +so ill that she was forced to vomit, and vomited the whole pond out again. Then +she cried, “I see very well that nothing can be done now,” and said +that now they might come back to her. Then the King’s daughter went back +again, and the Queen gave her daughter three walnuts, and said, “With +these thou canst help thyself when thou art in thy greatest need.” So the +young folks went once more away together. And when they had walked quite ten +miles, they arrived at the castle from whence the King’s son came, and +close by it was a village. When they reached it, the King’s son said, +“Stay here, my dearest, I will just go to the castle, and then will I +come with a carriage and with attendants to fetch thee.” +</p> + +<p> +When he got to the castle they all rejoiced greatly at having the King’s +son back again, and he told them he had a bride who was now in the village, and +they must go with the carriage to fetch her. Then they harnessed the horses at +once, and many attendants seated themselves outside the carriage. When the +King’s son was about to get in, his mother gave him a kiss, and he forgot +everything which had happened, and also what he was about to do. On this his +mother ordered the horses to be taken out of the carriage again, and everyone +went back into the house. But the maiden sat in the village and watched and +watched, and thought he would come and fetch her, but no one came. Then the +King’s daughter took service in the mill which belonged to the castle, +and was obliged to sit by the pond every afternoon and clean the tubs. +</p> + +<p> +And the Queen came one day on foot from the castle, and went walking by the +pond, and saw the well-grown maiden sitting there, and said, “What a fine +strong girl that is! She pleases me well!” Then she and all with her +looked at the maid, but no one knew her. So a long time passed by during which +the maiden served the miller honorably and faithfully. In the meantime, the +Queen had sought a wife for her son, who came from quite a distant part of the +world. When the bride came, they were at once to be married. And many people +hurried together, all of whom wanted to see everything. Then the girl said to +the miller that he might be so good as to give her leave to go also. So the +miller said, “Yes, do go there.” When she was about to go, she +opened one of the three walnuts, and a beautiful dress lay inside it. She put +it on, and went into the church and stood by the altar. Suddenly came the bride +and bridegroom, and seated themselves before the altar, and when the priest was +just going to bless them, the bride peeped half round and saw the maiden +standing there. Then she stood up again, and said she would not be given away +until she also had as beautiful a dress as that lady there. So they went back +to the house again, and sent to ask the lady if she would sell that dress. No, +she would not sell it, but the bride might perhaps earn it. Then the bride +asked her how she was to do this? Then the maiden said if she might sleep one +night outside the King’s son’s door, the bride might have what she +wanted. So the bride said, “Yes, she was willing to do that.” But +the servants were ordered to give the King’s son a sleeping-drink, and +then the maiden laid herself down on the threshold and lamented all night long. +She had had the forest cut down for him, she had had the fish-pond cleaned out +for him, she had had the castle built for him, she had changed him into a +briar, and then into a church, and at last into a fish-pond, and yet he had +forgotten her so quickly. The King’s son did not hear one word of it, but +the servants had been awakened, and had listened to it, and had not known what +it could mean. The next morning when they were all up, the bride put on the +dress, and went away to the church with the bridegroom. In the meantime the +maiden opened the second walnut, and a still more beautiful dress was inside +it. She put it on, and went and stood by the altar in the church, and +everything happened as it had happened the time before. And the maiden again +lay all night on the threshold which led to the chamber of the King’s +son, and the servant was once more to give him a sleeping-drink. The servant, +however, went to him and gave him something to keep him awake, and then the +King’s son went to bed, and the miller’s maiden bemoaned herself as +before on the threshold of the door, and told of all that she had done. All +this the King’s son heard, and was sore troubled, and what was past came +back to him. Then he wanted to go to her, but his mother had locked the door. +The next morning, however, he went at once to his beloved, and told her +everything which had happened to him, and prayed her not to be angry with him +for having forgotten her. Then the King’s daughter opened the third +walnut, and within it was a still more magnificent dress, which she put on, and +went with her bridegroom to church, and numbers of children came who gave them +flowers, and offered them gay ribbons to bind about their feet, and they were +blessed by the priest, and had a merry wedding. But the false mother and the +bride had to depart. And the mouth of the person who last told all this is +still warm. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap114"></a>114 The Cunning Little Tailor</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a princess who was extremely proud. If a wooer came +she gave him some riddle to guess, and if he could not find it out, he was sent +contemptuously away. She let it be made known also that whosoever solved her +riddle should marry her, let him be who he might. At length, therefore, three +tailors fell in with each other, the two eldest of whom thought they had done +so many dexterous bits of work successfully that they could not fail to succeed +in this also; the third was a little useless land-louper, who did not even know +his trade, but thought he must have some luck in this venture, for where else +was it to come from? Then the two others said to him, “Just stay at home; +thou canst not do much with thy little bit of understanding.” The little +tailor, however, did not let himself be discouraged, and said he had set his +head to work about this for once, and he would manage well enough, and he went +forth as if the whole world were his. +</p> + +<p> +They all three announced themselves to the princess, and said she was to +propound her riddle to them, and that the right persons were now come, who had +understandings so fine that they could be threaded in a needle. Then said the +princess, “I have two kinds of hair on my head, of what color is +it?” “If that be all,” said the first, “it must be +black and white, like the cloth which is called pepper and salt.” The +princess said, “Wrongly guessed; let the second answer.” Then said +the second, “If it be not black and white, then it is brown and red, like +my father’s company coat.” “Wrongly guessed,” said the +princess, “let the third give the answer, for I see very well he knows it +for certain.” Then the little tailor stepped boldly forth and said, +“The princess has a silver and a golden hair on her head, and those are +the two different colors.” When the princess heard that, she turned pale +and nearly fell down with terror, for the little tailor had guessed her riddle, +and she had firmly believed that no man on earth could discover it. When her +courage returned she said, “Thou hast not won me yet by that; there is +still something else that thou must do. Below, in the stable is a bear with +which thou shalt pass the night, and when I get up in the morning if thou art +still alive, thou shalt marry me.” She expected, however, she should thus +get rid of the tailor, for the bear had never yet left any one alive who had +fallen into his clutches. The little tailor did not let himself be frightened +away, but was quite delighted, and said, “Boldly ventured is half +won.” +</p> + +<p> +When therefore the evening came, our little tailor was taken down to the bear. +The bear was about to set at the little fellow at once, and give him a hearty +welcome with his paws: “Softly, softly,” said the little tailor, +“I will soon make thee quiet.” Then quite composedly, and as if he +had not an anxiety in the world, he took some nuts out of his pocket, cracked +them, and ate the kernels. When the bear saw that, he was seized with a desire +to have some nuts too. The tailor felt in his pockets, and reached him a +handful; they were, however, not nuts, but pebbles. The bear put them in his +mouth, but could get nothing out of them, let him bite as he would. +“Eh!” thought he, “what a stupid blockhead I am! I cannot +even crack a nut!” and then he said to the tailor, “Here, crack me +the nuts.” “There, see what a stupid fellow thou art!” said +the little tailor, “to have such a great mouth, and not be able to crack +a small nut!” Then he took the pebble and nimbly put a nut in his mouth +in the place of it, and crack, it was in two! “I must try the thing +again,” said the bear; “when I watch you, I then think I ought to +be able to do it too.” So the tailor once more gave him a pebble, and the +bear tried and tried to bite into it with all the strength of his body. But no +one will imagine that he accomplished it. When that was over, the tailor took +out a violin from beneath his coat, and played a piece of it to himself. When +the bear heard the music, he could not help beginning to dance, and when he had +danced a while, the thing pleased him so well that he said to the little +tailor, “Hark you, is the fiddle heavy?” “Light enough for a +child. Look, with the left hand I lay my fingers on it, and with the right I +stroke it with the bow, and then it goes merrily, hop sa sa vivallalera!” +“So,” said the bear; “fiddling is a thing I should like to +understand too, that I might dance whenever I had a fancy. What dost thou think +of that? Wilt thou give me lessons?” “With all my heart,” +said the tailor, “if thou hast a talent for it. But just let me see thy +claws, they are terribly long, I must cut thy nails a little.” Then a +vise was brought, and the bear put his claws in it, and the little tailor +screwed it tight, and said, “Now wait until I come with the +scissors,” and he let the bear growl as he liked, and lay down in the +corner on a bundle of straw, and fell asleep. +</p> + +<p> +When the princess heard the bear growling so fiercely during the night, she +believed nothing else but that he was growling for joy, and had made an end of +the tailor. In the morning she arose careless and happy, but when she peeped +into the stable, the tailor stood gaily before her, and was as healthy as a +fish in water. Now she could not say another word against the wedding because +she had given a promise before every one, and the King ordered a carriage to be +brought in which she was to drive to church with the tailor, and there she was +to be married. When they had got into the carriage, the two other tailors, who +had false hearts and envied him his good fortune, went into the stable and +unscrewed the bear again. The bear in great fury ran after the carriage. The +princess heard him snorting and growling; she was terrified, and she cried, +“Ah, the bear is behind us and wants to get thee!” The tailor was +quick and stood on his head, stuck his legs out of the window, and cried, +“Dost thou see the vise? If thou dost not be off thou shalt be put into +it again.” When the bear saw that, he turned round and ran away. The +tailor drove quietly to church, and the princess was married to him at once, +and he lived with her as happy as a woodlark. Whosoever does not believe this, +must pay a thaler. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap115"></a>115 The Bright Sun Brings It to Light</h3> + +<p> +A tailor’s apprentice was travelling about the world in search of work, +and at one time he could find none, and his poverty was so great that he had +not a farthing to live on. Presently he met a Jew on the road, and as he +thought he would have a great deal of money about him, the tailor thrust God +out of his heart, fell on the Jew, and said, “Give me thy money, or I +will strike thee dead.” Then said the Jew, “Grant me my life, I +have no money but eight farthings.” But the tailor said, “Money +thou hast; and it shall be produced,” and used violence and beat him +until he was near death. And when the Jew was dying, the last words he said +were, “The bright sun will bring it to light,” and thereupon he +died. The tailor’s apprentice felt in his pockets and sought for money, +but he found nothing but eight farthings, as the Jew had said. Then he took him +up and carried him behind a clump of trees, and went onwards to seek work. +After he had traveled about a long while, he got work in a town with a master +who had a pretty daughter, with whom he fell in love, and he married her, and +lived in good and happy wedlock. +</p> + +<p> +After a long time when he and his wife had two children, the wife’s +father and mother died, and the young people kept house alone. One morning, +when the husband was sitting on the table before the window, his wife brought +him his coffee, and when he had poured it out into the saucer, and was just +going to drink, the sun shone on it and the reflection gleamed hither and +thither on the wall above, and made circles on it. Then the tailor looked up +and said, “Yes, it would like very much to bring it to light, and +cannot!” The woman said, “Oh, dear husband, and what is that, +then?” “What dost thou mean by that?” He answered, “I +must not tell thee.” But she said, “If thou lovest me, thou must +tell me,” and used her most affectionate words, and said that no one +should ever know it, and left him no rest. Then he told her how years ago, when +he was travelling about seeking work and quite worn out and penniless, he had +killed a Jew, and that in the last agonies of death, the Jew had spoken the +words, “The bright sun will bring it to light.” And now, the sun +had just wanted to bring it to light, and had gleamed and made circles on the +wall, but had not been able to do it. After this, he again charged her +particularly never to tell this, or he would lose his life, and she did +promise. When however, he had sat down to work again, she went to her great +friend and confided the story to her, but she was never to repeat it to any +human being, but before two days were over, the whole town knew it, and the +tailor was brought to trial, and condemned. And thus, after all, the bright sun +did bring it to light. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap116"></a>116 The Blue Light</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a soldier who for many years had served the King +faithfully, but when the war came to an end could serve no longer because of +the many wounds which he had received. The King said to him, “Thou mayst +return to thy home, I need thee no longer, and thou wilt not receive any more +money, for he only receives wages who renders me service for them.” Then +the soldier did not know how to earn a living, went away greatly troubled, and +walked the whole day, until in the evening he entered a forest. When darkness +came on, he saw a light, which he went up to, and came to a house wherein lived +a witch. “Do give me one night’s lodging, and a little to eat and +drink,” said he to her, “or I shall starve.” +“Oho!” she answered, “who gives anything to a run-away +soldier? Yet will I be compassionate, and take you in, if you will do what I +wish.” “What do you wish?” said the soldier. “That you +should dig all round my garden for me, tomorrow.” The soldier consented, +and next day labored with all his strength, but could not finish it by the +evening. “I see well enough,” said the witch, “that you can +do no more to-day, but I will keep you yet another night, in payment for which +you must to-morrow chop me a load of wood, and make it small.” The +soldier spent the whole day in doing it, and in the evening the witch proposed +that he should stay one night more. “To-morrow, you shall only do me a +very trifling piece of work. Behind my house, there is an old dry well, into +which my light has fallen, it burns blue, and never goes out, and you shall +bring it up again for me.” Next day the old woman took him to the well, +and let him down in a basket. He found the blue light, and made her a signal to +draw him up again. She did draw him up, but when he came near the edge, she +stretched down her hand and wanted to take the blue light away from him. +“No,” said he, perceiving her evil intention, “I will not +give thee the light until I am standing with both feet upon the ground.” +The witch fell into a passion, let him down again into the well, and went away. +</p> + +<p> +The poor soldier fell without injury on the moist ground, and the blue light +went on burning, but of what use was that to him? He saw very well that he +could not escape death. He sat for a while very sorrowfully, then suddenly he +felt in his pocket and found his tobacco pipe, which was still half full. +“This shall be my last pleasure,” thought he, pulled it out, lit it +at the blue light and began to smoke. When the smoke had circled about the +cavern, suddenly a little black dwarf stood before him, and said, “Lord, +what are thy commands?” “What commands have I to give thee?” +replied the soldier, quite astonished. “I must do everything thou biddest +me,” said the little man. “Good,” said the soldier; +“then in the first place help me out of this well.” The little man +took him by the hand, and led him through an underground passage, but he did +not forget to take the blue light with him. On the way the dwarf showed him the +treasures which the witch had collected and hidden there, and the soldier took +as much gold as he could carry. When he was above, he said to the little man, +“Now go and bind the old witch, and carry her before the judge.” In +a short time she, with frightful cries, came riding by, as swift as the wind on +a wild tom-cat, nor was it long after that before the little man re-appeared. +“It is all done,” said he, “and the witch is already hanging +on the gallows. What further commands has my lord?” inquired the dwarf. +“At this moment, none,” answered the soldier; “Thou canst +return home, only be at hand immediately, if I summon thee.” +“Nothing more is needed than that thou shouldst light thy pipe at the +blue light, and I will appear before thee at once.” Thereupon he vanished +from his sight. +</p> + +<p> +The soldier returned to the town from which he had come. He went to the best +inn, ordered himself handsome clothes, and then bade the landlord furnish him a +room as handsomely as possible. When it was ready and the soldier had taken +possession of it, he summoned the little black mannikin and said, “I have +served the King faithfully, but he has dismissed me, and left me to hunger, and +now I want to take my revenge.” “What am I to do?” asked the +little man. “Late at night, when the King’s daughter is in bed, +bring her here in her sleep, she shall do servant’s work for me.” +The mannikin said, “That is an easy thing for me to do, but a very +dangerous thing for you, for if it is discovered, you will fare ill.” +When twelve o’clock had struck, the door sprang open, and the mannikin +carried in the princess. “Aha! art thou there?” cried the soldier, +“get to thy work at once! Fetch the broom and sweep the chamber.” +When she had done this, he ordered her to come to his chair, and then he +stretched out his feet and said, “Pull off my boots for me,” and +then he threw them in her face, and made her pick them up again, and clean and +brighten them. She, however, did everything he bade her, without opposition, +silently and with half-shut eyes. When the first cock crowed, the mannikin +carried her back to the royal palace, and laid her in her bed. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning when the princess arose, she went to her father, and told him that +she had had a very strange dream. “I was carried through the streets with +the rapidity of lightning,” said she, “and taken into a +soldier’s room, and I had to wait upon him like a servant, sweep his +room, clean his boots, and do all kinds of menial work. It was only a dream, +and yet I am just as tired as if I really had done everything.” +“The dream may have been true,” said the King, “I will give +thee a piece of advice. Fill thy pocket full of peas, and make a small hole in +it, and then if thou art carried away again, they will fall out and leave a +track in the streets.” But unseen by the King, the mannikin was standing +beside him when he said that, and heard all. At night when the sleeping +princess was again carried through the streets, some peas certainly did fall +out of her pocket, but they made no track, for the crafty mannikin had just +before scattered peas in every street there was. And again the princess was +compelled to do servant’s work until cock-crow. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the King sent his people out to seek the track, but it was all in +vain, for in every street poor children were sitting, picking up peas, and +saying, “It must have rained peas, last night.” “We must +think of something else,” said the King; “keep thy shoes on when +thou goest to bed, and before thou comest back from the place where thou art +taken, hide one of them there, I will soon contrive to find it.” The +black mannikin heard this plot, and at night when the soldier again ordered him +to bring the princess, revealed it to him, and told him that he knew of no +expedient to counteract this stratagem, and that if the shoe were found in the +soldier’s house it would go badly with him. “Do what I bid +thee,” replied the soldier, and again this third night the princess was +obliged to work like a servant, but before she went away, she hid her shoe +under the bed. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the King had the entire town searched for his daughter’s +shoe. It was found at the soldier’s, and the soldier himself, who at the +entreaty of the dwarf had gone outside the gate, was soon brought back, and +thrown into prison. In his flight he had forgotten the most valuable things he +had, the blue light and the gold, and had only one ducat in his pocket. And now +loaded with chains, he was standing at the window of his dungeon, when he +chanced to see one of his comrades passing by. The soldier tapped at the pane +of glass, and when this man came up, said to him, “Be so kind as to fetch +me the small bundle I have left lying in the inn, and I will give you a ducat +for doing it.” His comrade ran thither and brought him what he wanted. As +soon as the soldier was alone again, he lighted his pipe and summoned the black +mannikin. “Have no fear,” said the latter to his master. “Go +wheresoever they take you, and let them do what they will, only take the blue +light with you.” Next day the soldier was tried, and though he had done +nothing wicked, the judge condemned him to death. When he was led forth to die, +he begged a last favor of the King. “What is it?” asked the King. +“That I may smoke one more pipe on my way.” “Thou mayst smoke +three,” answered the King, “but do not imagine that I will spare +thy life.” Then the soldier pulled out his pipe and lighted it at the +blue light, and as soon as a few wreaths of smoke had ascended, the mannikin +was there with a small cudgel in his hand, and said, “What does my lord +command?” “Strike down to earth that false judge there, and his +constable, and spare not the King who has treated me so ill.” Then the +mannikin fell on them like lightning, darting this way and that way, and +whosoever was so much as touched by his cudgel fell to earth, and did not +venture to stir again. The King was terrified; he threw himself on the +soldier’s mercy, and merely to be allowed to live at all, gave him his +kingdom for his own, and the princess to wife. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap117"></a>117 The Wilful Child</h3> + +<p> +Once upon a time there was a child who was willful, and would not do at her +mother wished. For this reason God had no pleasure in her, and let her become +ill, and no doctor could do her any good, and in a short time she lay on her +death-bed. When she had been lowered into her grave, and the earth was spread +over her, all at once her arm came out again, and stretched upwards, and when +they had put it in and spread fresh earth over it, it was all to no purpose, +for the arm always came out again. Then the mother herself was obliged to go to +the grave, and strike the arm with a rod, and when she had done that, it was +drawn in, and then at last the child had rest beneath the ground. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap118"></a>118 The Three Army-Surgeons</h3> + +<p> +Three army-surgeons who thought they knew their art perfectly, were travelling +about the world, and they came to an inn where they wanted to pass the night. +The host asked whence they came, and whither they were going? “We are +roaming about the world and practising our art.” “Just show me for +once in a way what you can do,” said the host. Then the first said he +would cut off his hand, and put it on again early next morning; the second said +he would tear out his heart, and replace it next morning; the third said he +would cut out his eyes and heal them again next morning. “If you can do +that,” said the innkeeper, “you have learnt everything.” +They, however, had a salve, with which they rubbed themselves, which joined +parts together, and they carried the little bottle in which it was, constantly +with them. Then they cut the hand, heart and eyes from their bodies as they had +said they would, and laid them all together on a plate, and gave it to the +innkeeper. The innkeeper gave it to a servant who was to set it in the +cupboard, and take good care of it. The girl, however, had a lover in secret, +who was a soldier. When therefore the innkeeper, the three army-surgeons, and +everyone else in the house were asleep, the soldier came and wanted something +to eat. The girl opened the cupboard and brought him some food, and in her love +forgot to shut the cupboard-door again; She seated herself at the table by her +lover, and they chattered away together. While she sat so contentedly there, +thinking of no ill luck, the cat came creeping in, found the cupboard open, +took the hand and heart and eyes of the three army-surgeons, and ran off with +them. When the soldier had done eating, and the girl was taking away the things +and going to shut the cupboard she saw that the plate which the innkeeper had +given her to take care of, was empty. Then she said in a fright to her lover, +“Ah, miserable girl, what shall I do? The hand is gone, the heart and the +eyes are gone too, what will become of me in the morning?” “Be +easy,” said he, “I will help thee out of thy trouble there is a +thief hanging outside on the gallows, I will cut off his hand. Which hand was +it?” “The right one.” Then the girl gave him a sharp knife, +and he went and cut the poor sinner’s right hand off, and brought it to +her. After this he caught the cat and cut its eyes out, and now nothing but the +heart was wanting. “Have you not been killing, and are not the dead pigs +in the cellar?” said he. “Yes,” said the girl. +“That’s well,” said the soldier, and he went down and fetched +a pig’s heart. The girl placed all together on the plate, and put it in +the cupboard, and when after this her lover took leave of her, she went quietly +to bed. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning when the three army-surgeons got up, they told the girl she was +to bring them the plate on which the hand, heart, and eyes were lying. Then she +brought it out of the cupboard, and the first fixed the thief’s hand on +and smeared it with his salve, and it grew to his arm directly. The second took +the cat’s eyes and put them in his own head. The third fixed the +pig’s heart firm in the place where his own had been, and the innkeeper +stood by, admired their skill, and said he had never yet seen such a thing as +that done, and would sing their praises and recommend them to everyone. Then +they paid their bill, and travelled farther. +</p> + +<p> +As they were on their way, the one with the pig’s heart did not stay with +them at all, but wherever there was a corner he ran to it, and rooted about in +it with his nose as pigs do. The others wanted to hold him back by the tail of +his coat, but that did no good; he tore himself loose, and ran wherever the +dirt was thickest. The second also behaved very strangely; he rubbed his eyes, +and said to the others, “Comrades, what is the matter? I don’t see +at all. Will one of you lead me, so that I do not fall.” Then with +difficulty they travelled on till evening, when they reached another inn. They +went into the bar together, and there at a table in the corner sat a rich man +counting money. The one with the thief’s hand walked round about him, +made a sudden movement twice with his arm, and at last when the stranger turned +away, he snatched at the pile of money, and took a handful from it. One of them +saw this, and said, “Comrade, what art thou about? Thou must not steal +shame on thee!” “Eh,” said he, “but how can I stop +myself? My hand twitches, and I am forced to snatch things whether I will or +not.” +</p> + +<p> +After this, they lay down to sleep, and while they were lying there it was so +dark that no one could see his own hand. All at once the one with the +cat’s eyes awoke, aroused the others, and said. “Brothers, just +look up, do you see the white mice running about there?” The two sat up, +but could see nothing. Then said he, “Things are not right with us, we +have not got back again what is ours. We must return to the innkeeper, he has +deceived us.” They went back therefore, the next morning, and told the +host they had not got what was their own again; that the first had a +thief’s hand, the second cat’s eyes, and the third a pig’s +heart. The innkeeper said that the girl must be to blame for that, and was +going to call her, but when she had seen the three coming, she had run out by +the backdoor, and not come back. Then the three said he must give them a great +deal of money, or they would set his house on fire. He gave them what he had, +and whatever he could get together, and the three went away with it. It was +enough for the rest of their lives, but they would rather have had their own +proper organs. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap119"></a>119 The Seven Swabians</h3> + +<p> +Seven Swabians were once together. The first was Master Schulz; the second, +Jackli; the third, Marli; the fourth, Jergli; the fifth, Michal; the sixth, +Hans; the seventh, Veitli: all seven had made up their minds to travel about +the world to seek adventures, and perform great deeds. But in order that they +might go in security and with arms in their hands, they thought it would be +advisable that they should have one solitary, but very strong, and very long +spear made for them. This spear all seven of them took in their hands at once; +in front walked the boldest and bravest, and that was Master Schulz; all the +others followed in a row, and Veitli was the last. Then it came to pass one day +in the hay-making month (July), when they had walked a long distance, and still +had a long way to go before they reached the village where they were to pass +the night, that as they were in a meadow in the twilight a great beetle or +hornet flew by them from behind a bush, and hummed in a menacing manner. Master +Schulz was so terrified that he all but dropped the spear, and a cold +perspiration broke out over his whole body. “Hark! hark!” cried he +to his comrades, “Good heavens! I hear a drum.” Jackli, who was +behind him holding the spear, and who perceived some kind of a smell, said, +“Something is most certainly going on, for I taste powder and +matches.” At these words Master Schulz began to take to flight, and in a +trice jumped over a hedge, but as he just happened to jump on to the teeth of a +rake which had been left lying there after the hay-making, the handle of it +struck against his face and gave him a tremendous blow. “Oh dear! Oh +dear!” screamed Master Schulz. “Take me prisoner; I surrender! I +surrender!” The other six all leapt over, one on the top of the other, +crying, “If you surrender, I surrender too! If you surrender, I surrender +too!” At length, as no enemy was there to bind and take them away, they +saw that they had been mistaken, and in order that the story might not be +known, and they be treated as fools and ridiculed, they all swore to each other +to hold their peace about it until one of them accidentally spoke of it. Then +they journeyed onwards. The second danger which they survived cannot be +compared with the first. Some days afterwards, their path led them through a +fallow-field where a hare was sitting sleeping in the sun. Her ears were +standing straight up, and her great glassy eyes were wide open. All of them +were alarmed at the sight of the horrible wild beast, and they consulted +together as to what it would be the least dangerous to do. For if they were to +run away, they knew that the monster would pursue and swallow them whole. So +they said, “We must go through a great and dangerous struggle. Boldly +ventured, is half won,” and all seven grasped the spear, Master Schulz in +front, and Veitli behind. Master Schulz was always trying to keep the spear +back, but Veitli had become quite brave while behind, and wanted to dash +forward and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Strike home, in every Swabian’s name,<br/> +Or else I wish ye may be lame.” +</p> + +<p> +But Hans knew how to meet this, and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Thunder and lightning, it’s fine to prate,<br/> +But for dragon-hunting thou’rt aye too late.” +</p> + +<p> +Michal cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Nothing is wanting, not even a hair,<br/> +Be sure the Devil himself is there.” +</p> + +<p> +Then it was Jergli’s turn to speak, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“If it be not, it’s at least his mother,<br/> +Or else it’s the Devil’s own step-brother.” +</p> + +<p> +And now Marli had a bright thought, and said to Veitli, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Advance, Veitli, advance, advance,<br/> +And I behind will hold the lance.” +</p> + +<p> +Veitli, however, did not attend to that, and Jackli said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Tis Schulz’s place the first to be,<br/> +No one deserves that honor but he.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Master Schulz plucked up his courage, and said, gravely, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Then let us boldly advance to the fight,<br/> +And thus we shall show our valour and might.” +</p> + +<p> +Hereupon they all together set on the dragon. Master Schulz crossed himself and +prayed for God’s assistance, but as all this was of no avail, and he was +getting nearer and nearer to the enemy, he screamed “Oho! oho! ho! ho! +ho!” in the greatest anguish. This awakened the hare, which in great +alarm darted swiftly away. When Master Schulz saw her thus flying from the +field of battle, he cried in his joy. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Quick, Veitli, quick, look there, look there,<br/> +The monster’s nothing but a hare!” +</p> + +<p> +But the Swabian allies went in search of further adventures, and came to the +Moselle, a mossy, quiet, deep river, over which there are few bridges, and +which in many places people have to cross in boats. As the seven Swabians did +not know this, they called to a man who was working on the opposite side of the +river, to know how people contrived to get across. The distance and their way +of speaking made the man unable to understand what they wanted, and he said +“What? what?” in the way people speak in the neighborhood of +Treves. Master Schulz thought he was saying, “Wade, wade through the +water,” and as he was the first, began to set out and went into the +moselle. It was not long before he sank in the mud and the deep waves which +drove against him, but his hat was blown on the opposite shore by the wind, and +a frog sat down beside it, and croaked “Wat, wat, wat.” The other +six on the opposite side heard that, and said, “Oho, comrades, Master +Schulz is calling us; if he can wade across, why cannot we?” So they all +jumped into the water together in a great hurry, and were drowned, and thus one +frog took the lives of all six of them, and not one of the Swabian allies ever +reached home again. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap120"></a>120 The Three Apprentices</h3> + +<p> +There were once three apprentices, who had agreed to keep always together while +travelling, and always to work in the same town. At one time, however, their +masters had no more work to give them, so that at last they were in rags, and +had nothing to live on. Then one of them said, “What shall we do? We +cannot stay here any longer, we will travel once more, and if we do not find +any work in the town we go to, we will arrange with the innkeeper there, that +we are to write and tell him where we are staying, so that we can always have +news of each other, and then we will separate.” And that seemed best to +the others also. They went forth, and met on the way a richly-dressed man who +asked who they were. “We are apprentices looking for work; Up to this +time we have kept together, but if we cannot find anything to do we are going +to separate.” “There is no need for that,” said the man, +“if you will do what I tell you, you shall not want for gold or for work; +nay, you shall become great lords, and drive in your carriages!” One of +them said, “If our souls and salvation be not endangered, we will +certainly do it.” “They will not,” replied the man, “I +have no claim on you.” One of the others had, however, looked at his +feet, and when he saw a horse’s foot and a man’s foot, he did not +want to have anything to do with him. The Devil, however, said, “Be easy, +I have no designs on you, but on another soul, which is half my own already, +and whose measure shall but run full.” As they were now secure, they +consented, and the Devil told them what he wanted. The first was to answer, +“All three of us,” to every question; the second was to say, +“For money,” and the third, “And quite right too!” They +were always to say this, one after the other, but they were not to say one word +more, and if they disobeyed this order, all their money would disappear at +once, but so long as they observed it, their pockets would always be full. As a +beginning, he at once gave them as much as they could carry, and told them to +go to such and such an inn when they got to the town. They went to it, and the +innkeeper came to meet them, and asked if they wished for anything to eat? The +first replied, “All three of us.” “Yes,” said the host, +“that is what I mean.” The second said, “For money.” +“Of course,” said the host. The third said, “And quite right +too!” “Certainly it is right,” said the host. +</p> + +<p> +Good meat and drink were now brought to them, and they were well waited on. +After the dinner came the payment, and the innkeeper gave the bill to the one +who said, “All three of us,” the second said, “For +money,” and the third, “and quite right too!” “Indeed +it is right,” said the host, “all three pay, and without money I +can give nothing.” They, however, paid still more than he had asked. The +lodgers, who were looking on, said, “These people must be mad.” +“Yes, indeed they are,” said the host, “they are not very +wise.” So they stayed some time in the inn, and said nothing else but, +“All three of us,” “For money,” and “And quite +right too!” But they saw and knew all that was going on. It so happened +that a great merchant came with a large sum of money, and said, “Sir +host, take care of my money for me, here are three crazy apprentices who might +steal it from me.” The host did as he was asked. As he was carrying the +trunk into his room, he felt that it was heavy with gold. Thereupon he gave the +three apprentices a lodging below, but the merchant came up-stairs into a +separate apartment. When it was midnight, and the host thought that all were +asleep, he came with his wife, and they had an axe and struck the rich merchant +dead; and after they had murdered him they went to bed again. When it was day +there was a great outcry; the merchant lay dead in bed bathed in blood. All the +guests ran at once but the host said, “The three crazy apprentices have +done this;” the lodgers confirmed it, and said, “It can have been +no one else.” The innkeeper, however, had them called, and said to them, +“Have you killed the merchant?” “All three of us,” said +the first, “For money,” said the second; and the third added, +“And quite right too!” “There now, you hear,” said the +host, “they confess it themselves.” They were taken to prison, +therefore, and were to be tried. When they saw that things were going so +seriously, they were after all afraid, but at night the Devil came and said, +“Bear it just one day longer, and do not play away your luck, not one +hair of your head shall be hurt.” +</p> + +<p> +The next morning they were led to the bar, and the judge said, “Are you +the murderers?” “All three of us.” “Why did you kill +the merchant?” “For money.” “You wicked wretches, you +have no horror of your sins?” “And quite right too!” +“They have confessed, and are still stubborn,” said the judge, +“lead them to death instantly.” So they were taken out, and the +host had to go with them into the circle. When they were taken hold of by the +executioner’s men, and were just going to be led up to the scaffold where +the headsman was standing with naked sword, a coach drawn by four blood-red +chestnut horses came up suddenly, driving so fast that fire flashed from the +stones, and someone made signs from the window with a white handkerchief. Then +said the headsman, “It is a pardon coming,” and “Pardon! +pardon!” was called from the carriage also. Then the Devil stepped out as +a very noble gentleman, beautifully dressed, and said, “You three are +innocent; you may now speak, make known what you have seen and heard.” +Then said the eldest, “We did not kill the merchant, the murderer is +standing there in the circle,” and he pointed to the innkeeper. “In +proof of this, go into his cellar, where many others whom he has killed are +still hanging.” Then the judge sent the executioner’s men thither, +and they found it was as the apprentices said, and when they had informed the +judge of this, he caused the innkeeper to be led up, and his head was cut off. +Then said the Devil to the three, “Now I have got the soul which I wanted +to have, and you are free, and have money for the rest of your lives.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap121"></a>121 The King’s Son Who Feared Nothing</h3> + +<p> +There was once a King’s son, who was no longer content to stay at home in +his father’s house, and as he had no fear of anything, he thought, +“I will go forth into the wide world, there the time will not seem long +to me, and I shall see wonders enough.” So he took leave of his parents, +and went forth, and on and on from morning till night, and whichever way his +path led it was the same to him. It came to pass that he got to the house of a +giant, and as he was so tired he sat down by the door and rested. And as he let +his eyes roam here and there, he saw the giant’s playthings lying in the +yard. These were a couple of enormous balls, and nine-pins as tall as a man. +After a while he had a fancy to set the nine-pins up and then rolled the balls +at them, and screamed and cried out when the nine-pins fell, and had a merry +time of it. The giant heard the noise, stretched his head out of the window, +and saw a man who was not taller than other men, and yet played with his +nine-pins. “Little worm,” cried he, “why art thou playing +with my balls? Who gave thee strength to do it?” The King’s son +looked up, saw the giant, and said, “Oh, thou blockhead, thou thinkest +indeed that thou only hast strong arms, I can do everything I want to +do.” The giant came down and watched the bowling with great admiration, +and said, “Child of man, if thou art one of that kind, go and bring me an +apple of the tree of life.” “What dost thou want with it?” +said the King’s son. “I do not want the apple for myself,” +answered the giant, “but I have a betrothed bride who wishes for it. I +have travelled far about the world and cannot find the tree.” “I +will soon find it,” said the King’s son, “and I do not know +what is to prevent me from getting the apple down.” The giant said, +“Thou really believest it to be so easy! The garden in which the tree +stands is surrounded by an iron railing, and in front of the railing lie wild +beasts, each close to the other, and they keep watch and let no man go +in.” “They will be sure to let me in,” said the King’s +son. “Yes, but even if thou dost get into the garden, and seest the apple +hanging to the tree, it is still not thine; a ring hangs in front of it, +through which any one who wants to reach the apple and break it off, must put +his hand, and no one has yet had the luck to do it.” “That luck +will be mine,” said the King’s son. +</p> + +<p> +Then he took leave of the giant, and went forth over mountain and valley, and +through plains and forests, until at length he came to the wondrous garden. +</p> + +<p> +The beasts lay round about it, but they had put their heads down and were +asleep. Moreover, they did not awake when he went up to them, so he stepped +over them, climbed the fence, and got safely into the garden. There, in the +very middle of it, stood the tree of life, and the red apples were shining upon +the branches. He climbed up the trunk to the top, and as he was about to reach +out for an apple, he saw a ring hanging before it; but he thrust his hand +through that without any difficulty, and gathered the apple. The ring closed +tightly on his arm, and all at once he felt a prodigious strength flowing +through his veins. When he had come down again from the tree with the apple, he +would not climb over the fence, but grasped the great gate, and had no need to +shake it more than once before it sprang open with a loud crash. Then he went +out, and the lion which had been lying down before, was awake and sprang after +him, not in rage and fierceness, but following him humbly as its master. +</p> + +<p> +The King’s son took the giant the apple he had promised him, and said, +“Seest thou, I have brought it without difficulty.” The giant was +glad that his desire had been so soon satisfied, hastened to his bride, and +gave her the apple for which she had wished. She was a beautiful and wise +maiden, and as she did not see the ring on his arm, she said, “I shall +never believe that thou hast brought the apple, until I see the ring on thine +arm.” The giant said, “I have nothing to do but go home and fetch +it,” and thought it would be easy to take away by force from the weak +man, what he would not give of his own free will. He therefore demanded the +ring from him, but the King’s son refused it. “Where the apple is, +the ring must be also,” said the giant; “if thou wilt not give it +of thine own accord, thou must fight with me for it.” +</p> + +<p> +They wrestled with each other for a long time, but the giant could not get the +better of the King’s son, who was strengthened by the magical power of +the ring. Then the giant thought of a stratagem, and said, “I have got +warm with fighting, and so hast thou. We will bathe in the river, and cool +ourselves before we begin again.” The King’s son, who knew nothing +of falsehood, went with him to the water, and pulled off with his clothes the +ring also from his arm, and sprang into the river. The giant instantly snatched +the ring, and ran away with it, but the lion, which had observed the theft, +pursued the giant, tore the ring out of his hand, and brought it back to its +master. Then the giant placed himself behind an oak-tree, and while the +King’s son was busy putting on his clothes again, surprised him, and put +both his eyes out. +</p> + +<p> +And now the unhappy King’s son stood there, and was blind and knew not +how to help himself. Then the giant came back to him, took him by the hand as +if he were someone who wanted to guide him, and led him to the top of a high +rock. There he left him standing, and thought, “Just two steps more, and +he will fall down and kill himself, and I can take the ring from him.” +But the faithful lion had not deserted its master; it held him fast by the +clothes, and drew him gradually back again. When the giant came and wanted to +rob the dead man, he saw that his cunning had been in vain. “Is there no +way, then, of destroying a weak child of man like that?” said he angrily +to himself, and seized the King’s son and led him back again to the +precipice by another way, but the lion which saw his evil design, helped its +master out of danger here also. When they had got close to the edge, the giant +let the blind man’s hand drop, and was going to leave him behind alone, +but the lion pushed the giant so that he was thrown down and fell, dashed to +pieces, on the ground. +</p> + +<p> +The faithful animal again drew its master back from the precipice, and guided +him to a tree by which flowed a clear brook. The King’s son sat down +there, but the lion lay down, and sprinkled the water in his face with its +paws. Scarcely had a couple of drops wetted the sockets of his eyes, than he +was once more able to see something, and remarked a little bird flying quite +close by, which wounded itself against the trunk of a tree. On this it went +down to the water and bathed itself therein, and then it soared upwards and +swept between the trees without touching them, as if it had recovered its sight +again. Then the King’s son recognized a sign from God and stooped down to +the water, and washed and bathed his face in it. And when he arose he had his +eyes once more, brighter and clearer than they had ever been. +</p> + +<p> +The King’s son thanked God for his great mercy, and travelled with his +lion onwards through the world. And it came to pass that he arrived before a +castle which was enchanted. In the gateway stood a maiden of beautiful form and +fine face, but she was quite black. She spoke to him and said, “Ah, if +thou couldst but deliver me from the evil spell which is thrown over me.” +“What shall I do?” said the King’s son. The maiden answered, +“Thou must pass three nights in the great hall of this enchanted castle, +but thou must let no fear enter thy heart. When they are doing their worst to +torment thee, if thou bearest it without letting a sound escape thee, I shall +be free. Thy life they dare not take.” Then said the King’s son, +“I have no fear; with God’s help I will try it.” So he went +gaily into the castle, and when it grew dark he seated himself in the large +hall and waited. Everything was quiet, however, till midnight, when all at once +a great tumult began, and out of every hole and corner came little devils. They +behaved as if they did not see him, seated themselves in the middle of the +room, lighted a fire, and began to gamble. When one of them lost, he said, +“It is not right; some one is here who does not belong to us; it is his +fault that I am losing.” “Wait, you fellow behind the stove, I am +coming,” said another. The screaming became still louder, so that no one +could have heard it without terror. The King’s son stayed sitting quite +quietly, and was not afraid; but at last the devils jumped up from the ground, +and fell on him, and there were so many of them that he could not defend +himself from them. They dragged him about on the floor, pinched him, pricked +him, beat him, and tormented him, but no sound escaped from him. Towards +morning they disappeared, and he was so exhausted that he could scarcely move +his limbs, but when day dawned the black maiden came to him. She bore in her +hand a little bottle wherein was the water of life wherewith she washed him, +and he at once felt all pain depart and new strength flow through his veins. +She said, “Thou hast held out successfully for one night, but two more +lie before thee.” Then she went away again, and as she was going, he +observed that her feet had become white. The next night the devils came and +began their gambols anew. They fell on the King’s son, and beat him much +more severely than the night before, until his body was covered with wounds. +But as he bore all quietly, they were forced to leave him, and when dawn +appeared, the maiden came and healed him with the water of life. And when she +went away, he saw with joy that she had already become white to the tips of her +fingers. And now he had only one night more to go through, but it was the +worst. The hob-goblins came again: “Art thou there still?” cried +they, “thou shalt be tormented till thy breath stops.” They pricked +him and beat him, and threw him here and there, and pulled him by the arms and +legs as if they wanted to tear him to pieces, but he bore everything, and never +uttered a cry. At last the devils vanished, but he lay fainting there, and did +not stir, nor could he raise his eyes to look at the maiden who came in, and +sprinkled and bathed him with the water of life. But suddenly he was freed from +all pain, and felt fresh and healthy as if he had awakened from sleep, and when +he opened his eyes he saw the maiden standing by him, snow-white, and fair as +day. “Rise,” said she, “and swing thy sword three times over +the stairs, and then all will be delivered.” And when he had done that, +the whole castle was released from enchantment, and the maiden was a rich +King’s daughter. The servants came and said that the table was already +set in the great hall, and dinner served up. Then they sat down and ate and +drank together, and in the evening the wedding was solemnized with great +rejoicings. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap122"></a>122 Donkey Cabbages</h3> + +<p> +There was once a young huntsman who went into the forest to lie in wait. He had +a fresh and joyous heart, and as he was going thither, whistling upon a leaf, +an ugly old crone came up, who spoke to him and said, “Good-day, dear +huntsman, truly you are merry and contented, but I am suffering from hunger and +thirst, do give me an alms.” The huntsman had compassion on the poor old +creature, felt in his pocket, and gave her what he could afford. He was then +about to go further, but the old woman stopped him and said, “Listen, +dear huntsman, to what I tell you; I will make you a present in return for your +kindness. Go on your way now, but in a little while you will come to a tree, +whereon nine birds are sitting which have a cloak in their claws, and are +plucking at it; take your gun and shoot into the midst of them, they will let +the cloak fall down to you, but one of the birds will be hurt, and will drop +down dead. Carry away the cloak, it is a wishing-cloak; when you throw it over +your shoulders, you only have to wish to be in a certain place, and you will be +there in the twinkling of an eye. Take out the heart of the dead bird and +swallow it whole, and every morning early, when you get up, you will find a +gold piece under your pillow.” The huntsman thanked the wise woman, and +thought to himself, “Those are fine things that she has promised me, if +all does but come true.” And verily when he had walked about a hundred +paces, he heard in the branches above him such a screaming and twittering that +he looked up and saw there a crowd of birds who were tearing a piece of cloth +about with their beaks and claws, and tugging and fighting as if each wanted to +have it all to himself. “Well,” said the huntsman, “this is +wonderful, it has really come to pass just as the old wife foretold!” and +he took the gun from his shoulder, aimed and fired right into the midst of +them, so that the feathers flew about. The birds instantly took to flight with +loud outcries, but one dropped down dead, and the cloak fell at the same time. +Then the huntsman did as the old woman had directed him, cut open the bird, +sought the heart, swallowed it down, and took the cloak home with him. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning, when he awoke, the promise occurred to him, and he wished to see +if it also had been fulfilled. When he lifted up the pillow, the gold piece +shone in his eyes, and next day he found another, and so it went on, every time +he got up. He gathered together a heap of gold, but at last he thought, +“Of what use is all my gold to me if I stay at home? I will go forth and +see the world.” +</p> + +<p> +He then took leave of his parents, buckled on his huntsman’s pouch and +gun, and went out into the world. It came to pass, that one day he travelled +through a dense forest, and when he came to the end of it, in the plain before +him stood a fine castle. An old woman was standing with a wonderfully beautiful +maiden, looking out of one of the windows. The old woman, however, was a witch +and said to the maiden, “There comes one out of the forest, who has a +wonderful treasure in his body, we must filch it from him, my dear daughter, it +is more suitable for us than for him. He has a bird’s heart about him, by +means of which a gold piece lies every morning under his pillow.” She +told her what she was to do to get it, and what part she had to play, and +finally threatened her, and said with angry eyes, “And if you do not +attend to what I say, it will be the worse for you.” Now when the +huntsman came nearer he descried the maiden, and said to himself, “I have +travelled about for such a long time, I will take a rest for once, and enter +that beautiful castle. I have certainly money enough.” Nevertheless, the +real reason was that he had caught sight of the pretty girl. +</p> + +<p> +He entered the house, and was well received and courteously entertained. Before +long he was so much in love with the young witch that he no longer thought of +anything else, and only saw things as she saw them, and did what she desired. +The old woman then said, “Now we must have the bird’s heart, he +will never miss it.” She prepared a drink, and when it was ready, poured +it into a cup and gave it to the maiden, who was to present it to the huntsman. +She did so, saying, “Now, my dearest, drink to me.” So he took the +cup, and when he had swallowed the draught, he brought up the heart of the +bird. The girl had to take it away secretly and swallow it herself, for the old +woman would have it so. Thenceforward he found no more gold under his pillow, +but it lay instead under that of the maiden, from whence the old woman fetched +it away every morning; but he was so much in love and so befooled, that he +thought of nothing else but of passing his time with the girl. +</p> + +<p> +Then the old witch said, “We have the bird’s heart, but we must +also take the wishing-cloak away from him.” The girl answered, “We +will leave him that, he has lost his wealth.” The old woman was angry and +said, “Such a mantle is a wonderful thing, and is seldom to be found in +this world. I must and will have it!” She gave the girl several blows, +and said that if she did not obey, it should fare ill with her. So she did the +old woman’s bidding, placed herself at the window and looked on the +distant country, as if she were very sorrowful. The huntsman asked, “Why +dost thou stand there so sorrowfully?” “Ah, my beloved,” was +her answer, “over yonder lies the Garnet Mountain, where the precious +stones grow. I long for them so much that when I think of them, I feel quite +sad, but who can get them? Only the birds; they fly and can reach them, but a +man never.” “Hast thou nothing else to complain of?” said the +huntsman. “I will soon remove that burden from thy heart.” With +that he drew her under his mantle, wished himself on the Garnet Mountain, and +in the twinkling of an eye they were sitting on it together. Precious stones +were glistening on every side so that it was a joy to see them, and together +they gathered the finest and costliest of them. Now, the old woman had, through +her sorceries, contrived that the eyes of the huntsman should become heavy. He +said to the maiden, “We will sit down and rest awhile, I am so tired that +I can no longer stand on my feet.” Then they sat down, and he laid his +head in her lap, and fell asleep. When he was asleep, she unfastened the mantle +from his shoulders, and wrapped herself in it, picked up the garnets and +stones, and wished herself back at home with them. +</p> + +<p> +But when the huntsman had had his sleep out and awoke, and perceived that his +sweetheart had betrayed him, and left him alone on the wild mountain, he said, +“Oh, what treachery there is in the world!” and sat down there in +care and sorrow, not knowing what to do. But the mountain belonged to some wild +and monstrous giants who dwelt thereon and lived their lives there, and he had +not sat long before he saw three of them coming towards him, so he lay down as +if he were sunk in a deep sleep. Then the giants came up, and the first kicked +him with his foot and said, “What sort of an earth-worm is lying curled +up here?” The second said, “Step upon him and kill him.” But +the third said, “That would indeed be worth your while; just let him +live, he cannot remain here; and when he climbs higher, toward the summit of of +the mountain, the clouds will lay hold of him and bear him away.” So +saying they passed by. But the huntsman had paid heed to their words, and as +soon as they were gone, he rose and climbed up to the summit of the mountain, +and when he had sat there a while, a cloud floated towards him, caught him up, +carried him away, and travelled about for a long time in the heavens. Then it +sank lower, and let itself down on a great cabbage-garden, girt round by walls, +so that he came softly to the ground on cabbages and vegetables. +</p> + +<p> +Then the huntsman looked about him and said, “If I had but something to +eat! I am so hungry, and my hunger will increase in course of time; but I see +here neither apples nor pears, nor any other sort of fruit, everywhere nothing +but cabbages,” but at length he thought, “At a pinch I can eat some +of the leaves, they do not taste particularly good, but they will refresh +me.” With that he picked himself out a fine head of cabbage, and ate it, +but scarcely had he swallowed a couple of mouthfuls than he felt very strange +and quite different. +</p> + +<p> +Four legs grew on him, a large head and two thick ears, and he saw with horror +that he was changed into an ass. Still as his hunger increased every minute, +and as the juicy leaves were suitable to his present nature, he went on eating +with great zest. At last he arrived at a different kind of cabbage, but as soon +as he had swallowed it, he again felt a change, and reassumed his former human +shape. +</p> + +<p> +Then the huntsman lay down and slept off his fatigue. When he awoke next +morning, he broke off one head of the bad cabbages and another of the good +ones, and thought to himself, “This shall help me to get my own again and +punish treachery.” Then he took the cabbages with him, climbed over the +wall, and went forth to seek for the castle of his sweetheart. After wandering +about for a couple of days he was lucky enough to find it again. He dyed his +face brown, so that his own mother would not have known him; and begged for +shelter: “I am so tired,” said he, “that I can go no +further.” The witch asked, “Who are you, countryman, and what is +your business?” “I am a King’s messenger, and was sent out to +seek the most delicious salad which grows beneath the sun. I have even been so +fortunate as to find it, and am carrying it about with me; but the heat of the +sun is so intense that the delicate cabbage threatens to wither, and I do not +know if I can carry it any further.” +</p> + +<p> +When the old woman heard of the exquisite salad, she was greedy, and said, +“Dear countryman, let me just taste this wonderful salad.” +“Why not?” answered he, “I have brought two heads with me, +and will give you one of them,” and he opened his pouch and handed her +the bad cabbage. The witch suspected nothing amiss, and her mouth watered so +for this new dish that she herself went into the kitchen and dressed it. When +it was prepared she could not wait until it was set on the table, but took a +couple of leaves at once, and put them in her mouth, but hardly had she +swallowed them than she was deprived of her human shape, and she ran out into +the courtyard in the form of an ass. Presently the maid-servant entered the +kitchen, saw the salad standing there ready prepared, and was about to carry it +up; but on the way, according to habit, she was seized by the desire to taste, +and she ate a couple of leaves. Instantly the magic power showed itself, and +she likewise became an ass and ran out to the old woman, and the dish of salad +fell to the ground. Meantime the messenger sat beside the beautiful girl, and +as no one came with the salad and she also was longing for it, she said, +“I don’t know what has become of the salad.” The huntsman +thought, “The salad must have already taken effect,” and said, +“I will go to the kitchen and inquire about it.” As he went down he +saw the two asses running about in the courtyard; the salad, however, was lying +on the ground. “All right,” said he, “the two have taken +their portion,” and he picked up the other leaves, laid them on the dish, +and carried them to the maiden. “I bring you the delicate food +myself,” said he, “in order that you may not have to wait +longer.” Then she ate of it, and was, like the others, immediately +deprived of her human form, and ran out into the courtyard in the shape of an +ass. +</p> + +<p> +After the huntsman had washed his face, so that the transformed ones could +recognize him, he went down into the courtyard, and said, “Now you shall +receive the wages of your treachery,” and bound them together, all three +with one rope, and drove them along until he came to a mill. He knocked at the +window, the miller put out his head, and asked what he wanted. “I have +three unmanageable beasts,” answered he, “which I don’t want +to keep any longer. Will you take them in, and give them food and stable room, +and manage them as I tell you, and then I will pay you what you ask.” The +miller said, “Why not? But how am I to manage them?” The huntsman +then said that he was to give three beatings and one meal daily to the old +donkey, and that was the witch; one beating and three meals to the younger one, +which was the servant-girl; and to the youngest, which was the maiden, no +beatings and three meals, for he could not bring himself to have the maiden +beaten. After that he went back into the castle, and found therein everything +he needed. +</p> + +<p> +After a couple of days, the miller came and said he must inform him that the +old ass which had received three beatings and only one meal daily was dead; +“the two others,” he continued, “are certainly not dead, and +are fed three times daily, but they are so sad that they cannot last much +longer.” The huntsman was moved to pity, put away his anger, and told the +miller to drive them back again to him. And when they came, he gave them some +of the good salad, so that they became human again. The beautiful girl fell on +her knees before him, and said, “Ah, my beloved, forgive me for the evil +I have done you; my mother drove me to it; it was done against my will, for I +love you dearly. Your wishing-cloak hangs in a cupboard, and as for the +bird’s-heart I will take a vomiting potion.” But he thought +otherwise, and said, “Keep it; it is all the same, for I will take thee +for my true wife.” So the wedding was celebrated, and they lived happily +together until their death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap123"></a>123 The Old Woman in the Wood</h3> + +<p> +A poor servant-girl was once travelling with the family with which she was in +service, through a great forest, and when they were in the midst of it, robbers +came out of the thicket, and murdered all they found. All perished together +except the girl, who had jumped out of the carriage in a fright, and hidden +herself behind a tree. When the robbers had gone away with their booty, she +came out and beheld the great disaster. Then she began to weep bitterly, and +said, “What can a poor girl like me do now? I do not know how to get out +of the forest, no human being lives in it, so I must certainly starve.” +She walked about and looked for a road, but could find none. When it was +evening she seated herself under a tree, gave herself into God’s keeping, +and resolved to sit waiting there and not go away, let what might happen. When, +however, she had sat there for a while, a white dove came flying to her with a +little golden key in its mouth. It put the little key in her hand, and said, +“Dost thou see that great tree, therein is a little lock, it opens with +the tiny key, and there thou wilt find food enough, and suffer no more +hunger.” Then she went to the tree and opened it, and found milk in a +little dish, and white bread to break into it, so that she could eat her fill. +When she was satisfied, she said, “It is now the time when the hens at +home go to roost, I am so tired I could go to bed too.” Then the dove +flew to her again, and brought another golden key in its bill, and said, +“Open that tree there, and thou willt find a bed.” So she opened +it, and found a beautiful white bed, and she prayed God to protect her during +the night, and lay down and slept. In the morning the dove came for the third +time, and again brought a little key, and said, “Open that tree there, +and thou wilt find clothes.” And when she opened it, she found garments +beset with gold and with jewels, more splendid than those of any king’s +daughter. So she lived there for some time, and the dove came every day and +provided her with all she needed, and it was a quiet good life. +</p> + +<p> +Once, however, the dove came and said, “Wilt thou do something for my +sake?” “With all my heart,” said the girl. Then said the +little dove, “I will guide thee to a small house; enter it, and inside +it, an old woman will be sitting by the fire and will say, +‘Good-day.’ But on thy life give her no answer, let her do what she +will, but pass by her on the right side; further on, there is a door, which +open, and thou wilt enter into a room where a quantity of rings of all kinds +are lying, amongst which are some magnificent ones with shining stones; leave +them, however, where they are, and seek out a plain one, which must likewise be +amongst them, and bring it here to me as quickly as thou canst.” The girl +went to the little house, and came to the door. There sat an old woman who +stared when she saw her, and said, “Good-day my child.” The girl +gave her no answer, and opened the door. “Whither away,” cried the +old woman, and seized her by the gown, and wanted to hold her fast, saying, +“That is my house; no one can go in there if I choose not to allow +it.” But the girl was silent, got away from her, and went straight into +the room. Now there lay on the table an enormous quantity of rings, which +gleamed and glittered before her eyes. She turned them over and looked for the +plain one, but could not find it. While she was seeking, she saw the old woman +and how she was stealing away, and wanting to get off with a bird-cage which +she had in her hand. So she went after her and took the cage out of her hand, +and when she raised it up and looked into it, a bird was inside which had the +plain ring in its bill. Then she took the ring, and ran quite joyously home +with it, and thought the little white dove would come and get the ring, but it +did not. Then she leant against a tree and determined to wait for the dove, +and, as she thus stood, it seemed just as if the tree was soft and pliant, and +was letting its branches down. And suddenly the branches twined around her, and +were two arms, and when she looked round, the tree was a handsome man, who +embraced and kissed her heartily, and said, “Thou hast delivered me from +the power of the old woman, who is a wicked witch. She had changed me into a +tree, and every day for two hours I was a white dove, and so long as she +possessed the ring I could not regain my human form.” Then his servants +and his horses, who had likewise been changed into trees, were freed from the +enchantment also, and stood beside him. And he led them forth to his kingdom, +for he was a King’s son, and they married, and lived happily. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap124"></a>124 The Three Brothers</h3> + +<p> +There was once a man who had three sons, and nothing else in the world but the +house in which he lived. Now each of the sons wished to have the house after +his father’s death; but the father loved them all alike, and did not know +what to do; he did not wish to sell the house, because it had belonged to his +forefathers, else he might have divided the money amongst them. At last a plan +came into his head, and he said to his sons, “Go into the world, and try +each of you to learn a trade, and, when you all come back, he who makes the +best masterpiece shall have the house.” +</p> + +<p> +The sons were well content with this, and the eldest determined to be a +blacksmith, the second a barber, and the third a fencing-master. They fixed a +time when they should all come home again, and then each went his way. +</p> + +<p> +It chanced that they all found skilful masters, who taught them their trades +well. The blacksmith had to shoe the King’s horses, and he thought to +himself, “The house is mine, without doubt.” The barber only shaved +great people, and he too already looked upon the house as his own. The +fencing-master got many a blow, but he only bit his lip, and let nothing vex +him; “for,” said he to himself, “If you are afraid of a blow, +you’ll never win the house.” +</p> + +<p> +When the appointed time had gone by, the three brothers came back home to their +father; but they did not know how to find the best opportunity for showing +their skill, so they sat down and consulted together. As they were sitting +thus, all at once a hare came running across the field. “Ah, ha, just in +time!” said the barber. So he took his basin and soap, and lathered away +until the hare came up; then he soaped and shaved off the hare’s whiskers +whilst he was running at the top of his speed, and did not even cut his skin or +injure a hair on his body. “Well done!” said the old man. +“Your brothers will have to exert themselves wonderfully, or the house +will be yours.” +</p> + +<p> +Soon after, up came a nobleman in his coach, dashing along at full speed. +“Now you shall see what I can do, father,” said the blacksmith; so +away he ran after the coach, took all four shoes off the feet of one of the +horses whilst he was galloping, and put him on four new shoes without stopping +him. “You are a fine fellow, and as clever as your brother,” said +his father; “I do not know to which I ought to give the house.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the third son said, “Father, let me have my turn, if you +please;” and, as it was beginning to rain, he drew his sword, and +flourished it backwards and forwards above his head so fast that not a drop +fell upon him. It rained still harder and harder, till at last it came down in +torrents; but he only flourished his sword faster and faster, and remained as +dry as if he were sitting in a house. When his father saw this he was amazed, +and said, “This is the master-piece, the house is yours!” +</p> + +<p> +His brothers were satisfied with this, as was agreed beforehand; and, as they +loved one another very much, they all three stayed together in the house, +followed their trades, and, as they had learnt them so well and were so clever, +they earned a great deal of money. Thus they lived together happily until they +grew old; and at last, when one of them fell sick and died, the two others +grieved so sorely about it that they also fell ill, and soon after died. And +because they had been so clever, and had loved one another so much, they were +all laid in the same grave. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap125"></a>125 The Devil and his Grandmother</h3> + +<p> +There was a great war, and the King had many soldiers, but gave them small pay, +so small that they could not live upon it, so three of them agreed among +themselves to desert. One of them said to the others, “If we are caught +we shall be hanged on the gallows; how shall we manage it?” Another said, +“Look at that great cornfield, if we were to hide ourselves there, no one +could find us; the troops are not allowed to enter it, and to-morrow they are +to march away.” They crept into the corn, only the troops did not march +away, but remained lying all round about it. They stayed in the corn for two +days and two nights, and were so hungry that they all but died, but if they had +come out, their death would have been certain. Then said they, “What is +the use of our deserting if we have to perish miserably here?” But now a +fiery dragon came flying through the air, and it came down to them, and asked +why they had concealed themselves there? They answered, “We are three +soldiers who have deserted because the pay was so bad, and now we shall have to +die of hunger if we stay here, or to dangle on the gallows if we go out.” +“If you will serve me for seven years,” said the dragon, “I +will convey you through the army so that no one shall seize you.” +“We have no choice and are compelled to accept,” they replied. Then +the dragon caught hold of them with his claws, and carried them away through +the air over the army, and put them down again on the earth far from it; but +the dragon was no other than the Devil. He gave them a small whip and said, +“Whip with it and crack it, and then as much gold will spring up round +about as you can wish for; then you can live like great lords, keep horses, and +drive your carriages, but when the seven years have come to an end, you are my +property.” Then he put before them a book which they were all three +forced to sign. “I will, however, then set you a riddle,” said he, +“and if you can guess that, you shall be free, and released from my +power.” Then the dragon flew away from them, and they went away with +their whip, had gold in plenty, ordered themselves rich apparel, and travelled +about the world. Wherever they were they lived in pleasure and magnificence, +rode on horseback, drove in carriages, ate and drank, but did nothing wicked. +The time slipped quickly away, and when the seven years were coming to an end, +two of them were terribly anxious and alarmed; but the third took the affair +easily, and said, “Brothers, fear nothing, my head is sharp enough, I +shall guess the riddle.” They went out into the open country and sat +down, and the two pulled sorrowful faces. Then an aged woman came up to them +who inquired why they were so sad? “Alas!” said they, “how +can that concern you? After all, you cannot help us.” “Who +knows?” said she. “Confide your trouble to me.” So they told +her that they had been the Devil’s servants for nearly seven years, and +that he had provided them with gold as plentifully as if it had been +blackberries, but that they had sold themselves to him, and were forfeited to +him, if at the end of the seven years they could not guess a riddle. The old +woman said, “If you are to be saved, one of you must go into the forest, +there he will come to a fallen rock which looks like a little house, he must +enter that, and then he will obtain help.” The two melancholy ones +thought to themselves, “That will still not save us,” and stayed +where they were, but the third, the merry one, got up and walked on in the +forest until he found the rock-house. In the little house, however, a very aged +woman was sitting, who was the Devil’s grandmother, and asked the soldier +where he came from, and what he wanted there? He told her everything that had +happened, and as he pleased her well, she had pity on him, and said she would +help him. She lifted up a great stone which lay above a cellar, and said, +“Conceal thyself there, thou canst hear everything that is said here; +only sit still, and do not stir. When the dragon comes, I will question him +about the riddle, he tells everything to me, so listen carefully to his +answer.” At twelve o’clock at night, the dragon came flying +thither, and asked for his dinner. The grandmother laid the table, and served +up food and drink, so that he was pleased, and they ate and drank together. In +the course of conversation, she asked him what kind of a day he had had, and +how many souls he had got? “Nothing went very well to-day,” he +answered, “but I have laid hold of three soldiers, I have them +safe.” “Indeed! three soldiers, that’s something like, but +they may escape you yet.” The Devil said mockingly, “They are mine! +I will set them a riddle, which they will never in this world be able to +guess!” “What riddle is that?” she inquired. “I will +tell you. In the great North Sea lies a dead dog-fish, that shall be your roast +meat, and the rib of a whale shall be your silver spoon, and a hollow old +horse’s hoof shall be your wine-glass.” When the Devil had gone to +bed, the old grandmother raised up the stone, and let out the soldier. +“Hast thou paid particular attention to everything?” +“Yes,” said he, “I know enough, and will contrive to save +myself.” Then he had to go back another way, through the window, secretly +and with all speed to his companions. He told them how the Devil had been +overreached by the old grandmother, and how he had learned the answer to the +riddle from him. Then they were all joyous, and of good cheer, and took the +whip and whipped so much gold for themselves that it ran all over the ground. +When the seven years had fully gone by, the Devil came with the book, showed +the signatures, and said, “I will take you with me to hell. There you +shall have a meal! If you can guess what kind of roast meat you will have to +eat, you shall be free and released from your bargain, and may keep the whip as +well.” Then the first soldier began and said, “In the great North +Sea lies a dead dog-fish, that no doubt is the roast meat.” The Devil was +angry, and began to mutter, “Hm! hm! hm!” And asked the second, +“But what will your spoon be?” “The rib of a whale, that is +to be our silver spoon.” The Devil made a wry face, again growled, +“Hm! hm! hm!” and said to the third, “And do you also know +what your wine-glass is to be?” “An old horse’s hoof is to be +our wineglass.” Then the Devil flew away with a loud cry, and had no more +power over them, but the three kept the whip, whipped as much money for +themselves with it as they wanted, and lived happily to their end. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap126"></a>126 Ferdinand the Faithful</h3> + +<p> +Once on a time lived a man and a woman who so long as they were rich had no +children, but when they were poor they had a little boy. They could, however, +find no godfather for him, so the man said he would just go to another place to +see if he could get one there. As he went, a poor man met him, who asked him +where he was going. He said he was going to see if he could get a godfather, +that he was poor, so no one would stand as godfather for him. “Oh,” +said the poor man, “you are poor, and I am poor; I will be godfather for +you, but I am so ill off I can give the child nothing. Go home and tell the +nurse that she is to come to the church with the child.” +</p> + +<p> +When they all got to the church together, the beggar was already there, and he +gave the child the name of Ferdinand the Faithful. +</p> + +<p> +When he was going out of the church, the beggar said, “Now go home, I can +give you nothing, and you likewise ought to give me nothing.” But he gave +a key to the nurse, and told her when she got home she was to give it to the +father, who was to take care of it until the child was fourteen years old, and +then he was to go on the heath where there was a castle which the key would +fit, and that all which was therein should belong to him. Now when the child +was seven years old and had grown very big, he once went to play with some +other boys, and each of them boasted that he had got more from his godfather +than the other; but the child could say nothing, and was vexed, and went home +and said to his father, “Did I get nothing at all, then, from my +godfather?” “Oh, yes,” said the father, “thou hadst a +key if there is a castle standing on the heath, just go to it and open +it.” Then the boy went thither, but no castle was to be seen, or heard +of. +</p> + +<p> +After seven years more, when he was fourteen years old, he again went thither, +and there stood the castle. When he had opened it, there was nothing within but +a horse, a white one. Then the boy was so full of joy because he had a horse, +that he mounted on it and galloped back to his father. “Now I have a +white horse, and I will travel,” said he. So he set out, and as he was on +his way, a pen was lying on the road. At first he thought he would pick it up, +but then again he thought to himself, “Thou shouldst leave it lying +there; thou wilt easily find a pen where thou art going, if thou hast need of +one.” As he was thus riding away, a voice called after him, +“Ferdinand the Faithful, take it with thee.” He looked around, but +saw no one, then he went back again and picked it up. When he had ridden a +little way farther, he passed by a lake, and a fish was lying on the bank, +gasping and panting for breath, so he said, “Wait, my dear fish, I will +help thee get into the water,” and he took hold of it by the tail, and +threw it into the lake. Then the fish put its head out of the water and said, +“As thou hast helped me out of the mud I will give thee a flute; when +thou art in any need, play on it, and then I will help thee, and if ever thou +lettest anything fall in the water, just play and I will reach it out to +thee.” Then he rode away, and there came to him a man who asked him where +he was going. “Oh, to the next place.” Then what his name was? +“Ferdinand the Faithful.” “So! then we have got almost the +same name, I am called Ferdinand the Unfaithful.” And they both set out +to the inn in the nearest place. +</p> + +<p> +Now it was unfortunate that Ferdinand the Unfaithful knew everything that the +other had ever thought and everything he was about to do; he knew it by means +of all kinds of wicked arts. There was, however, in the inn an honest girl, who +had a bright face and behaved very prettily. She fell in love with Ferdinand +the Faithful because he was a handsome man, and she asked him whither he was +going. “Oh, I am just travelling round about,” said he. Then she +said he ought to stay there, for the King of that country wanted an attendant +or an outrider, and he ought to enter his service. He answered he could not +very well go to any one like that and offer himself. Then said the maiden, +“Oh, but I will soon do that for you.” And so she went straight to +the King, and told him that she knew of an excellent servant for him. He was +well pleased with that, and had Ferdinand the Faithful brought to him, and +wanted to make him his servant. He, however, liked better to be an outrider, +for where his horse was, there he also wanted to be, so the King made him an +outrider. When Ferdinand the Unfaithful learnt that, he said to the girl, +“What! Dost thou help him and not me?” “Oh,” said the +girl, “I will help thee too.” She thought, “I must keep +friends with that man, for he is not to be trusted.” She went to the +King, and offered him as a servant, and the King was willing. +</p> + +<p> +Now when the King met his lords in the morning, he always lamented and said, +“Oh, if I had but my love with me.” Ferdinand the Unfaithful was, +however, always hostile to Ferdinand the Faithful. So once, when the King was +complaining thus, he said, “You have the outrider, send him away to get +her, and if he does not do it, his head must be struck off.” Then the +King sent for Ferdinand the Faithful, and told him that there was, in this +place or in that place, a girl he loved, and that he was to bring her to him, +and if he did not do it he should die. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand the Faithful went into the stable to his white horse, and complained +and lamented, “Oh, what an unhappy man I am!” Then someone behind +him cried, “Ferdinand the Faithful, why weepest thou?” He looked +round but saw no one, and went on lamenting; “Oh, my dear little white +horse, now must I leave thee; now must I die.” Then some one cried once +more, “Ferdinand the Faithful, why weepest thou?” Then for the +first time he was aware that it was his little white horse who was putting that +question. “Dost thou speak, my little white horse; canst thou do +that?” And again, he said, “I am to go to this place and to that, +and am to bring the bride; canst thou tell me how I am to set about it?” +Then answered the little white horse, “Go thou to the King, and say if he +will give thou what thou must have, thou wilt get her for him. If he will give +thee a ship full of meat, and a ship full of bread, it will succeed. Great +giants dwell on the lake, and if thou takest no meat with thee for them, they +will tear thee to pieces, and there are the large birds which would pick the +eyes out of thy head if thou hadst no bread for them.” Then the King made +all the butchers in the land kill, and all the bakers bake, that the ships +might be filled. When they were full, the little white horse said to Ferdinand +the Faithful, “Now mount me, and go with me into the ship, and then when +the giants come, say, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Peace, peace, my dear little giants,<br/> +I have had thought of ye,<br/> +Something I have brought for ye;” +</p> + +<p> +and when the birds come, thou shalt again say, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Peace, peace, my dear little birds,<br/> +I have had thought of ye,<br/> +Something I have brought for ye;” +</p> + +<p> +then they will do nothing to thee, and when thou comest to the castle, the +giants will help thee. Then go up to the castle, and take a couple of giants +with thee. There the princess lies sleeping; thou must, however, not awaken +her, but the giants must lift her up, and carry her in her bed to the +ship.” And now everything took place as the little white horse had said, +and Ferdinand the Faithful gave the giants and the birds what he had brought +with him for them, and that made the giants willing, and they carried the +princess in her bed to the King. And when she came to the King, she said she +could not live, she must have her writings, they had been left in her castle. +Then by the instigation of Ferdinand the Unfaithful, Ferdinand the Faithful was +called, and the King told him he must fetch the writings from the castle, or he +should die. Then he went once more into the stable, and bemoaned himself and +said, “Oh, my dear little white horse, now I am to go away again, how am +I to do it?” Then the little white horse said he was just to load the +ships full again. So it happened again as it had happened before, and the +giants and the birds were satisfied, and made gentle by the meat. When they +came to the castle, the white horse told Ferdinand the Faithful that he must go +in, and that on the table in the princess’s bed-room lay the writings. +And Ferdinand the Faithful went in, and fetched them. When they were on the +lake, he let his pen fall into the water; then said the white horse, “Now +I cannot help thee at all.” But he remembered his flute, and began to +play on it, and the fish came with the pen in its mouth, and gave it to him. So +he took the writings to the castle, where the wedding was celebrated. +</p> + +<p> +The Queen, however, did not love the King because he had no nose, but she would +have much liked to love Ferdinand the Faithful. Once, therefore, when all the +lords of the court were together, the Queen said she could do feats of magic, +that she could cut off any one’s head and put it on again, and that one +of them ought just to try it. But none of them would be the first, so Ferdinand +the Faithful, again at the instigation of Ferdinand the Unfaithful, undertook +it and she hewed off his head, and put it on again for him, and it healed +together directly, so that it looked as if he had a red thread round his +throat. Then the King said to her, “My child, and where hast thou learnt +that?” “Yes,” she said, “I understand the art; shall I +just try it on thee also?” “Oh, yes,” said he. But she cut +off his head, and did not put it on again; but pretended that she could not get +it on, and that it would not keep fixed. Then the King was buried, but she +married Ferdinand the Faithful. +</p> + +<p> +He, however, always rode on his white horse, and once when he was seated on it, +it told him that he was to go on to the heath which he knew, and gallop three +times round it. And when he had done that, the white horse stood up on its hind +legs, and was changed into a King’s son. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap127"></a>127 The Iron Stove</h3> + +<p> +In the days when wishing was still of some use, a King’s son was +bewitched by an old witch, and shut up in an iron stove in a forest. There he +passed many years, and no one could deliver him. Then a King’s daughter +came into the forest, who had lost herself, and could not find her +father’s kingdom again. After she had wandered about for nine days, she +at length came to the iron stove. Then a voice came forth from it, and asked +her, “Whence comest thou, and whither goest, thou?” She answered, +“I have lost my father’s kingdom, and cannot get home again.” +Then a voice inside the iron stove said, “I will help thee to get home +again, and that indeed most swiftly, if thou wilt promise to do what I desire +of thee. I am the son of a far greater King than thy father, and I will marry +thee.” +</p> + +<p> +Then was she afraid, and thought, “Good heavens! What can I do with an +iron stove?” But as she much wished to get home to her father, she +promised to do as he desired. But he said, “Thou shalt return here, and +bring a knife with thee, and scrape a hole in the iron.” Then he gave her +a companion who walked near her, but did not speak, but in two hours he took +her home; there was great joy in the castle when the King’s daughter came +home, and the old King fell on her neck and kissed her. She, however, was +sorely troubled, and said, “Dear father, what I have suffered! I should +never have got home again from the great wild forest, if I had not come to an +iron stove, but I have been forced to give my word that I will go back to it, +set it free, and marry it.” Then the old King was so terrified that he +all but fainted, for he had but this one daughter. They therefore resolved they +would send, in her place, the miller’s daughter, who was very beautiful. +They took her there, gave her a knife, and said she was to scrape at the iron +stove. So she scraped at it for four-and-twenty hours, but could not bring off +the least morsel of it. When day dawned, a voice in the stove said, “It +seems to me it is day outside.” Then she answered, “It seems so to +me too; I fancy I hear the noise of my father’s mill.” +</p> + +<p> +“So thou art a miller’s daughter! Then go thy way at once, and let +the King’s daughter come here.” Then she went away at once, and +told the old King that the man outside there, would have none of her he wanted +the King’s daughter. They, however, still had a swine-herd’s +daughter, who was even prettier than the miller’s daughter, and they +determined to give her a piece of gold to go to the iron stove instead of the +King’s daughter. So she was taken thither, and she also had to scrape for +four-and-twenty hours. She, however, made nothing of it. When day broke, a +voice inside the stove cried, “It seems to me it is day outside!” +Then answered she, “So it seems to me also; I fancy I hear my +father’s horn blowing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then thou art a swine-herd’s daughter! Go away at once, and tell +the King’s daughter to come, and tell her all must be done as promised, +and if she does not come, everything in the kingdom shall be ruined and +destroyed, and not one stone be left standing on another.” When the +King’s daughter heard that she began to weep, but now there was nothing +for it but to keep her promise. So she took leave of her father, put a knife in +her pocket, and went forth to the iron stove in the forest. When she got there, +she began to scrape, and the iron gave way, and when two hours were over, she +had already scraped a small hole. Then she peeped in, and saw a youth so +handsome, and so brilliant with gold and with precious jewels, that her very +soul was delighted. Now, therefore, she went on scraping, and made the hole so +large that he was able to get out. Then said he, “Thou art mine, and I am +thine; thou art my bride, and hast released me.” He wanted to take her +away with him to his kingdom, but she entreated him to let her go once again to +her father, and the King’s son allowed her to do so, but she was not to +say more to her father than three words, and then she was to come back again. +So she went home, but she spoke more than three words, and instantly the iron +stove disappeared, and was taken far away over glass mountains and piercing +swords; but the King’s son was set free, and no longer shut up in it. +After this she bade good-bye to her father, took some money with her, but not +much, and went back to the great forest, and looked for the iron stove, but it +was nowhere to be found. For nine days she sought it, and then her hunger grew +so great that she did not know what to do, for she could no longer live. When +it was evening, she seated herself in a small tree, and made up her mind to +spend the night there, as she was afraid of wild beasts. When midnight drew +near she saw in the distance a small light, and thought, “Ah, there I +should be saved!” She got down from the tree, and went towards the light, +but on the way she prayed. Then she came to a little old house, and much grass +had grown all about it, and a small heap of wood lay in front of it. She +thought, “Ah, whither have I come,” and peeped in through the +window, but she saw nothing inside but toads, big and little, except a table +well covered with wine and roast meat, and the plates and glasses were of +silver. Then she took courage, and knocked at the door. The fat toad cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Little green waiting-maid,<br/> +Waiting-maid with the limping leg,<br/> +Little dog of the limping leg,<br/> +Hop hither and thither,<br/> +And quickly see who is without:” +</p> + +<p> +and a small toad came walking by and opened the door to her. When she entered, +they all bade her welcome, and she was forced to sit down. They asked, +“Where hast thou come from, and whither art thou going?” Then she +related all that had befallen her, and how because she had transgressed the +order which had been given her not to say more than three words, the stove, and +the King’s son also, had disappeared, and now she was about to seek him +over hill and dale until she found him. Then the old fat one said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Little green waiting-maid,<br/> +Waiting-maid with the limping leg,<br/> +Little dog of the limping leg,<br/> +Hop hither and thither,<br/> +And bring me the great box.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the little one went and brought the box. After this they gave her meat and +drink, and took her to a well-made bed, which felt like silk and velvet, and +she laid herself therein, in God’s name, and slept. When morning came she +arose, and the old toad gave her three needles out of the great box which she +was to take with her; they would be needed by her, for she had to cross a high +glass mountain, and go over three piercing swords and a great lake. If she did +all this she would get her lover back again. Then she gave her three things, +which she was to take the greatest care of, namely, three large needles, a +plough-wheel, and three nuts. With these she travelled onwards, and when she +came to the glass mountain which was so slippery, she stuck the three needles +first behind her feet and then before them, and so got over it, and when she +was over it, she hid them in a place which she marked carefully. After this she +came to the three piercing swords, and then she seated herself on her +plough-wheel, and rolled over them. At last she arrived in front of a great +lake, and when she had crossed it, she came to a large and beautiful castle. +She went and asked for a place; she was a poor girl, she said, and would like +to be hired. She knew, however, that the King’s son whom she had released +from the iron stove in the great forest was in the castle. Then she was taken +as a scullery-maid at low wages. But, already the King’s son had another +maiden by his side whom he wanted to marry, for he thought that she had long +been dead. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening, when she had washed up and was done, she felt in her pocket and +found the three nuts which the old toad had given her. She cracked one with her +teeth, and was going to eat the kernel when lo and behold there was a stately +royal garment in it! But when the bride heard of this she came and asked for +the dress, and wanted to buy it, and said, “It is not a dress for a +servant-girl.” But she said no, she would not sell it, but if the bride +would grant her one thing she should have it, and that was, leave to sleep one +night in her bridegroom’s chamber. The bride gave her permission because +the dress was so pretty, and she had never had one like it. When it was evening +she said to her bridegroom, “That silly girl will sleep in thy +room.” “If thou art willing so am I,” said he. She, however, +gave him a glass of wine in which she had poured a sleeping-draught. So the +bridegroom and the scullery-maid went to sleep in the room, and he slept so +soundly that she could not waken him. +</p> + +<p> +She wept the whole night and cried, “I set thee free when thou wert in an +iron stove in the wild forest, I sought thee, and walked over a glass mountain, +and three sharp swords, and a great lake before I found thee, and yet thou wilt +not hear me!” +</p> + +<p> +The servants sat by the chamber-door, and heard how she thus wept the whole +night through, and in the morning they told it to their lord. And the next +evening when she had washed up, she opened the second nut, and a far more +beautiful dress was within it, and when the bride beheld it, she wished to buy +that also. But the girl would not take money, and begged that she might once +again sleep in the bridegroom’s chamber. The bride, however, gave him a +sleeping-drink, and he slept so soundly that he could hear nothing. But the +scullery-maid wept the whole night long, and cried, “I set thee free when +thou wert in an iron stove in the wild forest, I sought thee, and walked over a +glass mountain, and over three sharp swords and a great lake before I found +thee, and yet thou wilt not hear me!” The servants sat by the +chamber-door and heard her weeping the whole night through, and in the morning +informed their lord of it. And on the third evening, when she had washed up, +she opened the third nut, and within it was a still more beautiful dress which +was stiff with pure gold. When the bride saw that she wanted to have it, but +the maiden only gave it up on condition that she might for the third time sleep +in the bridegroom’s apartment. The King’s son was, however, on his +guard, and threw the sleeping-draught away. Now, therefore, when she began to +weep and to cry, “Dearest love, I set thee free when thou wert in the +iron stove in the terrible wild forest,” the King’s son leapt up +and said, “Thou art the true one, thou art mine, and I am thine.” +Thereupon, while it was still night, he got into a carriage with her, and they +took away the false bride’s clothes so that she could not get up. When +they came to the great lake, they sailed across it, and when they reached the +three sharp-cutting swords they seated themselves on the plough-wheel, and when +they got to the glass mountain they thrust the three needles in it, and so at +length they got to the little old house; but when they went inside that, it was +a great castle, and the toads were all disenchanted, and were King’s +children, and full of happiness. Then the wedding was celebrated, and the +King’s son and the princess remained in the castle, which was much larger +than the castles of their fathers. As, however, the old King grieved at being +left alone, they fetched him away, and brought him to live with them, and they +had two kingdoms, and lived in happy wedlock. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +A mouse did run,<br/> +This story is done. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap128"></a>128 The Lazy Spinner</h3> + +<p> +In a certain village there once lived a man and his wife, and the wife was so +idle that she would never work at anything; whatever her husband gave her to +spin, she did not get done, and what she did spin she did not wind, but let it +all remain entangled in a heap. If the man scolded her, she was always ready +with her tongue, and said, “Well, how should I wind it, when I have no +reel? Just you go into the forest and get me one.” “If that is +all,” said the man, “then I will go into the forest, and get some +wood for making reels.” Then the woman was afraid that if he had the wood +he would make her a reel of it, and she would have to wind her yarn off, and +then begin to spin again. She bethought herself a little, and then a lucky idea +occurred to her, and she secretly followed the man into the forest, and when he +had climbed into a tree to choose and cut the wood, she crept into the thicket +below where he could not see her, and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“He who cuts wood for reels shall die,<br/> +And he who winds, shall perish.” +</p> + +<p> +The man listened, laid down his axe for a moment, and began to consider what +that could mean. “Hollo,” he said at last, “what can that +have been; my ears must have been singing, I won’t alarm myself for +nothing.” So he again seized the axe, and began to hew, then again there +came a cry from below: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“He who cuts wood for reels shall die,<br/> +And he who winds, shall perish.” +</p> + +<p> +He stopped, and felt afraid and alarmed, and pondered over the circumstance. +But when a few moments had passed, he took heart again, and a third time he +stretched out his hand for the axe, and began to cut. But some one called out a +third time, and said loudly, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“He who cuts wood for reels shall die,<br/> +And he who winds, shall perish.” +</p> + +<p> +That was enough for him, and all inclination had departed from him, so he +hastily descended the tree, and set out on his way home. The woman ran as fast +as she could by by-ways so as to get home first. So when he entered the +parlour, she put on an innocent look as if nothing had happened, and said, +“Well, have you brought a nice piece of wood for reels?” +“No,” said he, “I see very well that winding won’t +do,” and told her what had happened to him in the forest, and from that +time forth left her in peace about it. Neverthless after some time, the man +again began to complain of the disorder in the house. “Wife,” said +he, “it is really a shame that the spun yarn should lie there all +entangled!” “I’ll tell you what,” said she, “as +we still don’t come by any reel, go you up into the loft, and I will +stand down below, and will throw the yarn up to you, and you will throw it down +to me, and so we shall get a skein after all.” “Yes, that will +do,” said the man. So they did that, and when it was done, he said, +“The yarn is in skeins, now it must be boiled.” The woman was again +distressed; She certainly said, “Yes, we will boil it next morning +early.” but she was secretly contriving another trick. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning she got up, lighted a fire, and put the kettle on, only +instead of the yarn, she put in a lump of tow, and let it boil. After that she +went to the man who was still lying in bed, and said to him, “I must just +go out, you must get up and look after the yarn which is in the kettle on the +fire, but you must be at hand at once; mind that, for if the cock should happen +to crow, and you are not attending to the yarn, it will become tow.” The +man was willing and took good care not to loiter. He got up as quickly as he +could, and went into the kitchen. But when he reached the kettle and peeped in, +he saw, to his horror, nothing but a lump of tow. Then the poor man was as +still as a mouse, thinking he had neglected it, and was to blame, and in future +said no more about yarn and spinning. But you yourself must own she was an +odious woman! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap129"></a>129 The Four Skilful Brothers</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor man who had four sons, and when they were grown up, he +said to them, “My dear children, you must now go out into the world, for +I have nothing to give you, so set out, and go to some distance and learn a +trade, and see how you can make your way.” So the four brothers took +their sticks, bade their father farewell, and went through the town-gate +together. When they had travelled about for some time, they came to a cross-way +which branched off in four different directions. Then said the eldest, +“Here we must separate, but on this day four years, we will meet each +other again at this spot, and in the meantime we will seek our fortunes.” +</p> + +<p> +Then each of them went his way, and the eldest met a man who asked him where he +was going, and what he was intending to do? “I want to learn a +trade,” he replied. Then the other said, “Come with me, and be a +thief.” “No,” he answered, “that is no longer regarded +as a reputable trade, and the end of it is that one has to swing on the +gallows.” “Oh,” said the man, “you need not be afraid +of the gallows; I will only teach you to get such things as no other man could +ever lay hold of, and no one will ever detect you.” So he allowed himself +to be talked into it, and while with the man became an accomplished thief, and +so dexterous that nothing was safe from him, if he once desired to have it. The +second brother met a man who put the same question to him what he wanted to +learn in the world. “I don’t know yet,” he replied. +“Then come with me, and be an astronomer; there is nothing better than +that, for nothing is hid from you.” He liked the idea, and became such a +skillful astronomer that when he had learnt everything, and was about to travel +onwards, his master gave him a telescope and said to him, “With that you +canst thou see whatsoever takes place either on earth or in heaven, and nothing +can remain concealed from thee.” A huntsman took the third brother into +training, and gave him such excellent instruction in everything which related +to huntsmanship, that he became an experienced hunter. When he went away, his +master gave him a gun and said, “It will never fail you; whatsoever you +aim at, you are certain to hit.” The youngest brother also met a man who +spoke to him, and inquired what his intentions were. “Would you not like +to be a tailor?” said he. “Not that I know of,” said the +youth; “sitting doubled up from morning till night, driving the needle +and the goose backwards and forwards, is not to my taste.” “Oh, but +you are speaking in ignorance,” answered the man; “with me you +would learn a very different kind of tailoring, which is respectable and +proper, and for the most part very honorable.” So he let himself be +persuaded, and went with the man, and learnt his art from the very beginning. +When they parted, the man gave the youth a needle, and said, “With this +you can sew together whatever is given you, whether it is as soft as an egg or +as hard as steel; and it will all become one piece of stuff, so that no seam +will be visible.” +</p> + +<p> +When the appointed four years were over, the four brothers arrived at the same +time at the cross-roads, embraced and kissed each other, and returned home to +their father. “So now,” said he, quite delighted, “the wind +has blown you back again to me.” They told him of all that had happened +to them, and that each had learnt his own trade. Now they were sitting just in +front of the house under a large tree, and the father said, “I will put +you all to the test, and see what you can do.” Then he looked up and said +to his second son, “Between two branches up at the top of this tree, +there is a chaffinch’s nest, tell me how many eggs there are in +it?” The astronomer took his glass, looked up, and said, “There are +five.” Then the father said to the eldest, “Fetch the eggs down +without disturbing the bird which is sitting hatching them.” The skillful +thief climbed up, and took the five eggs from beneath the bird, which never +observed what he was doing, and remained quietly sitting where she was, and +brought them down to his father. The father took them, and put one of them on +each corner of the table, and the fifth in the middle, and said to the +huntsman, “With one shot thou shalt shoot me the five eggs in two, +through the middle.” The huntsman aimed, and shot the eggs, all five as +the father had desired, and that at one shot. He certainly must have had some +of the powder for shooting round corners. “Now it’s your +turn,” said the father to the fourth son; “you shall sew the eggs +together again, and the young birds that are inside them as well, and you must +do it so that they are not hurt by the shot.” The tailor brought his +needle, and sewed them as his father wished. When he had done this the thief +had to climb up the tree again, and carry them to the nest, and put them back +again under the bird without her being aware of it. The bird sat her full time, +and after a few days the young ones crept out, and they had a red line round +their necks where they had been sewn together by the tailor. +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said the old man to his sons, “I begin to think you +are worth more than breen clover; you have used your time well, and learnt +something good. I can’t say which of you deserves the most praise. That +will be proved if you have but an early opportunity of using your +talents.” Not long after this, there was a great uproar in the country, +for the King’s daughter was carried off by a dragon. The King was full of +trouble about it, both by day and night, and caused it to be proclaimed that +whosoever brought her back should have her to wife. The four brothers said to +each other, “This would be a fine opportunity for us to show what we can +do!” and resolved to go forth together and liberate the King’s +daughter. “I will soon know where she is,” said the astronomer, and +looked through his telescope and said, “I see her already, she is far +away from here on a rock in the sea, and the dragon is beside her watching +her.” Then he went to the King, and asked for a ship for himself and his +brothers, and sailed with them over the sea until they came to the rock. There +the King’s daughter was sitting, and the dragon was lying asleep on her +lap. The huntsman said, “I dare not fire, I should kill the beautiful +maiden at the same time.” “Then I will try my art,” said the +thief, and he crept thither and stole her away from under the dragon, so +quietly and dexterously, that the monster never remarked it, but went on +snoring. Full of joy, they hurried off with her on board ship, and steered out +into the open sea; but the dragon, who when he awoke had found no princess +there, followed them, and came snorting angrily through the air. Just as he was +circling above the ship, and about to descend on it, the huntsman shouldered +his gun, and shot him to the heart. The monster fell down dead, but was so +large and powerful that his fall shattered the whole ship. Fortunately, +however, they laid hold of a couple of planks, and swam about the wide sea. +Then again they were in great peril, but the tailor, who was not idle, took his +wondrous needle, and with a few stitches sewed the planks together, and they +seated themselves upon them, and collected together all the fragments of the +vessel. Then he sewed these so skilfully together, that in a very short time +the ship was once more seaworthy, and they could go home again in safety. +</p> + +<p> +When the King once more saw his daughter, there were great rejoicings. He said +to the four brothers, “One of you shall have her to wife, but which of +you it is to be you must settle among yourselves.” Then a warm contest +arose among them, for each of them preferred his own claim. The astronomer +said, “If I had not seen the princess, all your arts would have been +useless, so she is mine.” The thief said, “What would have been the +use of your seeing, if I had not got her away from the dragon? so she is +mine.” The huntsman said, “You and the princess, and all of you, +would have been torn to pieces by the dragon if my ball had not hit him, so she +is mine.” The tailor said, “And if I, by my art, had not sewn the +ship together again, you would all of you have been miserably drowned, so she +is mine.” Then the King uttered this saying, “Each of you has an +equal right, and as all of you cannot have the maiden, none of you shall have +her, but I will give to each of you, as a reward, half a kingdom.” The +brothers were pleased with this decision, and said, “It is better thus +than that we should be at variance with each other.” Then each of them +received half a kingdom, and they lived with their father in the greatest +happiness as long as it pleased God. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap130"></a>130 One-eye, Two-eyes, and Three-eyes</h3> + +<p> +There was once a woman who had three daughters, the eldest of whom was called +One-eye, because she had only one eye in the middle of her forehead, and the +second, Two-eyes, because she had two eyes like other folks, and the youngest, +Three-eyes, because she had three eyes; and her third eye was also in the +centre of her forehead. However, as Two-eyes saw just as other human beings +did, her sisters and her mother could not endure her. They said to her, +“Thou, with thy two eyes, art no better than the common people; thou dost +not belong to us!” They pushed her about, and threw old clothes to her, +and gave her nothing to eat but what they left, and did everything that they +could to make her unhappy. It came to pass that Two-eyes had to go out into the +fields and tend the goat, but she was still quite hungry, because her sisters +had given her so little to eat. So she sat down on a ridge and began to weep, +and so bitterly that two streams ran down from her eyes. And once when she +looked up in her grief, a woman was standing beside her, who said, “Why +art thou weeping, little Two-eyes?” Two-Eyes answered, “Have I not +reason to weep, when I have two eyes like other people, and my sisters and +mother hate me for it, and push me from one corner to another, throw old +clothes at me, and give me nothing to eat but the scraps they leave? To-day +they have given me so little that I am still quite hungry.” Then the wise +woman said, “Wipe away thy tears, Two-eyes, and I will tell thee +something to stop thee ever suffering from hunger again; just say to thy goat, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, my little goat, bleat,<br/> +Cover the table with something to eat,” +</p> + +<p> +and then a clean well-spread little table will stand before thee, with the most +delicious food upon it of which thou mayst eat as much as thou art inclined +for, and when thou hast had enough, and hast no more need of the little table, +just say, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, bleat, my little goat, I pray,<br/> +And take the table quite away,” +</p> + +<p> +and then it will vanish again from thy sight.” Hereupon the wise woman +departed. But Two-eyes thought, “I must instantly make a trial, and see +if what she said is true, for I am far too hungry,” and she said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, my little goat, bleat,<br/> +Cover the table with something to eat,” +</p> + +<p> +and scarcely had she spoken the words than a little table, covered with a white +cloth, was standing there, and on it was a plate with a knife and fork, and a +silver spoon; and the most delicious food was there also, warm and smoking as +if it had just come out of the kitchen. Then Two-eyes said the shortest prayer +she knew, “Lord God, be with us always, Amen,” and helped herself +to some food, and enjoyed it. And when she was satisfied, she said, as the wise +woman had taught her, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, bleat, my little goat, I pray,<br/> +And take the table quite away,” +</p> + +<p> +and immediately the little table and everything on it was gone again. +“That is a delightful way of keeping house!” thought Two-eyes, and +was quite glad and happy. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening, when she went home with her goat, she found a small earthenware +dish with some food, which her sisters had set ready for her, but she did not +touch it. Next day she again went out with her goat, and left the few bits of +broken bread which had been handed to her, lying untouched. The first and +second time that she did this, her sisters did not remark it at all, but as it +happened every time, they did observe it, and said, “There is something +wrong about Two-eyes, she always leaves her food untasted, and she used to eat +up everything that was given her; she must have discovered other ways of +getting food.” In order that they might learn the truth, they resolved to +send One-eye with Two-eyes when she went to drive her goat to the pasture, to +observe what Two-eyes did when she was there, and whether any one brought her +anything to eat and drink. So when Two-eyes set out the next time, One-eye went +to her and said, “I will go with you to the pasture, and see that the +goat is well taken care of, and driven where there is food.” But Two-eyes +knew what was in One-eye’s mind, and drove the goat into high grass and +said, “Come, One-eye, we will sit down, and I will sing something to +you.” One-eye sat down and was tired with the unaccustomed walk and the +heat of the sun, and Two-eyes sang constantly, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“One eye, wakest thou?<br/> +One eye, sleepest thou?” +</p> + +<p> +until One-eye shut her one eye, and fell asleep, and as soon as Two-eyes saw +that One-eye was fast asleep, and could discover nothing, she said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, my little goat, bleat,<br/> +Cover the table with something to eat,” +</p> + +<p> +and seated herself at her table, and ate and drank until she was satisfied, and +then she again cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, bleat, my little goat, I pray,<br/> +And take the table quite away,” +</p> + +<p> +and in an instant all was gone. Two-eyes now awakened One-eye, and said, +“One-eye, you want to take care of the goat, and go to sleep while you +are doing it, and in the meantime the goat might run all over the world. Come, +let us go home again.” So they went home, and again Two-eyes let her +little dish stand untouched, and One-eye could not tell her mother why she +would not eat it, and to excuse herself said, “I fell asleep when I was +out.” +</p> + +<p> +Next day the mother said to Three-eyes, “This time thou shalt go and +observe if Two-eyes eats anything when she is out, and if any one fetches her +food and drink, for she must eat and drink in secret.” So Three-eyes went +to Two-eyes, and said, “I will go with you and see if the goat is taken +proper care of, and driven where there is food.” But Two-eyes knew what +was in Three-eyes’ mind, and drove the goat into high grass and said, +“We will sit down, and I will sing something to you, Three-eyes.” +Three-eyes sat down and was tired with the walk and with the heat of the sun, +and Two-eyes began the same song as before, and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Three eyes, are you waking?” +</p> + +<p> +but then, instead of singing, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Three eyes, are you sleeping?” +</p> + +<p> +as she ought to have done, she thoughtlessly sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Two eyes, are you sleeping?” +</p> + +<p> +and sang all the time, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Three eyes, are you waking?<br/> +Two eyes, are you sleeping?” +</p> + +<p> +Then two of the eyes which Three-eyes had, shut and fell asleep, but the third, +as it had not been named in the song, did not sleep. It is true that Three-eyes +shut it, but only in her cunning, to pretend it was asleep too, but it blinked, +and could see everything very well. And when Two-eyes thought that Three-eyes +was fast asleep, she used her little charm, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, my little goat, bleat,<br/> +Cover the table with something to eat,” +</p> + +<p> +and ate and drank as much as her heart desired, and then ordered the table to +go away again, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, bleat, my little goat, I pray,<br/> +And take the table quite away,” +</p> + +<p> +and Three-eyes had seen everything. Then Two-eyes came to her, waked her and +said, “Have you been asleep, Three-eyes? You are a good care-taker! Come, +we will go home.” And when they got home, Two-eyes again did not eat, and +Three-eyes said to the mother, “Now, I know why that high-minded thing +there does not eat. When she is out, she says to the goat, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, my little goat, bleat,<br/> +Cover the table with something to eat,” +</p> + +<p> +and then a little table appears before her covered with the best of food, much +better than any we have here, and when she has eaten all she wants, she says, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Bleat, bleat, my little goat, I pray,<br/> +And take the table quite away,” +</p> + +<p> +and all disappears. I watched everything closely. She put two of my eyes to +sleep by using a certain form of words, but luckily the one in my forehead kept +awake.” Then the envious mother cried, “Dost thou want to fare +better than we do? The desire shall pass away,” and she fetched a +butcher’s knife, and thrust it into the heart of the goat, which fell +down dead. +</p> + +<p> +When Two-eyes saw that, she went out full of trouble, seated herself on the +ridge of grass at the edge of the field, and wept bitter tears. Suddenly the +wise woman once more stood by her side, and said, “Two-eyes, why art thou +weeping?” “Have I not reason to weep?” she answered. +“The goat which covered the table for me every day when I spoke your +charm, has been killed by my mother, and now I shall again have to bear hunger +and want.” The wise woman said, “Two-eyes, I will give thee a piece +of good advice; ask thy sisters to give thee the entrails of the slaughtered +goat, and bury them in the ground in front of the house, and thy fortune will +be made.” Then she vanished, and Two-eyes went home and said to her +sisters, “Dear sisters, do give me some part of my goat; I don’t +wish for what is good, but give me the entrails.” Then they laughed and +said, “If that’s all you want, you can have it.” So Two-eyes +took the entrails and buried them quietly in the evening, in front of the +house-door, as the wise woman had counselled her to do. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning, when they all awoke, and went to the house-door, there stood a +strangely magnificent tree with leaves of silver, and fruit of gold hanging +among them, so that in all the wide world there was nothing more beautiful or +precious. They did not know how the tree could have come there during the +night, but Two-eyes saw that it had grown up out of the entrails of the goat, +for it was standing on the exact spot where she had buried them. Then the +mother said to One-eye, “Climb up, my child, and gather some of the fruit +of the tree for us.” One-eye climbed up, but when she was about to get +hold of one of the golden apples, the branch escaped from her hands, and that +happened each time, so that she could not pluck a single apple, let her do what +she might. Then said the mother, “Three-eyes, do you climb up; you with +your three eyes can look about you better than One-eye.” One-eye slipped +down, and Three-eyes climbed up. Three-eyes was not more skilful, and might +search as she liked, but the golden apples always escaped her. At length the +mother grew impatient, and climbed up herself, but could get hold of the fruit +no better than One-eye and Three-eyes, for she always clutched empty air. Then +said Two-eyes, “I will just go up, perhaps I may succeed better.” +The sisters cried, “You indeed, with your two eyes, what can you +do?” But Two-eyes climbed up, and the golden apples did get out of her +way, but came into her hand of their own accord, so that she could pluck them +one after the other, and brought a whole apronful down with her. The mother +took them away from her, and instead of treating poor Two-eyes any better for +this, she and One-eye and Three-eyes were only envious, because Two-eyes alone +had been able to get the fruit, and they treated her still more cruelly. +</p> + +<p> +It so befell that once when they were all standing together by the tree, a +young knight came up. “Quick, Two-eyes,” cried the two sisters, +“creep under this, and don’t disgrace us!” and with all speed +they turned an empty barrel which was standing close by the tree over poor +Two-eyes, and they pushed the golden apples which she had been gathering, under +it too. When the knight came nearer he was a handsome lord, who stopped and +admired the magnificent gold and silver tree, and said to the two sisters, +“To whom does this fine tree belong? Any one who would bestow one branch +of it on me might in return for it ask whatsoever he desired.” Then +One-eye and Three-eyes replied that the tree belonged to them, and that they +would give him a branch. They both took great trouble, but they were not able +to do it, for the branches and fruit both moved away from them every time. Then +said the knight, “It is very strange that the tree should belong to you, +and that you should still not be able to break a piece off.” They again +asserted that the tree was their property. Whilst they were saying so, Two-eyes +rolled out a couple of golden apples from under the barrel to the feet of the +knight, for she was vexed with One-eye and Three-eyes, for not speaking the +truth. When the knight saw the apples he was astonished, and asked where they +came from. One-eye and Three-eyes answered that they had another sister, who +was not allowed to show herself, for she had only two eyes like any common +person. The knight, however, desired to see her, and cried, “Two-eyes, +come forth.” Then Two-eyes, quite comforted, came from beneath the +barrel, and the knight was surprised at her great beauty, and said, +“Thou, Two-eyes, canst certainly break off a branch from the tree for +me.” “Yes,” replied Two-eyes, “that I certainly shall +be able to do, for the tree belongs to me.” And she climbed up, and with +the greatest ease broke off a branch with beautiful silver leaves and golden +fruit, and gave it to the knight. Then said the knight, “Two-eyes, what +shall I give thee for it?” “Alas!” answered Two-eyes, +“I suffer from hunger and thirst, grief and want, from early morning till +late night; if you would take me with you, and deliver me from these things, I +should be happy.” So the knight lifted Two-eyes on to his horse, and took +her home with him to his father’s castle, and there he gave her beautiful +clothes, and meat and drink to her heart’s content, and as he loved her +so much he married her, and the wedding was solemnized with great rejoicing. +When Two-eyes was thus carried away by the handsome knight, her two sisters +grudged her good fortune in downright earnest. “The wonderful tree, +however, still remains with us,” thought they, “and even if we can +gather no fruit from it, still every one will stand still and look at it, and +come to us and admire it. Who knows what good things may be in store for +us?” But next morning, the tree had vanished, and all their hopes were at +an end. And when Two-eyes looked out of the window of her own little room, to +her great delight it was standing in front of it, and so it had followed her. +</p> + +<p> +Two-eyes lived a long time in happiness. Once two poor women came to her in her +castle, and begged for alms. She looked in their faces, and recognized her +sisters, One-eye, and Three-eyes, who had fallen into such poverty that they +had to wander about and beg their bread from door to door. Two-eyes, however, +made them welcome, and was kind to them, and took care of them, so that they +both with all their hearts repented the evil that they had done their sister in +their youth. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap131"></a>131 Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie</h3> + +<p> +“Good-day, Father Hollenthe.” “Many thanks, +Pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I be allowed to have your daughter?” +“Oh, yes, if Mother Malcho (Milch-cow), Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister +Käsetraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is Mother Malcho, then?” “She is in the cow-house, +milking the cow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Good-day, Mother Malcho.” “Many thanks, +Pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I be allowed to have your daughter?” +“Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister Käsetraut, +and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her.” “Where is +Brother High-and-Mighty, then?” “He is in the room chopping some +wood.” “Good-day, Brother High-and-Mighty.” “Many +thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I be allowed to have your +sister?” “Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Sister +Käsetraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her.” +“Where is Sister Käsetraut, then?” “She is in the garden +cutting cabbages.” “Good-day, sister Käsetraut.” “Many +thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I be allowed to have your +sister?” “Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother +High-and-Mighty, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you may have her.” +“Where is fair Katrinelje, then?” “She is in the room +counting out her farthings.” “Good day, fair Katrinelje.” +“Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie.” “Wilt thou be my +bride?” “Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother +High-and-Mighty, and Sister Käsetraut are willing, I am ready.” +</p> + +<p> +“Fair Katrinelje, how much dowry do hast thou?” “Fourteen +farthings in ready money, three and a half groschen owing to me, half a pound +of dried apples, a handful of fried bread, and a handful of spices. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +And many other things are mine,<br/> +Have I not a dowry fine? +</p> + +<p> +“Pif-paf-poltrie, what is thy trade? Art thou a tailor?” +“Something better.” “A shoemaker?” “Something +better.” “A husbandman?” “Something better.” +“A joiner?” “Something better.” “A smith?” +“Something better.” “A miller?” “Something +better.” “Perhaps a broom-maker?” “Yes, that’s +what I am, is it not a fine trade?” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap132"></a>132 The Fox and the Horse</h3> + +<p> +A peasant had a faithful horse which had grown old and could do no more work, +so his master would no longer give him anything to eat and said, “I can +certainly make no more use of thee, but still I mean well by thee; if thou +provest thyself still strong enough to bring me a lion here, I will maintain +thee, but now take thyself away out of my stable,” and with that he +chased him into the open country. The horse was sad, and went to the forest to +seek a little protection there from the weather. Then the fox met him and said, +“Why dost thou hang thy head so, and go about all alone?” +“Alas,” replied the horse, “avarice and fidelity do not dwell +together in one house. My master has forgotten what services I have performed +for him for so many years, and because I can no longer plough well, he will +give me no more food, and has driven me out.” “Without giving thee +a chance?” asked the fox. “The chance was a bad one. He said, if I +were still strong enough to bring him a lion, he would keep me, but he well +knows that I cannot do that.” The fox said, “I will help thee, just +lay thyself down, stretch thyself out, as if thou wert dead, and do not +stir.” The horse did as the fox desired, and the fox went to the lion, +who had his den not far off, and said, “A dead horse is lying outside +there, just come with me, thou canst have a rich meal.” The lion went +with him, and when they were both standing by the horse the fox said, +“After all, it is not very comfortable for thee here I tell thee what I +will fasten it to thee by the tail, and then thou canst drag it into thy cave, +and devour it in peace.” +</p> + +<p> +This advice pleased the lion: he lay down, and in order that the fox might tie +the horse fast to him, he kept quite quiet. But the fox tied the lion’s +legs together with the horse’s tail, and twisted and fastened all so well +and so strongly that no strength could break it. When he had finished his work, +he tapped the horse on the shoulder and said, “Pull, white horse, +pull.” Then up sprang the horse at once, and drew the lion away with him. +The lion began to roar so that all the birds in the forest flew out in terror, +but the horse let him roar, and drew him and dragged him over the country to +his master’s door. When the master saw the lion, he was of a better mind, +and said to the horse, “Thou shalt stay with me and fare well,” and +he gave him plenty to eat until he died. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap133"></a>133 The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a King who had twelve daughters, each one more +beautiful than the other. They all slept together in one chamber, in which +their beds stood side by side, and every night when they were in them the King +locked the door, and bolted it. But in the morning when he unlocked the door, +he saw that their shoes were worn out with dancing, and no one could find out +how that had come to pass. Then the King caused it to be proclaimed that +whosoever could discover where they danced at night, should choose one of them +for his wife and be King after his death, but that whosoever came forward and +had not discovered it within three days and nights, should have forfeited his +life. It was not long before a King’s son presented himself, and offered +to undertake the enterprise. He was well received, and in the evening was led +into a room adjoining the princesses’ sleeping-chamber. His bed was +placed there, and he was to observe where they went and danced, and in order +that they might do nothing secretly or go away to some other place, the door of +their room was left open. +</p> + +<p> +But the eyelids of the prince grew heavy as lead, and he fell asleep, and when +he awoke in the morning, all twelve had been to the dance, for their shoes were +standing there with holes in the soles. On the second and third nights it fell +out just the same, and then his head was struck off without mercy. Many others +came after this and undertook the enterprise, but all forfeited their lives. +Now it came to pass that a poor soldier, who had a wound, and could serve no +longer, found himself on the road to the town where the King lived. There he +met an old woman, who asked him where he was going. “I hardly know +myself,” answered he, and added in jest, “I had half a mind to +discover where the princesses danced their shoes into holes, and thus become +King.” “That is not so difficult,” said the old woman, +“you must not drink the wine which will be brought to you at night, and +must pretend to be sound asleep.” With that she gave him a little cloak, +and said, “If you put on that, you will be invisible, and then you can +steal after the twelve.” When the soldier had received this good advice, +he went into the thing in earnest, took heart, went to the King, and announced +himself as a suitor. He was as well received as the others, and royal garments +were put upon him. He was conducted that evening at bed-time into the +ante-chamber, and as he was about to go to bed, the eldest came and brought him +a cup of wine, but he had tied a sponge under his chin, and let the wine run +down into it, without drinking a drop. Then he lay down and when he had lain a +while, he began to snore, as if in the deepest sleep. The twelve princesses +heard that, and laughed, and the eldest said, “He, too, might as well +have saved his life.” With that they got up, opened wardrobes, presses, +cupboards, and brought out pretty dresses; dressed themselves before the +mirrors, sprang about, and rejoiced at the prospect of the dance. Only the +youngest said, “I know not how it is; you are very happy, but I feel very +strange; some misfortune is certainly about to befall us.” “Thou +art a goose, who art always frightened,” said the eldest. “Hast +thou forgotten how many Kings’ sons have already come here in vain? I had +hardly any need to give the soldier a sleeping-draught, in any case the clown +would not have awakened.” When they were all ready they looked carefully +at the soldier, but he had closed his eyes and did not move or stir, so they +felt themselves quite secure. The eldest then went to her bed and tapped it; it +immediately sank into the earth, and one after the other they descended through +the opening, the eldest going first. The soldier, who had watched everything, +tarried no longer, put on his little cloak, and went down last with the +youngest. Half-way down the steps, he just trod a little on her dress; she was +terrified at that, and cried out, “What is that? who is pulling my +dress?” “Don’t be so silly!” said the eldest, +“you have caught it on a nail.” Then they went all the way down, +and when they were at the bottom, they were standing in a wonderfully pretty +avenue of trees, all the leaves of which were of silver, and shone and +glistened. The soldier thought, “I must carry a token away with +me,” and broke off a twig from one of them, on which the tree cracked +with a loud report. The youngest cried out again. “Something is wrong, +did you hear the crack?” But the eldest said, “It is a gun fired +for joy, because we have got rid of our prince so quickly.” After that +they came into an avenue where all the leaves were of gold, and lastly into a +third where they were of bright diamonds; he broke off a twig from each, which +made such a crack each time that the youngest started back in terror, but the +eldest still maintained that they were salutes. They went on and came to a +great lake whereon stood twelve little boats, and in every boat sat a handsome +prince, all of whom were waiting for the twelve, and each took one of them with +him, but the soldier seated himself by the youngest. Then her prince said, +“I can’t tell why the boat is so much heavier to-day; I shall have +to row with all my strength, if I am to get it across.” “What +should cause that,” said the youngest, “but the warm weather? I +feel very warm too.” On the opposite side of the lake stood a splendid, +brightly-lit castle, from whence resounded the joyous music of trumpets and +kettle-drums. They rowed over there, entered, and each prince danced with the +girl he loved, but the soldier danced with them unseen, and when one of them +had a cup of wine in her hand he drank it up, so that the cup was empty when +she carried it to her mouth; the youngest was alarmed at this, but the eldest +always made her be silent. They danced there till three o’clock in the +morning when all the shoes were danced into holes, and they were forced to +leave off; the princes rowed them back again over the lake, and this time the +soldier seated himself by the eldest. On the shore they took leave of their +princes, and promised to return the following night. When they reached the +stairs the soldier ran on in front and lay down in his bed, and when the twelve +had come up slowly and wearily, he was already snoring so loudly that they +could all hear him, and they said, “So far as he is concerned, we are +safe.” They took off their beautiful dresses, laid them away, put the +worn-out shoes under the bed, and lay down. Next morning the soldier was +resolved not to speak, but to watch the wonderful goings on, and again went +with them. Then everything was done just as it had been done the first time, +and each time they danced until their shoes were worn to pieces. But the third +time he took a cup away with him as a token. When the hour had arrived for him +to give his answer, he took the three twigs and the cup, and went to the King, +but the twelve stood behind the door, and listened for what he was going to +say. When the King put the question, “Where have my twelve daughters +danced their shoes to pieces in the night?” he answered, “In an +underground castle with twelve princes,” and related how it had come to +pass, and brought out the tokens. The King then summoned his daughters, and +asked them if the soldier had told the truth, and when they saw that they were +betrayed, and that falsehood would be of no avail, they were obliged to confess +all. Thereupon the King asked which of them he would have to wife? He answered, +“I am no longer young, so give me the eldest.” Then the wedding was +celebrated on the self-same day, and the kingdom was promised him after the +King’s death. But the princes were bewitched for as many days as they had +danced nights with the twelve. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap134"></a>134 The Six Servants</h3> + +<p> +In former times there lived an aged Queen who was a sorceress, and her daughter +was the most beautiful maiden under the sun. The old woman, however, had no +other thought than how to lure mankind to destruction, and when a wooer +appeared, she said that whosoever wished to have her daughter, must first +perform a task, or die. Many had been dazzled by the daughter’s beauty, +and had actually risked this, but they never could accomplish what the old +woman enjoined them to do, and then no mercy was shown; they had to kneel down, +and their heads were struck off. A certain King’s son who had also heard +of the maiden’s beauty, said to his father, “Let me go there, I +want to demand her in marriage.” “Never,” answered the King; +“if you were to go, it would be going to your death.” On this the +son lay down and was sick unto death, and for seven years he lay there, and no +physician could heal him. When the father perceived that all hope was over, +with a heavy heart he said to him, “Go thither, and try your luck, for I +know no other means of curing you.” When the son heard that, he rose from +his bed and was well again, and joyfully set out on his way. +</p> + +<p> +And it came to pass that as he was riding across a heath, he saw from afar +something like a great heap of hay lying on the ground, and when he drew +nearer, he could see that it was the stomach of a man, who had laid himself +down there, but the stomach looked like a small mountain. When the fat man saw +the traveller, he stood up and said, “If you are in need of any one, take +me into your service.” The prince answered, “What can I do with +such a great big man?” “Oh,” said the Stout One, “this +is nothing, when I stretch myself out well, I am three thousand times +fatter.” “If that’s the case,” said the prince, +“I can make use of thee, come with me.” So the Stout One followed +the prince, and after a while they found another man who was lying on the +ground with his ear laid to the turf. “What art thou doing there?” +asked the King’s son. “I am listening,” replied the man. +“What art thou listening to so attentively?” “I am listening +to what is just going on in the world, for nothing escapes my ears; I even hear +the grass growing.” “Tell me,” said the prince, “what +thou hearest at the court of the old Queen who has the beautiful +daughter.” Then he answered, “I hear the whizzing of the sword that +is striking off a wooer’s head.” The King’s son said, +“I can make use of thee, come with me.” They went onwards, and then +saw a pair of feet lying and part of a pair of legs, but could not see the rest +of the body. When they had walked on for a great distance, they came to the +body, and at last to the head also. “Why,” said the prince, +“what a tall rascal thou art!” “Oh,” replied the Tall +One, “that is nothing at all yet; when I really stretch out my limbs, I +am three thousand times as tall, and taller than the highest mountain on earth. +I will gladly enter your service, if you will take me.” “Come with +me,” said the prince, “I can make use of thee.” They went +onwards and found a man sitting by the road who had bound up his eyes. The +prince said to him, “Hast thou weak eyes, that thou canst not look at the +light?” “No,” replied the man, “but I must not remove +the bandage, for whatsoever I look at with my eyes, splits to pieces, my glance +is so powerful. If you can use that, I shall be glad to serve you.” +“Come with me,” replied the King’s son, “I can make use +of thee.” They journeyed onwards and found a man who was lying in the hot +sunshine, trembling and shivering all over his body, so that not a limb was +still. “How canst thou shiver when the sun is shining so warm?” +said the King’s son. “Alack,” replied the man, “I am of +quite a different nature. The hotter it is, the colder I am, and the frost +pierces through all my bones; and the colder it is, the hotter I am. In the +midst of ice, I cannot endure the heat, nor in the midst of fire, the +cold.” “Thou art a strange fellow,” said the prince, +“but if thou wilt enter my service, follow me.” They travelled +onwards, and saw a man standing who made a long neck and looked about him, and +could see over all the mountains. “What art thou looking at so +eagerly?” said the King’s son. The man replied, “I have such +sharp eyes that I can see into every forest and field, and hill and valley, all +over the world.” The prince said, “Come with me if thou wilt, for I +am still in want of such an one.” +</p> + +<p> +And now the King’s son and his six servants came to the town where the +aged Queen dwelt. He did not tell her who he was, but said, “If you will +give me your beautiful daughter, I will perform any task you set me.” The +sorceress was delighted to get such a handsome youth as this into her net, and +said, “I will set thee three tasks, and if thou art able to perform them +all, thou shalt be husband and master of my daughter.” “What is the +first to be?” “Thou shalt fetch me my ring which I have dropped +into the Red Sea.” So the King’s son went home to his servants and +said, “The first task is not easy. A ring is to be got out of the Red +Sea. Come, find some way of doing it.” Then the man with the sharp sight +said, “I will see where it is lying,” and looked down into the +water and said, “It is sticking there, on a pointed stone.” The +Tall One carried them thither, and said, “I would soon get it out, if I +could only see it.” “Oh, is that all!” cried the Stout One, +and lay down and put his mouth to the water, on which all the waves fell into +it just as if it had been a whirlpool, and he drank up the whole sea till it +was as dry as a meadow. The Tall One stooped down a little, and brought out the +ring with his hand. Then the King’s son rejoiced when he had the ring, +and took it to the old Queen. She was astonished, and said, “Yes, it is +the right ring. Thou hast safely performed the first task, but now comes the +second. Dost thou see the meadow in front of my palace? Three hundred fat oxen +are feeding there, and these must thou eat, skin, hair, bones, horns and all, +and down below in my cellar lie three hundred casks of wine, and these thou +must drink up as well, and if one hair of the oxen, or one little drop of the +wine is left, thy life will be forfeited to me.” “May I invite no +guests to this repast?” inquired the prince, “no dinner is good +without some company.” The old woman laughed maliciously, and replied, +“Thou mayst invite one for the sake of companionship, but no more.” +</p> + +<p> +The King’s son went to his servants and said to the Stout One, +“Thou shalt be my guest to-day, and shalt eat thy fill.” Hereupon +the Stout One stretched himself out and ate the three hundred oxen without +leaving one single hair, and then he asked if he was to have nothing but his +breakfast. He drank the wine straight from the casks without feeling any need +of a glass, and he licked the last drop from his finger-nails. When the meal +was over, the prince went to the old woman, and told her that the second task +also was performed. She wondered at this and said, “No one has ever done +so much before, but one task still remains,” and she thought to herself, +“Thou shalt not escape me, and wilt not keep thy head on thy shoulders! +This night,” said she, “I will bring my daughter to thee in thy +chamber, and thou shalt put thine arms round her, but when you are sitting +there together, beware of falling asleep. When twelve o’clock is +striking, I will come, and if she is then no longer in thine arms, thou art +lost.” The prince thought, “The task is easy, I will most certainly +keep my eyes open.” Nevertheless he called his servants, told them what +the old woman had said, and remarked, “Who knows what treachery lurks +behind this? Foresight is a good thing keep watch, and take care that the +maiden does not go out of my room again.” When night fell, the old woman +came with her daughter, and gave her into the princes’s arms, and then +the Tall One wound himself round the two in a circle, and the Stout One placed +himself by the door, so that no living creature could enter. There the two sat, +and the maiden spake never a word, but the moon shone through the window on her +face, and the prince could behold her wondrous beauty. He did nothing but gaze +at her, and was filled with love and happiness, and his eyes never felt weary. +This lasted until eleven o’clock, when the old woman cast such a spell +over all of them that they fell asleep, and at the self-same moment the maiden +was carried away. +</p> + +<p> +Then they all slept soundly until a quarter to twelve, when the magic lost its +power, and all awoke again. “Oh, misery and misfortune!” cried the +prince, “now I am lost!” The faithful servants also began to +lament, but the Listener said, “Be quiet, I want to listen.” Then +he listened for an instant and said, “She is on a rock, three hundred +leagues from hence, bewailing her fate. Thou alone, Tall One, canst help her; +if thou wilt stand up, thou wilt be there in a couple of steps.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” answered the Tall One, “but the one with the sharp +eyes must go with me, that we may destroy the rock.” Then the Tall One +took the one with bandaged eyes on his back, and in the twinkling of an eye +they were on the enchanted rock. The Tall One immediately took the bandage from +the other’s eyes, and he did but look round, and the rock shivered into a +thousand pieces. Then the Tall One took the maiden in his arms, carried her +back in a second, then fetched his companion with the same rapidity, and before +it struck twelve they were all sitting as they had sat before, quite merrily +and happily. When twelve struck, the aged sorceress came stealing in with a +malicious face, which seemed to say, “Now he is mine!” for she +believed that her daughter was on the rock three hundred leagues off. But when +she saw her in the prince’s arms, she was alarmed, and said, “Here +is one who knows more than I do!” She dared not make any opposition, and +was forced to give him her daughter. But she whispered in her ear, “It is +a disgrace to thee to have to obey common people, and that thou art not allowed +to choose a husband to thine own liking.” +</p> + +<p> +On this the proud heart of the maiden was filled with anger, and she meditated +revenge. Next morning she caused three hundred great bundles of wood to be got +together, and said to the prince that though the three tasks were performed, +she would still not be his wife until some one was ready to seat himself in the +midst of the wood, and bear the fire. She thought that none of his servants +would let themselves be burnt for him, and that out of love for her, he himself +would place himself upon it, and then she would be free. But the servants said, +“Every one of us has done something except the Frosty One, he must set to +work,” and they put him in the middle of the pile, and set fire to it. +Then the fire began to burn, and burnt for three days until all the wood was +consumed, and when the flames had burnt out, the Frosty One was standing amid +the ashes, trembling like an aspen leaf, and saying, “I never felt such a +frost during the whole course of my life; if it had lasted much longer, I +should have been benumbed!” +</p> + +<p> +As no other pretext was to be found, the beautiful maiden was now forced to +take the unknown youth as a husband. But when they drove away to church, the +old woman said, “I cannot endure the disgrace,” and sent her +warriors after them with orders to cut down all who opposed them, and bring +back her daughter. But the Listener had sharpened his ears, and heard the +secret discourse of the old woman. “What shall we do?” said he to +the Stout One. But he knew what to do, and spat out once or twice behind the +carriage some of the sea-water which he had drunk, and a great sea arose in +which the warriors were caught and drowned. When the sorceress perceived that, +she sent her mailed knights; but the Listener heard the rattling of their +armour, and undid the bandage from one eye of Sharp-eyes, who looked for a +while rather fixedly at the enemy’s troops, on which they all sprang to +pieces like glass. Then the youth and the maiden went on their way undisturbed, +and when the two had been blessed in church, the six servants took leave, and +said to their master, “Your wishes are now satisfied, you need us no +longer, we will go our way and seek our fortunes.” +</p> + +<p> +Half a league from the palace of the prince’s father was a village near +which a swineherd tended his herd, and when they came thither the prince said +to his wife, “Do you know who I really am? I am no prince, but a herder +of swine, and the man who is there with that herd, is my father. We two shall +have to set to work also, and help him.” Then he alighted with her at the +inn, and secretly told the innkeepers to take away her royal apparel during the +night. So when she awoke in the morning, she had nothing to put on, and the +innkeeper’s wife gave her an old gown and a pair of worsted stockings, +and at the same time seemed to consider it a great present, and said, “If +it were not for the sake of your husband I should have given you nothing at +all!” Then the princess believed that he really was a swineherd, and +tended the herd with him, and thought to herself, “I have deserved this +for my haughtiness and pride.” This lasted for a week, and then she could +endure it no longer, for she had sores on her feet. And now came a couple of +people who asked if she knew who her husband was. “Yes,” she +answered, “he is a swineherd, and has just gone out with cords and ropes +to try to drive a little bargain.” But they said, “Just come with +us, and we will take you to him,” and they took her up to the palace, and +when she entered the hall, there stood her husband in kingly raiment. But she +did not recognize him until he took her in his arms, kissed her, and said, +“I suffered much for thee and now thou, too, hast had to suffer for +me.” And then the wedding was celebrated, and he who has told you all +this, wishes that he, too, had been present at it. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap135"></a>135 The White Bride and the Black One</h3> + +<p> +A woman was going about the unenclosed land with her daughter and her +step-daughter cutting fodder, when the Lord came walking towards them in the +form of a poor man, and asked, “Which is the way into the village?” +“If you want to know,” said the mother, “seek it for +yourself,” and the daughter added, “If you are afraid you will not +find it, take a guide with you.” But the step-daughter said, “Poor +man, I will take you there, come with me.” Then God was angry with the +mother and daughter, and turned his back on them, and wished that they should +become as black as night and as ugly as sin. To the poor step-daughter, +however, God was gracious, and went with her, and when they were near the +village, he said a blessing over her, and spake, “Choose three things for +thyself, and I will grant them to thee.” Then said the maiden, “I +should like to be as beautiful and fair as the sun,” and instantly she +was white and fair as day. “Then I should like to have a purse of money +which would never grow empty.” That the Lord gave her also, but he said, +“Do not forget what is best of all.” Said she, “For my third +wish, I desire, after my death, to inhabit the eternal kingdom of +Heaven.” That also was granted unto her, and then the Lord left her. When +the step-mother came home with her daughter, and they saw that they were both +as black as coal and ugly, but that the step-daughter was white and beautiful, +wickedness increased still more in their hearts, and they thought of nothing +else but how they could do her an injury. The step-daughter, however, had a +brother called Reginer, whom she loved much, and she told him all that had +happened. Once on a time Reginer said to her, “Dear sister, I will take +thy likeness, that I may continually see thee before mine eyes, for my love for +thee is so great that I should like always to look at thee.” Then she +answered, “But, I pray thee, let no one see the picture.” So he +painted his sister and hung up the picture in his room; he, however, dwelt in +the King’s palace, for he was his coachman. Every day he went and stood +before the picture, and thanked God for the happiness of having such a dear +sister. Now it happened that the King whom he served, had just lost his wife, +who had been so beautiful that no one could be found to compare with her, and +on this account the King was in deep grief. The attendants about the court, +however, remarked that the coachman stood daily before this beautiful picture, +and they were jealous of him, so they informed the King. Then the latter +ordered the picture to be brought to him, and when he saw that it was like his +lost wife in every respect, except that it was still more beautiful, he fell +mortally in love with it. He caused the coachman to be brought before him, and +asked whom the portrait represented? The coachman said it was his sister, so +the King resolved to take no one but her as his wife, and gave him a carriage +and horses and splendid garments of cloth of gold, and sent him forth to fetch +his chosen bride. When Reginer came on this errand, his sister was glad, but +the black maiden was jealous of her good fortune, and grew angry above all +measure, and said to her mother, “Of what use are all your arts to us now +when you cannot procure such a piece of luck for me?” “Be +quiet,” said the old woman, “I will soon divert it to you,” +and by her arts of witchcraft, she so troubled the eyes of the coachman that he +was half-blind, and she stopped the ears of the white maiden so that she was +half-deaf. Then they got into the carriage, first the bride in her noble royal +apparel, then the step-mother with her daughter, and Reginer sat on the box to +drive. When they had been on the way for some time the coachman cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Cover thee well, my sister dear,<br/> +That the rain may not wet thee,<br/> +That the wind may not load thee with dust,<br/> +That thou may’st be fair and beautiful<br/> +When thou appearest before the King.” +</p> + +<p> +The bride asked, “What is my dear brother saying?” +“Ah,” said the old woman, “he says that you ought to take off +your golden dress and give it to your sister.” Then she took it off, and +put it on the black maiden, who gave her in exchange for it a shabby grey gown. +They drove onwards, and a short time afterwards, the brother again cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Cover thee well, my sister dear,<br/> +That the rain may not wet thee,<br/> +That the wind may not load thee with dust,<br/> +That thou may’st be fair and beautiful<br/> +When thou appearest before the King.” +</p> + +<p> +The bride asked, “What is my dear brother saying?” +“Ah,” said the old woman, “he says that you ought to take off +your golden hood and give it to your sister.” So she took off the hood +and put it on her sister, and sat with her own head uncovered. And they drove +on farther. After a while, the brother once more cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Cover thee well, my sister dear,<br/> +That the rain may not wet thee,<br/> +That the wind may not load thee with dust,<br/> +That thou may’st be fair and beautiful<br/> +When thou appearest before the King.” +</p> + +<p> +The bride asked, “What is my dear brother saying?” +“Ah,” said the old woman, “he says you must look out of the +carriage.” They were, however, just on a bridge, which crossed deep +water. When the bride stood up and leant forward out of the carriage, they both +pushed her out, and she fell into the middle of the water. At the same moment +that she sank, a snow-white duck arose out of the mirror-smooth water, and swam +down the river. The brother had observed nothing of it, and drove the carriage +on until they reached the court. Then he took the black maiden to the King as +his sister, and thought she really was so, because his eyes were dim, and he +saw the golden garments glittering. When the King saw the boundless ugliness of +his intended bride, he was very angry, and ordered the coachman to be thrown +into a pit which was full of adders and nests of snakes. The old witch, +however, knew so well how to flatter the King and deceive his eyes by her arts, +that he kept her and her daughter until she appeared quite endurable to him, +and he really married her. +</p> + +<p> +One evening when the black bride was sitting on the King’s knee, a white +duck came swimming up the gutter to the kitchen, and said to the kitchen-boy, +“Boy, light a fire, that I may warm my feathers.” The kitchen-boy +did it, and lighted a fire on the hearth. Then came the duck and sat down by +it, and shook herself and smoothed her feathers to rights with her bill. While +she was thus sitting and enjoying herself, she asked, “What is my brother +Reginer doing?” The scullery-boy replied, “He is imprisoned in the +pit with adders and with snakes.” Then she asked, “What is the +black witch doing in the house?” The boy answered, “She is loved by +the King and happy.” +</p> + +<p> +“May God have mercy on him,” said the duck, and swam forth by the +sink. +</p> + +<p> +The next night she came again and put the same questions, and the third night +also. Then the kitchen-boy could bear it no longer, and went to the King and +discovered all to him. The King, however, wanted to see it for himself, and +next evening went thither, and when the duck thrust her head in through the +sink, he took his sword and cut through her neck, and suddenly she changed into +a most beautiful maiden, exactly like the picture, which her brother had made +of her. The King was full of joy, and as she stood there quite wet, he caused +splendid apparel to be brought and had her clothed in it. Then she told how she +had been betrayed by cunning and falsehood, and at last thrown down into the +water, and her first request was that her brother should be brought forth from +the pit of snakes, and when the King had fulfilled this request, he went into +the chamber where the old witch was, and asked, What does she deserve who does +this and that? and related what had happened. Then was she so blinded that she +was aware of nothing and said, “She deserves to be stripped naked, and +put into a barrel with nails, and that a horse should be harnessed to the +barrel, and the horse sent all over the world.” All of which was done to +her, and to her black daughter. But the King married the white and beautiful +bride, and rewarded her faithful brother, and made him a rich and distinguished +man. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap136"></a>136 Iron John</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a King who had a great forest near his palace, full of +all kinds of wild animals. One day he sent out a huntsman to shoot him a roe, +but he did not come back. “Perhaps some accident has befallen him,” +said the King, and the next day he sent out two more huntsmen who were to +search for him, but they too stayed away. Then on the third day, he sent for +all his huntsmen, and said, “Scour the whole forest through, and do not +give up until ye have found all three.” But of these also, none came home +again, and of the pack of hounds which they had taken with them, none were seen +more. From that time forth, no one would any longer venture into the forest, +and it lay there in deep stillness and solitude, and nothing was seen of it, +but sometimes an eagle or a hawk flying over it. This lasted for many years, +when a strange huntsman announced himself to the King as seeking a situation, +and offered to go into the dangerous forest. The King, however, would not give +his consent, and said, “It is not safe in there; I fear it would fare +with thee no better than with the others, and thou wouldst never come out +again.” The huntsman replied, “Lord, I will venture it at my own +risk, of fear I know nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +The huntsman therefore betook himself with his dog to the forest. It was not +long before the dog fell in with some game on the way, and wanted to pursue it; +but hardly had the dog run two steps when it stood before a deep pool, could go +no farther, and a naked arm stretched itself out of the water, seized it, and +drew it under, When the huntsman saw that, he went back and fetched three men +to come with buckets and bale out the water. When they could see to the bottom +there lay a wild man whose body was brown like rusty iron, and whose hair hung +over his face down to his knees. They bound him with cords, and led him away to +the castle. There was great astonishment over the wild man; the King, however, +had him put in an iron cage in his court-yard, and forbade the door to be +opened on pain of death, and the Queen herself was to take the key into her +keeping. And from this time forth every one could again go into the forest with +safety. +</p> + +<p> +The King had a son of eight years, who was once playing in the court-yard, and +while he was playing, his golden ball fell into the cage. The boy ran thither +and said, “Give me my ball out.” “Not till thou hast opened +the door for me,” answered the man. “No,” said the boy, +“I will not do that; the King has forbidden it,” and ran away. The +next day he again went and asked for his ball; the wild man said, “Open +my door,” but the boy would not. On the third day the King had ridden out +hunting, and the boy went once more and said, “I cannot open the door +even if I wished, for I have not the key.” Then the wild man said, +“It lies under thy mother’s pillow, thou canst get it there.” +The boy, who wanted to have his ball back, cast all thought to the winds, and +brought the key. The door opened with difficulty, and the boy pinched his +fingers. When it was open the wild man stepped out, gave him the golden ball, +and hurried away. The boy had become afraid; he called and cried after him, +“Oh, wild man, do not go away, or I shall be beaten!” The wild man +turned back, took him up, set him on his shoulder, and went with hasty steps +into the forest. When the King came home, he observed the empty cage, and asked +the Queen how that had happened? She knew nothing about it, and sought the key, +but it was gone. She called the boy, but no one answered. The King sent out +people to seek for him in the fields, but they did not find him. Then he could +easily guess what had happened, and much grief reigned in the royal court. +</p> + +<p> +When the wild man had once more reached the dark forest, he took the boy down +from his shoulder, and said to him, “Thou wilt never see thy father and +mother again, but I will keep thee with me, for thou hast set me free, and I +have compassion on thee. If thou dost all I bid thee, thou shalt fare well. Of +treasure and gold have I enough, and more than anyone in the world.” He +made a bed of moss for the boy on which he slept, and the next morning the man +took him to a well, and said, “Behold, the gold well is as bright and +clear as crystal, thou shalt sit beside it, and take care that nothing falls +into it, or it will be polluted. I will come every evening to see if thou hast +obeyed my order.” The boy placed himself by the margin of the well, and +often saw a golden fish or a golden snake show itself therein, and took care +that nothing fell in. As he was thus sitting, his finger hurt him so violently +that he involuntarily put it in the water. He drew it quickly out again, but +saw that it was quite gilded, and whatsoever pains he took to wash the gold off +again, all was to no purpose. In the evening Iron John came back, looked at the +boy, and said, “What has happened to the well?” “Nothing, +nothing,” he answered, and held his finger behind his back, that the man +might not see it. But he said, “Thou hast dipped thy finger into the +water, this time it may pass, but take care thou dost not again let anything go +in.” By daybreak the boy was already sitting by the well and watching it. +His finger hurt him again and he passed it over his head, and then unhappily a +hair fell down into the well. He took it quickly out, but it was already quite +gilded. Iron John came, and already knew what had happened. “Thou hast +let a hair fall into the well,” said he. “I will allow thee to +watch by it once more, but if this happens for the third time then the well is +polluted, and thou canst no longer remain with me.” +</p> + +<p> +On the third day, the boy sat by the well, and did not stir his finger, however +much it hurt him. But the time was long to him, and he looked at the reflection +of his face on the surface of the water. And as he still bent down more and +more while he was doing so, and trying to look straight into the eyes, his long +hair fell down from his shoulders into the water. He raised himself up quickly, +but the whole of the hair of his head was already golden and shone like the +sun. You may imagine how terrified the poor boy was! He took his +pocket-handkerchief and tied it round his head, in order that the man might not +see it. When he came he already knew everything, and said, “Take the +handkerchief off.” Then the golden hair streamed forth, and let the boy +excuse himself as he might, it was of no use. “Thou hast not stood the +trial, and canst stay here no longer. Go forth into the world, there thou wilt +learn what poverty is. But as thou hast not a bad heart, and as I mean well by +thee, there is one thing I will grant thee; if thou fallest into any +difficulty, come to the forest and cry, ‘Iron John,’ and then I +will come and help thee. My power is great, greater than thou thinkest, and I +have gold and silver in abundance.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the King’s son left the forest, and walked by beaten and unbeaten +paths ever onwards until at length he reached a great city. There he looked for +work, but could find none, and he had learnt nothing by which he could help +himself. At length he went to the palace, and asked if they would take him in. +The people about court did not at all know what use they could make of him, but +they liked him, and told him to stay. At length the cook took him into his +service, and said he might carry wood and water, and rake the cinders together. +Once when it so happened that no one else was at hand, the cook ordered him to +carry the food to the royal table, but as he did not like to let his golden +hair be seen, he kept his little cap on. Such a thing as that had never yet +come under the King’s notice, and he said, “When thou comest to the +royal table thou must take thy hat off.” He answered, “Ah, Lord, I +cannot; I have a bad sore place on my head.” Then the King had the cook +called before him and scolded him, and asked how he could take such a boy as +that into his service; and that he was to turn him off at once. The cook, +however, had pity on him, and exchanged him for the gardener’s boy. +</p> + +<p> +And now the boy had to plant and water the garden, hoe and dig, and bear the +wind and bad weather. Once in summer when he was working alone in the garden, +the day was so warm he took his little cap off that the air might cool him. As +the sun shone on his hair it glittered and flashed so that the rays fell into +the bed-room of the King’s daughter, and up she sprang to see what that +could be. Then she saw the boy, and cried to him, “Boy, bring me a wreath +of flowers.” He put his cap on with all haste, and gathered wild +field-flowers and bound them together. When he was ascending the stairs with +them, the gardener met him, and said, “How canst thou take the +King’s daughter a garland of such common flowers? Go quickly, and get +another, and seek out the prettiest and rarest.” “Oh, no,” +replied the boy, “the wild ones have more scent, and will please her +better.” When he got into the room, the King’s daughter said, +“Take thy cap off, it is not seemly to keep it on in my presence.” +He again said, “I may not, I have a sore head.” She, however, +caught at his cap and pulled it off, and then his golden hair rolled down on +his shoulders, and it was splendid to behold. He wanted to run out, but she +held him by the arm, and gave him a handful of ducats. With these he departed, +but he cared nothing for the gold pieces. He took them to the gardener, and +said, “I present them to thy children, they can play with them.” +The following day the King’s daughter again called to him that he was to +bring her a wreath of field-flowers, and when he went in with it, she instantly +snatched at his cap, and wanted to take it away from him, but he held it fast +with both hands. She again gave him a handful of ducats, but he would not keep +them, and gave them to the gardener for playthings for his children. On the +third day things went just the same; she could not get his cap away from him, +and he would not have her money. +</p> + +<p> +Not long afterwards, the country was overrun by war. The King gathered together +his people, and did not know whether or not he could offer any opposition to +the enemy, who was superior in strength and had a mighty army. Then said the +gardener’s boy, “I am grown up, and will go to the wars also, only +give me a horse.” The others laughed, and said, “Seek one for +thyself when we are gone, we will leave one behind us in the stable for +thee.” When they had gone forth, he went into the stable, and got the +horse out; it was lame of one foot, and limped hobblety jig, hobblety jig; +nevertheless he mounted it, and rode away to the dark forest. When he came to +the outskirts, he called “Iron John,” three times so loudly that it +echoed through the trees. Thereupon the wild man appeared immediately, and +said, “What dost thou desire?” “I want a strong steed, for I +am going to the wars.” “That thou shalt have, and still more than +thou askest for.” Then the wild man went back into the forest, and it was +not long before a stable-boy came out of it, who led a horse that snorted with +its nostrils, and could hardly be restrained, and behind them followed a great +troop of soldiers entirely equipped in iron, and their swords flashed in the +sun. The youth made over his three-legged horse to the stable-boy, mounted the +other, and rode at the head of the soldiers. When he got near the battle-field +a great part of the King’s men had already fallen, and little was wanting +to make the rest give way. Then the youth galloped thither with his iron +soldiers, broke like a hurricane over the enemy, and beat down all who opposed +him. They began to fly, but the youth pursued, and never stopped, until there +was not a single man left. Instead, however, of returning to the King, he +conducted his troop by bye-ways back to the forest, and called forth Iron John. +“What dost thou desire?” asked the wild man. “Take back thy +horse and thy troops, and give me my three-legged horse again.” All that +he asked was done, and soon he was riding on his three-legged horse. When the +King returned to his palace, his daughter went to meet him, and wished him joy +of his victory. “I am not the one who carried away the victory,” +said he, “but a stranger knight who came to my assistance with his +soldiers.” The daughter wanted to hear who the strange knight was, but +the King did not know, and said, “He followed the enemy, and I did not +see him again.” She inquired of the gardener where his boy was, but he +smiled, and said, “He has just come home on his three-legged horse, and +the others have been mocking him, and crying, “Here comes our hobblety +jig back again!” They asked, too, “Under what hedge hast thou been +lying sleeping all the time?” He, however, said, “I did the best of +all, and it would have gone badly without me.” And then he was still more +ridiculed.” +</p> + +<p> +The King said to his daughter, “I will proclaim a great feast that shall +last for three days, and thou shalt throw a golden apple. Perhaps the unknown +will come to it.” When the feast was announced, the youth went out to the +forest, and called Iron John. “What dost thou desire?” asked he. +“That I may catch the King’s daughter’s golden apple.” +“It is as safe as if thou hadst it already,” said Iron John. +“Thou shalt likewise have a suit of red armour for the occasion, and ride +on a spirited chestnut-horse.” When the day came, the youth galloped to +the spot, took his place amongst the knights, and was recognized by no one. The +King’s daughter came forward, and threw a golden apple to the knights, +but none of them caught it but he, only as soon as he had it he galloped away. +</p> + +<p> +On the second day Iron John equipped him as a white knight, and gave him a +white horse. Again he was the only one who caught the apple, and he did not +linger an instant, but galloped off with it. The King grew angry, and said, +“That is not allowed; he must appear before me and tell his name.” +He gave the order that if the knight who caught the apple, should go away again +they should pursue him, and if he would not come back willingly, they were to +cut him down and stab him. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day, he received from Iron John a suit of black armour and a black +horse, and again he caught the apple. But when he was riding off with it, the +King’s attendants pursued him, and one of them got so near him that he +wounded the youth’s leg with the point of his sword. The youth +nevertheless escaped from them, but his horse leapt so violently that the +helmet fell from the youth’s head, and they could see that he had golden +hair. They rode back and announced this to the King. +</p> + +<p> +The following day the King’s daughter asked the gardener about his boy. +“He is at work in the garden; the queer creature has been at the festival +too, and only came home yesterday evening; he has likewise shown my children +three golden apples which he has won.” +</p> + +<p> +The King had him summoned into his presence, and he came and again had his +little cap on his head. But the King’s daughter went up to him and took +it off, and then his golden hair fell down over his shoulders, and he was so +handsome that all were amazed. “Art thou the knight who came every day to +the festival, always in different colours, and who caught the three golden +apples?” asked the King. “Yes,” answered he, “and here +the apples are,” and he took them out of his pocket, and returned them to +the King. “If you desire further proof, you may see the wound which your +people gave me when they followed me. But I am likewise the knight who helped +you to your victory over your enemies.” “If thou canst perform such +deeds as that, thou art no gardener’s boy; tell me, who is thy +father?” “My father is a mighty King, and gold have I in plenty as +great as I require.” “I well see,” said the King, “that +I owe thanks to thee; can I do anything to please thee?” +“Yes,” answered he, “that indeed you can. Give me your +daughter to wife.” The maiden laughed, and said, “He does not stand +much on ceremony, but I have already seen by his golden hair that he was no +gardener’s boy,” and then she went and kissed him. His father and +mother came to the wedding, and were in great delight, for they had given up +all hope of ever seeing their dear son again. And as they were sitting at the +marriage-feast, the music suddenly stopped, the doors opened, and a stately +King came in with a great retinue. He went up to the youth, embraced him and +said, “I am Iron John, and was by enchantment a wild man, but thou hast +set me free; all the treasures which I possess, shall be thy property.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap137"></a>137 The Three Black Princesses</h3> + +<p> +East India was besieged by an enemy who would not retire until he had received +six hundred dollars. Then the townsfolk caused it to be proclaimed by beat of +drum that whosoever was able to procure the money should be burgomaster. Now +there was a poor fisherman who fished on the lake with his son, and the enemy +came and took the son prisoner, and gave the father six hundred dollars for +him. So the father went and gave them to the great men of the town, and the +enemy departed, and the fisherman became burgomaster. Then it was proclaimed +that whosoever did not say, “Mr. Burgomaster,” should be put to +death on the gallows. +</p> + +<p> +The son got away again from the enemy, and came to a great forest on a high +mountain. The mountain opened, and he went into a great enchanted castle, +wherein chairs, tables, and benches were all hung with black. Then came three +young princesses who were entirely dressed in black, but had a little white on +their faces; they told him he was not to be afraid, they would not hurt him, +and that he could deliver them. He said he would gladly do that, if he did but +know how. At this, they told him he must for a whole year not speak to them and +also not look at them, and what he wanted to have he was just to ask for, and +if they dared give him an answer they would do so. When he had been there for a +long while he said he should like to go to his father, and they told him he +might go. He was to take with him this purse with money, put on this coat, and +in a week he must be back there again. +</p> + +<p> +Then he was caught up, and was instantly in East India. He could no longer find +his father in the fisherman’s hut, and asked the people where the poor +fisherman could be, and they told him he must not say that, or he would come to +the gallows. Then he went to his father and said, “Fisherman, how hast +thou got here?” Then the father said, “Thou must not say that, if +the great men of the town knew of that, thou wouldst come to the +gallows.” He, however, would not stop, and was brought to the gallows. +When he was there, he said, “O, my masters, just give me leave to go to +the old fisherman’s hut.” Then he put on his old smock-frock, and +came back to the great men, and said, “Do ye not now see? Am I not the +son of the poor fisherman? Did I not earn bread for my father and mother in +this dress?” Hereupon his father knew him again, and begged his pardon, +and took him home with him, and then he related all that had happened to him, +and how he had got into a forest on a high mountain, and the mountain had +opened and he had gone into an enchanted castle, where all was black, and three +young princesses had come to him who were black except a little white on their +faces. And they had told him not to fear, and that he could deliver them. Then +his mother said that might very likely not be a good thing to do, and that he +ought to take a holy-water vessel with him, and drop some boiling water on +their faces. +</p> + +<p> +He went back again, and he was in great fear, and he dropped the water on their +faces as they were sleeping, and they all turned half-white. Then all the three +princesses sprang up, and said, “Thou accursed dog, our blood shall cry +for vengeance on thee! Now there is no man born in the world, nor will any ever +be born who can set us free! We have still three brothers who are bound by +seven chains they shall tear thee to pieces.” Then there was a loud +shrieking all over the castle, and he sprang out of the window, and broke his +leg, and the castle sank into the earth again, the mountain shut to again, and +no one knew where the castle had stood. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap138"></a>138 Knoist and his Three Sons</h3> + +<p> +Between Werrel and Soist there lived a man whose name was Knoist, and he had +three sons. One was blind, the other lame, and the third stark-naked. Once on a +time they went into a field, and there they saw a hare. The blind one shot it, +the lame one caught it, the naked one put it in his pocket. Then they came to a +mighty big lake, on which there were three boats, one sailed, one sank, the +third had no bottom to it. They all three got into the one with no bottom to +it. Then they came to a mighty big forest in which there was a mighty big tree; +in the tree was a mighty big chapel in the chapel was a sexton made of +beech-wood and a box-wood parson, who dealt out holy-water with cudgels. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“How truly happy is that one<br/> +Who can from holy water run!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap139"></a>139 The Maid of Brakel</h3> + +<p> +A girl from Brakel once went to St. Anne’s Chapel at the foot of the +Hinnenberg, and as she wanted to have a husband, and thought there was no one +else in the chapel, she sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, holy Saint Anne!<br/> +Help me soon to a man.<br/> +Thou know’st him right well,<br/> +By Suttmer gate does he dwell,<br/> +His hair it is golden,<br/> +Thou know’st him right well.” +</p> + +<p> +The clerk, however, was standing behind the altar and heard that, so he cried +in a very gruff voice, “Thou shalt not have him! Thou shalt not have +him!” The maiden thought that the child Mary who stood by her mother Anne +had called out that to her, and was angry, and cried, “Fiddle de dee, +conceited thing, hold your tongue, and let your mother speak!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap140"></a>140 Domestic Servants</h3> + +<p> +“Whither goest thou?” “To Walpe.” “I to Walpe, +thou to Walpe, so, so, together we’ll go.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hast thou a man? What is his name?” “Cham.” “My +man Cham, thy man Cham; I to Walpe, thou to Walpe; so, so, together we’ll +go.” “Hast thou a child; how is he styled?” +“Wild.” “My child Wild, thy child Wild; my man Cham, thy man +Cham; I to Walpe, thou to Walpe, so, so, together we’ll go.” +“Hast thou a cradle? How callest thou thy cradle?” +“Hippodadle.” “My cradle Hippodadle, my child Wild, thy child +Wild, my man Cham, thy man Cham; I to Walpe, thou to Walpe, so, so, together +we’ll go.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hast thou also a drudge? what name has thy drudge?” +“From-thy-work-do-not-budge.” “My drudge, +From-thy-work-do-not-budge: my child Wild, thy child Wild; my man Cham, thy man +Cham; I to Walpe, thou to Walpe; so, so, together we’ll go.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap141"></a>141 The Lambkin and the Little Fish</h3> + +<p> +There were once a little brother and a little sister, who loved each other with +all their hearts. Their own mother was, however, dead, and they had a +step-mother, who was not kind to them, and secretly did everything she could to +hurt them. It so happened that the two were playing with other children in a +meadow before the house, and there was a pond in the meadow which came up to +one side of the house. The children ran about it, and caught each other, and +played at counting out. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Eneke Beneke, let me live,<br/> +And I to thee my bird will give.<br/> +The little bird, it straw shall seek,<br/> +The straw I’ll give to the cow to eat.<br/> +The pretty cow shall give me milk,<br/> +The milk I’ll to the baker take.<br/> +The baker he shall bake a cake,<br/> +The cake I’ll give unto the cat.<br/> +The cat shall catch some mice for that,<br/> +The mice I’ll hang up in the smoke,<br/> +And then you’ll see the snow.” +</p> + +<p> +They stood in a circle while they played this, and the one to whom the word +snow fell, had to run away and all the others ran after him and caught him. As +they were running about so merrily the step-mother watched them from the +window, and grew angry. And as she understood arts of witchcraft she bewitched +them both, and changed the little brother into a fish, and the little sister +into a lamb. Then the fish swam here and there about the pond and was very sad, +and the lambkin walked up and down the meadow, and was miserable, and could not +eat or touch one blade of grass. Thus passed a long time, and then strangers +came as visitors to the castle. The false step-mother thought, “This is a +good opportunity,” and called the cook and said to him, “Go and +fetch the lamb from the meadow and kill it, we have nothing else for the +visitors.” Then the cook went away and got the lamb, and took it into the +kitchen and tied its feet, and all this it bore patiently. When he had drawn +out his knife and was whetting it on the door-step to kill the lamb, he noticed +a little fish swimming backwards and forwards in the water, in front of the +kitchen-sink and looking up at him. This, however, was the brother, for when +the fish saw the cook take the lamb away, it followed them and swam along the +pond to the house; then the lamb cried down to it, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Ah, brother, in the pond so deep,<br/> +How sad is my poor heart!<br/> +Even now the cook he whets his knife<br/> +To take away my tender life.” +</p> + +<p> +The little fish answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Ah, little sister, up on high<br/> +How sad is my poor heart<br/> +While in this pond I lie.” +</p> + +<p> +When the cook heard that the lambkin could speak and said such sad words to the +fish down below, he was terrified and thought this could be no common lamb, but +must be bewitched by the wicked woman in the house. Then said he, “Be +easy, I will not kill thee,” and took another sheep and made it ready for +the guests, and conveyed the lambkin to a good peasant woman, to whom he +related all that he had seen and heard. +</p> + +<p> +The peasant was, however, the very woman who had been foster-mother to the +little sister, and she suspected at once who the lamb was, and went with it to +a wise woman. Then the wise woman pronounced a blessing over the lambkin and +the little fish, by means of which they regained their human forms, and after +this she took them both into a little hut in a great forest, where they lived +alone, but were contented and happy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap142"></a>142 Simeli Mountain</h3> + +<p> +There were once two brothers, the one rich, the other poor. The rich one, +however, gave nothing to the poor one, and he gained a scanty living by trading +in corn, and often did so badly that he had no bread for his wife and children. +Once when he was wheeling a barrow through the forest he saw, on one side of +him, a great, bare, naked-looking mountain, and as he had never seen it before, +he stood still and stared at it with amazement. +</p> + +<p> +While he was thus standing he saw twelve great, wild men coming towards him, +and as he believed they were robbers he pushed his barrow into the thicket, +climbed up a tree, and waited to see what would happen. The twelve men, +however, went to the mountain and cried, “Semsi mountain, Semsi mountain, +open,” and immediately the barren mountain opened down the middle, and +the twelve went into it, and as soon as they were within, it shut. After a +short time, however, it opened again, and the men came forth carrying heavy +sacks on their shoulders, and when they were all once more in the daylight they +said, “Semsi mountain, Semsi mountain, shut thyself;” then the +mountain closed together, and there was no longer any entrance to be seen to +it, and the twelve went away. </p> + +<p> +When they were quite out of sight the poor man got down from the tree, and was +curious to know what really was secretly hidden in the mountain. So he went up +to it and said, “Semsi mountain, Semsi mountain, open,” and the +mountain opened to him also. The he went inside, and the whole mountain was a +cavern full of silver and gold, and behind lay great piles of pearls and +sparkling jewels, heaped up like corn. The poor man hardly knew what to do, and +whether he might take any of these treasures for himself or not; but at last he +filled his pockets with gold, but he left the pearls and precious stones where +they were. When he came out again he also said, “Semsi mountain, Semsi +mountain, shut thyself;” and the mountain closed itself, and he went home +with his barrow. +</p> + +<p> +And now he had no more cause for anxiety, but could buy bread for his wife and +children with his gold, and wine into the bargain. He lived joyously and +uprightly, gave help to the poor, and did good to every one. When, however, the +money came to an end he went to his brother, borrowed a measure that held a +bushel, and brought himself some more, but did not touch any of the most +valuable things. When for the third time he wanted to fetch something, he again +borrowed the measure of his brother. The rich man had, however, long been +envious of his brother’s possessions, and of the handsome way of living +which he had set on foot, and could not understand from whence the riches came, +and what his brother wanted with the measure. Then he thought of a cunning +trick, and covered the bottom of the measure with pitch, and when he got the +measure back a piece of money was sticking in it. He at once went to his +brother and asked him, “What hast thou been measuring in the bushel +measure?” “Corn and barley,” said the other. Then he showed +him the piece of money, and threatened that if he did not tell the truth he +would accuse him before a court of justice. The poor man then told him +everything, just as it happened. The rich man, however, ordered his carriage to +be made ready, and drove away, resolved to use the opportunity better than his +brother had done, and to bring back with him quite different treasures. +</p> + +<p> +When he came to the mountain he cried, “Semsi mountain, Semsi mountain, +open.” The mountain opened, and he went inside it. There lay the +treasures all before him, and for a long time he did not know which to clutch +at first. At length he loaded himself with as many precious stones as he could +carry. He wished to carry his burden outside, but, as his heart and soul were +entirely full of the treasures, he had forgotten the name of the mountain, and +cried, “Simeli mountain, Simeli mountain, open.” That, however, was +not the right name, and the mountain never stirred, but remained shut. Then he +was alarmed, but the longer he thought about it the more his thoughts confused +themselves, and his treasures were no more of any use to him. In the evening +the mountain opened, and the twelve robbers came in, and when they saw him they +laughed, and cried out, “Bird, have we caught thee at last! Didst thou +think we had never noticed that thou hadst been in here twice? We could not +catch thee then; this third time thou shalt not get out again!” Then he +cried, “It was not I, it was my brother,” but let him beg for his +life and say what he would, they cut his head off. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap143"></a>143 Going A-Travelling</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor woman who had a son, who much wished to travel, but his +mother said, “How canst thou travel? We have no money at all for thee to +take away with thee.” Then said the son, “I will manage very well +for myself; I will always say, Not much, not much, not much.” +</p> + +<p> +So he walked for a long time and always said, “Not much, not much, not +much.” Then he passed by a company of fishermen and said, “God +speed you! not much, not much, not much.” “What sayst thou churl, +‘not much?’” And when the net was drawn out they had not +caught much fish. So one of them fell on the youth with a stick and said, +“Hast thou never seen me threshing?” “What ought I to say, +then?” asked the youth. “Thou must say, ‘Get it full, get it +full.’” After this he again walked a long time, and said, +“Get it full, get it full,” until he came to the gallows, where +they had got a poor sinner whom they were about to hang. Then said he, +“Good morning; get it full, get it full.” “What sayst thou, +knave, get it full? Dost thou want to make out that there are still more wicked +people in the world is not this enough?” And he again got some blows on +his back. “What am I to say, then?” said he. “Thou must say, +may God have pity on the poor soul.” +</p> + +<p> +Again the youth walked on for a long while and said, “May God have pity +on the poor soul!” Then he came to a pit by which stood a knacker who was +cutting up a horse. The youth said, “Good morning; God have pity on the +poor soul!” “What dost thou say, thou ill-tempered knave?” +and the knacker gave him such a box on the ear, that he could not see out of +his eyes. “What am I to say, then?” “Thou must say, +‘There lies the carrion in the pit!’” +</p> + +<p> +So he walked on, and always said, “There lies the carrion in the pit, +there lies the carrion in the pit.” And he came to a cart full of people, +so he said, “Good morning, there lies the carrion in the pit!” Then +the cart pushed him into a hole, and the driver took his whip and cracked it +upon the youth, till he was forced to crawl back to his mother, and as long as +he lived he never went out a-travelling again. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap144"></a>144 The Donkey</h3> + +<p> +Once on a time there lived a King and a Queen, who were rich, and had +everything they wanted, but no children. The Queen lamented over this day and +night, and said, “I am like a field on which nothing grows.” At +last God gave her her wish, but when the child came into the world, it did not +look like a human child, but was a little donkey. When the mother saw that, her +lamentations and outcries began in real earnest; she said she would far rather +have had no child at all than have a donkey, and that they were to throw it +into the water that the fishes might devour it. But the King said, “No, +since God has sent him he shall be my son and heir, and after my death sit on +the royal throne, and wear the kingly crown.” The donkey, therefore, was +brought up and grew bigger, and his ears grew up beautifully high and straight. +He was, however, of a merry disposition, jumped about, played and had especial +pleasure in music, so that he went to a celebrated musician and said, +“Teach me thine art, that I may play the lute as well as thou +dost.” “Ah, dear little master,” answered the musician, +“that would come very hard to you, your fingers are certainly not suited +to it, and are far too big. I am afraid the strings would not last.” No +excuses were of any use. The donkey was determined to play the lute; he was +persevering and industrious, and at last learnt to do it as well as the master +himself. The young lordling once went out walking full of thought and came to a +well, he looked into it and in the mirror-clear water saw his donkey’s +form. He was so distressed about it, that he went out into the wide world and +only took with him one faithful companion. They travelled up and down, and at +last they came into a kingdom where an old King reigned who had an only but +wonderfully beautiful daughter. The donkey said, “Here we will +stay,” knocked at the gate, and cried, “A guest is without open, +that he may enter.” As, however, the gate was not opened, he sat down, +took his lute and played it in the most delightful manner with his two +fore-feet. Then the door-keeper opened his eyes most wonderfully wide, and ran +to the King and said, “Outside by the gate sits a young donkey which +plays the lute as well as an experienced master!” “Then let the +musician come to me,” said the King. When, however, a donkey came in, +every one began to laugh at the lute-player. And now the donkey was asked to +sit down and eat with the servants. He, however, was unwilling, and said, +“I am no common stable-ass, I am a noble one.” Then they said, +“If that is what thou art, seat thyself with the men of war.” +“No,” said he, “I will sit by the King.” The King +smiled, and said good-humouredly, “Yes, it shall be as thou wilt, little +ass, come here to me.” Then he asked, “Little ass, how does my +daughter please thee?” The donkey turned his head towards her, looked at +her, nodded and said, “I like her above measure, I have never yet seen +anyone so beautiful as she is.” “Well, then, thou shalt sit next +her too,” said the King. “That is exactly what I wish,” said +the donkey, and he placed himself by her side, ate and drank, and knew how to +behave himself daintily and cleanly. When the noble beast had stayed a long +time at the King’s court, he thought, “What good does all this do +me, I shall still have to go home again?” let his head hang sadly, and +went to the King and asked for his dismissal. But the King had grown fond of +him, and said, “Little ass, what ails thee? Thou lookest as sour as a jug +of vinegar, I will give thee what thou wantest. Dost thou want gold?” +“No,” said the donkey, and shook his head. “Dost thou want +jewels and rich dress?” “No.” “Dost thou wish for half +my kingdom?” “Indeed, no.” Then said the King, “if I +did but know what would make thee content. Wilt thou have my pretty daughter to +wife?” “Ah, yes,” said the ass, “I should indeed like +her,” and all at once he became quite merry and full of happiness, for +that was exactly what he was wishing for. So a great and splendid wedding was +held. In the evening, when the bride and bridegroom were led into their +bed-room, the King wanted to know if the ass would behave well, and ordered a +servant to hide himself there. When they were both within, the bridegroom +bolted the door, looked around, and as he believed that they were quite alone, +he suddenly threw off his ass’s skin, and stood there in the form of a +handsome royal youth. “Now,” said he, “thou seest who I am, +and seest also that I am not unworthy of thee.” Then the bride was glad, +and kissed him, and loved him dearly. When morning came, he jumped up, put his +animal’s skin on again, and no one could have guessed what kind of a form +was hidden beneath it. Soon came the old King, “Ah,” cried he, +“is the little ass merry? But surely thou art sad?” said he to his +daughter, “that thou hast not got a proper man for thy husband?” +“Oh, no, dear father, I love him as well as if he were the handsomest in +the world, and I will keep him as long as I live.” The King was +surprised, but the servant who had concealed himself came and revealed +everything to him. The King said, “That cannot be true.” +“Then watch yourself the next night, and you will see it with your own +eyes; and hark you, lord King, if you were to take his skin away and throw it +in the fire, he would be forced to show himself in his true shape.” +“Thy advice is good,” said the King, and at night when they were +asleep, he stole in, and when he got to the bed he saw by the light of the moon +a noble-looking youth lying there, and the skin lay stretched on the ground. So +he took it away, and had a great fire lighted outside, and threw the skin into +it, and remained by it himself until it was all burnt to ashes. As, however, he +was anxious to know how the robbed man would behave himself, he stayed awake +the whole night and watched. When the youth had slept his sleep out, he got up +by the first light of morning, and wanted to put on the ass’s skin, but +it was not to be found. On this he was alarmed, and, full of grief and anxiety, +said, “Now I shall have to contrive to escape.” But when he went +out, there stood the King, who said, “My son, whither away in such haste? +what hast thou in mind? Stay here, thou art such a handsome man, thou shalt not +go away from me. I will now give thee half my kingdom, and after my death thou +shalt have the whole of it.” “Then I hope that what begins so well +may end well, and I will stay with you,” said the youth. And the old man +gave him half the kingdom, and in a year’s time, when he died, the youth +had the whole, and after the death of his father he had another kingdom as +well, and lived in all magnificence. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap145"></a>145 The Ungrateful Son</h3> + +<p> +A man and his wife were once sitting by the door of their house, and they had a +roasted chicken set before them, and were about to eat it together. Then the +man saw that his aged father was coming, and hastily took the chicken and hid +it, for he would not permit him to have any of it. The old man came, took a +drink, and went away. Now the son wanted to put the roasted chicken on the +table again, but when he took it up, it had become a great toad, which jumped +into his face and sat there and never went away again, and if any one wanted to +take it off, it looked venomously at him as if it would jump in his face, so +that no one would venture to touch it. And the ungrateful son was forced to +feed the toad every day, or else it fed itself on his face; and thus he went +about the world without knowing rest. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap146"></a>146 The Turnip</h3> + +<p> +There were once two brothers who both served as soldiers; one of them was rich, +and the other poor. Then the poor one, to escape from his poverty, put off his +soldier’s coat, and turned farmer. He dug and hoed his bit of land, and +sowed it with turnip-seed. The seed came up, and one turnip grew there which +became large and vigorous, and visibly grew bigger and bigger, and seemed as if +it would never stop growing, so that it might have been called the princess of +turnips, for never was such an one seen before, and never will such an one be +seen again. +</p> + +<p> +At length it was so enormous that by itself it filled a whole cart, and two +oxen were required to draw it, and the farmer had not the least idea what he +was to do with the turnip, or whether it would be a fortune to him or a +misfortune. At last he thought, “If thou sellest it, what wilt thou get +for it that is of any importance, and if thou eatest it thyself, why, the small +turnips would do thee just as much good; it would be better to take it to the +King, and make him a present of it.” +</p> + +<p> +So he placed it on a cart, harnessed two oxen, took it to the palace, and +presented it to the King. “What strange thing is this?” said the +King. “Many wonderful things have come before my eyes, but never such a +monster as this! From what seed can this have sprung, or are you a luck-child +and have met with it by chance?” “Ah, no!” said the farmer, +“no luck-child am I. I am a poor soldier, who because he could no longer +support himself hung his soldier’s coat on a nail and took to farming +land. I have a brother who is rich and well known to you, Lord King, but I, +because I have nothing, am forgotten by every one.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the King felt compassion for him, and said, “Thou shalt be raised +from thy poverty, and shalt have such gifts from me that thou shalt be equal to +thy rich brother.” Then he bestowed on him much gold, and lands, and +meadows, and herds, and made him immensely rich, so that the wealth of the +other brother could not be compared with his. When the rich brother heard what +the poor one had gained for himself with one single turnip, he envied him, and +thought in every way how he also could get hold of a similar piece of luck. He +would, however, set about it in a much wiser way, and took gold and horses and +carried them to the King, and made certain the King would give him a much +larger present in return. If his brother had got so much for one turnip, what +would he not carry away with him in return for such beautiful things as these? +The King accepted his present, and said he had nothing to give him in return +that was more rare and excellent than the great turnip. So the rich man was +obliged to put his brother’s turnip in a cart and have it taken to his +home. When there he did not know on whom to vent his rage and anger, until bad +thoughts came to him, and he resolved to kill his brother. He hired murderers, +who were to lie in ambush, and then he went to his brother and said, +“Dear brother, I know of a hidden treasure, we will dig it up together, +and divide it between us.” The other agreed to this, and accompanied him +without suspicion. While they were on their way, however, the murderers fell on +him, bound him, and would have hanged him to a tree. But just as they were +doing this, loud singing and the sound of a horse’s feet were heard in +the distance. On this their hearts were filled with terror, and they pushed +their prisoner head first into the sack, hung it on a branch, and took to +flight. He, however, worked up there until he had made a hole in the sack +through which he could put his head. The man who was coming by was no other +than a travelling student, a young fellow who rode on his way through the wood +joyously singing his song. When he who was aloft saw that someone was passing +below him, he cried, “Good day! You have come at a lucky time.” The +student looked round on every side, but did not know whence the voice came. At +last he said, “Who calls me?” Then an answer came from the top of +the tree, “Raise your eyes; here I sit aloft in the Sack of Wisdom. In a +short time have I learnt great things; compared with this all schools are a +jest; in a very short time I shall have learnt everything, and shall descend +wiser than all other men. I understand the stars, and the signs of the Zodiac, +and the tracks of the winds, the sand of the sea, the healing of illness, and +the virtues of all herbs, birds, and stones. If you were once within it you +would feel what noble things issue forth from the Sack of Knowledge.” +</p> + +<p> +The student, when he heard all this, was astonished, and said, “Blessed +be the hour in which I have found thee! May not I also enter the sack for a +while?” He who was above replied as if unwillingly, “For a short +time I will let you get into it, if you reward me and give me good words; but +you must wait an hour longer, for one thing remains which I must learn before I +do it.” When the student had waited a while he became impatient, and +begged to be allowed to get in at once, his thirst for knowledge was so very +great. So he who was above pretended at last to yield, and said, “In +order that I may come forth from the house of knowledge you must let it down by +the rope, and then you shall enter it.” So the student let the sack down, +untied it, and set him free, and then cried, “Now draw me up at +once,” and was about to get into the sack. “Halt!” said the +other, “that won’t do,” and took him by the head and put him +upside down into the sack, fastened it, and drew the disciple of wisdom up the +tree by the rope. Then he swung him in the air and said, “How goes it +with thee, my dear fellow? Behold, already thou feelest wisdom coming, and art +gaining valuable experience. Keep perfectly quiet until thou becomest +wiser.” Thereupon he mounted the student’s horse and rode away, but +in an hour’s time sent some one to let the student out again. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap147"></a>147 The Old Man Made Young Again</h3> + +<p> +In the time when our Lord still walked this earth, he and St. Peter stopped one +evening at a smith’s and received free quarters. Then it came to pass +that a poor beggar, hardly pressed by age and infirmity, came to this house and +begged alms of the smith. St. Peter had compassion on him and said, “Lord +and master, if it please thee, cure his torments that he may be able to win his +own bread.” The Lord said kindly, “Smith, lend me thy forge, and +put on some coals for me, and then I will make this ailing old man young +again.” The smith was quite willing, and St. Peter blew the bellows, and +when the coal fire sparkled up large and high our Lord took the little old man, +pushed him in the forge in the midst of the red-hot fire, so that he glowed +like a rose-bush, and praised God with a loud voice. After that the Lord went +to the quenching tub, put the glowing little man into it so that the water +closed over him, and after he had carefully cooled him, gave him his blessing, +when behold the little man sprang nimbly out, looking fresh, straight, healthy, +and as if he were but twenty. The smith, who had watched everything closely and +attentively, invited them all to supper. He, however, had an old half-blind +crooked, mother-in-law who went to the youth, and with great earnestness asked +if the fire had burnt him much. He answered that he had never felt more +comfortable, and that he had sat in the red heat as if he had been in cool dew. +The youth’s words echoed in the ears of the old woman all night long, and +early next morning, when the Lord had gone on his way again and had heartily +thanked the smith, the latter thought he might make his old mother-in-law young +again likewise, as he had watched everything so carefully, and it lay in the +province of his trade. So he called to ask her if she, too, would like to go +bounding about like a girl of eighteen. She said, “With all my heart, as +the youth has come out of it so well.” So the smith made a great fire, +and thrust the old woman into it, and she writhed about this way and that, and +uttered terrible cries of murder. “Sit still; why art thou screaming and +jumping about so?” cried he, and as he spoke he blew the bellows again +until all her rags were burnt. The old woman cried without ceasing, and the +smith thought to himself, “I have not quite the right art,” and +took her out and threw her into the cooling-tub. Then she screamed so loudly +that the smith’s wife upstairs and her daughter-in-law heard, and they +both ran downstairs, and saw the old woman lying in a heap in the +quenching-tub, howling and screaming, with her face wrinkled and shrivelled and +all out of shape. Thereupon the two, who were both with child, were so +terrified that that very night two boys were born who were not made like men +but apes, and they ran into the woods, and from them sprang the race of apes. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap148"></a>148 The Lord’s Animals and the +Devil’s</h3> + +<p> +The Lord God had created all animals, and had chosen out the wolf to be his +dog, but he had forgotten the goat. Then the Devil made ready and began to +create also, and created goats with fine long tails. Now when they went to +pasture, they generally remained caught in the hedges by their tails, then the +Devil had to go there and disentangle them, with a great deal of trouble. This +enraged him at last, and he went and bit off the tail of every goat, as may be +seen to this day by the stump. Then he let them go to pasture alone, but it +came to pass that the Lord God perceived how at one time they gnawed away at a +fruitful tree, at another injured the noble vines, or destroyed other tender +plants. This distressed him, so that in his goodness and mercy he summoned his +wolves, who soon tore in pieces the goats that went there. When the devil +observed this, he went before the Lord and said, “Thy creatures have +destroyed mine.” The Lord answered, “Why didst thou create things +to do harm?” The Devil said, “I was compelled to do it: inasmuch as +my thoughts run on evil, what I create can have no other nature, and thou must +pay me heavy damages.” “I will pay thee as soon as the oak leaves +fall; come then, thy money will then be ready counted out.” When the +oak-leaves had fallen, the Devil came and demanded what was due to him. But the +Lord said, “In the church of Constantinople stands a tall oak-tree which +still has all its leaves.” With raging and curses, the Devil departed, +and went to seek the oak, wandered in the wilderness for six months before he +found it, and when he returned, all the oaks had in the meantime covered +themselves again with green leaves. Then he had to forfeit his indemnity, and +in his rage he put out the eyes of all the remaining goats, and put his own in +instead. +</p> + +<p> +This is why all goats have devil’s eyes, and their tails bitten off, and +why he likes to assume their shape. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap149"></a>149 The Beam</h3> + +<p> +There was once an enchanter who was standing in the midst of a great crowd of +people performing his wonders. He had a cock brought in, which lifted a heavy +beam and carried it as if it were as light as a feather. But a girl was present +who had just found a bit of four-leaved clover, and had thus become so wise +that no deception could stand out against her, and she saw that the beam was +nothing but a straw. So she cried, “You people, do you not see that it is +a straw that the cock is carrying, and no beam?” Immediately the +enchantment vanished, and the people saw what it was, and drove the magician +away in shame and disgrace. He, however, full of inward anger, said, “I +will soon revenge myself.” +</p> + +<p> +After some time the girl’s wedding-day came, and she was decked out, and +went in a great procession over the fields to the place where the church was. +All at once she came to a stream which was very much swollen, and there was no +bridge and no plank to cross it. Then the bride nimbly took her clothes up, and +wanted to wade through it. And just as she was thus standing in the water, a +man, and it was the enchanter, cried mockingly close beside her, “Aha! +Where are thine eyes that thou takest that for water?” Then her eyes were +opened, and she saw that she was standing with her clothes lifted up in the +middle of a field that was blue with the flowers of blue flax. Then all the +people saw it likewise, and chased her away with ridicule and laughter. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap150"></a>150 The Old Beggar-Woman</h3> + +<p> +There was once an old woman, but thou hast surely seen an old woman go +a-begging before now? This woman begged likewise, and when she got anything she +said, “May God reward you.” The beggar-woman came to a door, and +there by the fire a friendly rogue of a boy was standing warming himself. The +boy said kindly to the poor old woman as she was standing shivering thus by the +door, “Come, old mother, and warm yourself.” She came in, but stood +too near the fire, so that her old rags began to burn, and she was not aware of +it. The boy stood and saw that, but he ought to have put the flames out. Is it +not true that he ought to have put them out? And if he had not any water, then +should he have wept all the water in his body out of his eyes, and that would +have supplied two pretty streams with which to extinguish them. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap151"></a>151 The Three Sluggards</h3> + +<p> +A certain King had three sons who were all equally dear to him, and he did not +know which of them to appoint as his successor after his own death. When the +time came when he was about to die, he summoned them to his bedside and said, +“Dear children, I have been thinking of something which I will declare +unto you; whichsoever of you is the laziest shall have the kingdom.” The +eldest said, “Then, father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so idle that if +I lie down to rest, and a drop falls in my eye, I will not open it that I may +sleep.” The second said; “Father, the kingdom belongs to me, for I +am so idle that when I am sitting by the fire warming myself, I would rather +let my heel be burnt off than draw back my leg.” The third said, +“Father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so idle that if I were going to be +hanged, and had the rope already round my neck, and any one put a sharp knife +into my hand with which I might cut the rope, I would rather let myself be +hanged than raise my hand to the rope.” When the father heard that, he +said, “Thou hast carried it the farthest, and shalt be King.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap151a"></a>151* The Twelve Idle Servants</h3> + +<p> +Twelve servants who had done nothing all the day would not exert themselves at +night either, but laid themselves on the grass and boasted of their idleness. +The first said, “What is your laziness to me, I have to concern myself +about mine own? The care of my body is my principal work, I eat not a little +and drink still more. When I have had four meals, I fast a short time until I +feel hunger again, and that suits me best. To rise betimes is not for me; when +it is getting near mid-day, I already seek out a resting-place for myself. If +the master call, I do exactly as if I had not heard him, and if he call for the +second time, I wait awhile before I get up, and go to him very slowly. In this +way life is endurable.” +</p> + +<p> +The second said, “I have a horse to look after, but I leave the bit in +his mouth, and if I do not want to do it, I give him no food, and I say he has +had it already. I, however, lay myself in the oat-chest and sleep for four +hours. After this I stretch out one foot and move it a couple of times over the +horse’s body, and then he is combed and cleaned. Who is going to make a +great business of that? Nevertheless service is too toilsome for me.” +</p> + +<p> +The third said, “Why plague oneself with work? Nothing comes of it! I +laid myself in the sun, and fell asleep. It began to rain a little, but why +should I get up? I let it rain on in God’s name. At last came a splashing +shower, so heavy indeed, that it pulled the hair out of my head and washed it +away, and I got a hole in the skull; I put a plaster on it, and then it was all +right. I have already had several injuries of that kind.” +</p> + +<p> +The fourth said, “If I am to undertake a piece of work, I first loiter +about for an hour that I may save up my strength. After that I begin quite +slowly, and ask if no one is there who could help me. Then I let him do the +chief of the work, and in reality only look on; but that also is still too much +for me.” +</p> + +<p> +The fifth said, “What does that matter? Just think, I am to take away the +manure from the horse’s stable, and load the cart with it. I let it go on +slowly, and if I have taken anything on the fork, I only half-raise it up, and +then I rest just a quarter of an hour until I quite throw it in. It is enough +and to spare if I take out a cartful in the day. I have no fancy for killing +myself with work.” +</p> + +<p> +The sixth said, “Shame on ye; I am afraid of no work, but I lie down for +three weeks, and never once take my clothes off. What is the use of buckling +your shoes on? For aught I care they may fall off my feet, it is no matter. If +I am going up some steps, I drag one foot slowly after the other on to the +first step, and then I count the rest of them that I may know where I must +rest.” +</p> + +<p> +The seventh said, “That will not do with me; my master looks after my +work, only he is not at home the whole day. But I neglect nothing, I run as +fast as it is possible to do when one crawls. If I am to get on, four sturdy +men must push me with all their might. I came where six men were lying sleeping +on a bed beside each other. I lay down by them and slept too. There was no +wakening me again, and when they wanted to have me home, they had to carry +me.” The eighth said, “I see plainly that I am the only active +fellow; if a stone lie before me, I do not give myself the trouble to raise my +legs and step over it. I lay myself down on the ground, and if I am wet and +covered with mud and dirt, I stay lying until the sun has dried me again. At +the very most, I only turn myself so that it can shine on me.” The ninth +said, “That is the right way! To-day the bread was before me, but I was +too idle to take it, and nearly died of hunger! Moreover a jug stood by it, but +it was so big and heavy that I did not like to lift it up, and preferred +bearing thirst. Just to turn myself round was too much for me, I remained lying +like a log the whole day.” The tenth said, “Laziness has brought +misfortune on me, a broken leg and swollen calf. Three of us were lying in the +road, and I had my legs stretched out. Some one came with a cart, and the +wheels went over me. I might indeed have drawn my legs back, but I did not hear +the cart coming, for the midges were humming about my ears, and creeping in at +my nose and out again at my mouth; who can take the trouble to drive the vermin +away?” +</p> + +<p> +The eleventh said, “I gave up my place yesterday. I had no fancy for +carrying the heavy books to my master any longer or fetching them away again. +There was no end of it all day long. But to tell the truth, he gave me my +dismissal, and would not keep me any longer, for his clothes, which I had left +lying in the dust, were all moth-eaten, and I am very glad of it.” +</p> + +<p> +The twelfth said, “To-day I had to drive the cart into the country, and +made myself a bed of straw on it, and had a good sleep. The reins slipped out +of my hand, and when I awoke, the horse had nearly torn itself loose, the +harness was gone, the strap which fastened the horse to the shafts was gone, +and so were the collar, the bridle and bit. Some one had come by, who had +carried all off. Besides this, the cart had got into a quagmire and stuck fast. +I left it standing, and stretched myself on the straw again. At last the master +came himself, and pushed the cart out, and if he had not come I should not be +lying here but there, and sleeping in full tranquillity.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap152"></a>152 The Shepherd Boy</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a shepherd boy whose fame spread far and wide because +of the wise answers which he gave to every question. The King of the country +heard of it likewise, but did not believe it, and sent for the boy. Then he +said to him, “If thou canst give me an answer to three questions which I +will ask thee, I will look on thee as my own child, and thou shalt dwell with +me in my royal palace.” The boy said, “What are the three +questions?” The King said, “The first is, how many drops of water +are there in the ocean?” The shepherd boy answered, “Lord King, if +you will have all the rivers on earth dammed up so that not a single drop runs +from them into the sea until I have counted it, I will tell you how many drops +there are in the sea.” The King said, “The next question is, how +many stars are there in the sky?” The shepherd boy said, “Give me a +great sheet of white paper,” and then he made so many fine points on it +with a pen that they could scarcely be seen, and it was all but impossible to +count them; any one who looked at them would have lost his sight. Then he said, +“There are as many stars in the sky as there are points on the paper; +just count them.” But no one was able to do it. The King said, “The +third question is, how many seconds of time are there in eternity.” Then +said the shepherd boy, “In Lower Pomerania is the Diamond Mountain, which +is two miles and a half high, two miles and a half wide, and two miles and a +half in depth; every hundred years a little bird comes and sharpens its beak on +it, and when the whole mountain is worn away by this, then the first second of +eternity will be over.” +</p> + +<p> +The King said, “Thou hast answered the three questions like a wise man, +and shalt henceforth dwell with me in my royal palace, and I will regard thee +as my own child.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap153"></a>153 The Star-Money</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a little girl whose father and mother were dead, and +she was so poor that she no longer had any little room to live in, or bed to +sleep in, and at last she had nothing else but the clothes she was wearing and +a little bit of bread in her hand which some charitable soul had given her. She +was, however, good and pious. And as she was thus forsaken by all the world, +she went forth into the open country, trusting in the good God. Then a poor man +met her, who said, “Ah, give me something to eat, I am so hungry!” +She reached him the whole of her piece of bread, and said, “May God bless +it to thy use,” and went onwards. Then came a child who moaned and said, +“My head is so cold, give me something to cover it with.” So she +took off her hood and gave it to him; and when she had walked a little farther, +she met another child who had no jacket and was frozen with cold. Then she gave +it her own; and a little farther on one begged for a frock, and she gave away +that also. At length she got into a forest and it had already become dark, and +there came yet another child, and asked for a little shirt, and the good little +girl thought to herself, “It is a dark night and no one sees thee, thou +canst very well give thy little shirt away,” and took it off, and gave +away that also. And as she so stood, and had not one single thing left, +suddenly some stars from heaven fell down, and they were nothing else but hard +smooth pieces of money, and although she had just given her little shirt away, +she had a new one which was of the very finest linen. Then she gathered +together the money into this, and was rich all the days of her life. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap154"></a>154 The Stolen Farthings</h3> + +<p> +A father was one day sitting at dinner with his wife and his children, and a +good friend who had come on a visit was with them. And as they thus sat, and it +was striking twelve o’clock, the stranger saw the door open, and a very +pale child dressed in snow-white clothes came in. It did not look around, and +it did not speak; but went straight into the next room. Soon afterwards it came +back, and went out at the door again in the same quiet manner. On the second +and on the third day, it came also exactly in the same way. At last the +stranger asked the father to whom the beautiful child that went into the next +room every day at noon belonged? “I have never seen it,” said he, +neither did he know to whom it could belong. The next day when it again came, +the stranger pointed it out to the father, who however did not see it, and the +mother and the children also all saw nothing. On this the stranger got up, went +to the room door, opened it a little, and peeped in. Then he saw the child +sitting on the ground, and digging and seeking about industriously amongst the +crevices between the boards of the floor, but when it saw the stranger, it +disappeared. He now told what he had seen and described the child exactly, and +the mother recognized it, and said, “Ah, it is my dear child who died a +month ago.” They took up the boards and found two farthings which the +child had once received from its mother that it might give them to a poor man; +it, however, had thought, “Thou canst buy thyself a biscuit for +that,” and had kept the farthings, and hidden them in the openings +between the boards; and therefore it had had no rest in its grave, and had come +every day at noon to seek for these farthings. The parents gave the money at +once to a poor man, and after that the child was never seen again. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap155"></a>155 Brides On Their Trial</h3> + +<p> +There was once a young shepherd who wished much to marry, and was acquainted +with three sisters who were all equally pretty, so that it was difficult to him +to make a choice, and he could not decide to give the preference to any one of +them. Then he asked his mother for advice, and she said, “Invite all +three, and set some cheese before them, and watch how they eat it.” The +youth did so; the first, however, swallowed the cheese with the rind on; the +second hastily cut the rind off the cheese, but she cut it so quickly that she +left much good cheese with it, and threw that away also; the third peeled the +rind off carefully, and cut neither too much nor too little. The shepherd told +all this to his mother, who said, “Take the third for thy wife.” +This he did, and lived contentedly and happily with her. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap156"></a>156 Odds And Ends</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a maiden who was pretty, but idle and negligent. When +she had to spin she was so out of temper that if there was a little knot in the +flax, she at once pulled out a whole heap of it, and strewed it about on the +ground beside her. Now she had a servant who was industrious, and gathered +together the bits of flax which were thrown away, cleaned them, span them fine, +and had a beautiful gown made out of them for herself. A young man had wooed +the lazy girl, and the wedding was to take place. On the eve of the wedding, +the industrious one was dancing merrily about in her pretty dress, and the +bride said,— +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, how that girl does jump about, dressed in my odds and ends.” +</p> + +<p> +The bridegroom heard that, and asked the bride what she meant by it? Then she +told him that the girl was wearing a dress make of the flax which she had +thrown away. When the bridegroom heard that, and saw how idle she was, and how +industrious the poor girl was, he gave her up and went to the other, and chose +her as his wife. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap157"></a>157 The Sparrow And His Four Children</h3> + +<p> +A sparrow had four young ones in a swallow’s nest. When they were +fledged, some naughty boys pulled out the nest, but fortunately all the birds +got safely away in the high wind. Then the old bird was grieved that as his +sons had all gone out into the world, he had not first warned them of every +kind of danger, and given them good instruction how to deal with each. In the +autumn a great many sparrows assembled together in a wheatfield, and there the +old bird met his four children again, and full of joy took them home with him. +“Ah, my dear sons, what pain I have been in about you all through the +summer, because you got away in the wind without my teaching; listen to my +words, obey your father, and be well on your guard. Little birds have to +encounter great dangers!” And then he asked the eldest where he had spent +the summer, and how he had supported himself? “I stayed in the gardens, +and looked for caterpillars and small worms, until the cherries got +ripe.” “Ah, my son,” said the father, “tit-bits are not +bad, but there is great risk about them; on that account take great care of +thyself henceforth, and particularly when people are going about the gardens +who carry long green poles which are hollow inside and have a little hole at +the top.” “Yes, father, but what if a little green leaf is stuck +over the hole with wax?” said the son. “Where hast thou seen +that?” “In a merchant’s garden,” said the youngster. +“Oh, my son, merchant folks are quick folks,” said the father. +“If thou hast been among the children of the world, thou hast learned +worldly shiftiness enough, only see that thou usest it well, and do not be too +confident.” After this he asked the next, “Where hast thou passed +thy time?” “At court,” said the son. “Sparrows and +silly little birds are of no use in that place—there one finds much gold, +velvet, silk, armour, harnesses, sparrow-hawks, screech-owls and hen-harriers; +keep to the horses’ stable where they winnow oats, or thresh, and then +fortune may give thee thy daily grain of corn in peace.” “Yes, +father,” said the son, “but when the stable-boys make traps and fix +their gins and snares in the straw, many a one is caught fast.” +“Where hast thou seen that?” said the old bird. “At court, +among the stable-boys.” “Oh, my son, court boys are bad boys! If +thou hast been to court and among the lords, and hast left no feathers there, +thou hast learnt a fair amount, and wilt know very well how to go about the +world, but look around thee and above thee, for the wolves devour the wisest +dogs.” The father examined the third also: “Where didst thou seek +thy safety?” “I have broken up tubs and ropes on the cart-roads and +highways, and sometimes met with a grain of corn or barley.” “That +is indeed dainty fare,” said the father, “but take care what thou +art about and look carefully around, especially when thou seest any one +stooping and about to pick up a stone, there is not much time to stay +then.” “That is true,” said the son, “but what if any +one should carry a bit of rock, or ore, ready beforehand in his breast or +pocket?” “Where hast thou seen that?” “Among the +mountaineers, dear father; when they go out, they generally take little bits of +ore with them.” “Mountain folks are working folks, and clever +folks. If thou hast been among mountain lads, thou hast seen and learnt +something, but when thou goest thither beware, for many a sparrow has been +brought to a bad end by a mountain boy.” At length the father came to the +youngest son: “Thou, my dear chirping nestling, wert always the silliest +and weakest; stay with me, the world has many rough, wicked birds which have +crooked beaks and long claws, and lie in wait for poor little birds and swallow +them. Keep with those of thine own kind, and pick up little spiders and +caterpillars from the trees, or the house, and then thou wilt live long in +peace.” “My dear father, he who feeds himself without injury to +other people fares well, and no sparrow-hawk, eagle, or kite will hurt him if +he specially commits himself and his lawful food, evening and morning, +faithfully to God, who is the Creator and Preserver of all forest and village +birds, who likewise heareth the cry and prayer of the young ravens, for no +sparrow or wren ever falls to the ground except by his will.” +“Where hast thou learnt this?” The son answered, “When the +great blast of wind tore me away from thee I came to a church, and there during +the summer I have picked up the flies and spiders from the windows, and heard +this discourse preached. The Father of all sparrows fed me all the summer +through, and kept me from all mischance and from ferocious birds.” +</p> + +<p> +“In sooth, my dear son, if thou takest refuge in the churches and helpest +to clear away spiders and buzzing flies, and criest unto God like the young +ravens, and commendest thyself to the eternal Creator, all will be well with +thee, and that even if the whole world were full of wild malicious +birds.” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“He who to God commits his ways,<br/> +In silence suffers, waits, and prays,<br/> +Preserves his faith and conscience pure,<br/> +He is of God’s protection sure.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap158"></a>158 The Story of Schlauraffen Land</h3> + +<p> +In the time of Schlauraffen I went there, and saw Rome and the Lateran hanging +by a small silken thread, and a man without feet who outran a swift horse, and +a keen sharp sword that cut through a bridge. There I saw a young ass with a +silver nose which pursued two fleet hares, and a lime-tree that was very large, +on which hot cakes were growing. There I saw a lean old goat which carried +about a hundred cart-loads of fat on his body, and sixty loads of salt. Have I +not told enough lies? There I saw a plough ploughing without horse or cow, and +a child of one year threw four millstones from Ratisbon to Treves, and from +Treves to Strasburg, and a hawk swam over the Rhine, which he had a perfect +right to do. There I heard some fishes begin to make such a disturbance with +each other, that it resounded as far as heaven, and sweet honey flowed like +water from a deep valley at the top of a high mountain, and these were strange +things. There were two crows which were mowing a meadow, and I saw two gnats +building a bridge, and two doves tore a wolf to pieces; two children brought +forth two kids, and two frogs threshed corn together. There I saw two mice +consecrating a bishop, and two cats scratching out a bear’s tongue. Then +a snail came running up and killed two furious lions. There stood a barber and +shaved a woman’s beard off; and two sucking-children bade their mother +hold her tongue. There I saw two greyhounds which brought a mill out of the +water; and a sorry old horse was beside it, and said it was right. And four +horses were standing in the yard threshing corn with all their might, and two +goats were heating the stove, and a red cow shot the bread into the oven. Then +a cock crowed, Cock-a-doodle-doo! The story is all +told,—Cock-a-doodle-doo! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap159"></a>159 The Ditmarsch Tale of Wonders</h3> + +<p> +I will tell you something. I saw two roasted fowls flying; they flew quickly +and had their breasts turned to heaven and their backs to hell, and an anvil +and a mill-stone swam across the Rhine prettily, slowly, and gently, and a frog +sat on the ice at Whitsuntide and ate a ploughshare. Three fellows who wanted +to catch a hare, went on crutches and stilts; one of them was deaf, the second +blind, the third dumb, and the fourth could not stir a step. Do you want to +know how it was done? First, the blind man saw the hare running across the +field, the dumb one called to the lame one, and the lame one seized it by the +neck. +</p> + +<p> +There were certain men who wished to sail on dry land, and they set their sails +in the wind, and sailed away over great fields. Then they sailed over a high +mountain, and there they were miserably drowned. A crab was chasing a hare +which was running away at full speed, and high up on the roof lay a cow which +had climbed up there. In that country the flies are as big as the goats are +here. Open the window, that the lies may fly out. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap160"></a>160 A Riddling Tale</h3> + +<p> +Three women were changed into flowers which grew in the field, but one of them +was allowed to be in her own home at night. Then once when day was drawing +near, and she was forced to go back to her companions in the field and become a +flower again, she said to her husband, “If thou wilt come this afternoon +and gather me, I shall be set free and henceforth stay with thee.” And he +did so. Now the question is, how did her husband know her, for the flowers were +exactly alike, and without any difference? Answer: as she was at her home +during the night and not in the field, no dew fell on her as it did on the +others, and by this her husband knew her. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap161"></a>161 Snow-White and Rose-Red</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage. In front of the +cottage was a garden wherein stood two rose-trees, one of which bore white and +the other red roses. She had two children who were like the two rose-trees, and +one was called Snow-white, and the other Rose-red. They were as good and happy, +as busy and cheerful as ever two children in the world were, only Snow-white +was more quiet and gentle than Rose-red. Rose-red liked better to run about in +the meadows and fields seeking flowers and catching butterflies; but Snow-white +sat at home with her mother, and helped her with her house-work, or read to her +when there was nothing to do. +</p> + +<p> +The two children were so fond of each another that they always held each other +by the hand when they went out together, and when Snow-white said, “We +will not leave each other,” Rose-red answered, “Never so long as we +live,” and their mother would add, “What one has she must share +with the other.” +</p> + +<p> +They often ran about the forest alone and gathered red berries, and no beasts +did them any harm, but came close to them trustfully. The little hare would eat +a cabbage-leaf out of their hands, the roe grazed by their side, the stag leapt +merrily by them, and the birds sat still upon the boughs, and sang whatever +they knew. +</p> + +<p> +No mishap overtook them; if they had stayed too late in the forest, and night +came on, they laid themselves down near one another upon the moss, and slept +until morning came, and their mother knew this and had no distress on their +account. +</p> + +<p> +Once when they had spent the night in the wood and the dawn had roused them, +they saw a beautiful child in a shining white dress sitting near their bed. He +got up and looked quite kindly at them, but said nothing and went away into the +forest. And when they looked round they found that they had been sleeping quite +close to a precipice, and would certainly have fallen into it in the darkness +if they had gone only a few paces further. And their mother told them that it +must have been the angel who watches over good children. +</p> + +<p> +Snow-white and Rose-red kept their mother’s little cottage so neat that +it was a pleasure to look inside it. In the summer Rose-red took care of the +house, and every morning laid a wreath of flowers by her mother’s bed +before she awoke, in which was a rose from each tree. In the winter Snow-white +lit the fire and hung the kettle on the wrekin. The kettle was of copper and +shone like gold, so brightly was it polished. In the evening, when the +snowflakes fell, the mother said, “Go, Snow-white, and bolt the +door,” and then they sat round the hearth, and the mother took her +spectacles and read aloud out of a large book, and the two girls listened as +they sat and span. And close by them lay a lamb upon the floor, and behind them +upon a perch sat a white dove with its head hidden beneath its wings. +</p> + +<p> +One evening, as they were thus sitting comfortably together, some one knocked +at the door as if he wished to be let in. The mother said, “Quick, +Rose-red, open the door, it must be a traveller who is seeking shelter.” +Rose-red went and pushed back the bolt, thinking that it was a poor man, but it +was not; it was a bear that stretched his broad, black head within the door. +</p> + +<p> +Rose-red screamed and sprang back, the lamb bleated, the dove fluttered, and +Snow-white hid herself behind her mother’s bed. But the bear began to +speak and said, “Do not be afraid, I will do you no harm! I am +half-frozen, and only want to warm myself a little beside you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Poor bear,” said the mother, “lie down by the fire, only +take care that you do not burn your coat.” Then she cried, +“Snow-white, Rose-red, come out, the bear will do you no harm, he means +well.” So they both came out, and by-and-by the lamb and dove came +nearer, and were not afraid of him. The bear said, “Here, children, knock +the snow out of my coat a little;” so they brought the broom and swept +the bear’s hide clean; and he stretched himself by the fire and growled +contentedly and comfortably. It was not long before they grew quite at home, +and played tricks with their clumsy guest. They tugged his hair with their +hands, put their feet upon his back and rolled him about, or they took a +hazel-switch and beat him, and when he growled they laughed. But the bear took +it all in good part, only when they were too rough he called out, “Leave +me alive, children, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Snowy-white, Rosy-red,<br/> +Will you beat your lover dead?” +</p> + +<p> +When it was bed-time, and the others went to bed, the mother said to the bear, +“You can lie there by the hearth, and then you will be safe from the cold +and the bad weather.” As soon as day dawned the two children let him out, +and he trotted across the snow into the forest. +</p> + +<p> +Henceforth the bear came every evening at the same time, laid himself down by +the hearth, and let the children amuse themselves with him as much as they +liked; and they got so used to him that the doors were never fastened until +their black friend had arrived. +</p> + +<p> +When spring had come and all outside was green, the bear said one morning to +Snow-white, “Now I must go away, and cannot come back for the whole +summer.” “Where are you going, then, dear bear?” asked +Snow-white. “I must go into the forest and guard my treasures from the +wicked dwarfs. In the winter, when the earth is frozen hard, they are obliged +to stay below and cannot work their way through; but now, when the sun has +thawed and warmed the earth, they break through it, and come out to pry and +steal; and what once gets into their hands, and in their caves, does not easily +see daylight again.” +</p> + +<p> +Snow-white was quite sorry for his going away, and as she unbolted the door for +him, and the bear was hurrying out, he caught against the bolt and a piece of +his hairy coat was torn off, and it seemed to Snow-white as if she had seen +gold shining through it, but she was not sure about it. The bear ran away +quickly, and was soon out of sight behind the trees. +</p> + +<p> +A short time afterwards the mother sent her children into the forest to get +fire-wood. There they found a big tree which lay felled on the ground, and +close by the trunk something was jumping backwards and forwards in the grass, +but they could not make out what it was. When they came nearer they saw a dwarf +with an old withered face and a snow-white beard a yard long. The end of the +beard was caught in a crevice of the tree, and the little fellow was jumping +backwards and forwards like a dog tied to a rope, and did not know what to do. +</p> + +<p> +He glared at the girls with his fiery red eyes and cried, “Why do you +stand there? Can you not come here and help me?” “What are you +about there, little man?” asked Rose-red. “You stupid, prying +goose!” answered the dwarf; “I was going to split the tree to get a +little wood for cooking. The little bit of food that one of us wants gets burnt +up directly with thick logs; we do not swallow so much as you coarse, greedy +folk. I had just driven the wedge safely in, and everything was going as I +wished; but the wretched wood was too smooth and suddenly sprang asunder, and +the tree closed so quickly that I could not pull out my beautiful white beard; +so now it is tight in and I cannot get away, and the silly, sleek, milk-faced +things laugh! Ugh! how odious you are!” +</p> + +<p> +The children tried very hard, but they could not pull the beard out, it was +caught too fast. “I will run and fetch some one,” said Rose-red. +“You senseless goose!” snarled the dwarf; “why should you +fetch some one? You are already two too many for me; can you not think of +something better?” “Don’t be impatient,” said +Snow-white, “I will help you,” and she pulled her scissors out of +her pocket, and cut off the end of the beard. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the dwarf felt himself free he laid hold of a bag which lay amongst +the roots of the tree, and which was full of gold, and lifted it up, grumbling +to himself, “Uncouth people, to cut off a piece of my fine beard. Bad +luck to you!” and then he swung the bag upon his back, and went off +without even once looking at the children. +</p> + +<p> +Some time after that Snow-white and Rose-red went to catch a dish of fish. As +they came near the brook they saw something like a large grasshopper jumping +towards the water, as if it were going to leap in. They ran to it and found it +was the dwarf. “Where are you going?” said Rose-red; “you +surely don’t want to go into the water?” “I am not such a +fool!” cried the dwarf; “don’t you see that the accursed fish +wants to pull me in?” The little man had been sitting there fishing, and +unluckily the wind had twisted his beard with the fishing-line; just then a big +fish bit, and the feeble creature had not strength to pull it out; the fish +kept the upper hand and pulled the dwarf towards him. He held on to all the +reeds and rushes, but it was of little good, he was forced to follow the +movements of the fish, and was in urgent danger of being dragged into the +water. +</p> + +<p> +The girls came just in time; they held him fast and tried to free his beard +from the line, but all in vain, beard and line were entangled fast together. +Nothing was left but to bring out the scissors and cut the beard, whereby a +small part of it was lost. When the dwarf saw that he screamed out, “Is +that civil, you toad-stool, to disfigure one’s face? Was it not enough to +clip off the end of my beard? Now you have cut off the best part of it. I +cannot let myself be seen by my people. I wish you had been made to run the +soles off your shoes!” Then he took out a sack of pearls which lay in the +rushes, and without saying a word more he dragged it away and disappeared +behind a stone. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that soon afterwards the mother sent the two children to the town +to buy needles and thread, and laces and ribbons. The road led them across a +heath upon which huge pieces of rock lay strewn here and there. Now they +noticed a large bird hovering in the air, flying slowly round and round above +them; it sank lower and lower, and at last settled near a rock not far off. +Directly afterwards they heard a loud, piteous cry. They ran up and saw with +horror that the eagle had seized their old acquaintance the dwarf, and was +going to carry him off. +</p> + +<p> +The children, full of pity, at once took tight hold of the little man, and +pulled against the eagle so long that at last he let his booty go. As soon as +the dwarf had recovered from his first fright he cried with his shrill voice, +“Could you not have done it more carefully! You dragged at my brown coat +so that it is all torn and full of holes, you helpless clumsy creatures!” +Then he took up a sack full of precious stones, and slipped away again under +the rock into his hole. The girls, who by this time were used to his +thanklessness, went on their way and did their business in the town. +</p> + +<p> +As they crossed the heath again on their way home they surprised the dwarf, who +had emptied out his bag of precious stones in a clean spot, and had not thought +that anyone would come there so late. The evening sun shone upon the brilliant +stones; they glittered and sparkled with all colors so beautifully that the +children stood still and looked at them. “Why do you stand gaping +there?” cried the dwarf, and his ashen-gray face became copper-red with +rage. He was going on with his bad words when a loud growling was heard, and a +black bear came trotting towards them out of the forest. The dwarf sprang up in +a fright, but he could not get to his cave, for the bear was already close. +Then in the dread of his heart he cried, “Dear Mr. Bear, spare me, I will +give you all my treasures; look, the beautiful jewels lying there! Grant me my +life; what do you want with such a slender little fellow as I? you would not +feel me between your teeth. Come, take these two wicked girls, they are tender +morsels for you, fat as young quails; for mercy’s sake eat them!” +The bear took no heed of his words, but gave the wicked creature a single blow +with his paw, and he did not move again. +</p> + +<p> +The girls had run away, but the bear called to them, “Snow-white and +Rose-red, do not be afraid; wait, I will come with you.” Then they knew +his voice and waited, and when he came up to them suddenly his bearskin fell +off, and he stood there, a handsome man, clothed all in gold. “I am a +King’s son,” he said, “and I was bewitched by that wicked +dwarf, who had stolen my treasures; I have had to run about the forest as a +savage bear until I was freed by his death. Now he has got his well-deserved +punishment.” +</p> + +<p> +Snow-white was married to him, and Rose-red to his brother, and they divided +between them the great treasure which the dwarf had gathered together in his +cave. The old mother lived peacefully and happily with her children for many +years. She took the two rose-trees with her, and they stood before her window, +and every year bore the most beautiful roses, white and red. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap162"></a>162 The Wise Servant</h3> + +<p> +How fortunate is the master, and how well all goes in his house, when he has a +wise servant who listens to his orders and does not obey them, but prefers +following his own wisdom. A clever John of this kind was once sent out by his +master to seek a lost cow. He stayed away a long time, and the master thought, +“Faithful John does not spare any pains over his work!” As, +however, he did not come back at all, the master was afraid lest some +misfortune had befallen him, and set out himself to look for him. He had to +search a long time, but at last he perceived the boy who was running up and +down a large field. “Now, dear John,” said the master when he had +got up to him, “hast thou found the cow which I sent thee to seek?” +“No, master,” he answered, “I have not found the cow, but +then I have not looked for it.” “Then what hast thou looked for, +John?” “Something better, and that luckily I have found.” +“What is that, John?” “Three blackbirds,” answered the +boy. “And where are they?” asked the master. “I see one of +them, I hear the other, and I am running after the third,” answered the +wise boy. +</p> + +<p> +Take example by this, do not trouble yourselves about your masters or their +orders, but rather do what comes into your head and pleases you, and then you +will act just as wisely as prudent John. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap163"></a>163 The Glass Coffin</h3> + +<p> +Let no one ever say that a poor tailor cannot do great things and win high +honors; all that is needed is that he should go to the right smithy, and what +is of most consequence, that he should have good luck. A civil, adroit +tailor’s apprentice once went out travelling, and came into a great +forest, and, as he did not know the way, he lost himself. Night fell, and +nothing was left for him to do, but to seek a bed in this painful solitude. He +might certainly have found a good bed on the soft moss, but the fear of wild +beasts let him have no rest there, and at last he was forced to make up his +mind to spend the night in a tree. He sought out a high oak, climbed up to the +top of it, and thanked God that he had his goose with him, for otherwise the +wind which blew over the top of the tree would have carried him away. +</p> + +<p> +After he had spent some hours in the darkness, not without fear and trembling, +he saw at a very short distance the glimmer of a light, and as he thought that +a human habitation might be there, where he would be better off than on the +branches of a tree, he got carefully down and went towards the light. It guided +him to a small hut that was woven together of reeds and rushes. He knocked +boldly, the door opened, and by the light which came forth he saw a little +hoary old man who wore a coat made of bits of colored stuff sewn together. +“Who are you, and what do you want?” asked the man in a grumbling +voice. “I am a poor tailor,” he answered, “whom night has +surprised here in the wilderness, and I earnestly beg you to take me into your +hut until morning.” “Go your way,” replied the old man in a +surly voice, “I will have nothing to do with runagates; seek for yourself +a shelter elsewhere.” After these words he was about to slip into his hut +again, but the tailor held him so tightly by the corner of his coat, and +pleaded so piteously, that the old man, who was not so ill-natured as he wished +to appear, was at last softened, and took him into the hut with him where he +gave him something to eat, and then pointed out to him a very good bed in a +corner. +</p> + +<p> +The weary tailor needed no rocking; but slept sweetly till morning, but even +then would not have thought of getting up, if he had not been aroused by a +great noise. A violent sound of screaming and roaring forced its way through +the thin walls of the hut. The tailor, full of unwonted courage, jumped up, put +his clothes on in haste, and hurried out. Then close by the hut, he saw a great +black bull and a beautiful stag, which were just preparing for a violent +struggle. They rushed at each other with such extreme rage that the ground +shook with their trampling, and the air resounded with their cries. For a long +time it was uncertain which of the two would gain the victory; at length the +stag thrust his horns into his adversary’s body, whereupon the bull fell +to the earth with a terrific roar, and was thoroughly despatched by a few +strokes from the stag. +</p> + +<p> +The tailor, who had watched the fight with astonishment, was still standing +there motionless, when the stag in full career bounded up to him, and before he +could escape, caught him up on his great horns. He had not much time to collect +his thoughts, for it went in a swift race over stock and stone, mountain and +valley, wood and meadow. He held with both hands to the tops of the horns, and +resigned himself to his fate. It seemed, however, to him just as if he were +flying away. At length the stag stopped in front of a wall of rock, and gently +let the tailor down. The tailor, more dead than alive, required a longer time +than that to come to himself. When he had in some degree recovered, the stag, +which had remained standing by him, pushed its horns with such force against a +door which was in the rock, that it sprang open. Flames of fire shot forth, +after which followed a great smoke, which hid the stag from his sight. The +tailor did not know what to do, or whither to turn, in order to get out of this +desert and back to human beings again. Whilst he was standing thus undecided, a +voice sounded out of the rock, which cried to him, “Enter without fear, +no evil shall befall you thee.” He hesitated, but driven by a mysterious +force, he obeyed the voice and went through the iron-door into a large spacious +hall, whose ceiling, walls and floor were made of shining polished square +stones, on each of which were cut letters which were unknown to him. He looked +at everything full of admiration, and was on the point of going out again, when +he once more heard the voice which said to him, “Step on the stone which +lies in the middle of the hall, and great good fortune awaits thee.” +</p> + +<p> +His courage had already grown so great that he obeyed the order. The stone +began to give way under his feet, and sank slowly down into the depths. When it +was once more firm, and the tailor looked round, he found himself in a hall +which in size resembled the former. Here, however, there was more to look at +and to admire. Hollow places were cut in the walls, in which stood vases of +transparent glass which were filled with colored spirit or with a bluish +vapour. On the floor of the hall two great glass chests stood opposite to each +other, which at once excited his curiosity. When he went to one of them he saw +inside it a handsome structure like a castle surrounded by farm-buildings, +stables and barns, and a quantity of other good things. Everything was small, +but exceedingly carefully and delicately made, and seemed to be cut out by a +dexterous hand with the greatest exactitude. +</p> + +<p> +He might not have turned away his eyes from the consideration of this rarity +for some time, if the voice had not once more made itself heard. It ordered him +to turn round and look at the glass chest which was standing opposite. How his +admiration increased when he saw therein a maiden of the greatest beauty! She +lay as if asleep, and was wrapped in her long fair hair as in a precious +mantle. Her eyes were closely shut, but the brightness of her complexion and a +ribbon which her breathing moved to and fro, left no doubt that she was alive. +The tailor was looking at the beauty with beating heart, when she suddenly +opened her eyes, and started up at the sight of him in joyful terror. +“Just Heaven!” cried she, “my deliverance is at hand! Quick, +quick, help me out of my prison; if thou pushest back the bolt of this glass +coffin, then I shall be free.” The tailor obeyed without delay, and she +immediately raised up the glass lid, came out and hastened into the corner of +the hall, where she covered herself with a large cloak. Then she seated herself +on a stone, ordered the young man to come to her, and after she had imprinted a +friendly kiss on his lips, she said, “My long-desired deliverer, kind +Heaven has guided thee to me, and put an end to my sorrows. On the self-same +day when they end, shall thy happiness begin. Thou art the husband chosen for +me by Heaven, and shalt pass thy life in unbroken joy, loved by me, and rich to +overflowing in every earthly possession. Seat thyself, and listen to the story +of my life: +</p> + +<p> +“I am the daughter of a rich count. My parents died when I was still in +my tender youth, and recommended me in their last will to my elder brother, by +whom I was brought up. We loved each other so tenderly, and were so alike in +our way of thinking and our inclinations, that we both embraced the resolution +never to marry, but to stay together to the end of our lives. In our house +there was no lack of company; neighbors and friends visited us often, and we +showed the greatest hospitality to every one. So it came to pass one evening +that a stranger came riding to our castle, and, under pretext of not being able +to get on to the next place, begged for shelter for the night. We granted his +request with ready courtesy, and he entertained us in the most agreeable manner +during supper by conversation intermingled with stories. My brother liked the +stranger so much that he begged him to spend a couple of days with us, to +which, after some hesitation, he consented. We did not rise from table until +late in the night, the stranger was shown to room, and I hastened, as I was +tired, to lay my limbs in my soft bed. Hardly had I slept for a short time, +when the sound of faint and delightful music awoke me. As I could not conceive +from whence it came, I wanted to summon my waiting-maid who slept in the next +room, but to my astonishment I found that speech was taken away from me by an +unknown force. I felt as if a mountain were weighing down my breast, and was +unable to make the very slightest sound. In the meantime, by the light of my +night-lamp, I saw the stranger enter my room through two doors which were fast +bolted. He came to me and said, that by magic arts which were at his command, +he had caused the lovely music to sound in order to awaken me, and that he now +forced his way through all fastenings with the intention of offering me his +hand and heart. My repugnance to his magic arts was, however, so great, that I +vouchsafed him no answer. He remained for a time standing without moving, +apparently with the idea of waiting for a favorable decision, but as I +continued to keep silence, he angrily declared he would revenge himself and +find means to punish my pride, and left the room. I passed the night in the +greatest disquietude, and only fell asleep towards morning. When I awoke, I +hurried to my brother, but did not find him in his room, and the attendants +told me that he had ridden forth with the stranger to the chase by daybreak. +</p> + +<p> +“I at once suspected nothing good. I dressed myself quickly, ordered my +palfrey to be saddled, and accompanied only by one servant, rode full gallop to +the forest. The servant fell with his horse, and could not follow me, for the +horse had broken its foot. I pursued my way without halting, and in a few +minutes I saw the stranger coming towards me with a beautiful stag which he led +by a cord. I asked him where he had left my brother, and how he had come by +this stag, out of whose great eyes I saw tears flowing. Instead of answering +me, he began to laugh loudly. I fell into a great rage at this, pulled out a +pistol and discharged it at the monster; but the ball rebounded from his breast +and went into my horse’s head. I fell to the ground, and the stranger +muttered some words which deprived me of consciousness. +</p> + +<p> +“When I came to my senses again I found myself in this underground cave +in a glass coffin. The magician appeared once again, and said he had changed my +brother into a stag, my castle with all that belonged to it, diminished in size +by his arts, he had shut up in the other glass chest, and my people, who were +all turned into smoke, he had confined in glass bottles. He told me that if I +would now comply with his wish, it was an easy thing for him to put everything +back in its former state, as he had nothing to do but open the vessels, and +everything would return once more to its natural form. I answered him as little +as I had done the first time. He vanished and left me in my prison, in which a +deep sleep came on me. Amongst the visions which passed before my eyes, that +was the most comforting in which a young man came and set me free, and when I +opened my eyes to-day I saw thee, and beheld my dream fulfilled. Help me to +accomplish the other things which happened in those visions. The first is that +we lift the glass chest in which my castle is enclosed, on to that broad +stone.” +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the stone was laden, it began to rise up on high with the maiden and +the young man, and mounted through the opening of the ceiling into the upper +hall, from whence they then could easily reach the open air. Here the maiden +opened the lid, and it was marvellous to behold how the castle, the houses, and +the farm buildings which were enclosed, stretched themselves out and grew to +their natural size with the greatest rapidity. After this, the maiden and the +tailor returned to the cave beneath the earth, and had the vessels which were +filled with smoke carried up by the stone. The maiden had scarcely opened the +bottles when the blue smoke rushed out and changed itself into living men, in +whom she recognized her servants and her people. Her joy was still more +increased when her brother, who had killed the magician in the form of the +bull, came out of the forest towards them in his human form, and on the +self-same day the maiden, in accordance with her promise, gave her hand at the +altar to the lucky tailor. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap164"></a>164 Lazy Harry</h3> + +<p> +Harry was lazy, and although he had nothing else to do but drive his goat daily +to pasture, he nevertheless groaned when he went home after his day’s +work was done. “It is indeed a heavy burden,” said he, “and a +wearisome employment to drive a goat into the field this way year after year, +till late into the autumn! If one could but lie down and sleep, but no, one +must have one’s eyes open lest it hurts the young trees, or squeezes +itself through the hedge into a garden, or runs away altogether. How can one +have any rest, or peace of one’s life?” He seated himself, +collected his thoughts, and considered how he could set his shoulders free from +this burden. For a long time all thinking was to no purpose, but suddenly it +was as if scales fell from his eyes. “I know what I will do,” he +cried, “I will marry fat Trina who has also a goat, and can take mine out +with hers, and then I shall have no more need to trouble myself.” +</p> + +<p> +So Harry got up, set his weary legs in motion, and went right across the +street, for it was no farther, to where the parents of fat Trina lived, and +asked for their industrious and virtuous daughter in marriage. The parents did +not reflect long. “Birds of a feather, flock together,” they +thought, and consented. +</p> + +<p> +So fat Trina became Harry’s wife, and led out both the goats. Harry had a +good time of it, and had no work that he required to rest from but his own +idleness. He only went out with her now and then, and said, “I merely do +it that I may afterwards enjoy rest more, otherwise one loses all feeling for +it.” +</p> + +<p> +But fat Trina was no less idle. “Dear Harry,” said she one day, +“why should we make our lives so toilsome when there is no need for it, +and thus ruin the best days of our youth? Would it not be better for us to give +the two goats which disturb us every morning in our sweetest sleep with their +bleating, to our neighbor, and he will give us a beehive for them. We will put +the beehive in a sunny place behind the house, and trouble ourselves no more +about it. Bees do not require to be taken care of, or driven into the field; +they fly out and find the way home again for themselves, and collect honey +without giving the very least trouble.” “Thou hast spoken like a +sensible woman,” replied Harry. “We will carry out thy proposal +without delay, and besides all that, honey tastes better and nourishes one +better than goat’s milk, and it can be kept longer too.” +</p> + +<p> +The neighbor willingly gave a beehive for the two goats. The bees flew in and +out from early morning till late evening without ever tiring, and filled the +hive with the most beautiful honey, so that in autumn Harry was able to take a +whole pitcherful out of it. +</p> + +<p> +They placed the jug on a board which was fixed to the wall of their bed-room, +and as they were afraid that it might be stolen from them, or that the mice +might find it, Trina brought in a stout hazel-stick and put it beside her bed, +so that without unnecessary getting up she might reach it with her hand, and +drive away the uninvited guests. Lazy Harry did not like to leave his bed +before noon. “He who rises early,” said he, “wastes his +substance.” +</p> + +<p> +One morning when he was still lying amongst the feathers in broad daylight, +resting after his long sleep, he said to his wife, “Women are fond of +sweet things, and thou art always tasting the honey in private; it will be +better for us to exchange it for a goose with a young gosling, before thou +eatest up the whole of it.” “But,” answered Trina, “not +before we have a child to take care of them! Am I to worry myself with the +little geese, and spend all my strength on them to no purpose.” +“Dost thou think,” said Harry, “that the youngster will look +after geese? Now-a-days children no longer obey, they do according to their own +fancy, because they consider themselves cleverer than their parents, just like +that lad who was sent to seek the cow and chased three blackbirds.” +“Oh,” replied Trina, “this one shall fare badly if he does +not do what I say! I will take a stick and belabour his skin for him with more +blows than I can count. Look, Harry,” cried she in her zeal, and seized +the stick which she had to drive the mice away with, “Look, this is the +way I will fall on him!” She reached her arm out to strike, but unhappily +hit the honey-pitcher above the bed. The pitcher struck against the wall and +fell down in fragments, and the fine honey streamed down on the ground. +“There lie the goose and the young gosling,” said Harry, “and +want no looking after. But it is lucky that the pitcher did not fall on my +head. We have all reason to be satisfied with our lot.” And then as he +saw that there was still some honey in one of the fragments he stretched out +his hand for it, and said quite gaily, “The remains, my wife, we will +still eat with a relish, and we will rest a little after the fright we have +had. What matters if we do get up a little later the day is always long +enough.” “Yes,” answered Trina, “we shall always get to +the end of it at the proper time. Dost thou know that the snail was once asked +to a wedding and set out to go, but arrived at the christening. In front of the +house it fell over the fence, and said, ‘Speed does no +good.’” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap165"></a>165 The Griffin</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a King, but where he reigned and what he was called, +I do not know. He had no son, but an only daughter who had always been ill, and +no doctor had been able to cure her. Then it was foretold to the King that his +daughter should eat herself well with an apple. So he ordered it to be +proclaimed throughout the whole of his kingdom, that whosoever brought his +daughter an apple with which she could eat herself well, should have her to +wife, and be King. This became known to a peasant who had three sons, and he +said to the eldest, “Go out into the garden and take a basketful of those +beautiful apples with the red cheeks and carry them to the court; perhaps the +King’s daughter will be able to eat herself well with them, and then thou +wilt marry her and be King.” The lad did so, and set out. +</p> + +<p> +When he had gone a short way he met a little iron man who asked him what he had +there in the basket, to which replied Uele, for so was he named, +“Frogs’ legs.” On this the little man said, “Well, so +shall it be, and remain,” and went away. At length Uele arrived at the +palace, and made it known that he had brought apples which would cure the +King’s daughter if she ate them. This delighted the King hugely, and he +caused Uele to be brought before him; but, alas! when he opened the basket, +instead of having apples in it he had frogs’ legs which were still +kicking about. On this the King grew angry, and had him driven out of the +house. When he got home he told his father how it had fared with him. Then the +father sent the next son, who was called Seame, but all went with him just as +it had gone with Uele. He also met the little iron man, who asked what he had +there in the basket. Seame said, “Hogs’ bristles,” and the +iron man said, “well, so shall it be, and remain.” When Seame got +to the King’s palace and said he brought apples with which the +King’s daughter might eat herself well, they did not want to let him go +in, and said that one fellow had already been there, and had treated them as if +they were fools. Seame, however, maintained that he certainly had the apples, +and that they ought to let him go in. At length they believed him, and led him +to the King. But when he uncovered the basket, he had but hogs’ bristles. +This enraged the King most terribly, so he caused Seame to be whipped out of +the house. When he got home he related all that had befallen him, then the +youngest boy, whose name was Hans, but who was always called Stupid Hans, came +and asked his father if he might go with some apples. “Oh!” said +the father, “thou wouldst be just the right fellow for such a thing! If +the clever ones can’t manage it, what canst thou do?” The boy, +however, did not believe him, and said, “Indeed, father, I wish to +go.” “Just get away, thou stupid fellow, thou must wait till thou +art wiser,” said the father to that, and turned his back. Hans, however, +pulled at the back of his smock-frock and said, “Indeed, father, I wish +to go.” “Well, then, so far as I am concerned thou mayst go, but +thou wilt soon come home again!” replied the old man in a spiteful voice. +The boy, however, was tremendously delighted and jumped for joy. “Well, +act like a fool! thou growest more stupid every day!” said the father +again. Hans, however, did not care about that, and did not let it spoil his +pleasure, but as it was then night, he thought he might as well wait until the +morrow, for he could not get to court that day. All night long he could not +sleep in his bed, and if he did doze for a moment, he dreamt of beautiful +maidens, of palaces, of gold, and of silver, and all kinds of things of that +sort. Early in the morning, he went forth on his way, and directly afterwards +the little shabby-looking man in his iron clothes, came to him and asked what +he was carrying in the basket. Hans gave him the answer that he was carrying +apples with which the King’s daughter was to eat herself well. +“Then,” said the little man, “so shall they be, and +remain.” But at the court they would none of them let Hans go in, for +they said two had already been there who had told them that they were bringing +apples, and one of them had frogs’ legs, and the other hogs’ +bristles. Hans, however, resolutely maintained that he most certainly had no +frogs’ legs, but some of the most beautiful apples in the whole kingdom. +As he spoke so pleasantly, the door-keeper thought he could not be telling a +lie, and asked him to go in, and he was right, for when Hans uncovered his +basket in the King’s presence, golden-yellow apples came tumbling out. +The King was delighted, and caused some of them to be taken to his daughter, +and then waited in anxious expectation until news should be brought to him of +the effect they had. But before much time had passed by, news was brought to +him: but who do you think it was who came? it was his daughter herself! As soon +as she had eaten of those apples, she was cured, and sprang out of her bed. The +joy the King felt cannot be described! but now he did not want to give his +daughter in marriage to Hans, and said he must first make him a boat which +would go quicker on dry land than on water. Hans agreed to the conditions, and +went home, and related how it had fared with him. Then the father sent Uele +into the forest to make a boat of that kind. He worked diligently, and whistled +all the time. At mid-day, when the sun was at the highest, came the little iron +man and asked what he was making? Uele gave him for answer, “Wooden bowls +for the kitchen.” The iron man said, “So it shall be, and +remain.” By evening Uele thought he had now made the boat, but when he +wanted to get into it, he had nothing but wooden bowls. The next day Seame went +into the forest, but everything went with him just as it had done with Uele. On +the third day Stupid Hans went. He worked away most industriously, so that the +whole forest resounded with the heavy strokes, and all the while he sang and +whistled right merrily. At mid-day, when it was the hottest, the little man +came again, and asked what he was making? “A boat which will go quicker +on dry land than on the water,” replied Hans, “and when I have +finished it, I am to have the King’s daughter for my wife.” +“Well,” said the little man, “such an one shall it be, and +remain.” In the evening, when the sun had turned into gold, Hans finished +his boat, and all that was wanted for it. He got into it and rowed to the +palace. The boat went as swiftly as the wind. The King saw it from afar, but +would not give his daughter to Hans yet, and said he must first take a hundred +hares out to pasture from early morning until late evening, and if one of them +got away, he should not have his daughter. Hans was contented with this, and +the next day went with his flock to the pasture, and took great care that none +of them ran away. +</p> + +<p> +Before many hours had passed came a servant from the palace, and told Hans that +he must give her a hare instantly, for some visitors had come unexpectedly. +Hans, however, was very well aware what that meant, and said he would not give +her one; the King might set some hare soup before his guest next day. The maid, +however, would not believe in his refusal, and at last she began to get angry +with him. Then Hans said that if the King’s daughter came herself, he +would give her a hare. The maid told this in the palace, and the daughter did +go herself. In the meantime, however, the little man came again to Hans, and +asked him what he was doing there? He said he had to watch over a hundred hares +and see that none of them ran away, and then he might marry the King’s +daughter and be King. “Good,” said the little man, “there is +a whistle for thee, and if one of them runs away, just whistle with it, and +then it will come back again.” When the King’s daughter came, Hans +gave her a hare into her apron; but when she had gone about a hundred steps +with it, he whistled, and the hare jumped out of the apron, and before she +could turn round was back to the flock again. When the evening came the +hare-herd whistled once more, and looked to see if all were there, and then +drove them to the palace. The King wondered how Hans had been able to take a +hundred hares to graze without losing any of them; he would, however, not give +him his daughter yet, and said he must now bring him a feather from the +Griffin’s tail. Hans set out at once, and walked straight forwards. In +the evening he came to a castle, and there he asked for a night’s +lodging, for at that time there were no inns. The lord of the castle promised +him that with much pleasure, and asked where he was going? Hans answered, +“To the Griffin.” “Oh! to the Griffin! They tell me he knows +everything, and I have lost the key of an iron money-chest; so you might be so +good as to ask him where it is.” “Yes, indeed,” said Hans, +“I will do that.” Early the next morning he went onwards, and on +his way arrived at another castle in which he again stayed the night. When the +people who lived there learnt that he was going to the Griffin, they said they +had in the house a daughter who was ill, and that they had already tried every +means to cure her, but none of them had done her any good, and he might be so +kind as to ask the Griffin what would make their daughter healthy again? Hans +said he would willingly do that, and went onwards. Then he came to a lake, and +instead of a ferry-boat, a tall, tall man was there who had to carry everybody +across. The man asked Hans whither he was journeying? “To the +Griffin,” said Hans. “Then when you get to him,” said the +man, “just ask him why I am forced to carry everybody over the +lake.” “Yes, indeed, most certainly I’ll do that,” said +Hans. Then the man took him up on his shoulders, and carried him across. At +length Hans arrived at the Griffin’s house, but the wife only was at +home, and not the Griffin himself. Then the woman asked him what he wanted? +Thereupon he told her everything;—that he had to get a feather out of the +Griffin’s tail, and that there was a castle where they had lost the key +of their money-chest, and he was to ask the Griffin where it was?—that in +another castle the daughter was ill, and he was to learn what would cure +her?—and then not far from thence there was a lake and a man beside it, +who was forced to carry people across it, and he was very anxious to learn why +the man was obliged to do it. Then said the woman, “But look here, my +good friend, no Christian can speak to the Griffin; he devours them all; but if +you like, you can lie down under his bed, and in the night, when he is quite +fast asleep, you can reach out and pull a feather out of his tail, and as for +those things which you are to learn, I will ask about them myself.” Hans +was quite satisfied with this, and got under the bed. In the evening, the +Griffin came home, and as soon as he entered the room, said, “Wife, I +smell a Christian.” “Yes,” said the woman, “one was +here to-day, but he went away again;” and on that the Griffin said no +more. +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of the night when the Griffin was snoring loudly, Hans reached +out and plucked a feather from his tail. The Griffin woke up instantly, and +said, “Wife, I smell a Christian, and it seems to me that somebody was +pulling at my tail.” His wife said, “Thou hast certainly been +dreaming, and I told thee before that a Christian was here to-day, but that he +went away again. He told me all kinds of things that in one castle they had +lost the key of their money-chest, and could find it nowhere.” “Oh! +the fools!” said the Griffin; “the key lies in the wood-house under +a log of wood behind the door.” “And then he said that in another +castle the daughter was ill, and they knew no remedy that would cure +her.” “Oh! the fools!” said the Griffin; “under the +cellar-steps a toad has made its nest of her hair, and if she got her hair back +she would be well.” “And then he also said that there was a place +where there was a lake and a man beside it who was forced to carry everybody +across.” “Oh, the fool!” said the Griffin; “if he only +put one man down in the middle, he would never have to carry another +across.” Early the next morning the Griffin got up and went out. Then +Hans came forth from under the bed, and he had a beautiful feather, and had +heard what the Griffin had said about the key, and the daughter, and the +ferry-man. The Griffin’s wife repeated it all once more to him that he +might not forget it, and then he went home again. First he came to the man by +the lake, who asked him what the Griffin had said, but Hans replied that he +must first carry him across, and then he would tell him. So the man carried him +across, and when he was over Hans told him that all he had to do was to set one +person down in the middle of the lake, and then he would never have to carry +over any more. The man was hugely delighted, and told Hans that out of +gratitude he would take him once more across, and back again. But Hans said no, +he would save him the trouble, he was quite satisfied already, and pursued his +way. Then he came to the castle where the daughter was ill; he took her on his +shoulders, for she could not walk, and carried her down the cellar-steps and +pulled out the toad’s nest from beneath the lowest step and gave it into +her hand, and she sprang off his shoulder and up the steps before him, and was +quite cured. Then were the father and mother beyond measure rejoiced, and they +gave Hans gifts of gold and of silver, and whatsoever else he wished for, that +they gave him. And when he got to the other castle he went at once into the +wood-house, and found the key under the log of wood behind the door, and took +it to the lord of the castle. He also was not a little pleased, and gave Hans +as a reward much of the gold that was in the chest, and all kinds of things +besides, such as cows, and sheep, and goats. When Hans arrived before the King, +with all these things—with the money, and the gold, and the silver and +the cows, sheep and goats, the King asked him how he had come by them. Then +Hans told him that the Griffin gave every one whatsoever he wanted. So the King +thought he himself could make such things useful, and set out on his way to the +Griffin; but when he got to the lake, it happened that he was the very first +who arrived there after Hans, and the man put him down in the middle of it and +went away, and the King was drowned. Hans, however, married the daughter, and +became King. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap166"></a>166 Strong Hans</h3> + +<p> +There were once a man and a woman who had an only child, and lived quite alone +in a solitary valley. It came to pass that the mother once went into the wood +to gather branches of fir, and took with her little Hans, who was just two +years old. As it was spring-time, and the child took pleasure in the +many-coloured flowers, she went still further onwards with him into the forest. +Suddenly two robbers sprang out of the thicket, seized the mother and child, +and carried them far away into the black forest, where no one ever came from +one year’s end to another. The poor woman urgently begged the robbers to +set her and her child free, but their hearts were made of stone, they would not +listen to her prayers and entreaties, and drove her on farther by force. After +they had worked their way through bushes and briars for about two miles, they +came to a rock where there was a door, at which the robbers knocked and it +opened at once. They had to go through a long dark passage, and at last came +into a great cavern, which was lighted by a fire which burnt on the hearth. On +the wall hung swords, sabres, and other deadly weapons which gleamed in the +light, and in the midst stood a black table at which four other robbers were +sitting gambling, and the captain sat at the head of it. As soon as he saw the +woman he came and spoke to her, and told her to be at ease and have no fear, +they would do nothing to hurt her, but she must look after the house-keeping, +and if she kept everything in order, she should not fare ill with them. +Thereupon they gave her something to eat, and showed her a bed where she might +sleep with her child. +</p> + +<p> +The woman stayed many years with the robbers, and Hans grew tall and strong. +His mother told him stories, and taught him to read an old book of tales about +knights which she found in the cave. When Hans was nine years old, he made +himself a strong club out of a branch of fir, hid it behind the bed, and then +went to his mother and said, “Dear mother, pray tell me who is my father; +I must and will know.” His mother was silent and would not tell him, that +he might not become home-sick; moreover she knew that the godless robbers would +not let him go away, but it almost broke her heart that Hans should not go to +his father. In the night, when the robbers came home from their robbing +expedition, Hans brought out his club, stood before the captain, and said, +“I now wish to know who is my father, and if thou dost not at once tell +me I will strike thee down.” Then the captain laughed, and gave Hans such +a box on the ear that he rolled under the table. Hans got up again, held his +tongue, and thought, “I will wait another year and then try again, +perhaps I shall do better then.” When the year was over, he brought out +his club again, rubbed the dust off it, looked at it well, and said, “It +is a stout strong club.” At night the robbers came home, drank one jug of +wine after another, and their heads began to be heavy. Then Hans brought out +his club, placed himself before the captain, and asked him who was his father? +But the captain again gave him such a vigorous box on the ear that Hans rolled +under the table, but it was not long before he was up again, and beat the +captain and the robbers so with his club, that they could no longer move either +their arms or their legs. His mother stood in a corner full of admiration of +his bravery and strength. When Hans had done his work, he went to his mother, +and said, “Now I have shown myself to be in earnest, but now I must also +know who is my father.” “Dear Hans,” answered the mother, +“come, we will go and seek him until we find him.” She took from +the captain the key to the entrance-door, and Hans fetched a great meal-sack +and packed into it gold and silver, and whatsoever else he could find that was +beautiful, until it was full, and then he took it on his back. They left the +cave, but how Hans did open his eyes when he came out of the darkness into +daylight, and saw the green forest, and the flowers, and the birds, and the +morning sun in the sky. He stood there and wondered at everything just as if he +had not been very wise. His mother looked for the way home, and when they had +walked for a couple of hours, they got safely into their lonely valley and to +their little house. The father was sitting in the doorway. He wept for joy when +he recognized his wife and heard that Hans was his son, for he had long +regarded them both as dead. But Hans, although he was not twelve years old, was +a head taller than his father. They went into the little room together, but +Hans had scarcely put his sack on the bench by the stove, than the whole house +began to crack the bench broke down and then the floor, and the heavy sack fell +through into the cellar. “God save us!” cried the father, +“what’s that? Now thou hast broken our little house to +pieces!” “Don’t grow any grey hairs about that, dear +father,” answered Hans; “there, in that sack, is more than is +wanting for a new house.” The father and Hans at once began to build a +new house; to buy cattle and land, and to keep a farm. Hans ploughed the +fields, and when he followed the plough and pushed it into the ground, the +bullocks had scarcely any need to draw. The next spring, Hans said, “Keep +all the money and get a walking-stick that weighs a hundred-weight made for me +that I may go a-travelling.” When the wished-for stick was ready, he left +his father’s house, went forth, and came to a deep, dark forest. There he +heard something crunching and cracking, looked round, and saw a fir-tree which +was wound round like a rope from the bottom to the top, and when he looked +upwards he saw a great fellow who had laid hold of the tree and was twisting it +like a willow-wand. “Hollo!” cried Hans, “what art thou doing +up there?” the fellow replied, “I got some faggots together +yesterday and am twisting a rope for them.” “That is what I +like,” thought Hans, “he has some strength,” and he called to +him, “Leave that alone, and come with me.” The fellow came down, +and he was taller by a whole head than Hans, and Hans was not little. +“Thy name is now Fir-twister,” said Hans to him. Thereupon they +went further and heard something knocking and hammering with such force that +the ground shook at every stroke. Shortly afterwards they came to a mighty +rock, before which a giant was standing and striking great pieces of it away +with his fist. When Hans asked what he was about, he answered, “At night, +when I want to sleep, bears, wolves, and other vermin of that kind come, which +sniff and snuffle about me and won’t let me rest; so I want to build +myself a house and lay myself inside it, so that I may have some peace.” +“Oh, indeed,” thought Hans, “I can make use of this one +also;” and said to him, “Leave thy house-building alone, and go +with me; thou shalt be called Rock-splitter.” The man consented, and they +all three roamed through the forest, and wherever they went the wild beasts +were terrified, and ran away from them. In the evening they came to an old +deserted castle, went up into it, and laid themselves down in the hall to +sleep. The next morning Hans went into the garden. It had run quite wild, and +was full of thorns and bushes. And as he was thus walking round about, a wild +boar rushed at him; he, however, gave it such a blow with his club that it fell +directly. He took it on his shoulders and carried it in, and they put it on a +spit, roasted it, and enjoyed themselves. Then they arranged that each day, in +turn, two should go out hunting, and one should stay at home, and cook nine +pounds of meat for each of them. Fir-twister stayed at home the first, and Hans +and Rock-splitter went out hunting. When Fir-twister was busy cooking, a little +shrivelled-up old mannikin came to him in the castle, and asked for some meat. +“Be off, sly hypocrite,” he answered, “thou needest no +meat.” But how astonished Fir-twister was when the little insignificant +dwarf sprang up at him, and belaboured him so with his fists that he could not +defend himself, but fell on the ground and gasped for breath! The dwarf did not +go away until he had thoroughly vented his anger on him. When the two others +came home from hunting, Fir-twister said nothing to them of the old mannikin +and of the blows which he himself had received, and thought, “When they +stay at home, they may just try their chance with the little +scrubbing-brush;” and the mere thought of that gave him pleasure already. +</p> + +<p> +The next day Rock-splitter stayed at home, and he fared just as Fir-twister had +done, he was very ill-treated by the dwarf because he was not willing to give +him any meat. When the others came home in the evening, Fir-twister easily saw +what he had suffered, but both kept silence, and thought, “Hans also must +taste some of that soup.” +</p> + +<p> +Hans, who had to stay at home the next day, did his work in the kitchen as it +had to be done, and as he was standing skimming the pan, the dwarf came and +without more ado demanded a bit of meat. Then Hans thought, “He is a poor +wretch, I will give him some of my share, that the others may not run +short,” and handed him a bit. When the dwarf had devoured it, he again +asked for some meat, and good-natured Hans gave it to him, and told him it was +a handsome piece, and that he was to be content with it. But the dwarf begged +again for the third time. “Thou art shameless!” said Hans, and gave +him none. Then the malicious dwarf wanted to spring on him and treat him as he +had treated Fir-twister and Rock-splitter, but he had got to the wrong man. +Hans, without exerting himself much, gave him a couple of blows which made him +jump down the castle steps. Hans was about to run after him, but fell right +over him, for he was so tall. When he rose up again, the dwarf had got the +start of him. Hans hurried after him as far as the forest, and saw him slip +into a hole in the rock. Hans now went home, but he had marked the spot. When +the two others came back, they were surprised that Hans was so well. He told +them what had happened, and then they no longer concealed how it had fared with +them. Hans laughed and said, “It served you quite right; why were you so +greedy with your meat? It is a disgrace that you who are so big should have let +yourselves be beaten by the dwarf.” Thereupon they took a basket and a +rope, and all three went to the hole in the rock into which the dwarf had +slipped, and let Hans and his club down in the basket. When Hans had reached +the bottom, he found a door, and when he opened it a maiden was sitting there +who was lovely as any picture, nay, so beautiful that no words can express it, +and by her side sat the dwarf and grinned at Hans like a sea-cat! She, however, +was bound with chains, and looked so mournfully at him that Hans felt great +pity for her, and thought to himself, “Thou must deliver her out of the +power of the wicked dwarf,” and gave him such a blow with his club that +he fell down dead. Immediately the chains fell from the maiden, and Hans was +enraptured with her beauty. She told him she was a King’s daughter whom a +savage count had stolen away from her home, and imprisoned there among the +rocks, because she would have nothing to say to him. The count had, however, +set the dwarf as a watchman, and he had made her bear misery and vexation +enough. And now Hans placed the maiden in the basket and had her drawn up; the +basket came down again, but Hans did not trust his two companions, and thought, +“They have already shown themselves to be false, and told me nothing +about the dwarf; who knows what design they may have against me?” So he +put his club in the basket, and it was lucky he did; for when the basket was +half-way up, they let it fall again, and if Hans had really been sitting in it +he would have been killed. But now he did not know how he was to work his way +out of the depths, and when he turned it over and over in his mind he found no +counsel. “It is indeed sad,” said he to himself, “that I have +to waste away down here,” and as he was thus walking backwards and +forwards, he once more came to the little chamber where the maiden had been +sitting, and saw that the dwarf had a ring on his finger which shone and +sparkled. Then he drew it off and put it on, and when he turned it round on his +finger, he suddenly heard something rustle over his head. He looked up and saw +spirits of the air hovering above, who told him he was their master, and asked +what his desire might be? Hans was at first struck dumb, but afterwards he said +that they were to carry him above again. They obeyed instantly, and it was just +as if he had flown up himself. When, however, he was above again, he found no +one in sight. Fir-twister and Rock-splitter had hurried away, and had taken the +beautiful maiden with them. But Hans turned the ring, and the spirits of the +air came and told him that the two were on the sea. Hans ran and ran without +stopping, until he came to the sea-shore, and there far, far out on the water, +he perceived a little boat in which his faithless comrades were sitting; and in +fierce anger he leapt, without thinking what he was doing, club in hand into +the water, and began to swim, but the club, which weighed a hundredweight, +dragged him deep down until he was all but drowned. Then in the very nick of +time he turned his ring, and immediately the spirits of the air came and bore +him as swift as lightning into the boat. He swung his club and gave his wicked +comrades the reward they merited and threw them into the water, and then he +sailed with the beautiful maiden, who had been in the greatest alarm, and whom +he delivered for the second time, home to her father and mother, and married +her, and all rejoiced exceedingly. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap167"></a>167 The Peasant in Heaven</h3> + +<p> +Once on a time a poor pious peasant died, and arrived before the gate of +heaven. At the same time a very rich, rich lord came there who also wanted to +get into heaven. Then Saint Peter came with the key, and opened the door, and +let the great man in, but apparently did not see the peasant, and shut the door +again. And now the peasant outside, heard how the great man was received in +heaven with all kinds of rejoicing, and how they were making music, and singing +within. At length all became quiet again, and Saint Peter came and opened the +gate of heaven, and let the peasant in. The peasant, however, expected that +they would make music and sing when he went in also, but all remained quite +quiet; he was received with great affection, it is true, and the angels came to +meet him, but no one sang. Then the peasant asked Saint Peter how it was that +they did not sing for him as they had done when the rich man went in, and said +that it seemed to him that there in heaven things were done with just as much +partiality as on earth. Then said Saint Peter, “By no means, thou art +just as dear to us as any one else, and wilt enjoy every heavenly delight that +the rich man enjoys, but poor fellows like thee come to heaven every day, but a +rich man like this does not come more than once in a hundred years!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap168"></a>168 Lean Lisa</h3> + +<p> +Lean Lisa was of a very different way of thinking from lazy Harry and fat +Trina, who never let anything disturb their peace. She scoured everything with +ashes, from morning till evening, and burdened her husband, Long Laurence, with +so much work that he had heavier weights to carry than an ass with three sacks. +It was, however, all to no purpose, they had nothing and came to nothing. One +night as she lay in bed, and could hardly move one limb for weariness, she +still did not allow her thoughts to go to sleep. She thrust her elbows into her +husband’s side, and said, “Listen, Lenz, to what I have been +thinking: if I were to find one florin and one was given to me, I would borrow +another to put to them, and thou too shouldst give me another, and then as soon +as I had got the four florins together, I would buy a young cow.” This +pleased the husband right well. “It is true,” said he, “that +I do not know where I am to get the florin which thou wantest as a gift from +me; but, if thou canst get the money together, and canst buy a cow with it, +thou wilt do well to carry out thy project. I shall be glad,” he added, +“if the cow has a calf, and then I shall often get a drink of milk to +refresh me.” “The milk is not for thee,” said the woman, +“we must let the calf suck that it may become big and fat, and we may be +able to sell it well.” “Certainly,” replied the man, +“but still we will take a little milk; that will do no harm.” +“Who has taught thee to manage cows?” said the woman; +“Whether it does harm or not, I will not allow it, and even if thou wert +to stand on thy head for it, thou shouldst not have a drop of the milk! Dost +thou think, because there is no satisfying thee, Long Laurence, that thou art +to eat up what I earn with so much difficulty?” “Wife,” said +the man, “be quiet, or I will give thee a blow on thy mouth!” +“What!” cried she, “thou threatenest me, thou glutton, thou +rascal, thou lazy Harry!” She was just laying hold of his hair, but long +Laurence got up, seized both Lean Lisa’s withered arms in one hand, and +with the other he pressed down her head into the pillow, let her scold, and +held her until she fell asleep for very weariness. Whether she continued to +wrangle when she awoke next morning, or whether she went out to look for the +florin which she wanted to find, that I know not. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap169"></a>169 The Hut in the Forest</h3> + +<p> +A poor wood-cutter lived with his wife and three daughters in a little hut on +the edge of a lonely forest. One morning as he was about to go to his work, he +said to his wife, “Let my dinner be brought into the forest to me by my +eldest daughter, or I shall never get my work done, and in order that she may +not miss her way,” he added, “I will take a bag of millet with me +and strew the seeds on the path.” When, therefore, the sun was just above +the center of the forest, the girl set out on her way with a bowl of soup, but +the field-sparrows, and wood-sparrows, larks and finches, blackbirds and +siskins had picked up the millet long before, and the girl could not find the +track. Then trusting to chance, she went on and on, until the sun sank and +night began to fall. The trees rustled in the darkness, the owls hooted, and +she began to be afraid. Then in the distance she perceived a light which +glimmered between the trees. “There ought to be some people living there, +who can take me in for the night,” thought she, and went up to the light. +It was not long before she came to a house the windows of which were all +lighted up. She knocked, and a rough voice from inside cried, “Come +in.” The girl stepped into the dark entrance, and knocked at the door of +the room. “Just come in,” cried the voice, and when she opened the +door, an old gray-haired man was sitting at the table, supporting his face with +both hands, and his white beard fell down over the table almost as far as the +ground. By the stove lay three animals, a hen, a cock, and a brindled cow. The +girl told her story to the old man, and begged for shelter for the night. The +man said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Pretty little hen,<br/> +Pretty little cock,<br/> +And pretty brindled cow,<br/> +What say ye to that?” +</p> + +<p> +“Duks,” answered the animals, and that must have meant, “We +are willing,” for the old man said, “Here you shall have shelter +and food, go to the fire, and cook us our supper.” The girl found in the +kitchen abundance of everything, and cooked a good supper, but had no thought +of the animals. She carried the full dishes to the table, seated herself by the +gray-haired man, ate and satisfied her hunger. When she had had enough, she +said, “But now I am tired, where is there a bed in which I can lie down, +and sleep?” The animals replied, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Thou hast eaten with him,<br/> +Thou hast drunk with him,<br/> +Thou hast had no thought for us,<br/> +So find out for thyself where thou canst pass the night.” +</p> + +<p> +Then said the old man, “Just go upstairs, and thou wilt find a room with +two beds, shake them up, and put white linen on them, and then I, too, will +come and lie down to sleep.” The girl went up, and when she had shaken +the beds and put clean sheets on, she lay down in one of them without waiting +any longer for the old man. After some time, however, the gray-haired man came, +took his candle, looked at the girl and shook his head. When he saw that she +had fallen into a sound sleep, he opened a trap-door, and let her down into the +cellar. +</p> + +<p> +Late at night the wood-cutter came home, and reproached his wife for leaving +him to hunger all day. “It is not my fault,” she replied, +“the girl went out with your dinner, and must have lost herself, but she +is sure to come back to-morrow.” The wood-cutter, however, arose before +dawn to go into the forest, and requested that the second daughter should take +him his dinner that day. “I will take a bag with lentils,” said he; +“the seeds are larger than millet, the girl will see them better, and +can’t lose her way.” At dinner-time, therefore, the girl took out +the food, but the lentils had disappeared. The birds of the forest had picked +them up as they had done the day before, and had left none. The girl wandered +about in the forest until night, and then she too reached the house of the old +man, was told to go in, and begged for food and a bed. The man with the white +beard again asked the animals, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Pretty little hen,<br/> +Pretty little cock,<br/> +And pretty brindled cow,<br/> +What say ye to that?” +</p> + +<p> +The animals again replied “Duks,” and everything happened just as +it had happened the day before. The girl cooked a good meal, ate and drank with +the old man, and did not concern herself about the animals, and when she +inquired about her bed they answered, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Thou hast eaten with him,<br/> +Thou hast drunk with him,<br/> +Thou hast had no thought for us,<br/> +To find out for thyself where thou canst pass the night.” +</p> + +<p> +When she was asleep the old man came, looked at her, shook his head, and let +her down into the cellar. +</p> + +<p> +On the third morning the wood-cutter said to his wife, “Send our youngest +child out with my dinner to-day, she has always been good and obedient, and +will stay in the right path, and not run about after every wild humble-bee, as +her sisters did.” The mother did not want to do it, and said, “Am I +to lose my dearest child, as well?” +</p> + +<p> +“Have no fear,” he replied, “the girl will not go astray; she +is too prudent and sensible; besides I will take some peas with me, and strew +them about. They are still larger than lentils, and will show her the +way.” But when the girl went out with her basket on her arm, the +wood-pigeons had already got all the peas in their crops, and she did not know +which way she was to turn. She was full of sorrow and never ceased to think how +hungry her father would be, and how her good mother would grieve, if she did +not go home. At length when it grew dark, she saw the light and came to the +house in the forest. She begged quite prettily to be allowed to spend the night +there, and the man with the white beard once more asked his animals, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Pretty little hen,<br/> +Pretty little cock,<br/> +And beautiful brindled cow,<br/> +What say ye to that?” +</p> + +<p> +“Duks,” said they. Then the girl went to the stove where the +animals were lying, and petted the cock and hen, and stroked their smooth +feathers with her hand, and caressed the brindled cow between her horns, and +when, in obedience to the old man’s orders, she had made ready some good +soup, and the bowl was placed upon the table, she said, “Am I to eat as +much as I want, and the good animals to have nothing? Outside is food in +plenty, I will look after them first.” So she went and brought some +barley and stewed it for the cock and hen, and a whole armful of sweet-smelling +hay for the cow. “I hope you will like it, dear animals,” said she, +“and you shall have a refreshing draught in case you are thirsty.” +Then she fetched in a bucketful of water, and the cock and hen jumped on to the +edge of it and dipped their beaks in, and then held up their heads as the birds +do when they drink, and the brindled cow also took a hearty draught. When the +animals were fed, the girl seated herself at the table by the old man, and ate +what he had left. It was not long before the cock and the hen began to thrust +their heads beneath their wings, and the eyes of the cow likewise began to +blink. Then said the girl, “Ought we not to go to bed?” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Pretty little hen,<br/> +Pretty little cock,<br/> +And pretty brindled cow,<br/> +What say ye to that?” +</p> + +<p> +The animals answered “Duks,” +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Thou hast eaten with us,<br/> +Thou hast drunk with us,<br/> +Thou hast had kind thought for all of us,<br/> +We wish thee good-night.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the maiden went upstairs, shook the feather-beds, and laid clean sheets on +them, and when she had done it the old man came and lay down on one of the +beds, and his white beard reached down to his feet. The girl lay down on the +other, said her prayers, and fell asleep. +</p> + +<p> +She slept quietly till midnight, and then there was such a noise in the house +that she awoke. There was a sound of cracking and splitting in every corner, +and the doors sprang open, and beat against the walls. The beams groaned as if +they were being torn out of their joints, it seemed as if the staircase were +falling down, and at length there was a crash as if the entire roof had fallen +in. As, however, all grew quiet once more, and the girl was not hurt, she +stayed quietly lying where she was, and fell asleep again. But when she woke up +in the morning with the brilliancy of the sunshine, what did her eyes behold? +She was lying in a vast hall, and everything around her shone with royal +splendor; on the walls, golden flowers grew up on a ground of green silk, the +bed was of ivory, and the canopy of red velvet, and on a chair close by, was a +pair of shoes embroidered with pearls. The girl believed that she was in a +dream, but three richly clad attendants came in, and asked what orders she +would like to give? “If you will go,” she replied, “I will +get up at once and make ready some soup for the old man, and then I will feed +the pretty little hen, and the cock, and the beautiful brindled cow.” She +thought the old man was up already, and looked round at his bed; he, however, +was not lying in it, but a stranger. And while she was looking at him, and +becoming aware that he was young and handsome, he awoke, sat up in bed, and +said, “I am a King’s son, and was bewitched by a wicked witch, and +made to live in this forest, as an old gray-haired man; no one was allowed to +be with me but my three attendants in the form of a cock, a hen, and a brindled +cow. The spell was not to be broken until a girl came to us whose heart was so +good that she showed herself full of love, not only towards mankind, but +towards animals—and that thou hast done, and by thee at midnight we were +set free, and the old hut in the forest was changed back again into my royal +palace.” And when they had arisen, the King’s son ordered the three +attendants to set out and fetch the father and mother of the girl to the +marriage feast. “But where are my two sisters?” inquired the +maiden. “I have locked them in the cellar, and to-morrow they shall be +led into the forest, and shall live as servants to a charcoal-burner, until +they have grown kinder, and do not leave poor animals to suffer hunger.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap170"></a>170 Sharing Joy and Sorrow</h3> + +<p> +There was once a tailor, who was a quarrelsome fellow, and his wife, who was +good, industrious, and pious, never could please him. Whatever she did, he was +not satisfied, but grumbled and scolded, and knocked her about and beat her. As +the authorities at last heard of it, they had him summoned, and put in prison +in order to make him better. He was kept for a while on bread and water, and +then set free again. He was forced, however, to promise not to beat his wife +any more, but to live with her in peace, and share joy and sorrow with her, as +married people ought to do. All went on well for a time, but then he fell into +his old ways, and was surly and quarrelsome. And because he dared not beat her, +he would seize her by the hair and tear it out. The woman escaped from him, and +sprang out into the yard, but he ran after her with his yard-measure and +scissors, and chased her about, and threw the yard-measure and scissors at her, +and whatever else came his way. When he hit her he laughed, and when he missed +her, he stormed and swore. This went on so long that the neighbors came to the +wife’s assistance. The tailor was again summoned before the magistrates, +and reminded of his promise. “Dear gentlemen,” said he, “I +have kept my word, I have not beaten her, but have shared joy and sorrow with +her.” “How can that be,” said the judge, “when she +continually brings such heavy complaints against you?” “I have not +beaten her, but just because she looked so strange I wanted to comb her hair +with my hand; she, however, got away from me, and left me quite spitefully. +Then I hurried after her, and in order to bring her back to her duty, I threw +at her as a well-meant admonition whatever came readily to hand. I have shared +joy and sorrow with her also, for whenever I hit her I was full of joy, and she +of sorrow, and if I missed her, then she was joyful, and I sorry.” The +judges were not satisfied with this answer, but gave him the reward he +deserved. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap171"></a>171 The Willow-Wren</h3> + +<p> +In former days every sound still had its meaning and application. When the +smith’s hammer resounded, it cried, “Strike away! strike +away.” When the carpenter’s plane grated, it said, “Here +goes! here goes.” If the mill wheel began to clack, it said, “Help, +Lord God! help, Lord God!” And if the miller was a cheat and happened to +leave the mill, it spoke high German, and first asked slowly, “Who is +there? Who is there?” and then answered quickly, “The miller! the +miller!” and at last quite in a hurry, “He steals bravely! he +steals bravely! three pecks in a bushel.” +</p> + +<p> +At this time the birds also had their own language which every one understood; +now it only sounds like chirping, screeching, and whistling, and to some like +music without words. It came into the bird’s mind, however, that they +would no longer be without a ruler, and would choose one of themselves to be +their King. One alone amongst them, the green plover, was opposed to this. He +had lived free, and would die free, and anxiously flying hither and thither, he +cried, “Where shall I go? where shall I go?” He retired into a +solitary and unfrequented marsh, and showed himself no more among his fellows. +</p> + +<p> +The birds now wished to discuss the matter, and on a fine May morning they all +gathered together from the woods and fields: eagles and chaffinches, owls and +crows, larks and sparrows, how can I name them all? Even the cuckoo came, and +the hoopoe, his clerk, who is so called because he is always heard a few days +before him, and a very small bird which as yet had no name, mingled with the +band. The hen, which by some accident had heard nothing of the whole matter, +was astonished at the great assemblage. “What, what, what is going to be +done?” she cackled; but the cock calmed his beloved hen, and said, +“Only rich people,” and told her what they had on hand. It was +decided, however, that the one who could fly the highest should be King. A +tree-frog which was sitting among the bushes, when he heard that, cried a +warning, “No, no, no! no!” because he thought that many tears would +be shed because of this; but the crow said, “Caw, caw,” and that +all would pass off peaceably. It was now determined that on this fine morning +they should at once begin to ascend, so that hereafter no one should be able to +say, “I could easily have flown much higher, but the evening came on, and +I could do no more.” On a given signal, therefore, the whole troop rose +up in the air. The dust ascended from the land, and there was tremendous +fluttering and whirring and beating of wings, and it looked as if a black cloud +was rising up. The little birds were, however, soon left behind. They could go +no farther, and fell back to the ground. The larger birds held out longer, but +none could equal the eagle, who mounted so high that he could have picked the +eyes out of the sun. And when he saw that the others could not get up to him, +he thought, “Why shouldst thou fly still higher, thou art the +King?” and began to let himself down again. The birds beneath him at once +cried to him. “Thou must be our King, no one has flown so high as +thou.” “Except me,” screamed the little fellow without a +name, who had crept into the breast-feathers of the eagle. And as he was not at +all tired, he rose up and mounted so high that he reached heaven itself. When, +however, he had gone as far as this, he folded his wings together, and called +down with clear and penetrating voice, “I am King! I am King.” +</p> + +<p> +“Thou, our King?” cried the birds angrily. “Thou hast +compassed it by trick and cunning!” So they made another condition. He +should be King who could go down lowest in the ground. How the goose did flap +about with its broad breast when it was once more on the land! How quickly the +cock scratched a hole! The duck came off the worst of all, for she leapt into a +ditch, but sprained her legs, and waddled away to a neighboring pond, crying, +“Cheating, cheating!” The little bird without a name, however, +sought out a mouse-hole, slipped down into it, and cried out of it with his +small voice, “I am King! I am King!” +</p> + +<p> +“Thou our King!” cried the birds still more angrily. “Dost +thou think thy cunning shall prevail?” They determined to keep him a +prisoner in the hole and starve him out. The owl was placed as sentinel in +front of it, and was not to let the rascal out if she had any value for her +life. When evening was come all the birds were feeling very tired after +exerting their wings so much, so they went to bed with their wives and +children. The owl alone remained standing by the mouse-hole, gazing steadfastly +into it with her great eyes. In the meantime she, too, had grown tired and +thought to herself, “You might certainly shut one eye, you will still +watch with the other, and the little miscreant shall not come out of his +hole.” So she shut one eye, and with the other looked straight at the +mouse-hole. The little fellow put his head out and peeped, and wanted to slip +away, but the owl came forward immediately, and he drew his head back again. +Then the owl opened the one eye again, and shut the other, intending to shut +them in turn all through the night. +</p> + +<p> +But when she next shut the one eye, she forgot to open the other, and as soon +as both her eyes were shut she fell asleep. The little fellow soon observed +that, and slipped away. +</p> + +<p> +From that day forth, the owl has never dared to show herself by daylight, for +if she does the other birds chase her and pluck her feathers out. She only +flies out by night, but hates and pursues mice because they make such ugly +holes. The little bird, too, is very unwilling to let himself be seen, because +he is afraid it will cost him his life if he is caught. He steals about in the +hedges, and when he is quite safe, he sometimes cries, “I am King,” +and for this reason, the other birds call him in mockery, ‘King of the +hedges’ (Zaunkönig). No one, however, was so happy as the lark at not +having to obey the little King. As soon as the sun appears, she ascends high in +the air and cries, “Ah, how beautiful that is! beautiful that is! +beautiful, beautiful! ah, how beautiful that is!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap172"></a>172 The Sole</h3> + +<p> +The fishes had for a long time been discontented because no order prevailed in +their kingdom. None of them turned aside for the others, but all swam to the +right or the left as they fancied, or darted between those who wanted to stay +together, or got into their way; and a strong one gave a weak one a blow with +its tail, which drove it away, or else swallowed it up without more ado. +“How delightful it would be,” said they, “if we had a king +who enforced law and justice among us!” and they met together to choose +for their ruler, the one who could cleave through the water most quickly, and +give help to the weak ones. +</p> + +<p> +They placed themselves in rank and file by the shore, and the pike gave the +signal with his tail, on which they all started. Like an arrow, the pike darted +away, and with him the herring, the gudgeon, the perch, the carp, and all the +rest of them. Even the sole swam with them, and hoped to reach the +winning-place. All at once, the cry was heard, “The herring is +first!” “Who is first?” screamed angrily the flat envious +sole, who had been left far behind, “who is first?” “The +herring! The herring,” was the answer. “The naked herring?” +cried the jealous creature, “the naked herring?” Since that time +the sole’s mouth has been at one side for a punishment. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap173"></a>173 The Bittern and the Hoopoe</h3> + +<p> +“Where do you like best to feed your flocks?” said a man to an old +cow-herd. “Here, sir, where the grass is neither too rich nor too poor, +or else it is no use.” “Why not?” asked the man. “Do +you hear that melancholy cry from the meadow there?” answered the +shepherd, “that is the bittern; he was once a shepherd, and so was the +hoopoe also,—I will tell you the story. The bittern pastured his flocks +on rich green meadows where flowers grew in abundance, so his cows became wild +and unmanageable. The hoopoe drove his cattle on to high barren hills, where +the wind plays with the sand, and his cows became thin, and got no strength. +When it was evening, and the shepherds wanted to drive their cows homewards, +the bittern could not get his together again; they were too high-spirited, and +ran away from him. He called, “Come, cows, come,” but it was of no +use; they took no notice of his calling. The hoopoe, however, could not even +get his cows up on their legs, so faint and weak had they become. “Up, +up, up,” screamed he, but it was in vain, they remained lying on the +sand. That is the way when one has no moderation. And to this day, though they +have no flocks now to watch, the bittern cries, “Come, cows, come,” +and the hoopoe, “Up, up, up.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap174"></a>174 The Owl</h3> + +<p> +Two or three hundred years ago, when people were far from being so crafty and +cunning as they are now-a-day, an extraordinary event took place in a little +town. By some mischance one of the great owls, called horned owls, had come +from the neighboring woods into the barn of one of the townsfolk in the +night-time, and when day broke did not dare to venture forth again from her +retreat, for fear of the other birds, which raised a terrible outcry whenever +she appeared. In the morning when the man-servant went into the barn to fetch +some straw, he was so mightily alarmed at the sight of the owl sitting there in +a corner, that he ran away and announced to his master that a monster, the like +of which he had never set eyes on in his life, and which could devour a man +without the slightest difficulty, was sitting in the barn, rolling its eyes +about in its head. “I know you already,” said the master, +“you have courage enough to chase a blackbird about the fields, but when +you see a dead hen lying, you have to get a stick before you go near it. I must +go and see for myself what kind of a monster it is,” added the master, +and went quite boldly into the granary and looked round him. When, however, he +saw the strange grim creature with his own eyes, he was no less terrified than +the servant had been. With two bounds he sprang out, ran to his neighbours, and +begged them imploringly to lend him assistance against an unknown and dangerous +beast, or else the whole town might be in danger if it were to break loose out +of the barn, where it was shut up. A great noise and clamour arose in all the +streets, the townsmen came armed with spears, hay-forks, scythes, and axes, as +if they were going out against an enemy; finally, the senators appeared with +the burgomaster at their head. When they had drawn up in the market-place, they +marched to the barn, and surrounded it on all sides. Thereupon one of the most +courageous of them stepped forth and entered with his spear lowered, but came +running out immediately afterwards with a shriek and as pale as death, and +could not utter a single word. Yet two others ventured in, but they fared no +better. At last one stepped forth; a great strong man who was famous for his +warlike deeds, and said, “You will not drive away the monster by merely +looking at him; we must be in earnest here, but I see that you have all tuned +into women, and not one of you dares to encounter the animal.” He ordered +them to give him some armour, had a sword and spear brought, and armed himself. +All praised his courage, though many feared for his life. The two barn-doors +were opened, and they saw the owl, which in the meantime had perched herself on +the middle of a great cross-beam. He had a ladder brought, and when he raised +it, and made ready to climb up, they all cried out to him that he was to bear +himself bravely, and commended him to St. George, who slew the dragon. When he +had just got to the top, and the owl perceived that he had designs on her, and +was also bewildered by the crowd and the shouting, and knew not how to escape, +she rolled her eyes, ruffled her feathers, flapped her wings, snapped her beak, +and cried, “Tuwhit, tuwhoo,” in a harsh voice. “Strike home! +strike home!” screamed the crowd outside to the valiant hero. “Any +one who was standing where I am standing,” answered he, “would not +cry, strike home!” He certainly did plant his foot one rung higher on the +ladder, but then he began to tremble, and half-fainting, went back again. +</p> + +<p> +And now there was no one left who dared to put himself in such danger. +“The monster,” said they, “has poisoned and mortally wounded +the very strongest man among us, by snapping at him and just breathing on him! +Are we, too, to risk our lives?” They took counsel as to what they ought +to do to prevent the whole town being destroyed. For a long time everything +seemed to be of no use, but at length the burgomaster found an expedient. +“My opinion,” said he, “is that we ought, out of the common +purse, to pay for this barn, and whatsoever corn, straw, or hay it contains, +and thus indemnify the owner, and then burn down the whole building, and the +terrible beast with it. Thus no one will have to endanger his life. This is no +time for thinking of expense, and niggardliness would be ill applied.” +All agreed with him. So they set fire to the barn at all four corners, and with +it the owl was miserably burnt. Let any one who will not believe it, go thither +and inquire for himself. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap175"></a>175 The Moon</h3> + +<p> +In days gone by there was a land where the nights were always dark, and the sky +spread over it like a black cloth, for there the moon never rose, and no star +shone in the obscurity. At the creation of the world, the light at night had +been sufficient. Three young fellows once went out of this country on a +travelling expedition, and arrived in another kingdom, where, in the evening +when the sun had disappeared behind the mountains, a shining globe was placed +on an oak-tree, which shed a soft light far and wide. By means of this, +everything could very well be seen and distinguished, even though it was not so +brilliant as the sun. The travellers stopped and asked a countryman who was +driving past with his cart, what kind of a light that was. “That is the +moon,” answered he; “our mayor bought it for three thalers, and +fastened it to the oak-tree. He has to pour oil into it daily, and to keep it +clean, so that it may always burn clearly. He receives a thaler a week from us +for doing it.” +</p> + +<p> +When the countryman had driven away, one of them said, “We could make +some use of this lamp, we have an oak-tree at home, which is just as big as +this, and we could hang it on that. What a pleasure it would be not to have to +feel about at night in the darkness!” “I’ll tell you what +we’ll do,” said the second; “we will fetch a cart and horses +and carry away the moon. The people here may buy themselves another.” +“I’m a good climber,” said the third, “I will bring it +down.” The fourth brought a cart and horses, and the third climbed the +tree, bored a hole in the moon, passed a rope through it, and let it down. When +the shining ball lay in the cart, they covered it over with a cloth, that no +one might observe the theft. They conveyed it safely into their own country, +and placed it on a high oak. Old and young rejoiced, when the new lamp let its +light shine over the whole land, and bed-rooms and sitting-rooms were filled +with it. The dwarfs came forth from their caves in the rocks, and the tiny +elves in their little red coats danced in rings on the meadows. +</p> + +<p> +The four took care that the moon was provided with oil, cleaned the wick, and +received their weekly thaler, but they became old men, and when one of them +grew ill, and saw that he was about to die, he appointed that one quarter of +the moon, should, as his property, be laid in the grave with him. When he died, +the mayor climbed up the tree, and cut off a quarter with the hedge-shears, and +this was placed in his coffin. The light of the moon decreased, but still not +visibly. When the second died, the second quarter was buried with him, and the +light diminished. It grew weaker still after the death of the third, who +likewise took his part of it away with him; and when the fourth was borne to +his grave, the old state of darkness recommenced, and whenever the people went +out at night without their lanterns they knocked their heads together. +</p> + +<p> +When, however, the pieces of the moon had united themselves together again in +the world below, where darkness had always prevailed, it came to pass that the +dead became restless and awoke from their sleep. They were astonished when they +were able to see again; the moonlight was quite sufficient for them, for their +eyes had become so weak that they could not have borne the brilliance of the +sun. They rose up and were merry, and fell into their former ways of living. +Some of them went to the play and to dance, others hastened to the +public-houses, where they asked for wine, got drunk, brawled, quarreled, and at +last took up cudgels, and belabored each other. The noise became greater and +greater, and at last reached even to heaven. +</p> + +<p> +Saint Peter who guards the gate of heaven thought the lower world had broken +out in revolt and gathered together the heavenly troops, which are to drive +back the Evil One when he and his associates storm the abode of the blessed. As +these, however, did not come, he got on his horse and rode through the gate of +heaven, down into the world below. There he reduced the dead to subjection, +bade them lie down in their graves again, took the moon away with him, and hung +it up in heaven. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap176"></a>176 The Duration of Life</h3> + +<p> +When God had created the world and was about to fix the length of each +creature’s life, the ass came and asked, “Lord, how long shall I +live?” “Thirty years,” replied God; “does that content +thee?” “Ah, Lord,” answered the ass, “that is a long +time. Think of my painful existence! To carry heavy burdens from morning to +night, to drag sacks of corn to the mill, that others may eat bread, to be +cheered and refreshed with nothing but blows and kicks. Relieve me of a portion +of this long time.” Then God had pity on him and relieved him of eighteen +years. The ass went away comforted, and the dog appeared. “How long +wouldst thou like to live?” said God to him. “Thirty years are too +many for the ass, but thou wilt be satisfied with that.” +“Lord,” answered the dog, “is that thy will? Consider how I +shall have to run, my feet will never hold out so long, and when I have once +lost my voice for barking, and my teeth for biting, what will be left for me to +do but run from one corner to another and growl?” God saw that he was +right, and released him from twelve years of life. Then came the monkey. +“Thou wilt certainly live thirty years willingly?” said the Lord to +him. “Thou hast no need to work as the ass and the dog have to do, and +wilt always enjoy thyself.” “Ah! Lord,” he answered, +“it may seem as if that were the case, but it is quite different. When it +rains porridge I have no spoon. I am always to play merry pranks, and make +faces which force people to laugh, and if they give me an apple, and I bite +into it, why it is sour! How often sadness hides itself behind mirth! I shall +never be able to hold out for thirty years.” God was gracious and took +off ten. +</p> + +<p> +At last man appeared, joyous, healthy and vigorous, and begged God to appoint +his time for him. “Thirty years shalt thou live,” said the Lord. +“Is that enough for thee?” “What a short time,” cried +man, “when I have built my house and my fire burns on my own hearth; when +I have planted trees which blossom and bear fruit, and am just intending to +enjoy my life, I am to die! O Lord, lengthen my time.” “I will add +to it the ass’s eighteen years,” said God. “That is not +enough,” replied the man. “Thou shalt also have the dog’s +twelve years.” “Still too little!” “Well, then,” +said God, “I will give thee the monkey’s ten years also, but more +thou shalt not have.” The man went away, but was not satisfied. +</p> + +<p> +So man lives seventy years. The first thirty are his human years, which are +soon gone; then is he healthy, merry, works with pleasure, and is glad of his +life. Then follow the ass’s eighteen years, when one burden after another +is laid on him, he has to carry the corn which feeds others, and blows and +kicks are the reward of his faithful services. Then come the dog’s twelve +years, when he lies in the corner, and growls and has no longer any teeth to +bite with, and when this time is over the monkey’s ten years form the +end. Then man is weak-headed and foolish, does silly things, and becomes the +jest of the children. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap177"></a>177 Death’s Messengers</h3> + +<p> +In ancient times a giant was once travelling on a great highway, when suddenly +an unknown man sprang up before him, and said, “Halt, not one step +farther!” “What!” cried the giant, “a creature whom I +can crush between my fingers, wants to block my way? Who art thou that thou +darest to speak so boldly?” “I am Death,” answered the other. +“No one resists me, and thou also must obey my commands.” But the +giant refused, and began to struggle with Death. It was a long, violent battle, +at last the giant got the upper hand, and struck Death down with his fist, so +that he dropped by a stone. The giant went his way, and Death lay there +conquered, and so weak that he could not get up again. “What will be done +now,” said he, “if I stay lying here in a corner? No one will die +in the world, and it will get so full of people that they won’t have room +to stand beside each other.” In the meantime a young man came along the +road, who was strong and healthy, singing a song, and glancing around on every +side. When he saw the half-fainting one, he went compassionately to him, raised +him up, poured a strengthening draught out of his flask for him, and waited +till he came round. “Dost thou know,” said the stranger, whilst he +was getting up, “who I am, and who it is whom thou hast helped on his +legs again?” “No,” answered the youth, “I do not know +thee.” “I am Death,” said he. “I spare no one, and can +make no exception with thee, but that thou mayst see that I am grateful, I +promise thee that I will not fall on thee unexpectedly, but will send my +messengers to thee before I come and take thee away.” “Well,” +said the youth, “it is something gained that I shall know when thou +comest, and at any rate be safe from thee for so long.” Then he went on +his way, and was light-hearted, and enjoyed himself, and lived without thought. +But youth and health did not last long, soon came sicknesses and sorrows, which +tormented him by day, and took away his rest by night. “Die, I shall +not,” said he to himself, “for Death will send his messengers +before that, but I do wish these wretched days of sickness were over.” As +soon as he felt himself well again he began once more to live merrily. Then one +day some one tapped him on the shoulder. He looked round, and Death stood +behind him, and said, “Follow me, the hour of thy departure from this +world has come.” “What,” replied the man, “wilt thou +break thy word? Didst thou not promise me that thou wouldst send thy messengers +to me before coming thyself? I have seen none!” “Silence!” +answered Death. “Have I not sent one messenger to thee after another? Did +not fever come and smite thee, and shake thee, and cast thee down? Has +dizziness not bewildered thy head? Has not gout twitched thee in all thy limbs? +Did not thine ears sing? Did not tooth-ache bite into thy cheeks? Was it not +dark before thine eyes? And besides all that, has not my own brother Sleep +reminded thee every night of me? Didst thou not lie by night as if thou wert +already dead? The man could make no answer; he yielded to his fate, and went +away with Death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap178"></a>178 Master Pfriem (Master Cobbler’s Awl)</h3> + +<p> +Master Pfriem was a short, thin, but lively man, who never rested a moment. His +face, of which his turned-up nose was the only prominent feature, was marked +with small-pox and pale as death, his hair was gray and shaggy, his eyes small, +but they glanced perpetually about on all sides. He saw everything, criticised +everything, knew everything best, and was always in the right. When he went +into the streets, he moved his arms about as if he were rowing; and once he +struck the pail of a girl, who was carrying water, so high in the air that he +himself was wetted all over by it. “Stupid thing,” cried he to her, +while he was shaking himself, “couldst thou not see that I was coming +behind thee?” By trade he was a shoemaker, and when he worked he pulled +his thread out with such force that he drove his fist into every one who did +not keep far enough off. No apprentice stayed more than a month with him, for +he had always some fault to find with the very best work. At one time it was +that the stitches were not even, at another that one shoe was too long, or one +heel higher than the other, or the leather not cut large enough. +“Wait,” said he to his apprentice, “I will soon show thee how +we make skins soft,” and he brought a strap and gave him a couple of +strokes across the back. He called them all sluggards. He himself did not turn +much work out of his hands, for he never sat still for a quarter of an hour. If +his wife got up very early in the morning and lighted the fire, he jumped out +of bed, and ran bare-footed into the kitchen, crying, “Wilt thou burn my +house down for me? That is a fire one could roast an ox by! Does wood cost +nothing?” If the servants were standing by their wash-tubs and laughing, +and telling each other all they knew, he scolded them, and said, “There +stand the geese cackling, and forgetting their work, to gossip! And why fresh +soap? Disgraceful extravagance and shameful idleness into the bargain! They +want to save their hands, and not rub the things properly!” And out he +would run and knock a pail full of soap and water over, so that the whole +kitchen was flooded. Someone was building a new house, so he hurried to the +window to look on. “There, they are using that red sand-stone again that +never dries!” cried he. “No one will ever be healthy in that house! +and just look how badly the fellows are laying the stones! Besides, the mortar +is good for nothing! It ought to have gravel in it, not sand. I shall live to +see that house tumble down on the people who are in it.” He sat down, put +a couple of stitches in, and then jumped up again, unfastened his +leather-apron, and cried, “I will just go out, and appeal to those +men’s consciences.” He stumbled on the carpenters. +“What’s this?” cried he, “you are not working by the +line! Do you expect the beams to be straight?—one wrong will put all +wrong.” He snatched an axe out of a carpenter’s hand and wanted to +show him how he ought to cut; but as a cart loaded with clay came by, he threw +the axe away, and hastened to the peasant who was walking by the side of it: +“You are not in your right mind,” said he, “who yokes young +horses to a heavily-laden cart? The poor beasts will die on the spot.” +The peasant did not give him an answer, and Pfriem in a rage ran back into his +workshop. When he was setting himself to work again, the apprentice reached him +a shoe. “Well, what’s that again?” screamed he, +“Haven’t I told you you ought not to cut shoes so broad? Who would +buy a shoe like this, which is hardly anything else but a sole? I insist on my +orders being followed exactly.” “Master,” answered the +apprentice, “you may easily be quite right about the shoe being a bad +one, but it is the one which you yourself cut out, and yourself set to work at. +When you jumped up a while since, you knocked it off the table, and I have only +just picked it up. An angel from heaven, however, would never make you believe +that.” +</p> + +<p> +One night Master Pfriem dreamed he was dead, and on his way to heaven. When he +got there, he knocked loudly at the door. “I wonder,” said he to +himself, “that they have no knocker on the door,—one knocks +one’s knuckles sore.” The apostle Peter opened the door, and wanted +to see who demanded admission so noisily. “Ah, it’s you, Master +Pfriem;” said he, “well, I’ll let you in, but I warn you that +you must give up that habit of yours, and find fault with nothing you see in +heaven, or you may fare ill.” “You might have spared your +warning,” answered Pfriem. “I know already what is seemly, and +here, God be thanked, everything is perfect, and there is nothing to blame as +there is on earth.” So he went in, and walked up and down the wide +expanses of heaven. He looked around him, to the left and to the right, but +sometimes shook his head, or muttered something to himself. Then he saw two +angels who were carrying away a beam. It was the beam which some one had had in +his own eye whilst he was looking for the splinter in the eye of another. They +did not, however, carry the beam lengthways, but obliquely. “Did any one +ever see such a piece of stupidity?” thought Master Pfriem; but he said +nothing, and seemed satisfied with it. “It comes to the same thing after +all, whichever way they carry the beam, straight or crooked, if they only get +along with it, and truly I do not see them knock against anything.” Soon +after this he saw two angels who were drawing water out of a well into a +bucket, but at the same time he observed that the bucket was full of holes, and +that the water was running out of it on every side. They were watering the +earth with rain. “Hang it,” he exclaimed; but happily recollected +himself, and thought, “Perhaps it is only a pastime. If it is an +amusement, then it seems they can do useless things of this kind even here in +heaven, where people, as I have already noticed, do nothing but idle +about.” He went farther and saw a cart which had stuck fast in a deep +hole. “It’s no wonder,” said he to the man who stood by it; +“who would load so unreasonably? what have you there?” “Good +wishes,” replied the man, “I could not go along the right way with +it, but still I have pushed it safely up here, and they won’t leave me +sticking here.” In fact an angel did come and harnessed two horses to it. +“That’s quite right,” thought Pfriem, “but two horses +won’t get that cart out, it must at least have four to it.” Another +angel came and brought two more horses; she did not, however, harness them in +front of it, but behind. That was too much for Master Pfriem, “Clumsy +creature,” he burst out with, “what are you doing there? Has any +one ever since the world began seen a cart drawn in that way? But you, in your +conceited arrogance, think that you know everything best.” He was going +to say more, but one of the inhabitants of heaven seized him by the throat and +pushed him forth with irresistible strength. Beneath the gateway Master Pfriem +turned his head round to take one more look at the cart, and saw that it was +being raised into the air by four winged horses. +</p> + +<p> +At this moment Master Pfriem awoke. “Things are certainly arranged in +heaven otherwise than they are on earth,” said he to himself, “and +that excuses much; but who can see horses harnessed both behind and before with +patience; to be sure they had wings, but who could know that? It is, besides, +great folly to fix a pair of wings to a horse that has four legs to run with +already! But I must get up, or else they will make nothing but mistakes for me +in my house. It is a lucky thing for me though, that I am not really +dead.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap179"></a>179 The Goose-Girl at the Well</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a very old woman, who lived with her flock of geese +in a waste place among the mountains, and there had a little house. The waste +was surrounded by a large forest, and every morning the old woman took her +crutch and hobbled into it. There, however, the dame was quite active, more so +than any one would have thought, considering her age, and collected grass for +her geese, picked all the wild fruit she could reach, and carried everything +home on her back. Any one would have thought that the heavy load would have +weighed her to the ground, but she always brought it safely home. If any one +met her, she greeted him quite courteously. “Good day, dear countryman, +it is a fine day. Ah! you wonder that I should drag grass about, but every one +must take his burthen on his back.” Nevertheless, people did not like to +meet her if they could help it, and took by preference a round-about way, and +when a father with his boys passed her, he whispered to them, “Beware of +the old woman. She has claws beneath her gloves; she is a witch.” One +morning, a handsome young man was going through the forest. The sun shone +bright, the birds sang, a cool breeze crept through the leaves, and he was full +of joy and gladness. He had as yet met no one, when he suddenly perceived the +old witch kneeling on the ground cutting grass with a sickle. She had already +thrust a whole load into her cloth, and near it stood two baskets, which were +filled with wild apples and pears. “But, good little mother,” said +he, “how canst thou carry all that away?” “I must carry it, +dear sir,” answered she, “rich folk’s children have no need +to do such things, but with the peasant folk the saying goes, don’t look +behind you, you will only see how crooked your back is!” +</p> + +<p> +“Will you help me?” she said, as he remained standing by her. +“You have still a straight back and young legs, it would be a trifle to +you. Besides, my house is not so very far from here, it stands there on the +heath behind the hill. How soon you would bound up thither.” The young +man took compassion on the old woman. “My father is certainly no +peasant,” replied he, “but a rich count; nevertheless, that you may +see that it is not only peasants who can carry things, I will take your +bundle.” “If you will try it,” said she, “I shall be +very glad. You will certainly have to walk for an hour, but what will that +signify to you; only you must carry the apples and pears as well?” It now +seemed to the young man just a little serious, when he heard of an hour’s +walk, but the old woman would not let him off, packed the bundle on his back, +and hung the two baskets on his arm. “See, it is quite light,” said +she. “No, it is not light,” answered the count, and pulled a rueful +face. “Verily, the bundle weighs as heavily as if it were full of cobble +stones, and the apples and pears are as heavy as lead! I can scarcely +breathe.” He had a mind to put everything down again, but the old woman +would not allow it. “Just look,” said she mockingly, “the +young gentleman will not carry what I, an old woman, have so often dragged +along. You are ready with fine words, but when it comes to be earnest, you want +to take to your heels. Why are you standing loitering there?” she +continued. “Step out. No one will take the bundle off again.” As +long as he walked on level ground, it was still bearable, but when they came to +the hill and had to climb, and the stones rolled down under his feet as if they +were alive, it was beyond his strength. The drops of perspiration stood on his +forehead, and ran, hot and cold, down his back. “Dame,” said he, +“I can go no farther. I want to rest a little.” “Not +here,” answered the old woman, “when we have arrived at our +journey’s end, you can rest; but now you must go forward. Who knows what +good it may do you?” “Old woman, thou art becoming +shameless!” said the count, and tried to throw off the bundle, but he +laboured in vain; it stuck as fast to his back as if it grew there. He turned +and twisted, but he could not get rid of it. The old woman laughed at this, and +sprang about quite delighted on her crutch. “Don’t get angry, dear +sir,” said she, “you are growing as red in the face as a +turkey-cock! Carry your bundle patiently. I will give you a good present when +we get home.” +</p> + +<p> +What could he do? He was obliged to submit to his fate, and crawl along +patiently behind the old woman. She seemed to grow more and more nimble, and +his burden still heavier. All at once she made a spring, jumped on to the +bundle and seated herself on the top of it; and however withered she might be, +she was yet heavier than the stoutest country lass. The youth’s knees +trembled, but when he did not go on, the old woman hit him about the legs with +a switch and with stinging-nettles. Groaning continually, he climbed the +mountain, and at length reached the old woman’s house, when he was just +about to drop. When the geese perceived the old woman, they flapped their +wings, stretched out their necks, ran to meet her, cackling all the while. +Behind the flock walked, stick in hand, an old wench, strong and big, but ugly +as night. “Good mother,” said she to the old woman, “has +anything happened to you, you have stayed away so long?” “By no +means, my dear daughter,” answered she, “I have met with nothing +bad, but, on the contrary, with this kind gentleman, who has carried my burthen +for me; only think, he even took me on his back when I was tired. The way, too, +has not seemed long to us; we have been merry, and have been cracking jokes +with each other all the time.” At last the old woman slid down, took the +bundle off the young man’s back, and the baskets from his arm, looked at +him quite kindly, and said, “Now seat yourself on the bench before the +door, and rest. You have fairly earned your wages, and they shall not be +wanting.” Then she said to the goose-girl, “Go into the house, my +dear daughter, it is not becoming for thee to be alone with a young gentleman; +one must not pour oil on to the fire, he might fall in love with thee.” +The count knew not whether to laugh or to cry. “Such a sweetheart as +that,” thought he, “could not touch my heart, even if she were +thirty years younger.” In the meantime the old woman stroked and fondled +her geese as if they were children, and then went into the house with her +daughter. The youth lay down on the bench, under a wild apple-tree. The air was +warm and mild; on all sides stretched a green meadow, which was set with +cowslips, wild thyme, and a thousand other flowers; through the midst of it +rippled a clear brook on which the sun sparkled, and the white geese went +walking backwards and forwards, or paddled in the water. “It is quite +delightful here,” said he, “but I am so tired that I cannot keep my +eyes open; I will sleep a little. If only a gust of wind does not come and blow +my legs off my body, for they are as rotten as tinder.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had slept a little while, the old woman came and shook him till he +awoke. “Sit up,” said she, “thou canst not stay here; I have +certainly treated thee hardly, still it has not cost thee thy life. Of money +and land thou hast no need, here is something else for thee.” Thereupon +she thrust a little book into his hand, which was cut out of a single emerald. +“Take great care of it,” said she, “it will bring thee good +fortune.” The count sprang up, and as he felt that he was quite fresh, +and had recovered his vigor, he thanked the old woman for her present, and set +off without even once looking back at the beautiful daughter. When he was +already some way off, he still heard in the distance the noisy cry of the +geese. +</p> + +<p> +For three days the count had to wander in the wilderness before he could find +his way out. He then reached a large town, and as no one knew him, he was led +into the royal palace, where the King and Queen were sitting on their throne. +The count fell on one knee, drew the emerald book out of his pocket, and laid +it at the Queen’s feet. She bade him rise and hand her the little book. +Hardly, however, had she opened it, and looked therein, than she fell as if +dead to the ground. The count was seized by the King’s servants, and was +being led to prison, when the Queen opened her eyes, and ordered them to +release him, and every one was to go out, as she wished to speak with him in +private. +</p> + +<p> +When the Queen was alone, she began to weep bitterly, and said, “Of what +use to me are the splendours and honours with which I am surrounded; every +morning I awake in pain and sorrow. I had three daughters, the youngest of whom +was so beautiful that the whole world looked on her as a wonder. She was as +white as snow, as rosy as apple-blossom, and her hair as radiant as sun-beams. +When she cried, not tears fell from her eyes, but pearls and jewels only. When +she was fifteen years old, the King summoned all three sisters to come before +his throne. You should have seen how all the people gazed when the youngest +entered, it was just as if the sun were rising! Then the King spoke, “My +daughters, I know not when my last day may arrive; I will to-day decide what +each shall receive at my death. You all love me, but the one of you who loves +me best, shall fare the best.” Each of them said she loved him best. +“Can you not express to me,” said the King, “how much you do +love me, and thus I shall see what you mean?” The eldest spoke. “I +love my father as dearly as the sweetest sugar.” The second, “I +love my father as dearly as my prettiest dress.” But the youngest was +silent. Then the father said, “And thou, my dearest child, how much dost +thou love me?” “I do not know, and can compare my love with +nothing.” But her father insisted that she should name something. So she +said at last, “The best food does not please me without salt, therefore I +love my father like salt.” When the King heard that, he fell into a +passion, and said, “If thou lovest me like salt, thy love shall also be +repaid thee with salt.” Then he divided the kingdom between the two +elder, but caused a sack of salt to be bound on the back of the youngest, and +two servants had to lead her forth into the wild forest. We all begged and +prayed for her, said the Queen, “but the King’s anger was not to be +appeased. How she cried when she had to leave us! The whole road was strewn +with the pearls which flowed from her eyes. The King soon afterwards repented +of his great severity, and had the whole forest searched for the poor child, +but no one could find her. When I think that the wild beasts have devoured her, +I know not how to contain myself for sorrow; many a time I console myself with +the hope that she is still alive, and may have hidden herself in a cave, or has +found shelter with compassionate people. But picture to yourself, when I opened +your little emerald book, a pearl lay therein, of exactly the same kind as +those which used to fall from my daughter’s eyes; and then you can also +imagine how the sight of it stirred my heart. You must tell me how you came by +that pearl.” The count told her that he had received it from the old +woman in the forest, who had appeared very strange to him, and must be a witch, +but he had neither seen nor hear anything of the Queen’s child. The King +and the Queen resolved to seek out the old woman. They thought that there where +the pearl had been, they would obtain news of their daughter. +</p> + +<p> +The old woman was sitting in that lonely place at her spinning-wheel, spinning. +It was already dusk, and a log which was burning on the hearth gave a scanty +light. All at once there was a noise outside, the geese were coming home from +the pasture, and uttering their hoarse cries. Soon afterwards the daughter also +entered. But the old woman scarcely thanked her, and only shook her head a +little. The daughter sat down beside her, took her spinning-wheel, and twisted +the threads as nimbly as a young girl. Thus they both sat for two hours, and +exchanged never a word. At last something rustled at the window, and two fiery +eyes peered in. It was an old night-owl, which cried, “Uhu!” three +times. The old woman looked up just a little, then she said, “Now, my +little daughter, it is time for thee to go out and do thy work.” She rose +and went out, and where did she go? Over the meadows ever onward into the +valley. At last she came to a well, with three old oak-trees standing beside +it; meanwhile the moon had risen large and round over the mountain, and it was +so light that one could have found a needle. She removed a skin which covered +her face, then bent down to the well, and began to wash herself. When she had +finished, she dipped the skin also in the water, and then laid it on the +meadow, so that it should bleach in the moonlight, and dry again. But how the +maiden was changed! Such a change as that was never seen before! When the gray +mask fell off, her golden hair broke forth like sunbeams, and spread about like +a mantle over her whole form. Her eyes shone out as brightly as the stars in +heaven, and her cheeks bloomed a soft red like apple-blossom. +</p> + +<p> +But the fair maiden was sad. She sat down and wept bitterly. One tear after +another forced itself out of her eyes, and rolled through her long hair to the +ground. There she sat, and would have remained sitting a long time, if there +had not been a rustling and cracking in the boughs of the neighbouring tree. +She sprang up like a roe which has been overtaken by the shot of the hunter. +Just then the moon was obscured by a dark cloud, and in an instant the maiden +had put on the old skin and vanished, like a light blown out by the wind. +</p> + +<p> +She ran back home, trembling like an aspen-leaf. The old woman was standing on +the threshold, and the girl was about to relate what had befallen her, but the +old woman laughed kindly, and said, “I already know all.” She led +her into the room and lighted a new log. She did not, however, sit down to her +spinning again, but fetched a broom and began to sweep and scour, “All +must be clean and sweet,” she said to the girl. “But, +mother,” said the maiden, “why do you begin work at so late an +hour? What do you expect?” “Dost thou know then what time it +is?” asked the old woman. “Not yet midnight,” answered the +maiden, “but already past eleven o’clock.” “Dost thou +not remember,” continued the old woman, “that it is three years +to-day since thou camest to me? Thy time is up, we can no longer remain +together.” The girl was terrified, and said, “Alas! dear mother, +will you cast me off? Where shall I go? I have no friends, and no home to which +I can go. I have always done as you bade me, and you have always been satisfied +with me; do not send me away.” The old woman would not tell the maiden +what lay before her. “My stay here is over,” she said to her, +“but when I depart, house and parlour must be clean: therefore do not +hinder me in my work. Have no care for thyself, thou shalt find a roof to +shelter thee, and the wages which I will give thee shall also content +thee.” “But tell me what is about to happen,” the maiden +continued to entreat. “I tell thee again, do not hinder me in my work. Do +not say a word more, go to thy chamber, take the skin off thy face, and put on +the silken gown which thou hadst on when thou camest to me, and then wait in +thy chamber until I call thee.” +</p> + +<p> +But I must once more tell of the King and Queen, who had journeyed forth with +the count in order to seek out the old woman in the wilderness. The count had +strayed away from them in the wood by night, and had to walk onwards alone. +Next day it seemed to him that he was on the right track. He still went +forward, until darkness came on, then he climbed a tree, intending to pass the +night there, for he feared that he might lose his way. When the moon illumined +the surrounding country he perceived a figure coming down the mountain. She had +no stick in her hand, but yet he could see that it was the goose-girl, whom he +had seen before in the house of the old woman. “Oho,” cried he, +“there she comes, and if I once get hold of one of the witches, the other +shall not escape me!” But how astonished he was, when she went to the +well, took off the skin and washed herself, when her golden hair fell down all +about her, and she was more beautiful than any one whom he had ever seen in the +whole world. He hardly dared to breathe, but stretched his head as far forward +through the leaves as he dared, and stared at her. Either he bent over too far, +or whatever the cause might be, the bough suddenly cracked, and that very +moment the maiden slipped into the skin, sprang away like a roe, and as the +moon was suddenly covered, disappeared from his eyes. Hardly had she +disappeared, before the count descended from the tree, and hastened after her +with nimble steps. He had not been gone long before he saw, in the twilight, +two figures coming over the meadow. It was the King and Queen, who had +perceived from a distance the light shining in the old woman’s little +house, and were going to it. The count told them what wonderful things he had +seen by the well, and they did not doubt that it had been their lost daughter. +They walked onwards full of joy, and soon came to the little house. The geese +were sitting all round it, and had thrust their heads under their wings and +were sleeping, and not one of them moved. The King and Queen looked in at the +window, the old woman was sitting there quite quietly spinning, nodding her +head and never looking round. The room was perfectly clean, as if the little +mist men, who carry no dust on their feet, lived there. Their daughter, +however, they did not see. They gazed at all this for a long time, at last they +took heart, and knocked softly at the window. The old woman appeared to have +been expecting them; she rose, and called out quite kindly, “Come +in,—I know you already.” When they had entered the room, the old +woman said, “You might have spared yourself the long walk, if you had not +three years ago unjustly driven away your child, who is so good and lovable. No +harm has come to her; for three years she has had to tend the geese; with them +she has learnt no evil, but has preserved her purity of heart. You, however, +have been sufficiently punished by the misery in which you have lived.” +Then she went to the chamber and called, “Come out, my little +daughter.” Thereupon the door opened, and the princess stepped out in her +silken garments, with her golden hair and her shining eyes, and it was as if an +angel from heaven had entered. +</p> + +<p> +She went up to her father and mother, fell on their necks and kissed them; +there was no help for it, they all had to weep for joy. The young count stood +near them, and when she perceived him she became as red in the face as a +moss-rose, she herself did not know why. The King said, “My dear child, I +have given away my kingdom, what shall I give thee?” “She needs +nothing,” said the old woman. “I give her the tears that she has +wept on your account; they are precious pearls, finer than those that are found +in the sea, and worth more than your whole kingdom, and I give her my little +house as payment for her services.” When the old woman had said that, she +disappeared from their sight. The walls rattled a little, and when the King and +Queen looked round, the little house had changed into a splendid palace, a +royal table had been spread, and the servants were running hither and thither. +</p> + +<p> +The story goes still further, but my grandmother, who related it to me, had +partly lost her memory, and had forgotten the rest. I shall always believe that +the beautiful princess married the count, and that they remained together in +the palace, and lived there in all happiness so long as God willed it. Whether +the snow-white geese, which were kept near the little hut, were verily young +maidens (no one need take offence,) whom the old woman had taken under her +protection, and whether they now received their human form again, and stayed as +handmaids to the young Queen, I do not exactly know, but I suspect it. This +much is certain, that the old woman was no witch, as people thought, but a wise +woman, who meant well. Very likely it was she who, at the princess’s +birth, gave her the gift of weeping pearls instead of tears. That does not +happen now-a-days, or else the poor would soon become rich. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap180"></a>180 Eve’s Various Children</h3> + +<p> +When Adam and Eve were driven out of Paradise, they were compelled to build a +house for themselves on unfruitful ground, and eat their bread in the sweat of +their brow. Adam dug up the land, and Eve span. Every year Eve brought a child +into the world; but the children were unlike each other, some pretty, and some +ugly. After a considerable time had gone by, God sent an angel to them, to +announce that he was coming to inspect their household. Eve, delighted that the +Lord should be so gracious, cleaned her house diligently, decked it with +flowers, and strewed reeds on the floor. Then she brought in her children, but +only the beautiful ones. She washed and bathed them, combed their hair, put +clean raiment on them, and cautioned them to conduct themselves decorously and +modestly in the presence of the Lord. They were to bow down before him civilly, +hold out their hands, and to answer his questions modestly and sensibly. The +ugly children were, however, not to let themselves be seen. One hid himself +beneath the hay, another under the roof, a third in the straw, the fourth in +the stove, the fifth in the cellar, the sixth under a tub, the seventh beneath +the wine-cask, the eighth under an old fur cloak, the ninth and tenth beneath +the cloth out of which she always made their clothes, and the eleventh and +twelfth under the leather out of which she cut their shoes. She had scarcely +got ready, before there was a knock at the house-door. Adam looked through a +chink, and saw that it was the Lord. Adam opened the door respectfully, and the +Heavenly Father entered. There, in a row, stood the pretty children, and bowed +before him, held out their hands, and knelt down. The Lord, however, began to +bless them, laid his hands on the first, and said, “Thou shalt be a +powerful king;” and to the second, “Thou a prince,” to the +third, “Thou a count,” to the fourth, “Thou a knight,” +to the fifth, “Thou a nobleman,” to the sixth, “Thou a +burgher,” to the seventh, “Thou a merchant,” to the eighth, +“Thou a learned man.” He bestowed upon them also all his richest +blessings. When Eve saw that the Lord was so mild and gracious, she thought, +“I will bring hither my ill-favoured children also, it may be that he +will bestow his blessing on them likewise.” So she ran and brought them +out of the hay, the straw, the stove, and wherever else she had concealed them. +Then came the whole coarse, dirty, shabby, sooty band. The Lord smiled, looked +at them all, and said, “I will bless these also.” He laid his hands +on the first, and said to him, “Thou shalt be a peasant,” to the +second, “Thou a fisherman,” to the third, “Thou a +smith,” to the fourth, “Thou a tanner,” to the fifth, +“Thou a weaver,” to the sixth, “Thou a shoemaker,” to +the seventh, “Thou a tailor,” to the eighth, “Thou a +potter,” to the ninth, “Thou a waggoner,” to the tenth, +“Thou a sailor,” to the eleventh, “Thou an errand-boy,” +to the twelfth, “Thou a scullion all the days of thy life.” +</p> + +<p> +When Eve had heard all this she said, “Lord, how unequally thou dividest +thy gifts! After all they are all of them my children, whom I have brought into +the world, thy favours should be given to all alike.” But God answered, +“Eve, thou dost not understand. It is right and necessary that the entire +world should be supplied from thy children; if they were all princes and lords, +who would grow corn, thresh it, grind and bake it? Who would be blacksmiths, +weavers, carpenters, masons, labourers, tailors and seamstresses? Each shall +have his own place, so that one shall support the other, and all shall be fed +like the limbs of one body.” Then Eve answered, “Ah, Lord, forgive +me, I was too quick in speaking to thee. Have thy divine will with my +children.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap181"></a>181 The Nix of the Mill-Pond</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a miller who lived with his wife in great +contentment. They had money and land, and their prosperity increased year by +year more and more. But ill-luck comes like a thief in the night, as their +wealth had increased so did it again decrease, year by year, and at last the +miller could hardly call the mill in which he lived, his own. He was in great +distress, and when he lay down after his day’s work, found no rest, but +tossed about in his bed, full of care. One morning he rose before daybreak and +went out into the open air, thinking that perhaps there his heart might become +lighter. As he was stepping over the mill-dam the first sunbeam was just +breaking forth, and he heard a rippling sound in the pond. He turned round and +perceived a beautiful woman, rising slowly out of the water. Her long hair, +which she was holding off her shoulders with her soft hands, fell down on both +sides, and covered her white body. He soon saw that she was the Nix of the +Mill-pond, and in his fright did not know whether he should run away or stay +where he was. But the nix made her sweet voice heard, called him by his name, +and asked him why he was so sad? The miller was at first struck dumb, but when +he heard her speak so kindly, he took heart, and told her how he had formerly +lived in wealth and happiness, but that now he was so poor that he did not know +what to do. “Be easy,” answered the nix, “I will make thee +richer and happier than thou hast ever been before, only thou must promise to +give me the young thing which has just been born in thy house.” +“What else can that be,” thought the miller, “but a young +puppy or kitten?” and he promised her what she desired. The nix descended +into the water again, and he hurried back to his mill, consoled and in good +spirits. He had not yet reached it, when the maid-servant came out of the +house, and cried to him to rejoice, for his wife had given birth to a little +boy. The miller stood as if struck by lightning; he saw very well that the +cunning nix had been aware of it, and had cheated him. Hanging his head, he +went up to his wife’s bedside and when she said, “Why dost thou not +rejoice over the fine boy?” he told her what had befallen him, and what +kind of a promise he had given to the nix. “Of what use to me are riches +and prosperity?” he added, “if I am to lose my child; but what can +I do?” Even the relations, who had come thither to wish them joy, did not +know what to say. In the meantime prosperity again returned to the +miller’s house. All that he undertook succeeded, it was as if presses and +coffers filled themselves of their own accord, and as if money multiplied +nightly in the cupboards. It was not long before his wealth was greater than it +had ever been before. But he could not rejoice over it untroubled, for the +bargain which he had made with the nix tormented his soul. Whenever he passed +the mill-pond, he feared she might ascend and remind him of his debt. He never +let the boy himself go near the water. “Beware,” he said to him, +“if thou dost but touch the water, a hand will rise, seize thee, and draw +thee down.” But as year after year went by and the nix did not show +herself again, the miller began to feel at ease. The boy grew up to be a youth +and was apprenticed to a huntsman. When he had learnt everything, and had +become an excellent huntsman, the lord of the village took him into his +service. In the village lived a beautiful and true-hearted maiden, who pleased +the huntsman, and when his master perceived that, he gave him a little house, +the two were married, lived peacefully and happily, and loved each other with +all their hearts. +</p> + +<p> +One day the huntsman was chasing a roe; and when the animal turned aside from +the forest into the open country, he pursued it and at last shot it. He did not +notice that he was now in the neighbourhood of the dangerous mill-pond, and +went, after he had disembowelled the stag, to the water, in order to wash his +blood-stained hands. Scarcely, however, had he dipped them in than the nix +ascended, smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and drew him quickly +down under the waves, which closed over him. When it was evening, and the +huntsman did not return home, his wife became alarmed. She went out to seek +him, and as he had often told her that he had to be on his guard against the +snares of the nix, and dared not venture into the neighbourhood of the +mill-pond, she already suspected what had happened. She hastened to the water, +and when she found his hunting-pouch lying on the shore, she could no longer +have any doubt of the misfortune. Lamenting her sorrow, and wringing her hands, +she called on her beloved by name, but in vain. She hurried across to the other +side of the pond, and called him anew; she reviled the nix with harsh words, +but no answer followed. The surface of the water remained calm, only the +crescent moon stared steadily back at her. The poor woman did not leave the +pond. With hasty steps, she paced round and round it, without resting a moment, +sometimes in silence, sometimes uttering a loud cry, sometimes softly sobbing. +At last her strength came to an end, she sank down to the ground and fell into +a heavy sleep. Presently a dream took possession of her. She was anxiously +climbing upwards between great masses of rock; thorns and briars caught her +feet, the rain beat in her face, and the wind tossed her long hair about. When +she had reached the summit, quite a different sight presented itself to her; +the sky was blue, the air soft, the ground sloped gently downwards, and on a +green meadow, gay with flowers of every colour, stood a pretty cottage. She +went up to it and opened the door; there sat an old woman with white hair, who +beckoned to her kindly. At that very moment, the poor woman awoke, day had +already dawned, and she at once resolved to act in accordance with her dream. +She laboriously climbed the mountain; everything was exactly as she had seen it +in the night. The old woman received her kindly, and pointed out a chair on +which she might sit. “Thou must have met with a misfortune,” she +said, “since thou hast sought out my lonely cottage.” With tears, +the woman related what had befallen her. “Be comforted,” said the +old woman, “I will help thee. Here is a golden comb for thee. Tarry till +the full moon has risen, then go to the mill-pond, seat thyself on the shore, +and comb thy long black hair with this comb. When thou hast done, lay it down +on the bank, and thou wilt see what will happen.” The woman returned +home, but the time till the full moon came, passed slowly. At last the shining +disc appeared in the heavens, then she went out to the mill-pond, sat down and +combed her long black hair with the golden comb, and when she had finished, she +laid it down at the water’s edge. It was not long before there was a +movement in the depths, a wave rose, rolled to the shore, and bore the comb +away with it. In not more than the time necessary for the comb to sink to the +bottom, the surface of the water parted, and the head of the huntsman arose. He +did not speak, but looked at his wife with sorrowful glances. At the same +instant, a second wave came rushing up, and covered the man’s head. All +had vanished, the mill-pond lay peaceful as before, and nothing but the face of +the full moon shone on it. Full of sorrow, the woman went back, but again the +dream showed her the cottage of the old woman. Next morning she again set out +and complained of her woes to the wise woman. The old woman gave her a golden +flute, and said, “Tarry till the full moon comes again, then take this +flute; play a beautiful air on it, and when thou hast finished, lay it on the +sand; then thou wilt see what will happen.” The wife did as the old woman +told her. No sooner was the flute lying on the sand than there was a stirring +in the depths, and a wave rushed up and bore the flute away with it. +Immediately afterwards the water parted, and not only the head of the man, but +half of his body also arose. He stretched out his arms longingly towards her, +but a second wave came up, covered him, and drew him down again. “Alas, +what does it profit me?” said the unhappy woman, “that I should see +my beloved, only to lose him again!” Despair filled her heart anew, but +the dream led her a third time to the house of the old woman. She set out, and +the wise woman gave her a golden spinning-wheel, consoled her and said, +“All is not yet fulfilled, tarry until the time of the full moon, then +take the spinning-wheel, seat thyself on the shore, and spin the spool full, +and when thou hast done that, place the spinning-wheel near the water, and thou +wilt see what will happen.” The woman obeyed all she said exactly; as +soon as the full moon showed itself, she carried the golden spinning-wheel to +the shore, and span industriously until the flax came to an end, and the spool +was quite filled with the threads. No sooner was the wheel standing on the +shore than there was a more violent movement than before in the depths of the +pond, and a mighty wave rushed up, and bore the wheel away with it. Immediately +the head and the whole body of the man rose into the air, in a water-spout. He +quickly sprang to the shore, caught his wife by the hand and fled. But they had +scarcely gone a very little distance, when the whole pond rose with a frightful +roar, and streamed out over the open country. The fugitives already saw death +before their eyes, when the woman in her terror implored the help of the old +woman, and in an instant they were transformed, she into a toad, he into a +frog. The flood which had overtaken them could not destroy them, but it tore +them apart and carried them far away. When the water had dispersed and they +both touched dry land again, they regained their human form, but neither knew +where the other was; they found themselves among strange people, who did not +know their native land. High mountains and deep valleys lay between them. In +order to keep themselves alive, they were both obliged to tend sheep. For many +long years they drove their flocks through field and forest and were full of +sorrow and longing. When spring had once more broken forth on the earth, they +both went out one day with their flocks, and as chance would have it, they drew +near each other. They met in a valley, but did not recognize each other; yet +they rejoiced that they were no longer so lonely. Henceforth they each day +drove their flocks to the same place; they did not speak much, but they felt +comforted. One evening when the full moon was shining in the sky, and the sheep +were already at rest, the shepherd pulled the flute out of his pocket, and +played on it a beautiful but sorrowful air. When he had finished he saw that +the shepherdess was weeping bitterly. “Why art thou weeping?” he +asked. “Alas,” answered she, “thus shone the full moon when I +played this air on the flute for the last time, and the head of my beloved rose +out of the water.” He looked at her, and it seemed as if a veil fell from +his eyes, and he recognized his dear wife, and when she looked at him, and the +moon shone in his face she knew him also. They embraced and kissed each other, +and no one need ask if they were happy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap182"></a>182 The Little Folks’ Presents</h3> + +<p> +A tailor and a goldsmith were travelling together, and one evening when the sun +had sunk behind the mountains, they heard the sound of distant music, which +became more and more distinct. It sounded strange, but so pleasant that they +forgot all their weariness and stepped quickly onwards. The moon had already +arisen when they reached a hill on which they saw a crowd of little men and +women, who had taken each other’s hands, and were whirling round in the +dance with the greatest pleasure and delight. +</p> + +<p> +They sang to it most charmingly, and that was the music which the travellers +had heard. In the midst of them sat an old man who was rather taller than the +rest. He wore a parti-coloured coat, and his iron-grey beard hung down over his +breast. The two remained standing full of astonishment, and watched the dance. +The old man made a sign that they should enter, and the little folks willingly +opened their circle. The goldsmith, who had a hump, and like all hunchbacks was +brave enough, stepped in; the tailor felt a little afraid at first, and held +back, but when he saw how merrily all was going, he plucked up his courage, and +followed. The circle closed again directly, and the little folks went on +singing and dancing with the wildest leaps. The old man, however, took a large +knife which hung to his girdle, whetted it, and when it was sufficiently +sharpened, he looked round at the strangers. They were terrified, but they had +not much time for reflection, for the old man seized the goldsmith and with the +greatest speed, shaved the hair of his head clean off, and then the same thing +happened to the tailor. But their fear left them when, after he had finished +his work, the old man clapped them both on the shoulder in a friendly manner, +as much as to say, they had behaved well to let all that be done to them +willingly, and without any struggle. He pointed with his finger to a heap of +coals which lay at one side, and signified to the travellers by his gestures +that they were to fill their pockets with them. Both of them obeyed, although +they did not know of what use the coals would be to them, and then they went on +their way to seek a shelter for the night. When they had got into the valley, +the clock of the neighbouring monastery struck twelve, and the song ceased. In +a moment all had vanished, and the hill lay in solitude in the moonlight. +</p> + +<p> +The two travellers found an inn, and covered themselves up on their straw-beds +with their coats, but in their weariness forgot to take the coals out of them +before doing so. A heavy weight on their limbs awakened them earlier than +usual. They felt in the pockets, and could not believe their eyes when they saw +that they were not filled with coals, but with pure gold; happily, too, the +hair of their heads and beards was there again as thick as ever. +</p> + +<p> +They had now become rich folks, but the goldsmith, who, in accordance with his +greedy disposition, had filled his pockets better, was as rich again as the +tailor. A greedy man, even if he has much, still wishes to have more, so the +goldsmith proposed to the tailor that they should wait another day, and go out +again in the evening in order to bring back still greater treasures from the +old man on the hill. The tailor refused, and said, “I have enough and am +content; now I shall be a master, and marry my dear object (for so he called +his sweetheart), and I am a happy man.” But he stayed another day to +please him. In the evening the goldsmith hung a couple of bags over his +shoulders that he might be able to stow away a great deal, and took the road to +the hill. He found, as on the night before, the little folks at their singing +and dancing, and the old man again shaved him clean, and signed to him to take +some coal away with him. He was not slow about sticking as much into his bags +as would go, went back quite delighted, and covered himself over with his coat. +“Even if the gold does weigh heavily,” said he, “I will +gladly bear that,” and at last he fell asleep with the sweet anticipation +of waking in the morning an enormously rich man. +</p> + +<p> +When he opened his eyes, he got up in haste to examine his pockets, but how +amazed he was when he drew nothing out of them but black coals, and that +howsoever often he put his hands in them. “The gold I got the night +before is still there for me,” thought he, and went and brought it out, +but how shocked he was when he saw that it likewise had again turned into coal. +He smote his forehead with his dusty black hand, and then he felt that his +whole head was bald and smooth, as was also the place where his beard should +have been. But his misfortunes were not yet over; he now remarked for the first +time that in addition to the hump on his back, a second, just as large, had +grown in front on his breast. Then he recognized the punishment of his +greediness, and began to weep aloud. The good tailor, who was wakened by this, +comforted the unhappy fellow as well as he could, and said, “Thou hast +been my comrade in my travelling time; thou shalt stay with me and share in my +wealth.” He kept his word, but the poor goldsmith was obliged to carry +the two humps as long as he lived, and to cover his bald head with a cap. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap183"></a>183 The Giant and the Tailor</h3> + +<p> +A certain tailor who was great at boasting but ill at doing, took it into his +head to go abroad for a while, and look about the world. As soon as he could +manage it, he left his workshop, and wandered on his way, over hill and dale, +sometimes hither, sometimes thither, but ever on and on. Once when he was out +he perceived in the blue distance a steep hill, and behind it a tower reaching +to the clouds, which rose up out of a wild dark forest. “Thunder and +lightning,” cried the tailor, “what is that?” and as he was +strongly goaded by curiosity, he went boldly towards it. But what made the +tailor open his eyes and mouth when he came near it, was to see that the tower +had legs, and leapt in one bound over the steep hill, and was now standing as +an all powerful giant before him. “What dost thou want here, thou tiny +fly’s leg?” cried the giant, with a voice as if it were thundering +on every side. The tailor whimpered, “I want just to look about and see +if I can earn a bit of bread for myself, in this forest.” “If that +is what thou art after,” said the giant, “thou mayst have a place +with me.” “If it must be, why not? What wages shall I +receive?” “Thou shalt hear what wages thou shalt have. Every year +three hundred and sixty-five days, and when it is leap-year, one more into the +bargain. Does that suit thee?” “All right,” replied the +tailor, and thought, in his own mind, “a man must cut his coat according +to his cloth; I will try to get away as fast as I can.” On this the giant +said to him, “Go, little ragamuffin, and fetch me a jug of water.” +“Had I not better bring the well itself at once, and the spring +too?” asked the boaster, and went with the pitcher to the water. +“What! the well and the spring too,” growled the giant in his +beard, for he was rather clownish and stupid, and began to be afraid. +“That knave is not a fool, he has a wizard in his body. Be on thy guard, +old Hans, this is no serving-man for thee.” When the tailor had brought +the water, the giant bade him go into the forest, and cut a couple of blocks of +wood and bring them back. “Why not the whole forest, at once, with one +stroke. The whole forest, young and old, with all that is there, both rough and +smooth?” asked the little tailor, and went to cut the wood. “What! +the whole forest, young and old, with all that is there, both rough and smooth, +and the well and its spring too,” growled the credulous giant in his +beard, and was still more terrified. “The knave can do much more than +bake apples, and has a wizard in his body. Be on thy guard, old Hans, this is +no serving-man for thee!” When the tailor had brought the wood, the giant +commanded him to shoot two or three wild boars for supper. “Why not +rather a thousand at one shot, and bring them all here?” inquired the +ostentatious tailor. “What!” cried the timid giant in great terror; +“Let well alone to-night, and lie down to rest.” +</p> + +<p> +The giant was so terribly alarmed that he could not close an eye all night long +for thinking what would be the best way to get rid of this accursed sorcerer of +a servant. Time brings counsel. Next morning the giant and the tailor went to a +marsh, round which stood a number of willow-trees. Then said the giant, +“Hark thee, tailor, seat thyself on one of the willow-branches, I long of +all things to see if thou art big enough to bend it down.” All at once +the tailor was sitting on it, holding his breath, and making himself so heavy +that the bough bent down. When, however, he was compelled to draw breath, it +hurried him (for unfortunately he had not put his goose in his pocket) so high +into the air that he never was seen again, and this to the great delight of the +giant. If the tailor has not fallen down again, he must be hovering about in +the air. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap184"></a>184 The Nail</h3> + +<p> +A merchant had done good business at the fair; he had sold his wares, and lined +his money-bags with gold and silver. Then he wanted to travel homewards, and be +in his own house before nightfall. So he packed his trunk with the money on his +horse, and rode away. +</p> + +<p> +At noon he rested in a town, and when he wanted to go farther the stable-boy +brought out his horse and said, “A nail is wanting, sir, in the shoe of +its left hind foot.” “Let it be wanting,” answered the +merchant; “the shoe will certainly stay on for the six miles I have still +to go. I am in a hurry.” +</p> + +<p> +In the afternoon, when he once more alighted and had his horse fed, the +stable-boy went into the room to him and said, “Sir, a shoe is missing +from your horse’s left hind foot. Shall I take him to the +blacksmith?” “Let it still be wanting,” answered the man; +“the horse can very well hold out for the couple of miles which remain. I +am in haste.” +</p> + +<p> +He rode forth, but before long the horse began to limp. It had not limped long +before it began to stumble, and it had not stumbled long before it fell down +and broke its leg. The merchant was forced to leave the horse where it was, and +unbuckle the trunk, take it on his back, and go home on foot. And there he did +not arrive until quite late at night. “And that unlucky nail,” said +he to himself, “has caused all this disaster.” +</p> + +<p> +Hasten slowly. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap185"></a>185 The Poor Boy in the Grave</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor shepherd-boy whose father and mother were dead, and he +was placed by the authorities in the house of a rich man, who was to feed him +and bring him up. The man and his wife, had however, bad hearts, and were +greedy and anxious about their riches, and vexed whenever any one put a morsel +of their bread in his mouth. The poor young fellow might do what he liked, he +got little to eat, but only so many blows the more. +</p> + +<p> +One day he had to watch a hen and her chickens, but she ran through a quick-set +hedge with them, and a hawk darted down instantly, and carried her off through +the air. The boy called, “Thief! thief! rascal!” with all the +strength of his body. But what good did that do? The hawk did not bring its +prey back again. The man heard the noise, and ran to the spot, and as soon as +he saw that his hen was gone, he fell in a rage, and gave the boy such a +beating that he could not stir for two days. Then he had to take care of the +chickens without the hen, but now his difficulty was greater, for one ran here +and the other there. He thought he was doing a very wise thing when he tied +them all together with a string, because then the hawk would not be able to +steal any of them away from him. But he was very much mistaken. After two days, +worn out with running about and hunger, he fell asleep; the bird of prey came, +and seized one of the chickens, and as the others were tied fast to it, it +carried them all off together, perched itself on a tree, and devoured them. The +farmer was just coming home, and when he saw the misfortune, he got angry and +beat the boy so unmercifully that he was forced to lie in bed for several days. +</p> + +<p> +When he was on his legs again, the farmer said to him, “Thou art too +stupid for me, I cannot make a herdsman of thee, thou must go as +errand-boy.” Then he sent him to the judge, to whom he was to carry a +basketful of grapes, and he gave him a letter as well. On the way hunger and +thirst tormented the unhappy boy so violently that he ate two of the bunches of +grapes. He took the basket to the judge, but when the judge had read the +letter, and counted the bunches he said, “Two clusters are +wanting.” The boy confessed quite honestly that, driven by hunger and +thirst, he had devoured the two which were wanting. The judge wrote a letter to +the farmer, and asked for the same number of grapes again. These also the boy +had to take to him with a letter. As he again was so extremely hungry and +thirsty, he could not help it, and again ate two bunches. But first he took the +letter out of the basket, put it under a stone and seated himself thereon in +order that the letter might not see and betray him. The judge, however, again +made him give an explanation about the missing bunches. “Ah,” said +the boy, “how have you learnt that? The letter could not know about it, +for I put it under a stone before I did it.” The judge could not help +laughing at the boy’s simplicity, and sent the man a letter wherein he +cautioned him to keep the poor boy better, and not let him want for meat and +drink, and also that he was to teach him what was right and what was wrong. +</p> + +<p> +“I will soon show thee the difference,” said the hard man, +“if thou wilt eat, thou must work, and if thou dost anything wrong, thou +shalt be quite sufficiently taught by blows.” +</p> + +<p> +The next day he set him a hard task. He was to chop two bundles of straw for +food for the horses, and then the man threatened: “In five hours,” +said he, “I shall be back again, and if the straw is not cut to chaff by +that time, I will beat thee until thou canst not move a limb.” The farmer +went with his wife, the man-servant and the girl, to the yearly fair, and left +nothing behind for the boy but a small bit of bread. The boy seated himself on +the bench, and began to work with all his might. As he got warm over it he put +his little coat off and threw it on the straw. In his terror lest he should not +get done in time he kept constantly cutting, and in his haste, without noticing +it, he chopped his little coat as well as the straw. He became aware of the +misfortune too late; there was no repairing it. “Ah,” cried he, +“now all is over with me! The wicked man did not threaten me for nothing; +if he comes back and sees what I have done, he will kill me. Rather than that I +will take my own life.” +</p> + +<p> +The boy had once heard the farmer’s wife say, “I have a pot with +poison in it under my bed.” She, however, had only said that to keep away +greedy people, for there was honey in it. The boy crept under the bed, brought +out the pot, and ate all that was in it. “I do not know,” said he, +“folks say death is bitter, but it tastes very sweet to me. It is no +wonder that the farmer’s wife has so often longed for death.” He +seated himself in a little chair, and was prepared to die. But instead of +becoming weaker he felt himself strengthened by the nourishing food. “It +cannot have been poison,” thought he, “but the farmer once said +there was a small bottle of poison for flies in the box in which he keeps his +clothes; that, no doubt, will be the true poison, and bring death to me.” +It was, however, no poison for flies, but Hungarian wine. The boy got out the +bottle, and emptied it. “This death tastes sweet too,” said he, but +shortly after when the wine began to mount into his brain and stupefy him, he +thought his end was drawing near. “I feel that I must die,” said +he, “I will go away to the churchyard, and seek a grave.” He +staggered out, reached the churchyard, and laid himself in a newly dug grave. +He lost his senses more and more. In the neighbourhood was an inn where a +wedding was being kept; when he heard the music, he fancied he was already in +Paradise, until at length he lost all consciousness. The poor boy never awoke +again; the heat of the strong wine and the cold night-dew deprived him of life, +and he remained in the grave in which he had laid himself. +</p> + +<p> +When the farmer heard the news of the boy’s death he was terrified, and +afraid of being brought to justice indeed, his distress took such a powerful +hold of him that he fell fainting to the ground. His wife, who was standing on +the hearth with a pan of hot fat, ran to him to help him. But the flames darted +against the pan, the whole house caught fire, in a few hours it lay in ashes, +and the rest of the years they had to live they passed in poverty and misery, +tormented by the pangs of conscience. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap186"></a>186 The True Sweethearts</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a girl who was young and beautiful, but she had lost +her mother when she was quite a child, and her step-mother did all she could to +make the girl’s life wretched. Whenever this woman gave her anything to +do, she worked at it indefatigably, and did everything that lay in her power. +Still she could not touch the heart of the wicked woman by that; she was never +satisfied; it was never enough. The harder the girl worked, the more work was +put upon her, and all that the woman thought of was how to weigh her down with +still heavier burdens, and make her life still more miserable. +</p> + +<p> +One day she said to her, “Here are twelve pounds of feathers which thou +must pick, and if they are not done this evening, thou mayst expect a good +beating. Dost thou imagine thou art to idle away the whole day?” The poor +girl sat down to the work, but tears ran down her cheeks as she did so, for she +saw plainly enough that it was quite impossible to finish the work in one day. +Whenever she had a little heap of feathers lying before her, and she sighed or +smote her hands together in her anguish, they flew away, and she had to pick +them out again, and begin her work anew. Then she put her elbows on the table, +laid her face in her two hands, and cried, “Is there no one, then, on +God’s earth to have pity on me?” Then she heard a low voice which +said, “Be comforted, my child, I have come to help thee.” The +maiden looked up, and an old woman was by her side. She took the girl kindly by +the hand, and said, “Only tell me what is troubling thee.” As she +spoke so kindly, the girl told her of her miserable life, and how one burden +after another was laid upon her, and she never could get to the end of the work +which was given to her. “If I have not done these feathers by this +evening, my step-mother will beat me; she has threatened she will, and I know +she keeps her word.” Her tears began to flow again, but the good old +woman said, “Do not be afraid, my child; rest a while, and in the +meantime I will look to thy work.” The girl lay down on her bed, and soon +fell asleep. The old woman seated herself at the table with the feathers, and +how they did fly off the quills, which she scarcely touched with her withered +hands! The twelve pounds were soon finished, and when the girl awoke, great +snow-white heaps were lying, piled up, and everything in the room was neatly +cleared away, but the old woman had vanished. The maiden thanked God, and sat +still till evening came, when the step-mother came in and marvelled to see the +work completed. “Just look, you awkward creature,” said she, +“what can be done when people are industrious; and why couldst thou not +set about something else? There thou sittest with thy hands crossed.” +When she went out she said, “The creature is worth more than her salt. I +must give her some work that is still harder.” +</p> + +<p> +Next morning she called the girl, and said, “There is a spoon for thee; +with that thou must empty out for me the great pond which is beside the garden, +and if it is not done by night, thou knowest what will happen.” The girl +took the spoon, and saw that it was full of holes; but even if it had not been, +she never could have emptied the pond with it. She set to work at once, knelt +down by the water, into which her tears were falling, and began to empty it. +But the good old woman appeared again, and when she learnt the cause of her +grief, she said, “Be of good cheer, my child. Go into the thicket and lie +down and sleep; I will soon do thy work.” As soon as the old woman was +alone, she barely touched the pond, and a vapour rose up on high from the +water, and mingled itself with the clouds. Gradually the pond was emptied, and +when the maiden awoke before sunset and came thither, she saw nothing but the +fishes which were struggling in the mud. She went to her step-mother, and +showed her that the work was done. “It ought to have been done long +before this,” said she, and grew white with anger, but she meditated +something new. +</p> + +<p> +On the third morning she said to the girl, “Thou must build me a castle +on the plain there, and it must be ready by the evening.” The maiden was +dismayed, and said, “How can I complete such a great work?” +“I will endure no opposition,” screamed the step-mother. “If +thou canst empty a pond with a spoon that is full of holes, thou canst build a +castle too. I will take possession of it this very day, and if anything is +wanting, even if it be the most trifling thing in the kitchen or cellar, thou +knowest what lies before thee!” She drove the girl out, and when she +entered the valley, the rocks were there, piled up one above the other, and all +her strength would not have enabled her even to move the very smallest of them. +She sat down and wept, and still she hoped the old woman would help her. The +old woman was not long in coming; she comforted her and said, “Lie down +there in the shade and sleep, and I will soon build the castle for thee. If it +would be a pleasure to thee, thou canst live in it thyself.” When the +maiden had gone away, the old woman touched the gray rocks. They began to rise, +and immediately moved together as if giants had built the walls; and on these +the building arose, and it seemed as if countless hands were working invisibly, +and placing one stone upon another. There was a dull heavy noise from the +ground; pillars arose of their own accord on high, and placed themselves in +order near each other. The tiles laid themselves in order on the roof, and when +noon-day came, the great weather-cock was already turning itself on the summit +of the tower, like a golden figure of the Virgin with fluttering garments. The +inside of the castle was being finished while evening was drawing near. How the +old woman managed it, I know not; but the walls of the rooms were hung with +silk and velvet, embroidered chairs were there, and richly ornamented +arm-chairs by marble tables; crystal chandeliers hung down from the ceilings, +and mirrored themselves in the smooth pavement; green parrots were there in +gilt cages, and so were strange birds which sang most beautifully, and there +was on all sides as much magnificence as if a king were going to live there. +The sun was just setting when the girl awoke, and the brightness of a thousand +lights flashed in her face. She hurried to the castle, and entered by the open +door. The steps were spread with red cloth, and the golden balustrade beset +with flowering trees. When she saw the splendour of the apartment, she stood as +if turned to stone. Who knows how long she might have stood there if she had +not remembered the step-mother? “Alas!” she said to herself, +“if she could but be satisfied at last, and would give up making my life +a misery to me.” The girl went and told her that the castle was ready. +“I will move into it at once,” said she, and rose from her seat. +When they entered the castle, she was forced to hold her hand before her eyes, +the brilliancy of everything was so dazzling. “Thou seest,” said +she to the girl, “how easy it has been for thee to do this; I ought to +have given thee something harder.” She went through all the rooms, and +examined every corner to see if anything was wanting or defective; but she +could discover nothing. “Now we will go down below,” said she, +looking at the girl with malicious eyes. “The kitchen and the cellar +still have to be examined, and if thou hast forgotten anything thou shalt not +escape thy punishment.” But the fire was burning on the hearth, and the +meat was cooking in the pans, the tongs and shovel were leaning against the +wall, and the shining brazen utensils all arranged in sight. Nothing was +wanting, not even a coal-box and water-pail. “Which is the way to the +cellar?” she cried. “If that is not abundantly filled, it shall go +ill with thee.” She herself raised up the trap-door and descended; but +she had hardly made two steps before the heavy trap-door which was only laid +back, fell down. The girl heard a scream, lifted up the door very quickly to go +to her aid, but she had fallen down, and the girl found her lying lifeless at +the bottom. +</p> + +<p> +And now the magnificent castle belonged to the girl alone. She at first did not +know how to reconcile herself to her good fortune. Beautiful dresses were +hanging in the wardrobes, the chests were filled with gold or silver, or with +pearls and jewels, and she never felt a desire that she was not able to +gratify. And soon the fame of the beauty and riches of the maiden went over all +the world. Wooers presented themselves daily, but none pleased her. At length +the son of the King came and he knew how to touch her heart, and she betrothed +herself to him. In the garden of the castle was a lime-tree, under which they +were one day sitting together, when he said to her, “I will go home and +obtain my father’s consent to our marriage. I entreat thee to wait for me +here under this lime-tree, I shall be back with thee in a few hours.” The +maiden kissed him on his left cheek, and said, “Keep true to me, and +never let any one else kiss thee on this cheek. I will wait here under the +lime-tree until thou returnest.” +</p> + +<p> +The maid stayed beneath the lime-tree until sunset, but he did not return. She +sat three days from morning till evening, waiting for him, but in vain. As he +still was not there by the fourth day, she said, “Some accident has +assuredly befallen him. I will go out and seek him, and will not come back +until I have found him.” She packed up three of her most beautiful +dresses, one embroidered with bright stars, the second with silver moons, the +third with golden suns, tied up a handful of jewels in her handkerchief, and +set out. She inquired everywhere for her betrothed, but no one had seen him; no +one knew anything about him. Far and wide did she wander through the world, but +she found him not. At last she hired herself to a farmer as a cow-herd, and +buried her dresses and jewels beneath a stone. +</p> + +<p> +And now she lived as a herdswoman, guarded her herd, and was very sad and full +of longing for her beloved one; she had a little calf which she taught to know +her, and fed it out of her own hand, and when she said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Little calf, little calf, kneel by my side,<br/> +And do not forget thy shepherd-maid,<br/> +As the prince forgot his betrothed bride,<br/> +Who waited for him ’neath the lime-tree’s shade.” +</p> + +<p> +the little calf knelt down, and she stroked it. +</p> + +<p> +And when she had lived for a couple of years alone and full of grief, a report +was spread over all the land that the King’s daughter was about to +celebrate her marriage. The road to the town passed through the village where +the maiden was living, and it came to pass that once when the maiden was +driving out her herd, her bridegroom travelled by. He was sitting proudly on +his horse, and never looked round, but when she saw him she recognized her +beloved, and it was just as if a sharp knife had pierced her heart. +“Alas!” said she, “I believed him true to me, but he has +forgotten me.” +</p> + +<p> +Next day he again came along the road. When he was near her she said to the +little calf, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Little calf, little calf, kneel by my side,<br/> +And do not forget thy shepherd-maid,<br/> +As the prince forgot his betrothed bride,<br/> +Who waited for him ’neath the lime-tree’s shade.” +</p> + +<p> +When he was aware of the voice, he looked down and reined in his horse. He +looked into the herd’s face, and then put his hands before his eyes as if +he were trying to remember something, but he soon rode onwards and was out of +sight. “Alas!” said she, “he no longer knows me,” and +her grief was ever greater. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this a great festival three days long was to be held at the<br/> +King’s court, and the whole country was invited to it. +</p> + +<p> +“Now will I try my last chance,” thought the maiden, and when +evening came she went to the stone under which she had buried her treasures. +She took out the dress with the golden suns, put it on, and adorned herself +with the jewels. She let down her hair, which she had concealed under a +handkerchief, and it fell down in long curls about her, and thus she went into +the town, and in the darkness was observed by no one. When she entered the +brightly-lighted hall, every one started back in amazement, but no one knew who +she was. The King’s son went to meet her, but he did not recognize her. +He led her out to dance, and was so enchanted with her beauty, that he thought +no more of the other bride. When the feast was over, she vanished in the crowd, +and hastened before daybreak to the village, where she once more put on her +herd’s dress. +</p> + +<p> +Next evening she took out the dress with the silver moons, and put a half-moon +made of precious stones in her hair. When she appeared at the festival, all +eyes were turned upon her, but the King’s son hastened to meet her, and +filled with love for her, danced with her alone, and no longer so much as +glanced at anyone else. Before she went away she was forced to promise him to +come again to the festival on the last evening. +</p> + +<p> +When she appeared for the third time, she wore the star-dress which sparkled at +every step she took, and her hair-ribbon and girdle were starred with jewels. +The prince had already been waiting for her for a long time, and forced his way +up to her. “Do but tell who thou art,” said he, “I feel just +as if I had already known thee a long time.” “Dost thou not know +what I did when thou leftest me?” Then she stepped up to him, and kissed +him on his left cheek, and in a moment it was as if scales fell from his eyes, +and he recognized the true bride. “Come,” said he to her, +“here I stay no longer,” gave her his hand, and led her down to the +carriage. The horses hurried away to the magic castle as if the wind had been +harnessed to the carriage. The illuminated windows already shone in the +distance. When they drove past the lime-tree, countless glow-worms were +swarming about it. It shook its branches, and sent forth their fragrance. On +the steps flowers were blooming, and the room echoed with the song of strange +birds, but in the hall the entire court was assembled, and the priest was +waiting to marry the bridegroom to the true bride. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap187"></a>187 The Hare and the Hedgehog</h3> + +<p> +This story, my dear young folks, seems to be false, but it really is true, for +my grandfather, from whom I have it, used always, when relating it, to say +complacently, “It must be true, my son, or else no one could tell it to +you.” The story is as follows. One Sunday morning about harvest time, +just as the buckwheat was in bloom, the sun was shining brightly in heaven, the +east wind was blowing warmly over the stubble-fields, the larks were singing in +the air, the bees buzzing among the buckwheat, the people were all going in +their Sunday clothes to church, and all creatures were happy, and the hedgehog +was happy too. +</p> + +<p> +The hedgehog, however, was standing by his door with his arms akimbo, enjoying +the morning breezes, and slowly trilling a little song to himself, which was +neither better nor worse than the songs which hedgehogs are in the habit of +singing on a blessed Sunday morning. Whilst he was thus singing half aloud to +himself, it suddenly occurred to him that, while his wife was washing and +drying the children, he might very well take a walk into the field, and see how +his turnips were going on. The turnips were, in fact, close beside his house, +and he and his family were accustomed to eat them, for which reason he looked +upon them as his own. No sooner said than done. The hedgehog shut the +house-door behind him, and took the path to the field. He had not gone very far +from home, and was just turning round the sloe-bush which stands there outside +the field, to go up into the turnip-field, when he observed the hare who had +gone out on business of the same kind, namely, to visit his cabbages. When the +hedgehog caught sight of the hare, he bade him a friendly good morning. But the +hare, who was in his own way a distinguished gentleman, and frightfully +haughty, did not return the hedgehog’s greeting, but said to him, +assuming at the same time a very contemptuous manner, “How do you happen +to be running about here in the field so early in the morning?” “I +am taking a walk,” said the hedgehog. “A walk!” said the +hare, with a smile. “It seems to me that you might use your legs for a +better purpose.” This answer made the hedgehog furiously angry, for he +can bear anything but an attack on his legs, just because they are crooked by +nature. So now the hedgehog said to the hare, “You seem to imagine that +you can do more with your legs than I with mine.” “That is just +what I do think,” said the hare. “That can be put to the +test,” said the hedgehog. “I wager that if we run a race, I will +outstrip you.” “That is ridiculous! You with your short +legs!” said the hare, “but for my part I am willing, if you have +such a monstrous fancy for it. What shall we wager?” “A golden +louis-d’or and a bottle of brandy,” said the hedgehog. +“Done,” said the hare. “Shake hands on it, and then we may as +well come off at once.” “Nay,” said the hedgehog, +“there is no such great hurry! I am still fasting, I will go home first, +and have a little breakfast. In half-an-hour I will be back again at this +place.” +</p> + +<p> +Hereupon the hedgehog departed, for the hare was quite satisfied with this. On +his way the hedgehog thought to himself, “The hare relies on his long +legs, but I will contrive to get the better of him. He may be a great man, but +he is a very silly fellow, and he shall pay for what he has said.” So +when the hedgehog reached home, he said to his wife, “Wife, dress thyself +quickly, thou must go out to the field with me.” “What is going on, +then?” said his wife. “I have made a wager with the hare, for a +gold louis-d’or and a bottle of brandy. I am to run a race with him, and +thou must be present.” “Good heavens, husband,” the wife now +cried, “art thou not right in thy mind, hast thou completely lost thy +wits? What can make thee want to run a race with the hare?” “Hold +thy tongue, woman,” said the hedgehog, “that is my affair. +Don’t begin to discuss things which are matters for men. Be off, dress +thyself, and come with me.” What could the hedgehog’s wife do? She +was forced to obey him, whether she liked it or not. +</p> + +<p> +So when they had set out on their way together, the hedgehog said to his wife, +“Now pay attention to what I am going to say. Look you, I will make the +long field our race-course. The hare shall run in one furrow, and I in another, +and we will begin to run from the top. Now all that thou hast to do is to place +thyself here below in the furrow, and when the hare arrives at the end of the +furrow, on the other side of thee, thou must cry out to him, ‘I am here +already!’” +</p> + +<p> +Then they reached the field, and the hedgehog showed his wife her place, and +then walked up the field. When he reached the top, the hare was already there. +“Shall we start?” said the hare. “Certainly,” said the +hedgehog. “Then both at once.” So saying, each placed himself in +his own furrow. The hare counted, “Once, twice, thrice, and away!” +and went off like a whirlwind down the field. The hedgehog, however, only ran +about three paces, and then he stooped down in the furrow, and stayed quietly +where he was. When the hare therefore arrived in full career at the lower end +of the field, the hedgehog’s wife met him with the cry, “I am here +already!” The hare was shocked and wondered not a little, he thought no +other than that it was the hedgehog himself who was calling to him, for the +hedgehog’s wife looked just like her husband. The hare, however, thought +to himself, “That has not been done fairly,” and cried, “It +must be run again, let us have it again.” And once more he went off like +the wind in a storm, so that he seemed to fly. But the hedgehog’s wife +stayed quietly in her place. So when the hare reached the top of the field, the +hedgehog himself cried out to him, “I am here already.” The hare, +however, quite beside himself with anger, cried, “It must be run again, +we must have it again.” “All right,” answered the hedgehog, +“for my part we’ll run as often as you choose.” So the hare +ran seventy-three times more, and the hedgehog always held out against him, and +every time the hare reached either the top or the bottom, either the hedgehog +or his wife said, “I am here already.” +</p> + +<p> +At the seventy-fourth time, however, the hare could no longer reach the end. In +the middle of the field he fell to the ground, blood streamed out of his mouth, +and he lay dead on the spot. But the hedgehog took the louis-d’or which +he had won and the bottle of brandy, called his wife out of the furrow, and +both went home together in great delight, and if they are not dead, they are +living there still. +</p> + +<p> +This is how it happened that the hedgehog made the hare run races with him on +the Buxtehuder heath till he died, and since that time no hare has ever had any +fancy for running races with a Buxtehuder hedgehog. +</p> + +<p> +The moral of this story, however, is, firstly, that no one, however great he +may be, should permit himself to jest at any one beneath him, even if he be +only a hedgehog. And, secondly, it teaches, that when a man marries, he should +take a wife in his own position, who looks just as he himself looks. So +whosoever is a hedgehog let him see to it that his wife is a hedgehog also, and +so forth. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap188"></a>188 The Spindle, The Shuttle, and the Needle</h3> + +<p> +There was once a girl whose father and mother died while she was still a little +child. All alone, in a small house at the end of the village, dwelt her +godmother, who supported herself by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old +woman took the forlorn child to live with her, kept her to her work, and +educated her in all that is good. When the girl was fifteen years old, the old +woman became ill, called the child to her bedside, and said, “Dear +daughter, I feel my end drawing near. I leave thee the little house, which will +protect thee from wind and weather, and my spindle, shuttle, and needle, with +which thou canst earn thy bread.” Then she laid her hands on the +girl’s head, blessed her, and said, “Only preserve the love of God +in thy heart, and all will go well with thee.” Thereupon she closed her +eyes, and when she was laid in the earth, the maiden followed the coffin, +weeping bitterly, and paid her the last mark of respect. And now the maiden +lived quite alone in the little house, and was industrious, and span, wove, and +sewed, and the blessing of the good old woman was on all that she did. It +seemed as if the flax in the room increased of its own accord, and whenever she +wove a piece of cloth or carpet, or had made a shirt, she at once found a buyer +who paid her amply for it, so that she was in want of nothing, and even had +something to share with others. +</p> + +<p> +About this time, the son of the King was travelling about the country looking +for a bride. He was not to choose a poor one, and did not want to have a rich +one. So he said, “She shall be my wife who is the poorest, and at the +same time the richest.” When he came to the village where the maiden +dwelt, he inquired, as he did wherever he went, who was the richest and also +the poorest girl in the place? They first named the richest; the poorest, they +said, was the girl who lived in the small house quite at the end of the +village. The rich girl was sitting in all her splendour before the door of her +house, and when the prince approached her, she got up, went to meet him, and +made him a low curtsey. He looked at her, said nothing, and rode on. When he +came to the house of the poor girl, she was not standing at the door, but +sitting in her little room. He stopped his horse, and saw through the window, +on which the bright sun was shining, the girl sitting at her spinning-wheel, +busily spinning. She looked up, and when she saw that the prince was looking +in, she blushed all over her face, let her eyes fall, and went on spinning. I +do not know whether, just at that moment, the thread was quite even; but she +went on spinning until the King’s son had ridden away again. Then she +went to the window, opened it, and said, “It is so warm in this +room!” but she still looked after him as long as she could distinguish +the white feathers in his hat. Then she sat down to work again in her own room +and went on with her spinning, and a saying which the old woman had often +repeated when she was sitting at her work, came into her mind, and she sang +these words to herself,— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Spindle, my spindle, haste, haste thee away,<br/> +And here to my house bring the wooer, I pray.” +</p> + +<p> +And what do you think happened? The spindle sprang out of her hand in an +instant, and out of the door, and when, in her astonishment, she got up and +looked after it, she saw that it was dancing out merrily into the open country, +and drawing a shining golden thread after it. Before long, it had entirely +vanished from her sight. As she had now no spindle, the girl took the +weaver’s shuttle in her hand, sat down to her loom, and began to weave. +</p> + +<p> +The spindle, however, danced continually onwards, and just as the thread came +to an end, reached the prince. “What do I see?” he cried; +“the spindle certainly wants to show me the way!” turned his horse +about, and rode back with the golden thread. The girl was, however, sitting at +her work singing, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Shuttle, my shuttle, weave well this day,<br/> +And guide the wooer to me, I pray.” +</p> + +<p> +Immediately the shuttle sprang out of her hand and out by the door. Before the +threshold, however, it began to weave a carpet which was more beautiful than +the eyes of man had ever yet beheld. Lilies and roses blossomed on both sides +of it, and on a golden ground in the centre green branches ascended, under +which bounded hares and rabbits, stags and deer stretched their heads in +between them, brightly-coloured birds were sitting in the branches above; they +lacked nothing but the gift of song. The shuttle leapt hither and thither, and +everything seemed to grow of its own accord. +</p> + +<p> +As the shuttle had run away, the girl sat down to sew. She held the needle in +her hand and sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Needle, my needle, sharp-pointed and fine,<br/> +Prepare for a wooer this house of mine.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the needle leapt out of her fingers, and flew everywhere about the room as +quick as lightning. It was just as if invisible spirits were working; they +covered tables and benches with green cloth in an instant, and the chairs with +velvet, and hung the windows with silken curtains. Hardly had the needle put in +the last stitch than the maiden saw through the window the white feathers of +the prince, whom the spindle had brought thither by the golden thread. He +alighted, stepped over the carpet into the house, and when he entered the room, +there stood the maiden in her poor garments, but she shone out from within them +like a rose surrounded by leaves. “Thou art the poorest and also the +richest,” said he to her. “Come with me, thou shalt be my +bride.” She did not speak, but she gave him her hand. Then he gave her a +kiss, led her forth, lifted her on to his horse, and took her to the royal +castle, where the wedding was solemnized with great rejoicings. The spindle, +shuttle, and needle were preserved in the treasure-chamber, and held in great +honour. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap189"></a>189 The Peasant and the Devil</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a far-sighted, crafty peasant whose tricks were much +talked about. The best story is, however, how he once got hold of the Devil, +and made a fool of him. The peasant had one day been working in his field, and +as twilight had set in, was making ready for the journey home, when he saw a +heap of burning coals in the middle of his field, and when, full of +astonishment, he went up to it, a little black devil was sitting on the live +coals. “Thou dost indeed sit upon a treasure!” said the peasant. +“Yes, in truth,” replied the Devil, “on a treasure which +contains more gold and silver than thou hast ever seen in thy life!” +“The treasure lies in my field and belongs to me,” said the +peasant. “It is thine,” answered the Devil, “if thou wilt for +two years give me the half of everything thy field produces. Money I have +enough of, but I have a desire for the fruits of the earth.” The peasant +agreed to the bargain. “In order, however, that no dispute may arise +about the division,” said he, “everything that is above ground +shall belong to thee, and what is under the earth to me.” The Devil was +quite satisfied with that, but the cunning peasant had sown turnips. +</p> + +<p> +Now when the time for harvest came, the Devil appeared and wanted to take away +his crop; but he found nothing but the yellow withered leaves, while the +peasant, full of delight, was digging up his turnips. “Thou hast had the +best of it for once,” said the Devil, “but the next time that +won’t do. What grows above ground shall be thine, and what is under it, +mine.” “I am willing,” replied the peasant; but when the time +came to sow, he did not again sow turnips, but wheat. The grain became ripe, +and the peasant went into the field and cut the full stalks down to the ground. +When the Devil came, he found nothing but the stubble, and went away in a fury +down into a cleft in the rocks. “That is the way to cheat the +Devil,” said the peasant, and went and fetched away the treasure. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap190"></a>190 The Crumbs on the Table</h3> + +<p> +A countryman one day said to his little puppies, “Come into the parlour +and enjoy yourselves, and pick up the bread-crumbs on the table; your mistress +has gone out to pay some visits.” Then the little dogs said, “No, +no, we will not go. If the mistress gets to know it, she will beat us.” +The countryman said, “She will know nothing about it. Do come; after all, +she never gives you anything good.” Then the little dogs again said, +“Nay, nay, we must let it alone; we must not go.” But the +countryman let them have no peace until at last they went, and got on the +table, and ate up the bread-crumbs with all their might. But at that very +moment the mistress came, and seized the stick in great haste, and beat them +and treated them very hardly. And when they were outside the house, the little +dogs said to the countryman, “Dost, dost, dost, dost, dost thou +see?” Then the countryman laughed and said, “Didn’t, +didn’t, didn’t, you expect it?” So they just had to run away. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap191"></a>191 The Sea-Hare</h3> + +<p> +There was once upon a time a princess, who, high under the battlements in her +castle, had an apartment with twelve windows, which looked out in every +possible direction, and when she climbed up to it and looked around her, she +could inspect her whole kingdom. When she looked out of the first, her sight +was more keen than that of any other human being; from the second she could see +still better, from the third more distinctly still, and so it went on, until +the twelfth, from which she saw everything above the earth and under the earth, +and nothing at all could be kept secret from her. Moreover, as she was haughty, +and would be subject to no one, but wished to keep the dominion for herself +alone, she caused it to be proclaimed that no one should ever be her husband +who could not conceal himself from her so effectually, that it should be quite +impossible for her to find him. He who tried this, however, and was discovered +by her, was to have his head struck off, and stuck on a post. Ninety-seven +posts with the heads of dead men were already standing before the castle, and +no one had come forward for a long time. The princess was delighted, and +thought to herself, “Now I shall be free as long as I live.” Then +three brothers appeared before her, and announced to her that they were +desirous of trying their luck. The eldest believed he would be quite safe if he +crept into a lime-pit, but she saw him from the first window, made him come +out, and had his head cut off. The second crept into the cellar of the palace, +but she perceived him also from the first window, and his fate was sealed. His +head was placed on the nine and ninetieth post. Then the youngest came to her +and entreated her to give him a day for consideration, and also to be so +gracious as to overlook it if she should happen to discover him twice, but if +he failed the third time, he would look on his life as over. As he was so +handsome, and begged so earnestly, she said, “Yes, I will grant thee +that, but thou wilt not succeed.” +</p> + +<p> +Next day he meditated for a long time how he should hide himself, but all in +vain. Then he seized his gun and went out hunting. He saw a raven, took a good +aim at him, and was just going to fire, when the bird cried, “Don’t +shoot; I will make it worth thy while not.” He put his gun down, went on, +and came to a lake where he surprised a large fish which had come up from the +depths below to the surface of the water. When he had aimed at it, the fish +cried, “Don’t shoot, and I will make it worth thy while.” He +allowed it to dive down again, went onwards, and met a fox which was lame. He +fired and missed it, and the fox cried, “You had much better come here +and draw the thorn out of my foot for me.” He did this; but then he +wanted to kill the fox and skin it, the fox said, “Stop, and I will make +it worth thy while.” The youth let him go, and then as it was evening, +returned home. +</p> + +<p> +Next day he was to hide himself; but howsoever much he puzzled his brains over +it, he did not know where. He went into the forest to the raven and said, +“I let thee live on, so now tell me where I am to hide myself, so that +the King’s daughter shall not see me.” The raven hung his head and +thought it over for a longtime. At length he croaked, “I have it.” +He fetched an egg out of his nest, cut it into two parts, and shut the youth +inside it; then made it whole again, and seated himself on it. When the +King’s daughter went to the first window she could not discover him, nor +could she from the others, and she began to be uneasy, but from the eleventh +she saw him. She ordered the raven to be shot, and the egg to be brought and +broken, and the youth was forced to come out. She said, “For once thou +art excused, but if thou dost not do better than this, thou art lost!” +</p> + +<p> +Next day he went to the lake, called the fish to him and said, “I +suffered thee to live, now tell me where to hide myself so that the +King’s daughter may not see me.” The fish thought for a while, and +at last cried, “I have it! I will shut thee up in my stomach.” He +swallowed him, and went down to the bottom of the lake. The King’s +daughter looked through her windows, and even from the eleventh did not see +him, and was alarmed; but at length from the twelfth she saw him. She ordered +the fish to be caught and killed, and then the youth appeared. Every one can +imagine what a state of mind he was in. She said, “Twice thou art +forgiven, but be sure that thy head will be set on the hundredth post.” +</p> + +<p> +On the last day, he went with a heavy heart into the country, and met the fox. +“Thou knowest how to find all kinds of hiding-places,” said he; +“I let thee live, now advise me where I shall hide myself so that the +King’s daughter shall not discover me.” “That’s a hard +task,” answered the fox, looking very thoughtful. At length he cried, +“I have it!” and went with him to a spring, dipped himself in it, +and came out as a stall-keeper in the market, and dealer in animals. The youth +had to dip himself in the water also, and was changed into a small sea-hare. +The merchant went into the town, and showed the pretty little animal, and many +persons gathered together to see it. At length the King’s daughter came +likewise, and as she liked it very much, she bought it, and gave the merchant a +good deal of money for it. Before he gave it over to her, he said to it, +“When the King’s daughter goes to the window, creep quickly under +the braids of her hair.” And now the time arrived when she was to search +for him. She went to one window after another in turn, from the first to the +eleventh, and did not see him. When she did not see him from the twelfth +either, she was full of anxiety and anger, and shut it down with such violence +that the glass in every window shivered into a thousand pieces, and the whole +castle shook. +</p> + +<p> +She went back and felt the sea-hare beneath the braids of her hair. Then she +seized it, and threw it on the ground exclaiming, “Away with thee, get +out of my sight!” It ran to the merchant, and both of them hurried to the +spring, wherein they plunged, and received back their true forms. The youth +thanked the fox, and said, “The raven and the fish are idiots compared +with thee; thou knowest the right tune to play, there is no denying +that!” +</p> + +<p> +The youth went straight to the palace. The princess was already expecting him, +and accommodated herself to her destiny. The wedding was solemnized, and now he +was king, and lord of all the kingdom. He never told her where he had concealed +himself for the third time, and who had helped him, so she believed that he had +done everything by his own skill, and she had a great respect for him, for she +thought to herself, “He is able to do more than I.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap192"></a>192 The Master-Thief</h3> + +<p> +One day an old man and his wife were sitting in front of a miserable house +resting a while from their work. Suddenly a splendid carriage with four black +horses came driving up, and a richly-dressed man descended from it. The peasant +stood up, went to the great man, and asked what he wanted, and in what way he +could be useful to him? The stranger stretched out his hand to the old man, and +said, “I want nothing but to enjoy for once a country dish; cook me some +potatoes, in the way you always have them, and then I will sit down at your +table and eat them with pleasure.” The peasant smiled and said, +“You are a count or a prince, or perhaps even a duke; noble gentlemen +often have such fancies, but you shall have your wish.” The wife went +into the kitchen, and began to wash and rub the potatoes, and to make them into +balls, as they are eaten by the country-folks. Whilst she was busy with this +work, the peasant said to the stranger, “Come into my garden with me for +a while, I have still something to do there.” He had dug some holes in +the garden, and now wanted to plant some trees in them. “Have you no +children,” asked the stranger, “who could help you with your +work?” “No,” answered the peasant, “I had a son, it is +true, but it is long since he went out into the world. He was a +ne’er-do-well; sharp, and knowing, but he would learn nothing and was +full of bad tricks, at last he ran away from me, and since then I have heard +nothing of him.” +</p> + +<p> +The old man took a young tree, put it in a hole, drove in a post beside it, and +when he had shovelled in some earth and had trampled it firmly down, he tied +the stem of the tree above, below, and in the middle, fast to the post by a +rope of straw. “But tell me,” said the stranger, “why you +don’t tie that crooked knotted tree, which is lying in the corner there, +bent down almost to the ground, to a post also that it may grow straight, as +well as these?” The old man smiled and said, “Sir, you speak +according to your knowledge, it is easy to see that you are not familiar with +gardening. That tree there is old, and mis-shapen, no one can make it straight +now. Trees must be trained while they are young.” “That is how it +was with your son,” said the stranger, “if you had trained him +while he was still young, he would not have run away; now he too must have +grown hard and mis-shapen.” “Truly it is a long time since he went +away,” replied the old man, “he must have changed.” +“Would you know him again if he were to come to you?” asked the +stranger. “Hardly by his face,” replied the peasant, “but he +has a mark about him, a birth-mark on his shoulder, that looks like a +bean.” When he had said that the stranger pulled off his coat, bared his +shoulder, and showed the peasant the bean. “Good God!” cried the +old man, “Thou art really my son!” and love for his child stirred +in his heart. “But,” he added, “how canst thou be my son, +thou hast become a great lord and livest in wealth and luxury? How hast thou +contrived to do that?” “Ah, father,” answered the son, +“the young tree was bound to no post and has grown crooked, now it is too +old, it will never be straight again. How have I got all that? I have become a +thief, but do not be alarmed, I am a master-thief. For me there are neither +locks nor bolts, whatsoever I desire is mine. Do not imagine that I steal like +a common thief, I only take some of the superfluity of the rich. Poor people +are safe, I would rather give to them than take anything from them. It is the +same with anything which I can have without trouble, cunning and dexterity I +never touch it.” “Alas, my son,” said the father, “it +still does not please me, a thief is still a thief, I tell thee it will end +badly.” He took him to his mother, and when she heard that was her son, +she wept for joy, but when he told her that he had become a master-thief, two +streams flowed down over her face. At length she said, “Even if he has +become a thief, he is still my son, and my eyes have beheld him once +more.” They sat down to table, and once again he ate with his parents the +wretched food which he had not eaten for so long. The father said, “If +our Lord, the count up there in the castle, learns who thou art, and what trade +thou followest, he will not take thee in his arms and cradle thee in them as he +did when he held thee at the font, but will cause thee to swing from a +halter.” “Be easy, father, he will do me no harm, for I understand +my trade. I will go to him myself this very day.” When evening drew near, +the master-thief seated himself in his carriage, and drove to the castle. The +count received him civilly, for he took him for a distinguished man. When, +however, the stranger made himself known, the count turned pale and was quite +silent for some time. At length he said, “Thou art my godson, and on that +account mercy shall take the place of justice, and I will deal leniently with +thee. Since thou pridest thyself on being a master-thief, I will put thy art to +the proof, but if thou dost not stand the test, thou must marry the +rope-maker’s daughter, and the croaking of the raven must be thy music on +the occasion.” “Lord count,” answered the master-thief, +“Think of three things, as difficult as you like, and if I do not perform +your tasks, do with me what you will.” The count reflected for some +minutes, and then said, “Well, then, in the first place, thou shalt steal +the horse I keep for my own riding, out of the stable; in the next, thou shalt +steal the sheet from beneath the bodies of my wife and myself when we are +asleep, without our observing it, and the wedding-ring of my wife as well; +thirdly and lastly, thou shalt steal away out of the church, the parson and +clerk. Mark what I am saying, for thy life depends on it.” +</p> + +<p> +The master-thief went to the nearest town; there he bought the clothes of an +old peasant woman, and put them on. Then he stained his face brown, and painted +wrinkles on it as well, so that no one could have recognized him. Then he +filled a small cask with old Hungary wine in which was mixed a powerful +sleeping-drink. He put the cask in a basket, which he took on his back, and +walked with slow and tottering steps to the count’s castle. It was +already dark when he arrived. He sat down on a stone in the court-yard and +began to cough, like an asthmatic old woman, and to rub his hands as if he were +cold. In front of the door of the stable some soldiers were lying round a fire; +one of them observed the woman, and called out to her, “Come nearer, old +mother, and warm thyself beside us. After all, thou hast no bed for the night, +and must take one where thou canst find it.” The old woman tottered up to +them, begged them to lift the basket from her back, and sat down beside them at +the fire. “What hast thou got in thy little cask, old lady?” asked +one. “A good mouthful of wine,” she answered. “I live by +trade, for money and fair words I am quite ready to let you have a +glass.” “Let us have it here, then,” said the soldier, and +when he had tasted one glass he said, “When wine is good, I like another +glass,” and had another poured out for himself, and the rest followed his +example. “Hallo, comrades,” cried one of them to those who were in +the stable, “here is an old goody who has wine that is as old as herself; +take a draught, it will warm your stomachs far better than our fire.” The +old woman carried her cask into the stable. One of the soldiers had seated +himself on the saddled riding-horse, another held its bridle in his hand, a +third had laid hold of its tail. She poured out as much as they wanted until +the spring ran dry. It was not long before the bridle fell from the hand of the +one, and he fell down and began to snore, the other left hold of the tail, lay +down and snored still louder. The one who was sitting in the saddle, did remain +sitting, but bent his head almost down to the horse’s neck, and slept and +blew with his mouth like the bellows of a forge. The soldiers outside had +already been asleep for a long time, and were lying on the ground motionless, +as if dead. When the master-thief saw that he had succeeded, he gave the first +a rope in his hand instead of the bridle, and the other who had been holding +the tail, a wisp of straw, but what was he to do with the one who was sitting +on the horse’s back? He did not want to throw him down, for he might have +awakened and have uttered a cry. He had a good idea, he unbuckled the girths of +the saddle, tied a couple of ropes which were hanging to a ring on the wall +fast to the saddle, and drew the sleeping rider up into the air on it, then he +twisted the rope round the posts, and made it fast. He soon unloosed the horse +from the chain, but if he had ridden over the stony pavement of the yard they +would have heard the noise in the castle. So he wrapped the horse’s hoofs +in old rags, led him carefully out, leapt upon him, and galloped off. +</p> + +<p> +When day broke, the master galloped to the castle on the stolen horse. The +count had just got up, and was looking out of the window. “Good morning, +Sir Count,” he cried to him, “here is the horse, which I have got +safely out of the stable! Just look, how beautifully your soldiers are lying +there sleeping; and if you will but go into the stable, you will see how +comfortable your watchers have made it for themselves.” The count could +not help laughing, then he said, “For once thou hast succeeded, but +things won’t go so well the second time, and I warn thee that if thou +comest before me as a thief, I will handle thee as I would a thief.” When +the countess went to bed that night, she closed her hand with the wedding-ring +tightly together, and the count said, “All the doors are locked and +bolted, I will keep awake and wait for the thief, but if he gets in by the +window, I will shoot him.” The master-thief, however, went in the dark to +the gallows, cut a poor sinner who was hanging there down from the halter, and +carried him on his back to the castle. Then he set a ladder up to the bedroom, +put the dead body on his shoulders, and began to climb up. When he had got so +high that the head of the dead man showed at the window, the count, who was +watching in his bed, fired a pistol at him, and immediately the master let the +poor sinner fall down, and hid himself in one corner. The night was +sufficiently lighted by the moon, for the master to see distinctly how the +count got out of the window on to the ladder, came down, carried the dead body +into the garden, and began to dig a hole in which to lay it. “Now,” +thought the thief, “the favourable moment has come,” stole nimbly +out of his corner, and climbed up the ladder straight into the countess’s +bedroom. “Dear wife,” he began in the count’s voice, +“the thief is dead, but, after all, he is my godson, and has been more of +a scape-grace than a villain. I will not put him to open shame; besides, I am +sorry for the parents. I will bury him myself before daybreak, in the garden +that the thing may not be known, so give me the sheet, I will wrap up the body +in it, and bury him as a dog burries things by scratching.” The countess +gave him the sheet. “I tell you what,” continued the thief, +“I have a fit of magnanimity on me, give me the ring too,—the +unhappy man risked his life for it, so he may take it with him into his +grave.” She would not gainsay the count, and although she did it +unwillingly she drew the ring from her finger, and gave it to him. The thief +made off with both these things, and reached home safely before the count in +the garden had finished his work of burying. +</p> + +<p> +What a long face the count did pull when the master came next morning, and +brought him the sheet and the ring. “Art thou a wizard?” said he, +“Who has fetched thee out of the grave in which I myself laid thee, and +brought thee to life again?” “You did not bury me,” said the +thief, “but the poor sinner on the gallows,” and he told him +exactly how everything had happened, and the count was forced to own to him +that he was a clever, crafty thief. “But thou hast not reached the end +yet,” he added, “thou hast still to perform the third task, and if +thou dost not succeed in that, all is of no use.” The master smiled and +returned no answer. When night had fallen he went with a long sack on his back, +a bundle under his arms, and a lantern in his hand to the village-church. In +the sack he had some crabs, and in the bundle short wax-candles. He sat down in +the churchyard, took out a crab, and stuck a wax-candle on his back. Then he +lighted the little light, put the crab on the ground, and let it creep about. +He took a second out of the sack, and treated it in the same way, and so on +until the last was out of the sack. Hereupon he put on a long black garment +that looked like a monk’s cowl, and stuck a gray beard on his chin. When +at last he was quite unrecognizable, he took the sack in which the crabs had +been, went into the church, and ascended the pulpit. The clock in the tower was +just striking twelve; when the last stroke had sounded, he cried with a loud +and piercing voice, “Hearken, sinful men, the end of all things has come! +The last day is at hand! Hearken! Hearken! Whosoever wishes to go to heaven +with me must creep into the sack. I am Peter, who opens and shuts the gate of +heaven. Behold how the dead outside there in the churchyard, are wandering +about collecting their bones. Come, come, and creep into the sack; the world is +about to be destroyed!” The cry echoed through the whole village. The +parson and clerk who lived nearest to the church, heard it first, and when they +saw the lights which were moving about the churchyard, they observed that +something unusual was going on, and went into the church. They listened to the +sermon for a while, and then the clerk nudged the parson and said, “It +would not be amiss if we were to use the opportunity together, and before the +dawning of the last day, find an easy way of getting to heaven.” +“To tell the truth,” answered the parson, “that is what I +myself have been thinking, so if you are inclined, we will set out on our +way.” “Yes,” answered the clerk, “but you, the pastor, +have the precedence, I will follow.” So the parson went first, and +ascended the pulpit where the master opened his sack. The parson crept in +first, and then the clerk. The master immediately tied up the sack tightly, +seized it by the middle, and dragged it down the pulpit-steps, and whenever the +heads of the two fools bumped against the steps, he cried, “We are going +over the mountains.” Then he drew them through the village in the same +way, and when they were passing through puddles, he cried, “Now we are +going through wet clouds.” And when at last he was dragging them up the +steps of the castle, he cried, “Now we are on the steps of heaven, and +will soon be in the outer court.” When he had got to the top, he pushed +the sack into the pigeon-house, and when the pigeons fluttered about, he said, +“Hark how glad the angels are, and how they are flapping their +wings!” Then he bolted the door upon them, and went away. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning he went to the count, and told him that he had performed the third +task also, and had carried the parson and clerk out of the church. “Where +hast thou left them?” asked the lord. “They are lying upstairs in a +sack in the pigeon-house, and imagine that they are in heaven.” The count +went up himself, and convinced himself that the master had told the truth. When +he had delivered the parson and clerk from their captivity, he said, +“Thou art an arch-thief, and hast won thy wager. For once thou escapest +with a whole skin, but see that thou leavest my land, for if ever thou settest +foot on it again, thou may’st count on thy elevation to the +gallows.” The arch-thief took leave of his parents, once more went forth +into the wide world, and no one has ever heard of him since. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap193"></a>193 The Drummer</h3> + +<p> +A young drummer went out quite alone one evening into the country, and came to +a lake on the shore of which he perceived three pieces of white linen lying. +“What fine linen,” said he, and put one piece in his pocket. He +returned home, thought no more of what he had found, and went to bed. Just as +he was going to sleep, it seemed to him as if some one was saying his name. He +listened, and was aware of a soft voice which cried to him, “Drummer, +drummer, wake up!” As it was a dark night he could see no one, but it +appeared to him that a figure was hovering about his bed. “What do you +want?” he asked. “Give me back my dress,” answered the voice, +“that you took away from me last evening by the lake.” “You +shall have it back again,” said the drummer, “if you will tell me +who you are.” “Ah,” replied the voice, “I am the +daughter of a mighty King; but I have fallen into the power of a witch, and am +shut up on the glass-mountain. I have to bathe in the lake every day with my +two sisters, but I cannot fly back again without my dress. My sisters have gone +away, but I have been forced to stay behind. I entreat you to give me my dress +back.” “Be easy, poor child,” said the drummer. “I will +willingly give it back to you.” He took it out of his pocket, and reached +it to her in the dark. She snatched it in haste, and wanted to go away with it. +“Stop a moment, perhaps I can help you.” “You can only help +me by ascending the glass-mountain, and freeing me from the power of the witch. +But you cannot come to the glass-mountain, and indeed if you were quite close +to it you could not ascend it.” “When I want to do a thing I always +can do it,” said the drummer; “I am sorry for you, and have no fear +of anything. But I do not know the way which leads to the +glass-mountain.” “The road goes through the great forest, in which +the man-eaters live,” she answered, “and more than that, I dare not +tell you.” And then he heard her wings quiver, as she flew away. +</p> + +<p> +By daybreak the drummer arose, buckled on his drum, and went without fear +straight into the forest. After he had walked for a while without seeing any +giants, he thought to himself, “I must waken up the sluggards,” and +he hung his drum before him, and beat such a reveille that the birds flew out +of the trees with loud cries. It was not long before a giant who had been lying +sleeping among the grass, rose up, and was as tall as a fir-tree. +“Wretch!” cried he; “what art thou drumming here for, and +wakening me out of my best sleep?” “I am drumming,” he +replied, “because I want to show the way to many thousands who are +following me.” “What do they want in my forest?” demanded the +giant. “They want to put an end to thee, and cleanse the forest of such a +monster as thou art!” “Oho!” said the giant, “I will +trample you all to death like so many ants.” “Dost thou think thou +canst do anything against us?” said the drummer; “if thou stoopest +to take hold of one, he will jump away and hide himself; but when thou art +lying down and sleeping, they will come forth from every thicket, and creep up +to thee. Every one of them has a hammer of steel in his belt, and with that +they will beat in thy skull.” The giant grew angry and thought, “If +I meddle with the crafty folk, it might turn out badly for me. I can strangle +wolves and bears, but I cannot protect myself from these earth-worms.” +“Listen, little fellow,” said he; “go back again, and I will +promise you that for the future I will leave you and your comrades in peace, +and if there is anything else you wish for, tell me, for I am quite willing to +do something to please you.” “Thou hast long legs,” said the +drummer, “and canst run quicker than I; carry me to the glass-mountain, +and I will give my followers a signal to go back, and they shall leave thee in +peace this time.” “Come here, worm,” said the giant; +“seat thyself on my shoulder, I will carry thee where thou wishest to +be.” The giant lifted him up, and the drummer began to beat his drum up +aloft to his heart’s delight. The giant thought, “That is the +signal for the other people to turn back.” +</p> + +<p> +After a while, a second giant was standing in the road, who took the drummer +from the first, and stuck him in his button-hole. The drummer laid hold of the +button, which was as large as a dish, held on by it, and looked merrily around. +Then they came to a third giant, who took him out of the button-hole, and set +him on the rim of his hat. Then the drummer walked backwards and forwards up +above, and looked over the trees, and when he perceived a mountain in the blue +distance, he thought, “That must be the glass-mountain,” and so it +was. The giant only made two steps more, and they reached the foot of the +mountain, where the giant put him down. The drummer demanded to be put on the +summit of the glass-mountain, but the giant shook his head, growled something +in his beard, and went back into the forest. +</p> + +<p> +And now the poor drummer was standing before the mountain, which was as high as +if three mountains were piled on each other, and at the same time as smooth as +a looking-glass, and did not know how to get up it. He began to climb, but that +was useless, for he always slipped back again. “If one was a bird +now,” thought he; but what was the good of wishing, no wings grew for +him. +</p> + +<p> +Whilst he was standing thus, not knowing what to do, he saw, not far from him, +two men who were struggling fiercely together. He went up to them and saw that +they were disputing about a saddle which was lying on the ground before them, +and which both of them wanted to have. “What fools you are,” said +he, “to quarrel about a saddle, when you have not a horse for it!” +“The saddle is worth fighting about,” answered one of the men; +“whosoever sits on it, and wishes himself in any place, even if it should +be the very end of the earth, gets there the instant he has uttered the wish. +The saddle belongs to us in common. It is my turn to ride on it, but that other +man will not let me do it.” “I will soon decide the quarrel,” +said the drummer, and he went to a short distance and stuck a white rod in the +ground. Then he came back and said, “Now run to the goal, and whoever +gets there first, shall ride first.” Both put themselves into a trot; but +hardly had they gone a couple of steps before the drummer swung himself on the +saddle, wished himself on the glass-mountain, and before any one could turn +round, he was there. On the top of the mountain was a plain; there stood an old +stone house, and in front of the house lay a great fish-pond, but behind it was +a dark forest. He saw neither men nor animals, everything was quiet; only the +wind rustled amongst the trees, and the clouds moved by quite close above his +head. He went to the door and knocked. When he had knocked for the third time, +an old woman with a brown face and red eyes opened the door. She had spectacles +on her long nose, and looked sharply at him; then she asked what he wanted. +“Entrance, food, and a bed for the night,” replied the drummer. +“That thou shalt have,” said the old woman, “if thou wilt +perform three services in return.” “Why not?” he answered, +“I am not afraid of any kind of work, however hard it may be.” The +old woman let him go in, and gave him some food and a good bed at night. The +next morning when he had had his sleep out, she took a thimble from her +wrinkled finger, reached it to the drummer, and said, “Go to work now, +and empty out the pond with this thimble; but thou must have it done before +night, and must have sought out all the fishes which are in the water and laid +them side by side, according to their kind and size.” “That is +strange work,” said the drummer, but he went to the pond, and began to +empty it. He baled the whole morning; but what can any one do to a great lake +with a thimble, even if he were to bale for a thousand years? +</p> + +<p> +When it was noon, he thought, “It is all useless, and whether I work or +not it will come to the same thing.” So he gave it up and sat down. Then +came a maiden out of the house who set a little basket with food before him, +and said, “What ails thee, that thou sittest so sadly here?” He +looked at her, and saw that she was wondrously beautiful. “Ah,” +said he, “I cannot finish the first piece of work, how will it be with +the others? I came forth to seek a king’s daughter who is said to dwell +here, but I have not found her, and I will go farther.” “Stay +here,” said the maiden, “I will help thee out of thy difficulty. +Thou art tired, lay thy head in my lap, and sleep. When thou awakest again, thy +work will be done.” The drummer did not need to be told that twice. As +soon as his eyes were shut, she turned a wishing-ring and said, “Rise, +water. Fishes, come out.” Instantly the water rose on high like a white +mist, and moved away with the other clouds, and the fishes sprang on the shore +and laid themselves side by side each according to his size and kind. When the +drummer awoke, he saw with amazement that all was done. But the maiden said, +“One of the fish is not lying with those of its own kind, but quite +alone; when the old woman comes to-night and sees that all she demanded has +been done, she will ask thee, ‘What is this fish lying alone for?’ +Then throw the fish in her face, and say, ‘This one shall be for thee, +old witch.’” In the evening the witch came, and when she had put +this question, he threw the fish in her face. She behaved as if she did not +remark it, and said nothing, but looked at him with malicious eyes. Next +morning she said, “Yesterday it was too easy for thee, I must give thee +harder work. To-day thou must hew down the whole of the forest, split the wood +into logs, and pile them up, and everything must be finished by the +evening.” She gave him an axe, a mallet, and two wedges. But the axe was +made of lead, and the mallet and wedges were of tin. When he began to cut, the +edge of the axe turned back, and the mallet and wedges were beaten out of +shape. He did not know how to manage, but at mid-day the maiden came once more +with his dinner and comforted him. “Lay thy head on my lap,” said +she, “and sleep; when thou awakest, thy work will be done.” She +turned her wishing-ring, and in an instant the whole forest fell down with a +crash, the wood split, and arranged itself in heaps, and it seemed just as if +unseen giants were finishing the work. When he awoke, the maiden said, +“Dost thou see that the wood is piled up and arranged, one bough alone +remains; but when the old woman comes this evening and asks thee about that +bough, give her a blow with it, and say, ‘That is for thee, thou +witch.’” +</p> + +<p> +The old woman came, “There thou seest how easy the work was!” said +she; “but for whom hast thou left that bough which is lying there +still?” +</p> + +<p> +“For thee, thou witch,” he replied, and gave her a blow with it. +But she pretended not to feel it, laughed scornfully, and said, “Early +to-morrow morning thou shalt arrange all the wood in one heap, set fire to it, +and burn it.” He rose at break of day, and began to pick up the wood, but +how can a single man get a whole forest together? The work made no progress. +The maiden, however, did not desert him in his need. She brought him his food +at noon, and when he had eaten, he laid his head on her lap, and went to sleep. +When he awoke, the entire pile of wood was burning in one enormous flame, which +stretched its tongues out into the sky. “Listen to me,” said the +maiden, “when the witch comes, she will give thee all kinds of orders; do +whatever she asks thee without fear, and then she will not be able to get the +better of thee, but if thou art afraid, the fire will lay hold of thee, and +consume thee. At last when thou hast done everything, seize her with both thy +hands, and throw her into the midst of the fire.” The maiden departed, +and the old woman came sneaking up to him. “Oh, I am cold,” said +she, “but that is a fire that burns; it warms my old bones for me, and +does me good! But there is a log lying there which won’t burn, bring it +out for me. When thou hast done that, thou art free, and mayst go where thou +likest, come; go in with a good will.” +</p> + +<p> +The drummer did not reflect long; he sprang into the midst of the flames, but +they did not hurt him, and could not even singe a hair of his head. He carried +the log out, and laid it down. Hardly, however, had the wood touched the earth +than it was transformed, and the beautiful maiden who had helped him in his +need stood before him, and by the silken and shining golden garments which she +wore, he knew right well that she was the King’s daughter. But the old +woman laughed venomously, and said, “Thou thinkest thou hast her safe, +but thou hast not got her yet!” Just as she was about to fall on the +maiden and take her away, the youth seized the old woman with both his hands, +raised her up on high, and threw her into the jaws of the fire, which closed +over her as if it were delighted that an old witch was to be burnt. +</p> + +<p> +Then the King’s daughter looked at the drummer, and when she saw that he +was a handsome youth and remembered how he had risked his life to deliver her, +she gave him her hand, and said, “Thou hast ventured everything for my +sake, but I also will do everything for thine. Promise to be true to me, and +thou shalt be my husband. We shall not want for riches, we shall have enough +with what the witch has gathered together here.” She led him into the +house, where there were chests and coffers crammed with the old woman’s +treasures. The maiden left the gold and silver where it was, and took only the +precious stones. She would not stay any longer on the glass-mountain, so the +drummer said to her, “Seat thyself by me on my saddle, and then we will +fly down like birds.” “I do not like the old saddle,” said +she, “I need only turn my wishing-ring and we shall be at home.” +“Very well, then,” answered the drummer, “then wish us in +front of the town-gate.” In the twinkling of an eye they were there, but +the drummer said, “I will just go to my parents and tell them the news, +wait for me outside here, I shall soon be back.” “Ah,” said +the King’s daughter, “I beg thee to be careful. On thy arrival do +not kiss thy parents on the right cheek, or else thou wilt forget everything, +and I shall stay behind here outside, alone and deserted.” “How can +I forget thee?” said he, and promised her to come back very soon, and +gave his hand upon it. When he went into his father’s house, he had +changed so much that no one knew who he was, for the three days which he had +passed on the glass-mountain had been three years. Then he made himself known, +and his parents fell on his neck with joy, and his heart was so moved that he +forgot what the maiden had said, and kissed them on both cheeks. But when he +had given them the kiss on the right cheek, every thought of the King’s +daughter vanished from him. He emptied out his pockets, and laid handfuls of +the largest jewels on the table. The parents had not the least idea what to do +with the riches. Then the father built a magnificent castle all surrounded by +gardens, woods, and meadows as if a prince were going to live in it, and when +it was ready, the mother said, “I have found a maiden for thee, and the +wedding shall be in three days. The son was content to do as his parents +desired.” +</p> + +<p> +The poor King’s daughter had stood for a long time without the town +waiting for the return of the young man. When evening came, she said, “He +must certainly have kissed his parents on the right cheek, and has forgotten +me.” Her heart was full of sorrow, she wished herself into a solitary +little hut in a forest, and would not return to her father’s court. Every +evening she went into the town and passed the young man’s house; he often +saw her, but he no longer knew her. At length she heard the people saying, +“The wedding will take place to-morrow.” Then she said, “I +will try if I can win his heart back.” +</p> + +<p> +On the first day of the wedding ceremonies, she turned her wishing-ring, and +said, “A dress as bright as the sun.” Instantly the dress lay +before her, and it was as bright as if it had been woven of real sunbeams. When +all the guests were assembled, she entered the hall. Every one was amazed at +the beautiful dress, and the bride most of all, and as pretty dresses were the +things she had most delight in, she went to the stranger and asked if she would +sell it to her. “Not for money,” she answered, “but if I may +pass the first night outside the door of the room where your betrothed sleeps, +I will give it up to you.” The bride could not overcome her desire and +consented, but she mixed a sleeping-draught with the wine her betrothed took at +night, which made him fall into a deep sleep, When all had become quiet, the +King’s daughter crouched down by the door of the bedroom, opened it just +a little, and cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Drummer, drummer, I pray thee hear!