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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2013 
 
 http://archive.org/details/germanpopulartal21grim' 
 
AND 
 
 HOUSEHOLD STORIES: 
 
 COLLECTED BY 
 
 THE BROTHERS GRIMM. 
 
 Ketolaj STranslateTi. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY EDWARD H. WEHNERT. 
 
 SECOND SERIES. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 CROSBY, NICHOLS, LEE AND COMPANY, 
 117 Washington Street. 
 1861. 
 
CONTENTS OF SECOND SERIES. 
 
 PAOB 
 
 XCI. The King of the Golden Mountain, 9 
 
 XCII. The Kaven, 17 
 
 XCIII. Old Hildebrand, 23 
 
 XCIV. The Water of Life, 27 
 
 XCV. The Spirit in the Bottle, 34 
 
 XCVI. The Two Wanderers, 40 
 
 XCVII. The Experienced Huntsman, 52 
 
 XCVIII. Professor Know- All, 59 
 
 XCIX. Bearskin, 62 
 
 C. The Wren and the Bear, 68 
 
 CI. The Sweet Soup, 71 
 
 CII. The Faithful Beaats, 72 
 
 cm. Three Little Tales about Toads, 77 
 
 CIV. The Poor Miller's Son and the Cat, 79 
 
 CV. Hans the Hedgehog 83 
 
 CVI. The Child's Grave, 89 
 
 CVII. The Jew among Thorns, 90 
 
 CVIII. The Flail which came from the Clouds, 96 
 
 CIX. The Goose Girl, 98 
 
 ex. The Two Kings' Children, 105 
 
 CXI. The Valiant Tailor, 113 
 
 CXIL The Blue Light, 117 
 
 CXIII. The Three Army Surgeons, 122 
 
 CXIV. The Seven Swabians, 125 
 
 CXV. The Three Journeymen, 128 
 
 CXVI. Ferdinand the Faithful and Ferdinand the Unfaithful, . . 132 
 
 CXVII. The Shoes which were Danced to Pieces, 137 
 
 CXVIII. The Three Brothers, 142 
 
 CXIX. The Bright Sun brings on the Day, 144 
 
 CXX. The Prince who was afraid of Nothing, 146 
 
 CXXI. The Evil Spirit and his Grandmother, 152 
 
 CXXII. The Idle Spinner, . 15G 
 
VI Contents. 
 
 PA6R 
 
 CXXIII. The Four Accomplished Brothers, 159 
 
 CXXIV. The Donkey Cabbages, 164 
 
 CXXV. Little One-Eye, Little Two-Eyes, and Little Three-Eyes, . 172 
 CXXVL Tlie Fair Catherine and Pif-Paf Poltrie, . . . .180 
 
 CXXVIL The Fox and the Horse, 182 
 
 CXXVIIL The Six Servants, 184 
 
 CXXIX. Tlie Old Woman in the Wood, 192 
 
 CXXX. The White and the Black Bride, 195 
 
 CXXXL Tiie Man of Iron, 200 
 
 CXXXIL The Three Black Princesses, 209 
 
 CXXXIIL Knoist and his Three Sons, 211 
 
 CXXXIV. The Iron Stove, 212 
 
 CXXXV. The Maid of Brakel, 218 
 
 CXXXVI. The Little Lamb and the Little Fish, 219 
 
 CXXXVIL Siraeli-Mountaiu, 221 
 
 CXXXVIII. Going Out a-travelling, 224 
 
 CXXXIX. The Little Ass, 226 
 
 CXL. The Old Griffin, 230 
 
 CXLI. Snow- White and Eose-Eed, 23S 
 
 CXLII. The Family Servants, 246 
 
 CXLIII. The Turnip, 247 
 
 CXLIV. The Hen Roost, 251 
 
 CXLV. The Old Beggar- Woman, 252 
 
 CXLVI. The Three Sluggards, 253 
 
 CXLVII. The Little Shepherd Boy, 254 
 
 CXLVIII. The Undutiful Son, 256 
 
 CXLIX. Star Dollars, 257 
 
 CL. The Stolen Farthings, 258 
 
 CLI. The Bride-Choosing, 260 
 
 CLIL The Shreds, 261 
 
 CLIII. The Sparrow and his Four Children, 262 
 
 CLIV. The Tale of Schlauraffenland, 265 
 
 CLV. The Lying Tale, 267 
 
 CLVI. A Puzzling Tale, 268 
 
 CLVII. Wise Hans, 269 
 
 CLVIIL The Glass Coffin, 270 
 
 CLIX. Lazy Harry, 277 
 
 CLX. Strong Hans, 280 
 
 CLXI. Lean Betty, 288 
 
 CLXII. The House in the Wood, 290 
 
 CLXIIL Love and Sorrow to Share, 296 
 
 CLXIV. King Wren, 298 
 
 CLXV. The Sole, 801 
 
 CLXVI. The Bittern and the Hoopoe, 802 
 
 CLXVII. The Owl, 303 
 
 / 
 
Contents. vii 
 
 PACK 
 
 CLXVIII. Misfortune, 806 
 
 CLXIX. The Duration of Life, 307 
 
 CLXX. Death's Messengers, 309 
 
 CLXXI. Master Cob blersawl, 311 
 
 CLXXII. The Nix in the Pond, 316 
 
 CLXXIII. The Presents of the Little Folk, 323 
 
 CLXXIV. The Giant and the Tailor, 326 
 
 CLXXV. The Goose-Girl at the Well, 829 
 
 CLXXVL The Nail, 341 
 
 CLXXVIL The Poor Boy in the Grave, 842 
 
 CLXXVIIL The True Bride, 846 
 
 CLXXIX. The Hare and the Hedgehog, 354 
 
 CLXXX. The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle, . . . .358 
 
 CLXXXI. The Countryman and the Evil Spirit, 862 
 
 CLXXXIT. The Eobber and his Sons, 864 
 
 CLXXXIIL The Master-Thief, 378 
 
 CLXXXIV. The Drummer, 882 
 
 CLXXXV. The Ears of Wheat, 393 
 
 CLXXXVL The Grave-Mound, 894 
 
 CLXXXVIL Old Einkrank, 399 
 
 3LXXXVIII. The Ball of Crystal, 402 
 
 CLXXXIX. Jungfrau Maleen, 406 
 
 CXC. The Boots made of Buffalo-Leather, 413 
 
 CHILDREN'S LEGENDS. 
 
 CXCI. Joseph in the Forest, 418 
 
 CXCII. Humility and Poverty lead to Heaven, .... 422 
 
 CXCin. The Three Green Twigs, 424 
 
 CXCIV. The Old Widow, ... 427 
 
 CXCV. The Golden Key, 429 
 
 CXCVL The Eose, 430 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF SECOND SERIES. 
 
 PASB 
 
 The Two Wanderers, 50 
 
 The Goose Girl, 101 
 
 The Three Brothers, , I43 
 
 The Man of Iron, , 207 
 
 Snow-White and Rose-Red, (li'ontispiece.J 240 
 
 The House in the Wood, 293 
 
 The Nix in the Pond, 31 g 
 
 The Master-Thief, 877 
 
§mms |imtBel]0& Stories. 
 
 xci. 
 
 The King of the Golden Mountain. 
 
 CEETAIN merchant had two children, a 
 boy and a girl, who, at the time our tale 
 begins, were both so little that they could 
 not run alone. This merchant had just 
 sent away two richly-laden vessels in 
 which he had embarked all his property, 
 and, while he hoped to gain much 
 money by their voyage, the news 
 came that both ships had sunk to 
 ¥ the bottom of the sea. Thus instead of a 
 rich merchant he became a poor man, and he had 
 nothing left but a field near the town where he dwelt, and 
 therein, to divert his thoughts for a while from his loss, he 
 went to walk. While he paced to and fro there suddenly 
 appeared a little black Dwarf, who asked him the reason of 
 his sorrowful looks, and what he took so much to heart ? 
 VOL. n. — 1* 
 
10 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 "If you arc able to help me," said tbe Merchant, "I 
 will tell you." 
 
 Who knows," replied the Dwarf, " whether I can or 
 
 no?" 
 
 So then the Merchant told him what had happened : 
 how all his wealth was sunk at the bottom of the sea, and 
 nothing remained to him but this one field. 
 
 " Do not grieve yourself any longer," said the Dwarf; 
 "for, if you will promise to bring me here in twelve years, 
 whatever first rubs itself against your leg on your return 
 home, you shall have all the money you can require." 
 The Merchant thought it would be his dog who would 
 meet him first, for he remembered not, just then, his chil- 
 dren, so he gave the little black Man his word and honour 
 to the bargain, and returned to his home. 
 
 Just as he came within sight of the house his little Boy 
 saw him, and was so glad that he waddled up to him and 
 clasped him by the knees. The Father was frightened, for 
 his promise occurred to him, and he knew now what he 
 had sworn to ; but still, as he found no money in his cof- 
 fers, he imagined it was only a joke on the part of the 
 Dwarf A month afterwards, however, he went on his land 
 to seek for anything he could find to sell, and there he saw 
 a great heap of gold. Now was he again prosperous, and 
 bought and sold and became a great merchant, as he had 
 been before. Meanwhile his Boy grew up clever and sen- 
 sible, and the nearer he came to the age of twelve years 
 the sadder became his Father, till people could see the 
 traces of his anguish in his countenance. One day the Son 
 asked him what was amiss ; the Father would not tell him 
 at first, but at last he related how he had sold him without 
 knowing it to a little black Dwarf for a heap of money, and 
 how he had set his seal and name to the bargain, so that 
 when twelve years had passed he must deliver him up. 
 "My Father," answered the Son, "do not be sorry about 
 
The King of the Golden Mountain. 11 
 
 such a matter ; all will yet go well, for the Dwarf can have 
 no power over me." 
 
 After this the Son caused himself to be blessed by a 
 Priest, and, when the hour came, he and his Father went 
 together to the field, and the Son drew a circle within 
 which they both placed themselves. 
 
 Presently came the black Dwarf, and asked, "Have 
 you brought with you what you promised ?" The Father 
 was silent; but the Son replied, "What do you want 
 here?" 
 
 " I came to speak with your Father, and not with you," 
 said the Dwarf 
 
 "You have deceived and betrayed my Father," said 
 the Son ; " give up the paper you extorted from him." 
 
 " No ! I will not surrender my rights !" replied the 
 Dwarf 
 
 Then they consulted together for some time, and at last 
 they agreed that the Son, because he would not obey the 
 Dwarf and did not any longer belong to his Father, should 
 place himself in an open boat which laid upon the waters, 
 and then that his Father should give the vessel a push that 
 it might float whither it would. The Son, therefore, took 
 leave of his Father, and set himself in the boat, which the 
 Father thereupon pushed off; but, unhappily, the boat 
 turned bottom upwards with the force of the shock, and the 
 Father was forced to return home with the belief that his 
 Son was dead, which grieved him sorely. 
 
 But the boat did not entirely sink, but floated quietly 
 away, with the Youth clinging to it, till at length it touched 
 on an unknown land and remained there. The youth then 
 scrambled on shore, and saw, just opposite, a fine castle, 
 towards which he hurried. As soon as he entered he found 
 that it was an enchanted palace, and he walked through 
 all the rooms, and found them all empty, till he came to 
 the last, in which he discovered a snake curling itself round 
 
12 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 and round. This Snake, however, was an enchanted 
 Maiden, who was overjoyed to see the youth enter, and 
 she said to hiin, " Are you come to deliver me ? for twelve 
 years have I waited for you, for this kingdom is enchanted, 
 and you must free it from the spell." 
 " How can I do that?" he asked. 
 
 " This night," she replied, " twelve Black Dwarfs will 
 come, laden with chains ; and they will ask you what you 
 do here ; but, mind, give them no answer, and let them 
 do what they will to you. They will torment you, beat 
 and poke you about, but let all this happen without a word 
 on your part and then for twelve years they must be off 
 again. The second night twelve others will come, and the 
 third night four-and-twenty, and these last will cut off your 
 head ; but at midnight their power passes away, and if 
 you restrain yourself till then, and never speak a word, I 
 am saved. Afterwards I will come to you with a flask 
 which contains the water of life, and with this I will sprin- 
 kle you, that you shall regain your breath and be as 
 healthy and well as before." 
 
 "I will save you willingly," he replied. 
 
 Now everything happened as the Snake said. The 
 Black Dwarfs failed to compel him to speak, and the third 
 night the Maiden became disenchanted, and came with the 
 water of life, as she had said, to the youth, and restored 
 him to life. Then the beautiful Princess fell around his 
 neck and kissed him, and through all the castle there were 
 joy and gladness. Soon their wedding was celebrated, and 
 the Merchant's Son became the King of the Goldeu Moun- 
 tain. 
 
 The happy pair lived in great contentment, and in 
 course of time the Queen bore a son, and when eight years 
 more had passed over their heads the King bethought 
 himself of his Father, and his heart was so touched with 
 the recollection that he wished to revisit him. The Queen 
 
The Kixg of the Golden Mountain. 
 
 13 
 
 would not at first hear about such a thing, but he talked 
 of it so often that at length she was obliged to consent, and 
 said, " I know the journey will cause misfortune to me." 
 At his departure she gave him a wishing-ring, and said, 
 *' Take this ring and wear it on your finger, and then, 
 wherever you wish to be there you will find yourself ; but 
 this you must promise me, that you will not wish me to 
 leave here to visit your Father's house." 
 
 The King promised, and, putting the ring on his fin- 
 ger, he wished himself before the town where his father 
 dwelt. At the same moment he found himself there, and 
 tried to go into the town, but as he came to the gate the 
 guards would not let him pass, because he wore clothes so 
 peculiar, and so rich and magnificent. Thereupon he 
 climbed up a hill where a shepherd was watching sheep, 
 and with him he changed clothes, and thus passed into 
 the town unquestioned in the rough smock. When he 
 came to his father's house he was not recognised, and the 
 merchant would not believe it was his son, but said he cer- 
 tainly once had a son, but that he had been dead some 
 years. Still, because he saw he was a poor thirsty shep- 
 herd, he willingly gave him a plate of food. At last the 
 Youth asked his parents, "Do you know of any mark on 
 my body whereby you will recognise me, for indeed I am 
 your true son ?" 
 
 "Yes," said the Mother; "our son had a mole-spot un- 
 der his arm." 
 
 Instantly he drew his shirt back from his arm, and 
 there they saw the mole-spot, so that they no longer 
 doubted that he was their son. Then he told them that he 
 was King of the Golden Mountain, and had a beautiful 
 princess for his wife, and a child seven years old. But the 
 merchant laughed at his son, saying, "Never can this be 
 true ! Here is a fine King indeed, who comes here in a 
 ragged shepherd's smock 1" 
 
 B 
 
14 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 This made the son very angry; and, without considera- 
 tion, he turned round his ring and wished both his child 
 and wife were with him. In a moment they appeared ; 
 but the Queen wept, and complained that he had broken 
 his promise, and made her unlucky. The King told her 
 he had done it without thought and with no bad intention ; 
 and she appeared to be reconciled, but, in reality, she had 
 evil in her heart. 
 
