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Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018 with funding from
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
https://archive.org/details/littlebrotherlit00grim_1
Little Brother and Little Sister
constable -&-cz up
LONDON
V
First Published 1917
Printed in Great Britain
)
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
These forty stories, chosen and illustrated for this edition
by Arthur Rackham, together with the selection which we
published some years ago with illustrations by the same
artist, make a total of one hundred stories which include, it
is thought, all the best of the Fairy Tales of the Brothers
Grimm. Of the remainder most are probably of interest
rather to students of folklore than to the girls and boys of
to-day, and many are little more than variants or similar
tales from other sources. The story called 4 The Nose Tree ’
has been more or less re-written from the rather abridged
form among the notes where alone it is included in the
original. And in adapting it and the other stories from
the German text, the publishers have to acknowledge the
permission of Messrs. George Bell and Sons to make use
of Mrs. Hunt’s translation in Bohn’s Standard Library,
which Messrs. Bell claim to be the only complete English
rendering of the original with the notes and comments of the
Brothers Grimm.
a 2
v
Contents
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER .
SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED .
SWEET PORRIDGE .......
THUMBLING’S TRAVELS ......
THE SKILFUL HUNTER ......
THE TRUE SWEETHEART ......
THE TWELVE BROTHERS . . . . . .
THE THREE SPINNERS ......
THE STAR-MONEY .......
THE OLD WOMAN IN THE WOOD . . . .
BEARSKIN ........
ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES, AND THREE-EYES.
THE WISHING-TABLE, THE GOLD-ASS, AND THE CUDGEL
IN THE KNAPSACK ......
THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN
THE CUNNING LITTLE TAILOR
THE GNOMES ........
HANS THE HEDGEHOG ......
THE NOSE TREE .......
THE THREE FEATHERS
THE GOOSE-GIRL AT THE WELL .
I’AGE
1
9
16
17
22
29
36
44
47
49
53
59
68
80
85
89
94
100
105
108
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
THE LITTLE PEOPLE'S PRESENTS
THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD
THE SPIRIT IN THE BOTTLE
THE THREE ARMY SURGEONS
THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG
THE GRIFFIN ......
THE SPINDLE, THE SHUTTLE, AND THE NEEDLE
MAID MALEEN .....
THE YOUNG GIANT .....
THE THREE SONS OF FORTUNE .
FITCHER’S BIRD
THE POOR MILLER’S BOY AND THE CAT
HOW SIX MEN GOT ON IN THE WORLD
THE TWO TRAVELLERS ....
THE HUT IN THE FOREST ....
THE PEASANT’S WISE DAUGHTER
THE TWO BROTHERS ....
THE NIX OF THE MILL-POND
THE FOX AND THE GEESE
THE IRON STOVE .....
PAGE
122
126
133
1 39
143
147
155
158
165
174
178
182
186
1.92
203
209
213
238
244
245
List of Illustrations
ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR
She took off her golden garter and put it round the roebuck’s neck
(page 2 ) ...... Frontispiece
FACING TAGE
The end of his beard was caught in a crack in the tree . . . 12
The third time, she wore the star-dress which sparkled at every step . 34
Suddenly the branches twined round her and turned into two arms . 52
Gold pieces fell down on the cloth like a thunder shower . . 78
He played until the room was entirely filled with gnomes . . 92
They came at last to their poor old friend . . . .102
What did she find there but real ripe strawberries . . .128
The Three Army-Surgeons . . . . . .140
The waiting maid sprang down first and Maid Maleen followed . . 158
At last she met the bridegroom who was coming slowly back . . 180
She begged quite prettily to be allowed to spend the night there . 206
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT
PAGE
9
Headpiece to Little Brother and Little Sister .... 1
She crept after them secretly, as witches do creep ... 3
She met an aged woman who knew of her distress, and presented her
with a little pot . . . • • • . l6
IX
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
PAGE
So, one by one, he threw out all the money . . . . 19
The giant gave the one who was sitting next him a box on the ear . 25
To whom do these twelve shirts belong? ..... 38, 39
The wicked mother-in-law was put into a barrel full of boiling oil and
venomous snakes ....... 42
In came the three women dressed in the strangest fashion . . 46
Then she gathered the money into this, and was rich all the days of
her life ........ 48
Headpiece to the Old Woman in the Wood .... 49
The old woman seized her by the gown, and tried to hold her fast . 51
Whoever saw him, ran away . . . . . .55
Now I know why that stuck-up thing there does not eat . . 62
Little Two-eyes ........ 63
Headpiece to the Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the
Knapsack ........ 68
The Musician and the Wolf ...... 80
The Musician and the Fox . . . . . .81
The Musician and the Hare ...... 83
When the bear heard the music he could not help beginning to dance . 87
Hans the Hedgehog ....... 94
Headpiece to the Three Feathers . . . . .105
The pretty maiden skipped through the hoop as lightly as a deer . 109
Groaning continually, he climbed the mountain . . . . 113
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 nearest tree . 119
When it was sharp enough, he looked round at the strangers . . 123
X
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
’ PAGE
With every word she said, out of her mouth jumped a toad . . ISO
A terrible fellow half as big as the tree by which he was standing 137
The cat came creeping in . . . . . .140
The Hare and the Hedgehog . . . . .143
He sniffed and said, e Wife, I smell a Christian,’ . . . 153
There stood the maiden in her poor garments . . . .157
When her husband saw her, he shouted, f Hi! come to me here’ . 173
The cat made herself merry with the mice in the royal palace . . 176
The poor miller’s boy and the cat . . . . .182
It was just as if the wind had whistled by . .188
Cousin Longlegs came carefully in ..... 202
They found in the earth a mortar of pure gold . . . 209
It was not long before the seven-headed dragon came, loudly roaring . 220
Instantly they lay still all turned into stone
Headpiece to the Nix of the Mill-pond
Headpiece to the Fox and the Geese
The little one went and brought the box .
Tailpiece to the Iron Stove
233
238
244
248
251
XI
Little Brother and Little Sister
L ITTLE BROTHER took Little Sister by the hand and
said, 4 Since our mother died we have not had another
happy hour ; 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 morsel. May Heaven pity us. If only
our mother knew ! Come, let us go forth together into the
wide world. 5
The whole day they walked through meadows and fields,
and over stony wastes ; and when it rained Little Sister said,
4 Heaven and our hearts are weeping together. 5 In the
evening they came to a large forest, and they were so weary
with sorrow and hunger and their long journey, that they lay
down in a hollow tree and fell asleep.
Next day when they awoke, the sun was already high in
the sky, and shone down hot into the tree. Then Little
Brother said, 4 Little Sister, I am thirsty ; if I knew where
there was a little brook I would go and drink. Listen ! I think
I hear one. 5 So he got up and took Little Sister by the hand,
and they set off to find the brook.
A
1
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
But their wicked step-mother was a witch, and had seen
how the two children had gone away, and she had crept after
them secretly, as witches do creep, and had bewitched all the
brooks in the forest.
So when they found a little brook leaping brightly over
the stones, Little Brother was going to drink out of it, but
Little Sister heard how it said as it ran, ‘ Who drinks of me
will become a tiger ; who drinks of me will become a tiger.’
Then Little Sister cried, ‘ Pray, Little Brother, do not drink,
or you will become a wild beast, and tear me to pieces.’
Little Brother did not drink, although he was so thirsty,
but said, ‘ I will wait for the next spring.’
When they came to the next Little Sister heard this one
also say, 4 Who drinks of me will become a wolf; who drinks
of me will become a wolf.’ Then Little Sister cried out, 4 Pray,
pray, Little Brother, do not drink, or you will become a wolf,
and eat me up.’
Little Brother did not drink, and said, 4 1 will wait until
we come to the next spring, but then I must drink, say what
you like ; for my thirst is too great.’
And when they came to the third brook Little Sister heard
how it said as it ran, 4 Who drinks of me will become a deer ;
who drinks of me will become a deer.’ Little Sister said, 4 Oh,
I pray you, dear brother, do not drink, or you will become a
deer, and run away from me.’ But Little Brother had already
knelt down by the brook, and had leant over and drunk some
water, and as soon as the first drop touched his lips there he
lay, a little roebuck.
And now Little Sister wept over her poor bewitched Little
Brother, and the little fawn wept also, and sat sorrowfully by
her. But at last the maiden said, 4 Be quiet, dear little fawn,
I will never, never leave thee.’
Then she took off 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 fawn and led it
along as she walked deeper and deeper into the forest.
2
She crept after them secretly, as witches do creep.
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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, 4 Here we can stay and live.’ Then she
sought for leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the fawn ;
and every morning she went out and gathered roots and
berries and nuts for herself, and brought tender grass for the
fawn, who ate out of her hand, and was quite content and
frisked about her. In the evening, when Little 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 Little Brother had had his human form it
would have been a delightful life.
For a long time they lived 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 hunters rang through
the trees, and the little roebuck heard all, and was only too
anxious to be there.
4 Oh,’ said he to Little Sister, 4 let me be off to the hunt, I
cannot bear it any longer ’ ; and he begged so hard that at
last she agreed.
4 But,’ said she to him, 4 come back to me in the evening ;
I must shut my door for fear of the rough hunters, so knock
and say, 44 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 leaped away, so happy was he and
so merry in the open air.
The King and his huntsmen saw the pretty creature, and
made chase 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 and knocked, and said, 4 My Little
Sister, let me in.’ Then the door was opened for him, and he
jumped in, and rested the whole night through upon his
soft bed.
The next day the hunt went on afresh, and when the
4
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
roebuck again heard the bugles, and the ho ! ho ! of the
hunters, he had no peace, but said, 4 Little Sister, let me out,
I must be off.’ Little Sister opened the door for him, and
said, 4 But you must be here again in the evening and say your
pass-word.’
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 evening the hunters had surrounded
him, and one of them wounded him slightly in the foot, so
that he limped and ran slowly. Then a hunter crept after him
to the cottage and heard how he said, 4 My Little Sister, let
me in,’ and saw that the door was opened for him, and was
shut again at once. The hunter took notice of it all, and went
to the King and told him what he had seen and heard.
Then the King said, 4 To-morrow we will hunt once
more.’
Little Sister, however, was dreadfully frightened when she
saw that her fawn was hurt. She washed off the blood and
laid herbs on the wound, and said, 4 Go to your bed, dear
fawn, that you may get well again.’ But the wound was so
slight that next morning the roebuck did not feel it any more.
And when again he heard the horns of hunters, he said, 4 I
cannot bear it, I must be there ; they shall not find it so easy
to catch me.’
Little Sister cried, and said, 4 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.’
4 Then you will have me die of grief,’ answered the fawn ;
4 when I hear the bugles I feel as if I must jump out of my
skin.’ Then Little Sister could not do otherwise, but opened
the door for him with a heavy heart, and the roebuck, full of
health and joy, bounded out into the forest.
When the King saw him, he said to his huntsman, 4 This
time chase him all day long till nightfall, but take care that
no one does him any harm.’
5
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
As soon as the sun had set, the King said to the huntsmen,
4 Come and show me the cottage in the wood ’ ; and when he
reached the door, he knocked and called out, 4 Dear Little
Sister, let me in.’ The door opened, and the King walked in,
and there stood a maiden more lovely than he had ever seen
before. The maiden was frightened when there came in, not
her little roebuck, but a man who wore a golden crown upon
his head. But the King looked kindly at her, stretched out
his hand, and said, 4 Will you go with me to my palace and
be my dear wife ? ’
4 Yes, indeed,’ answered the maiden, 4 but my little fawn
must go with me, I cannot leave him.’
The King said, 4 It shall stay with you as long as you live,
and shall want nothing.’ Just then he came running in, and
Little Sister tied him again with the cord of rushes, took it
in her hand, and left the cottage with the King.
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 together
happily for a long time ; the roebuck was tended and cherished,
and ran about at liberty in the palace garden.
But their wicked step-mother, because of whom the chil¬
dren had gone out into the world, thought all the time that
Little Sister had been torn to pieces by the wild beasts in the
wood, and that Little Brother had been shot for a roebuck by
the hunters. 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 to misfortune. Her own daughter, who was as
ugly as night, and had only one eye, complained to her and
grumbled. 4 A Queen ! ’ she said, 4 that ought to have been
my luck.’
4 Only be quiet,’ answered the old woman, and comforted
her by saying, 4 when the time comes I shall be ready for it.’
As time went on the Queen had a pretty little boy, and
it happened when the King was out hunting. So the old
6
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
witch took the form of the chamber-maid, went into the
room where the Queen lay, and said to her, 4 Come, the bath
is ready; it will do you good, and give you fresh strength ;
make haste before it gets cold.’
The daughter also was at hand to help her. So they
carried the Queen into the bath-room, put her into the bath,
and 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.
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 had to lie on the
side on which she had no eye.
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, 4 For your life
leave the curtains drawn. 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.
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 nursed
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 any
one had come into the palace during the night, but they
answered, 4 No, we have seen no one.’
She came thus many nights and never spoke a word. The
nurse always saw her, but she did not dare to tell any one
about it.
7
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
When some time had passed in this manner, the Queen
began to speak in the night, and said—
‘ How fares ray child, how fares ray deer?
But twice again shall I appear . 1
The nurse did not answer, but when the Queen had gone
again, went to the King and told him all. The King said,
4 Oh, 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—
‘ How fares my child, how fares my deer?
Still once again shall I appear . 1
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—
‘ How fares my child, how fares ray deer?
Never again shall I appear . 1
Then the King could not restrain himself; he sprang towards
her, and said, 4 You can be no other than my own dear wife.’
4 Yes,’ she answered, 4 I am your dear wife,’ and at the
same moment life came back to her again, and by God’s grace
she became fresh, rosy, and full of health.
Then she told the King the evil deed which the wicked
witch and her daughter had been guilty of. 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 burnt to death. And as soon as she was burnt
up the roebuck changed his shape, and received his human
form again, so Little Sister and Little Brother lived happily
together all the rest of their lives.
8
Snow-white and Rose-red
T HERE was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely
cottage. In front of the cottage was a garden where
stood two rose-trees, one a white rose and the other red.
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, and as busy and cheerful as ever were any
two children in the world, only Snow-white was more quiet
and gentle than Rose-red. Rose-red liked better to run about
in the meadows and fields picking flowers and chasing butter¬
flies. 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.
The two children were so fond of each other that they
always held each other by the hand when they went out
together, and when Snow-white said, 4 We will not leave each
other,’ Rose-red answered, 4 Never so long as we live,’ and
their mother would add, 4 What one has, she must share with
the other.’
They often ran about the forest alone and gathered red
berries, and no wild animals 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 all the songs they knew.
No mishap ever overtook them. If they had stayed too
late in the forest, and night came on, they just laid themselves
down near one another upon the moss, and slept until morn¬
ing came, and their mother knew this and had no distress on
their account.
9
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 of moss. He rose
up and looked 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 over 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.
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 nose¬
gay by her mother’s bed before she awoke, and in it was a
rose from each tree. In the winter Snow-white lit the fire and
hung the kettle over it on the hook. The kettle was of copper
and shone like gold, so brightly was it polished.
In the evening, when the snowflakes fell, the mother said,
4 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
tucked under its wing.
One evening, as they were sitting cosily together, there was
a knock at the door as if some one wished to be let in.
The mother said, 4 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 some poor man, but it was not. It was a bear that pushed
his broad, black head in at the door.
Rose-red screamed and sprang back, the lamb bleated, and
the dove fluttered, and Snow-white hid herself behind her
mother’s bed. But the bear began to speak and said, 4 Do
not be afraid, I will do you no harm ! I am half-frozen, and
only want to warm myself a little beside your fire.’
4 Poor bear,’ said the mother, 4 lie down by the fire, only
10
SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
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 kindly.’
So they both came out again, and by and by the lamb and
dove came nearer, and ceased to be afraid of him.
y 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 con¬
tentedly. It was not long before they grew quite at home,
and began to play 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, 4 Children, children, leave me my life ! ’
‘ Snow-white, Rose-red,
Will you beat your lover dead?’
When it was bed-time, and the others went to bed, the
mother said to the bear, 4 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.
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.
When spring had come and all outside was green, the bear
said one morning to Snow-white, 4 Now I must go away, and
cannot come back for the whole summer.’
4 Where are you going, then, dear bear ? ’ asked Snow-
white.
4 I must go" into the forest and guard my treasures from
the wicked dwarfs. In the winter, when the earth is frozen
11
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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.’
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 among the trees.
A short time afterwards the mother sent her children into
the forest to get firewood. There they came to a big fallen
tree which lay on the ground, and close by the trunk some¬
thing was jumping backwards and forwards in the grass, but
they could not make out what it was. When they got nearer
they found it was a dwarf with an old withered face and a
snow-white beard a yard long. The end of his beard was
caught in a crack in 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.
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 ? ’
‘ Why, little man, what are you about there ? ’ asked
Rose-red.
* You stupid, prying goose ! ’ answered the dwarf; 4 I was
going to split the tree, of course, to get a little wood to cook
with. 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 do. I had just driven the wedge safely in,
and everything was going as I wished, but the wretched wood
was too smooth and suddenly out jumped the wedge, 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 ! ’
12
THE END OF HIS BEARD WAS CAUGHT IN A CRACK TN THE TREE.
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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
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.
4 You senseless goose ! ’ snarled the dwarf; 4 why should
you fetch some one ? You are already two too many for me.
Can you not think of something better ? ’
4 Don’t be impatient,’ said Snow-white, 4 1 will help you,’
and she pulled her scissors out of her pocket, and cut off the
end of his beard.
As soon as the dwarf felt himself free he laid hold of a bag
which lay among the roots of the tree, and which was full of
gold, and lifted it up, grumbling to himself, 4 Clumsy people,
cutting 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.
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 up and found it was
the dwarf.
4 Where are you going ? ’ said Rose-red ; 4 you surely don’t
want to go into the water ? ’
4 I am not such a fool ! ’ cried the dwarf; 4 don’t you see
it’s that wretched fish wants to pull me in ? ’ The little man
had been sitting there fishing, and unluckily the wind twisted
his beard in the fishing-line, at the very moment that a big
fish took the bait. The little weakling had not strength to
pull it out, and the fish had the better of it, and was pulling
the dwarf nearer the edge. He held on to all the reeds and
rushes, but it was little good, he was forced to follow the
movements of the fish, and was in urgent danger of being
dragged into the water.
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
13
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
a little bit of it was lost. When the dwarf saw that he
screamed out :
‘ Do you call that civil, you toad-stool, disfiguring one’s
face like that ? 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.
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
rocks lay strewn here and there. Soon they noticed a great
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 cry
of terror. They ran up and saw with horror that the eagle had
seized their old friend the dwarf, and was going to carry him off.
The children, full of pity, at once caught 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, 4 Could you not have done it more
carefully 1 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.
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 any one
would come there so late. The evening sun shone upon the
brilliant stones. They glittered and sparkled with all colours
so beautifully that the children stood still and looked at
them.
14
SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
‘ Why do you stand gaping there ? ’ cried the dwarf, and
his ashen-grey 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 skinny little fellow as I am ? 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 scoundrel
just one blow with his paw, and he did not move again.
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 youth, clothed all in gold. 4 I am a King’s son,’ he
said, 4 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.’
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.
15
Sweet Porridge
o
O NCE there was a poor but good little girl who lived alone
with her mother, and the time came when they no
longer had anything to eat. So the child went into the
forest, and there she met an aged woman who knew of her
distress, and presented her with a little pot, which when she
said, 4 Cook, little pot, cook,’ would cook good, sweet porridge ;
and when she said, 4 Stop, little pot,’ it would cease cooking.
The little girl took the pot home to her mother, and now they
were freed from their poverty and hunger, and ate sweet
16
THUMBLING’S TRAVELS
porridge as often as they chose. Once upon 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 right
word. So it went on cooking and the porridge rose over the
edge, and still it cooked on and 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 alarm, but no one knew how
to stop it. At last when only one single house remained, the
child came home and just said, 4 Stop, little pot,’ and it stopped
and gave up cooking. And whosoever wished to return to the
town had to eat his way back.
Thumbling’s Travels
A CERTAIN tailor had a son, who was so tiny that he was
no bigger than a Thumb, and because of this he was
always called Thumbling. He had, however, plenty of
courage, and said to his father, 4 Father, I must and will go
out into the world.’
4 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, 4 and there is a sword for thee to take with thee on
the way.’
Then the little tailor wanted to have just one more meal
with them, and skipped into the kitchen to see what his lady
mother had cooked for the last time. It was just dished up,
and the dish stood on the hearth. Then said he, 4 Mother,
what’s there for dinner to-day ? ’
4 See for thyself,’ said his mother.
So Thumbling jumped on to the hearth, and peeped into
the dish, but as he stretched his neck too far in the steam
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
from the food caught 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 out in the wide world, and he travelled about, and
went to work with a master in his craft, but the food was not
good enough for him. ‘ Mistress, if you don’t feed us better,
I shall go,’ said Thumbling, 4 and early to-morrow morning
I ’ll 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, growing angry, and she seized a dish-cloth, and
was just going to strike him. But my little tailor crept
nimbly under a thimble, and peeped out from beneath it, and
put his tongue out at her. She took up the thimble to catch
him, but little Thumbling hopped into the cloth, and while
the mistress was opening it out and searching for him, he got
into a crack in the table. ‘ Ho, ho, lady mistress,’ cried he,
and thrust his head out, and when she hit at him he leapt
down into the drawer. At last, however, she caught him and
drove him out of the house.
The little tailor journeyed on and came to a great forest,
where he fell in with a band of robbers who were planning to
steal the King’s treasure. When they saw the little tailor,
they thought, 4 That’s the little fellow for us ! He can creep
through the keyhole and pick the lock.’
4 Hi ! ’ cried one of them, 4 thou giant Goliath, wilt thou
go to the treasure-chamber with us ? Thou canst slip in and
throw out the money.’
Thumbling thought for a moment, and then said 4 yes,’
and he went with them to the treasure-chamber. He began
by searching the doors from top to bottom to see if he could
find a crack in them. It was not long before he espied one
broad enough to let him in. He was just about to slip
in at once, when one of the two sentries who stood before
the door, caught sight of him, and said to the other, 4 Eh !
what an ugly spider is creeping there ; I will kill it.’
18
THUMBLING’S TRAVELS
4 Let the poor creature alone,’ said the other, 4 it has done
thee no harm.’ So Thumbling got safely through the crack
into the treasure-chamber, opened the window beneath which
the robbers were standing, and threw out to them one dollar
after another. While the little tailor was hard at work, he
heard the King coming to inspect his treasure-chamber, and
crept hastily into hiding. The King noticed that several solid
silver pieces were missing, but could not conceive who could
have stolen them, for locks,
bars, and bolts were all in order,
and well guarded. Then he
went away again, saying to the
sentries, 4 Be on the watch,
some one is after the money.’
When therefore Thumbling
began again, they heard the
chink, chink of moving coins.
They ran in swiftly 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
dollar, so that nothing could be
seen of him, and at the same
time he mocked the sentries
and cried, 4 Here am I ! ’ So, one by one, he threw out all the money.
Thither ran the sentries, but
by the time they got there, he had already hidden in another
corner and was crying, 4 Ho, ho, here am I ! ’ The watchmen
dashed there at top speed, but Thumbling had long ago hopped
into a third corner, and was crying, 4 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 tired out and went
away. So, one by one, he threw out all the money. He flung
out the last coin with all his might, hopping nimbly on to it
as it flew down through the window. The robbers paid him
19
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
great compliments. ‘ Thou art a valiant hero indeed,’ said
they; 4 wilt thou be our captain ? ’
Thumbling, however, said he wouldn’t, as he wanted to see
the world first. They now divided the booty, but the little tailor
asked for one groat only because he could not carry more.
Then he buckled on his sword again, bade the robbers
good-bye, and took to the road. First, he went to work
under some masters, but he had no liking for that, and at last
he hired himself as man-servant in an inn. The maids, how¬
ever, could not endure him, for he saw secretly all that they
did without their seeing him, and he told their master and
mistress what they had helped themselves to off the plates, and
carried off out of the cellar. Then said they, 4 Wait! We ’ll
pay thee off ! ’ and arranged with each other to play him a trick.
Soon afterwards one of the maids was mowing in the
garden, and saw Thumbling jumping and creeping up and
down in the long grass. Quickly she mowed him up with the
grass, made it all into a bundle, and took it and threw it to
the cattle. Now among them there was a great black cow,
who swallowed him down whole without hurting him. But
down below it pleased him ill, for it was quite dark, and there
wasn’t any candle burning either. So while the cow was
being milked he cried,
‘ Strip, strap, strull,
Will the pail soon be full ?’
But the noise of the milking kept him from being heard.
After this the master of the house came into the cowshed
and said, 4 That cow shall be killed to-morrow.’
Then Thumbling was so alarmed that he cried out in a
clear voice, 4 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. 4 Where art thou ? ’ asked he.
4 In the black one,’ answered Thumbling, but the master
did not understand what that meant, and went out.
Next morning the cow was killed. Happily Thumbling
20
THUMBLING’S TRAVELS
did not meet with one blow at the killing and quartering, and
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, for I am here.’ But no
one heard this because of the noise of the chopping-knife.
Now, indeed, poor Thumbling was in trouble, but trouble
sharpens the wits, and he dodged about so cleverly between
the blows that none of them touched him, and he got off with
a whole skin. But still he could not get away, there was
nothing for it, and he had to let himself be thrust into a
black-pudding with the bits of bacon. He found himself in
rather close quarters, and besides that he was hung up in the
chimney to be smoked, and there the time did hang terribly
heavy on his hands.
At length in winter he was taken down again, as the
black-pudding was to be set before a guest. And while the
hostess was cutting it in slices, he took care not to stretch
out his head too far, I can tell you, lest a bit of it should be
sliced off ; at last he saw his opportunity, cleared a way for
himself, and jumped out.
The little tailor, however, would not stay any longer in a
house where he fared so ill, and 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 without thinking.
‘ Hullo, Mr. Fox,’ cried the little tailor. 4 Set me free,
set me free ! It ’s me here, sticking in your throat! ’
‘ Thou art right,’ answered the fox. 4 And it’s little or
nothing thou art to me too. So if thou ’It promise me the
fowls in thy father’s yard I ’ll let thee go.’
4 With all my heart,’ replied Thumbling. 4 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 he had. 4 For this I bring
thee a handsome bit of money too,’ said Thumbling, and gave
his father the silver groat which he had earned on his travels.
21
The Skilful Hunter
T HERE was once a young fellow who had learned 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, 4 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 hunter dressed in green, who
asked whence he came and where 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 woodcraft, would
he teach it to him ?
4 Oh, yes,’ said the hunter, 4 if thou wilt go with me.’
Then the young fellow went with him, bound himself to
him for some years, and learned the art of hunting. After this
he wished to try his luck elsewhere, and the hunter gave him
nothing in the way of payment but an air-gun, which had,
however, this property, that it hit its mark without fail when¬
ever 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 the wild beasts. Towards midnight, it seemed
to him as if a tiny little light glimmered in the distance. 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 climbed down and went to his hat, put it on again and
went straight forward. The farther he went, the larger the
22
THE SKILFUL HUNTER
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, 4 I must just taste if the meat
will soon be fit to eat,’ and he pulled a scrap off, and was about
to put it in his mouth when the hunter shot it out of his hand.
4 Well, really,’ said the giant, 4 if the wind has not blown
the bit out of my hand ! ’ and helped himself to another.
But when he was just about to taste it, the hunter 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, 4 Why art thou snatching my
piece away from me ? ’
4 I have not snatched it away,’ said the other; 4 a sharp¬
shooter must have shot it away from thee.’
The giant took another piece, but he could not keep it in
his hand, for the hunter shot it out.
Then the giant said, 4 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 out loud, 4 Come here, thou sharp¬
shooter. 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 ! ’
When he heard this, the youth went up to them and told
them he was a skilled hunter, 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.