<br/> +Hast thou forgotten thou heldest me dear?<br/> +That on the glass-mountain we sat hour by hour?<br/> +That I rescued thy life from the witch’s power?<br/> +Didst thou not plight thy troth to me?<br/> +Drummer, drummer, hearken to me!” +</p> + +<p> +But it was all in vain, the drummer did not awake, and when morning dawned, the +King’s daughter was forced to go back again as she came. On the second +evening she turned her wishing-ring and said, “A dress as silvery as the +moon.” When she appeared at the feast in the dress which was as soft as +moonbeams, it again excited the desire of the bride, and the King’s +daughter gave it to her for permission to pass the second night also, outside +the door of the bedroom. Then in the stillness of the night, she cried, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Drummer, drummer, I pray thee hear!<br/> +Hast thou forgotten thy heldest me dear?<br/> +That on the glass-mountain we sat hour by hour?<br/> +That I rescued thy life from the witch’s power?<br/> +Didst thou not plight thy troth to me?<br/> +Drummer, drummer, hearken to me!” +</p> + +<p> +But the drummer, who was stupefied with the sleeping-draught, could not be +aroused. Sadly next morning she went back to her hut in the forest. But the +people in the house had heard the lamentation of the stranger-maiden, and told +the bridegroom about it. They told him also that it was impossible that he +could hear anything of it, because the maiden he was going to marry had poured +a sleeping-draught into his wine. +</p> + +<p> +On the third evening, the King’s daughter turned her wishing-ring, and +said, “A dress glittering like the stars.” When she showed herself +therein at the feast, the bride was quite beside herself with the splendour of +the dress, which far surpassed the others, and she said, “I must, and +will have it.” The maiden gave it as she had given the others for +permission to spend the night outside the bridegroom’s door. The +bridegroom, however, did not drink the wine which was handed to him before he +went to bed, but poured it behind the bed, and when everything was quiet, he +heard a sweet voice which called to him, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Drummer, drummer, I pray thee hear!<br/> +Hast thou forgotten thou held me dear?<br/> +That on the glass-mountain we sat hour by hour?<br/> +That I rescued thy life from the witch’s power?<br/> +Didst thou not plight thy troth to me?<br/> +Drummer, drummer, hearken to me!” +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly, his memory returned to him. “Ah,” cried he, “how +can I have acted so unfaithfully; but the kiss which in the joy of my heart I +gave my parents, on the right cheek, that is to blame for it all, that is what +stupefied me!” He sprang up, took the King’s daughter by the hand, +and led her to his parents’ bed. “This is my true bride,” +said he; “if I marry the other, I shall do a great wrong.” The +parents, when they heard how everything had happened, gave their consent. Then +the lights in the hall were lighted again, drums and trumpets were brought, +friends and relations were invited to come, and the real wedding was solemnized +with great rejoicing. The first bride received the beautiful dresses as a +compensation, and declared herself satisfied. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap194"></a>194 The Ear of Corn</h3> + +<p> +In former times, when God himself still walked the earth, the fruitfulness of +the soil was much greater than it is now; then the ears of corn did not bear +fifty or sixty, but four or five hundred-fold. Then the corn grew from the +bottom to the very top o f the stalk, and according to the length of the stalk +was the length of the ear. Men however are so made, that when they are too well +off they no longer value the blessings which come from God, but grow +indifferent and careless. One day a woman was passing by a corn-field when her +little child, who was running beside her, fell into a puddle, and dirtied her +frock. On this the mother tore up a handful of the beautiful ears of corn, and +cleaned the frock with them. +</p> + +<p> +When the Lord, who just then came by, saw that, he was angry, and said, +“Henceforth shall the stalks of corn bear no more ears; men are no longer +worthy of heavenly gifts.” The by-standers who heard this, were +terrified, and fell on their knees and prayed that he would still leave +something on the stalks, even if the people were undeserving of it, for the +sake of the innocent birds which would otherwise have to starve. The Lord, who +foresaw their suffering, had pity on them, and granted the request. So the ears +were left as they now grow. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap195"></a>195 The Grave-Mound</h3> + +<p> +A rich farmer was one day standing in his yard inspecting his fields and +gardens. The corn was growing up vigorously and the fruit-trees were heavily +laden with fruit. The grain of the year before still lay in such immense heaps +on the floors that the rafters could hardly bear it. Then he went into the +stable, where were well-fed oxen, fat cows, and horses bright as looking-glass. +At length he went back into his sitting-room, and cast a glance at the iron +chest in which his money lay. +</p> + +<p> +Whilst he was thus standing surveying his riches, all at once there was a loud +knock close by him. The knock was not at the door of his room, but at the door +of his heart. It opened, and he heard a voice which said to him, “Hast +thou done good to thy family with it? Hast thou considered the necessities of +the poor? Hast thou shared thy bread with the hungry? Hast thou been contented +with what thou hast, or didst thou always desire to have more?” The heart +was not slow in answering, “I have been hard and pitiless, and have never +shown any kindness to my own family. If a beggar came, I turned away my eyes +from him. I have not troubled myself about God, but have thought only of +increasing my wealth. If everything which the sky covers had been mine own, I +should still not have had enough.” +</p> + +<p> +When he was aware of this answer he was greatly alarmed, his knees began to +tremble, and he was forced to sit down. +</p> + +<p> +Then there was another knock, but the knock was at the door of his room. It was +his neighbour, a poor man who had a number of children whom he could no longer +satisfy with food. “I know,” thought the poor man, “that my +neighbour is rich, but he is as hard as he is rich. I don’t believe he +will help me, but my children are crying for bread, so I will venture +it.” He said to the rich man, “You do not readily give away +anything that is yours, but I stand here like one who feels the water rising +above his head. My children are starving, lend me four measures* of +corn.” The rich man looked at him long, and then the first sunbeam of +mercy began to melt away a drop of the ice of greediness. “I will not +lend thee four measures,” he answered, “but I will make thee a +present of eight, but thou must fulfil one condition.” “What am I +to do?” said the poor man. “When I am dead, thou shalt watch for +three nights by my grave.” The peasant was disturbed in his mind at this +request, but in the need in which he was, he would have consented to anything; +he accepted, therefore, and carried the corn home with him. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed as if the rich man had foreseen what was about to happen, for when +three days were gone by, he suddenly dropped down dead. No one knew exactly how +it came to pass, but no one grieved for him. When he was buried, the poor man +remembered his promise; he would willingly have been released from it, but he +thought, “After all, he acted kindly by me. I have fed my hungry children +with his corn, and even if that were not the case, where I have once given my +promise I must keep it.” At nightfall he went into the churchyard, and +seated himself on the grave-mound. Everything was quiet, only the moon appeared +above the grave, and frequently an owl flew past and uttered her melancholy +cry. When the sun rose, the poor man betook himself in safety to his home, and +in the same manner the second night passed quietly by. On the evening of the +third day he felt a strange uneasiness, it seemed to him that something was +about to happen. When he went out he saw, by the churchyard-wall, a man whom he +had never seen before. He was no longer young, had scars on his face, and his +eyes looked sharply and eagerly around. He was entirely covered with an old +cloak, and nothing was visible but his great riding-boots. “What are you +looking for here?” the peasant asked. “Are you not afraid of the +lonely churchyard?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am looking for nothing,” he answered, “and I am afraid of +nothing! I am like the youngster who went forth to learn how to shiver, and had +his labour for his pains, but got the King’s daughter to wife and great +wealth with her, only I have remained poor. I am nothing but a paid-off +soldier, and I mean to pass the night here, because I have no other +shelter.” “If you are without fear,” said the peasant, +“stay with me, and help me to watch that grave there.” +</p> + +<p> +“To keep watch is a soldier’s business,” he replied, +“whatever we fall in with here, whether it be good or bad, we will share +it between us.” The peasant agreed to this, and they seated themselves on +the grave together. +</p> + +<p> +All was quiet until midnight, when suddenly a shrill whistling was heard in the +air, and the two watchers perceived the Evil One standing bodily before them. +“Be off, you ragamuffins!” cried he to them, “the man who +lies in that grave belongs to me; I want to take him, and if you don’t go +away I will wring your necks!” “Sir with the red feather,” +said the soldier, “you are not my captain, I have no need to obey you, +and I have not yet learned how to fear. Go away, we shall stay sitting +here.” +</p> + +<p> +The Devil thought to himself, “Money is the best thing with which to get +hold of these two vagabonds.” So he began to play a softer tune, and +asked quite kindly, if they would not accept a bag of money, and go home with +it? “That is worth listening to,” answered the soldier, “but +one bag of gold won’t serve us, if you will give as much as will go into +one of my boots, we will quit the field for you and go away.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have not so much as that about me,” said the Devil, “but I +will fetch it. In the neighbouring town lives a money-changer who is a good +friend of mine, and will readily advance it to me.” When the Devil had +vanished the soldier took his left boot off, and said, “We will soon pull +the charcoal-burner’s nose for him, just give me your knife, +comrade.” He cut the sole off the boot, and put it in the high grass near +the grave on the edge of a hole that was half over-grown. “That will +do,” said he; “now the chimney-sweep may come.” +</p> + +<p> +They both sat down and waited, and it was not long before the Devil returned +with a small bag of gold in his hand. “Just pour it in,” said the +soldier, raising up the boot a little, “but that won’t be +enough.” +</p> + +<p> +The Black One shook out all that was in the bag; the gold fell through, and the +boot remained empty. “Stupid Devil,” cried the soldier, “it +won’t do! Didn’t I say so at once? Go back again, and bring +more.” The Devil shook his head, went, and in an hour’s time came +with a much larger bag under his arm. “Now pour it in,” cried the +soldier, “but I doubt the boot won’t be full.” The gold +clinked as it fell, but the boot remained empty. The Devil looked in himself +with his burning eyes, and convinced himself of the truth. “You have +shamefully big calves to your legs!” cried he, and made a wry face. +“Did you think,” replied the soldier, “that I had a cloven +foot like you? Since when have you been so stingy? See that you get more gold +together, or our bargain will come to nothing!” The Wicked One went off +again. This time he stayed away longer, and when at length he appeared he was +panting under the weight of a sack which lay on his shoulders. He emptied it +into the boot, which was just as far from being filled as before. He became +furious, and was just going to tear the boot out of the soldier’s hands, +but at that moment the first ray of the rising sun broke forth from the sky, +and the Evil Spirit fled away with loud shrieks. The poor soul was saved. +</p> + +<p> +The peasant wished to divide the gold, but the soldier said, “Give what +falls to my lot to the poor, I will come with thee to thy cottage, and together +we will live in rest and peace on what remains, as long as God is pleased to +permit.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap196"></a>196 Old Rinkrank</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a King who had a daughter, and he caused a glass +mountain to be made, and said that whosoever could cross to the other side of +it without falling should have his daughter to wife. Then there was one who +loved the King’s daughter, and he asked the King if he might have her. +“Yes,” said the King; “if you can cross the mountain without +falling, you shall have her.” And the princess said she would go over it +with him, and would hold him if he were about to fall. So they set out together +to go over it, and when they were half way up the princess slipped and fell, +and the glass-mountain opened and shut her up inside it, and her betrothed +could not see where she had gone, for the mountain closed immediately. Then he +wept and lamented much, and the King was miserable too, and had the mountain +broken open where she had been lost, and though the would be able to get her +out again, but they could not find the place into which she had fallen. +Meanwhile the King’s daughter had fallen quite deep down into the earth +into a great cave. An old fellow with a very long gray beard came to meet her, +and told her that if she would be his servant and do everything he bade her, +she might live, if not he would kill her. So she did all he bade her. In the +mornings he took his ladder out of his pocket, and set it up against the +mountain and climbed to the top by its help, and then he drew up the ladder +after him. The princess had to cook his dinner, make his bed, and do all his +work, and when he came home again he always brought with him a heap of gold and +silver. When she had lived with him for many years, and had grown quite old, he +called her Mother Mansrot, and she had to call him Old Rinkrank. Then once when +he was out, and she had made his bed and washed his dishes, she shut the doors +and windows all fast, and there was one little window through which the light +shone in, and this she left open. When Old Rinkrank came home, he knocked at +his door, and cried, “Mother Mansrot, open the door for me.” +“No,” said she, “Old Rinkrank, I will not open the door for +thee.” Then he said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Here stand I, poor Rinkrank,<br/> +On my seventeen long shanks,<br/> +On my weary, worn-out foot,<br/> +Wash my dishes, Mother Mansrot.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have washed thy dishes already,” said she. Then again he said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Here stand I, poor Rinkrank,<br/> +On my seventeen long shanks,<br/> +On my weary, worn-out foot,<br/> +Make me my bed, Mother Mansrot.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have made thy bed already,” said she. Then again he said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Here stand I, poor Rinkrank,<br/> +On my seventeen long shanks,<br/> +On my weary, worn-out foot,<br/> +Open the door, Mother Mansrot.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he ran all round his house, and saw that the little window was open, and +thought, “I will look in and see what she can be about, and why she will +not open the door for me.” He tried to peep in, but could not get his +head through because of his long beard. So he first put his beard through the +open window, but just as he had got it through, Mother Mansrot came by and +pulled the window down with a cord which she had tied to it, and his beard was +shut fast in it. Then he began to cry most piteously, for it hurt him very +much, and to entreat her to release him again. But she said not until he gave +her the ladder with which he ascended the mountain. Then, whether he would or +not, he had to tell her where the ladder was. And she fastened a very long +ribbon to the window, and then she set up the ladder, and ascended the +mountain, and when she was at the top of it she opened the window. She went to +her father, and told him all that had happened to her. The King rejoiced +greatly, and her betrothed was still there, and they went and dug up the +mountain, and found Old Rinkrank inside it with all his gold and silver. Then +the King had Old Rinkrank put to death, and took all his gold and silver. The +princess married her betrothed, and lived right happily in great magnificence +and joy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap197"></a>197 The Crystal Ball</h3> + +<p> +There was once an enchantress, who had three sons who loved each other as +brothers, but the old woman did not trust them, and thought they wanted to +steal her power from her. So she changed the eldest into an eagle, which was +forced to dwell in the rocky mountains, and was often seen sweeping in great +circles in the sky. The second, she changed into a whale, which lived in the +deep sea, and all that was seen of it was that it sometimes spouted up a great +jet of water in the air. Each of them only bore his human form for only two +hours daily. The third son, who was afraid she might change him into a raging +wild beast a bear perhaps, or a wolf, went secretly away. He had heard that a +King’s daughter who was bewitched, was imprisoned in the Castle of the +Golden Sun, and was waiting for deliverance. Those, however, who tried to free +her risked their lives; three-and-twenty youths had already died a miserable +death, and now only one other might make the attempt, after which no more must +come. And as his heart was without fear, he caught at the idea of seeking out +the Castle of the Golden Sun. He had already travelled about for a long time +without being able to find it, when he came by chance into a great forest, and +did not know the way out of it. All at once he saw in the distance two giants, +who made a sign to him with their hands, and when he came to them they said, +“We are quarrelling about a cap, and which of us it is to belong to, and +as we are equally strong, neither of us can get the better of the other. The +small men are cleverer than we are, so we will leave the decision to +thee.” “How can you dispute about an old cap?” said the +youth. “Thou dost not know what properties it has! It is a wishing-cap; +whosoever puts it on, can wish himself away wherever he likes, and in an +instant he will be there.” “Give me the cap,” said the youth, +“I will go a short distance off, and when I call you, you must run a +race, and the cap shall belong to the one who gets first to me.” He put +it on and went away, and thought of the King’s daughter, forgot the +giants, and walked continually onward. At length he sighed from the very bottom +of his heart, and cried, “Ah, if I were but at the Castle of the Golden +Sun,” and hardly had the words passed his lips than he was standing on a +high mountain before the gate of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +He entered and went through all the rooms, until in the last he found the +King’s daughter. But how shocked he was when he saw her. She had an +ashen-gray face full of wrinkles, blear eyes, and red hair. “Are you the +King’s daughter, whose beauty the whole world praises?” cried he. +“Ah,” she answered, “this is not my form; human eyes can only +see me in this state of ugliness, but that thou mayst know what I am like, look +in the mirror it does not let itself be misled it will show thee my image as it +is in truth.” She gave him the mirror in his hand, and he saw therein the +likeness of the most beautiful maiden on earth, and saw, too, how the tears +were rolling down her cheeks with grief. Then said he, “How canst thou be +set free? I fear no danger.” She said, “He who gets the crystal +ball, and holds it before the enchanter, will destroy his power with it, and I +shall resume my true shape. Ah,” she added, “so many have already +gone to meet death for this, and thou art so young; I grieve that thou shouldst +encounter such great danger.” “Nothing can keep me from doing +it,” said he, “but tell me what I must do.” “Thou shalt +know everything,” said the King’s daughter; “when thou +descendest the mountain on which the castle stands, a wild bull will stand +below by a spring, and thou must fight with it, and if thou hast the luck to +kill it, a fiery bird will spring out of it, which bears in its body a burning +egg, and in the egg the crystal ball lies like a yolk. The bird will not, +however, let the egg fall until forced to do so, and if it falls on the ground, +it will flame up and burn everything that is near, and melt even ice itself, +and with it the crystal ball, and then all thy trouble will have been in +vain.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth went down to the spring, where the bull snorted and bellowed at him. +After a long struggle he plunged his sword in the animal’s body, and it +fell down. Instantly a fiery bird arose from it, and was about to fly away, but +the young man’s brother, the eagle, who was passing between the clouds, +swooped down, hunted it away to the sea, and struck it with his beak until, in +its extremity, it let the egg fall. The egg did not, however, fall into the +sea, but on a fisherman’s hut which stood on the shore and the hut began +at once to smoke and was about to break out in flames. Then arose in the sea +waves as high as a house, they streamed over the hut, and subdued the fire. The +other brother, the whale, had come swimming to them, and had driven the water +up on high. When the fire was extinguished, the youth sought for the egg and +happily found it; it was not yet melted, but the shell was broken by being so +suddenly cooled with the water, and he could take out the crystal ball unhurt. +</p> + +<p> +When the youth went to the enchanter and held it before him, the latter said, +“My power is destroyed, and from this time forth thou art the King of the +Castle of the Golden Sun. With this canst thou likewise give back to thy +brothers their human form.” Then the youth hastened to the King’s +daughter, and when he entered the room, she was standing there in the full +splendour of her beauty, and joyfully they exchanged rings with each other. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap198"></a>198 Maid Maleen</h3> + +<p> +There was once a King who had a son who asked in marriage the daughter of a +mighty King; she was called Maid Maleen, and was very beautiful. As her father +wished to give her to another, the prince was rejected; but as they both loved +each other with all their hearts, they would not give each other up, and Maid +Maleen said to her father, “I can and will take no other for my +husband.” Then the King flew into a passion, and ordered a dark tower to +be built, into which no ray of sunlight or moonlight should enter. When it was +finished, he said, “Therein shalt thou be imprisoned for seven years, and +then I will come and see if thy perverse spirit is broken.” Meat and +drink for the seven years were carried into the tower, and then she and her +waiting-woman were led into it and walled up, and thus cut off from the sky and +from the earth. There they sat in the darkness, and knew not when day or night +began. The King’s son often went round and round the tower, and called +their names, but no sound from without pierced through the thick walls. What +else could they do but lament and complain? Meanwhile the time passed, and by +the diminution of the food and drink they knew that the seven years were coming +to an end. They thought the moment of their deliverance was come; but no stroke +of the hammer was heard, no stone fell out of the wall, and it seemed to Maid +Maleen that her father had forgotten her. As they only had food for a short +time longer, and saw a miserable death awaiting them, Maid Maleen said, +“We must try our last chance, and see if we can break through the +wall.” She took the bread-knife, and picked and bored at the mortar of a +stone, and when she was tired, the waiting-maid took her turn. With great +labour they succeeded in getting out one stone, and then a second, and a third, +and when three days were over the first ray of light fell on their darkness, +and at last the opening was so large that they could look out. The sky was +blue, and a fresh breeze played on their faces; but how melancholy everything +looked all around! Her father’s castle lay in ruins, the town and the +villages were, so far as could be seen, destroyed by fire, the fields far and +wide laid to waste, and no human being was visible. When the opening in the +wall was large enough for them to slip through, the waiting-maid sprang down +first, and then Maid Maleen followed. But where were they to go? The enemy had +ravaged the whole kingdom, driven away the King, and slain all the inhabitants. +They wandered forth to seek another country, but nowhere did they find a +shelter, or a human being to give them a mouthful of bread, and their need was +so great that they were forced to appease their hunger with nettles. When, +after long journeying, they came into another country, they tried to get work +everywhere; but wherever they knocked they were turned away, and no one would +have pity on them. At last they arrived in a large city and went to the royal +palace. There also they were ordered to go away, but at last the cook said that +they might stay in the kitchen and be scullions. +</p> + +<p> +The son of the King in whose kingdom they were, was, however, the very man who +had been betrothed to Maid Maleen. His father had chosen another bride for him, +whose face was as ugly as her heart was wicked. The wedding was fixed, and the +maiden had already arrived; but because of her great ugliness, however, she +shut herself in her room, and allowed no one to see her, and Maid Maleen had to +take her her meals from the kitchen. When the day came for the bride and the +bridegroom to go to church, she was ashamed of her ugliness, and afraid that if +she showed herself in the streets, she would be mocked and laughed at by the +people. Then said she to Maid Maleen, “A great piece of luck has befallen +thee. I have sprained my foot, and cannot well walk through the streets; thou +shalt put on my wedding-clothes and take my place; a greater honour than that +thou canst not have!” Maid Maleen, however, refused it, and said, +“I wish for no honour which is not suitable for me.” It was in +vain, too, that the bride offered her gold. At last she said angrily, “If +thou dost not obey me, it shall cost thee thy life. I have but to speak the +word, and thy head will lie at thy feet.” Then she was forced to obey, +and put on the bride’s magnificent clothes and all her jewels. When she +entered the royal hall, every one was amazed at her great beauty, and the King +said to his son, “This is the bride whom I have chosen for thee, and whom +thou must lead to church.” The bridegroom was astonished, and thought, +“She is like my Maid Maleen, and I should believe that it was she +herself, but she has long been shut up in the tower, or dead.” He took +her by the hand and led her to church. On the way was a nettle-plant, and she +said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, nettle-plant,<br/> +Little nettle-plant,<br/> +What dost thou here alone?<br/> +I have known the time<br/> +When I ate thee unboiled,<br/> +When I ate thee unroasted.” +</p> + +<p> +“What art thou saying?” asked the King’s son. +“Nothing,” she replied, “I was only thinking of Maid +Maleen.” He was surprised that she knew about her, but kept silence. When +they came to the foot-plank into the churchyard, she said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Foot-bridge, do not break,<br/> +I am not the true bride.” +</p> + +<p> +“What art thou saying there?” asked the King’s son. +“Nothing,” she replied, “I was only thinking of Maid +Maleen.” “Dost thou know Maid Maleen?” “No,” she +answered, “how should I know her; I have only heard of her.” When +they came to the church-door, she said once more, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Church-door, break not,<br/> +I am not the true bride.” +</p> + +<p> +“What art thou saying there?” asked he. “Ah,” she +answered, “I was only thinking of Maid Maleen.” Then he took out a +precious chain, put it round her neck, and fastened the clasp. Thereupon they +entered the church, and the priest joined their hands together before the +altar, and married them. He led her home, but she did not speak a single word +the whole way. When they got back to the royal palace, she hurried into the +bride’s chamber, put off the magnificent clothes and the jewels, dressed +herself in her gray gown, and kept nothing but the jewel on her neck, which she +had received from the bridegroom. +</p> + +<p> +When the night came, and the bride was to be led into the prince’s +apartment, she let her veil fall over her face, that he might not observe the +deception. As soon as every one had gone away, he said to her, “What +didst thou say to the nettle-plant which was growing by the wayside?” +</p> + +<p> +“To which nettle-plant?” asked she; “I don’t talk to +nettle-plants.” “If thou didst not do it, then thou art not the +true bride,” said he. So she bethought herself, and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I must go out unto my maid,<br/> +Who keeps my thoughts for me.” +</p> + +<p> +She went out and sought Maid Maleen. “Girl, what hast thou been saying to +the nettle?” “I said nothing but, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, nettle-plant,<br/> +Little nettle-plant,<br/> +What dost thou here alone?<br/> +I have known the time<br/> +When I ate thee unboiled,<br/> +When I ate thee unroasted.” +</p> + +<p> +The bride ran back into the chamber, and said, “I know now what I said to +the nettle,” and she repeated the words which she had just heard. +“But what didst thou say to the foot-bridge when we went over it?” +asked the King’s son. “To the foot-bridge?” she answered. +“I don’t talk to foot-bridges.” “Then thou art not the +true bride.” +</p> + +<p> +She again said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I must go out unto my maid,<br/> +Who keeps my thoughts for me,” +</p> + +<p> +And ran out and found Maid Maleen, “Girl, what didst thou say to the +foot-bridge?” +</p> + +<p> +“I said nothing but, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Foot-bridge, do not break,<br/> +I am not the true bride.” +</p> + +<p> +“That costs thee thy life!” cried the bride, but she hurried into +the room, and said, “I know now what I said to the foot-bridge,” +and she repeated the words. “But what didst thou say to the +church-door?” “To the church-door?” she replied; “I +don’t talk to church-doors.” “Then thou art not the true +bride.” +</p> + +<p> +She went out and found Maid Maleen, and said, “Girl, what didst thou say +to the church-door?” +</p> + +<p> +“I said nothing but, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Church-door, break not,<br/> +I am not the true bride.” +</p> + +<p> +“That will break thy neck for thee!” cried the bride, and flew into +a terrible passion, but she hastened back into the room, and said, “I +know now what I said to the church-door,” and she repeated the words. +“But where hast thou the jewel which I gave thee at the +church-door?” “What jewel?” she answered; “thou didst +not give me any jewel.” “I myself put it round thy neck, and I +myself fastened it; if thou dost not know that, thou art not the true +bride.” He drew the veil from her face, and when he saw her immeasurable +ugliness, he sprang back terrified, and said, “How comest thou here? Who +art thou?” “I am thy betrothed bride, but because I feared lest the +people should mock me when they saw me out of doors, I commanded the +scullery-maid to dress herself in my clothes, and to go to church instead of +me.” “Where is the girl?” said he; “I want to see her, +go and bring her here.” She went out and told the servants that the +scullery-maid was an impostor, and that they must take her out into the +court-yard and strike off her head. The servants laid hold of Maid Maleen and +wanted to drag her out, but she screamed so loudly for help, that the +King’s son heard her voice, hurried out of his chamber and ordered them +to set the maiden free instantly. Lights were brought, and then he saw on her +neck the gold chain which he had given her at the church-door. “Thou art +the true bride,” said he, “who went with me to the church; come +with me now to my room.” When they were both alone, he said, “On +the way to church thou didst name Maid Maleen, who was my betrothed bride; if I +could believe it possible, I should think she was standing before me thou art +like her in every respect.” She answered, “I am Maid Maleen, who +for thy sake was imprisoned seven years in the darkness, who suffered hunger +and thirst, and has lived so long in want and poverty. To-day, however, the sun +is shining on me once more. I was married to thee in the church, and I am thy +lawful wife.” Then they kissed each other, and were happy all the days of +their lives. The false bride was rewarded for what she had done by having her +head cut off. +</p> + +<p> +The tower in which Maid Maleen had been imprisoned remained standing for a long +time, and when the children passed by it they sang, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Kling, klang, gloria.<br/> +Who sits within this tower?<br/> +A King’s daughter, she sits within,<br/> +A sight of her I cannot win,<br/> +The wall it will not break,<br/> +The stone cannot be pierced.<br/> +Little Hans, with your coat so gay,<br/> +Follow me, follow me, fast as you may.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap199"></a>199 The Boots of Buffalo-Leather</h3> + +<p> +A soldier who is afraid of nothing, troubles himself about nothing. One of this +kind had received his discharge, and as he had learnt no trade and could earn +nothing, he travelled about and begged alms of kind people. He had an old +waterproof on his back, and a pair of riding-boots of buffalo-leather which +were still left to him. One day he was walking he knew not where, straight out +into the open country, and at length came to a forest. He did not know where he +was, but saw sitting on the trunk of a tree, which had been cut down, a man who +was well dressed and wore a green shooting-coat. The soldier shook hands with +him, sat down on the grass by his side, and stretched out his legs. “I +see thou hast good boots on, which are well blacked,” said he to the +huntsman; “but if thou hadst to travel about as I have, they would not +last long. Look at mine, they are of buffalo-leather, and have been worn for a +long time, but in them I can go through thick and thin.” After a while +the soldier got up and said, “I can stay no longer, hunger drives me +onwards; but, Brother Bright-boots, where does this road lead to?” +“I don’t know that myself,” answered the huntsman, “I +have lost my way in the forest.” “Then thou art in the same plight +as I,” said the soldier; “birds of a feather flock together, let us +remain together, and seek our way.” The huntsman smiled a little, and +they walked on further and further, until night fell. “We do not get out +of the forest,” said the soldier, “but there in the distance I see +a light shining, which will help us to something to eat.” They found a +stone house, knocked at the door, and an old woman opened it. “We are +looking for quarters for the night,” said the soldier, “and some +lining for our stomachs, for mine is as empty as an old knapsack.” +“You cannot stay here,” answered the old woman; “this is a +robber’s house, and you would do wisely to get away before they come +home, or you will be lost.” “It won’t be so bad as +that,” answered the soldier, “I have not had a mouthful for two +days, and whether I am murdered here or die of hunger in the forest is all the +same to me. I shall go in.” The huntsman would not follow, but the +soldier drew him in with him by the sleeve. “Come, my dear brother, we +shall not come to an end so quickly as that!” The old woman had pity on +them and said, “Creep in here behind the stove, and if they leave +anything, I will give it to you on the sly when they are asleep.” +Scarcely were they in the corner before twelve robbers came bursting in, seated +themselves at the table which was already laid, and vehemently demanded some +food. The old woman brought in some great dishes of roast meat, and the robbers +enjoyed that thoroughly. When the smell of the food ascended the nostrils of +the soldier, he said to the huntsman, “I cannot hold out any longer, I +shall seat myself at the table, and eat with them.” “Thou wilt +bring us to destruction,” said the huntsman, and held him back by the +arm. But the soldier began to cough loudly. When the robbers heard that, they +threw away their knives and forks, leapt up, and discovered the two who were +behind the stove. “Aha, gentlemen, are you in the corner?” cried +they, “What are you doing here? Have you been sent as spies? Wait a +while, and you shall learn how to fly on a dry bough.” “But do be +civil,” said the soldier, “I am hungry, give me something to eat, +and then you can do what you like with me.” The robbers were astonished, +and the captain said, “I see that thou hast no fear; well, thou shalt +have some food, but after that thou must die.” “We shall +see,” said the soldier, and seated himself at the table, and began to cut +away valiantly at the roast meat. “Brother Brightboots, come and +eat,” cried he to the huntsman; “thou must be as hungry as I am, +and cannot have better roast meat at home,” but the huntsman would not +eat. The robbers looked at the soldier in astonishment, and said, “The +rascal uses no ceremony.” After a while he said, “I have had enough +food, now get me something good to drink.” The captain was in the mood to +humour him in this also, and called to the old woman, “Bring a bottle out +of the cellar, and mind it be of the best.” The soldier drew the cork out +with a loud noise, and then went with the bottle to the huntsman and said, +“Pay attention, brother, and thou shalt see something that will surprise +thee; I am now going to drink the health of the whole clan.” Then he +brandished the bottle over the heads of the robbers, and cried, “Long +life to you all, but with your mouths open and your right hands lifted +up,” and then he drank a hearty draught. Scarcely were the words said +than they all sat motionless as if made of stone, and their mouths were open +and their right hands stretched up in the air. The huntsman said to the +soldier, “I see that thou art acquainted with tricks of another kind, but +now come and let us go home.” “Oho, my dear brother, but that would +be marching away far too soon; we have conquered the enemy, and must first take +the booty. Those men there are sitting fast, and are opening their mouths with +astonishment, but they will not be allowed to move until I permit them. Come, +eat and drink.” The old woman had to bring another bottle of the best +wine, and the soldier would not stir until he had eaten enough to last for +three days. At last when day came, he said, “Now it is time to strike our +tents, and that our march may be a short one, the old woman shall show us the +nearest way to the town.” When they had arrived there, he went to his old +comrades, and said, “Out in the forest I have found a nest full of +gallows’ birds, come with me and we will take it.” The soldier led +them, and said to the huntsman, “Thou must go back again with me to see +how they shake when we seize them by the feet.” He placed the men round +about the robbers, and then he took the bottle, drank a mouthful, brandished it +above them, and cried, “Live again.” Instantly they all regained +the power of movement, but were thrown down and bound hand and foot with cords. +Then the soldier ordered them to be thrown into a cart as if they had been so +many sacks, and said, “Now drive them straight to prison.” The +huntsman, however, took one of the men aside and gave him another commission +besides. “Brother Bright-boots,” said the soldier, “we have +safely routed the enemy and been well fed, now we will quietly walk behind them +as if we were stragglers!” When they approached the town, the soldier saw +a crowd of people pouring through the gate of the town who were raising loud +cries of joy, and waving green boughs in the air. Then he saw that the entire +body-guard was coming up. “What can this mean?” said he to the +huntsman. “Dost thou not know?” he replied, “that the King +has for a long time been absent from his kingdom, and that to-day he is +returning, and every one is going to meet him.” “But where is the +King?” said the soldier, “I do not see him.” “Here he +is,” answered the huntsman, “I am the King, and have announced my +arrival.” Then he opened his hunting-coat, and his royal garments were +visible. The soldier was alarmed, and fell on his knees and begged him to +forgive him for having in his ignorance treated him as an equal, and spoken to +him by such a name. But the King shook hands with him, and said, “Thou +art a brave soldier, and hast saved my life. Thou shalt never again be in want, +I will take care of thee. And if ever thou wouldst like to eat a piece of roast +meat, as good as that in the robber’s house, come to the royal kitchen. +But if thou wouldst drink a health, thou must first ask my permission.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap200"></a>200 The Golden Key</h3> + +<p> +In the winter time, when deep snow lay on the ground, a poor boy was forced to +go out on a sledge to fetch wood. When he had gathered it together, and packed +it, he wished, as he was so frozen with cold, not to go home at once, but to +light a fire and warm himself a little. So he scraped away the snow, and as he +was thus clearing the ground, he found a tiny, gold key. Hereupon he thought +that where the key was, the lock must be also, and dug in the ground and found +an iron chest. “If the key does but fit it!” thought he; “no +doubt there are precious things in that little box.” He searched, but no +keyhole was there. At last he discovered one, but so small that it was hardly +visible. He tried it, and the key fitted it exactly. Then he turned it once +round, and now we must wait until he has quite unlocked it and opened the lid, +and then we shall learn what wonderful things were lying in that box. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap201"></a>Children’s Legends</h3> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap202"></a>Legend 1 St. Joseph in the Forest</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a mother who had three daughters, the eldest of whom +was rude and wicked, the second much better, although she had her faults, but +the youngest was a pious, good child. The mother was, however, so strange, that +it was just the eldest daughter whom she most loved, and she could not bear the +youngest. On this account, she often sent the poor girl out into the great +forest in order to get rid of her, for she thought she would lose herself and +never come back again. But the guardian-angel which every good child has, did +not forsake her, but always brought her into the right path again. Once, +however, the guardian-angel behaved as if he were not there, and the child +could not find her way out of the forest again. She walked on constantly until +evening came, and then she saw a tiny light burning in the distance, ran up to +it at once, and came to a little hut. She knocked, the door opened, and she +came to a second door, where she knocked again. An old man, who had a +snow-white beard and looked venerable, opened it for her; and he was no other +than St. Joseph. He said quite kindly, “Come, dear child, seat thyself on +my little chair by the fire, and warm thyself; I will fetch thee clear water if +thou art thirsty; but here in the forest, I have nothing for thee to eat but a +couple of little roots, which thou must first scrape and boil.” +</p> + +<p> +St. Joseph gave her the roots. The girl scraped them clean, then she brought a +piece of pancake and the bread that her mother had given her to take with her; +mixed all together in a pan, and cooked herself a thick soup. When it was +ready, St. Joseph said, “I am so hungry; give me some of thy food.” +The child was quite willing, and gave him more than she kept for herself, but +God’s blessing was with her, so that she was satisfied. When they had +eaten, St. Joseph said, “Now we will go to bed; I have, however, only one +bed, lay thyself in it. I will lie on the ground on the straw.” +“No,” answered she, “stay in your own bed, the straw is soft +enough for me.” St. Joseph, however, took the child in his arms, and +carried her into the little bed, and there she said her prayers, and fell +asleep. Next morning when she awoke, she wanted to say good morning to St. +Joseph, but she did not see him. Then she got up and looked for him, but could +not find him anywhere; at last she perceived, behind the door, a bag with money +so heavy that she could just carry it, and on it was written that it was for +the child who had slept there that night. On this she took the bag, bounded +away with it, and got safely to her mother, and as she gave her mother all the +money, she could not help being satisfied with her. +</p> + +<p> +The next day, the second child also took a fancy to go into the forest. Her +mother gave her a much larger piece of pancake and bread. It happened with her +just as with the first child. In the evening she came to St. Joseph’s +little hut, who gave her roots for a thick soup. When it was ready, he likewise +said to her, “I am so hungry, give me some of thy food.” Then the +child said, “You may have your share.” Afterwards, when St. Joseph +offered her his bed and wanted to lie on the straw, she replied, “No, lie +down in the bed, there is plenty of room for both of us.” St. Joseph took +her in his arms and put her in the bed, and laid himself on the straw. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning when the child awoke and looked for St. Joseph, he had vanished, +but behind the door she found a little sack of money that was about as long as +a hand, and on it was written that it was for the child who had slept there +last night. So she took the little bag and ran home with it, and took it to her +mother, but she secretly kept two pieces for herself. +</p> + +<p> +The eldest daughter had by this time grown curious, and the next morning also +insisted on going out into the forest. Her mother gave her pancakes with +her—as many as she wanted, and bread and cheese as well. In the evening +she found St. Joseph in his little hut, just as the two others had found him. +When the soup was ready and St. Joseph said, “I am so hungry, give me +some of thy food,” the girl answered, “Wait until I am satisfied; +then if there is anything left thou shalt have it.” She ate, however, +nearly the whole of it, and St. Joseph had to scrape the dish. Afterwards, the +good old man offered her his bed, and wanted to lie on the straw. She took it +without making any opposition, laid herself down in the little bed, and left +the hard straw to the white-haired man. Next morning when she awoke, St. Joseph +was not to be found, but she did not trouble herself about that. She looked +behind the door for a money-bag. She fancied something was lying on the ground, +but as she could not very well distinguish what it was, she stooped down, and +examined it closely, but it remained hanging to her nose, and when she got up +again, she saw, to her horror, that it was a second nose, which was hanging +fast to her own. Then she began to scream and howl, but that did no good; she +was forced to see it always on her nose, for it stretched out so far. Then she +ran out and screamed without stopping till she met St. Joseph, at whose feet +she fell and begged until, out of pity, he took the nose off her again, and +even gave her two farthings. When she got home, her mother was standing before +the door, and asked, “What hast thou had given to thee?” Then she +lied and said, “A great bag of money, but I have lost it on the +way.” “Lost it!” cried the mother, “oh, but we will +soon find it again,” and took her by the hand, and wanted to seek it with +her. At first she began to cry, and did not wish to go, but at last she went. +On the way, however, so many lizards and snakes broke loose on both of them, +that they did not know how to save themselves. At last they stung the wicked +child to death, and they stung the mother in the foot, because she had not +brought her up better. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap203"></a>Legend 2 The Twelve Apostles</h3> + +<p> +Three hundred years before the birth of the Lord Christ, there lived a mother +who had twelve sons, but was so poor and needy that she no longer knew how she +was to keep them alive at all. She prayed to God daily that he would grant that +all her sons might be on the earth with the Redeemer who was promised. When her +necessity became still greater she sent one of them after the other out into +the world to seek bread for her. The eldest was called Peter, and he went out +and had already walked a long way, a whole day’s journey, when he came +into a great forest. He sought for a way out, but could find none, and went +farther and farther astray, and at the same time felt such great hunger that he +could scarcely stand. At length he became so weak that he was forced to lie +down, and he believed death to be at hand. Suddenly there stood beside him a +small boy who shone with brightness, and was as beautiful and kind as an angel. +The child smote his little hands together, until Peter was forced to look up +and saw him. Then the child said, “Why art thou sitting there in such +trouble?” “Alas!” answered Peter, “I am going about the +world seeking bread, that I may yet see the dear Saviour who is promised, that +is my greatest desire.” The child said, “Come with me, and thy wish +shall be fulfilled.” He took poor Peter by the hand, and led him between +some cliffs to a great cavern. When they entered it, everything was shining +with gold, silver, and crystal, and in the midst of it twelve cradles were +standing side by side. Then said the little angel, “Lie down in the +first, and sleep a while, I will rock thee.” Peter did so, and the angel +sang to him and rocked him until he was al seep. And when he was asleep, the +second brother came also, guided thither by his guardian angel, and he was +rocked to sleep like the first, and thus came the others, one after the other, +until all twelve lay there sleeping in the golden cradles. They slept, however, +three hundred years, until the night when the Saviour of the world was born. +Then they awoke, and were with him on earth, and were called the twelve +apostles. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap204"></a>Legend 3 The Rose</h3> + +<p> +There was once a poor woman who had two children. The youngest had to go every +day into the forest to fetch wood. Once when she had gone a long way to seek +it, a little child, who was quite strong, came and helped her industriously to +pick up the wood and carry it home, and then before a moment had passed the +strange child disappeared. The child told her mother this, but at first she +would not believe it. At length she brought a rose home, and told her mother +that the beautiful child had given her this rose, and had told her that when it +was in full bloom, he would return. The mother put the rose in water. One +morning her child could not get out of bed, the mother went to the bed and +found her dead, but she lay looking very happy. On the same morning, the rose +was in full bloom. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap205"></a>Legend 4 Poverty and Humility Lead to Heaven</h3> + +<p> +There was once a King’s son who went out into the world, and he was full +of thought and sad. He looked at the sky, which was so beautifully pure and +blue, then he sighed, and said, “How well must all be with one up there +in heaven!” Then he saw a poor gray-haired man who was coming along the +road towards him, and he spoke to him, and asked, “How can I get to +heaven?” The man answered, “By poverty and humility. Put on my +ragged clothes, wander about the world for seven years, and get to know what +misery is, take no money, but if thou art hungry ask compassionate hearts for a +bit of bread; in this way thou wilt reach heaven.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the King’s son took off his magnificent coat, and wore in its place +the beggar’s garment, went out into the wide world, and suffered great +misery. He took nothing but a little food, said nothing, but prayed to the Lord +to take him into his heaven. When the seven years were over, he returned to his +father’s palace, but no one recognized him. He said to the servants, +“Go and tell my parents that I have come back again.” But the +servants did not believe it, and laughed and left him standing there. Then said +he, “Go and tell it to my brothers that they may come down, for I should +so like to see them again.” The servants would not do that either, but at +last one of them went, and told it to the King’s children, but these did +not believe it, and did not trouble themselves about it. Then he wrote a letter +to his mother, and described to her all his misery, but he did not say that he +was her son. So, out of pity, the Queen had a place under the stairs assigned +to him, and food taken to him daily by two servants. But one of them was +ill-natured and said, “Why should the beggar have the good food?” +and kept it for himself, or gave it to the dogs, and took the weak, wasted-away +beggar nothing but water; the other, however, was honest, and took the beggar +what was sent to him. It was little, but he could live on it for a while, and +all the time he was quite patient, but he grew continually weaker. As, however, +his illness increased, he desired to receive the last sacrament. When the host +was being elevated down below, all the bells in the town and neighbourhood +began to ring. After mass the priest went to the poor man under the stairs, and +there he lay dead. In one hand he had a rose, in the other a lily, and beside +him was a paper in which was written his history. +</p> + +<p> +When he was buried, a rose grew on one side of his grave, and a lily on the +other. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap206"></a>Legend 5 God’s Food</h3> + +<p> +There were once upon a time two sisters, one of whom had no children and was +rich, and the other had five and was a widow, and so poor that she no longer +had food enough to satisfy herself and her children. In her need, therefore, +she went to her sister, and said, “My children and I are suffering the +greatest hunger; thou art rich, give me a mouthful of bread.” The very +rich sister was as hard as a stone, and said, “I myself have nothing in +the house,” and drove away the poor creature with harsh words. After some +time the husband of the rich sister came home, and was just going to cut +himself a piece of bread, but when he made the first cut into the loaf, out +flowed red blood. When the woman saw that she was terrified and told him what +had occurred. He hurried away to help the widow and her children, but when he +entered her room, he found her praying. She had her two youngest children in +her arms, and the three eldest were lying dead. He offered her food, but she +answered, “For earthly food have we no longer any desire. God has already +satisfied the hunger of three of us, and he will hearken to our supplications +likewise.” Scarcely had she uttered these words than the two little ones +drew their last breath, whereupon her heart broke, and she sank down dead. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap207"></a>Legend 6 The Three Green Twigs</h3> + +<p> +There was once on a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a +mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he +carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast +drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a +strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild +birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search +for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to +his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, +brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God’s command fed +by the raven. When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it +happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. +He said carelessly to himself, “There, that one is getting his +deserts!” In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, +the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no +food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he +could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he +neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and +night. And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a +little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more +troubled and said, “How joyously thou singest, the Lord is not angry with +thee. Ah, if thou couldst but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might +do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again.” Then the bird +began to speak and said, “Thou hast done injustice, in that thou hast +condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord +is angry with thee. He alone sits in judgement. However, if thou wilt do +penance and repent thy sins, he will forgive thee.” Then the angel stood +beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, “Thou shalt carry this +dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when thou +wilt sleep, thou shalt lay it under thy head. Thou shalt beg thy bread from +door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the +penance which the Lord lays on thee.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he +had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at +the doors; many petitions were, however, not listened to, and many doors +remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread. +</p> + +<p> +Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had +given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth +into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old +woman was sitting in it. Then said he, “Good woman, keep me with you in +your house for this night;” but she said, “No, I dare not, even if +I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from +their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both.” The +hermit said, “Let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to +me.” and the woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then +the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head. +When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he +told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used +it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he +had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting +his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, “If the Lord thus +punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before +him in judgment?” +</p> + +<p> +At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, +and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, +they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, “Who is the man? Have we +not forbidden any one whatsoever to be taken in?” Then said the mother, +“Let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime.” +The robbers asked, “What has he done?” “Old man,” cried +they, “tell us thy sins.” The old man raised himself and told them +how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how +he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in +their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this +time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The +hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under +the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry +wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the +Lord had once more received him into his favour. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap208"></a>Legend 7 Our Lady’s Little Glass</h3> + +<p> +Once upon a time a waggoner’s cart which was heavily laden with wine had +stuck so fast that in spite of all that he could do, he could not get it to +move again. Then it chanced that Our Lady just happened to come by that way, +and when she perceived the poor man’s distress, she said to him, “I +am tired and thirsty, give me a glass of wine, and I will set thy cart free for +thee.” “Willingly,” answered the waggoner, “but I have +no glass in which I can give thee the wine.” Then Our Lady plucked a +little white flower with red stripes, called field bindweed, which looks very +like a glass, and gave it to the waggoner. He filled it with wine, and then Our +Lady drank it, and in the self-same instant the cart was set free, and the +waggoner could drive onwards. The little flower is still always called Our +Lady’s Little Glass. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap209"></a>Legend 8 The Aged Mother</h3> + +<p> +In a large town there was an old woman who sat in the evening alone in her room +thinking how she had lost first her husband, then both her children, then one +by one all her relations, and at length, that very day, her last friend, and +now she was quite alone and desolate. She was very sad at heart, and heaviest +of all her losses to her was that of her sons; and in her pain she blamed God +for it. She was still sitting lost in thought, when all at once she heard the +bells ringing for early prayer. She was surprised that she had thus in her +sorrow watched through the whole night, and lighted her lantern and went to +church. It was already lighted up when she arrived, but not as it usually was +with wax candles, but with a dim light. It was also crowded already with +people, and all the seats were filled; and when the old woman got to her usual +place it also was not empty, but the whole bench was entirely full. And when +she looked at the people, they were none other than her dead relations who were +sitting there in their old-fashioned garments, but with pale faces. They +neither spoke nor sang; but a soft humming and whispering was heard all over +the church. Then an aunt of hers stood up, stepped forward, and said to the +poor old woman, “Look there beside the altar, and thou wilt see thy +sons.” The old woman looked there, and saw her two children, one hanging +on the gallows, the other bound to the wheel. Then said the aunt, +“Behold, so would it have been with them if they had lived, and if the +good God had not taken them to himself when they were innocent children.” +The old woman went trembling home, and on her knees thanked God for having +dealt with her more kindly than she had been able to understand, and on the +third day she lay down and died. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap210"></a>Legend 9 The Heavenly Wedding</h3> + +<p> +A poor peasant-boy one day heard the priest say in church that whosoever +desired to enter into the kingdom of heaven must always go straight onward. So +he set out, and walked continually straight onwards over hill and valley +without ever turning aside. At length his way led him into a great town, and +into the midst of a church, where just at that time God’s service was +being performed. Now when he beheld all the magnificence of this, he thought he +had reached heaven, sat down, and rejoiced with his whole heart. When the +service was over, and the clerk bade him go out, he replied, “No, I will +not go out again, I am glad to be in heaven at last.” So the clerk went +to the priest, and told him that there was a child in the church who would not +go out again, because he believed he was in heaven. The priest said, “If +he believes that, we will leave him inside.” So he went to him, and asked +if he had any inclination to work. “Yes,” the little fellow +replied, “I am accustomed to work, but I will not go out of heaven +again.” So he stayed in the church, and when he saw how the people came +and knelt and prayed to Our Lady with the blessed child Jesus which was carved +in wood, he thought “that is the good God,” and said, “Dear +God, how thin you are! The people must certainly let you starve; but every day +I will give you half my dinner.” From this time forth, he every day took +half his dinner to the image, and the image began to enjoy the food. When a few +weeks had gone by, people remarked that the image was growing larger and stout +and strong, and wondered much. The priest also could not understand it, but +stayed in the church, and followed the little boy about, and then he saw how he +shared his food with the Virgin Mary, and how she accepted it. +</p> + +<p> +After some time the boy became ill, and for eight days could not leave his bed; +but as soon as he could get up again, the first thing he did was to take his +food to Our Lady. The priest followed him, and heard him say, “Dear God, +do not take it amiss that I have not brought you anything for such a long time, +for I have been ill and could not get up.” Then the image answered him +and said, “I have seen thy good-will, and that is enough for me. Next +Sunday thou shalt go with me to the wedding.” The boy rejoiced at this, +and repeated it to the priest, who begged him to go and ask the image if he, +too, might be permitted to go. “No,” answered the image, +“thou alone.” The priest wished to prepare him first, and give him +the holy communion and the child was willing, and next Sunday, when the host +came to him, he fell down and died, and was at the eternal wedding. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap211"></a>Legend 10 The Hazel-Branch</h3> + +<p> +One afternoon the Christ-child had laid himself in his cradle-bed and had +fallen asleep. Then his mother came to him, looked at him full of gladness, and +said, “Hast thou laid thyself down to sleep, my child? Sleep sweetly, and +in the meantime I will go into the wood, and fetch thee a handful of +strawberries, for I know that thou wilt be pleased with them when thou +awakest.” In the wood outside, she found a spot with the most beautiful +strawberries; but as she was stooping down to gather one, an adder sprang up +out of the grass. She was alarmed, left the strawberries where they were, and +hastened away. The adder darted after her; but Our Lady, as you can readily +understand, knew what it was best to do. She hid herself behind a hazel-bush, +and stood there until the adder had crept away again. Then she gathered the +strawberries, and as she set out on her way home she said, “As the +hazel-bush has been my protection this time, it shall in future protect others +also.” Therefore, from the most remote times, a green hazel-branch has +been the safest protection against adders, snakes, and everything else which +creeps on the earth. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOUSEHOLD TALES BY BROTHERS GRIMM ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. +</div> + +<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br /> +<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br /> +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person +or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: +</div> + +<blockquote> + <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most + other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you + are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws + of the country where you are located before using this eBook. + </div> +</blockquote> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: +</div> + +<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + </div> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +</div> + +</div> + +</body> + +</html> + + + |