 After a while he took her to the field, out of the town, 
 and showed her the water where his boat had been over- 
 turned, and there, feeling tired, he said to her, " I am 
 weary ; so rest yourself awhile, and I will lay my head in 
 your lap and go to sleep." He did so, and the Queen 
 waited quietly till he was sound asleep, and then she 
 drew the ring off his finger, and carefully laid his head on 
 the ground. Thereupon she took her child in her arms, 
 and wished herself back in her kingdom. When, then, the 
 King awoke, he found himself all alone, his wife and child 
 gone, and the ring from his finger too. " Home to your 
 parents," said he to himself, " you cannot go ; they will say 
 you are a magician ; so you must travel about till you 
 come again to your kingdom." With these thoughts he 
 raised his courage, and by-and-by came to a mountain, 
 before which three Giants stood, and contended with each 
 other, because they knew not how to share their paternal 
 inheritance. As soon as they saw the young man passing 
 by, they called to him aad said, " Come ! little men have 
 often wise heads : you shall divide our patrimony." 
 
 Now, this inheritance consisted, firstly, of a sword, 
 which if one took into his hand and said, " Heads off all 
 round, but not mine !" instantly every head near lay on 
 the ground ; secondly, of a cloak which rendered its wearer 
 invisible ; and thirdly, of a pair of boots which were ca 
 pable of taking their wearer wherever he wished. The 
 youth therefore said, " Give me these three things, that I 
 
The King of the Golden Mountain. 15 
 
 may prove them whether they are in good order or not." 
 So they gave him the cloak, and as soon as he put it on 
 he became invisible, in the form of a fly. He soon took 
 his old form again and said, " The cloak is good ; now give 
 me the sword." "Oh, no!" said the Giants, "we do not 
 give you that ; for if you should say, ' Heads off, all round, 
 but not mine !' all our heads would fall off, and you alone 
 would have one." Still they gave it him on condition 
 that he should prove it on a tree. This he did, and the 
 sword cut the trunk in two as if it were a straw. Then 
 he wished to have the boots, but the Giants said, " No, we 
 do not give them away ; for if you should pull them on, 
 and wish yourself on the summit of this mountain, we 
 may stand here without anything !" But the youth said 
 that he would not do that, and so they gave him the boots, 
 and, as he had now all three things, he thought of nothing 
 but his wife and child ; and he said, " Ah ! were I upon 
 the Golden Mountain !" Immediately he disappeared from 
 the sight of the Giants, and thus divided their inheritance. 
 As he came near his castle he heard great rejoicings, and 
 the notes of flutes and fiddles, and the people told him 
 that his consort was about to celebrate her wedding with 
 another husband. This put him in a passion, and he ex- 
 claimed, " The false wretch ! she has deceived and left me 
 while I slept!" Then he put on the cloak and rendered 
 himself invisible while he entered the castle, and in the 
 hall he saw a large table spread out with costly delicacies, 
 and guests eating and drinking, singing and laughing. In 
 the middle sat the Queen, dressed in royal clothes, upon a 
 magnificent throne, with a crown upon her head. The 
 true King placed himself behind her; but nobody saw 
 him ; and when they placed meat upon her plate he took 
 it up and ate it himself ; and each glass of wine which was 
 handed to her he drank out, and so it went on : neither 
 plate nor glass stayed in its place, each one disappeared in 
 
16 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 a moment. This disturbed the Queen very much, and put 
 her to shame, so that at length she got up, and went to her 
 own chamber to weep; but here also he followed her. 
 There she called out, "Is this the devil who persecutes 
 me ? or did my deliverer never come ?" At these words he 
 struck her on the cheek and cried, "Did thy deliverer 
 never come ? He is beside thee, thou traitress ! Have I 
 deserved this of thee?" Then he rendered himself visible 
 again, and, going into the hall, he cried, " The wedding is 
 over ! the true King is come !" Then the kings, princes, 
 and counsellors, who were assembled, mocked him and 
 jeered him ; but he gave them short answers, and asked, 
 " Will you be off or not ?" Then they tried to catch and " 
 imprison him ; but he drew his sword, and said, " Heads 
 off, all round, but not mine!" So all their heads rolled 
 down the hill, and he was left master alone, and became 
 once more " King of the Golden Mountain." 
 
 I 
 
XCII. 
 
 The Raven. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a Queen who had a 
 daughter so small that she was carried about on 
 people's arms, and one day the child was so naughty that, 
 spite of all the mother said, she would not be quiet. At 
 last the Queen lost all patience, and, because the ravens 
 were then flying about the palace, she opened the window 
 and said, " I wish you were a raven, and could fly away, 
 and then I should have some peace 1" Scarcely had she 
 said the words when the child changed into a raven, and 
 flew away off her arm out at the window, and away into a 
 dark forest, where she remained a lonf? time, and the 
 parents heard nothing about her. 
 
 Some little time afterwards a man, while travelling 
 along, found himself in this wood, and there he heard the 
 Raven cry, and he went after the sound. As he came near, 
 the Raven said to him, " I am a princess by birth, and am 
 bewitched ; but you can deliver me from the charm." 
 " What can I do, then ?" he asked. 
 "Go on further into the wood," she replied, "and you 
 will find a house wherein sits an old woman, who will offer 
 you meat and drink ; but do not venture to take anything, 
 for if you do you will fall into a deep sleep, and fail to 
 free me. In the garden behind this house is a large heap 
 of tan, whereon you must stand and wait for me. For 
 three days I shall come at two o'clock, in a carriage drawn, 
 the first time, by four white horses, then by four red, and 
 lastly by four black ; and if you are asleep when I come 
 70U will not rescue me ; so you must mind to keep awake." 
 The man promised to do all that she desired ; but the 
 
18 
 
 Grimm's IIousejiold Stories. 
 
 Raven said, "Ah! but I know well you will not deliver 
 me, for you will take something from the old woman." 
 The man promised again he would not touch either the 
 meat or drink, and then he went on, arid, when he came 
 to the luHise and entered, the old woman met him, and said 
 to him, "Poor man, how weary you look! come, and re- 
 fresh yourself with these dishes." But he said, "No, I 
 will neither eat nor drink." Still she pressed him, saying, 
 " Well, if you will not eat, take a draught of wine ; once 
 is nothing at all." So the man allowed himself to be per- 
 suaded, and drank a little, and by-and-by, when midnight 
 came, he went out into the garden, on to the tan-heap, and 
 waited for the Raven. But while he stood there he be- 
 came all at once very tired, and could not shake off the 
 feeling, so he laid down a bit, without venturing to sleep. 
 However, he had scarcely stretched himself out when his 
 eyes closed of themselves, and he soon began to snore, and 
 was so very fast asleep, that nothing on earth could have 
 awakened him. About two o'clock came the Raven, 
 drawn by four white horses, and as she came along she 
 felt assured she should find the man asleep ; and so it was: 
 as soon as she came into the garden, she saw him lying on 
 the tan-heap fast asleep. She alighted from her carriage, 
 went up to him, shook him, and shouted to him ; but he 
 did not awake. The next night, at twelve, the old woman 
 came, and brought the man food and drink, but he would 
 take nothing, till she pressed him so long and left him no 
 rest till at last he took a long draught out of the glass of 
 wine. About two o'clock he began again to watch upon 
 the heap of tan for the Raven, but, as before, he soon felt 
 so weary that his legs would not support him, and he was 
 forced to lie down, and he fell into a deep sleep. When 
 the Raven, therefore, came with her four red horses, she 
 was in great distress, for she bad a presentiment of finding 
 the man asleep, as she did, and all her efforts to awaken 
 
The Eaven. 
 
 19 
 
 him were in vain. The next day the old woman scolded 
 the man and said, " What will happen if you neither eat 
 nor drink? you will die!" "I dare not, and will not, eat 
 and drink," replied the man. Nevertheless, the old woman 
 set the dishes before him, and, the savour of them was so 
 nice, he could not resist, and he made a hearty meal, and 
 afterwards, when the time came, he went out into the gar- 
 den, and there waited for the Princess upon the tan-heap. 
 Soon he felt more weary than he had ever been before, and 
 he laid down, and went as fast asleep as a stone. About 
 two o'clock came the Eaven, drawn by four black horses, 
 and the coach also was black, and all the harness. She 
 was already in tears, for she knew, as she drove along, she 
 should find the man asleep ; and so he was. She shook 
 him and called to him, but in vain ; she could not awaken 
 him. So she laid by him a loaf of bread, a joint of mieat, 
 and a bottle of wine, of which he might take as much as 
 he would, without lessening the quantitj^ Then she drew 
 a golden ring off her finger, and put it on his finger, and 
 on it her name was engraven. Lastly, she laid beside him 
 a letter, wherein was stated what was given to him; and 
 further it said, ''I see well thou wilt never save me here; 
 but, if thou yet desire to do so, come to the Golden Castle 
 of Stromberg; it is in thy power." And as soon as she 
 had done all this she placed herself in her carriage again, 
 and was driven to this castle. 
 
 By-and-by the man awoke and saw what happened, 
 and he was sad at heart, for he thought, " Now she has 
 gone away, and I have not saved her." Then his eyes 
 lighted upon the things she had left, and he read the letter 
 which contained the account of them. Soon he arose and 
 marched off on his way to the Golden Castle of Stromberg, 
 but he recollected he did not know where it was. For 
 some time he wandered about the world, aT?d at length he 
 came to a large forest, wherein for fourteen days he walked 
 
20 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 to and fro, and could not get out. One day, as evening came 
 on, he felt tired and laid down in a thicket and went to 
 sleep. The next day he walked still farther, and laid down 
 at nisfht beneath another thicket ; but there he heard such 
 a howling and groaning that he could not sleep. When 
 the time came that people put out their lights he saw a 
 lamp glimmering, towards which he made his way, and 
 there he came to a house before which stood a Giant. But 
 he thought to himself, " If I go in, and the Giant see me, 
 my life is scarce worth counting on ;" and with this idea 
 he waited a long while before he entered. At last he 
 ventured, and as soon as the Giant saw him, he cried, " It 
 is well that you have come, for I have eaten nothing for a 
 long time, and you will serve for my supper." 
 
 " Let that be !" said the man ; " I am not at all willing 
 to be roasted; but, if you want to eat, I have enough here 
 to satisfy you !" 
 
 Well, if that is true," said the Giant, " you may rest 
 quietly: I only meant to eat you because I had nothing 
 else!" Thereupon they went in and sat down to table, 
 and the man produced bread and meat and wine. " This 
 pleases me well enough," said the Giant ; and he ate to his 
 heart's content. Bv-and-by the man asked him, " Can you 
 tell me wdiere the Golden Castle of Stromberg is situate ?" 
 
 " I will look at my map," replied the Giant, " whereon 
 are laid down all the cities, villages, and houses here- 
 abouts." So saying, he fetched the map, which he kept in 
 another room, and looked for the castle, but it was nowhere 
 to be found. It does not matter," said the Giant, " I 
 have a still larger map upstairs in a closet;" but when 
 they looked over that the name was not to be found there 
 either. The man would then have proceeded further, but 
 the Giant begged him to stop a couple of days, until his 
 brother returned who was gone to seek for something to 
 eat. As soon as the brother came home, they asked him 
 
 / 
 
The Eaven. 
 
 21 
 
 after the Golden Castle of Stromberg; but he would not 
 talk about anything till he had satisfied his hanger, and 
 then he mounted with them to his chamber, and there they 
 searched all over the map for the castle, without success; 
 so then they fetched other maps, and did not leave off 
 looking till at last they found the place ; but it was many 
 thousand miles away from where they were. "Now, how 
 can I get there ?" asked the man. 
 
 "I have two hours to spare," said the Giant, "and in 
 that time I will carry you near the castle, but I must then 
 return at once and feed the child we have." So the Giant 
 took the man within about a hundred miles of the castle, 
 and there set him down, and told him he could easily go 
 the rest of the way by himself. So saying, he turned 
 homewards ; but the man journeyed on day and night, till 
 at length he arrived in sight of the Golden Castle of 
 Stromberg. Now, this castle stood upon a glass mountain, 
 and he could see the Princess riding round in her carriage, 
 and then go into the gate. At this sight he felt very glad 
 and began to mount up to the place, but every step he 
 took he slipped back again. When, therefore, he perceived 
 he could not reach the Princess, he became very sorrowful, 
 and said to himself, " I will stop here, and wait upon her." 
 So he built himself a hut, and for a whole year lived in it, 
 every day seeing the Princess driving about up above 
 while he was unable to reach her. 
 
 One day he perceived from his hut three robbers beat- 
 ing one another, and he called to them, "God be with 
 you !" They ceased at the voice, but when they saw no- 
 body they began again to knock each other about, so that 
 it was quite dangerous. Then he called to them a second 
 time, "God be with you!" They ceased at the word^ 
 looked about, but saw nobody, and they began to beat each 
 other again ; and so the man exclaimed for the third time, 
 " God be with you !" and went out and asked the three 
 
22 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 combatants what they wanted. The fii'st said he had found 
 a stick which opened every door against which it was 
 struck ; the second had found a cloak which rendered its 
 wearer invisible ; but the third had caught a horse upon 
 which any one could ride up the glass mountain. Now, 
 they could not agree whether they should keep company 
 witli one another, or should separate ; so the man said, 
 " These three things I will exchange with you ; money cer- 
 tainly I have not, but other things which are more valu- 
 able. Still, I must first have a trial, that I may see if you 
 have spoken the truth." So they let him mount the horse, 
 and hung the cloak around him, and put the stick into his 
 hand, and when they had given him all he was invisible 
 to them. Then he gave them heavy blows upon the 
 shoulders, and exclaiming, " Now, you bear-hunters, now 
 you have your deserts ; be content therewith !" he rode up 
 the glass mountain, and as he arrived before the castle 
 door he found it closed. He, therefore, tapped upon it 
 with his stick, and immediately it flew open, and he 
 entered and mounted the stairs which led to the room 
 where the Princess sat with a golden cup full of wine 
 before her. She could not see him, because he wore 
 the cloak, and as he came close to her chair he drew off 
 the ring which she had given him, and threw it into the 
 cup of wine, so that it rang against the side. Then she 
 exclaimed, " That is my ring, and the man must also be 
 here who will deliver me !" and she made a search for 
 him all over the castle ; but he had gone out meanwhile, 
 and now sat on his horse outside the door with the cloak 
 thrown off. As soon, therefore, as she went out at the 
 door she saw him, and cried for joy, and the man, dis- 
 mounting from his horse, took her in his arms, and the 
 Princess kissed him and said, "Now you have indeed 
 saved me, and to-morrow we will be married !" 
 