4 Good,’ said he, 4 1 will soon get her for you.’
Then they added, 4 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
wakes up, and for this reason we cannot get there. Canst thou
undertake to shoot it dead ? ’
23
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
4 Yes,’ said he, 4 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 hunter 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 hunter 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 whoever had the sword could kill
any one who opposed him. So he took the sword from the
wall, hung it at his side and went on. Next he entered the
room where the King’s daughter was lying asleep, and she was
so beautiful that he stood still and held his breath to look at
her. He thought to himself, 4 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 of which 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 hunter took a
pair of scissors and cut the right corner off and put it in his
knapsack, and then he took the right slipper with the King’s
name, and thrust that in too. The maiden still lay sleeping,
and he cut a little piece from her nightgown, and thrust it in
with the rest, but he did it all without touching her. Then he
went out 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 out to them that they were to come in,
for the maiden was already in their power, and that he could
24
The giant gave the one who was sitting next him a box on the ear,
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
not open the gate to them, but that there was a hole through
which they must creep. As the first began to creep through
the hunter wound the giant’s hair round his hand, pulled
his head in, and cut it off at one stroke with his sword, and
then he drew the rest of him in. He called to the second to
come on and cut his head off in the same way, and then he
killed the third also, and he was well pleased that he had
freed the beautiful maiden from her enemies. Before he
went he cut out their tongues and put them too in his knap¬
sack. Then thought he, 4 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.’
But when the King in the castle awoke, he saw the three
giants lying there dead. So he went into his daughter’s bedroom,
woke her up, and asked her who could have killed the giants ?
Then said she, 4 Dear father, I know not, I have been asleep.’
But when she rose 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 nightdress 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 hideous, and he said that he
had done it. Then the old King said that as he had accom¬
plished this, he should marry his daughter.
But the maiden said, 4 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 out she should go, and that she should go to a potter, and
begin to sell 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
26
THE SKILFUL HUNTER
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. So when
the King’s daughter had set up her stall in the street, by came
the carts and smashed all she had into 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 went again to the
potter, and asked him if he would lend her some more pots and
pans. 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 out into the world.
Then said he, 4 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 on
which was written, 4 For nothing to-day, to-morrow for pay.’
There she remained a long time, and it was rumoured 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 hunter heard it too, and thought to himself, 4 That
would suit thee. Thou art poor, and hast no money.’
So he took his air-gun and his knapsack, with all the things
in it that he had formerly carried away with him from the
castle as tokens of his truthfulness, and he went into the forest,
and found the hut with the sign, 4 For nothing to-day, to¬
morrow for pay.’ He had put on the sword with which he had
cut off the heads of the three giants, and so prepared, he
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 where he came from and where he was going,
and he said, 4 I am roaming about the world.’
Then she asked him where he had got the sword, for that
27
/
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
in truth her father’s name was on it. He asked her if she were
the King’s daughter ?
4 Yes,’ answered she.
‘ With this sword,’ said he, 4 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 nightdress. 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
brought him to the hut, and she led him into her room, and
told him that the hunter 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
hunter should marry her, at which the maiden was glad at heart.
Then she dressed the hunter as if he were a foreign nobleman,
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 hunter 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.
4 Supposing any one said that he had killed the three giants
and he was asked where the giants’ tongues were, and was
forced to go and look, and there were none in their heads,
how could that happen ? ’
The captain said, 4 Then they cannot have had any.’
4 Not so,’ said the King. 4 Every animal has a tongue,’
and then he asked what any one would deserve who made such
an answer.
The captain replied, 4 He ought to be torn to pieces.’
Then the King said he had pronounced his own sentence, and the
captain was put in prison and then torn into four pieces. But
the King’s daughter was married to the hunter. Afterwards he
sent for his father and mother, and they lived with their son in
happiness, and when the old King died the kingdom came to him.
28
The True Sweetheart
O NCE upon a time there was 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 with a will, and did the utmost
she could. Still she could not touch the heart of the wicked
woman by that, she never was 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.
One day she said to her, ‘ Here are twelve pounds of
feathers which thou must strip, 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, 4 Is there no one, then, on God’s earth to
have pity on me ? 5
Then she heard a low voice which said, 4 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, 4 Just tell me
what is troubling thee.’
29
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
As she spoke so kindly, the girl told her of her miserable
life, and how one burden after another was laid upon her,
and how she never could get to the end of the work which was
given to her. 4 If I have not done these feathers by this
evening, my step-mother will beat me. She has threatened she
will, and well I know she keeps her word.’
Her tears began to flow afresh, but the good old woman
said, 4 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
ho ! how they did fly off the quills, which she hardly touched
with her withered hands ! The twelve pounds were soon
finished, and when the girl woke up, 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.
4 Just look, you awkward creature,’ said she, 4 what can be
done when people are industrious. And why couldst thou not
set about something else ? There thou sittest with thy hands
crossed.’ But when she went out she said to herself, 4 The
creature is worth more than her salt. I must give her some
work that is still harder.’
Next morning she called the girl, and said, 4 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. But the
good old woman appeared again, and when she learned the cause
of her grief, she said, 4 Be of good cheer, my child. Go into the
bushes and lie down and sleep. I will soon do thy work.’
As soon as the old woman was alone, she barely touched
30
THE TRUE SWEETHEART
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
back, she saw nothing but the fishes which were wriggling in
the mud. She went to her step-mother, and showed her that
the work was done. 4 It ought to have been done long before
this,’ said she, and grew white with anger, but she began to
think of something new.
On the third morning she said to the girl, 4 Out on the plain
there thou must build me a splendid castle, and it must be
ready by the evening.’
The maiden was dismayed, and said, 4 How can I complete
such a great work ? ’
4 I will stand no contradiction,’ screamed the step-mother.
4 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 came to the valley,
there lay the rocks, all tumbled one over the other, and all her
strength would not have enabled her to move even the smallest
of them. She sat down and wept, and yet she hoped the old
woman would help her. Nor was she long in coming, and she
soon comforted her and said, 4 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 grey rocks. They began to rise, and swiftly began gather¬
ing together as if giants were building the walls. On these
the building arose, and it seemed as if countless hands were
working invisibly, placing one stone upon another. There
was a dull heavy noise from the ground. Pillars rose up of
their own accord, and ranged themselves in order one by the
other. The tiles laid themselves in rows upon the roof, and
when noonday came, the great weathercock, in the shape of
31
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
a golden figure of the Virgin with fluttering garments, was
already turning itself on the top of the tower. 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 armchairs by marble tables,
crystal chandeliers hung down from the ceilings and were
reflected in the polished floors, green parrots were there in gilt
cages and so were strange birds which sang most beautifully,
and on all sides there was as much magnificence as if a king
was going to live there.
The sun was just setting when the girl woke up, 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 flowering trees stood upon
the golden balustrade. When she saw the splendour of the
halls, she stood as if turned to stone. Who knows how long
she might have stood there if she had not remembered the
step-mother ? 4 Alas ! ’ she said to herself, ‘ if only she could
but be satisfied, and would give up making my life a misery.’
The girl went and told her that the castle was ready.
4 1 will move into it at once,’ said she, and rose from her
seat. When they entered the castle, she had to hold her hand
before her eyes, the brightness of everything was so dazzling.
4 Thou seest,’ said she to the girl, 4 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 imperfect, but she could
discover nothing. 4 Now we will go down below,’ said she,
looking at the girl with malicious eyes. 4 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 or a water-pail. 4 Which is the
32
THE TRUE SWEETHEART
way to the cellar ? 5 she cried. 4 If that is not abundantly
filled, it shall go ill with thee.’ She herself raised the trap¬
door and descended. But she had hardly made two steps
before the heavy trap-door which was only laid back, fell with
a bang. The girl heard a scream, and quickly lifted the door to
go to her aid, but she had fallen down, and the girl found her
lying lifeless at the bottom.
And now the magnificent castle belonged to the girl alone.
She did not know at first 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 precious
stones, and she had never a wish that could not be fulfilled.
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 there came the son of the King
himself and he knew how to touch her heart, and she promised
to marry him.
In the garden of the castle was a lime-tree, and one day,
when they were sitting under it, he said to her, 4 1 will go home
and get my father’s consent to our marriage. I beg thee to
wait for me here, under the lime-tree; I shall be back with thee
in a few hours.’
The maiden kissed him on his left cheek, and said, c Be
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.’
The maid stayed beneath the linden until sunset, but he
did not return. She sat there three days from morning till
evening waiting for him, but in vain. As he was not there by
the fourth day, she said, 4 Assuredly some accident has befallen
him. I will go 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 to find the Prince. She
inquired everywhere but no one had seen him. No one knew
anything about him. Far and wide did she wander through
c 33
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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.
And now she lived as a herdswoman, taking care of the
kine, but she 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,
‘ Little calf, forget me not,
As the prince his love forgot,
Who beneath the linden sat.’
the little calf knelt down, and she stroked it.
When she had lived for two years alone and sorrowing, 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
once it happened when the maiden was driving out her herd, her
betrothed travelled by. He was sitting proudly on his horse,
and never looked round, but when she saw him she recog¬
nised her beloved, and it was as if a sharp knife pierced her
heart. 4 Alas! ’ said she, 4 I believed him true, but he has
forsaken me.’
Next day he came again along the road. When he was
near she said to the little calf,
‘ Little calf, forget me not,
As the prince his love forgot,
Who beneath the linden sat.’
When he heard her voice, he looked down and reined in his
horse. He looked into her face, and put his hands before his
eyes as if he were trying to remember something, but after a
minute he rode on and was soon out of sight. 4 Alas ! ’ said
she, 4 he no longer knows me,’ and her grief was greater than
ever.
Soon after this a great festival was to be held for three days
at the King’s court, and the whole country was invited to it.
34
THE THIRD TIME SHE WORE THE STAR DRESS WHICH SPARKLED AT EVERY STEP,
THE TRUE SWEETHEART
4 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 and put it on, and adorned herself with the jewels. She
let down her hair, which she had concealed under a kerchief, 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 bright 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 recognise 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 ball was over, she vanished in
the crowd, and hastened before daybreak to the village, where
she put on her herd’s dress again.
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 deeply in
love with her, danced with her alone, and no longer so much
as glanced at any one else. Before she went away she was
forced to promise him to come again to the festival on the last
evening.
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. 4 Do but tell who thou art,’ said he, 4 1 feel
just as if I had already known thee for a long time.’
‘ Ivnowest thou not what I did when thou didst leave me ? ’
Then she stepped up to him, and kissed him on the left cheek,
and in a moment it was as if scales fell from his eyes, and he
recognised the true bride.
4 Come,’ said he to her, 4 here I stay no longer,’ and he
gave her his hand, and led her down to the carriage.
The horses sped away to the magic castle as if the wind
had been harnessed to the carriage. The illuminated windows
35
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
already shone in the distance. When they drove past the
lime-tree, countless glow-worms were swarming about it, and
it shook its boughs and shed sweet fragrance around it. On
the steps flowers were blooming, and the rooms echoed with
the song of strange birds, but in the hall the whole court was
assembled, and the priest was waiting to marry the bridegroom
to the true bride.
The Twelve Brothers
O NCE upon a time there were 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, 4 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 also caused twelve coffins to be made, and filled with
shavings, and in each lay the little pillow for the dead, and
he had them taken and locked up in a room of which he gave
the Queen the key, bidding her not to speak of this to any one.
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, 4 Dear
mother, why art thou so sad ? ’
4 Dearest child,’ she answered, 4 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, 4 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 com-
36
THE TWELVE BROTHERS
forted her and said, ‘ Weep not, dear mother, we will save
ourselves, and go hence. 5
At that she said, ‘ Go forth into the forest with thy eleven
brothers, and let one of you 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 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 have a fire to warm you, and in summer
that you may not faint in the heat.’
Therefore, after she had blessed her sons, 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 run up. It was, however, not 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, 4 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. 5
Thereupon they went deeper into the forest, and in the
very midst of it, where it was the darkest, they found a little
enchanted hut, which was standing empty.
Then said they, 4 Here we will dwell, and thou Benjamin,
who art the youngest and weakest, thou shalt stay at home and
keep house, while the rest of us go out and get food. 5 Then they
went into the forest and shot hares, wild deer, birds and pigeons,
and whatsoever there was to eat; this they took home to
Benjamin, who cooked it for them all. They lived together ten
years in the little hut, nor did the time seem long in passing.
The little daughter to whom their mother the Queen had
given birth, 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
37
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
shirts belong, for they are far too small for father ? ’
Then the Queen answered with a heavy heart, 4 Dear child,
these belong to thy twelve brothers.’
Said the maiden, ‘ Where are my twelve brothers ? I have
never yet heard of them.’
‘ God knows where they are,’ she replied; 4 they are wander¬
ing 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.
4 These coffins,’ said she, 4 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, 4 Dear mother, weep not, I will go
and seek my brothers.’
So she took the twelve shirts and went forth, 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, 4 From whence comest
38
THE TWELVE BROTHERS
thou, and whither art thou
bound ? ’ and was astonished
that she was so beautiful, and
wore royal garments, and had < To „., 10m d0 these twelve shirts belong?'
a star on her forehead.
‘ I am a king’s daughter,’ she answered, 4 and I am seeking
my twelve brothers, and I will walk as far as the sky is blue
until I find them.’ She also showed him the twelve shirts
which belonged to them.
Then Benjamin saw that she was his sister, and
said, 4 1 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, 4 Dear sister, there is still one
difficulty. We have determined 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, 4 1 will willingly die, if by so doing I can
deliver my twelve brothers.’
4 No,’ answered he, 4 thou shalt not die. Seat thyself
39
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
beneath this tub until our eleven brothers come, and then I
will soon come to an agreement with them.’
She did so, and when it was night the others came home
from hunting, and their dinner was ready. And as they were
sitting at table, and eating, they asked, 4 What news is there ? ’
Said Benjamin, 4 Don’t you know anything ? ’
4 No,’ they answered.
4 You have been in the forest,’ he continued, 4 and I have
stayed at home, and yet I know more than you do.’
4 Tell us then,’ they cried.
4 Promise me that the first maiden who meets us shall not
be killed.’
4 Yes,’ they all cried, 4 she shall have mercy, only do tell
us the news.’
Then said he, 4 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.
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 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 like¬
wise kept order in the little house, and put beautiful clean
white coverings on the little beds, and the brothers were
always contented and lived in great harmony with her.
One day the two at home had prepared a lovely feast, and
when they were all there, they sat down to eat and drink
and were full of gladness. Now there was a little garden
belonging to the enchanted cottage where grew twelve lilies,
and the sister, wishing to give her brothers pleasure, picked
the twelve flowers to present each brother with one while they
were at dinner. But at the self-same moment that she
40
THE TWELVE BROTHERS
plucked the flowers the twelve brothers were changed into
twelve ravens, and flew away over the forest. And the little
house and the garden vanished also. And now the poor
maiden was left all alone in the wild forest, and as she looked
round, there was an old woman standing near her.
‘ My child,’ she said, ‘ 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 burst into tears. 4 Is there no way of deliver¬
ing them ? ’ she cried.
4 No,’ said the woman, 4 in the whole world there is but one
way, and that so hard that never wilt thou deliver them by
it, for dumb thou must be for seven years, and mayst not
speak nor laugh. If thou didst speak one single word, and
only one hour of the seven years were wanting, all would be
in vain, and that one word would be thy brothers’ death.’
Then said the maiden in her heart, 4 I know for certain
that I shall set my brothers free,’ and she sought a high tree
and climbed up it and there she sat and span, and neither
spoke nor laughed. Now it so happened that a king was
hunting in the forest, who had a great greyhound that ran
to the tree where the maiden was sitting, and leaped round it,
whining, and barking at her. The King came up and saw
the beautiful King’s daughter with the golden star on her
brow, and was so enchanted with her beauty that he shouted
to ask her if she would be his wife. She made no answer, but
nodded her head gently. So he climbed up to her and carried
her down, seated her upon his horse, and bore her home. The
wedding took place 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, 4 This is but a common
beggar girl whom thou hast brought back with thee. Who
knows what sorcery she may not practise in secret! Even
if she be dumb, and not able to speak, she still might laugh
41
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
for once ; 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
The wicked mother-in-law was put into a barrel full of boiling
oil and venomous snakes.
last the King let himself be persuaded and sentenced her
to death.
And now a great fire was kindled in the courtyard in which
she was to be burnt, and the King stood above at a 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
flames were licking at her clothing with red tongues, the very
42
THE TWELVE BROTHERS
last instant of the seven years expired. A whirring of wings
was heard in the air, and twelve ravens came flying towards
the place. They sank down, and no sooner had they touched
the earth when they became her twelve brothers, whom she
had freed from enchantment. They scattered the burning
faggots and trod out 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 happiness
until their death. The wicked mother-in-law was taken before
the judge, and condemned to be put into a barrel full of boiling
oil and venomous snakes, and died an evil death.
43
The Three Spinners
T HERE was once a girl who was idle and who would not
spin, and let her mother say what she would, she
could not get her to do it. At last one day the mother
lost all patience, and became so angry that she beat the girl,
who began to weep aloud. Now at this very moment the
Queen was driving by, and when she heard the crying she
stopped her carriage, went into the house and asked the
mother why she was beating her daughter so that the girl’s
cries could be heard right out in the road ? The woman was
so ashamed to expose her daughter’s laziness that she said,
4 1 cannot get her to leave off spinning. She’s for ever
wanting to spin and I am poor, and cannot procure the flax.’
Then answered the Queen, 4 There is nothing I like better
to hear than spinning, and I am never so happy as when the
wheels are humming. Let me have your daughter with me in
the palace, I have flax enough, and there she shall spin to
her heart’s content.’ The mother was heartily satisfied with
this, and the Queen took the girl away with her. When they
reached the palace, she led her upstairs to three rooms which
were filled from top to bottom with the finest flax.
4 Now spin me all this,’ said she, 4 and when thou hast
done it, thou shalt have my eldest son for a husband, even
though thou art poor. I care not for that, for thy tireless
industry will be dowry enough.’
The girl was secretly terrified, for she could not spin the
flax, no, not if she lived to be three hundred years old, and
sat at it every day from morning till night. So when she
was alone, she began to cry, and sat thus for three days
without moving a finger. On the third day in came the
44
THE THREE SPINNERS
Queen, and was surprised when she saw that nothing had
been done yet; but the girl excused herself by saying that
she had not been able to begin because of her grief at
leaving her mother’s house. The Queen was satisfied with
this, but said as she left, ‘ To-morrow, thou must begin to
work.’
When the girl was alone again, she did not know what to
do, and in her distress she went to the window. There she
saw approaching three women. The first of them had a broad
flat foot, the second had such a great underlip that it hung
down over her chin, and the third had a great broad thumb.
They stopped beneath the window, and looked up, and asked
the girl what the matter was. She told them all her trouble,
and they offered to help her.
‘ If thou wilt invite us to thy wedding,’ they said, * and
not be ashamed of us, but wilt call us thine aunts, and place
us at thy table, we ’ll spin all the flax for thee, and very
soon too.’
4 With all my heart,’ she agreed, 4 do but come in, and
begin the work at once.’
Then she let in the three strange women, and cleared a
place for them in the first room, where they sat themselves
down and began their spinning. The first one drew out the
thread and turned the wheel with her foot; the second wetted
the thread; the third twisted it, and struck the table with her
thumb; and at each stroke a skein of thread fell to the ground
spun in the finest manner possible. The girl hid the three
spinners from the Queen whenever she came, and showed her
the great quantity of thread, until she could not praise her
enough. When the first room was empty she went on to
the second, and last to the third, and that too was quickly
cleared. Then the three women took their leave saying,
4 Forget not what thou hast promised us, it will make thy
fortune.’
When the maiden showed the Queen the empty rooms,
and the great heap of yarn, she gave orders for the wedding,
45
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
and the bridegroom rejoiced that he was to have such a clever
and industrious wife, and praised her mightily.
4 I have three aunts,’ said the girl, 4 and as they have been
very kind to me, I should not like to forget them in my good
In came the three women dressed in the strangest fashion.
fortune ; pray give me leave to invite them to our wedding,
and let them sit with us at table.’ The Queen and the Prince
saw no reason why they should not allow that. So when the
feast began, in came the three women dressed in the strangest
fashion, and the bride said, 4 Welcome, dear aunts.’
46
THE STAR-MONEY
4 Oh,’ said the bridegroom, 4 how comes it that thy friends
are so hideous ? 5 And turning to the one with the broad
foot, he said, 4 How did you come by such a broad flat
foot ? ’
4 By treading,’ she answered, 4 by treading.’
Then he went to the second, and said, 4 How did you come
by your hanging lip ? ’
4 By licking,’ she answered, 4 by licking.’
Then he asked the third, 4 And how did you come by your
great broad thumb ? ’
4 By twisting the thread,’ she answered, 4 by twisting the
thread.’
At this the King’s son was alarmed and declared, 4 Never
again shall my beautiful bride touch a spinning-wheel.’ And
that’s how she got rid of her hateful spinning.
The
O NCE upon a time there was 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.
On her way she met a poor man who said, 4 Ah, give me
something to eat, I am so hungry! ’ At once she gave him
the whole of her piece of bread, and said, 4 May God bless it
to thy use,’ and went on. Then came a child who moaned and
said, 4 My head is so cold, do give me something to cover it
with.’ So she took off her hood and gave it to him,
47
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
and when she had walked
a little farther, she met
another child who had no
jacket and was frozen with
cold. So she gave it her
own jacket, and a little
farther on another one
begged for a frock, and she
gave away that also. At
length she came to 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
smock away,’ and took it
off, and gave away that also.
And as she stood there
without one single thing left
to call her own, suddenly
some stars from heaven fell
down, and they were no¬
thing else but hard smooth
pieces of money, and al¬
though she had just given
her little shirt away,
she had a new one
of the very finest
linen. Then she
gathered the money
into this, and was
rich all the days of
her life.
/ 1/
The Old Woman in the Wood
A POOR servant-girl was once travelling with the family
with whom she was in service through a great forest,
and when they were in the midst of it, robbers came
upon them out of a thicket, and murdered all they could find.
All perished together except the girl, who had jumped out of
the carriage in a fright, and hidden behind a tree. When the
robbers had made off with their plunder, she came out and
beheld the great disaster. She began to weep bitterly, and
said, 4 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 roamed about looking for a way
out, but could find none. In the 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.
But when she had sat there for a while, a white dove came
flying to her with a little golden key in its beak.
It put the little key in her hand, and said, 4 Dost thou see
d 49
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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.’ So 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 had had enough, she said,
4 It is now the time when the hens at home go to roost, and I
am so tired I could well go to bed too.’
Then the dove flew to her again, and brought another
golden key in its bill, and said, 4 Open that tree there, and
thou wilt 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, 4 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.
Once, however, the dove came and said, 4 Wilt thou do
something for my sake ? ’
4 With all my heart,’ said the girl.
Then said the little dove, 4 1 will guide thee to a little hut.
Go in, and inside will be an old woman sitting by the fire and
she will say, 44 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 thou must open, and thou
wilt enter into a room where a number of rings of all kinds
are lying, amongst which are some magnificent ones with
shining stones. But leave those where they are and seek out
a plain one, which must also 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, 4 Good-day, my child.’ The girl gave her no answer
and opened the door. 4 What art thou after ? ’ cried the old
50
THE OLD WOMAN IN THE WOOD
woman, and seized her by the gown, and tried to hold her
fast, saying, ‘ This is my house. No one can go in there if I
say not.’ But the girl did not speak but got away from her,
The old woman seized her by the gown, and tried to hold her fast.
and went straight into the room. Now there lay on the table
an enormous number 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
51
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
wanting to get off with a bird-cage which she had in her hand.
So she ran after her and took the cage out of her hand, and
when she lifted it up and looked into it, there was a bird with
the plain ring in its bill. Then she took the ring, and ran
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 stood thus, it seemed just as if the tree
became soft and pliant, and was letting its branches down.
Suddenly the branches twined around her, and turned into
two arms, and when she looked round, the tree was a hand¬
some man, who embraced her and kissed her heartily, and
said, 4 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 became 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 also been
changed into trees, were freed from the enchantment too, and
stood beside him. And he led them out of the forest to his
kingdom, for he was a King’s son, and they were married, and
lived happily ever after.
52
t Wutk
||yf
1 | T{Jw M
uljwiUv ■:
j/t\ ■'■tfZL
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K&'KMll
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SUDDENLY THE BRANCHES TWINED ROUND HER AND TURNED INTO TWO ARMS.
Bearskin
T HERE was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier,
bore 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 dis¬
missal, 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. In the shade of these he sat sorrowfully down, and
began to think over his fate. 4 I have no money,’ thought he;
4 1 have learned no trade but that of fighting, and now that
they have made peace they don’t want me any longer, so I
can see nothing before me but to die of hunger.’ All at once
he heard a rustling, and looked round, and there stood a
strange man, who wore a green coat and appeared to be a
person of consequence, but had a hideous cloven foot.
4 1 know already what thou art in need of,’ said the man ;
4 gold and riches shalt thou have, as much as thou canst do
with, but first I must know if thou art fearless, that I may
not bestow my money in vain.’
4 A soldier and cowardice ! How can those two things
go together ? ’ was the answer. 4 Just put me to the
proof.’
4 Very well, then,’ said the man, 4 look behind thee.’
53
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear coming
growling towards him.
‘ Oho ! ’ cried the soldier, c I ’ll tickle thy nose for thee,
and thou shalt soon lose thy fancy for growling,’ and he took
aim at the bear and shot it right through the muzzle, and it
fell dead on the spot.
4 1 see quite well,’ answered Greencoat, 4 that thou art not
wanting in courage, but there is still another condition thou
wilt have to fulfil. For the next seven years neither shalt
thou 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 thou must wear all this time. If thou
diest during these seven years, thou art mine. If thou re-
mainest alive, thou art free, and rich to boot for all the rest of
thy life.’
The soldier thought of the great need 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
stranger took off his green coat, gave it to the soldier, and
said, 4 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, 4 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 clothing
thou shalt be called Bearskin.’ And as he said this, he
vanished.
The soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket,
and found he had been told the truth. Then he threw the
bearskin on and went forth into the world and enjoyed himself,
denying himself nothing that money could buy. For 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 matted like a piece of 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. Who¬
ever saw him, ran away. But as he everywhere gave money
54
BEARSKIN
to the poor to pray that he might not die during the seven
years, and as he paid well for all he needed he could still
Whoever saw him, ran away.
always find shelter. In the fourth year,
he entered an inn where the landlord
would not receive him, and would not
even give him a place in the stable for fear he should frighten
the horses. 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 on condition
55
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
not to let himself be seen lest the inn should get a bad
name.
As Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing
from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over,
he heard some one lamenting aloud in the next room. He
had a compassionate heart so he opened the door, and there
he saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands.
Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet in terror
and tried to escape from him. At last when the man per¬
ceived 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.
4 If that is your only trouble,’ said Bearskin, 4 1 have
plenty of money.’ And he sent for the innkeeper, paid him
what was due, and put a purse full of gold into the poor old
man’s pocket besides.
When the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles
he did not know how to be grateful enough. 4 Come with me,’
said he to Bearskin ; 4 my daughters are all marvels 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 with him. When
the eldest girl saw him she was so terribly frightened that she
screamed and ran away. The second stood where she was
and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said,
4 How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human
form ? The shaven bear that once was here and pretended
to be 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.’
But the youngest daughter said, 4 Dear father, that must
56
BEARSKIN
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 hair, or else 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, while he kept the other
for himself. And he wrote his name on her half, and hers on
his, and begged her to keep her part carefully. 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 guard my life.’
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.
4 Take care,’ said the eldest, 4 if thou givest him thy hand,
he will stick his claws into it.’
4 Beware ! ’ said the second. 4 Bears like sweet things, and
if he takes a fancy to thee, he will eat thee up.’
4 Thou must always do as he likes,’ began the elder again,
4 or else he will growl.’
And the second continued, 4 But the wedding will be a
merry one, for bears dance well.’
The maiden was silent, and did not let them vex her.
As for Bearskin, he 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.
At length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he
went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself in
the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled,
and the stranger stood before him and looked angrily at him.
Then he threw Bearskin his old coat, and asked for his own
green one back.
4 We have not got so far as that yet,’ answered Bearskin,
4 thou must first make me clean.’