XCIII. 
 
 Old Hildebrand. 
 
 OXCE upon a time tliere lived an old Farmer, and his 
 Daugliter with him, whom the Parson of the village, 
 having once seen, took a great fancy to ; and he thought 
 he should be very happy if he could manage one day to 
 have a long talk with her alone. To this the Daughter 
 had no objection, and the Parson one day said to her, " Oh ! 
 m}^ dear maiden, hear what I have to say: I will tell 3'ou 
 how to manage, that we may have a whole day all to our- 
 selves. About the middle of this week do you lie in bed 
 one morning, and tell your father you are very ill, and 
 groan and sigh very badly, and keep that up all the week. 
 Then, on Sunday, when I come to deliver my sermon, I 
 will preach that whoever has at home a sick child, a sick 
 husband, a sick Wife, a sick father or mother, a sick sister 
 or brother, or any other relative, and shall make a journey 
 to the Bell Mountain in Wales, such an one's sick child, 
 sick husband or wife, sick father or mother, sick sister or 
 brother, or any other relative, shall become well on the 
 instant." 
 
 " Oh ! that I will do for you," said the girl ; and there- 
 upon, about the middle of the week, she laid a-bed, and, 
 spite of all her Father brought or did for her, she groaned 
 and sighed till the Sunday, as if she were full of pain. 
 On Sunday the Daughter said to her Father, " Oh ! I am 
 really so miserably ill, I feel as if I should die ; but once 
 before my end I should like to hear the Parson again, and 
 hear the sermon which he will deliver to-day." 
 
 " Ah ! my child," replied the Farmer, " j'ou must not 
 do that ; you would be all the worse for it if you got up. 
 
24 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 But never mind ; I will go to church, and pay great atten 
 tion to the sermon, and afterwards come and tell you all 
 the Piirson said." 
 
 "Ah! very well," said the Daughter, "but mind, you 
 are very attentive, and tell me everything." 
 
 So away went the Farmer to church ; and, after the 
 Parson had chanted and read all the service, he got into the 
 pulpit and began his sermon. In the course of it he said, 
 " If any one here has a sick child, a sick husband or a sick 
 wife, a sick father or mother, a sick brother or a sick sister, 
 •or any other relative, and shall go to the Bell ^fountain in 
 Wales, to such an one shall the sick child, sick husband or 
 wife, sick father or mother, sick sister or brother, or any 
 other relative, regain health immediately ; especially if he 
 take with him a cross and some laurel leaves which I will 
 give him after service." Then was nobody quicker than 
 the Farmer in going to the Parson after service for his 
 laurel leaves and cross ; and as soon as he had received 
 them he hurried home ; and almost before he got to the 
 door he called out, "Come, my dear daughter, you will soon 
 be well. The Parson has preached to-day that whosoever 
 having; a sick child, a sick husband or wife, a sick mother 
 or father, a sick brother or a sick sister, or any other per- 
 son, shall go to the Bell Mountain, with a cross and laurel 
 leaves given him by the Parson, his sick child, sick 
 husband or wife, sick father or mother, sick sister or 
 brother, or any other relative, shall recover immediately. 
 Now, the laurel leaves and cross I have received from the 
 Parson, and I shall set out immediately on the journey, 
 that you may be the earlier in good health." So saying, 
 he set out ; but scarcely had he gone when the Daughter 
 got up, and very soon afterwards in stepped the Parson. 
 Here we will leave them a bit while we follow the Farmer 
 in his wanderings. As we have said, he had set out at 
 once, that he might reach the Bell Mountain the sooner ; 
 
Old Hildebrand. 
 
 25 
 
 and on his way his Cousin met him, who was an egg-mer- 
 chant, and was just come from market, having sold his 
 eggs. 
 
 "Good day to you," said the Cousin; "whither are 
 you going?" 
 
 " To Wales, cousin," he replied , " my daughter is very 
 ill ; and the Parson said yesterday in his sermon that who- 
 ever having at home a sick child, a sick husband or wife, a 
 sick father or a sick mother, a sick brother, sister, or any 
 other relation, should then make a journey to the Bell 
 Mountain in Wales, carrjdng in his hand some laurel and 
 a cross, blessed and given by the Parson — whoever should 
 do this, then that his sick child, sick mother or sick father, 
 husband or wife, sick brother or sick sister, or any other 
 relative, would immediately be restored to health. So this 
 laurel and cross I have received from the Priest, and now 
 I am hastening to the mountain." 
 
 "But hold, cousin, stop!" said the other to the Farmer, 
 " are you so simple as to believe that ? Why, how do you 
 know that the Parson may not perchance wnsh to have a 
 comfortable talk with your daughter alone, and therefore 
 has contrived this tale to take you away from home?" 
 
 "]\[ercy on us!" said the Farmer, "if I did but know 
 whether that were true or not!" 
 
 " Well, you soon can see," replied the Cousin ; "just 
 get into my cart, and I will drive you home, that you may 
 satisfy yourself" 
 
 It was soon done ; and as they drove nearer to the 
 house they heard the sounds of merriment. There had 
 the Farmer's Daughter gathered the best of everything 
 out of the farmyard and garden, and made all manner of 
 savoury dishes, and the Parson was there to partake of 
 them. So the Cousin knocked at the door, and the ^Maiden 
 inquired wdio was there. 
 
 " It is only me, cousin," replied he ; " will you give me 
 II.— 2 ' c 
 
26 
 
 Grimm's Household Stoeies. 
 
 a night's lodging? I have just sold my eggs in the market, 
 and I meant to have got home to-night ; but it is so dark 
 already that I dare not go." 
 
 " You have come at a very unlucky moment, cousin," 
 replied the Farmer's Daughter; ''but since you are quite 
 alone you may come in and set yourself down in the 
 chimney corner." 
 
 So tlie egg-merchant, carrying his basket, came in and 
 sat down where he was bid, while the Parson and the 
 Daughter made themselves very merry together over their 
 meal. Presently the Parson said, " You can sing I think, 
 m}^ dear ; just give us a bit of a song." 
 
 " Well," said she, " I could sing once when I was very 
 young; but now I have forgotten how, and it is almost all 
 lost to me." 
 
 "Never mind; do just try!" entreated the Parson. So 
 the Farmer's Dauiifhter be2;an : — 
 
 " Oh ! Avell have I sent my Either away 
 To the mountains in Wales so high !" 
 
 and then the Parson joined in — 
 
 " And there he shall stop for a year and a day ; 
 And meny the time will pass by." 
 
 Presently the Cousin within struck up — (but here I 
 must tell you the Farmer's name was Hildebrand) — 
 
 " Hearest thou that, my Hildebrand dear ? 
 Wliy sit'st thou so quiet, so near, so near ?" 
 
 And directly the Farmer made answer — 
 
 " Ob I more of your sinking I never can stand ! 
 And out of this basket I must get my hand !" 
 
 With these words he jumped up from the basket, and 
 bundled the Parson out of the house. 
 
XCIV. 
 
 The Water of Life. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a King who was so ill that 
 every body despaired of his life, and his three Sons 
 were very sorry, and went out into the palace gardens to 
 weep. There they met an old Man, who asked the cause 
 of their grief, and they told him their Father was so ill 
 that he must die, for nothing could save him. The old Man 
 said," I know a means of saving him: if he drinks of the 
 water of life it will restore him to health ; but it is very 
 difficult to find." 
 
 " I will soon find it," said the eldest Son, and, going to 
 the sick King, he begged his permission to set out in search 
 of the water of life, which alone could save him. "No; 
 the danger is too great," said the King; " I prefer to die." 
 Nevertheless the Son begged and entreated so long that 
 the King consented, and the Prince went away, thinking 
 in his own heart, "If I bring this water T am the dearest 
 to my Father, and I shall inherit his kingdom." 
 
 After he had ridden a long way about he met a Dwarf 
 on the road, who asked him, " ^Yhither awo.y so quickly?" 
 
 "You stupid dand3'prat," replied the Prince proudly, 
 "why should I tell you that?" and he rode off. But the 
 little Man was angry and he wished an evil thing, so that 
 soon after the Prince came into a narrow mountain pass, 
 and the further he rode the narrower it grew, till at last it 
 was so close that he could get no further; but neither 
 could he turn his horse round, nor dismount, and he sat 
 there like one amazed. Meanwhile tfte sick King waited a 
 long while for hin:i, but he did not come; and the second 
 Son asked leave to go too and seek the water, for he 
 
28 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 thought to hims-'lf, "If my Brother is dead the kingdom 
 comes to me." At first the King refused to spare him ; but 
 he gave way, and the Prince set out on the same road as 
 the elder one had taken, and met also the same Dwarf, who 
 stopped him and asked him, "Whither ride you so hastily?" 
 " Little dandyprat," replied the Prince, " what do you want 
 to know for?" and he rode off without looking round. The 
 Dwarf, however, enchanted him, and it happened to him as 
 it had to his Brother : he came to a defile where he could 
 move neither forwards nor backwards. Such is the fate of 
 all haught}^ people. 
 
 Now, when the second Son did not return, the youngest 
 begged leave to go and fetch the water, and the King was 
 obliged at last to give his consent. When he met the 
 Dwarf, and was asked whither he was going so hurriedly, 
 he stopped and replied, " I seek the water of life, for my 
 Father is sick unto death." " Do you know where to find 
 it ?" asked the Dwarf. " Ko," repfied the Prince. " Since 
 you have behaved yourself as you ought," said the Dwarf, 
 " and not haughtily like your false Brothers, I will give }' ou 
 information and show you where you may obtain the water 
 of life. It flows from a fountain in the court of an enchant- 
 ed castle, into which you can never penetrate if I do not 
 give you an iron rod and two loaves of bread. With the 
 rod knock thrice at the iron door of the castle, and it will 
 spring open. AVithin lie two lions with open jaws, but if 
 you throw down to each a loaf of bread they will be quiet. 
 Then hasten and fetch some of the water of life before it 
 strikes twelve, for then the door will shut again and you 
 will be imprisoned." 
 
 The Prince thanked the Dwarf, and, taking the road and 
 bread, he set out on his journey, and as he arrived at the 
 castle he found it as the Dwarf had said. At the third 
 knock the door sprang open ; and, when he had stilled the 
 Lions with the bread, he walked into a fine large hall. 
 
Tpie Water of Life. 
 
 29 
 
 where sat several enchanted Princes, from whose fingers he 
 drew off tlie rings, and he also took away Avitli him a sword 
 and some bread which la}^ there. A little further he came 
 to a room wherein stood a beautiful maiden, who was so 
 pleased to see him that she kissed him and said he had 
 freed her, and should have her whole kingdom, and if he 
 came in another year their w'edding should be celebrated. 
 Then she told him where the fountain of the water of life 
 was placed, and he hastened away lest it should strike 
 twelve ere he gained it. He came next into a room where 
 a fine clean covered bed stood, and, being tiled, he laid 
 down to rest himself a bit. But he went to sleep, and when 
 he awoke it struck the quarter to twelve, and the sound 
 made him hurry to the fountain, from \vhich he took some 
 water in a cup which stood near. This done, he hastened 
 to the door, and was scarcely out before it struck twelve, 
 and the door swung to so heavily that it carried away a 
 piece of his heel. 
 
 But he was very glad, in spite of this, that he had pro- 
 cured the water, and he journeyed homewards, and passed 
 again where the Dwarf stood. When the Dwarf saw the 
 sword and bread which he had brought away he declared 
 he had done Avell, for with the sword he could destroy whole 
 armies; but the bread Avas worth nothing. Now, the Prince 
 was not willing to return home to his Father without his 
 Brothers, and so he said to the Dwarf, "Dear Dwarf, can 
 you tell me where my Brothers are ? they went out before 
 me in search of the water of life, and did not return." 
 "They are stuck fast between two mountains," replied the 
 Dwarf; "because they were so haughty, I enchanted them 
 there." 
 
 Then the Prince begged for their release, till at last 
 the Dwarf brought them out ; but he warned the youngest 
 to beware of them, for they had evil in their hearts. 
 
 When his Brothers came he was very glad, and he 
 
30 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 related to tliern all that had happened to him ; how he 
 had found the water of life and brought away a cup full 
 of it; and how he had rescued a beautiful Princess, who 
 for a whole year was going to wait for him, and then he 
 was to return to be married to her, and receive a rich 
 kingdom. After this tale the three Brothers rode away 
 together, and soon entered a province where there were 
 war and fi^mine raging, and the King thought he should 
 perish, so great was his necessit3^ The youngest Prince 
 went to this King and gave him the bread, with which he 
 fed and satisfied his whole people ; and then the Prince 
 gave him the sword, wherewith he defeated and slew all 
 his enemies, and regained peace and quiet. This effected, 
 the Prince took back the bread and sword, and rode on 
 further with his Brothers, and by-and-by they came to two 
 other provinces where also war and famine were destroy- 
 ing the people. To each King the Prince lent his bread 
 and sword, and so saved three kingdoms. After this they 
 went on board a ship to pass over the sea which separated 
 them from home, and during the voyage the two elder 
 Brothers said to one another, "Our Brother has found the 
 water of life and we have not; therefore our Father will 
 give the kingdom which belongs to us to him, and our 
 fortune will be taken away." With these thoughts they 
 became revengeful, and consulted together how they should 
 kill him, and one day waiting till he was fast asleep, they 
 poured the water out of his cup and took it for themselves, 
 while they filled his up with bitter salt-water. As soon as 
 they arrived at home the youngest Brother took his cup to 
 the sick King, that he might drink out of it and regain his 
 health. But scarcely had he drunk a very little of the 
 water when he became worse than before, for it was as 
 bitter as wormwood. While the King lay in this state, the 
 two elder Princes came, and accused their Brother of 
 poisoning his Father; but they had brought the right 
 
The Water of Life. 
 
 31 
 
 water, and they banded it to the King. Scarcely had he 
 drunk a Httle out of the cup when the King felt liis sick- 
 ness leave him, and soon he was as strong and healthy as 
 in his young days. The two Brothers now went to the 
 youngest Prince, mocking him, and saying, "You cer- 
 tainly found the water of life ; but you had the trouble 
 and we had the reward; you should have been more 
 cautious and kept your eyes open, for we took your cup 
 while 3'ou were asleep on the sea ; and, moreover, in a 
 year one of us intends to fetch your Princess. Beware, 
 however, that you betray us not ; the King will not be- 
 lieve you, and if you say a single word your life will be 
 lost; but if you remain silent you are safe." The old 
 King, nevertheless, was very angry with his youngest Son, 
 who had conspired, as he believed, against his life. He 
 caused his court to be assembled, and sentence was given 
 to the effect that the Prince should be secretly shot; and 
 once as he rode out hunting, unsuspicious of any evil, the 
 Huntsman was sent with him to perform the deed. By- 
 and-by, when they were alone in the wood, the Huntsman 
 seemed so sad that the Prince asked him what ailed him. 
 The Huntsman replied, "I cannot and 3^et must tell you." 
 "Tell me boldly what it is," said the Prince, "I will for- 
 give you." "Ah ! it is no other than that I must shoot you, 
 for so has the King ordered me," said the Huntsman with 
 a deep sigh. 
 
 The Prince was frightened, and said, "Let me live, 
 dear Huntsman, let me live! I will give you my royal 
 coat and you shall give me yours in exchange." To this 
 the Huntsman readily assented, for he felt unable to shoot 
 the Prince, and after they had exchanged their clothing 
 the Huntsman returned home, and the Prince went deeper 
 into the wood. 
 
 A short time afterwards three waggons laden with gold 
 and precious stones came to the King's palace for bis 
 
82 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 youngest Son, and they were sent by the three Kings in 
 token of gratitude for the sword which had defeated their 
 enemies, and tlie bread which had nourished their people. 
 At this arrival the old* King said to hinnself, "Perhaps 
 after all my Son was guiltless," and he lamented to his 
 courtiers that he had let his Son be killed. But the 
 ITuntsman cried out, "He lives yet! for I could not find I 
 it in my heart to fulfil your commands," and he told the , 
 King how it had happened. The King felt as if a stone 
 had been removed from his heart, and he caused it to be 
 proclaimed everywhere throughout his dominions that his 
 Son might return and would again be taken into favour. 
 
 Meanwhile the Princess had caused a road to be made 
 up to her castle of pure shining gold, and she told her 
 attendants that whoever should ride straight up this road 
 would be the right person, and one whom they might 
 admit into the castle; but, on the contrary, whoever should 
 ride up not on the road, but by the side, they were ordered 
 on no account to admit, for he was n-ot the right person. 
 When, therefore, the time came round which the Princess 
 had mentioned to the youngest Prince, the eldest Brother 
 thought he would hasten to her castle and announce him- 
 self as her deliverer, that he might gain her as a bride and 
 the kingdom besides. So he rode away, and when he came 
 in front of the castle and saw the fine golden road he 
 thought it would be a shame to ride thereon, and so he 
 turned to the left hand and rode up cut of the road. But 
 as he came up to the door the guards told him he was not 
 the right person, and he must ride back again. Soon after- 
 wards the second Prince also set out, and he, likewise, 
 when he came to the golden road, and his horse set his fore 
 feet upon it, thought it would be a pity to travel upon it, 
 and so he turned aside to the right hand and went up. 
 When he came to the gate the guards refused hi.m admit- 
 tance, and told him he was not the person expected, and so 
 
The Water of Life. 
 
 33 
 
 he had to return homewards. The youngest Prince, who had 
 all this time been wandering about in the forest, had also 
 remembered that the year was up, and soon after his Broth- 
 ers' departure he appeared before the castle and rode up 
 straight on the golden road, for he was so deeply engaged 
 in thinking of his beloved Princess that he did not observe 
 it. As soon as he arrived at the door it was opened, and the 
 Princess received him with joy, saying he was her deliverer 
 and the lord of her dominions. Soon after their wedding 
 was celebrated, and when it was over the Princess told her 
 husband that his Father had forgiven him and desired to 
 see him. Thereupon he rode to the old King's palace, and 
 told him how his Brothers had betrayed him while he slept 
 and had sworn him to silence. When the King heard this 
 he would have punished the false Brothers, but they had 
 prudently taken themselves off in a ship, and they never 
 returned home afterwards. 
 
 2* 
 
xcv. 
 
 The Spirit in the Bottle. 
 
 TIIEIvE was once upon a. time a poor Woodcutter who 
 worked fronn morning till quite late at night, and 
 after doing so for a very long time he managed to save 
 some money, and said to his Son, "You are my only child, 
 and so tliis money, which I have earned by the hard sweat 
 of my brow, shall be spent on your education. Do you 
 learn something useful whereby you. may support me in 
 my old age, when my limbs become so stiff that I am 
 oblii]fed to sit still at home." 
 
 o 
 
 Thereupon the Son went to a great school, and was 
 very industrious, so that he became much noticed for it; 
 and there he remained a long time. After he had gone 
 through a long course of study, but still had not learnt all 
 that was to be learnt, the store of money which his Father 
 had earned was exhausted, and he was obliged to return 
 home again. - 
 
 " Ah, I can give you no more," said the Father, sadly, 
 " for in these dear times I can scarce earn enough for my 
 daily bread." 
 
 " Make yourself easy on that point, my dear father," 
 replied the S(m ; " if it is God's will, be sure it is all for 
 the best : I will suit myself to the times." 
 
 Afterwards, when the Father was about to go to the 
 forest to earn something by chopping and cleaning, his Son 
 said, " I will accompany you and help you." " Ah, but my 
 son," said the Father, "that will be a hard matter for you, 
 who have never been used to such hard work ; you must 
 not attempt it; besides, I have only one axe, and no money 
 either to buy another." 
 
The Spirit in the Bottle. 
 
 85 
 
 " Go tlien and ask your neighbour to lend you one, till 
 r shall have earned enough to buy one for myself," replied 
 the Son. 
 
 So the Father borrowed an axe of his neighbour, and 
 the next morning, at break of day, they went together to 
 the forest. The Son assisted his Father, and was very 
 livel}^ and merry over his work, and about noon, when the 
 sun stood right over their heads, the Father proposed to rest 
 for a while, and eat their dinner, and then, after that, they 
 would be able to work all the better. The Son, however, 
 taking his share of bread, said, "Do you rest here, father; 
 I am not tired ; and I will go a little way into the forest, 
 and look for birds' nests." 
 
 " Oh, 3^ou silly fellow !" said the Father, " what do you 
 want to run about for ? you will make yourself so tired, 
 you will not be able to raise your arm : keep quiet a bit 
 and sit down here with me." 
 
 But the young man would not do so, but went off 
 among the trees, eating his bread, and peeping about among 
 the bushes for any nest he could find. To and fro he 
 walked a long way, and presently came to an immense oak- 
 tree, which was certainly many hundred 3'ears old, and 
 could not have been spanned round by any five men. He 
 stopped still to look at this tree, thinking that many a 
 bird's nest must be built within it, and while he did so he 
 suddenly heard, as he thought, a voice. He listened, and 
 soon heard again a half-smothered cry of "Let me out! let 
 me out !" He looked around, but could see nothing ; still 
 the voice appeared to come, as it were, from the ground. 
 So he called " Where are you ?" and the Yoice replied, 
 " Here I stick, among the roots of the oak-tree : let me 
 out ! let me out !" The Scholar, therefore, began to search 
 at the foot of the tree, Avhere the roots spread, and at last, 
 in a little hollow, he found a glass bottle. He picked it up, 
 and, holding it to the light, he perceived a thing, in shape 
 
36 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 like a frog, which kept jumping up and down. " Let me 
 out ! let me out !" cried the thing again ; and the Scholar, 
 thinking no evil, drew out the stopper of the bottle. Im- 
 mediately a Spirit sprang out, and began to grow and 
 grow so flist, that in a very few moments he stood before 
 the Scholar like a frightful giant, half the size of the tree. 
 " Do you know," he cried, with a voice like thunder, " do 
 you know what your reward is for letting me out of the 
 glass bottle ?" 
 
 "No," replied the Scholar, without fear; "how should I?" 
 " Then I will tell you," cried the Spirit: "I must break 
 your neck !" 
 
 " You should have told me that before," returned the 
 Scholar, " and then you should have stuck where you were ; 
 but my head will stick on my shoulders in spite of you, for 
 there are several people's opinions to be asked yet about 
 that matter." 
 
 " Keep your people out of my way," rejoined the Spirit; 
 "but your deserved reward you must receive. Do yov. 
 suppose I have been shut up so long out of mercy ? no ; i'; 
 was for my punishment : I am the mighty Mercury, ancf 
 whoever lets me out, his neck must I break." 
 
 "Softly, softly!" said the Scholar, "that is quicker said 
 than done ; I must first know really that you were in the 
 bottle, and that you are truly a spirit; if I see you return 
 into the bottle, I will believe, and then you may do with 
 me what you please," 
 
 Full of pride, the Spirit answered, "That is an easy 
 matter." and, drawing himself together, he became as thin 
 as he had been at first, and soon crept through the same 
 opening back again into the bottle. Scarcely was he com- 
 pletely in when the Scholar put the stopper back into the 
 neck, and threw the bottle down among the oak-tree roots 
 at the old place ; so the Spirit was deceived. 
 
 After this the Scholar would have gone back to his 
 
The Spieit in the Bottle. 
 
 87 
 
 Father, but the Spirit cried lamentably, " Oh, let me out ! 
 do let me out !" 
 
 "No," replied the Scholar, " not a second time : he who 
 tried to take away my life once I shall not let out in a 
 hurry, when I have got him safe again." 
 
 "If you will free me," pleaded the Spirit, "I will give 
 you as much as will serve you for your lifetime." 
 
 'No, no !" rejoined the Scholar, "you will deceive me 
 as you did at first." 
 
 "You are fighting against your own fortune," replied 
 the Spirit; "I will do you no harm, but reward you 
 richly." 
 
 " Well, I will hazard it," thought the Scholar to him- 
 self ; " perhaps he will keep his word, and do me no in- 
 jur}^ ;" and, so thinking, he took the stopper out of the 
 bottle again, and the Spirit sprang out as before, stretched 
 himself up, and became as big as a giant. 
 
 "Now you shall have your reward," said the Spirit, 
 reaching the Scholar a little piece of rag in shape like a 
 plaster. " If you apply one end of this to a wound it shall 
 heal directly, and, if you touch with the other steel or iron, 
 either will be changed into silver." 
 
 "That I must try first," said the Scholar; and, going to 
 a tree, he tore off a piece of the bark with his axe, and then 
 touched it with the one end of the rag, and immediately the 
 wound closed up as if nothing had been done. " Now it 
 is all right," said the Scholar, " now we can separate." 
 Then the Spirit thanked him for releasing him, and the 
 Scholar thanked the Spirit for his present, and went back 
 to his Father. 
 
 ' Where have you been roaming to?" asked the Father; 
 " why, you have quite forgotten your work. I said right- 
 ly that you would do nothing of this kind well." 
 
 " Be contented, father ; I will make up the time," said 
 the Son. 
 
 D 
 
38 
 
 Grhim's Household Stories. 
 
 "Yes, you will make it up, truly," broke in the Father 
 angrily, "without an axe!" 
 
 " Now, see, father, I will cut down that tree at one 
 blow !" and, so saying, the son took his rag, rubbed the axe 
 with it, and gave a powerful blow, but because the axe was 
 changed into silver the edge turned up. " Ah, father, do 
 you see what an axe you have given me ! it has no edge at 
 all !" said the Son. 
 
 The Father was frightened and said, " Ah ! what have 
 you done? now I must pay for the axe, and I know not 
 how ; for it is the one which I borrowed for your work." 
 
 "Don't be angry ; I will soon pay for the axe," said the 
 Son; but the Father exclaimed, "Why, you simpleton, 
 how will you do tliat? you have nothing but what I give 
 you: this is some student's trick which is stuck in your 
 head, but of woodcutting you know nothing at all !" 
 
 After a pause the Scholar said, " Father, I can work no 
 more; let us make holiday now." 
 
 " Eh ? what?" was the answer, " do you think I can keep 
 my hands in ray pockets as you do? I must get on, but you 
 can go home." The Son replied he did not know the way, 
 as it was his first time of being in the forest, and at last he 
 persuaded his Father to accompany him home, his wrath 
 being past away. When they arrived at their house, the 
 Father told his son to go and sell the axe which was dam- 
 aged, and the rest he m.ust earn in order to pay his neigh- 
 bour for it. So the Son took the axe, and carried it to a 
 Goldsmith in the city, who, after proving it, laid it in his 
 scales, and said, "It is worth four hundred dollars, and so 
 much I have not b}^ me in the house." 
 
 "Give me what you have," said the Scholar, "and I 
 will trust you the remainder." The Goldsmith gave him 
 three hundred dollars and left the other as a debt, and 
 thereupon the Scholar went home, and said to his Father, 
 
 / 
 
The Spirit in the Bottle. 
 
 39 
 
 "Go, ask the neighbour what he will have for his axe; for 
 I have got some money." 
 
 I know already," answered his Father; "one dollar 
 six groschen is the price." 
 
 " Then give him two dollars and twelve groschen ; that 
 is double, and enough; see, here, I have money in abund- 
 ance!" and he gave his Father one hundred dollars, saying, 
 "You shall never want now ; live at your ease." 
 
 " My goodness !" said the man, " where have you pro- 
 cured this money ?" 
 
 The Son. told his Father all that had happened, and how 
 he had made such a capital catch by trusting to his luck. 
 With the rest of the money, however, he returned to the 
 university, and learnt all that he could; and afterwards, 
 because he could heal all wounds with his plaster, he be- 
 came the most celebrated doctor in the whole world. 
 
XCVI. 
 
 The Two Wanderers. 
 
 IT is certain that hills and valleys always meet, and it 
 often happens on the earth that her children, both the 
 good and the wicked, cross each other's paths continually. 
 So it once occurred that a Shoemaker and a Tailor fall 
 together during their travels. Now, the Tailor way a 
 merry little fellow, always making the best of everything; 
 and, as he saw the Shoemaker approaching from the op- 
 posite road, and remarked by his knapsack what trade he 
 was, he began a little mocking rhyme, singing : — 
 
 " Stitch, stitch away with your needle, 
 Pull away hard with your thread, 
 Rub it with wax to the riglit and the left. 
 And knock the old peg on the head !" 
 
 The Shoemaker, however, could not take a joke, and drew 
 a long face as if he had been drinking vinegar, while he 
 seemed inclined to lay hold of the Tailor by the collar. 
 But the latter began to laugh, and handed his bottle to 
 the other, saying, "It is not ill meant; just drink, and 
 wash down the gall." The Shoemaker thereupon took a 
 long pull, and immediately the gathering storm vanished ; 
 and, as he gave the Tailor back his bottle, he said, " I 
 should have spoken to you roughly, but one talks better 
 after a great drinking than after long thirst. Shall we 
 travel together now?" "Right willingly," answered the 
 Tailor, "if you have but a mind to go into some large 
 town where work is not wanting to those who seek it." 
 ■'That is just the place I should like," rejoined the Shoe- 
 maker ; " in a little nest there is nothing to be earned, and 
 the people in the country would rather go barefoot than 
 
The Two Wanderers. 
 