57
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
And whether he liked it or not, the stranger had to fetch
water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails.
After this, he looked like a brave soldier again, much hand¬
somer than he had ever been before.
When Greencoat had gone away, Bearskin was quite light¬
hearted. 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 recognised him, the
father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into
the room where his daughters were sitting. He was made to
sit between the two eldest, and they helped him to wine,
gave him the best from every dish, 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 and ran to their bedrooms to put
on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the
chosen one. As soon as he was alone with his bride, the
stranger brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a
glass of wine which he handed 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,
and joined the two halves, and saw that they fitted together
exactly. Then said he, 4 1 am thy betrothed bridegroom,
whom thou sawest as Bearskin, but through the grace of
Heaven I have again received my human form, and have once
more become clean.’ And he took her in his arms and kissed
her. Just then the two sisters came back dressed in their
best. 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 wild with rage. One of them drowned herself
in the well and the other hanged herself on a tree.
58
One-eye, Two-eyes, and Three-eyes
T HERE 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, also, was in the middle 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, 4 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
bank and began to weep, and she wept so bitterly that two
streams ran down from her eyes. And once in the midst of
her grief she looked up and there stood a woman beside her,
who said, 4 Why art thou weeping, little Two-eyes ? ’
Two-eyes answered, 4 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, and
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 very hungry.’
Then the wise woman said, 4 Wipe away thy tears, Two-
eyes, and I will tell thee something to stop thee suffering from
hunger ever again. Just say to thy goat,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, spread !
59
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 ever thou wishest, and when thou hast had enough,
and hast no more need of the little table, just say,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, go ! 1
and then it will vanish again from thy sight.’ Hereupon the
wise woman departed.
But Two-eyes thought, 4 1 must try this at once, and see if
what she said is true, for I am too hungry to bear it,’ so she said,
i Little goat, bleat!
Little table, spread ! ’
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, 4 Lord God, be with us always, Amen,’ and
helped herself, and enjoyed it very much. And when she
was satisfied, she said, as the wise woman had taught her,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, spread ! ’
and immediately the little table and everything on it was gone
again. 4 That is a delightful way of keeping house ! ’ thought
Two-eyes, and was quite glad and happy.
In the evening, when she went home with her goat, she
found a small earthenware dish with something to eat, which
her sisters had set ready for her, but she did not touch it.
Next day again she went out with her goat, and the few crusts
of bread which had been given her, she left untouched. The
first and second time that she did this, her sisters did not notice
it at all, but as it happened every time, they soon did observe
it, and said, 4 There is something wrong about Two-eyes, she
always leaves her food untasted, and she used to eat up every-
60
ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES, AND THREE-EYES
thing that was given her. She must have found other ways
of getting her 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 watch 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, 4 1 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 after
she had driven the goat into long grass, she said, 4 Come, One-
eye, we will sit down, and I will sing something to you.’
One-eye sat down, tired with the unaccustomed walk and the
heat of the sun, and Two-eyes sang constantly,
‘ One eye, vvakest thou P
One eye, sleepest thou ? 1
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,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, spread ! ’
and seated herself at her table, and ate and drank until she
had had enough, and then she said,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, go ! 1
and in an instant all was gone. Two-eyes now awakened
One-eye, and said, 4 One-eye, you set out to take care of the
goat, and go to sleep while you are doing it. In the mean¬
time 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, 4 1 fell asleep when I was out.’
Next day the mother said to Three-eyes, 4 This time thou
shalt go and watch if Two-eyes eats anything when she is out,
61
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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,
4 1 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 long grass, and said,
1 We will sit down, and I will sing something to you, Three-eyes.’
‘Now I know why that stuck-up thing there does not eat.’
Three-eyes sat down, tired with the walk and the heat of the
sun, and Two-eyes began the same song as before, and sang,
‘ Three-eyes, are you waking ? 1
but then, instead of singing,
‘ Three-eyes, are you sleeping ? 1
62
ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES, AND THREE-EYES
as she ought to have done, she thoughtlessly sang,
‘ Two-eyes, are you sleeping?’
and sang all the time,
‘ Three-eyes, are you waking ?
Two-eyes, are you sleeping ? ’
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,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, spread ! 1
and ate and drank as much as her
heart desired, and then ordered the
table to go away again,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, go ! ’
and Three-eyes had seen every¬
thing. Then Two-eyes came to her,
waked her and said, ‘Have you been
asleep, Three-eyes ? You are a good
caretaker! 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 stuck-up thing there does not eat. When
she is out, she says to the goat,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, spread ! ’
68
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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,
‘ Little goat, bleat!
Little table, go ! 1
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, 4 Dost thou want to fare better than we do ?
The desire shall pass away,’ and she took a butcher’s knife,
and thrust it into the heart of the goat, and it fell down dead.
When Two-eyes saw that, she went out full of trouble,
seated herself on the grass bank at the edge of the field, and
wept bitter tears. Suddenly the wise woman once more stood
by her side, and said, 4 Two-eyes, why art thou weeping ? ’
4 Have I not reason to weep ? ’ she answered. 4 The goat
that spread 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, 4 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, 4 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, 4 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.
Next morning, when they all awoke, and went to the house-
door, there stood a strange and beautiful 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.
64
ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES, AND THREE-EYES
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 just when she was about to take
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, 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 try 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, 4 You indeed, with your two eyes, what
can you do ? ’
But Two-eyes climbed up, and the golden apples did not
get out of her way, but came into her hand of their own accord,
so that she could pick 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 so they
treated her still more cruelly.
It so befell that once when they were all standing together
by the tree, a young knight came along.
4 Quick, Two-eyes,’ cried the two sisters, 4 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
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
Two-eyes, and they pushed the golden apples that she had been
gathering under it too. When the knight came nearer it
could be seen that he was a fine lord, and handsome too, and
he stopped to admire the magnificent gold and silver tree, and
said to the two sisters, 4 To whom does this fine tree belong ?
Any one who would give a branch of it to me might in return
ask whatever he desired.’
Then One-eye and Three-eyes replied that the tree belonged
to them, and that they would give him a branch. And they
both tried hard, but they were not able to do it, for the
branches and fruit slipped away from them every time.
Then said the knight, 4 It is very strange that the tree
should belong to you, and yet you are not able to break a
branch off.’
Again they asserted that the tree was theirs. And 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. But the knight desired to see her, and cried, 4 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, 4 Thou, Two-eyes, canst certainly break off a branch from
the tree for me.’
4 Yes,’ replied Two-eyes, 4 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, 4 Two-eyes, what shall I give thee
for it ? ’
4 Alas ! ’ answered Two-eyes, 4 1 suffer from hunger and
66
ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES, AND THREE-EYES
thirst, grief and want, from early morning till late night. If
only 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 their wedding
took place with great rejoicing.
When Two-eyes was carried away by the handsome knight,
her two sisters grudged her her good fortune in real earnest.
4 The wonderful tree, however, still remains with us,’
thought they, 4 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 not 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.
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 recognised 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.
67
The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and
the Cudgel in the Knapsack
O NCE upon a time there was 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 had to be taken every day to pasture.
So the sons did this in turn. Once the eldest took her to the
churchyard, where the finest grass was to be found, and let
her eat and run about there. At night when it was time to
68
WISHING-TABLE, GOLD-ASS, AND CUDGEL
go home he asked, 4 Goat, hast thou had enough ? 5 The goat
answered,
i I have eaten so much,
Not a leaf more I ’ll touch, meh ! meh ! 1
4 Come along home, then,’ said the youth, and took hold of
the cord round her neck, led her back to the stable and tied
her up for the night.
‘ Well,’ said the old tailor, ‘ has the goat had as much food
as she ought ? ’
4 Oh,’ answered the son, 4 she has eaten so much, not a
leaf more she ’ll touch.’
But the father wished to satisfy himself, so he went down
to the stable, stroked the dear animal and asked, 4 Nannie,
art thou full ? ’ The goat answered,
‘ And how should I be full ?
Among the graves I leapt about,
But found no food, so went without, maa ! maa ! 1
4 What’s this I hear ? ’ cried the tailor, and ran upstairs
and said to the youth, 4 Hullo, thou liar ; thou saidst the goat
had had enough, and hast let her starve ! ’ and in his anger
he took the yard-measure from the wall, and beat him out
of the house.
Next day it was the turn of the second son, who looked
out for a place near 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, 4 Goat, art thou
full ? ’ The goat answered,
‘ I have eaten so much,
Not a leaf more I ’ll touch, meh ! meh ! ’
4 Come along home, then,’ said the youth, and led her home,
and tied her up in the stable.
4 Well,’ said the old tailor, 4 has the goat had as much food
as she ought ? ’
69
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
4 Oh,’ answered the son, 4 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, 4 Nannie, hast thou had enough ? ’ The goat
answered,
‘ And how should I be full ?
Among the graves I leapt about,
But found no food, so went without, maa ! maa ! ’
4 The wicked rascal ! ’ cried the tailor, 4 to let such a good
animal hunger,’ and he ran up and drove the youth out of
doors with the yard-measure.
Now came the turn of the third son, who was determined
to do his best, and sought out the bushes with the finest leaves,
and let the goat browse there. In the evening when he
wanted to go home, he asked, 4 Goat, hast thou had enough ? ’
The goat answered,
‘ I have eaten so much,
Not a leaf more I ’ll touch, meh ! meh ! 1
4 Come along home, then,’ said the youth, and led her
back to the stable, and tied her up.
4 Well,’ said the old tailor, 4 has the goat really had enough
this time ? ’
4 She has eaten so much, not a leaf more she ’ll touch.’
The tailor did not trust to that, but went down and asked,
4 Nannie, hast thou had enough ? ’ The wicked beast
answered,
‘ And how should I have had enough ?
c>
Among the graves I leapt about,
But found no leaves, so went without, maa ! maa ! 1
4 Oh, what a pack of liars ! ’ cried the tailor, 4 each as
wicked and forgetful as the other ! Ye shall no longer make
a fool of me,’ and, quite beside himself with anger, he ran
upstairs and belaboured the poor young fellow so vigorously
with the yard-measure that he darted out of the house and
away.
70
WISHING-TABLE, GOLD-ASS, AND CUDGEL
The old tailor was now alone with his goat. Next morning
he went down into the stable, caressed the goat and said,
4 Come, my dear little animal, I will take thee to feed myself.’
He took her by the rope and conducted her where there were
green hedges, and clover, 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 full ? ’ she replied,
‘ I have eaten so much,
Not a leaf more I ’ll touch, meh ! meh ! ’
‘ Come along 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, 4 Well, art thou full for once ? ’
But the goat did not behave any better to him, and cried,
‘ And how should I be full ?
Among the graves I leapt about,
But found no leaves, so went without, maa ! maa ! 1
When the tailor heard that, he was shocked, and saw
clearly that he had driven away his three sons without cause.
4 Wait, thou ungrateful creature ! ’ cried he. 4 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 went and
fetched to her the horsewhip, and gave her such a thrashing
that she ran away as fast as she could go.
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.
Now the eldest had apprenticed himself to a joiner, and
learned industriously and untiringly, and when the time came
for him to go travelling, his master presented him with a
little table which was in no way remarkable to look at, and
71
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
was made of common wood, but it had one good property ;
if any one set it down anywhere and said, 4 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 meat, and roasted meat, as many
as there was room for, and a great bumper of red wine shone
so that it made the heart glad. The young journeyman
thought, 4 With this thou hast enough for thy whole life,’
and wandered joyously about the world never troubling him¬
self whether an inn was good or bad, or if anything was to be
had there or not. When it suited him he did not enter an inn
at all, but either in the open country, or in a wood, or a
meadow, or wherever he fancied, he took his little table off
his back, set it down before him, and said, 4 Cover thyself,’
and 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 other¬
wise he would have had difficulty in getting anything.
4 No indeed,’ answered the joiner, 4 I wouldn’t rob you of
a mouthful; rather than that, you shall do me the honour
of being my guests.’
They laughed, and thought he was jesting with them ; but
he placed his wooden table in the middle of the room, and said,
4 Little table, cover thyself.’ Instantly it was covered with
good things, better far than the host could have provided, and
the smell alone would have been too tempting to resist. 4 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 their chairs up, 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 a corner and watched;
72
WISHING-TABLE, GOLD-ASS, AND CUDGEL
he did not at all know what to say, but he thought, 4 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 all lay down to sleep, the young
apprentice setting his magic table against the wall before he
went to bed. 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 midday he reached the house of his father,
who received him with great joy.
4 Well, my dear son, what hast thou learned ? ’ said he
to him.
4 Father, I have become a joiner.’
4 A good trade,’ replied the old man ; 4 but what hast thou
brought back with thee from thy apprenticeship ? ’
4 Father, the best thing that I have brought back with me
is this little table.’
The tailor inspected it on all sides and said, 4 Thou didst
not make a masterpiece when thou madest that; it is a
wretched old table that.’
4 But it is a table which furnishes itself,’ replied the son.
4 When I set it down, 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 can desire.’
When the company was assembled, he put his table in the
middle of the room and said, 4 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 when it was
spoken to. Then the poor apprentice became aware that his
table had been changed, and was ashamed at having to stand
there like a liar. And his relations all mocked him, and were
73
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
forced to go home without having eaten or drunk. His father
brought out his patches again, and went on tailoring, but the
son went off to find a new master.
The second son had gone to a miller and had apprenticed
himself to him. When his years were over, the master said,
4 As thou hast conducted thyself so well, I give thee this ass
of a very unusual 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.
4 Set him on a cloth and say, “ Bricklebrit ” to him and the
good animal will drop gold pieces for thee.’
4 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 4 Bricklebrit ’ to his ass, and it rained
gold pieces, and he had nothing to do but to pick them up
from the ground. Wherever 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 to himself, 4 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, 4 Don’t
trouble yourself, I will take my grey horse into the stable, and
tie him up myself too, for I must know just where he is.’ 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 some¬
thing 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
74
WISHING-TABLE, GOLD-ASS, AND CUDGEL
give two more gold pieces. He felt in his pocket, but his
gold had just come to an end.
4 Wait an instant, sir host,’ said he, 4 I will go and fetch
some money,’ and he took the table-cloth with him. The
host could not imagine what this could mean, and being
curious, he 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,
4 Bricklebrit,’ and immediately the beast began to let gold
pieces fall, so that it fairly rained down money on the ground.
4 Eh, my word,’ thought the host, 4 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
the ass, thinking all the time that he had his gold-ass. At
midday he reached the house of his father, who rejoiced to
see him again, and gladly took him in.
4 What hast thou made of thyself, my son ? ’ asked the old
man.
4 A miller, dear father,’ he answered.
4 What hast thou brought back with thee from thy
travels ? ’
4 Nothing else but an ass.’
4 There are asses enough here,’ said the father; 4 1 would
rather have had a good goat.’
4 Yes,’ replied the son, 4 but mine is no common ass, but a
gold-ass. When I say 44 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
people.’
4 That suits me well,’ said the tailor, 4 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
75
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
make way, spread out his cloth, and brought the ass into the
room. ‘ Now watch,’ said he, and cried, 4 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.
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 inn-keeper had cheated them
of their wonderful 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 knapsack and said, 4 There
is a cudgel in it.’
4 1 can put on the knapsack,’ said he, 4 and it may be of
good service to me, but why should the cudgel be in it ? It
only makes it heavy.’
4 I will tell thee why,’ replied the master ; 4 if any one
has done anything to injure thee, do but say, 44 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, 44 Into the sack, Cudgel! ” ’
The apprentice thanked him, put the sack on his back, and
when any one came too near him, and threatened to attack
him, he said, 4 Out of the sack, Cudgel! ’ and instantly the
cudgel sprang out, and gave the coat of the evil-doer such a
dusting that he soon wished that he had never tried to inter¬
fere. In the evening the young turner reached the inn where
his brothers had been cheated. He laid his knapsack on the
table before him, and began to talk of all the wonderful things
which he had seen in the world.
76
WISHING-TABLE, GOLD-ASS, AND CUDGEL
‘Yes,’ said he, 4 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 knapsack
there.’
The inn-keeper pricked up his ears. 4 What in the world
can that be ? ’ thought he. 4 The knapsack 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 knapsack
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 knapsack 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, 4 Out of the sack, Cudgel ! ’ Instantly
the little cudgel came forth, and fell on the inn-keeper, and
gave him a sound thrashing.
The host cried for mercy; but the louder he cried, the
heavier the cudgel beat the time on his back, until at length
he fell to the ground exhausted. Then the turner said, 4 If
thou dost not give back the table which covers itself, and the
gold-ass too, the dance shall begin afresh.’
4 Oh no,’ cried the host in terror, 4 1 will gladly produce
everything, only make that dreadful little goblin creep back
into the sack.’
Then said the apprentice, 4 1 will have mercy instead of
giving thee thy deserts, but beware of getting into mischief
again ! ’ So he cried, 4 Into the sack, Cudgel! ’ and let him
have rest.
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.
77
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
4 Dear father,’ said he, ‘ I have become a turner.’
4 A skilled trade,’ said the father. 4 What hast thou
brought back with thee from thy travels ? ’
4 A precious thing, dear father,’ replied the son, 4 a cudgel
in the knapsack.’
4 What! ’ cried the father, 4 a cudgel ! That ’s worth thy
trouble, indeed ! From every tree thou canst cut thyself one.’
4 But not one like this, dear father. If I say 44 Out of the
sack, Cudgel ! ” the cudgel springs out and leads any one who
means ill with me such a dance, I can tell you, and never stops
until he lies on the ground and prays for fair weather. Look
you, with this cudgel I have got back the wishing-table and
the gold-ass which the thievish inn-keeper stole from my
brothers. Now let them both be sent for, and invite all our
kinsmen. I will give them the best 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, 4 Now, dear
brother, speak to him.’ The miller said, 4 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 have liked to be there.)
Then the turner brought the little table, and said, 4 Now,
dear brother, speak to it.’ And scarcely had the carpenter
said, 4 Table, cover thyself,’ than it was spread and amply
covered with the most savoury 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
till far into the night, and were all merry and glad together.
The tailor locked away in a cupboard needle and thread, yard-
measure and goose, and lived with his three sons in plenty and
happiness.
What, however, has become of the goat who was to blame
for the tailor driving out his three sons ? That I will tell
78
• , . T — ; -77T——7-- ———: — —---.—.
GOLD PIECES FELL DOWN ON THE CLOTH LIKE A THUNDER SHOWER.
WISHING-TABLE, GOLD-ASS, AND CUDGEL
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
he was terrified and ran away.
A bear met him, and as the fox looked upset, he said,
4 What is the matter with thee, brother Fox ? Why dost thou
look like that ? ’
4 Ah,’ answered Redskin, 4 a fierce beast is in my cave and
stared at me with its fiery eyes.’
4 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 too ; he would have nothing to do with
the fearful beast, and took to his heels.
The bee met him, and as she saw that he was ill at ease,
she said, 4 Bear, thou art really pulling a very pitiful face ;
what has become of all thy gaiety ? ’
4 It is all very well for thee to talk,’ replied the bear; 4 a
furious beast with staring eyes is in Redskin’s house, and we
can’t drive him out.’
The bee said, 4 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.’ And she flew into the fox’s cave, settled on
the goat’s shaven head, and stung her so sharply that she
sprang up, crying 4 Meh, meh,’ and ran forth into the world
like mad, and to this hour no one knows where she has gone.
79
The Wonderful Musician
T HERE was once a wonderful musician, who was going all
alone through a forest thinking of all manner of things,
and when nothing was left for him to think about,
he said to himself, 4 Time is beginning to pass heavily with me
here in the forest, I ’ll call hither some one to keep me company.’
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.
4 Ah, here’s a wolf coming ! I’ve no desire for him ! ’ said
the musician.
But the wolf came nearer and said to him, 4 Ah, dear
musician, how beautifully thou dost play ! I should like to
learn that, too.’
4 It is soon learned,’ the musician replied; 4 thou hast only
to do all that I bid thee.’
4 O musician,’ said the wolf, 4 1 will obey thee as a scholar
obeys his master.’
80
THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN
The musician bade him follow him, and when they had
gone a little way together, they came to an old oak-tree which
was hollow, and cleft in the middle.
4 Look,’ said the musician, ‘ if thou wilt learn to fiddle, put
thy fore paws into this crack.’
F
81
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 prisoner.
4 Stay there until I come back again,’ said the musician,
and went his way.
After a while he said to himself again, 4 Time is beginning
to pass heavily with me here in the forest, I will call hither
another companion,’ and he took his fiddle again and played a
tune. It was not long before a fox came creeping through the
trees towards him.
4 Ah, there’s a fox coming ! ’ said the musician. 4 I have
no desire for him.’
The fox came up to him and said, 4 Oh, dear musician, how
beautifully thou dost play ! I should like to learn that, too.’
4 That is soon learned,’ said the musician; 4 thou hast
only to do everything that I bid thee.’
4 Oh, musician,’ then said the fox, 4 I will obey thee as a
scholar obeys his master.’
4 Follow me,’ said the musician; and when they had
walked a little way, they came to a footpath, with high bushes
on both sides of it. There the musician stopped, and from one
side bent a young hazel down to the ground, and put his foot
on it, then he bent down a sapling from the other side as well,
and said, 4 Now, little fox, if thou wilt learn something, give
me thy left fore paw.’ The fox obeyed, and the musician
fastened his paw to the left bough.
4 Little fox,’ said he, 4 now give me thy right paw,’ and he
tied it to the right bough. He made sure they were safely
tied, and then he let go ; the bushes sprang up again, and
up jerked the little fox, so that he hung struggling in the air.
4 Wait there till I come back again,’ said the musician, and
went his way.
Again he said to himself, 4 Time is beginning to pass heavily
with me here in the forest, I will call hither another companion,’
so he took his fiddle, and the sound echoed through the forest.
This time a little hare came leaping towards him.
82
THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN
4 Why, here’s a hare coming,’ said he. 4 I don’t want her.’
4 Ah, dear musician,’ said the hare, 4 how beautifully thou
dost fiddle 1 I, too, should like to learn that.’
4 That’s soon learned,’ said the musician; 4 thou hast only
to do everything I bid thee.’
4 Oh, musician,’ replied the little hare, 4 1 will obey thee as
a scholar obeys his master.’ They went on a little way
together until they came to an open space in the forest, where
stood an aspen. The musician tied a long string round the
little hare’s neck, the other end of which he fastened to the tree.
4 Now, briskly, little hare, run twenty times round the
tree ! ’ cried the musician, and the little hare obeyed, and
when she had run round twenty times, she had twisted the
string twenty times round the trunk of the tree, and the little
hare was caught, and let her pull and tug as she liked, it only
made the string cut into her tender neck.
4 Wait there till I come back,’ said the musician, and on he went.
83
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
The wolf, in the meantime, had pushed and tugged and
bitten at the stone, until at last he had set his feet at liberty
and had dragged them out of the cleft. Full of rage and fury
he rushed after the musician and wanted to tear him to pieces.
When the fox saw him running past, he began to yelp and
howl with all his might, 4 Brother wolf, come to my help; the
musician has betrayed me ! ’ So the wolf drew down the little
trees, bit the cords in two, and freed the fox, who went on with
him to take revenge on the musician. They found the hare
tied up too and delivered her, and then they all sought the
enemy together.
Once more the musician had 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 woodcutter, who instantly
had to give up his work, willy-nilly, and came with his hatchet
under his arm to listen to the music.
c At last comes the right companion,’ said the musician,
4 for I was seeking a human being, not a wild beast.’ And he
began to play so sweetly and enchantingly that the poor man
stood there as if bewitched, and his heart leaped with gladness.
And as he stood thus, the wolf, the fox, and the hare came up,
and he saw well that they meant no good. So he raised his
glittering axe and placed himself before the musician, as if to
say, 4 Whoever wishes to touch him let him beware, for he will
have to do with me ! ’ And that frightened the beasts and
they ran back into the forest. The musician, however, played
once more to the man out of gratitude, and then went on.
84
The Cunning Little Tailor
O NCE upon a time there was a princess who was extremely
proud. If a wooer came she gave him a riddle to guess,
and if he could not find it out, he was made fun of and
turned out. She had it made known also that he who solved
her riddle should marry her, whoever he might be.
In time three tailors fell in with each other, the two eldest
of whom thought they had done so many neat jobs before that
they could not fail to succeed in this also. The third was a
little useless vagrant, who did not even know his trade, but
thought he might have some luck in this venture, for Heaven
knows where else it was to come from. The two others told
him to stay at home. What could he do, said they, with the
little sense he possessed. 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 ’d do well enough, and out he went
as if the whole world were his.
They all three presented themselves before the princess, and
said she was to propound her riddle to them, for at last the
right persons had come, who had wits so fine that they could be
threaded in a needle.
Then said the princess, 4 I have two kinds of hair on my
head, of what colour is it ? 5
4 If that ’s all,’ said the first, 4 it must be black and white,
like the cloth which is called pepper and salt.’
4 Wrong,’ said the princess. 4 Let the second answer.’
Then said the second, 4 If it isn’t black and white, then it’s
brown and red, like my father’s best Sunday coat.’
4 Wrong,’ said the princess. 4 Let the third give the
answer, for I see very well he knows it for certain.’
85
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
Then the little tailor stepped boldly forth and said, 4 The
princess has a silver and a golden hair on her head, and those
are the two different colours.’
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 dis¬
cover it. When her courage returned she said, 4 But thou hast
not won me yet, 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.’ And she was quite sure she would
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, 4 Boldly ventured is half won.’
So, when evening came, our little tailor was taken down to
the bear. The bear was about to make for the little fellow at
once, and give him a hearty welcome with his paws, but 4 Softly,
softly,’ said the little tailor, 4 1 will soon make thee quiet.’
Then quite coolly, and as if he hadn’t a care in the world,
he took some nuts out of his pocket and 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 held him out a handful. Really, however, they were
not nuts at all, but pebbles. The bear put them in his mouth,
but could make nothing of them, let him bite as he would.
4 Eh ! ’ thought he, 4 what a stupid blockhead I am ! I
cannot even crack a nut ! ’ and then he said to the tailor,
4 Here, crack me the nuts.’
4 There, see what a stupid fellow thou art! ’ said the little
tailor, 4 with such a great mouth, and not able to crack a little
nut ! ’ And he took the pebble and quickly put a nut in his
mouth in the place of it, and crack, it was in two !
4 I must try the thing again,’ said the bear ; 4 when I watch
you, it makes me think I ought to be able to do it too.’
So the tailor once more gave him a pebble, and the bear
86
THE CUNNING LITTLE TAILOR
tried and tried to get his teeth into it with all his might. But
no one will imagine that he did it.
When the bear heard the music he could not help beginning to dance.
When that was over, the tailor took out a violin from under
his coat, and played a tune on it to himself. When the bear
heard the music he could not help beginning to dance, and
87
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
when he had danced a while, it pleased him so well that he said
to the little tailor, 4 Hark you, is the fiddle heavy ? 5
4 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 ! 5
4 So,’ said the bear ; 4 fiddling is a thing I should like to
master too, that I might dance whenever I had a fancy. What
dost thou think of that ? Wilt thou give me lessons ? ’
4 With all my heart,’ said the tailor, 4 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 vice was brought, and
the bear put his claws in it, and the little tailor screwed it
tight, and said, 4 Now wait until I come with the scissors.’
And the bear might growl as he liked, but the tailor lay down
in the corner on a bundle of straw, and fell asleep.
When the princess heard the bear growling so fiercely
during the night, she thought all the time 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, as spry as a fish in the water.
Now she could not say another word against the wedding
because she had given her promise before every one, and the
King ordered a carriage to be brought for her 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 set free the bear again. The bear in great fury ran
after the carriage. The princess heard him snorting and growl¬
ing ; she was terrified, and she cried, 4 Oh, oh, the bear is coming
after us and wants to get thee ! ’ The tailor was quick and stood
on his head, stuck his legs out of the window, and cried, 4 Dost
thou see the vice ? 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. Whoever does not believe this must pay a thaler.
88
The Gnomes
O NCE upon a time there was a rich King who had three
daughters, who used to walk every day in the palace
garden. The King was a great lover of all kinds
of fine trees, but there was one for which he had such an
affection, that he wished a wish that if any one gathered an
apple from it he might sink a hundred fathoms under the
ground. And when harvest time came, the apples on this
tree were all as red as blood.