 41 
 
 buy shoes." So they wandered away, setting always one 
 foot before the other, like a weasel in the snow. 
 
 Time enough had both our heroes, but little either to 
 bite or break. When they came to the first town, they 
 went round requesting work, and because the Tailor looked 
 so fresh and merry, and had such red cheeks, every one 
 gave him what he could spare to do, and moreover he was 
 so lucky that the master's daughters, behind the shop, 
 would give him a kiss as he passed. So it happened that, 
 when he met again with his companion, his bundle was the 
 better filled of the two. The fretful Shoemaker drew a 
 sour face, and thought, "The greater the rogue the better 
 the luck;" but the other began to laugh and sing, and 
 shared all that he received with his comrade. For, if only 
 a couple of groschen jingled in his pocket, he would out 
 with them, throw them on the table with such force that 
 the glasses danced, and cry out, "Lightly earned, lightly 
 spent!" 
 
 After they had wandered about for some time they 
 came to a large forest, through which the road passed to 
 the royal city; but there were two ways, one of which 
 was seven days long, and the other only two, but neither 
 of the travellers knew which was the shorter. They, 
 therefore, sat down under an oak-tree, to consult how they 
 should manage, and for how many days they could take 
 bread with them. The Shoemaker said, " One must pro- 
 vide for further than one goes, so I will take with me 
 bread for seven days." 
 
 "What!" cried the Tailor, "carry bread for seven 
 days on your back like a beast of burden, so that you can't 
 look round ! I shall commit myself to God, and care for 
 nothing. The money which I have in my pocket is as 
 good in summer as in winter, but the bread will get dry, 
 and musty beside, in this hot weather. Why should we 
 not find the right way? Bread for two days, and luck 
 
42 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 with it !" Thereupon each one bought his own bread, and 
 then they started in the forest to try their fortune. 
 
 It was as quiet and still as a church. Not a breath of 
 wind was stirring, not a brook bubbling, a bird singing, 
 nor even a sunbeam shining through the thick leaves. 
 The Shoemaker spoke never a word, for the heavy bread 
 pressed upon his back so sorely that the sweat ran down 
 over his morose and dark countenance. The Tailor, on 
 the other hand, was as merry as a lark, jumping about, 
 whistling through straws, or singing songs. Thus two 
 days passed; but on the third, when no end was to be 
 found to the forest, the Tailor's heart fell a bit, for he had 
 eaten all his bread : still he did not lose courage, but put 
 his trust in God and his own luck. The tliird evening he 
 laid down under a tree hungry, and awoke the next morn- 
 ing not less so. The fourth day was just the same, and 
 when the Shoemaker sat down on an uprooted tree, and 
 devoured his midday meal, nothing remained to the Tailor 
 but to look on. lie begged once a bit of bread, but the 
 other laughed in his face, and said, " You are always so 
 merry, and now you can try for once in your life how a 
 man feels when he is sad ; birds which sing too early in the 
 morning are caught by the hawk in the evening." In short, 
 he was without pity for his companion. The fifth morn- 
 ing, however, the poor Tailor could not stand upright, and 
 could scarcely speak from faintness : his cheeks, besides, 
 were quite white and his eyes red. Then the Shoemaker 
 said to him, "I will give you to-day a piece of bread, but 
 I must put out your right eye for it." 
 
 The unhappy Tailor, who still wished to preserve his 
 life, could not help himself: he wept once with both eyes, 
 and then the Shoemaker, who had a heart of stone, put out 
 his right eye with a needle. Then the poor fellow recol- 
 lected what his mother had once said to him when he had 
 been eatinn* in the store-room, " One ma}^ eat too much, 
 
The Two Wanderers. 
 
 43 
 
 but one must also suffer for it." As soon as he had swal- 
 lowed his dearly-purchased bread he got upon his legs 
 again, forgot his misfortune, and comforted himself by re- 
 flecting that he had still one eye left to see with. But on 
 the sixth day hunger again tormented him and his heart 
 began to fail him. When evening came he sank down 
 under a tree, and on the seventh morning he could not 
 raise himself from faintness, for death sat on his neck. 
 The Shoemaker said, " I will yet show you mercy and give 
 you a piece of bread, but as a recompense I must put out 
 your left eye." The Tailor, remembering his past sinful- 
 ness, begged po.rdon of God, and then said to his com- 
 panion, "Do what 3^ou will, I will bear what I must; but 
 remember that our God watches every action; and that 
 another hour will come when the wicked deed shall be 
 punished which you have practised upon me, and which I 
 have never deserved. In prosperous days I shared with 
 you what I had. My business is one which requires stitch 
 for stitch. If I have no longer sight, I can sew no more, 
 and must go begging. Let me not, when I am bUnd, lie 
 here all alone, or I shall perish." 
 
 The Shoemaker, however, had driven all thoughts 
 about God out of his heart, and he took the knife and put 
 out the left eye of his comrade. Then he gave him a 
 piece of bread to eat, reached him a stick, and led him 
 behind him. 
 
 As the sun was setting they got out of the forest, and 
 before them in a field stood a gallows. The Shoemaker 
 led the blind Tailor to it, left him lying there, and went 
 his way. From weariness, pain, and hunger, the poor fellow 
 slept the whole night long, and when he awoke at day- 
 break he knew not where he was. Upon the gallows hung 
 two poor sinners, and upon each of their heads sat a Crow, 
 one of which said to the other, "Brother, are you awake?" 
 "Yes, I am," replied the second. "Then I will tell you 
 
i4 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 • 
 
 something," said the first Crow. " The dew which haa 
 fallen over us this night from the gallows will give sight 
 to him who needs it if he but wash himself with it. If 
 the blind knew this, how many are there who would once 
 more be able to see who now think it impossible !" 
 
 When the Tailor heard this he took his handkerchief, 
 spread it on the grass, and as soon as it was soaked with 
 dew he washed his eyeballs therewith. Immediately the 
 words of the Crow were fulfilled, and he saw as clearly as 
 ever. In a short while afterwards the Tailor saw the sun 
 rise over the mountains, and before him in the distance lay 
 the King's city, with its magnificent gates and hundred 
 towers, over which the spires and pinnacles began to glisten 
 in the sunbeams. He discerned every leaf upon the trees, 
 every bird which flew by, and the gnats which danced in 
 the air. He took a needle out of his pocket, and, when he 
 found he could pass the thread through the eye as easily 
 as ever, his heart leaped for joy. He threw himself upon 
 his knees and thanked God for the mercy shown to him, 
 and while he said his morning devotions he did not forget to 
 pray for the two poor sinners who swung to and fro in the 
 wind like the pendulum of a clock. Afterwards he took 
 his bundle upon his back, and, forgetting his past sorrows 
 and troubles, he jogged along singing and whistling. 
 
 The first thing he met was a brown Filly, which was 
 running about in the fields at liberty. The Tailor caught 
 it by its mane, and would have swung himiself on its back 
 to ride into the city, but the Filly begged for its liberty, 
 saying, "I am still too young; even a light Tailor like you 
 would break my back ; let m^e run about till I am stronger ; 
 a time, perhaps, will come when I can reward j^ou." 
 
 "Eun away then," replied the Tailor; "I sec you are 
 still a romp !" and with these words he gave it a cut with 
 a switch which made it lift its hind legs for joy, and spring 
 away over a hedge and ditch into a field. 
 
The Two Wanderers. 45 
 
 • 
 
 But the Tailor had eaten nothing since the previous 
 day, and he thought to himself, " The sun certainly fills 
 my eyes, but the bread does not fill my mouth. The first 
 thing which meets me now must suffer, if it be at all eat- 
 able." Just then a Stork came walking very seriously 
 over the meadow. " Stop, stop !" cried the Tailor, catching 
 it by the leg, " I don't know if you are fit to eat, but my 
 hunger will not admit of choice ; so I must chop off your 
 head and roast you." " Do it not," answered the Stork ; 
 " I am a sacred bird, to whom nobody offers an injury, and 
 I bring great profit to man. Leave me alone, and then 1 
 can recompense you at some future time." "Be off. Cousin 
 Long-legs," said the Tailor; and the Stork, raising itself 
 from the ground, flew gracefully away, with its long legs 
 hanging downwards. " What will come of this?" said the 
 Tailor to himself, "my hunger grows ever stronger, and 
 my stomach yet more empty : what next crosses my path 
 is lost." As he spoke he saw a pair of young Ducks swim- 
 ming upon a pond. " You ha ve come just when you were 
 called," cried he, and, seizing one by the neck, he was 
 about to twist it round, when an old bird which was hid 
 among the reeds began to quack loudly, and swam with 
 open bill up to the Tailor, begging him pitifully to spare 
 her dear child. " Think what your poor mother would 
 say if one fetched you away and put an end to your life !" 
 "Be quiet!" replied the good-natured Tailor, "you shall 
 have your child again ;" and he put the prisoner back into 
 the water. As soon as he turned round again he perceived 
 the old hollow tree, and the wild bees flying in and out. 
 " Here at last I shall find the reward of my good deed," 
 said the Tailor ; " the honey will refresh me." But scarcely 
 had he spoken when the Queen Bee flew out, and thus ad- 
 dressed him, "If you touch my people, and disturb my 
 nest, our stings shall pierce your skin like ten thousand red- 
 hot needles. Leave us in peace, and go your own way, and 
 
16 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 perhaps at a future time you sball receive a reward for 
 it." 
 
 The Tailor perceived at once that nothing was to be 
 had thorc. " Three empty dishes and nothing in the fourth 
 is a bad nical," thought he to himself; and, trudging on, he 
 soon got into the city, wliere, as it was about noon, he 
 found a dinner ready cooked in the inn, and ghidly sat 
 down to table. When he was satisfied he determined to 
 go and seek work, and, as he walked around the city, he 
 soon found a master, who gave him a good welcome. 
 Since, however, he knew his business thoroughl}?-, it very 
 soon linppened that he became quite famed, and everybody 
 would have his new coat made by the little Tailor. Every 
 day added to his consequence, and he said to himself, " I 
 can get no higher in my art, and yet every day trade gets 
 brisker." At length he was appointed court tailor. 
 
 But how things do turn out ! The same day his for- 
 mer comrade was made court shoemaker ; and when he 
 saw the Tailor, and remarked that his eyes were as bright 
 and good as ever, his conscience pricked him. But he 
 thouglit to himself, " Before he revenges himself on me I 
 must lay a snare for him." Now, he who digs a pit for 
 another often fliUs into it himself In the evening, when 
 the Shoemaker had left off work, and it was become quite 
 dark, he slipped up to the King and whispered, " May it 
 please your Majesty, this Tailor is a high-minded fellow, 
 and has boasted that he can procure again the crown which 
 has been lost so long." 
 
 " That would please me much !" replied the King ; 
 " but let the Tailor come here to-morrow." When he came, 
 the King ordered him to find the crown again, or to leave 
 the city for ever. " Oho ! oho !" thought the Tailor ; " a 
 rogue gives more than he has. If the crusty old King 
 desires from me wdiat no man can produce, I will not wait 
 till morning, but this very day make my escape out of the 
 
The Two "Wanderers. 
 
 47 
 
 town." So thinking, lie tied together his bundle, and 
 marched out of the gate ; but it grieved him sorely to 
 give up his business, and to turn his back upon the city 
 wherein he had been so fortunate. Soon he came to the 
 pond where he had made acquaintance with the ducks, and 
 there sat the old one whose children he had spared by the 
 shore, pluming herself with her bill. She recognised him, 
 and asked why he hung his head so. " You will not won- 
 der," he replied, " when you hear what has happened 
 and he told her his story. " Tf that be all," said the Duck, 
 " we can assist you. The crown has fallen into the water, 
 and lies at the bottom, whence we will soon fetch it. 
 Meanwhile spread your handkerchief out on the shore." 
 With these words the Duck dived down with her twelve 
 young ones, and in five minutes they were up again carry- 
 ing the crown, which, resting on the old bird's wings, was 
 borne up by the bills of the twelve ducklings who swam 
 around. They came to shore and laid the crown on the 
 handkerchief. You could not believe how beautiful it was; 
 for when the sun shone on it it glittered like a hundred 
 carbuncles. The Tailor tied it up in his handkerchief and 
 carried it to the King, who was so much pleased that he 
 gave its finder a chain of gold to hang round his neck. 
 
 When the Shoemaker found his first plan had fliiledhe 
 contrived a second, and, stepping before the King, said, 
 " May it please your Majesty, the Tailor has grown so liigh- 
 minded again, he boasts he can model in wax the whole 
 castle and all that is in it, fixed and unfixed, indoors and 
 outdoors." The King thereupon caused the Tailor to be 
 summoned, and ordered him to model in wax the whole 
 castle, and everything inside and outside ; and if he did not 
 complete it, or even omitted one nail upon the wall, he 
 should be kept prisoner underground all his lifetime. 
 The Tailor thought to himself, *' It comes harder and 
 harder upon me ; no man can do that 1" and, throwing his 
 
48 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 bundle over his shoulder, he walked out at the gate. 
 When he came to the hollow tree he sat down, and hung 
 his head in despair. The Bees came flying out, and the 
 Queen asked if he had a stiff neck, because he kept his 
 head in such a position. " Oh, no !" he replied ; " some- 
 thing else oppresses me !" and he related what the King 
 had demanded of him. The Bees thereupon began to hum 
 and buzz together, and the Queen said to the Tailor, "Go 
 home now, but return in the morning, and bring a great 
 napkin with you, and about this hour all will be ready." 
 So he returned home, and the Bees flew to the royal 
 palace, right in at the open window, crept into every cor- 
 ner, and observed all the things in the most minute man- 
 ner. Then they flew back and formed a castle in wax 
 with great speed, so that it was ready by the evening. 
 The next morning the Tailor came, and there stood the 
 whole beautiful building, with not a nail upon the wall 
 or a tile upon the roof omitted, but all was delicately white, 
 and, moreover, as sweet as sugar. The Tailor wrapped it 
 carefully in his cloth, and took it to the King, who could 
 not sufficiently admire it, and gave him a house made of 
 stone as a reward. 
 
 The Shoemaker, however, was not satisfied, and went 
 again to the King; and said, "May it please your Majesty, 
 it has come to the ears of the Tailor that no water springs 
 in the castle yard ; and he has therefore boasted that it 
 shall gush up in the middle, clear as crystal." The King 
 ordered the Tailor to be summoned, and told him that if a 
 stream of water was not running the following morning, 
 as he had said, the executioner should make him a head 
 shorter in that very court. The poor Tailor did not think 
 very long, but rushed out of the gate, and, as he remem- 
 bered his life was in danger, tears rolled down his cheeks. 
 Whilst he sat thus, full of grief, the Filly came jumping 
 towards him to which he had once given liberty, and 
 
The Two Wanderers. 
 