The three daughters went every day and looked under the
tree to see if the wind had not blown down an apple, but they
never by any chance found one, yet 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 longing for an apple, and said to her sisters, 4 Our father
loves us far too much to wish us underground; I am sure he
would only do that to people who were strangers.’ And while
she was speaking, the girl plucked off a large apple, and ran
to her sisters, saying, 4 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.
When midday 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
89
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
counting them, for every one loved the three princesses be¬
cause they were so kind to all, and so pretty. Among the
seekers were three young hunters, 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 they decided that they would stay and live in that
castle, and that one of them, who should be chosen each day
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 at home.
At midday came a small, small mannikin and begged for a
piece of bread, so the hunter took the loaf which he had found
there, and cut a round off it and was about to give it to him,
when, as he did so, the mannikin let it fall, and asked the
hunter to be so good as to give it to him again. The hunter
was about to do so and stooped, on which the mannikin
seized a stick, caught him by the hair, and gave him a good
thrashing.
Next day, the second stayed at home, and he fared no
better, and when the two others returned in the evening, the
eldest asked, ‘ Well, how have you got on ? ’
4 Oh, very badly, 5 said he, and they bemoaned their mis¬
fortune 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 rightly 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, he let it fall as before, and
asked him to be so good as to give it him again. Then said
90
THE GNOMES
Hans to the little mannikin, ‘ What 1 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 angiy and said he was to do it,
but the hunter would not, and takes my dear little mannikin,
and gives him a thorough good beating. At that 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 a gnome, 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 took him to a
deep well, but there was no water in it. And the mannikin
told him how he well knew that the companions Hans had
with him did not intend to deal honourably with him, there¬
fore if he wished to deliver the King’s children, he must do it
alone. He said that 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
get a. large basket to sit in, taking with him his hunting-knife
and a bell, and be let down by a rope. Below were three
rooms, and in each of them was a princess, with a many¬
headed dragon, whose heads she had to comb and trim, but
he must cut them off. And having said all this, the little
man 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 midday when a little mannikin
had come who had 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 mannikin had begun to lose his temper, and
that he had done what he ought not, and had given the little
man a beating, on which he had told him where the King’s
daughters were. When they heard this the two were so
angry that they grew green and yellow.
91
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 sat himself in it, and took the
bell with him. Then he said, 4 If I ring, you must draw me
up again immediately.’ When he had gone down 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 hunting-knife
and went and stood outside the first door and listened, and
heard the dragon snoring 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 hunting-knife and hacked at them till all nine
heads fell to the ground. The princess jumped up, threw her
arms round his neck, embraced and kissed him over and over
again, and took her necklace, which was made of red 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, and last to the youngest, who had a dragon
with four heads. And they all rejoiced, and embraced him
and kissed him without stopping. Then he rang his bell very
loud, so that those above could hear 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 little man, 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 that in the basket, and when it
was about half way up, his false brothers cut the rope, so that
the basket with the stone fell to the ground, and they thought
that he was killed. When they had done that they made off
with the three princesses, making them promise to tell their
father that it was they who had delivered them, and they went
to the King, and each demanded a princess in marriage.
In the meantime the youngest hunter was wandering about
92
IIE PLAYED UNTIL THE ROOM WAS ENTIRELY FILLED WITH GNOMES,
/
THE GNOMES
the three chambers in great perplexity, fully expecting to have
to end his days there, when he saw hanging on the wall, a flute.
‘ Why dost thou hang there ? ’ said he; 4 no one can be merry
here.’ He looked at the dragon’s heads also and said, ‘You
too cannot help me now.’ And 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 gnomes appeared, and
with every note that he sounded one more came. Then he
played until the room was entirely filled with them. They
asked him 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 flew up with him to the earth
again.
When he was safely out of the well, he went off at once to
the King’s palace, just as the wedding of one of the princesses
was about to be celebrated, and he went straight to the room
where the King was sitting with his three daughters, and
directly the princesses saw him they fainted. The King was
very angry, and ordered him to be put in prison at once,
because he thought he must have done some injury to his
children. But when the princesses came to themselves, they
begged the King to set him free again. The King in surprise
asked them why, and when they said that they were not
allowed to tell him, their father said they must tell it to the
stove then. And he went out, and listened at the door, and
heard all about it.
The two brothers he caused to be hanged on the gallows,
and to the third he gave his youngest daughter, and they lived
happily ever after.
93
Hans the Hedgehog
T HERE was once
a countryman who
had money and
land in plenty, but how¬
ever rich he might be,
there was still one thing
wanting to his happi¬
ness, for he had no chil¬
dren. Often when he
went into the town with
the other peasants they
mocked him, asking him
why he had no children.
At last one day he be¬
came angry, and when
he got home he said,
‘ Wife, I will have a child, even if it be but a hedgehog.’
And in time they did have a child, and it was like a hedge¬
hog in the upper part of his body, and a boy in the lower, and
when the wife saw the child, she was terrified, and said, 4 See
there, thou hast brought ill-luck on us.’
Then said the man, 4 What can be done now ? The boy
must be christened, but we shall never be able to find a god¬
father for him.’
And the woman said, 4 Nor can we call him anything else
but Hans the Hedgehog.’
When he was christened, the parson said, 4 You cannot
put him into any ordinary bed because of his spikes.’ So a
little straw was placed behind the stove, and Hans the Hedge-
94
HANS THE HEDGEHOG
hog was laid on it. His mother could not nurse him, for his
quills would have pricked her. So he lay there behind the
stove for eight years, and his father grew tired of him and
wished, ‘ If he would but die 1 ’ He did not die, however,
but went on lying there.
Now it happened that there was a fair in the town, and the
peasant was about to go to it, and he asked his wife what he
should bring back for her.
4 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.
Last of all he said, 4 And what wilt thou have, Hans my
Hedgehog ? ’
4 Dear father,’ he said, 4 do bring me some bagpipes.’
When 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,
4 Dear father, do go to the forge and get the cock shod, and
then I ’ll ride away, and never come back again.’ On hearing
this, the father was delighted to think that he was going to get
rid of him, and he had the cock shod for him, and when it was
done, Hans the Hedgehog got on its back, and rode away, and
he took some 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 all this time his father knew nothing about him.
While he was sitting in the tree, however, he learned to play his
bagpipes, and made music which was very beautiful.
Once a King came wandering by who had lost his way and
he heard the music. He was astonished by it, and sent his
servant to look about and find out where this music came from.
95
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 making music. The King told the servant to ask why he
sat there, and if he knew the road which led to his kingdom.
So Hans the Hedgehog came down from the tree, and said he
would show him 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, 4 1 can
do that without any fear. Hans the Hedgehog can understand
nothing, and I can write what I like.’ So the King took pen
and ink and wrote, and when he had done, 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 whatever 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.
Hans the Hedgehog, however, looked after his asses and
pigs, and was always merry and sat on the tree and played his
bagpipes.
Now it came to pass that another King came journeying
by with his servants and footmen, and he also had lost his
way, and did not know how to get home again because the
forest was so large. He too heard the beautiful music from a
distance, and asked his footman what that could be, and told
him to go and see. Then the footman went under the tree,
and saw the cock sitting at the top of it, and Hans the Hedge¬
hog on the cock. The footman asked him what he was about
up there ?
4 I am keeping my asses and my pigs, but what is it you
want ? ’
96
HANS THE HEDGEHOG
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 climbed
down the tree with the cock, and told the old 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, 4 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 reached the courtyard, there were great
rejoicings. Now he had an only daughter who was very
beautiful. And 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 she promised at once, that for love of her father,
she would willingly go with this Hans if he came.
Hans the Hedgehog, however, took care of his pigs, and the
pigs multiplied until they became so many that the whole
forest was full of 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 pigs who wished to do so.
When his father heard that he was troubled, for he thought
Hans the Hedgehog had died long ago. But Hans the Hedge¬
hog seated himself on the cock, drove the pigs before him into
the village, and ordered the slaughter to begin. Ho !-—but
then there was a killing and a chopping that might have been
heard two miles off !
G
97
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
After this Hans the Hedghog said, 4 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.
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 or cut
down, or stabbed by every one, so that he might not enter the
palace. When, therefore, Hans the Hedgehog came riding up,
all came running to stop 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. At that the King began to speak his
daughter fair, and 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 Hedge¬
hog 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 expecta¬
tion, for when they were a short distance from the town,
Hans the Hedgehog tore her pretty clothes off and scratched
her with his hedgehog’s prickles until she was all over blood.
4 That’s the reward for your falseness,’ said he. 4 Go,
get you gone, I won’t have you ! ’ and he chased her back
home, and she was disgraced for the rest of her life.
Hans the Hedgehog rode on further on the cock, with his
bagpipes, till he got to the dominions of the second King to
whom he had shown the way. This one, however, had
arranged that if any one like Hans the Hedgehog should come,
they were to present arms, bring him safely in, cry long life to
him, and lead him to the royal palace.
But when the King’s daughter saw him she was terrified,
98
HANS THE HEDGEHOG
for he looked quite too extraordinary. Still she remembered
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 spring swiftly to it, throw it in the fire, and stay by
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. In came the men and seized it instantly, 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 solemnised, and Hans the Hedgehog
received the kingdom from the aged King.
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 out
into the world. Then Hans made himself known, and the old
father rejoiced and went with him to his kingdom.
99
The Nose Tree
A LONG time ago there were three old soldiers who, when
they were no longer able to fight for the King, were
dismissed from the army without a penny in their
pockets, and they had to beg their bread from door to door.
Their way once led through a great forest where night over¬
took them. And two of them lay down to rest while the third
kept watch lest they should be seized in their sleep by wild
beasts.
As he stood there in the dark, watching, a little red dwarf
came up.
4 Who’s there ? ’ cried the dwarf.
‘Friend,’ replied the soldier.
‘ And who are you ? ’ said the dwarf.
4 We are three poor old discharged soldiers with scarcely a
tooth among us, and yet teeth too many for the fare that has
fallen to us this day.’ And he told the dwarf how hardly
they had been treated.
The dwarf in pity produced a queer old cloak, which
looked as if it was fit for nothing but the rag-bag. This he
gave to the soldier telling him that he must keep it secret from
the others till morning, for it was a wishing cloak, and whatever
its wearer might wish, his wish was instantly fulfilled.
The next watch was kept by the second soldier. And he,
too, received a visit from the little red man, who gave him a
wonderful purse that was always full of money.
During the last watch of the night when the third soldier
was on guard, the little man came yet again, and this time his
gift was of a horn at whose sound all men near and far were
bound to come running to follow its magic music.
100
THE NOSE TREE
At sunrise each showed his wonderful possession to the
others, and you may be sure they wasted no time before they
were living in comfort and riches, with a coach and three white
horses when they wished to travel and a splendid great castle
to live in.
After a time, so fine had they become, that they must needs
pay the King a visit. And they were welcomed and enter¬
tained as befitted the great lords they now appeared to be.
The King had an only daughter, and once, while she was
playing cards with one of the soldiers, she discovered that it
mattered not to him whether he won or lost, for his purse never
failed to have money in it, no matter how much he had to pay.
It was not long before she guessed that it could only be a
wishing-purse. This she must have. So, waiting her oppor¬
tunity, she slyly mixed a sleeping-draught in a cup of wine
that she gave him, and while he slept she changed his purse
for another one which was just the same to look at.
Next morning their visit came to an end, and the soldiers
drove away. And they soon found out the trick that had been
played upon them.
4 Alas ! ’ cried one, 4 now we are beggars again.’
4 Oh ! don’t be in such a hurry about that,’ said the
first. 4 I ’ll warrant we’ve no cause yet to grow grey with
trouble. I ’ll soon have it back again.’ And throwing on his
magic old cloak, he wished himself in the princess’s room.
There he was at once. And there she sat at her table
counting out gold from the purse as fast as she could count.
4 Help ! Help ! ’ screamed the princess at the top of her
voice. 4 Robbers ! Robbers ! Help ! ’
In an instant the alarm was raised, and the guard rushed
into the room followed by the whole court.
Startled out of his wits, the soldier forgot the magic power of
his cloak, dashed for the window and escaped. But he left the
cloak behind him, caught fast to the curtain hook as he leaped.
And then he, too, had lost the little red dwarf’s gift !
Now they had nothing left but the horm And this time
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LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
they would indeed be wise. So they agreed upon a plan to
recover the cloak and the purse.
They marched through the country blowing the horn, till
they had raised an enormous army. And then they went to
the King’s city and demanded that the lost gifts should be
given back to them or else not one stone of the King’s palace
would they leave standing on another.
The King consulted his daughter, but she wasn’t going to
give up her treasures as readily as all that. And she disguised
herself as a poor girl, selling drinks to the soldiers of the camp,
whither she went with a basket on her arm.
When she was there she began to sing. And so beautifully,
that the whole army ran out of their tents and gathered round
to hear her, the soldier who had the horn among them. At
this her waiting-maid, who had also been disguised, stole into
his tent, hid the horn under her apron and ran away with it to
the palace.
And now the King’s daughter had all three wishing-gifts.
For, of course, with the help of the horn she had easily been
able to overcome the three soldiers and their men.
Once more the old soldiers found themselves in poverty.
4 We must separate,’ one said. ‘ Do you two go that way
and I ’ll go this.’ And with that he went off alone, lying
down beneath a tree in the forest when night came. At
daybreak he saw that he was under an apple-tree covered with
beautiful ripe fruit and he was so hungry that he picked one
apple after another and ate them. What then did he find
but that his nose was growing longer and longer and longer !
And it grew, and grew, until it reached the ground !
There was nothing he could do to stop it, and so there he
sat, while his nose kept on growing along the ground till it
went right out of sight among the trees, miles away.
By this time, however, his companions had decided to
rejoin him and were wandering through the forest in search.
Suddenly one of them stumbled against something soft that
was lying across the path.
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THEY CAME AT LAST TO THEIR POOR OLD FRIEND
THE NOSE TREE
c What the mischief is this ? ’ cried he. And as he looked
at it, it moved a little. 4 A nose ? Upon my word it’s a nose,
neither more nor less ! ’
4 We ’ll follow this nose,’ said they, and up and down
through the wood they went, through bushes and briars, till
they came at last to their poor old friend, lying on the ground
where he had slept, unable to stir a step.
Try as they could, the great long nose was too heavy for
them to lift. So they hunted about till they found a donkey,
and put their friend upon it, with his nose wound round a
couple of poles which they helped to carry. But even the ass
could bear the weight only a very short way, so they set him
down again in despair.
But it happened that they had stopped by a pear-tree, and
who should step from behind it but their little friend, the red
dwarf.
Said he to Brother Long-Nose, 4 Eat just one of these pears,
and your nose will fall off.’
And so it came about. The long nose fell right off, leaving
exactly the same amount as the man had had before.
Again the little man spoke and said, 4 Prepare a powder
from the apples, and prepare another powder from the pears.
Then if any one eats of the first his nose will grow, and if he
eats the pear-powder, it will fall off again.’
4 With these two powders,’ he went on, 4 go back to the
princess and give her, first, two of the apples. Then give her
some of the powder made from the apples, and her nose will
grow even twenty times as long as yours. But be firm.’
With these words he vanished.
The soldier followed the dwarf’s advice, and went in the
guise of a costermonger to the King’s palace, saying he came
with apples to sell, sweeter and finer than had ever been seen
there before. The princess bought some, and two she ate
with very great pleasure.
And now her nose began to grow ! And it grew so quickly
that she couldn’t lift herself out of her chair. And it grew
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LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
round and round the table, and round and round the wardrobe,
and out of the window, and round the castle, and down the
street, and out about the town till there were twenty miles or
so of princess’s nose in the kingdom.
Rich for life the King said he would make him who eased
the princess of her terrible burden. And he caused a procla¬
mation to be made throughout the land.
After a while, the old soldier presented himself dressed
like a learned doctor, and he gave her some of the apple-
powder, as the dwarf had advised. And her nose grew more
and more and more, twenty times more. He waited until she
could bear her distress no longer and then he gave her a little
pear-powder, but not very much, and her nose perceptibly
shortened. But he wasn’t going to let her off yet, so next
morning he gave her another dose of apple-powder, so that her
nose started growing again and gained more than it had lost
the day before.
At that he told her she must have something on her con¬
science. She must have robbed some one. No, she said, she
hadn’t. 4 Well,’ said he, 4 you ’ll lose your life then. There’s
nothing I can do to save you.’ And he went out of the room.
This added to her terror, and after the King had urged her
to give up the purse, the horn, and the cloak, to be restored
to their rightful owners, she sent after the physician and told
him all. Then she bade her waiting-maid get all three things
out of the cupboard and handed them over to him.
When he had them all safe, he measured out to the princess
the right quantity of pear-powder, the nose fell off immediately,
to the great delight of every one, and two hundred and fifty
men had to come and cut it in pieces before it could be cleared
away.
As for the old soldier, he joyfully went back home to his
two friends, and they spent the rest of their lives together in the
enjoyment of their three magic possessions.
104
The Three Feathers
T HERE was once on a time a King who had three sons,
of whom two were clever and wise, but the third did
not talk much, and was simple, and was called the
Duffer. When the King had become old and weak, and began
to think of his end, he did not know which of his sons ought to
inherit the kingdom after him.
So 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,
4 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. So one brother went to the right, and the other to
the left, mocking at the Duffer who was forced to stay where
the third feather had fallen. He sat down feeling very sad,
when all at once he saw that there was a trap-door in the
ground close by the feather. He lifted it up, and found some
105
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
steps, which he went down. Then he came to a door, and
knocked at it, and heard somebody inside call out,
‘ Little green maiden,
Hop, hop about!
Hop to the door,
And see who’s without.’
The door opened, and there he saw a great fat toad sitting
surrounded by a crowd of little toads. The fat toad asked
what he wanted ? He answered, 4 I should like to have the
prettiest and finest carpet in the world.’ Then she called one
of the little ones and said,
‘ Little green maiden,
Hopping all about,
Hop quick and get me
My great box out.’
The young toad brought the box, and the fat toad opened it,
and gave the Duffer a carpet out, so beautiful and so fine,
that on the earth above none could have been woven like it.
Then he thanked her, and climbed the stairs again.
The two others, however, had looked on their youngest
brother as so stupid that they never believed he would find or
bring anything at all. 4 Why should we give ourselves a great
deal of trouble searching about ? ’ said they, and they got some
coarse kerchiefs from the first shepherds’ wives they met, and
carried them home to the King. At the same time also the
Duffer came back, and brought his beautiful carpet, and when
the King saw it he was astonished, and said, 4 If justice be
done, the kingdom must belong to the youngest.’ But the
two others let their father have no peace, saying that it was
impossible that the Duffer, who lacked understanding in every¬
thing, should be King, and entreating him to make another
trial.
106
THE THREE FEATHERS
4 Then, 5 said the father, ‘ he who brings me the most
beautiful ring shall inherit the kingdom,’ and he led the three
brothers out and blew into the air the three feathers which
they were to follow.
Those of the two eldest again went east and west, and the
Duffer’s feather flew straight up, and fell down near the trap¬
door into the ground. 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 the idea of the Duffer seeking a
golden ring. So they gave themselves no trouble, but picked
up an old harness-ring, and took it to the King ; but when
the Duffer produced his golden ring, his father again, said,
4 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.
The Duffer without more ado went down to the fat toad,
and said, 4 I am to take home the most beautiful woman ! ’
4 Oh,’ answered the toad, 4 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 the Duffer said quite
mournfully, 4 What am I to do with that ? ’ The toad
answered, 4 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 the most beautiful maiden, and the turnip into a
coach, and the six mice into horses. So he kissed her, and
drove off quickly back home to the King. His brothers came
in soon 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.
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LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
When the King saw them he said, ‘ After my death the
kingdom shall belong to my youngest son.’
But the two eldest deafened the King’s ears afresh with
their clamour. ‘ We cannot consent to the Duffer being King,’
and demanded that the one whose wife could leap through a
hoop which hung in the centre of the hall should have the
preference. They thought, 4 Our peasant women can do that
easily ; they are strong enough, but this delicate maiden will
kill herself in the attempt.’ The aged King agreed to this
plan too. Then the two peasant women jumped, and jumped
through the hoop, but were so stout and heavy that they fell
and broke their coarse arms and legs. And then the pretty
maiden whom the Duffer had brought with him took her turn
and skipped through the hoop as lightly as a deer, and then
there was no more to be said. So the Duffer received the
crown, and has ruled wisely and well for many a long year.
The Goose-girl at the Well
O NCE upon a time there was a very old woman, who lived
with her flock of geese in a waste place among the
mountains, where she had a little hut. The waste
was surrounded by a large forest, and there every morning the
old woman hobbled with her crutch. The dame was quite
active, more so than one would have thought, considering her
age, and she gathered fodder for her geese, and picked all the
wild fruit she could reach, and carried everything home on her
back. Any one would have thought that such a 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
108
I he pretty maiden skipped through the hoop as lightly as a deer.
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
wonder I drag all this about, but every one must take his
burden on his back.’
Nevertheless, people did not like meeting her if they could
help it, and went out of their way to avoid her, and when a
father passed her with his boys, he whispered to them, 4 Beware
of that 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
stole 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 bundle, and
near it stood two baskets, which were filled with wild apples
and pears.
4 What, Motherkins,’ said he, ‘ how canst thou carry all
that ? ’
‘I must carry it, dear sir,’ answered she; 4 rich folk’s
children have no need to do such things, but we peasant folk
have no choice. With us the saying goes, Don’t look behind
you; you will only see how bent your back is ! ’
4 Will you help me ? ’ she said, as he remained standing by
her. 4 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
quickly you could bound up thither ! ’
The young man took compassion on the old woman. 4 In
truth my father is no peasant,’ replied he, 4 but a rich count.
Nevertheless, that you may see that it is not only peasants
who can bear burdens, I will take your bundle.’
4 If you will but try,’ said she, 4 I shall be very glad. It
will take you an hour, to be sure, but what will that matter
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
110
THE GOOSE-GIRL AT THE WELL
him off, packed the bundle on his back, and hung the two
baskets on his arm.
4 See, it’s quite light,’ said she.
4 No, it is not light,’ answered the count, and he pulled a
rueful face. 4 Verily, the bundle is as heavy 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 every¬
thing down again, but the old crone would not let him.
4 Just look,’ said she mockingly, 4 the young gentleman
will not carry what an old woman like me has so often dragged
along. You are ready enough with your fine words, but when
it comes to the point, you want to take to your heels. Why
are you standing there ? ’ she went on. 4 Step out. No one
will take the bundle off again.’
As long as the path followed level ground, it was bearable,
but when they came to the hill and had to climb, and the
stones rolled under his feet as if they were alive, it was beyond
his strength. Drops of sweat stood on his forehead, and ran,
hot and cold, down his back. 4 Mother,’ said he, 4 I can go
no further. I must have a rest.’
4 Not here,’ answered the old woman. 4 When we reach our
journey’s end you can rest, but now you must go on. Who
knows what good it may do you ? ’
4 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 and sprang about on her crutch quite delighted.
4 Don’t get angry, dear sir,’ said she; 4 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.’
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 gave a spring, jumped on to the bundle and
sat herself on the top of it. And however withered she might
111
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
be, she was yet heavier than the stoutest country lass. The
youth’s knees trembled, but when he halted 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 caught sight of the old woman, they
flapped their wings, stretched out their necks, and ran cackling
to meet her. Behind the flock with a stick in her hand came
an old wench, strong and big, but ugly as night.
4 Good mother,’ said she to the old woman, 4 has anything
happened to you, you have stayed away so long ? ’
4 Not at all, my little daughter,’ answered she; 4 I have
met with nothing bad, but, on the contrary, with this kind
gentleman, who has carried my burden for me. Only think,
he even took me on his back too when I was tired. Nor has
the way seemed long to us. We have been merry, and have
been cracking jokes with each other all the time.’ Then 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, 4 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, 4 Go
into the house, my dear daughter; it won’t do 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. 4 Such a
sweetheart as that,’ thought he, 4 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 gay with cowslips, wild
thyme, and a thousand other flowers. Through the midst of
it rippled a clear brook sparkling in the sun, and the white
geese wandered to and fro, or paddled in the water.
112
Groaning continually^ he climbed the mountain.
H
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
4 It is quite delightful here,’ said he, 4 but I am so tired
that I cannot keep my eyes open. I ’ll 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.’
When he had slept a while, the old woman came and shook
him till he awoke.
4 Sit up,’ said she, 4 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 box into his
hand, which was cut out of a single emerald. 4 Take great
care of it,’ said she, 4 it will bring thee good fortune.’ The
count sprang up, and as he felt that he was quite fresh, and
had recovered his vigour, he thanked the old woman for her
present, and set off without even once looking back at the
beautiful daughter. And for some distance he still heard the
noisy cry of the geese.
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 to the royal palace,
where the King and Queen were sitting on their throne. The
count fell on one knee, drew the emerald box out of his pocket,
and laid it at the Queen’s feet. She bade him rise and hand
her the little box. Hardly, however, had she opened it, and
looked inside, 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.
When they were alone, the Queen began to weep bitterly,
and said, 4 Of what use to me are the splendours and honours
with which I am surrounded. Every morning I wake 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 sunbeams. When she cried, not
114
THE GOOSE-GIRL AT THE WELL
tears fell from her eyes, but pearls and jewels. 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
was rising! Then the King spoke, “ My daughters, I know
not when my last day may come ; to-day I will decide what
each of you 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 love me, that I may
judge between you ? ” 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 their father said, “ And thou, my dearest
child, how much dost thou love me ? ” “I do not know. I
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.” And 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, 4 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 box, a pearl lay there, of
exactly the same kind as those which used to fall from my
115
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
daughter’s eyes. And you can imagine how the sight of it
stirred my heart. Tell me, you must, how you came by
that pearl.’
The count told her how 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 heard any¬
thing of the Queen’s child. Thereupon 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.
In her lonely cottage the old woman was sitting at her
spinning-wheel. 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 in
came the daughter. The old woman scarcely noticed her, but
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, 4 Uhu ! ’ three times.
The old woman glanced up and she said, 1 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 on and on 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 re¬
moved a skin which covered her face, 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 grass to dry
in the moonlight. But how the maiden was changed ! Such
a change as that was never seen before ! When the grey
mask fell off, her golden hair broke forth like sunbeams, and
spread like a mantle over her whole form. Her eyes shone
116
THE GOOSE-GIRL AT THE WELL
out as brightly as the stars in heaven, and her cheeks bloomed
a soft red like apple-blossom.
But the fair maiden was sad. She sat down and wept
bitterly. One tear after another escaped from 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 nearest tree.
She sprang up like a roe which has been surprised by the shot
of the hunter. Just then the moon was hidden by a dark
cloud, and in an instant the maiden had slipped on the old skin
and vanished, like a light blown out by the wind.
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 threw a fresh log on the fire. She did not, however,
sit down to her spinning again, but fetched a broom and
began to sweep and scour, 4 All must be clean and sweet,’ she
said to the girl.
4 But, mother,’ said the maiden, 4 why do you begin work
at so late an hour ? What is it you expect ? ’
4 Dost thou know then what time it is ? ’ asked the old
woman.
4 Not yet midnight,’ answered the maiden, 4 but already
past eleven o’clock.’
4 Dost thou not remember,’ continued the old woman, 4 that
it is three years to-day since thou earnest to me ? Thy time
is up, we can no longer remain together.’
The girl was terrified, and said, 4 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. 4 My stay here is over,’ she said to her, 4 but when I
depart, house and parlour must be clean. Therefore do not
117
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 content thee also.’
‘ But tell me what is about to happen,’ the maiden con¬
tinued to entreat.
4 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 earnest, and then wait in thy chamber until I call thee.’
But I must once more tell of the King and Queen, who
had journeyed forth with the count to seek out the old woman
in the wilderness. By chance the count had become separated
from them in the dark wood, and had had to go on alone.