 49 
 
 which hnd became a fine brown horse. "Now is tlic lioui 
 come," it said to the Tailor, " when I can reward your kind- 
 ness. I know already what you need, and will soon assist 
 you ; but now sit u])on my back, which could carry two 
 like you." The Tailor's heart came again, and he vaulted 
 into the saddle, and the horse carried him full speed into 
 the town, and straight to the castle-yard. There it coursed 
 thrice round as quick as lightning, and at the third time 
 fell down. At the same moment a fearful noise was heard, 
 and a piece out of the ground of the court sprang up into 
 the air like a ball, and bounded away far over tlie castle ; 
 and at the same time a stream of water, as high as the man 
 and his horse, and as clear as crystal, played up and down 
 like a fountain, and the sunbeams danced on it.. As soon 
 as the King saw this he was astounded, and went up and 
 embraced the Tailor before all his court. 
 
 But this fortune did not last long. The King had 
 daughters enough, and each one prettier than the other, 
 but no son at all. 
 
 Now, the wicked Shoemaker went for the fourth time 
 to the King, and said, '/May it please your Majesty, the 
 Tailor is as high-mindod as ever. Now he has boasted that, 
 if he might, he could bring the King a son down from the 
 air." Thereupon the King ordered the Tailor to be sum- 
 moned, and said, "If you bring me a son within nine days 
 you shall have my eldest daughter as a wife." "The re- 
 ward is immense," thought the Tailor ; " and one may as 
 well have it as another ; but now the cherries hang too high 
 for me, and if I climb after them the branches will break 
 beneath me, and I shall fall down." So thinking, he went 
 home, set himself with his legs crossed under him upon his 
 work-table, and considered what he should do. " It is of 
 no use," he cried at length ; " I must be off, I cannot rest 
 in peace here!" So he tied up his bundle and hurried out 
 of the door; but just as he arrived upon the meadow he 
 
 II.— 3 B 
 
50 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 perceived his old friend the Stork, who, like a world-wise 
 man, walked np and down, awhile stood still and con- 
 sidered a frog nearer, and at length snapped it up. The 
 Stork came up and greeted him. " I see," said it, " you 
 have your bundle upon your back ; why have you left the 
 city ?" The Tailor told the Stork what the King had com- 
 manded of him, and how, as he could not do it, he was 
 grieving at his ill luck. "Do not let your grey hairs grow 
 on that account !" replied the Stork, "I will assist you out 
 of your trouble ! Sometimes already I have brought in- 
 fants into the city ; and I can also fetch a little prince out 
 of the spring. Go home and keep quiet. In nine days 
 return to the royal palace, and I will come thither also." 
 
 The Tailor went home, and on the right day went to 
 the palace. In a short time the Stork came flying through 
 the air, and knocked at the window. The Tailor opened 
 it, and cousin Longlegs marched gravely in, and with 
 stately steps passed over the marble floors, carrying in his 
 beak a child, as beautiful to look at as an angel, and already 
 stretching out its hands towards the Queen. The Stork 
 laid it upon her lap, and she embraced and kissed it, almost 
 beside herself with joy. Before he flew away he took a 
 knapsack off his shoulder, and handed it to the Queen; 
 and therein were dates and coloured bonbons, which were 
 divided among the Princesses. But the eldest received 
 none, because she took instead the merry young Tailor as 
 husband. " It seems to me," said the Tailor, " as if I had 
 won a great game. My mother rightly said, ' He who 
 trusts in God and his own fortune will never go amiss.' " 
 
 The Shoemaker had to make the shoes in which the 
 Tailor danced at the wedding, and as soon as he had done 
 them he was ordered to leave the city. The road from 
 thence to the forest led him past the gallows; and, from 
 rage, disappointment, and weariness with the heat of the 
 day, he threw himself on the ground beneath, it. As soon 
 
THE TWO WANDEREKS. 
 
 Page 50. 
 
The Two Wanderers. 
 
 51 
 
 as he had closed his ejes and prepared to go to sleep, the 
 two Crows flew down from the heads of the two criminals, 
 and with loud cries pecked out the Shoemaker's eyes. 
 Insane with rage and pain he ran into the forest, and there 
 he must have perished; for nobody has seen or heard 
 anything of the wicked Shoemaker ever since. 
 
XCYII. 
 
 The Experienced Huntsman. 
 
 THERE was once upon a time a young Lad who, after 
 he had learnt the art of making locks, told his Father 
 he wished to go and seek his fortune in the world. " Well," 
 said the Father, "very well, I am contented;" and gave 
 him money for the journey. So he set off, looking about 
 for work; but after a while he determined to follow his 
 trade no longer, for he had got tired of it, and wished to 
 learn the art of hunting. While he was in this mood he 
 met a Huntsman, dressed in green, who asked him whence 
 he came, and whither he would go. The Youth told him 
 he was a locksmith, but his business did not suit him any 
 longer, and he had a wish to learn how to shoot, if he 
 would take him as a pupil. " Oh, yes," replied the other, 
 " come with me." The youth accompanied him, and for 
 several years abode with him while he learned the art of 
 hunting. Afterwards he wished to leave, but the Hunts- 
 man gave him no further reward than an air-gun, which 
 had the property of missing nothing at which it was fired. 
 With this gift he went off, and by-and-by came to a very 
 large forest, to which he could find no end the first day ; 
 so he perched himself upon a lofty tree where the wild 
 beasts could not reach him. Towards midnight it seemed 
 to him that a light was glimmering at a distance, and he 
 peeped through the boughs in order to mark more exactly 
 where it was. Then, taking his hat, he threw it in that 
 direction that it might serve as a guide for him when he 
 had descended the tree ; and as soon as he was down, he 
 ran after his hat, and, putting it on again, he walked 
 straight ahead. The farther he went the larger the light 
 
The Experienced Huntsman. 
 
 53 
 
 appeared; and when he came nearly up to it he discovered 
 that it was caused bv a great fire, round which three 
 Giants were sitting, watching the roasting of an ox, which 
 hung on a spit above it. Just at that moment one of the 
 Giants said he would taste and see if the meat were done 
 enough; and, tearing a piece off, he was going to put it 
 into his mouth, when the Huntsman shot it clean out of 
 his hand. " Kow, then," cried the Giant, " the wind blows 
 the meat out of my hand !" And, taking another piece, 
 he was about to bite it when the Huntsman shot that out 
 of his hand. Thereupon he gave the Giant next to him a 
 box on the ear, saying, angrily, " Why do you snatch my 
 piece away ?" " I did not take it away," replied the other ; 
 "it was some sharpshooter who shot it away." So the 
 Giant took a third piece, but that also he could not hold, 
 for the Huntsman shot it away. "This must be a good 
 shot," cried all the Giants; "a man who can shoot away 
 the food from one's mouth would be very useful to us." 
 And then, speaking louder, they called to him, " Come, 
 you sharpshooter, sit down by our fire, and eat till you 
 are satisfied, and we will do you no harm ; but if you 
 don't come, and we have to fetch you, you will be lost." 
 
 At these words the Huntsman stepped up to the fire, 
 and said he was an experienced Huntsman, so much so, 
 that whatever he aimed at, he shot, without ever missing. 
 The Giants said that if he would go with them he should 
 be well treated ; and they told him, besides, that out of the 
 forest there was a large piece of water, on the other side of 
 which was a tower, wherein dwelt a beautiful Princess, 
 whom they desired to possess. The Huntsman said he 
 would willingly fetch her; and they further told him that 
 outside the tower lay a little dog, which would begin to 
 bark as soon as it saw any one approach, and immediately 
 it did so everybody would wake up in the royal palace ; 
 and it was on that account they had never been able to 
 
54: Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 enter, and therefore lie must first shoot the dog. To this 
 the Huntsman assented, declaring it was mere play ; and 
 soon afterwards he went on board a ship, and sailed over the 
 water ; and, as he neared the land, the little dog came run- 
 ning down and would have barked, but he, aiming with his 
 air-gun, shot it dead. As soon as the Giants saw this done 
 they were very glad, and thought they had the Princess 
 for certain ; but the Huntsman told them to remain where 
 they were until he called them, for he must first see how 
 it was to be accomplished. He went into the castle, and 
 found everybody as still as mice, for they were fast asleep ; 
 and as he entered the first room he saw a sabre hanging up 
 made of pure silver, and ornamented with a golden star 
 and the king's name. Below it stood a table, whereon laid 
 a sealed letter, which he broke open, and read that who- 
 ever possessed the sabre could bring to life whomever it 
 passed. The Huntsman took the sabre down from the 
 wall, and, hanging it around him, walked on till he came 
 to a room, where the king's daughter lay asleep. She was 
 so beautiful that he stood still and looked at her, holding 
 his breath, while he thought, " How dare I deliver this in- 
 nocent maiden into the power of these Giants, with their 
 evil intentions?" He peeped about, and under the bed 
 espied a pair of slippers ; on the right one was marked the 
 king's name, with a star ; and on the left his daughter's, also 
 with a star. She had also a large handkerchief over her, 
 woven of silk and gold, having on the right side her father's 
 name, and on the left her own, all done in golden threads. 
 So the Huntsman took a knife and cut off the right corner, 
 and then he took the slipper with the King's name in it, 
 and put them both in his knapsack. All the while the 
 Princess remained quite passive ; and as she was wrapped 
 up in a sheet, the Huntsman cut off a piece of that, as well 
 as the handkerchief, and put it in his knapsack with the 
 others. All these things he did without touching her, 
 
The Experienced Huntsman. 
 
 55 
 
 and afterwards went away without noise. When he got 
 outside he found the three Giants, who were waiting in 
 expectation that he would bring the Princess with him. 
 He shouted to them to come in, for the maiden was already 
 in his power, but he could not open the door, and there- 
 fore they must creep through a hole which was in the 
 wall. The first Giant came, and, as soon as he poked his 
 head through the hole, the Huntsman seized him by the 
 hair and chopped his head off with the sabre. Then he 
 pulled the body through, and called to the second, whose 
 head he chopped off likewise, and then the third Giant 
 shared the same fate. As soon as this was done he cut out 
 the tongue of each and put it in his knapsack, rejoicing to 
 think he had freed the Princess from her enemies. He re- 
 solved next to visit his father, and show him what he had 
 done, and afterwards to travel again about the world ; for, 
 said he, " The fortune which God apportions to me will 
 reach me anywhere !" 
 
 Meanwhile the King of the castle, when he awoke, had 
 perceived the three Giants lying dead in the hall, and, 
 going into his daughter's apartment, he awoke her, and in- 
 quired who it was that had destroyed the Giants. " I know 
 not, dear father," she replied ; " I have been sleeping." 
 But when she arose, and wished to put on her slippers, she 
 found the one for the right foot missing ; and her hand- 
 kerchief also wanted the right-hand corner, which had been 
 cut off, as well as a piece out of the sheet. The King there- 
 upon caused the whole court to be assembled, soldiers and 
 every one, and then put the question, who had freed his 
 daughter and put to death the Giants ? Now the King 
 had a captain, a one-eyed and ugly man, who said he had 
 done it. The old King, therefore, declared that since it 
 was he, he must marry the Princess. But as soon as he 
 said so the Princess exclaimed, "Eather than marry him, 
 dear father, I will wander over the world as far as my feet 
 
56 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 will carry me !" The King replied she might do as she 
 pleased ; but if she would not marry the man she must 
 take off her royal clothes, and put on peasant's clothes to 
 travel in, and, also, she must go to a potter, and begin 
 business in the earthenware trade. So the King's daughter 
 drew off her royal clothes, and went to a potter, from whom 
 she hired a crate of earthenware, and promised that if she 
 had sold them by the evening she would pay for them. 
 The King commanded her to sit at a certain corner of the 
 market, across which he ordered that several waggons 
 should be driven, so as to crush in pieces all the crockery. 
 By-and-by, therefore, when the Princess had stationed her- 
 self in the appointed place, the waggons came driving past 
 and smashed her goods. Thereupon she began to .cry, 
 saying, "Ah, heaven! how am I to pay the potter?" But 
 the King hoped by this means to have compelled his 
 daughter to marry the captain ; instead of which she went 
 to the potter and asked if he would trust her with another 
 crate. He refused till she should pay for the former one ; 
 and so the Princess was forced to go crying and groaning 
 to her father, that she wished to wander into the wide 
 world. The King said, " I will cause a cottage to be built 
 in the middle of the w^ood., wherein you shall sit all your 
 lifetime, and cook for anybody who comes, but without 
 taking money for it." When the house w^as ready a sign 
 was hung over the door, on wdiich was inscribed — 
 
 " Gratis to-day : To-morrow, payment !" 
 
 There she sat for a long time, while it was talked about 
 in the world around that a maiden sat in a cottage in the 
 wood, and cooked gratis, as was stated on a sign over the 
 door. This the Huntsman heard, and he thought to him- 
 self, " This is good news for me, who am so poor, and have 
 no money." So he took his air-gun and knapsack, in 
 which he kept all the memorials he had brought away 
 
The Experienced Huntsman. 
 
 57 
 
 from the castle ; and, going into the forest, came soon to 
 the cottage where was written up — 
 
 " Gratis to-day : To-morrow, payment" 
 
 Now, he had the sword buckled round him which he 
 had used to execute the three Giants; and he stepped 
 into the cottage and ordered something to eat. The 
 Princess asked him whence he came and whither he 
 was going; and he replied, "I am wandering about the 
 world." She asked next where he procured his sword, on 
 which she perceived her father's name. "Are jou the 
 daughter of the King ?" he inquired ; and, as she nodded 
 assent, he said, " With this sword I have cut off the heads 
 of three Giants!" and he held up the three tongues for a 
 token, together with the slipper, and the pieces which he had 
 cut off the handkerchief and sheet. The Princess was glad 
 indeed to see these things, and told the Huntsman it was he 
 who had saved her. Then they went to the King ; and the 
 Princess led him to her chamber, and declared that it was 
 the Huntsman who had delivered her from the three Giants. 
 The King at first would not believe ; but as soon as he 
 was shown the tokens he could no longer doubt; and, in 
 order to show his pleasure and his gratitude, he promised 
 his daughter to the Huntsman as his wife, which pleased 
 the Princess very much. Afterwards the King ordered 
 a grand banquet, whereat the Huntsman appeared as a dis- 
 tinguished stranger. When they sat down to table the 
 Captain took his place on the left hand of the King's 
 daughter, and the Huntsman, whom the former believed 
 to be a visitor of rank, on the right. When they had 
 finished eating and drinking, the old King told the Captain 
 he would propound a question, which he must answer, and 
 it was this : — " If one should say he had killed three Giants, 
 and was asked therefore where the tongues of the Giants 
 were, and should then go to seek them and find none, how 
 II.— 3* 
 
58 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 would he explain that?" By saying that they had had 
 none!" replied the Captain. "Not so !" said the King; 
 *' every creature has a tongue ; therefore, what would such 
 an one deserve for his answer ?" " To be torn in pieces !" 
 said the Captain boldly. 
 