Next day it seemed to him that he was on the right track, so
he still went forward, until darkness came on, then he climbed
a tree, intending to pass the night there, for fear he might lose
his way. When the moon illumined the surrounding country
he saw a figure coming down the mountain. She had no stick
in her hand, but he could see that it was the goose-girl, whom
he had seen before in the house of the old woman.
4 Oho,’ cried he, 4 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, and when her golden
hair fell all about her, and she was more beautiful than any
one 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 gazed 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 dis¬
appeared, before the young count descended from the tree,
and hastened after her with nimble steps. He had not been
gone long before he saw in the moonlight two figures coming
over the meadow. It was the King and Queen, who had per-
118
I here she sat, and would have remained sitting- a long time, if there had not
been a rustling and cracking in the houghs of the nearest tree.
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
ceived from a distance the light shining in the old woman’s
little house, and were going to it. The count told them what
marvels he had seen by the well, and they did not doubt that
it had been their lost daughter. They walked on full of joy,
and soon came to the little house. The geese were sitting all
round it, fast asleep with their heads under their wings, and
not one of them moved. The King and Queen looked in at
the window. The old woman was sitting there quietly spin¬
ning, 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, and 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 in a friendly voice, 4 Come in, I know
already who you are.’ When they had entered the room, the
old woman said, 4 You might have spared yourselves this long
journey, if three years ago you had not 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, and
with them she has learned no evil, but has preserved her purity
of heart. You, however, have been punished enough by the
misery in which you have lived.’ Then she went to the bed¬
room door and called, 4 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.
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 saw him she blushed as red as a moss-rose, she herself did
not know why.
The King said, 4 My dear child, I have given away my
kingdom, what have I to give thee ? ’
4 She needs nothing,’ said the old woman. 4 I give her the
tears that she has wept on your account. They are precious
120
THE GOOSE-GIRL AT THE WELL
pearls, finer than those that are found in the sea, and worth
more than your whole kingdom, and as payment for her ser¬
vices I give her my little house.’ When the old woman had
said that, she disappeared from their sight.
The walls creaked, and when the King and Queen looked
round, the little hut had changed into a splendid palace, a
royal table had been spread, and the servants were running
hither and thither.
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 wicked 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 nowadays, or else the poor
would soon become rich.
121
The Little People’s Presents
A TAILOR and a goldsmith were travelling together. And
one evening when the sun had sunk behind the moun¬
tains, they heard the sound of music far away, which
became more and more distinct as they went on. It sounded
strange, but so sweet that they forgot all their weariness and
stepped quickly on.
The moon had already risen 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 gaiety and delight. And 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 coat of many
colours, 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 at once. The tailor felt a little
afraid at first, and held back, but when he saw how merrily
all was going, he too plucked up 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, and whetted it,
and when it was sharp enough, he looked round at the strangers.
They were terrified, but they had not much time to think, 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
122
When it was sharp enough, he looked round at the strangers.
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
he had finished his work, the old man clapped them both on
the shoulder in a friendly manner, as much as to say that they
had behaved well to let all that be done to them willingly, and
without struggle. He pointed with his finger to a heap of
coals that lay at one side, and made signs to the travellers
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 reached the valley, the
clock of the neighbouring monastery struck twelve, and the
song ceased. In a moment all had vanished, and the hill lay
deserted in the moonlight.
The two travellers found an inn, and covered themselves
up on their straw beds with their coats, but in their weariness
they forgot to take the coals out of their pockets before doing
so. A heavy weight on their limbs woke them up 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. And they were glad to find, too, the hair of
their heads and beards was again as thick as ever.
They had now become rich folk, 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, 4 I have enough and am content. Now I shall be a
master, and marry my dear object (for so he called his sweet¬
heart), and I am a happy man . 5 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
124
THE LITTLE PEOPLE’S PRESENTS
some coal away with him. He was not slow about sticking
as much into his bags as would go, and he went back quite
delighted, and covered himself over with his coat. 4 Even
if the gold does weigh heavily,’ said he, 4 I will gladly bear
that,’ and at last he fell asleep with the sweet anticipation of
waking in the morning an enormously rich man.
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 no matter how often
he put his hands in them. 4 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
recognised the punishment of his greediness, and began to
weep aloud. The good tailor, who was awakened by this,
comforted the unhappy fellow as well as he could, and said,
4 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.
125
The Three Little Men in the Wood
T HERE was once a man whose wife had died, and a
woman whose husband had died. And the man had
a daughter, and the woman also had a daughter. The
girls knew each other, and used often to take walks together,
and afterwards come back to the woman’s house.
One day said she to the man’s daughter, 4 Listen. Tell thy
father that I would like to marry him, and then thou shalt
wash thyself in milk every morning, and drink wine, while my
own daughter shall wash herself in water and only have water
to drink.’ The girl went home, and told her father what the
woman had said.
4 What shall I do ? ’ said the man. 4 Marriage is a joy,
but it is also a torment.’ At length as he could come to no
decision, he pulled off his boot, and said, 4 Here, take this boot,
it has a hole in the sole. Go up to the loft with it and hang it
on the big nail, and then pour water into it. If it holds the
water, I will again take a wife, but if it runs through, I won’t.’
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 what had happened, and he went up to
look for himself. When he saw that she was right, he went to
the widow and wooed her, and the wedding took place.
Next morning, when the two girls got up, before the man’s
daughter there stood 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
there stood water for washing and water for drinking before
the man’s daughter as well as before the woman’s daughter.
But on the third morning there stood water for washing and
126
THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD
water for drinking before the man’s daughter, and milk for
washing and wine for drinking before the woman’s daughter,
and that’s how it went on. The woman became bitterly
unkind to her step-daughter, and day by day did her utmost
to treat her still worse. She was envious too because her
step-daughter was beautiful and lovable, and her own daughter
ugly and repulsive.
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,
4 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.’
4 Good heavens ! ’ said the girl, 4 no strawberries grow in
winter ! The ground is frozen, and besides the snow has
covered everything up. 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 back.’
4 Wilt thou dare to contradict me ? ’ said the step-mother.
4 Go thou at once and don’t show thy face again until thou
hast filled the basket with strawberries ! ’ Then she gave her
a little slice of stale bread, and said, 4 This ’ll last thee the day,’
thinking 4 Out there she ’ll die of cold and hunger, and I shall
never see her again.’
The maiden obeyed, 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. In the wood she came upon
a small house out of which peeped three little dwarfs. She
wished them good day, and knocked modestly at the door.
4 Come in,’ they cried, and in she went and sat down on the
bench by the stove, where she began to warm herself and to
eat her breakfast.
4 Give us some too,’ said the little men.
4 Willingly,’ said she, and broke her bit of bread in two,
and gave them half.
127
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
4 What dost thou here,’ they asked her, 4 in the forest in
winter time, in thy thin dress ? ’
4 Ah,’ she answered, 4 I have to pick a basketful of straw¬
berries, and mustn’t go home till I can take them with me.’
When she had eaten her bread, they gave her a broom and
said, 4 Sweep away the snow at the back door.’ And when she
had gone outside, the three little men asked each other,
4 What shall we give her as she is so good, and has shared her
bread with us ? ’
Then said the first, 4 My gift is, that she shall grow more
beautiful every day.’
The second said, 4 My gift is, that gold pieces shall fall out
of her mouth every time she speaks.’
The third said, 4 My gift is, that a king shall come and take
her to wife.’
Meanwhile the girl did as the little men had bidden her,
and swept away the snow behind the little house with the
broom, and what did she find there but real ripe strawberries,
which came up quite dark red out of the snow ! In haste she
joyfully 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, at once there fell out of her mouth
a piece of gold ! Thereupon she related what had happened
to her in the wood. And with every word she spoke, gold
pieces fell from her mouth, until very soon the whole room was
covered with them.
4 Now look how proud she is,’ cried the step-sister, 4 throw¬
ing gold about in that way ! ’ but secretly she was envious of
it, and she too wanted to go into the forest to seek strawberries.
Her mother said, 4 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 gave way at last, made
her put on a fine warm coat of fur, and gave her bread and
butter and cake to take with her.
The girl went into the forest, straight to the little house,
128
WHAT DID SHE FIND THERE RUT REAL RIPE STRAWBERRIES.
THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD
The three little mannikins peeped out again, but she did not
greet them, and without glancing at them or speaking to them,
she went awkwardly into the room, sat herself down by the
stove, and began to eat her bread and butter and cake.
4 Give us some,’ cried the little men.
But she replied, 4 There isn’t enough for myself, so how
can I give any to any one else ? ’
When she had done eating, they said, 4 There is a broom
for thee, sweep the snow clear for us outside by the back door.’
4 Humph ! Sweep for yourselves,’ she answered ; 4 1’m
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, 4 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, 4 It is my wish that she may grow uglier
every day.’
The second said, 4 It is my wish that at every word she says,
a toad shell spring out of her mouth.’
The third said, 4 It is my wish that she may die a miserable
death.’
Out in the snow the maiden hunted for the strawberries, but
she found none, so she went home in a temper. 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 out
of her mouth jumped a toad, so that every one was seized with
horror of her.
Then the step-mother was still more enraged, and thought
of nothing but how to do every possible harm to the man’s
daughter, whose beauty, however, grew daily greater. After
a time she took a cauldron, set it on the fire, and boiled some
yarn in it. When it was boiled, she flung it over the poor
girl’s shoulder, and gave her an axe to go to the frozen river,
and cut a hole in the ice to rinse the yarn. Her step-daughter
obeyed and went and cut a hole in the ice ; and while she was
doing it a splendid coach came driving up, in which sat the King,
i 129
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
The coach drew up, and the King put his head out of the
window and asked, 4 My child, who art thou, and what art thou
doing here ? 5
4 I am a poor girl, and I am rinsing yarn.’
The King felt sorry for her, and when he saw that she was
so lovely, he said to her, 4 Wilt thou
With every word she said, out other mouth
jumped a toad.
4 Oh yes, with all my heart,’ she
So she got into the carriage and drove
away with the King, and when they
arrived at his palace they were married
with great pomp, just as the little men had wished for her.
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,
130
THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD
and no one was by, the wicked woman seized the Queen by
the head, and her daughter seized her by the feet, and they
lifted her out of 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;
to-day she is very feverish and must be kept quiet.’ The King
suspected no evil, and did not come again till next morning ;
then, as he talked with his wife and she answered him, with
every word a toad leaped out, whereas formerly it had been a
piece of gold. He asked what the cause could be, and the
old woman said that she had got that from the fever, and
wou'd soon lose it again. During the night, however, the
scullion saw a duck come swimming up the gutter, and it said,
4 King, what art thou doing now ?
Sleepest thou, or wakest thou ? 1
And as he returned no answer it said,
4 And my guests, What may they do ? 1
The scullion said,
4 They are sleeping soundly, too.’
Then it asked again,
4 What does little baby mine ? 1
He answered,
4 He sleepeth in his cradle fine.’
Then she went upstairs in the form of the Queen, nursed
the baby, shook up its little bed, and tucked it in again, and
then swam away down the ditch 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
131
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
ran and told this to the King, who came with his sword and
swung it thrice over her, and at the third time his wife stood
before him alive, strong and healthy as she had been before.
Thereupon the King was full of great joy, but he kept the
Queen hidden until the Sunday when the baby was to be
christened. After the christening he said, ‘ What does a
person deserve who drags another out of bed and throws him
in the water ? ’
‘ Such a wretch deserves no better,’ answered the old
woman, ‘ than to be taken and put in a barrel stuck full of
nails, and rolled downhill 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 was rolled down the
hill into the river.
The Spirit in the Bottle
T HERE was once a poor woodcutter who toiled from
early morning till late at night. When at last he had
put by some money he said to his boy, 4 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 school and learned so diligently 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 money that his father had
saved was all spent, and the boy was obliged to return
home.
4 Ah,’ said his father sorrowfully, 4 I can give you no more,
and in these hard times I cannot earn a farthing more than is
enough for our daily bread.’
4 Dear father,’ answered the son, 4 don’t trouble yourself
about it, if it is God’s will it will turn to my advantage. I
shall soon be reconciled to it.’
When the father next went into the forest to earn money
by helping to pile and stack wood and to chop it, his son said,
4 I will go with you and help you.’
4 Nay, my son,’ said the father, 4 that would be too hard for
you. You are not used to rough work and will not be able to
stand it, besides I have only one axe and no money left where¬
with to buy another.’
4 Just go to our neighbour,’ answered the son; 4 he will lend
you his axe until I have earned one for myself.’
So the father borrowed an axe of the neighbour and next
133
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
morning at break of day they went out into the forest together.
The son helped his father and was quite merry and brisk about
his work. But when the sun was right over their heads, the
father said, 4 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, 4 Just you
rest, father, I am not tired. I will walk up and down among the
trees and look for birds’ nests.’
4 Oh, that’s foolish of you,’ said his father. 4 Why should
you want to be running about ? 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. He wandered up
and down 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, 4 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 some one
was crying in a very smothered voice, 4 Let me out, let me
out ! ’ He looked around, but could discover nothing. Never¬
theless, he fancied that the voice came out of the ground.
Then he cried, 4 Where art thou ? ’
The voice answered, 4 I am here down 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. 4 Let me out! Let me out! ’ it cried anew, and
the scholar, suspecting no danger, 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
134
THE SPIRIT IN THE BOTTLE
the scholar, a terrible fellow half as big as the tree by which
he was standing.
4 Knowest thou,’ he cried in an awful voice, 4 what thy
wages are for having let me out ? ’
4 No,’ replied the scholar fearlessly. 4 How should I know
that ? ’
4 Then I will tell thee,’ cried the spirit: 4 1 must strangle
thee for it.’
4 Thou shouldst have told me that sooner,’ said the scholar,
4 for I should then have left thee shut up. But I ’ll keep my
head on my shoulders for all thou canst do. More persons
than one must be consulted about that.’
4 That’s neither here nor there,’ said the spirit. 4 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.
Whoever releases me, him must I strangle.’
4 Softly,’ answered the scholar, 4 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, 4 That is a very trifling feat,’
drew himself together, and made himself as small and slender
as he had been at first, then he crept into the mouth of the
bottle, and through the neck right in again. Scarcely was he
within than the scholar thrust the cork back into the bottle,
and threw it among the roots of the oak where it was before,
and the spirit was trapped again.
Then the scholar was about to return to his father, when the
spirit cried piteously, 4 Ah, do let me out ! ah, do let me out ! ’
4 No,’ answered the scholar, 4 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.’
4 If thou wilt set me free,’ said the spirit, 4 I will give thee
so much that thou wilt have plenty all the days of thy life.’
135
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
4 No,’ answered the scholar, 4 thou wouldst cheat me as
thou didst the first time.’
4 Thou art driving away thy own good luck,’ said the spirit;
4 I will do thee no harm, I promise, but I will reward thee
richly.’
The scholar thought, 4 I ’ll venture it, perhaps he ’ll 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.
4 Now thou shalt have thy reward,’ said he, and he handed
the scholar a little bag just like a plaster, and said, 4 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.’
4 I must just try that,’ said the scholar, and went to a
tree, chipped off some bark with his axe, and rubbed it with
one end of the plaster. It immediately grew together again
and was healed. 4 It’s all right now,’ he said to the spirit,
4 and we can part.’ The spirit thanked him for his release,
and the scholar thanked the spirit for his present, and went
back to his father.
4 Where hast thou been wandering about ? ’ said the
father ; 4 why hast thou forgotten thy work ? I said at once
that thou wouldst never get on with anything.’
4 Be easy, father, I will make it up.’
4 Make it up indeed,’ said the father angrily, 4 there’s no
way of doing that.’
4 Wait a bit, father. See me fell that tree there. I ’ll soon
make the chips fly.’ Then he took his plaster, rubbed the
axe with it, and dealt a mighty blow, but as the iron had
changed into silver, it turned the edge.
4 Hollo, father, just look what a bad axe you ’ve given me;
it has become quite bent.’
The father was dismayed, and said, 4 Ah, what hast thou
done ? Now I shall have to pay for that, and what with, I
136
A terrible fellow half as big as the tree by which he was standing.
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
should like to know ? That’s all the good I’ve got by thy
work.’
4 Don’t get angry,’ said his son, 4 I will soon pay for
the axe.’
4 Oh, thou blockhead ! ’ cried the father; 4 wherewith wilt
thou pay for it ? Thou hast nothing but what I give thee.
These are students’ tricks that are sticking in thy head—thou
hast no idea of woodcutting.’
After a while the scholar said, 4 Father, I can really work
no more; we had better take a holiday.’
4 Eh, what ! ’ answered he. 4 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.’
4 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, 4 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,
4 It is worth four hundred thalers, I have not so much as
that by me.’
The son said, 4 Give me what you have, 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, 4 Father, I have got
the money. Go and ask the neighbour what he wants for the
axe.’
4 1 know that already,’ answered the old man: 4 one thaler
six groschen.’
4 Then give him two thalers, twelve groschen, that is double
and enough. See, I have money in plenty,’ and he gave his
father a hundred thalers, and said, 4 You shall nevor know want,
live as comfortably as you like.’
138
THE THREE ARMY SURGEONS
4 Good heavens ! ’ said the father, 4 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 took himself back to school and
went on learning, and as he could heal all wounds with his
plaster, he became the most famous doctor in the whole
world.
The Three Army Surgeons
T HREE army surgeons, who considered they were perfect
masters of their art, 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 where they
were going to ?
4 We are roaming about the world and practising our
art.’
4 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 put them back again next
morning.
4 Well,’ said the innkeeper, 4 if you can do that, you have
learned everything.’
They, however, had a salve, with which they rubbed them¬
selves, 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
139
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
it to the innkeeper. The innkeeper gave it to a servant who
was to put it in the cupboard, and take good care of it. The
girl, however, had a lover in secret, who was a soldier. So
when the innkeeper, the three army surgeons, and every one
else in the house had gone to bed, in came the soldier and
wanted something to eat. The girl opened the cupboard and
brought him some food, and in her love forgot to shut the cup-
'l'he cat came creeping in.
board-door again. She seated herself at the table by her
lover, and they chattered away together. While she sat there
so contentedly 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 finished his supper, 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, 4 Oh, miserable
girl that I am, what shall I do ? The hand is gone, and the
140
THE THREE ARMY-SURGEONS.
THE THREE ARMY SURGEONS
heart and the eyes are gone too ! What will become of me in
the morning ? ’
4 Be easy,’ said he, 4 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 ? 5
4 The right one.’
Then the girl gave him a sharp knife, and he went and cut
the dead robber’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. 4 Have you not just been killing,
and are not the dead pigs in the cellar ? ’ said he.
4 Yes,’ said the girl.
4 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.
In the morning when the three army surgeons got up, they
told the girl 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 on to his arm at once. 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 every one. Then they paid their
bill, and travelled farther.
As they were on their way, the one with the pig’s heart
could never keep 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, 4 Com¬
rades, what is the matter ? I can’t see at all. Will one of
you lead me, so that I don’t fall.’ With difficulty they
141
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 his 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 the others saw this, and said, 4 Comrade, what art thou
about ? Thou must not steal ! Shame on thee ! ’ 4 Eh,’
said he, 4 but how can I stop myself ? My hand twitches, and
I am forced to snatch things whether I will or not.’
After this, they lay down to sleep and as 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, 4 Brothers, look up ! Do you see the white mice running
about there ? ’ The two sat up, but could see nothing. Then
said he, 4 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.’ So they went back 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 she had seen the three
coming, and 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 all he had,
and all 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.
142
The Hare and the Hedgehog
T HIS story, youngsters, might well seem nonsense, but it
really is true, for I had it from my grandfather, and
when he told it he always used to say, 4 It must be true,
my son, or else no one could tell it to you.’
The stoiy is as follows. One Sunday morning about
harvest time, just as the buckwheat
was in bloom, the sun was shining
brightly in the sky, 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 all going in
their Sunday clothes to church, and
all creatures were happy. And the
hedgehog was happy too.
Well, he was standing by his
door with his arms akimbo, enjoying
the morning breezes, and slowly humming a little song to
himself, which was neither better nor worse than the
songs that hedgehogs usually do sing on a blessed Sunday
morning. As thus he was 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. Really, the
turnips were not his at all, but they grew just round the
corner, and he and his family were in the habit of helping
themselves, so he looked upon them as his own. No sooner
said than done.
143
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 to go up into the turnip-
field, when he came across 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 exceedingly haughty, did not
return the hedgehog’s greeting, but said to him, assuming at
the same time a very contemptuous manner, 4 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.
4 A walk ! ’ said the hare, with a smile. 4 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 a remark about his legs, because they
are crooked by nature. So he replied, ‘You seem to imagine
that you can do more with your legs than I can 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 beat you.’
‘ Oh, nonsense ! You, with your short legs ! ’ said the hare,
‘ though for my part I ’m willing, if you ’ve 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 it 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 break¬
fast. In half an hour I ’ll be back again at this place.’
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
144
THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG
very silly fellow, and he shall pay for what he has said/
So when the hedgehog reached home, he said to his wife,
4 Wife, dress thyself quickly; thou must go out to the field
with me/
4 What’s going on now, then ? ’ said his wife.
4 I’ve 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/
4 Good heavens, husband,’ the wife now cried, 4 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 ? ’
4 Hold thy tongue, woman,’ said the hedgehog; ‘that is
my affair. Don’t begin to discuss things which are matters for
men. Be off, and get ready to come with me.’ What could
the hedgehog’s wife do ? She had to obey him, whether she
liked it or not.
So when they had set out on their way together, the
hedgehog said to his wife, 4 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 the race from the top. Now all that thou
hast to do is to place thyself here, at the bottom, in the furrow,
and when the hare reaches the end of his furrow alongside of
thee, thou must cry out to him, 44 Here I am already ! ” ’
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.
4 Shall we start ? ’ said the hare.
4 Certainly,’ said the hedgehog.
4 Then both together.’ So saying, each placed himself in
his own furrow.
The hare counted, 4 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.
So when the hare at top speed reached the lower end of the
K 145
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
field, the hedgehog’s wife met him with the cry, 4 Here I am
already ! ’
The hare was overcome with astonishment, for he thought
it could but be the hedgehog himself who was calling to him,
for the hedgehog’s wife looked just like her husband.
The hare, however, thought to himself, 4 It can’t have been
done fairly,’ and cried, 4 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, 4 Here I am already! ’
The hare was quite beside himself with anger, and cried,
4 It must be run again, we must have it again.’
4 All right,’ answered the hedgehog, 4 I don’t mind, we ’ll
run as often as you like.’
So the hare ran seventy-three times more, and the hedge¬
hog always had the best of it. Every time the hare reached
cither the top or the bottom, either the hedgehog or his wife
said, 4 Here I am already ! ’
The seventy-fourth time, however, the hare could no longer
reach the end. In the middle of the field he fell to the ground,
the blood streamed from his mouth, and he lay dead on the
spot. So 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.
But there is a moral to this story, and it 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 station, who looks just as he himself looks.
So whoever is a hedgehog let him see to it that his wife is a
hedgehog also, and so forth.
146
The Griffin
O NCE upon a time there was 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 be cured by eating an
apple. So he ordered it to be proclaimed throughout his
kingdom, that whosoever brought his daughter an apple which
would make her 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, 1 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 cure herself with them, and then thou wilt marry her
and be King.’
The lad did so, and set out. 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, 4 Well, so shall it be, and so
shall it 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,
147
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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, 4 Hogs’ bristles,’ and the iron man said, 4 Well,
so shall it be, and so shall it remain.’
When Seame got to the King’s palace and said he brought
apples with which the King’s daughter might be cured, 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, and
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.
4 Oh ! ’ said the father, 4 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, 4 Indeed,
father, I wish to go.’
4 Oh ! get away, thou stupid fellow ! thou must wait till thou
art wiser,’ said the father, and turned his back.
Hans, however, pulled at the tail of his smock-frock and said,
4 Indeed, father, I wish to go.’
4 Well, then, so far as I am concerned thou mayest go, but
thou ’It soon come home again! ’ replied the old man
impatiently.
The boy, however, was tremendously delighted and jumped
for joy.
4 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,
148
THE GRIFFIN
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 make herself well.
4 Then,’ said the little man, ‘ so shall they be, and so shall
they remain.’
But at the court they would none of them let Hans go in
for they said two had been there already who had told them
that they were bringing apples, and one of them had frogs’
legs, and the other hogs’ bristles. But Hans stuck to it 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. And before much time had
passed, news came to him. But who do you think it was who
brought it ? it was his daughter herself! As soon as she had
eaten of those apples she was cured, and sprang out of 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 midday,
when the sun was at the highest, came the little iron man and
asked what he was making.
149
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
Uele gave him for answer, 4 Wooden bowls for the kitchen.’
The iron man said, 4 So it shall be, and so it shall remain.’
By evening Uele thought he had now made the boat, but
when he wanted to get into it, he found 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 midday, when it was hottest, the little man
came again, and asked what he was making.
4 A boat which will go quicker on dry land than on the
water,’ replied Hans, 4 and when I have finished it, I am to
have the King’s daughter for my wife.’
4 Well,’ said the little man, 4 so shall it be, and so shall it
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.
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
guests 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
150
THE GRIFFIN
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 in 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 Flans had been able to take a hundred
hares to graze without losing any of them, but he wouldn’t 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 forward. 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 soon do that.’
Early the next morning he went on, and on his way arrived
at another castle in which he again stayed the night. When
the people who lived there learned 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 on. Then he came to a lake, and instead of a ferry-boat,
151
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
a tall, tall man was there who had to carry everybody across.
The man asked Hans whither he was journeying.
4 To the Griffin,’ said Hans.
4 Then when you get to him,’ said the man, ‘ just ask him
why I am forced to carry everybody over the lake.’
4 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
his wife only was at home, and not the Griffin himself. 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, 4 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 ’ll 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 he sniffed and said, 4 Wife, I smell a Christian.’
4 Yes,’ said the woman, 4 one was here to-day, but he went
away again.’ And on that the Griffin said no more.
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, 4 Wife, I smell a
Christian, and it seems to me that somebody was pulling my
tail.’
His wife said, 4 Thou hast certainly been dreaming, and I
told thee before that a Christian was here to-day, but that he
152
THE GRIFFIN
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. 5
t Oh, the fools ! 5 said the Griffin ; 4 the key lies in the
wood-house under a log of wood behind the door. 5
4 And then he said that in another castle the daughter was
ill, and they knew no remedy that would cure her. 5
4 Oh, the fools ! said the
Griffin; 4 under the cellar-steps
a toad has made its nest of her
hair, and if she got her hair
back she would be well. 5
4 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. 5
4 Oh, the fool ! 5 said the
Griffin; 4 if he only let one
man down in the middle, he
would never have to carry
another across. 5
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 mightn’t
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
153
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
delighted, and told Hans that out of gratitude he would take
him once more across, and back again. But Hans said no,
he ’d save him that 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 jumped off his shoulder and up the steps
before him, and was quite cured. Then the father and mother
rejoiced beyond measure, and they gave Hans gifts of gold
and of silver, and whatever else he wished for, they gave it 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, 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 whatever he wanted. So the King thought he,
too, could make such things useful, and off he went himself to
the Griffin. But when he got to the lake, it happened that he
was the very first to arrive there after Hans, and the man let
him down in the middle of it and went away, and the King
was drowned. Hans, however, married the princess, and
became King.
154
The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the
Needle
T HERE was once a girl whose father and mother died
while she was still a little child. All alone, in a cottage
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 brought her up in all that is good.
When the girl was fifteen years old, the old woman fell ill
and called her to her bedside, and said, 4 Dear daughter, I feel
my end drawing near. To thee I leave my 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, and blessed her, and
said, 4 Only keep 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 cottage,
and worked hard, spinning, weaving, and sewing, and the
blessing of the good old woman w T as 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 a carpet, or had made
a shirt, she found a buyer at once, who paid her well for it,
so that she was in want of nothing, and even had something to
spare for others.
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, nor did he want a rich one. So he said, 4 She shall be my
155
I
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
wife who is the poorest and the richest both at the same time.’