 " You have pronounced your own sentence !" said the 
 King to the Captain ; who was first imprisoned, and after- 
 wards torn in four pieces. But the Huntsman was married 
 to the King's daughter ; and after the wedding he invited 
 his father and mother to live with him ; and, after the old 
 King's death, the Huntsman ascended the throne. 
 
XCVIII. 
 
 Professor Know-all. 
 
 LONG time ago there lived a peasant named " Crab,'' 
 
 who one day drove into a certain city his cart laden 
 with a bundle of faggots, drawn by two oxen. He soon 
 found a purchaser for his wood in the person of a learned 
 Professor, who bought it for two dollars, and, while the 
 money was being counted out, the Peasant, peeping in at 
 the door, saw how comfortably his customer was eating 
 and drinking; and the thought thereupon came into his 
 head that he would like to be a professor too. So he 
 waited a little while, and at last mustered courage to ask 
 whether he could not be a professor. " Oh, yes," replied 
 the Professor, " that can soon be managed !" 
 " What must I do ?" asked the Peasant. 
 " First of all buy an A B C book, one which has a cock- 
 a-doodle-doo for a frontispiece ; secondly, sell your cart and 
 oxen, and turn them into money to buy good clothes with, 
 and what else belongs to a professor's appearance ; lastly, 
 let a sign be painted, with the words, ' I am the Professor 
 Know-all,' and nail that over your house door." 
 
 The Countryman did all that he was told, and after he 
 had practised a little time, but not to much purpose, a 
 certain very wealthy Baron had some money stolen from 
 him. Mention was made to the Baron of this Professor 
 Know-all who dwelt in such a village, and who would be 
 sure to know where the money was gone. As soon as the 
 Baron heard of him, he ordered his horses into his carriage 
 and drove to the place where the Professor lived. The 
 Baron inquired if he were the Professor Know-all, and, he 
 
60 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 replying "Yes," the Baron said he must return with him 
 and discover his money. 
 
 " Very well," replied the Professor ; " but my wife 
 Gertrude n^ust accompany me." 
 
 To this the Baron agreed, and, all being seated in the 
 carriage, away they drove back again. When they arrived 
 at the house, a splendid collation was on the table, of which 
 the Professor was invited to partake. " Certainh^," said 
 he, "but my wife Gertrude too;" and he sat down with 
 her at the bottom of the table. As soon as the first servant 
 entered with a dish of delicate soup, the Professor poked 
 his wife, saying, "He is the first!" meaning he was the 
 first who had brought in meat. But the servant imagined 
 he meant to say, "He is the first thief!" and, because he 
 really was so, he felt very much disturbed, and told his 
 comrades in the kitchen, " The Professor knows all ; we 
 shall come off badly, for he has said I am the first!" 
 When the second servant heard this he felt afraid to go ; 
 but he was obliged, and, as soon as he entered the room 
 with his dish, the man poked his wife again, and said, 
 " Gertrude, that is the second !" This frightened the 
 servant so much that he left the room as soon as possible ; 
 and the third servant who entered fared no better, for the; 
 Professor said to his wife, " That is the third !" The fourth 
 servant had to bring in a covered dish, and the Baron said 
 to the Professor he must show his powers by telling truly 
 what was in the dish. Now, there were crabs in it; but 
 the Peasant looked at the dish, ignorant how to get him- 
 self out of the scrape, till at last he cried out, " Oh, poor 
 Crab that I am !" When the Baron heard this he ex- 
 claimed, "Good! he knows it! he knows, too, where my 
 money is!" 
 
 The servant, however, was terribly frightened ; and he 
 winked to the Professor to follow him out. When he had 
 done so, he found all four servants there who had stolen 
 
Pkofessor Know-all. 
 
 61 
 
 the money, and were now so eager to get off that they 
 offered him a large sum if he would not betray them ; for 
 if he did their necks would be in danger. They led him 
 also to the place where the money lay hid, and the Pro- 
 fessor was so pleased that he gave them the required 
 promise, and then returned to the house, where he sat 
 down again at table, and, producing his book, said, " I 
 will now look in my book, Baron, and discover the place 
 where the money lies." A fifth servant, who had had a 
 share in the robbery, wished to hear if the Professor knew 
 more, and so he crept up the chimney to listen. Below 
 sat the countryman, turning the leaves of his book back- 
 wards and forwards, forwards and backwards, looking for 
 the Cock-a-doodle-doo. However, he could not find it, and 
 he at length exclaimed, "You must come out, for T know 
 you are in!" This made the servant up the chimney 
 believe he meant him, and down he slipped, and got out, 
 crying, " The man knows all, the man knows all !" 
 
 Then Professor Know-all showed the Baron where he 
 money lay ; but he said nothing about who had stolen it, 
 so that from both sides he received a large sum of money 
 as a reward, and, moreover, he became a very celebrated 
 character. 
 
XCIX. 
 
 Bearskin. 
 
 THERE was once upon a time a young fellow who 
 enlisted for a soldier, and became so brave and cou- 
 rageous that he was always in the front ranks when it 
 rained blue beans. As long as the war lasted all went 
 well, but when peace was concluded he received his dis- 
 charge, and the captain told him he might go where he 
 liked. His parents meanwhile had died, and as he had no 
 longer any home to go to he paid a visit to his brothers, 
 and asked them to give him shelter until war broke out 
 again. His brothers, however, were hardhearted, and 
 said, "What could we do with you? we could make 
 nothing of you ; see to wdiat you have brought yourself ;" 
 and so turned a deaf ear. The poor soldier Irad nothing 
 but his musket left ; so he mounted this on his shoulder 
 and set out on tramp. By-and-by he came to a great heath 
 with nothing on it but a circle of trees, under which he 
 sat down, sorrowfully considering his fate. "I have no 
 mone}''," thought he; "I have learnt nothing but soldier- 
 ing, and now, since peace is concluded, there is no need 
 of me. I see well enough I shall have to starve." All at 
 once he heard a rustling, and as he looked round he per- 
 ceived a stranger standing before him, dressed in a grey 
 coat, who looked very stately, but had an ugly, cloven foot. 
 "I know quite well what you need," said this being; 
 "gold and other possessions you shall have, as much as 
 you can spend ; but first I must know whether you are a 
 coward or not, that I may not spend my money foolishly." 
 
 "A soldier and a coward!" replied the other, "that 
 cannot be ; you may put me to any proof." 
 
Beaeskin. 
 
 63 
 
 " Well then," replied the stranger, " look behind you." 
 
 The Soldier turned and saw a huge bear, which eyed 
 him very ferociously. " Oho !" cried he, " I will tickle 
 vour nose for you, that you shall give us the pleasure of 
 grumbling ;" and, raising his musket, he shot the bear in 
 the forehead, so that he tumbled in a heap upon the ground, 
 and did not stir afterwards. Thereupon the stranger said, 
 "I see quite well that you are not wanting in courage ; but 
 there is yet one condition which you must fulfih" "If it 
 does not interfere with my future happiness," said the Sol- 
 dier, who had remarked who it was that addressed him ; 
 "if it does not interfere with that I shall not hesitate." 
 
 "That you must see about yourself!" said the stranger. 
 "For the next seven years you must not wash yourself, 
 nor comb your hair or beard, neither must you cut your 
 nails nor say one pater-noster. Then I will give you this 
 coat and mantle, which you must wear during these seven 
 years; and if you die within that time you are mine, but 
 if you live you are rich, and free all your life long." 
 
 The Soldier reflected for a while on his great necessities, 
 and, remembering how often he had braved death, he at 
 length consented, and ventured to accept the offer. There- 
 upon the Evil One pulled off the grey coat, handed it to 
 the soldier, and said, "If you at any time search in the 
 pocket of your coat when you have it on, you will always 
 find 3'our hand full of money." Then also he pulled off 
 the skin of the bear, and said, "That shall be your cloak 
 and your bed ; you must sleep on it, and not dare to lie in 
 any other bed, and on this account you shall be called 
 Bearskin." Immediately the Evil One disappeared. 
 
 The Soldier now put on the coat, and dipped his hands 
 into the pockets to assure himself of the reality of the trans- 
 action. Then he hung the bearskin around himself, and 
 went about the world chuckling at his good luck, and buy- 
 ing whatever suited his fancy which money could purchase. 
 
64 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 For the first year his appearance was not very remarkable, 
 but in the second he began to look quite a monster. His 
 hair covered almost all his face, his beard appeared like a 
 piece of dirty cloth, his nails were claws, and his counte- 
 nance was so covei-ed with dirt that one might have grown 
 cresses upon it if one had sown seed ! Whoever looked at 
 him ran away; but, because he gave the poor in every 
 place gold coin, they prayed that he might not die during 
 the seven years; and, because he paid liberals everywhere, 
 he found a night's lodging without difficulty. In the 
 fourth year he came to an inn where the landlord would 
 not take him in, and refused even to give him a place in 
 his stables, lest the horses should be frightened and become 
 restive. However, when Bearskin put his hand into his 
 pocket and drew it out full of gold ducats the landlord 
 yielded the point, and gave him a place in the outbuildings, 
 but not till he had promised that he would not show him- 
 self, for fear the inn should gain a bad name. 
 
 While Bearskin sat by himself in the evening, wishing 
 from his heart that the seven years were over, he heard in 
 the corner a loud groan. Kow the old Soldier had a com- 
 passionate heart, so he opened the door and saw an old 
 man weeping violently and wringing his bands. Bearskin 
 stepped nearer, but the old man jumped up and tried to 
 escape : but when he recognised a human voice he let him- 
 self be persuaded, and by kind words and soothings on the 
 part of the old Soldier he at length disclosed the cause of 
 his distress. His property had dwindled away by degrees, 
 and he and his daughters would have to starve, for he was 
 so poor that he had not the mone}^ to pay the host, and 
 would therefore be put into prison. 
 
 "If you have no care except that," replied Bearskin. 
 "I have money enough;" and, causing the landlord to be 
 called, he paid him, and put a purse full of gold besides in- 
 to the pocket of the old man. The latter, wh^n he saw 
 
Beaeskin. 
 
 65 
 
 himself released from his troubles, knew not how to be 
 sufficiently gi-ateful, and said to the Soldier, " Come with 
 me, my daughters are all wonders of beauty, so choose one 
 of them for a wife. When they hear what you have done 
 for me they will not refuse you. You appear certainly an 
 uncommon man, but they will soon put you to rights." 
 
 This speech pleased Bearskin, and he went with the old 
 man. As soon as the eldest daughter saw him, she was so 
 terrified at his countenance that she shrieked out and ran 
 away. The second one stopped and looked at him from 
 head to foot; but at last she said, "How can I take a hus- 
 band who has not a bit of a human countenance? The 
 grizzly bear would have pleased me better who came to 
 see us once, and gave himself out as a man, for he wore a 
 hussar's hat, and had white gloves on besides." 
 
 But the youngest daughter said, "Dear father, this 
 must be a good man who has assisted you out of your 
 troubles; if you have promised him a bride for the service 
 your word must be kept." 
 
 (It was a pity the man's face was covered with dirt and 
 hair, else one would have seen how he laughed as he heard 
 these words.) Bearskin took a ring off his finger, broke 
 it in two, and, giving the youngest daughter one half, he 
 kept the other for himself On her half he wrote his name, 
 and on his own he wrote hers, and begged her to preserve 
 it carefully. Thereupon he took leave, saying, "For three 
 years longer I must wander about ; if I come back again, 
 then we will celebrate our wedding ; but if I do not, you 
 are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God that he will 
 preserve my life." 
 
 When he was gone the poor bride clothed herself in 
 black, and whenever she thought of her bridegroom burst 
 into tears. From her sisters she received nothing but scorn 
 and mocking. " Pay great attention when he shakes your 
 hand," said the eldest, "and you will see his beautiful 
 
66 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 claws!" "Take care!" said the second, "bears are fond 
 of sweets, and if you please him he will eat you up, per- 
 haps !" " You must mind and do his will," continued the 
 eldest, "or he will begin growling!" And the second 
 daughter said further, "But the wedding will certainly be 
 merry, for bears dance well I" The bride kept silence, and 
 would not be drawn from her purpose by all these taunts ; 
 and meanwhile Bearskin wandered about in the world, 
 doing good where he could, and giving liberally to the 
 poor, for which they prayed heartily for him. At length 
 the last day of the seven years approached, and Bearskin 
 went and sat down again on the heath, beneath the circle 
 of trees. In a very short time the wind whistled, and the 
 Evil One presently stood before him and looked at him 
 with a vexed face. He threw the Soldier his old coat, and 
 demanded his grey one back. " We have not got so far 
 yet," replied Bearskin ; " you must clean me iirst." Then 
 the Evil One had, whether he liked it or no, to fetch water, 
 wash the old Soldier, comb his hair out, and cut his nails. 
 This done, he appeared again like a brave warrior, and 
 indeed was much handsomer than before. 
 
 As soon as the Evil One had disappeared. Bearskin be- 
 came quite light-hearted ; and going into the nearest town 
 he bought a fine velvet coat, and hired a carriage drawn 
 by four white horses, in which he was driven to the house 
 of his bride. Nobody knew him ; the father took him for 
 some celebrated general, and led him into the room where 
 his daughters were. He was compelled to sit down between 
 the two eldest, and they offered him wine, and heaped his 
 plate with the choicest morsels ; for they thought they had 
 never seen any one so handsome before. But the bride sat 
 opposite to him dressed in black, neither opening her eyes 
 nor speaking a word. At length the Soldier asked the 
 father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, 
 and immediately the two elder sisters arose, and ran to 
 
 / 
 
Bearskin. 
 
 67 
 
 their chambers to dress themselves out in their most be- 
 coming clothes, for each thought she should be chosen. 
 Meanwhile the stranger, as soon as he found himself alone 
 with his bride, pulled out the half of the ring and threw it 
 into a cup of wine, which he handed across the table. She 
 took it, and as soon as she had drunk it and seen the half 
 ring lying at the bottom her heart beat rapidly, and she 
 produced the other half, which she wore round her neck 
 on a riband. She held them together, and they joined 
 each other exactly, and the stranger said, "I am your 
 bridegroom, whom you saw first as Bearskin ; but through 
 God's mercy I have regained my human form, and am my- 
 self once more." With these words he embraced and kissed 
 her : and at the same time the two eldest sisters entered in. 
 full costume. As soon as they saw that the very handsome 
 man had fallen to the share of their youngest sister, and 
 heard that he was the same as *' Bearskin," they ran out of 
 the house full of rage and jealousy. 
 
c. 
 
 The Wren and the Bear. 
 