When he came to the village where the maiden dwelt, he
inquired, as he did wherever he went, who was the richest and
also who was the poorest girl in the place. They first named
the richest. The poorest, they said, was the girl who lived in
the cottage right 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 curtsy. 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 through the window, on which the
sun was shining brightly, he saw the girl sitting at her spinning-
wheel, busy spinning. She looked up, and when she saw that
the prince was watching her, she blushed all over her face,
dropped her eyes, 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, and opened it, saying,
4 It is so warm in this room ! ’ but she 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 little room and
went on with her spinning, and a saying which the old woman
had often repeated as she sat at her work, came into her mind,
and she sang these words to herself,
4 Spindle, spindle, haste away,
Here to my house bring a wooer, I pray.’
And what do you think happened ? The spindle jumped 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 out of 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.
156
SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE
The spindle, however, danced on and on, and just as the
thread came to an end, it reached the prince.
4 What’s this I see ? 5 he cried ; 4 I ’m sure the spindle
wants to show me the way somewhere ! 5 and he turned his
horse about, and followed the golden thread
back.
Meanwhile the girl was sitting at her
work singing,
‘ Shuttle, shuttle, weave well to-day,
And guide a wooer to me, I pray.’
Immediately the shuttle sprang out of her
hand and went 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 middle
green branches ascended, under which
bounded hares and rabbits, stags and does
stretched their heads in between them, and
brightly coloured birds were sitting in the
branches above, and they lacked nothing
but the gift of song. The shuttle leapt
hither and thither, and everything seemed
to grow of its own accord.
As the shuttle had run away, the girl sat
down to sew. With the needle in her hand,
she sang,
‘ Needle, needle, sharp and fine,
Prepare for a wooer this house of mine.’
There stood the maiden
in her poor garments.
Then the needle leapt out of her fingers, and flew every¬
where 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 no time, and the
157
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 back again by the golden thread.
He dismounted, and stepped over the carpet into the cottage,
and when he entered the room, there stood the maiden in her
poor garments, but she shone out from among them like a rose
surrounded by leaves.
1 Thou art the poorest and also the richest,’ said he to her.
4 Come with me, thou shalt be my bride.’
She did not speak, but she gave him her hand. Then he
kissed her and led her out, lifted her on to his horse, and took
her to the royal castle, where their wedding took place with
great rejoicings. The spindle, shuttle, and needle were pre¬
served in the treasure-chamber, and held in great honour.
Maid Maleen
T HERE 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 deeply, they would not give
each other up, and Maid Maleen said to her father, 4 1 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 from sun or moon should enter.
When it was finished, he said, 4 Therein shalt thou be im¬
prisoned 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,
158
THE WAITING MAID SPRANG DOWN FIRST AND MAID MALEKN FOLLOWED,
MAID MALEEN
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 lessening 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, c We must try our last chance, and see if we can break
through the Avail.’ She took the bread-knife, and picked and
bored at the mortar between the stones, 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
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. Oh ! but how melancholy everything
looked all around ! Her father’s castle lay in ruins, the town
and the villages were destroyed by fire as far as eye could see,
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, 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.
159
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
There also they were ordered to go away, but at last the cook
said that they might stay in the kitchen and be scullions.
The son of the King in whose kingdom they were, was,
however, the very man who had been betrothed to Maid
Maleen. And 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 she was so
ugly that 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,
4 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, 4 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, 4 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 magnifi¬
cent 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, 4 This is the bride whom I have chosen for thee,
and whom thou must lead to church.’
The bridegroom was astonished, and thought, 4 She is like
my own 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 stinging-nettle, and she said,
‘ Nettle, growing here alone,
A time of sorrow I have known ;
Nought to eat was there for me,
Hunger drove me to eat thee . 1
160
MAID MALEEN
4 What art thou saying ? * asked the King’s son.
4 Nothing,’ she replied; ‘ I was only thinking of Maid
Maleen.’
He wondered that she knew about her, but kept silent.
When they came to the stile into the churchyard, she said,
‘ Church-stile, break not,
The true bride, I am not.’
‘ What art thou saying ? ’ asked the King’s son.
4 Nothing,’ she replied; 4 I was only thinking of Maid
Maleen.’
4 Dost thou know Maid Maleen ? ’
4 No,’ she answered. 4 How should I know her ? I have
only heard of her.’
When they came to the church-door, she said once more,
‘ Kirk-door, break not,
The true bride, I am not.’
4 What art thou saying now ? ’ asked he.
4 Ah,’ she answered, 4 1 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 grey gown, and
kept nothing but the jewel on her neck, which she had received
from the bridegroom.
When the night came, and the bride was to be led into
the prince’s chamber, she let her veil fall over her face, that he
might not know of the deception. As soon as every one had gone
away, he said to her, 4 What didst thou say to the stinging-
nettle which was growing by the wayside ? ’
4 What stinging-nettle ? ’ asked she. 4 1 don’t talk to
stinging-nettles. ’
L
161
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
4 If thou didst not do it, then thou art not the true bride,’
said he. So she bethought herself, and said,
‘ I must go out unto my maid,
Who keeps my thoughts for me.’
She went out and sought Maid Maleen.
4 Girl,’ said she, 4 what hast thou been saying to the nettle ? ’
4 I said nothing but,
‘ Nettle, growing here alone,
A time of sorrow I have known ;
Nought to eat was there for me,
Hunger drove me to eat thee.’
The bride ran back into the chamber, and said, 4 I know
now what I said to the nettle,’ and she repeated the words which
she had just heard.
4 But what didst thou say to the stile when we went over it ? ’
asked the King’s son.
4 To the stile ? ’ she answered. 4 I don’t talk to stiles.’
4 Then thou art not the true bride.’
Again she said,
‘ I must go out unto my maid,’
Who keeps my thoughts for me,’
and ran out and found Maid Maleen. 4 Girl, what didst thou
say to the stile ? ’
4 1 said nothing but,
‘ Church-stile, break not,
The true bride, I am not.’
4 That shall cost thee thy life ! ’ cried the bride, but she
hurried back into the room, and said, 4 I know now what I
said to the stile,’ and she repeated the words.
4 But what didst thou say to the church-door ? ’
4 To the church-door ? ’ she replied. 4 I don’t talk to
church-doors.’
162
MAID MALEEN
4 Then thou art not the true bride.’
She went out and found Maid Maleen, and said, 4 Girl,
what didst thou say to the church-door ? ’
4 I said nothing but,
‘ Kirk-door, break not,
The true bride, I am not . 1
4 For that thy neck shall be broken ! ’ cried the bride, and
flew into a terrible passion, but she hastened back into the
room and said, 4 I know now what I said to the church-door,’
and she repeated the words.
4 But where hast thou the jewel which I gave thee at the
church-door ? ’
4 What jewel ? ’ she answered. 4 Thou didst not give me
any jewel.’
4 1 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 hideous
ugliness, he sprang back terrified, and said, 4 How comest thou
here ? Who art thou ? ’
4 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.’
4 Where is the girl ? ’ said he ; 4 1 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 courtyard and cut 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, and 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.
4 Thou art the true bride,’ said he, 4 who went with me to
church. Come with me now to my room.’ When they were
163
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
alone he said, 4 On the way to the 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 way.’
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. But
to-day 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.
The tower in which Maid Maleen had been imprisoned
remained standing for a long time, and when the children
passed by it they sang,
‘ Kling, klang, gloria.
Who sits within the tower?
A King’s daughter, she sits within,
A sight of her I cannot win,
The wall it will not break,
The stone it will not crack.
Little Hans, with your coat so gay,
Follow me, follow me, fast as you may.’
164
The Young Giant
O NCE upon a time a countryman had a son who was as
big as a thumb, and did not become any bigger; even
during several years he did not grow one hair’s-breadth.
Once when the father was going out to plough, the little
one said, 4 Father, I ’ll go with you.’
4 Thou wouldst go out with me ? ’ said his father. 4 Stay
here. Thou wilt be of no use out there ; besides, thou mightst
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 in the field, he took him out again, and set him in a
furrow. Whilst he was there, a great giant came over the hill.
4 Dost thou see that great bogy ? ’ said his father, for he
wanted to frighten the little fellow to make him good ; 4 he is
coming to fetch thee.’
The giant, however, had scarcely taken two steps with his
long legs before he reached them. He took up little Thumbling
carefully with two fingers, had a good look at him, and carried
him off without saying one word. His father stood by dumb
with terror, and he could only think that his child was lost,
and that as long as he lived he should never set ayes on him
again.
The giant carried him home and fed him on giant’s food,
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 to see what he was good for, and said,
4 Pull up a stick for thyself.’ The boy was already so strong
that he tore up a young tree out of the earth by the roots. But
the giant thought, 4 We must do better than that,’ took him
165
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
back again, and fed him on giant’s food for two years longer.
At the next trial 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; and he fed him for yet another two
years, and then when he 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 he could find from the earth, and that was
a mere trifle to him. 4 Now that will do,’ said the giant, 4 thou
art perfect,’ and he 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, 4 Does my father
see what a fine man his son has grown into ? ’
The farmer was alarmed, and said, 4 No, thou art not my
son. I don’t want thee. Go away ! ’
4 Truly I am your son. Let me do your work. I can plough
as well as you can, nay, better.’
4 No, no, thou art not my son, and thou canst not plough.
Go away ! ’
However, as he was afraid of this great man, he let go of
the plough, and stepped back. Then the youth took the
plough, and just leant on 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,
4 If thou art determined to plough, thou must not lean so hard.
It’s no good doing it that way.’ The youth, however, un¬
harnessed the horses, and drew the plough himself, saying,
4 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
his dinner.
The youth ploughed the field which was of two acres all
by himself, 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, took them upon his shoulders, and hung one
harrow behind and one before, and then one of the horses
166
THE YOUNG GIANT
behind and the other before and carried them all like a bundle
of straw to his parents’ house.
When he entered the yard, his mother did not recognise
him, and asked, 4 Who is that horrible tall man ? ’
The farmer said, 4 That is our son.’
4 No, that cannot be our son,’ she said. 4 We never had
such a tall one; ours was a little wee thing.’
She called to him, 4 Go away, we do not want thee ! ’
The youth said nothing, but led his horses to the stable
and gave them oats and hay and all they needed. When he
had done this, he went into the parlour, sat down on the bench
and said, 4 Mother, now I should like something to eat. Will
it soon be ready ? ’
Then she said, 4 Yes,’ and brought in two immense dishes
full of food, which would have been enough to last herself and
her husband for a week. The youth ate the whole of it him¬
self, and asked if she had nothing more to set before him.
4 No,’ she replied, 4 that is all we have.’
4 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 took it in when it was
done.
4 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, 4 Father, I see well th t with you I shall
never have food enough. If you will get me an iron staff, a
good strong one that I cannot break across my knees, I will go
off out into the world.’
The farmer was not sorry and 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 like a bean-
stick, 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, 4 Father,
167
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 a bit off
the top of that also, and said, 4 Father, I see that you will not
be able to procure me any such staff as I want, I will stay with
you no longer.’
So he went away, and gave out that he was a smith’s
apprentice. He arrived at a village where lived a smith who
was a greedy fellow, and who never did a kindness to any one,
but wanted everything for himself. The youth went into the
smithy to him, and asked if he needed a man. 4 Yes,’ said the
smith, and looked at him, and thought, 4 That is a strong fellow
who will hit hard and earn his bread well.’ So he asked,
4 How much wages dost thou want ? ’
4 I don’t want any at all,’ he replied, 4 only every fortnight,
when the other men are paid, I will give thee two blows, and
thou must bear them.’ This just pleased the miserly smith, for
he thought he would save much money this way.
Next morning, the new man 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.
That made the miser angry, and he said, 4 Oh, but I can’t make
any use of you, you strike far too hard. What will you take
for that one blow ? ’
Then said he, 4 I will only give you quite a little 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 on his way.
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.
4 Yes,’ said the bailiff, 4 I can make use of one. You look
168
THE YOUNG GIANT
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 had to go to the wood, and
the others were already up, but the head servant was still in
bed. So one of them called to him, ‘ Get up, it is time. We
are going to the wood, and thou must go with us.’
4 Oh,’ said he roughly, 4 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
foreman was still lying in bed, and would not go to the wood
with them. The bailiff said they were to wake him again,
and tell him to harness the horses. The foreman, however, said
as before, 4 Oh, you go on, I shall be back again before any of
you.’ And then he stayed in bed two hours longer.
At length he got up from his feather bed, but first he got
himself two bushels of peas from the loft, made himself some
broth and 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 the road passed,
so he first drove the horses through and then stopped, and
went back and 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, 4 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 back. When he came to the barricade,
the others were still standing there not able to get through.
4 Don’t you see,’ said he, 4 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 get the cart through, so he unharnessed them
169
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
and laid them on the top of the cart, took the shafts in his own
hands, and pulled it over 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, 4 Isn’t that a fine bundle
of wood ? ’
Then said the bailiff to his wife, ‘ This servant is a good
one. Even if he does sleep it out, he is still home before the
others.’
So he served the bailiff a year, and when that was over,
and the other servants were getting their wages, he said it was
time for him to have 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. Rather than that, said
he, he himself would be head servant, and the youth should be
bailiff.
4 No,’ said he, 4 I won’t be a bailiff. I am a foreman
and that I ’ll stay, but I will take the payment which we
agreed on.’
The bailiff was willing to give him whatever 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 and the bailiff summoned
all his clerks together, and asked them 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 gnat,
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’d never see daylight again. The
advice pleased the bailiff, and the head servant was quite
willing to go down the well. So when he was standing down
170
THE YOUNG GIANT
below at the bottom, they rolled the largest mill-stone down
on to him and were quite sure they must have broken his
skull, but he cried out, 4 Chase away those hens from the well,
they are scratching in the sand up there, and throwing the dust
into my eyes, so that I can’t see.’ So the bailiff shouted out,
4 Shoo ! shoo ! ’ and pretended to frighten the hens away.
When the head servant had finished his work, he climbed up
and said, 4 Just look what a beautiful collar 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 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 at once. 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 sack that hung half on his back and
half on his breast, and thus laden he 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 whoever had gone into it at night had been
found lying dead there in the morning.
He said, 4 I ’ll 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 roast
meat placed themselves, and more good things besides, but
everything came of itself, for there was no one 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,
171
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
placed 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, 4 If anything of
that kind comes again, I shall strike out in return.’ And when
he received a second box on the ear, he, too, struck out. And so
it went on all night long. He took nothing without returning
it, but repaid everything with interest and did not lay about
him in vain. At daybreak everything became quiet again.
When the miller had got up, he came to look after him,
wondering if he were still alive.
Then the youth said, 4 I have eaten my fill and have
received some boxes on the ear, 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, 4 Money, I will not have, I have
enough of it.’
So he took his flour on his back and went home, telling 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 quite beside himself with fear. He walked backwards
and forwards in the room, and drops of perspiration ran down
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, 4 If he does
not come back, you must take the other blow.’
She cried, 4 No, no, I cannot bear it,’ and opened the other
window, because drops of perspiration were running down her
forehead too. And he gave her such a kick that out she flew,
and as she was lighter she went much higher than her husband.
When her husband saw her, he shouted, 4 Hi ! come to me
here,’ but she replied, 4 Come thou to me, I cannot come to
172
THE YOUNG GIANT
thee.’ And there they hovered about in the air, and could
not get near each other, and whether they are still hovering
When her husband saw her, he shouted, ‘ Hi! come to me here.’
about or not, I do not know, but the young giant took up his
iron bar and went on his way.
173
The Three Sons of Fortune
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.
4 I am already aged,’ said he, ‘ and my death is nigh.
Before it comes I have wished to take thought for your future.
Money I have none, and these that I now give you may seem
of little worth, but all depends on your making wise use of
them. Only seek out a country where such things are still
unknown, and your fortune is made.’
After the father’s death the eldest set out with his cock,
but wherever he came the cock was already known ; in the
towns he saw him from a long way off, sitting upon the steeples
and turning round with the wind, and in every village he heard
more than one crowing. No one would show any wonder at
so well known a creature, so that it did not look as if he would
make his fortune by it.
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 reckon the time. They certainly knew
when it was morning or evening, but at night, if they lay
awake, not one of them knew how to find out the time.
4 Look ! ’ said he, 4 at this proud creature of mine ! he has
a crown of rubies on his head, and wears spurs like a knight!
He calls you three times during the night, at fixed hours, and
when he calls for the last time, up comes the sun. But if he
crows by broad daylight, then take notice, for there will
certainly be a change of weather.’
• The people were delighted. For a whole night they did not
sleep, listening with wonder as the cock at two, at four, and at
174
THE THREE SONS OF FORTUNE
six o’clock, loudly and clearly proclaimed the time. They
asked if this splendid bird was for sale, and how much he
wanted for it.
4 About as much gold as an ass can carry,’ answered he.
4 A ridiculously small price for such a precious creature ! ’
they all cried at once, and willingly gave him what he had
asked.
When he came home with his wealth his brothers were
astonished, and the second said, 4 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 wherever
he went, and they had scythes upon their shoulders as well
as he.
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 way of going to work. Often the
shot went right over the corn, or sometimes hit the ears instead
of the stalks, and shot them away, whereby much was lost.
Besides, it made a terrible noise. So he set to work with his
scythe and mowed the corn so quietly and quickly that the
people gaped 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.
And now the third brother wanted to try his luck with his
cat. He fared just like the others ; so long as he stayed on
the mainland she was worth nothing. Everywhere there were
cats, and so many of them that the kittens were generally
drowned as soon as they were born.
At last he sailed over to an island, and by luck it happened
that no cats had ever yet been seen there, and the mice had
got the upper hand so much that they danced over the tables
and benches even whether the master were at home or not.
The people complained bitterly of the plague. The King him¬
self in his palace did not know how to secure himself against
them. In every corner squeaked the mice, nibbling everything
175
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
they could get at. But now the cat began her chase, and
she soon cleared a couple of rooms of them, and the people
all begged the King to buy the wonderful beast for the country.
The King readily gave what was asked, which was a mule
laden with gold, and the third brother came home with the
greatest treasure of all.
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
stopped, and held up her head crying, 4 Miau ! Miau ! ’ When
they heard this strange cry, the King and all his people were
frightened, and in their terror all ran out of the palace at once.
The King took counsel what had best be done. At last it was
176
THE THREE SONS OF FORTUNE
determined to send a herald to the cat, and demand that she
should leave the palace, or if not, she must expect that force
would be used against her. For the councillors said, ‘ Rather
would we put up with the plague of mice, to which 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, could only answer, ‘ Miau! Miau! ’ The
youth understood her to say, 4 Most certainly not ! most
certainly not ! ’ and took this answer to the King. 4 Then,’
said the councillors, 4 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.
M
177
Fitcher’s Bird
T HERE 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 in it whatever might be given
him in charity. He begged for a little food, and when the
eldest daughter came out and was just giving 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, 4 I must journey forth, and leave thee alone for a short
time. There are the keys of the house ; thou mayst go every¬
where 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 also gave her an egg and said, 4 Preserve this egg
carefully for me, and carry it continually about with thee, for
a great misfortune would arise from the loss of it.’
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
178
FITCHER’S BIRD
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 the stain out.
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. 4 Since thou hast gone into the room against
my will,’ said he, 4 thou shalt go back into it against thine own.
Thy life is ended.’
He threw her down, dragged her there by her hair, cut her
head off on the block, and chopped her in pieces so that her
blood ran on the ground. Then he threw her into the basin
with the rest.
4 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
179
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 join themselves together,
and both the maidens opened their eyes and were alive once
more. Then they rejoiced and kissed and caressed each other.
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, 4 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.
4 Oh, very well,’ said she; 4 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, 4 The moment has come when I can save
you. The wretch himself shall 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, 4 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.’
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,
4 I am looking through my little window, and I see that thou
art resting. Wilt thou go on at once ? ’ He thought his bride
was calling that to him, and got up on his legs again. Once
more he was going to sit down, but instantly she cried, 4 1 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 on, until at last, groan¬
ing and out of breath, he took the basket with the gold and the
two maidens into their parents’ house.
180
AT LAST SHE MET THE BRIDEGROOM WHO WAS COMING SLOWLY RACK
FITCHER’S BIRD
At home, meanwhile, 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 wonderful
bird, and no one could recognise her. Then she went out of
the house, and on her way she met some of the wedding-guests,
who asked,
‘ O, Fitcher’s bird, how com’st thou here?' 1
‘ I come from Fitcher's house quite near.’
‘ And what may the young bride be doing ?’
‘ From cellar to garret she’s swept all clean,
And now from the window' she’s peeping, I ween.’
At last she met the bridegroom, who was coming slowly back.
He, like the others, asked,
‘ O, Fitcher’s bird, how com’st thou here?’
‘ I come from Fitcher’s house quite near.’
‘ And what may the young bride be doing ? ’
‘ From cellar to garret she’s swept all clean,
And now from the window she’s peeping, I w r een.’
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 were
burned to death.
181
The Poor Miller’s Boy and the Cat
I N a certain mill there lived an old
miller who had neither wife nor
child, and three apprentices served
under him. As they had been with him
several years, one day he said to them,
4 1 am old, and want to sit in the
chimney-corner, go out, and whichever
of you brings the best horse home to me,
to him will I give the mill, and in return
for it he shall take care of me till my
death.’
The third boy, however, was the drudge, who was looked
down upon by the others, and they begrudged the mill to
him, and meant that he should not have it anyhow. They
all three went out together, and when they came to the village,
the two said to stupid Hans, 4 Thou mayst just as well stay
here; as long as thou livest thou wilt never get a horse.’
Nevertheless Hans went with them, and at night they came
to a cave in which they all lay down to sleep. The two sharp
ones waited until Hans was fast asleep, and then they got up
and made off, leaving him where he was. And they thought
they had done a very clever thing, though really it turned out
very ill for them in the end.
When the sun rose, and Hans woke up, he was lying in a
deep cavern. He looked round him on every side and ex-
claime , 4 O heavens! where am I ? ’ Then he got up and
clambered out of the cave into the forest, and thought, 4 Here I
am quite alone and deserted. How shall I obtain a horse now ? ’
As he went walking along buried in thought, he met a little
182
THE POOR MILLER’S BOY AND THE CAT
tabby cat who said to him kindly, ‘Hans, where are you
going ? ’
4 Alas ! thou canst not help me.’
4 1 well know what you are seeking,’ said the cat. 4 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.’
4 Well, this is a wonderful cat ! ’ thought Hans, 4 but I ’ve
a good mind 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 all very 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 ever he could. When
they had dined, the table was cleared away, and the cat said,
4 Now, Hans, come and dance with me.’
4 No,’ said he, 4 1 won’t dance with a pussy cat. I have
never done that yet.’
4 Then take him off to bed,’ said she to the cats.
So one of them lighted him to his bedroom, 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.
4 That’s a very soft towel! ’ said Hans. He had to work
for the cat, however, and chop wood every day, and for that
he had an axe of silver, and the wedge and saw were of silver
too and the mallet of copper. So he chopped up the wood,
and lived there in the house and had good meat and drink, but
never saw any one but the tabby cat and her servants.
Once she said to him, 4 Go and mow my meadow, and make
the hay,’ and she gave him a scythe of silver, and a whetstone
of gold, but bade him deliver them up again carefully. So
183
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
Hans went and did what he was bidden, and when he had
finished, he carried the scythe and whetstone and the hay to
the house, and asked if the time had not come for her to give
him his reward.
4 No, 5 said the cat; 4 you must first do something more for
me of the same kind. There are beams of silver, a carpenter’s
axe, a square, and everything that is needful, all of silver; with
these build me a little house.’
Then Hans built the little 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 ?
4 Yes,’ said Hans.
Then she opened the door of the little house, and there
stood twelve horses—such horses, so sleek and well groomed,
that his heart rejoiced at the sight of them.
And then she gave him something to eat and drink, and
said, 4 Go home. I will not give thee thy horse to take 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 the dirty old smock-frock that he
had brought with him, and that during the seven years had
become ever so much 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 ?
4 It will follow me in three days’ time,’ said he.
Then they laughed and said, 4 Indeed, stupid Hans, and
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
184
THE POOR MILLER’S BOY AND THE CAT
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 drove up with six horses and they shone so bright
that it was delightful to see them ! And a servant led a seventh
as well, and that one was for the poor miller’s boy. Then a
magnificent princess alighted from the coach and went into the
mill, and who should this princess be but the little tabby cat
whom poor Hans had served for seven years !
She asked the miller where the miller’s boy and drudge
was ? And the miller told her, 4 We cannot have him here in
the mill, he’s so ragged. He is lying in the goose-house.’
Then the King’s daughter said that they were to fetch him
immediately. So they brought him out, and he had to hold
his little smock-frock together as best he could 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 that, he said such a horse as that had never yet
entered his yard.
‘ And that is for the miller’s third boy,’ said she.
c Then it’s he must have the mill,’ said the miller, but the
King’s daughter said that the horse there was for him, and
that he was to keep his mill too, and she took her faithful Hans
and set him in the coach, and drove away with him. They
drove straight to the little house which he had built with the
silver tools, and behold it was now a great castle, and every¬
thing 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 any one who is silly
can never become a person of importance.
185
How Six Men got on in the World
T HERE 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,
4 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, 4 Wilt thou be my
servant and go with me ? ’ 4 Yes,’ he answered, 4 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, 4 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, 4 Huntsman, what art thou going to
shoot ? ’ He answered, 4 Two miles from here a fly is sitting
on the branch of an oak-tree, and I want to shoot its left eye
out.’ 4 Oh, come with me,’ said the man; 4 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, 4 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
186
HOW SIX MEN GOT ON IN THE WORLD
shutting one nostril, and blowing out of the other. 4 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.’ 4 Oh, come with me,’ said the
man; 4 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, 4 You have arranged things very comfortably to
have a rest.’ 4 I am a runner,’ he replied, 4 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.’ 4 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, 4 Gracefully, grace¬
fully, don’t stick your cap on one ear; you look just like a tom
fool ! ’ 4 I must not wear it otherwise,’ said he, 4 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.’ 4 Oh, come
with me,’ said the master; 4 if we six are together, we can
carry the whole world before us.’
Now the six came to a town where the King had pro¬
claimed 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, 4 I
will, however, let my servant run for me.’ The King replied,
4 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, 4 Now be nimble, and help us to win.’ It was fixed
that the one who was the 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
187
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
It was just as if the wind had whistled by.
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, 4 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 every¬
thing with his sharp eyes. Then said he, 4 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
188
HOW SIX MEN GOT ON IN THE WORLD
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 still at home again, ten minutes
before the King’s daughter. 4 Behold ! ’ said he, 4 I have not
bestirred myself till now; it did not deserve to be called running
before.’
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, 4 I have
thought of a way. Don’t be afraid; they shall not come back
again.’ And he said to them, 4 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, 4 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. 4 He shall not succeed, however,’ said the one with the
cap. 4 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 dis¬
appeared, 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
189
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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, 4 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.
Again the King considered how to get rid of his unpleasant
guests, and caused their chief to be brought and said, 4 If thou
wilt take gold and renounce my daughter, thou shalt have as
much as thou wilt.’
4 Oh yes, Lord King,’ he answered. 4 Give me as much as
my servant can carry, and I will not ask for your daughter.’
On this the King was satisfied, and the other continued,
4 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, 4 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, 4 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, 4 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.
4 Bring more,’ cried he ; 4 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. 4 1 will examine it no
longer,’ said he, 4 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, 4 1 will just make
190
HOW SIX MEN GOT ON IN THE WORLD
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 ! ’ 4 What say you ? ’ cried the
blower, 4 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, 4 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, 4 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.
191
The Two Travellers
H ILL 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 each other in their travels. The
tailor was a handsome little fellow who was always merry and
full of fun. He saw the shoemaker coming towards him from
the opposite direction, and as he could tell by his bag what
kind of a trade he plied, he sang a little mocking song to him,
‘ Sew me the seam,
Draw me the thread,
Spread it over with pitch,
Knock the nail on the head.’’
The shoemaker, however, could not stand a joke ; he pulled a
face as if he had drunk vinegar, and made as if he were about
to seize the tailor by the throat. But the little fellow began to
laugh, held out his flask to him, and said, 4 No harm was meant.
Have a drop of this, and wash your anger down.’
The shoemaker took a good hearty drink and the storm on
his face began to clear away. He gave the bottle back to the
tailor and said that they should travel together.
4 All right,’ answered the tailor, 4 if only it suits you to go
to a big town where there is no lack of work.’
4 That is just where I want to go,’ answered the shoemaker.
4 In a small nest there is nothing to earn, and in the country
people like to go barefoot.’ So they travelled on together, and
always set one foot before the other like a weasel in the snow.
Both of them had time enough, but little to bite and to sup.
When they reached a town they went about and paid their re¬
spects to the tradesmen, and because the tailor looked so lively
192
THE TWO TRAVELLERS
and merry, and had such jolly 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, 4 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 but 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 light come, light go, with
him.
When they had travelled for some time, they came to a
great forest through which passed the road to the capital.
Two footpaths, 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 for what
they should prepare, and for how many days they should
provide themselves with bread. The shoemaker said, 4 One
must look before one leaps; I will take with me bread for a
week.
4 What ! ’ said the tailor, 4 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.
It was as quiet there as in a church. No wind stirred, no
brook murmured, no bird sang, and through the thick leaves
no sunbeam forced its way. The shoemaker spoke never a
word; the heavy bread weighed down his back until the per¬
spiration streamed down his cross and gloomy face. The
tailor, however, was quite merry; he jumped about, hummed on
N 193
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
a leaf, or sang a song, and thought to himself, 4 God in Heaven
must be pleased to see me so happy.’
This lasted two days, but on the third the forest had not
come to an end, and the tailor had eaten up all his bread, so
his heart sank down a good yard deeper. In the meantime he
did not lose courage, but trusted to God and 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, 4 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 quite without pity.
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 were red.
Then the shoemaker said to him, 4 1 will give thee a bit
of bread to-day, but in return for it, I will put out thy
right eye.’
Save his life, he must. And as there was no other way, the
unhappy tailor was forced to submit. He wept once more with
both eyes, and then held his face up to the shoemaker, who
had a heart of stone, and who put out his right eye with a
sharp knife. The tailor called to mind what his mother used
to say to him when he had been enjoying himself in the pantry
on the sly. 4 Eat what one can. Suffer what one must.’
When he had finished his dearly bought bread, he got on
his legs again, forgot his misery and comforted himself with the
thought that he could always see well 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 him¬
self up for faintness, and death was close at hand.
Then said the shoemaker, 4 I will show mercy and give thee
194
THE TWO TRAVELLERS
bread once more, but thou shalt not have it for nothing, for 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, 4 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 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.’
But the shoemaker, 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.
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
criminals 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, 4 Brother, art thou awake ? ’
4 Yes, I am awake,’ answered the second.
4 Then I will tell thee something,’ said the first; 4 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.’
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 what the man
on the gallows had said came true, and a pair of healthy new
195
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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.
Nor did he forget to pray for the dead men who were hanging
there swinging against each other in the wind like the pendu¬
lums 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.
The first thing he met was a brown foal running about the
fields at large. He caught it by the mane, and wanted to jump
on it and ride into the town. The foal, however, begged to be
set free. ‘I am still too young,’ it said; 4 even a light tailor
such as thou art would break my back in two. Let me go till
I have grown strong. Perhaps the time will come when I may
reward thee for it.’
4 Run off,’ said the tailor; 4 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.
But the little tailor had eaten nothing since the day before.
4 The sun to be sure fills my eyes,’ said he, 4 but the bread does
not fill my mouth. The first thing that crosses my path and is
even half good to eat, will have to suffer for it.’
Ere long a stork stepped solemnly over the meadow
towards him.
4 Halt! halt! ’ cried the tailor, and seized him by the leg.
4 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.’
196
THE TWO TRAVELLERS
4 Don’t do that,’ replied the stork. 4 I am a sacred bird,
which brings mankind great good, and no one does me an injury.
Leave me my life, and I may do thee good in some other way.’
4 Well, be off, Cousin Longlegs,’ said the tailor. And the
stork rose into the air with his long legs dangling down, and
flapped gently away.
4 What ’s to be the end of this ? ’ said the tailor to himself
at last; 4 my hunger grows greater and greater, and my stomach
emptier and emptier. Whatsoever comes my way now is
lost.’ At this moment he saw a couple of ducklings which were
on a pond come swimming towards him. 4 You come just at
the right moment,’ said he, and laid hold of one of them to
wring its neck. On this an old duck that was hidden among
the reeds began to scream out loud, and swam to him with
open beak, and begged him urgently to spare her dear children.
4 Canst thou not imagine,’ said she, 4 how thy mother would
mourn if any one wanted to carry thee off, and take thy life ? ’
4 Oh, hold thy noise,’ said the good-tempered tailor; 4 thou
shalt keep thy children,’ and he put the captive back into the
water.
As he turned to go, he found he was standing in front of an
old hollow tree, and he saw some wild bees flying in and out of
it. 4 There I shall find the reward of my good deed,’ said the
tailor; 4 the honey will refresh me at once.’
But the Queen-bee came out, and threatened him and said,
4 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.’
The little tailor saw that here also nothing was to be done.
4 Three dishes empty and nothing on the fourth is a bad
dinner ! ’ So he dragged himself with his famished stomach
into the town, and as it was just striking twelve, dinner was
ready cooked in the inn, and he was able to sit down at once.
When he was satisfied he said, 4 Now I will get to work.’ He
went round the town, sought a master, and soon found a good
197
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
situation. As, however, he was a thorough master of 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.
4 I can go no further in skill,’ said he, 4 and yet things get
better and better every day.’
At last the King appointed him court-tailor.
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. 4 Before he takes revenge on me,’ thought he
to himself, 4 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, 4 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.’
4 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.
4 Oho ! ’ thought the tailor, 4 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 outside the gate he could not help feeling
sorry to give up his good fortune, and turn his back on the
town in which all had gone so well with him.
Soon he came to the pond where he had made the acquaint¬
ance of the ducks, and at that very moment the old one whose
ducklings he had spared, was sitting there on the bank, pluming
herself with her beak. She knew him again instantly, and
asked why he was hanging his head so ?
4 Thou wilt not be surprised when thou hearest what has
befallen me,’ replied the tailor, and told her his fate.
198
THE TWO TRAVELLERS
4 If that be all,’ said the duck, 4 we can help thee. The
crown fell into the water, and lies down below at the bottom.
We ’ll soon bring it up again for thee. In the meantime just
spread thy handkerchief ready on the bank.’ She dived down
with her twelve young ones, and in five minutes up she came
again with the crown resting on her wings, and the twelve young
ones were swimming round about, helping to carry it with
their beaks. 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
rubies. The tailor tied his handkerchief together by the four
corners, and carried it to the King, who was full of joy, and
hung a gold chain round the tailor’s neck.
When the shoemaker saw that his first stroke had failed,
he planned a second, and went to the King and said, 4 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 belongs 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
belonged 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.
The tailor thought, 4 It gets worse and worse ! No one can
endure that ! ’ and he 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 ?
4 Alas I no,’ answered the tailor; 4 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, 4 Just go home again, but come back to-
199
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 care¬
fully. 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 as delicate and as
white as snow, and it 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 house built of
stone.
The shoemaker, however, did not give up, but went for the
third time to the King and said, 4 Lord King, it has come to the
tailor’s ears that no water will spring up in the courtyard of
the castle, and he has boasted that it shall rise up in the midst
of the courtyard to a man’s height and be clear as crystal.’
Then the King ordered the tailor to be brought before him
and said, 4 If a stream of water does not rise in my courtyard
by to-morrow as thou hast promised, the executioner shall,
on that very spot, 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, the tears rolled down his face. Whilst thus
he went along 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.
4 The time has come,’ it said to the tailor, 4 when I can repay
thee for thy good deed. I know already what thou art in
need of, but thou shalt soon be at ease. Get on my back. I
can carry two such as thou.’ The tailor’s courage came back.
He jumped up in one bound, and the horse went full speed into
200
THE TWO TRAVELLERS
the town, right up to the courtyard of the castle. It galloped
as quick as lightning three times round it, and at the third
time it came to a sudden stop. At the same instant, however,
there was a terrific clap of thunder, in the middle of the court¬
yard a clod of earth was thrown like a cannon-ball into the
j
air, high over the castle, and instantly after it a jet of water
rose as high as man and horse. The water was as clear as
crystal, and danced in the sunlight. When the King saw that
he arose in amazement, and went and embraced the tailor in
the sight of all men.
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, 4 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,
4 If thou dost cause a son to be brought to me within nine days,
thou shalt have my eldest daughter to wife.’
4 The reward is great indeed,’ 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.’
He went home, seated himself cross-legged on his work¬
table, and thought over what was to be done. 4 It can’t be
managed,’ cried he at last, 4 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 saw 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. 4 I see,’ he began,
4 that thou hast thy pack on thy back. Why art thou leaving
the town ? ’
The tailor told him what the King had required of
201
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 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 there and tapped
at the window. The tailor
opened it, and cousin Long-
legs came carefully in, and
walked with solemn steps
over the smooth marble
pavement. And he had 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 to the Queen. In it there were little paper
parcels of coloured sweets, 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 right after all. She always said that
whoever trusts in God and only has good luck, can never
fail.’
The shoemaker had to make the shoes in which the little
202
Cousin Longlegs came carefully in.
THE HUT IN THE FOREST
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 seen or heard of him
again.
The Hut in the Forest
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, 4 Let my dinner be brought into the forest to me by
our eldest daughter, or I shall never get my work done. And
in order that she may not miss her way,’ he added, 4 I will take
a bag of millet with me and strew the seeds on the path.’
When, therefore, the sun was just above the middle of the
forest, the girl set out on her way with a bowl of soup, but the
hedge-sparrows, and the wood-sparrows, the larks and finches,
blackbirds and siskins had picked up the millet long before,
and the girl could not find the track. Trusting to chance, she
went on and on, until the sun sank and night began to fall.
The trees rustled in the darkness, owls hooted, and she began
to be afraid. Then in the distance she saw a light glimmering
between the trees. 4 There must be some people living there,
who could take me in for the night,’ thought she, and she went
on towards the light. It was not long before she came to a
little house the windows of which were all lighted up. She
knocked, and a rough voice from within cried, 4 Come in.’ The
girl stepped into the dark entrance, and knocked at the door
of the room.
203
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
‘ Come straight in,’ cried the voice, and when she opened
the door, an old grey-haired man was sitting at the table with
his face leaning on his 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,
‘ Pretty little hen,
Pretty little cock,
And pretty brindled cow,
What say ye to that ? 1
‘ Duks,’ answered the animals, and that must have meant,
‘ We are willing,’ for the old man said, 4 Here you shall have
shelter and food. Go to the fire, and cook us our supper.’
The girl found plenty of everything in the kitchen, and
cooked a good supper, but had no thought for the animals.
She carried the full dishes to the table, seated herself by the
grey-haired man, and 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,
‘ Thou hast eaten with him,
Thou hast drunk with him,
Thou hast had no thought for us,
So find out for thyself where thou canst pass the night . 1
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. In a little while the grey-
haired man came, took his candle, looked at the girl and shook
204
THE HUT IN THE FOREST
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.
Late at night the wood-cutter came home, and reproached
his wife for leaving him to hunger all day.
4 It is not my fault,’ she replied; 4 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 asked that the second daughter should take
him his dinner that day.
4 I will take a bag with lentils,’ said he. 4 The seeds are
larger than millet; the girl will see them better, and can’t lose
her way.’ So when dinner-time came, the girl went out with
his 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,
4 Pretty little hen,
Pretty little cock,
And pretty brindled cow,
What say ye to that ? 1
The animals again replied 4 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,
‘ Thou hast eaten with him,
Thou hast drunk with him,
Thou hast had no thought for us,
So find out for thyself where thou canst pass the night . 1
When she was asleep the old man came, looked at her, shook
his head, and let her down into the cellar.
205
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 buzzing humble-bee, as her
sisters did.’
The mother did not want to do it, and said, 4 Am I to lose
my dearest child, as well ? ’
4 Have no fear,’ he replied, 4 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 take. 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,
‘ Pretty little hen,
Pretty little cock,
And pretty brindled cow,
What say ye to that ? 1
4 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 some good soup, and the bowl
was placed upon the table, she said, 4 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 strewed it for the
cock and hen, and a whole armful of sweet-smelling hay for the
cow.
206
SHE BEGGED QUITE PRETTILY TO BE ALLOWED TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE,
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THE HUT IN THE FOREST
1 I hope you will like it, dear animals,’ said she, 4 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, 4 Ought we not to go to bed ? ’
( Pretty little hen,
Pretty little cock,
And pretty brindled cow,
What say ye to that ?’
The animals answered 4 Duks,’
4 Thou hast eaten with us,
Thou hast drunk with us,
Thou hast had kind thought for all of us,
We wish thee good-night . 1
O O
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.
She slept quietly till midnight, and then there was such
a noise in the house that she awoke. There was a sound of
creaking and of cracking in every corner, and the doors burst
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 was
207
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
awaked in the morning by the brightness of the sunshine, what
did her eyes behold ? She was lying in a vast hall, and every¬
thing around her shone with royal splendour. 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 ?
4 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 pretty brindled cow.’
She thought the old man was up already, and looked round
at his bed, and it was not he, but a stranger that was lying in it.
And as she was looking at him, and became aware that he was
young and handsome, he awoke, sat up in bed, and said, 4 I
am a King’s son, and was bewitched by a wicked witch, and
made to live in this forest, as an old grey-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 risen, the King’s son ordered the three
attendants to set out and fetch the father and mother of the
girl to the marriage feast.
4 But where are my two sisters ? ’ inquired the maiden.
4 I have locked them in the cellar,’ said he, 4 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.’
208
The Peasant’s Wise Daughter
T HERE was once a poor peasant who had no land, but
a little cottage only, and one daughter. Said his
daughter, 4 We ought to ask our lord the King for a
bit of the land that has just been cleared.’ When the King
heard of their poverty, he presented them with a little field,
which she and her father dug up, and intended to sow with a
little corn and grain of that kind. When they had dug over
nearly the whole of the field, they found in the earth a mortar
of pure gold.
4 Listen,’ said the father to the girl. 4 As our lord the
King has been so gracious and given us the field, we ought
to give him this mortar in return for it.’
The daughter, however, would not consent to this, and said,
4 Father, if we went with the mortar without having the
o 209
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
pestle as well, we should have to get the pestle, so you had
much better say nothing about it.’
However, he wouldn’t obey her, but took the mortar and
carried it to the King, said he had found it in the cleared land,
and begged him to 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
there he should stay until he produced the pestle. Every day
the servants had 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’d only listened to my daughter ! Alas,
alas! if I’d only listened to my daughter! ’ So they went to
the King and told him how the prisoner was always crying,
‘ Ah ! if I had but listened to my daughter ! ’ and would neither
eat nor drink. The King commanded the servants to bring
the prisoner before him, and he asked the peasant why he was
always crying, ‘ Ah ! if I’d only 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, bid her come
here.’ So she had 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’d 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, took off all she had on, and then she was
not clothed, and next she took a great fishing-net, and seated
herself in the middle of it and wound it round and round her,
and then she was not naked, and she hired an ass, and tied
the fisherman’s net to its tail, so that it had to drag her along,
210
THE PEASANT’S WISE DAUGHTER
and that was neither riding nor walking. The ass had also
to drag her in the cart-ruts, so that she only touched the ground
with her big 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 let out of
prison, took her to wife, and gave into her care all the royal
possessions.
Now when some years had passed, the King was once
reviewing his troops on parade, when it happened that some
peasants who had been selling wood stopped before the palace
with their wagons, some of which had oxen yoked to them,
and some horses. There was one peasant had three horses,
one of which had a young foal, and it ran away and lay down
between two oxen that were in front of the wagon. When the
peasants met they began to dispute, and soon came to blows
and made a great disturbance, for the peasant with the oxen
wanted to keep the foal, and said it belonged to one of his
oxen, and the other said it was his horse’s, and that it was his.
The dispute was laid before the King, and he gave 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, weeping and lamenting 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.
4 Yes,’ said she, 4 I will tell thee what to do, if thou wilt
promise 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.
So next day the peasant stood where he had been told,
and fished on dry ground. When the King passed by, and
211
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
saw it, lie 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 at all.
The peasant said, 4 It ’s just 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 that at once. But the
peasant would not do so, and said always, God forbid he should !
the idea was his own. So they threw him across a bundle of
straw, and he was beaten and ill-treated until at last he admitted
that he had it from the Queen.
When the King got home again, he said to his wife, 4 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 earnest—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, 4 Yes, my dear husband, if you command this, I
will do it,’ and she threw her arms round him and kissed him,
and said she would take leave of him. Then she ordered a
strong sleeping draught to be brought, to drink farewell to him;
the King took a great pull at it, but she drank only a little.
He soon fell into a deep sleep, and when she saw that, she called
a servant and took a beautiful white linen sheet and wrapped
the King in it, and the servant had to carry him into a carriage
that stood before the door, and she drove with him to her own
little cottage. She laid him in her own little bed, and he slept
one day and one night without waking, and when he did wake
he looked round and said, 4 Bless me ! where am I ? ’ He
called his attendants, but none of them were there.
At length his wife came to his bedside and said, 4 My dear
212
THE TWO BROTHERS
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, 4 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
very likely they are still living at the present time.
The Two Brothers
O NCE upon a time there were two brothers, one rich and
the other poor. The rich one was a goldsmith and
he was evil-hearted. The poor one supported himself
by making brooms, and was good and honourable. And he
had two children, who were twins and as like each other as
two drops of water. These two boys were often in and out
of the rich man’s house, and sometimes got some of the scraps
to eat.
It happened once when the poor man was going into the
forest to gather twigs for his brooms, that he saw a bird which
was all golden and more beautiful than he had ever seen before.
He picked up a little stone, and threw it, and was lucky enough
to hit him, but it brought down one golden feather only and
the bird flew away. The man picked up the feather and
carried it to his brother, who looked at it and said, 4 It is pure
gold 1 ’ and gave him a great deal of money for it. Next day
he climbed into a birch-tree, and was about to cut off a branch
or two when out flew the same bird. The man searched till
he found a nest, with an egg in it, which was of gold. He took
the egg home with him, and carried it to his brother, who again
said, 4 It is pure gold,’ and gave him what it was worth.
At last the goldsmith said, 4 How I should like to have the
213
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
bird itself! ’ So the poor man went into the forest for the
third time, and again saw the golden bird sitting on the tree,
so he threw a stone and brought it down and carried it to his
brother, who gave him a great heap of gold for it. 4 Now,’
thought he, 4 I can make both ends meet,’ and went contentedly
home.
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 every bit myself! The bird was
indeed no ordinary one, but of so wonderful a kind that who¬
ever ate its heart and liver found every morning a piece of
gold beneath his pillow. The woman plucked the bird, put
it on the spit, and left it to roast.
Now it happened that while it was at the fire, and the
woman had to go out of the kitchen to do some other work, the
two children of the poor broom-maker ran in and went up to
the spit and turned it once or twice. At that very moment
two little bits of the bird fell down into the dripping-pan. Said
one of the boys, 4 Let’s eat these two little bits ; I am so
hungry ! No one will ever miss them.’ So they ate the pieces,
but the woman came back then and seeing that they were
eating something, said to them, 4 What have you been eating ? ’
4 Only two little morsels which fell out of the bird,’ answered
they.
4 Oh ! 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 done, she served it up to the gold¬
smith, who ate it all by himself and left not a bit of it. Next
morning, however, when he felt beneath his pillow, expecting
to bring out the piece of gold, no more gold pieces were there
than there had always been.
The two children did not know what a piece of good fortune
had fallen to their lot. Next morning when they got up,
214
THE TWO BROTHERS
something fell to the ground, and on looking to see what it was,
there they found two gold pieces ! They took them to their
father, who was astonished and said, 4 How can that have
happened ? ’ When next morning again they found two more,
and so on daily, he went to his brother and told him the strange
story. The goldsmith knew at once 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, envious and hard¬
hearted as he was, he said to their father, 4 Thy children are in
league with the Evil One. Do not touch 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 too.’ 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.
The two children ran wildly about in the forest, and
sought the way home again, but they could not find it, and only
became more and more bewildered. At length they met a
hunter who asked, 4 To whom do you children belong ? ’
4 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.
4 Come,’ said the hunter, 4 that ’s nothing so very bad, if at
the same time you keep honest, and are not idle.’ And as the
good man took a fancy to the children, and had none of his
own, he took them home with him and said, 4 1 will be your
father, and bring you up till you are big.’
They learned the craft of the hunter from him, and the
piece of gold which each of them found when he awoke, was
put by for them in case they should need it in the future.
When they were grown up their foster-father took them
into the forest one day, and said, 4 To-day I am going to see
how well you can shoot, so that I may release you from your
apprenticeship, and make huntsmen of you.’ They went with
him and lay in wait a long time, but no game appeared. The
huntsman, however, looked up and saw a flock of wild geese
215
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
flying in the form of a triangle, so he said to one of the brothers,
4 Shoot me down one from each corner.’ He did it, and thus
he accomplished his trial shot. Soon after another flock 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 likewise was successful.
4 Now,’ said the foster-father, 4 I free you from your
apprenticeship ; you are skilled hunters, both of you.’ There¬
upon the two brothers went together into the forest, and
consulted each other and agreed upon a plan. In the evening
when they had sat down to supper, they said to their foster-
father, 4 We will not touch food, or take one mouthful, until
you have granted us a request.’
Said he, 4 What, then, is your request ? ’
They replied, 4 We have now learned all we can, and we
must show what we are worth in the world, so allow us to go
away and travel.’
Then said the old man joyfully, 4 You talk like brave
hunters. What you desire has been my wish also. Go forth,
and may all go well with you.’ Thereupon they finished their
supper in great spirits.
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 as he chose of the gold pieces that had been saved.
Then he went a part of the way with them, and when taking
leave, he gave them a sharp bright knife, and said, 4 If ever you
separate, stick this knife into a tree at the place where you part,
and then when one of you goes back to that spot again, he 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 further and further on, 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 too, and still did not get out. As they had
216
THE TWO BROTHERS
nothing to eat, one of them said, 4 We must shoot something
for ourselves or we shall suffer from hunger,’ and he loaded his
gun, and looked about him. And when an old hare came
running up towards them, he raised his gun to his shoulder,
but the hare cried out,
4 Dear hunters, do but let me live,
Two little ones to thee I ’ll give,’
and sprang instantly into the thicket, and brought out two
young ones. But the little creatures played so merrily, and
were so pretty, that the hunters could not find it in their hearts
to kill them, but they kept them with them, and the little
hares followed behind on foot. Soon after this a fox crept past;
they were just going to shoot it, but the fox cried,
4 Dear hunters, do but let me live,
Two little ones I'll also give . 1
He, too, brought two little foxes, and the hunters 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 came
out of the thicket. The hunters made ready to shoot him, but
the wolf cried,
4 Dear hunters, do but let me live,
Two little ones I'll also give . 1
The hunters put the two wolves with the other animals, and
they followed behind them. Then a bear came who wanted
to enjoy life a little longer, and cried,
4 Dear hunters, do but let me live,
Two little ones I, too, will give . 1
The two young bears were added to the others, and then there
were eight of them. But who do you think came next ? A
lion it was, tossing his mane ! But the hunters did not let
themselves be frightened and took aim to shoot him also, but
the lion said,
4 Dear hunters, do but let me live,
Two little ones I, too, will give . 1
217
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
And he brought his little ones to them, and now the hunters
had two lions, two bears, two wolves, two foxes, and two hares
to follow and serve them.
In the meantime their hunger was not appeased by this,
and they said to the foxes, 4 Hark ye, you cunning fellows,
just provide us with something to eat. You are crafty enough.’
4 Not far from here,’ they replied, 4 lies a village, from
which we have already brought many a chicken ; we ’ll show
you the way.’ So they went into the village, bought them¬
selves something to eat, and had some given to their beasts,
and then travelled on again. The foxes, however, knew their
way about very well and where the poultry-yards were, and
were able to guide the hunters.
They travelled about for a while, but could find no situations
where they could remain together, so they said, 4 Well, it can’t
be helped, 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 west.
The younger, who had gone westward, in time came with his
beasts to a town which was all hung with black crape. He
went into an inn, and asked the host if he could put up 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 a hen, and when
he had eaten up that he went and 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 lying on the grass, and they too ate till they
were satisfied. And when the hunter had taken care of his
animals, he asked the innkeeper why the town was hung with
black crape ? Said the host, 4 Because our King’s only
daughter is to die to-morrow.’ The hunter asked if she was so
ill that she couldn’t live.
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THE TWO BROTHERS
‘No,’ answered the host, ‘ she is vigorous and healthy,
but she must die all the same ! ’
4 How is that ? ’ asked the hunter.
4 There is a high hill outside the town, on which dwells a
dragon who every year must have a maiden given him, or he
lays the whole country waste, and now he has had all the
maidens, and there is no longer any one left but the King’s
daughter. Yet there is no mercy for her; she must be given
up to him, and that’s to be done to-morrow.’
Said the hunter, 4 Why is the dragon not killed ? ’
4 Ah,’ replied the host, 4 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 also rule the kingdom after his own death.’
The hunter said nothing more, but next morning took his
animals, and with them climbed 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, 4 Whoever 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 hunter 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 princess was to be delivered
over to the dragon, the King, the marshal, and courtiers
accompanied her. From afar she saw the hunter on the
dragon’s hill, and thought it was the dragon standing there
waiting for her, and wanted very badly not to go up to him,
but at last, because otherwise the whole town would have
been destroyed, she was forced to finish her miserable journey.
The King and courtiers returned home full of grief ; the King’s
marshal, however, was to stay where he was, and look on
from a distance.
When the King’s daughter got to the top of the hill, it was
219
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
not the dragon that stood there, but the young hunter, 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, loudly
roaring. When he perceived the hunter, he was astonished and
said, ‘ What business hast thou here on my hill ? ’
It was not long before the seven-headed dragon came, loudly roaring.
The hunter answered, ‘ I want to fight with thee.’
4 Many knights have left their lives here,’ said the dragon; ‘ I
shall soon have made an end of thee too,’ and he breathed fire
out of seven jaws. The fire he meant to have lighted the dry
grass, and the hunter would have been suffocated in the heat
and smoke, but all the animals came running up and trampled
220
THE TWO BROTHERS
out the fire. Then the dragon rushed upon the hunter, but
he swung his sword until it sang through the air, and struck
off three of his heads. At that the dragon rose up in the air
in fury, and spat out flames of fire over the hunter, and was
about to plunge down on him, but the hunter once more swung
his sword, and again cut off three of his heads. The monster
became faint and sank down, nevertheless it was just going to
rush upon the hunter, but he with his last strength smote its
tail off, and as he could fight no longer, he called up his animals
who tore it to pieces.
When the struggle was ended, the hunter unlocked the
church, and found the King’s daughter lying on the floor, as
she had lost her senses with 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, 4 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 among 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 hunter, who
went and cut the tongues out of the dragon’s seven heads,
wrapped them in the handkerchief, and preserved them care¬
fully.
That done, as he was so faint and weary with the fire and
the battle, he said to the maiden, 4 We are both faint and
weary, we will sleep a while.’ Then she said Yes, and they
lay down on the ground, and the hunter said to the lion,
4 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,
4 Lie down near me, I must sleep a little : if anything comes,
wake me up.’ Then the bear lay down beside him, but he also
was tired, and called the wolf and said, 4 Lie down by me, I
221
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
must sleep a little, but if anything comes, wake me up.’ Then
the wolf lay down by him, but he was tired also, and called
the fox and said, 4 Lie down by me, I must sleep a little ; if
anything comes, wake me up.’ Then the fox lay down beside
him, but he too was weary, and called the hare and said,
4 Lie down near me, I must sleep a little, and if anything should
come, wake me up.’ Then the hare sat down by him, but the
poor hare was tired too, and as there was no one whom she
could call to keep watch for her she too fell asleep. And now
the King’s daughter, the hunter, the lion, the bear, the wolf,
the fox, and the hare, were all sleeping sound.
The marshal, however, who had been looking from a dis¬
tance, took courage when he did not see the dragon flying away
v r ith the maiden, and finding that all had become quiet, he
climbed up the hill. There lay the dragon hacked and hewn
to pieces on the ground, and not far off were the King’s daughter
and a hunter with his animals, and all of them were sunk in a
deep sleep.
Now he was a wicked man and he took his sword, cut off
the hunter’s head, seized the maiden in his arms, and carried
her down the hill. She awoke, terrified, but the marshal said,
4 Thou art in my hands; thou shalt say that it was I who killed
the dragon.’
4 I cannot do that,’ she replied, 4 for it was a hunter with
his animals who did it.’ Then he drew his sword, and threatened
to kill her if she did not obey him, and so he forced her to
promise 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 alive, whom he had believed to have been torn to pieces
by the monster. The marshal said to him, 4 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, 4 Is what he says true ? ’
4 Ah, yes,’ she answered, 4 it must indeed be true, but I will
not consent to have the wedding celebrated until after a year
222
THE TWO BROTHERS
and a day,’ for she thought in that time she should hear some¬
thing of her dear hunter.
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 her 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 her nose so
that she awoke. As soon as the hare was awake, she 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, 4 Who has done that ? Bear, why didst thou not
wake me up ? ’ The bear asked the wolf, 4 Why didst thou not
wake me up ? ’ and the wolf the fox, 4 Why didst thou not
wake me up ? ’ and the fox the hare, 4 Why didst thou not
wake me up ? ’ The poor hare alone did not know what
answer to make, and so the blame rested upon her. Then they
were just going to fall upon her, but she entreated them and
said, 4 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, 4 In four-and-twenty hours must thou run
there and back again, and have brought the root with thee.’
Then the hare bounded away, and in four-and-twenty hours
she was back, and brought the root with her. The lion put
the hunter’s head on again, and the hare placed the root in
his mouth, and immediately all joined together again, and his
heart beat, and life came back.
Then the hunter awoke, and was alarmed when he did not
see the maiden, and thought, 4 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 hunter did not notice it because he was so sad about the
King’s daughter. But at noon, when he was going to eat some-
223
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
thing, 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 hunter’s head off again, turned it round, and
the hare healed it with the magic root.
The hunter, however, was sad at heart, and travelled about
the world, and made his animals dance in the streets for a
living. It came to pass that exactly 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, 4 What does
this mean ? Last year the town was all hung with black crape,
what means the red cloth to-day ? ’
4 Last year,’ answered the host, 4 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 solemnised, and that is why the town was then hung
with black crape for mourning, and is to-day covered with red
cloth for joy.’
Next day when the wedding was to take place, the hunter
said at midday to the innkeeper, 4 Do you believe, sir host,
that I while with you here to-day shall eat bread from the
King’s own table ? ’
4 Nay,’ said the host, 4 I would bet a hundred pieces of gold
that that will not come true.’ The hunter accepted the wager,
and set against it a purse with the same number of gold pieces.
Then he called the hare and said, 4 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
pass this order on to any of the others, but had to stir her legs
to do it herself. 4 Alas ! ’ thought she, 4 if I go leaping through
the streets by myself, the butchers’ dogs will all be after me/
224
THE TWO BROTHERS
It happened as she feared; the dogs came barking after her,
wanting to make holes in her good fur coat. But she sprang
clear away. Have you never seen a hare running ? And she
sheltered herself in a sentry-box without the soldier being
aware of it. Then up came the dogs and wanted to pull her
out, but the soldier did not understand the fun, and struck
them with the butt-end of his gun, till they ran away yelping
and howling. As soon as the hare saw that the way was clear,
she 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 ? ’ thinking it was her dog.
The hare scratched her foot a second time, and again she said,
4 Wilt thou get away ? ’ and thought it was her dog. But
the hare did not let herself be turned from her purpose, and
scratched for the third time; then she peeped down, and knew
the hare by her collar. She took her on her lap, carried her
into her chamber, and said, 4 Dear Hare, what dost thou
want ? ’
4 My master, who killed the dragon, is here,’ answered the
hare, 4 and he 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, 4 But the baker must carry it for me too,
so that the butchers’ dogs may do no harm to me.’ The baker
carried it for her as far as the door of the inn, and then the hare
got on her hind legs, took the loaf in her front paws, and
carried it to her master. Then said the hunter, 4 Behold, sir
host, the hundred pieces of gold are mine.’ The host was
astonished, but the hunter went on to say, 4 Yes, sir host, I
have the bread, but now I ’ll have some of the King’s roast
meat also.’
4 I should indeed like to see that,’ said the host, 4 but he
would make no more wagers.
The hunter called the fox and said, 4 My little fox, go and
fetch me some roast meat, such as the King eats.’ The little
p 225
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
red fox knew the byways 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 recognised the fox by its collar, took him
into her chamber with her, and said, 4 Dear Fox, what dost
thou want ? ’
He answered, 4 My master, who killed the dragon, is here,
and has sent me. I am to ask for some roast meat such as the
King eats.’
Then she bade 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 carried it to his master.
4 Behold, sir host,’ said the hunter, 4 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, 4 Dear Wolf, go to the palace 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 had to look round. She recognised him by his collar,
and took him into her chamber with her, and said, 4 Dear Wolf,
what dost thou want ? ’
He answered, 4 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.
4 Behold, sir host,’ said the hunter, 4 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, 4 Dear Bear, thou art fond of
licking anything sweet; go and bring me some tarts such as the
King eats.’ Then the bear trotted to the palace and every
226
THE TWO BROTHERS
one got out of his way, but when he reached the guard, they
barred the way with their muskets, and would not let him go
into the royal palace. But he stood up on his hind legs, and
gave them a few boxes on the ears, right and left, with his
paws, and that soon scattered them, and he went straight on
to the King’s daughter, placed himself behind her, and growled
a little. She looked behind her, and knew the bear, and bade
him go into her room with her, and said , 4 Dear Bear, what dost
thou want ? ’
He answered, 4 My master, who killed the dragon, is here,
and I am to ask for some tarts such as the King eats.’
Then she summoned her confectioner, who had to bake
some pastry such as the King ate, and carry it to the door for
the bear. The bear first licked up the comfits which had
rolled off, and then he stood upright, took the dish, and carried
it to his master.
4 Behold, sir host,’ said the hunter, 4 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, 4 Dear Lion, thou thyself
likest to drink till thou art tipsy; go and fetch me some wine,
such as is drunk by the King.’ Then the lion stalked through
the streets, and the people fled from him, and when he came
to the guard, 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.
The King’s daughter came out 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. 4 Dear Lion,’ she said,
4 what wilt thou have ? ’
He answered, 4 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, 4 I will go with him, and see that I get the right
227
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
wine.’ So 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, 4 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 tumble down and not at
all gently either, and when he had picked himself up again,
without another word, he conducted the lion into a little cellar
apart, where the King’s wine lay, which no one else 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 about a little, 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 hunter 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 fed the hare, the fox, the wolf, the bear, and the
lion also, and he rejoiced, for he saw that the King’s daughter
still loved him.
When he had finished his dinner, he said, ‘ Sir host, I have
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 is already
betrothed, and to be married to-day ? ’
Then the hunter drew forth the handkerchief which the
228
THE TWO BROTHERS
King’s daughter had given him on the dragon’s hill, in which
were folded the monster’s seven tongues, and said, 4 What I
have here in my hand shall help me to do it.’
The innkeeper looked at the handkerchief, and said, 4 What¬
ever I believe, I do not believe that, and I am willing to stake
my house and courtyard on it.’ The hunter, however, took
out a bag with a thousand gold pieces in it, put it on the table,
and said, 4 I ’ll stake that on it.’
Now the King said to his daughter, at the royal table,
4 What did all the wild animals want, which have been coming
to thee, and going in and out of my palace ? ’
She replied, 4 I may not tell you, but send and have the
master of the animals brought, and you will do well.’
The King sent a servant to the inn with an invitation to
the stranger, and he arrived just as the hunter had laid his
wager with the innkeeper. Then said he, 4 Behold, sir host,
the King sends his servant and invites me, but this is not the
way I am going.’ And he said to the servant, 4 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,
4 What shall I do ? ’
She said, 4 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 hunter saw them coming, he said, 4 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.
The King saw him coming and said to his daughter, 4 How
shall I receive him ? ’
She answered, 4 Go to meet him and you will do
well.’
So the King w T ent to meet him and led him in, and his
animals followed. The King gave him a seat near himself and
229
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
his daughter, and the marshal, as bridegroom, sat on the other
side, but did not recognise the hunter.
And now at this very moment the seven heads of the dragon
were brought in for all to see, and the King said, 4 These seven
heads were cut off by the marshal, wherefore to-day I give him
my daughter to wife.’
Then the hunter stood up, opened the seven jaws, and said,
4 Where are the seven tongues of the dragon ? ’
Then the marshal was terrified, and grew pale and did not
know what answer to make. At length in his confusion he
said, 4 Dragons have no tongues.’
4 Liars ought to have none, but the dragon’s tongues are
the tokens of the victor,’ replied the hunter, 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 answered, 4 To
him who killed the dragon.’
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, asking to whom they belonged.
She answered, 4 The necklace and golden clasp were mine,
but I divided them among the animals who helped to conquer
the dragon.’
Then said the hunter, 4 When I, tired with the combat, was
resting fast asleep, the marshal came and cut off my head. He
then 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
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 at last had come there again and had learned
the treachery of the marshal from what the innkeeper told him.
Then the King asked his daughter, 4 Is it true that this man
killed the dragon ? ’
230
THE TWO BROTHERS
And she answered, 4 Yes, it is true. Now I may reveal the
wicked deed of the marshal, as it has come to light without
my breaking my word, for he wrung from me a promise to be
silent. For this reason, however, I made the condition that the
marriage should not take place for a year and a day.’
Then the King bade twelve councillors be summoned to
pronounce judgment on the marshal, and they sentenced him
to be torn to pieces by four bulls. So the marshal was executed,
but to the hunter the King gave his daughter, and named him
to reign in his stead 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
innkeeper, but sent for him and said, 4 Behold, sir host, I have
married the King’s daughter, and your house and yard are
mine.’ 4 Yes,’ said the host, 4 according to justice it is so.’
But the young King said, 4 It shall be done according to
mercy,’ and told him that he should keep his house and yard,
and have the thousand pieces of gold as well.
And now the young King and Queen were very 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 neighbourhood, not far off, there
was a forest of which it was reported that it was haunted, and
that whoever entered it did not easily get out again. The
young King, however, longed greatly 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, 4 Wait
here till I return, I want to chase that beautiful creature,’ and
he rode into the forest after it, followed only by his animals.
The attendants dismounted and stayed there 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, and she was in
the greatest concern about him. He, however, had ridden on
231
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 found out that
he had penetrated deep into the forest, and he blew his horn
but there was 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 got off his horse, lighted a fire for himself
near a tree, and resolved to spend the night by it. While he
was sitting by the fire with his animals lying down beside him,
it seemed to him that he heard a human voice. He looked
round, but could see 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 without stopping.
4 Oh, oh, oh, how cold I am ! ’ she moaned.
4 Come down,’ said he, 4 and warm thyself if thou art
cold.’
4 No,’ she said, 4 thy animals will bite me.’
He answered, 4 They will do thee no harm, old mother.
Do come down.’
She, however, was a witch, and said, 4 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
switch, and he struck them with it, and instantly they lay still
all turned into stone. When the witch was safe from the
animals, down she leapt and touched him also with a switch,
and he too was changed to stone. The old hag she laughed,
and dragged him and his animals into a cave where many more
such stones already lay.
As the young King never came back at all, the Queen’s
anguish and fears grew greater and greater. And it so hap¬
pened that at this veiy time there came into the kingdom the
other brother who had turned to the east when the two had first
separated. He had sought employment, and finding none, had
travelled about here and there, and he too had made his animals
dance. Then it came into his mind that he would just go and
232
Instantly they lay still all turned into stone.
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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, 4 A great
misfortune must have befallen my brother, but perhaps I can
still save him, for half the blade is still bright.’ He and his
animals went on 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
for two days had been in the greatest sorrow at his absence,
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 was just like him to look at,
and had wild animals running behind him. He saw at once
that they were speaking of his brother, and thought, 4 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. 4 I had lost
myself in the forest,’ he explained, 4 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.
For two days he remained in the palace, and in the meantime
found out all he could about the enchanted forest, and at last
he said, 4 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 gone into the forest, it fared with him as with his
brother; he saw a white hart and said to his people, 4 Stay
here, and wait till I return, I want to chase this lovely wild
creature,’ and he rode into the forest and his animals 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
234
THE TWO BROTHERS
he had lighted a fire, he heard some one wailing above him,
4 Oh, oh, oh, how cold I am ! ’
Looking up he saw the self-same old witch sitting in the
tree.
4 If thou art cold,’ said he, 4 come down, little old mother,
and warm thyself.’
4 No, no,’ she answered, 4 thy animals will bite me.’
But he said, 4 They will not hurt thee.’
4 I will throw down a wand to thee,’ she cried, 4 and if thou
smitest them with it they will do me no harm.’
The hunter heard that, but he did not trust the old woman,
and said, 4 I will not strike my animals. Come down, or I will
fetch thee.’
Then she cried, 4 What dost thou want ? Thou shalt not
touch me.’
But he replied, 4 If thou dost not come, I ’ll shoot thee.’
4 Shoot away,’ said she; 4 I do not fear thy bullets ! ’
Then he took aim and fired at her, but the witch was proof -
against all leaden bullets, and chuckled, and yelled and cried,
4 Thou shalt not hit me.’
The hunter knew what to do though, and tore three silver
buttons off his coat, and loaded his gun with them, for against
them her magic was useless, and when he fired, down she fell at
once with a scream.
He set his foot on her and said, 4 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, and begged for mercy, and said,
4 He and his animals lie in a cave, turned to stone.’
Then he made her go there with him, and threatened her,
and said, 4 Old sea-cat, now shalt thou make my brother and
all the human beings lying here, alive again, or into the fire
thou shalt go ! ’
She took a wand and touched the stones, and then his
brother with his animals came to life again, and many others,
merchants, and workmen, and shepherds, and they all rose up
235
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
and thanked him for their deliverance, and went off 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, and bound her fast and laid her on the fire,,
and when she was burnt the dismal forest opened of its own
accord, and was light and clear, and in the distance the King’s
palace could be seen about three hours’ walk away.
Thereupon the two brothers went home together, and
told each other their histories on the way. And when the
youngest said that he was ruler of the whole country in the old
King’s stead, the other observed, 4 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 his red blood
flowing, he repented most bitterly.
4 My brother delivered me,’ he cried, 4 and I have killed him
for it,’ and he bewailed him aloud. Then up came his hare
and offered to go and bring some of the root of life, and away
she bounded and brought it back while yet there was time, and
the dead man was brought to life again, and never knew he had
been wounded.
After this they went on their way, and the younger said,
4 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 old King’s presence.’
So they separated, and before long in came the guards from
the doors on both sides at the same moment to announce that
the young King and his animals had returned from the chase.
4 It is not possible,’ the old King said; 4 the gates lie quite
a mile apart.’ In the meantime, however, the two brothers
236
v
THE TWO BROTHERS
entered the courtyard of the palace from opposite sides, and
both mounted the steps.
Then the King in amazement said to his daughter, 4 Tell me
which is thy husband. Each of them looks exactly like the
other, I cannot tell one from the other.’ Then she was in great
distress, and she could not tell either. But at last she remem¬
bered the necklace which she had given to the animals, and she
sought and found her little golden clasp on one of the lions,
and she cried in her delight, 4 He who is followed by this lion
is my true husband.’
The young King laughed and said, 4 Yes, he is the right
one,’ and they all sat down together to table, and ate and
drank, and were merry.
At night when the young King went to bed, his wife said,
4 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.’
And then he knew how true his brother had been.
237
The Nix of the Mill-pond
O NCE upon a time there was a miller who lived with his
wife in great contentment. They had money and
land, and year by year their prosperity increased more
and more. But ill-luck comes like a thief in the night, and as
their wealth increased so again did it decrease, year by year,
till 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, he could find 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 crossed the mill-dam the
first sunbeam was just breaking forth, and he heard the sound
of a ripple in the pond. He turned and saw 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 he did not know
238
THE NIX OF THE MILL-POND
whether to run or stay where he was. But the nix raised her
sweet voice and called him by his name, and asked 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.
4 Be easy,’ answered the nix; 4 I will make thee richer and
happier even than thou wast before, only thou must promise
to give me what has just been born in thy house.’
4 What else can that be,’ thought the miller, 4 but a puppy
or a kitten ? ’ and he promised her what she desired.
The nix descended into the water again, and he hurried
back to his mill comforted, and in good spirits. But before he
reached the house the maid-servant came to meet him 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 well
that the cunning nix had been aware of it, and had deceived
him. Hanging his head, he went up to his wife’s bedside and
when she said, 4 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. 4 Of what use to me are riches and
prosperity,’ he added, 4 if I am to lose my child ? But what
can I do ? ’ Even the relations, who had come to wish them
joy, did not know what to say.
In the meantime good fortune returned to the miller’s
house. All that he undertook succeeded. It was as if trunks
and coffers filled of themselves, and the money in the cup¬
boards increased during the night. It was not long before
his wealth was greater than it had ever been before. But
he could not rejoice over it untroubled; 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. 4 Beware,’ he said to him; 4 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
239
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
herself again, the miller began to feel at ease. The boy grew
to be a youth and was apprenticed to a hunter. When he
had learned all he could, and had become a first-rate hunter,
the lord of the village took him into his service. In the village
dwelt a beautiful and true-hearted maiden, whom the hunter
loved, which when his master saw he gave him a little house,
and the two were married, and lived in peace and happiness,
loving each other with all their hearts.
One day the hunter 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
after he had cleaned the deer, he went to the water 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 down under the waves, which
quickly closed over him.
When evening came, and the hunter 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 neighbour¬
hood 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 bank, she had no longer any doubt about
the misfortune. Lamenting her sorrow and wringing her hands,
she called on her beloved by name, but in vain. She hurried
round 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 looked calmly 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 loud cries of grief, and sometimes softly
sobbing.
At last her strength came to an end, she sank to the ground
and fell into a heavy sleep. Presently a dream took possession
240
THE NIX OF THE MILL-POND
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 lay
before 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 little cottage. She went up to
it and opened the door, and inside there sat an old woman with
white hair, who beckoned kindly to her.
At that moment the poor woman awoke, day had already
dawned, and she at once resolved to do as in her dream. She
laboriously climbed the mountain. Everything took place
exactly as she had seen it in the dream. 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, c 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 bank, and
comb thy long black hair with this comb. When thou hast
done, lay it down on the bank, and thou shalt see what will
happen.’
The woman returned home, but the time passed slowly till
the full moon came. At last the shining circle appeared in the
heavens, and she went out to the mill-pond. She 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 on the surface and rolled to the shore, and bore the comb
away with it. When the comb had sunk to the bottom, the
waters parted, and the head of the hunter rose above them.
He did not speak, but looked sorrowfully at his wife. 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.
q 241
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
Full of sadness, the woman went back, but again the
dream showed her the cottage of the old woman. Next
morning she set out once more and complained of her woes
to the wise woman. The old woman gave her a golden
flute, and said, 4 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 shalt 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 waters 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 and covered him, and drew him down again.
‘ Alas! what does it profit me,’ said the unhappy woman,
4 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, 4 All is not yet fulfilled. Tarry until the time of the full
moon, then take the spinning-wheel, seat thyself on the bank,
and spin full the spool, and when thou hast done that, place
the spinning-wheel near the water, and thou shalt 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 thread. 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 great jet of water. He quickly leaped to the
bank, caught his wife by the hand and fled. But they had gone
a very little way, when the whole pond rose with a frightful
242
THE NIX OF THE MILL-POND
roar, and streamed out over the land. 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 washed them far away.
When the water had subsided and they touched dry land
again, they both regained 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, both were 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 burst forth on the earth, they
both went out with their flocks one day, and by chance they
drew near each other. They met in a valley, but did not
recognise each other. Yet they rejoiced that they were no
longer so lonely. Henceforth each day they 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 sweet but sorrow¬
ful tune. When he left off he saw that the shepherdess was
weeping bitterly.
4 Why art thou weeping ? ’ he asked.
4 Alas ! 5 answered she, 4 thus shone the full moon when
for the last time I played that tune on the flute, 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 recognised his dear wife, and when she looked at
him, and the moon shone in his face she knew him also. They
fell into each other’s arms and kissed each other, and no one
need ask if they were happy.
243
The Fox and the Geese
T HE fox once came to a meadow in which was a flock of
fine fat geese, whereupon he smiled and said, ‘ I come
in the nick of time. You are all sitting together so
beautifully, that I can gobble you up one after the other.’
Cackling with terror, the geese jumped up and began to wail
and beg piteously for their lives. But the fox would listen
to nothing. 6 No ! there’s no mercy for you ! ’ said he ;
4 you must die.’ At length one of them took heart and said,
4 If we poor geese have got to give up our vigorous young lives,
show us the only possible favour you can, and allow us one last
prayer, that we may not die in our sins, and then we will place
ourselves in a row, so that you can pick yourself out the
fattest first.’ 4 Yes,’ said the fox, 4 that’s 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, 4 Ga !
Ga ! Ga ! Ga ! ’ and as she showed no signs of coming to an
end, the second did not wait until her turn came, but began
also, 4 Ga ! Ga ! Ga ! Ga ! ’ The third and fourth followed her,
and soon they were all cackling together, 4 Ga ! Ga ! Ga ! Ga ! ’
And when they have done praying, the story shall be
continued further, but at present they are still praying without
stopping.
244
The Iron Stove
I N 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 there came into the forest
a King’s daughter, who had lost herself, and could not find
her father’s kingdom again. After she had wandered about
for nine days, she came at length to the iron stove.
A voice came from it, and asked her, 4 Whence comest thou
here, and whither art thou going ? ’
She answered, ‘ I have lost my father’s kingdom, and
cannot get home again.’
Then a voice inside the iron stove said, 4 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 King
greater by far than thy father, and I will marry thee.’
Then was she afraid, and thought, 4 Good Heavens ! What
could I do with an iron stove ? ’ But as she very much wished
to get home to her father, she promised to do as he desired.
So he said, 4 Thou shalt return here, and bring a knife with
thee, and scrape a hole in the iron.’ And then he gave her a
companion who walked near her, but did not speak, and 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, 4 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.’
Q 2
245
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
This terrified the old King so much that he all but fainted,
for he had only this one daughter. So they resolved they
would send in her stead the miller’s daughter, who was very
beautiful. They took her there, gave her a knife, and told her
she was to scrape at the iron stove. So she scraped at it for
four-and-twenty hours, but could not scrape off the least bit
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.’
4 So thou art a miller’s daughter ! Then go away at once,
and let the King’s daughter come here.’
So off she went and told the old King that the one outside
there would have none of her—he would have the King’s
daughter. This terrified the old King, and the princess cried,
But there still was a swineherd’s daughter, who was even
prettier than the miller’s daughter, so they determined to give
her a piece of gold to go to the iron stove instead of the King’s
daughter. There she was taken, and she too scraped away for
four-and-twenty hours. She, however, made nothing of it either.
When day broke, a voice inside the stove cried, 4 It seems to
me it is day outside ! ’
Then answered she, 4 So it seems to me also. I fancy I
hear my father’s horn blowing.’
4 Then thou art a swineherd’s daughter ! Be off at once,
and tell the King’s daughter to come, and tell her all must be
done as was promised, and if she does not come, everything in
the kingdom shall be wrecked and ruined, and not one stone
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
herself. So she took leave of her father, put a knife in her
pocket, and went off to the iron stove in the forest. When she
got there, she began to scrape, and the iron began to give way,
and by the time two hours were over, she had already scraped
246
THE IRON STOVE
a small hole. She peeped in, and saw a youth so handsome,
and so brilliant with gold and with precious jewels, that her
very soul rejoiced. At that 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 just three words, and then she was to come
back again. So she went home, but she did speak more than
three words. And instantly the iron stove disappeared, and
was carried far away over glass mountains and piercing swords,
though 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 to
search 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 little 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 tiny light, and thought, ‘ Ah, there I should be
saved ! ’ She climbed down from the tree, and went towards
the light, praying as she went. Soon she came to a little old
house, with grass growing all round, and a small heap of wood
in front of it. She thought, ‘ Ah ! what have I come to, here ? ’
and peeped in through the window, but she saw nothing within
but toads, big and little, except a table well covered with wine
and roast meat, and the plates and winecups were of silver.
She took courage, and knocked at the door. The fat toad cried,
4 Little green waiting-maid,
Waiting-maid with the crooked leg,
Hop, skip, jump about,
Quickly see who stands without, - ’
and a little toad hopped along and opened the door for her.
247
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
When she entered, they all bade her welcome, and made
her sit down. They asked, ‘ Where hast thou come from,
and where art thou going to ? ’ Then she related all that
had befallen her, and how because she had disobeyed 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 on her way to seek him over hill and dale until she
found him. Then the old fat one said,
‘ Little green waiting-maid,
Waiting-maid with the crooked leg,
Hop, skip, and jump about,
And get me the great box out.’
O O
Then the little one went and brought the box.
After this they gave her meat and drink, and took her to a
soft bed, which felt like silk and velvet, and she laid herself
down in God’s name, and slept.
When morning came she arose,
and out of the great box the
old toad gave her three needles
which she was to take with her.
They would be needed by her
because she had to cross a high
glass mountain, and go over
three sharp swords and a great
lake. If she did all this she
would get her lover back again.
Then the old toad gave her
three things which she was
to take the greatest care of,
namely, three large needles, the wheel of a plough, and three
nuts. With these she travelled on, and when she came to
the glass mountain which was so slippery, she stuck the three
needles first behind her feet and then in turn before them, and
so got over it, and when she was over, she hid them in a corner
which she marked carefully. After this she came to the three
248
The little one went and brought the box.
THE IRON STOVE
sharp swords, and then she seated herself on her plough-wheel,
and rolled over them. At last she reached a great lake, and
when she had crossed it, she came to a large and beautiful
castle. She went in and asked for a place. She was a poor
girl, she said, and would gladly be a servant. For she knew
that the King’s son was there whom she had released from the
iron stove in the great forest. And she was taken as a kitchen-
maid at low wages. But already the King’s son had another
maiden by his side whom he wanted to marry, for she, he
thought, had long been dead.
In the evening, when she had washed up and her work
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 gorgeous royal robe in it ! But when the bride heard of
this she came and asked for the dress, and wanted to buy it,
and said, 4 It is not a dress for a servant-girl.’ But she said
No, she would not sell it, only 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 lovely, and she had never had one
anything like it.
When evening came she said to her bridegroom, 4 That silly
girl will sleep in thy room.’
4 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 kitchen-maid went to
sleep in the room, and he slept so soundly that she could
not waken him.
She wept the whole night and cried, 4 I set thee free when
thou wert in an iron stove in the wild forest, I sought thee, and
I crossed over a glass mountain, and 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 how she
bemoaned the whole night through, and in the morning they
249
LITTLE BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER
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 sleep once again in the bridegroom’s
chamber. The bride, however, gave him a sleeping-drink, and
again he slept so soundly that he could hear nothing.
As before the kitchen-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 I crossed 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 bed-chamber.
This time the King’s son was on his guard, and threw the
sleeping-draught away. So when she began to weep and to
cry, 4 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, 4 Thou art the true one, thou art mine, and I am thine.’
And at once while it was still night, he drove off in 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 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
in, it turned out to be a great castle, and the toads were all
disenchanted, and were all King’s children, and full of joy.
Then their wedding was celebrated, and the King’s son and
250
THE IRON STOVE
the princess remained in the castle, which was much larger
than those of their fathers. But as the old King grieved at
being left alone, they fetched him away, and brought him to
live with them, and then they had two kingdoms, and lived
happily ever after.
A mouse did run,
The story is done.
Printed ljyT. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty
at the Edinburgh University Press
THE LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH CAROLINA
AT CHAPEL HILL
PRESENTED BY
Eleanor R. Pearsall
RARE BOOK COLLECTION
PT2281
.G15
L57
1917
I'
X
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