 ON'E summer's day the Bear and the Wolf were walking 
 in the Forest, and the Bear heard a bird singing very 
 sweetly, and said, "Brother Wolf, what kind of bird is 
 that which is singing so delightfully?" 
 
 "That is the King of the birds, before whom we must 
 do reverence," replied the Wolf ; but it was only the Wren. 
 
 "If that be so," said the Bear, "I should like to see 
 his royal palace ; come, lead me to it." " That cannot be 
 as you like," replied the Wolf, " you must wait till the 
 Queen returns." Soon afterwards the Queen arrived with 
 some food in her bill, and the King too, to feed their 
 young ones, and the Bear would have gone off tp see them, 
 but the Wolf, pulling his ear, said, " N"o, you must wait till 
 the Queen and the King are both off again." 
 
 So after observing well the situation of the nest the two 
 tramped off, but the Bear had no rest, for he wished still to 
 see the royal palace, and after a short delay he set off to it 
 again. He found the King and Queen absent, and, peeping 
 into the nest, he saw five or six young birds lying in it. 
 "Is that the royal palace?" exclaimed the Bear; "that is a 
 miserable palace ! you are no King's children, but dishon- 
 ourable young brats." " JTo, no, that we are not I" burst out 
 the little Wrens together in a great passion, for to them 
 this speech was addressed. " No, no, we are born of hon- 
 ourable parents, and you, Mr. Bear, shall make your 
 words good !" At this speech the Bear and the Wolf 
 were much frightened and ran back to their holes; but the 
 little Wrens kept up an unceasing clamour till their pa- 
 rents' return. As soon as they came back with food in 
 
The Wren and the Bear. 69 
 
 their moutlis the little birds began, " We will none of us 
 touch a fly's leg, but will starve rather, until yo\i decide 
 whether we are honourable children or not, for the Bear 
 has been here and insulted us !" 
 
 " Be quiet," replied the King, " and that shall soon be 
 settled," and thereupon he flew with his Queen to the resi- 
 dence of the Bear and called to him from the entrance, 
 "Old grumbler, why have you insulted my children? 
 That shall cost you dear, for we will decide the matter by 
 a pitched battle." 
 
 War having thus been declared against the Bear, all 
 the four-footed beasts were summoned, the ox, the ass, the 
 cow, the goat, the stag, and every animal on the face of the 
 earth. The Wren, on the other hand, summoned every 
 flying thing; not only the birds, great and small, but also 
 the gnat, the hornet, the bee, and the flies. 
 
 When the time arrived for the commencement of the 
 war the Wren King sent out spies to see who was appointed 
 commander-in-chief of the enemy. The Grnat was the 
 most cunning of all the army, and he therefore buzzed 
 away into the forest where the enemy was encamped, and 
 alighted on a leaf of the tree beneath which the watch- 
 word was given out. There stood the Bear and called the 
 Fox to him, and said, " You are the most crafty of animals, 
 so you must be general, and lead us on." " Well," said 
 the Fox, " but what sign shall we appoint ?" Nobody 
 knew. Then the Fox said, I have a fine long bushy tail, 
 which looks like a red feather at a distance ; if I hold this 
 tail straight up all is going well and you must march after 
 me ; but if I suffer it to hang down, run away as fast as 
 you can." As soon as the Gnat heard all this she flew 
 home and told the Wren King everything to a hair. 
 
 When the day arrived for the battle to begin, the four- 
 footed beasts all came running along to the field, shaking the 
 earth with their roaring and bellowing. The Wren King 
 
70 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 also came with his army, whirring and buzzing and hum. . 
 ming, enough to terrify any one out of his senses. Then 
 the Wren King sent the Hornet forward to settle upon the 
 Fox's tail and sting it with all his power. As soon as the 
 Fox felt the first sting he drew up his hind leg with the 
 pain, still carrying, however, his tail as high in the air as 
 before ; at the second sting he was obliged to drop it a little 
 bit ; but at the third he could no longer bear the pain, but 
 was forced to drop his tail between his legs. As soon as 
 the other beasts saw this, they thought all was lost, and 
 began to run each one to his own hole ; so the birds won 
 the battle without difficulty. 
 
 When all was over the Wren King and his Queen flew 
 home to their children, and cried out, " Eejoice ! rejoice ! 
 we have won the battle ; now eat and drink as much as 
 you please." 
 
 The young Wrens, however, said, " Still we will not 
 eat till the Bear has come to our nest and begged pardon, 
 and admitted that we are honourable children." 
 
 So the Wren King flew back to the cave of the Bear, 
 and called out, " Old grumbler, you must come to the nest 
 and beg pardon of my children for calling them dishon- 
 ourable, else your ribs shall be crushed in your body !" 
 
 In great terror the Bear crept out and begged pardon ; 
 and afterwards the young Wrens, being now made happy 
 in their minds, settled down to eating and drinking ; and I 
 am afraid they made themselves tipsy, for they kept up 
 their merriment till it was very late. 
 
01. 
 
 The Sweet Soup. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a poor but pious little Girl 
 who lived alone with her mother, and when my story 
 begins they had nothing in the house to eat. So the child 
 went out into the forest, and there she met with an old 
 Woman, who already knew her distress, and who presented 
 her with a pot which had this power : — if one said to it, 
 " Boil, little pot !" it would cook sweet soup ; and when 
 one said, " Stop, little pot !" it would immediately cease to 
 boil. The little Girl took the pot home to her mother, and 
 now their poverty and distresses were at an end, for they 
 could have sweet broth as often as they pleased. One 
 day, however, the little Girl went out, and in her absence 
 the mother said, " Boil, little pot ! So it began to cook, 
 and she soon ate all she wished ; but when she wanted to 
 have the pot stop she found she did not know the word. 
 Away, therefore, the pot boiled, and very quickly was 
 over the edge; and as it boiled and boiled the kitchen 
 presently became full, then the house, and the next 
 house, and soon the whole street. It seemed likely to 
 satisfy all the world, for, though there was the greatest 
 necessity to do so, nobody knew how to stop it. At last, 
 when only a very small cottage of all the village was left 
 unfilled with soup, the child returned, and said at once, 
 " Stop, little pot !" Immediately it ceased to boil ; but 
 whoever wishes to enter into the village must eat his way 
 through the soup ! ! ! 
 
CII. 
 
 The Faithful Beasts. 
 
 THERE was once a Man who had not a great deal of 
 money, but with the Uttle he had he wandered into 
 the wide world. Soon he came to a village where the boya 
 were running together screaming and laughing, and he 
 asked them what was the matter. " Oh !" replied they, 
 " we have got a mouse which we are going to teach to 
 dance : only see what a beautiful spot it is ; how it will 
 skip round!" The Man, however, pitied the poor Mouse, 
 and said, "Let it escape, my boys, and I will give you 
 money." So he gave them some coppers, and they let the 
 poor animal loose, which ran as fast as it could into a hole 
 close by. After this the Man went on and came to another 
 village, where the boys had a Monkey, which they forced 
 to dance and tumble, and laughed at without letting the 
 poor thing have any rest. To these also the Man gave 
 money that they might release the Monkey ; and by-and- 
 by, coming to a third village, he saw the boys making a 
 Bear in chains dance and stand upright, and if he growled 
 they seemed all the better pleased. This animal's liberty 
 the Man also purchased, and the Bear, very glad to find 
 himself on his four feet again, tramped away. 
 
 The Man, however, with these purchases spent all his 
 money, and he found he had not a copper farthing even 
 left in his pocket. So he said to himself, " The King has 
 much in his treasure-chamber which he does not want: 
 of hunger I cannot die ; I must take some of this money, 
 and then when I become rich I can replace it." With 
 these thoughts he managed to get into the treasure-cham- 
 ber and took a little from the heaps, but as he was slipping 
 
The Faithful Beasts. 
 
 73 
 
 out he was seized by the King's guards. They said he 
 was a thief, and took him before the justice, who sentenced 
 him, as he had done a criminal act, to be put in a chest 
 on the water. The lid of the chest was full of holes 
 whereby he might obtain air, and, besides, a jug of water 
 and a loaf of bread were put in with him. While he was 
 floating about in great distress of mind, he heard some- 
 thing gnawing and scratching at the lock of his chest, and 
 all at once it gave way and up flew the lid. Then he saw 
 the Mouse and the Monkey and the Bear standing by, and 
 found it was they who had opened the chest because he 
 had helped them ; but they did not know how to proceed 
 next, so they held a consultation together. In the mean 
 while a white stone rolled by into the water, in shape like 
 a round egg. " That has come in the very nick of time," 
 said the Bear, "for it is a wonderful stone, which whoever 
 owns he can wish himself in whatever place he desires." 
 
 The Man, therefore, picked up the stone, and as he held 
 it in hand he wished himself in a castle with a garden and 
 stables. Scarcely had he done so when he found himself 
 in a castle with a garden and stables just to his mind, and 
 everything was so beautiful and nice that he could not 
 admire it enough. 
 
 After a time some merchants came by that way, and, 
 as they passed, one called to the others, " See what a noble 
 castle stands here, where lately, when we were here before, 
 there was nothing but dreary sand." Their curiosity was 
 therefore aroused, and they entered the castle and inquired 
 of the Man how he had managed to build the place so 
 quickly. "I did not do it," said he, "but my wonderful 
 stone." "What kind of a stone can it be?" inquired the 
 merchant ; and, going in, the Man fetched it and showed 
 it to them. The sight of it pleased them so much that 
 they inquired if it were not for sale, and offered him all 
 their beautiful goods in exchange. The goods took the 
 
 II. — 4 G 
 
74 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Man's fancy, and, his heart being fickle and hankering 
 after new things, he suffered himself to be persuaded and 
 thought the beautiful things were worth more than his 
 stone, so he gave it away to them in exchange. But 
 scarcely had he given it out of his hands when all his 
 fortune vanished, and he found himself again in his float- 
 ing chest on the water with nothing but his jug of water 
 and loaf of bread. The faithful beasts, the Mouse, Monkey, 
 and Bear, as soon as they saw his misfortune, came again 
 to help him, but they could not manage to unfasten the 
 lock, because it was much stronger than the former one. 
 Thereupon the Bear said, " We must procure the wonder- 
 ful stone again, or our work is useless." Now, the mer- 
 chants had stopped at the castle and lived there constantly, 
 so the three faithful animals went away together, and when 
 they arrived in the neighbourhood the Bear said the Mouse 
 must peep through the keyhole and see what was going 
 on, for since he was small no one would notice him. The 
 Mouse consented and went, but soon returned, saying, ''It 
 is useless, I have peeped in, but the stone hangs on a red 
 riband below the mirror, and above and below sit two great 
 cats with fiery eyes to watch it." Then the others said, 
 "Never mind, go back again and wait till the master goes 
 to bed and falls asleep, then do you slip in through the 
 hole and creep on to the bed, and twitch his nose and bite 
 off one of his whiskers." So the Mouse crept in and did 
 as she was told, and the master, waking up, rubbed his 
 nose in a passion, and exclaimed, "The cats are worth 
 nothing ! they let the mice in who bite the very hair off 
 my head !" And, so saying, he hunted them all away, and 
 the Mouse won her game. 
 
 The next night, as soon as the master was sound asleep, 
 the Mouse crept in again, and nibbled and gnawed at the 
 riband until it broke in halves, and down fell the stone, 
 which she then pushed out under the door. But this latter 
 
The Faithful Beasts. 
 
 75 
 
 matter was very difficult for the poor Mouse to manage, 
 and she called to the Monkey, who drew it quite out with 
 his long paws. It was an easy matter for him, and he 
 carried the stone down to the water side accompanied by 
 the others. When they got there the Monkey asked how 
 they were to get at the chest. " Oh," replied the Bear, 
 that is soon done ; I will swim into the water, and you, 
 Monkey, shall sit upon my back, holding fast with your 
 hands while you carry the stone in your mouth; you, 
 Mouse, can sit in my right ear." They all did as the Bear 
 suggested, and he swam off down the river, but very soon 
 he felt uneasy at the silence, and so began to chatter, say- 
 ing, " Do you hear, Mr. Monkey, we are brave fellows, 
 don't you think?" But the Monkey did not answer a 
 word. " Is that manners ?" said the Bear again, " Will 
 you not give your comrade an answer ? crabbed fellow is 
 he who makes no reply." Then the Monkey could no 
 longer restrain himself, and, letting the stone fall into the 
 water, he cried out, "You stupid fellow, how could I 
 answer you with the stone in my mouth ? Now it is lost, 
 and all through your fault." 
 
 " Do not be angry," said the Bear; " we will soon re- 
 cover it." Thereupon they consulted together, and sum- 
 moned all the frogs and other creatures living in the water, 
 and said to them, " There is a powerful enemy coming 
 against you ; but make haste and procure us the stones as 
 quickly as possible, and we will then build a wall to pro- 
 tect you." 
 
 These words frightened the water animals, and they 
 brought up stones on all sides, and at last came a fat old 
 frog waddling along who had the wonderful stone in her 
 mouth, hanging by a piece of red riband. Then the Bear 
 was glad, and, relieving the frog of his burden he politely 
 said it was all right, they might go home again now, and 
 so took a short leave. After this the three beasts swam to 
 
76 
 
 Grimai's Household Stories. 
 
 the Man in the chest, and, breaking the lid in by the aid of 
 stones, they found they had come just in the nick of time, 
 for he had just finished his jug of water and loaf of bread, 
 and was almost starved. However, as soon as the man had 
 taken the wonderful stone in his hand he wished hirnself 
 (^uite well and back in the castle with the garden and 
 stables. Immediately it was so, and there he and his three 
 faithful beasts dwelt together, happy and contented, to the 
 end of their days. 
 
cm. 
 
 Three Little Tales about Toads. 
 
 OlSrCE upon a time there was a little girl whose mother 
 gave her every day at noon a little basin of milk and 
 bread, which she used to eat, sitting outside the house in 
 the court. Once when she began to eat there came a little 
 Toad out of a crack in the wall, which put its head into 
 the milk, and drank some. The Child was pleased with 
 this ; and the next day, and every day when she sat there 
 with her basin, and the Toad did not make its appearance, 
 she used to call it thus : — 
 
 " Toadie, Toadie, quickly come ; 
 Hither come, my pet ; 
 And you shall have a little crumb 
 And milk before you set I" 
 
 At these words the Toad would run and squat itself 
 down to its feast. It showed itself grateful too, for it 
 always brought the child something out of its secret treas- 
 ures, — shining stones, pearls, or golden toys. But the 
 Toad would only drink milk, and not touch the bread ; so 
 once the Child took its little spoon, and tapped the Toad 
 gently on the head, saying, " Eat some bread too, pet !" 
 The mother, standing in the kitchen, heard the Child 
 speaking to something, and when she saw it tap the Toad 
 with its spoon she ran out with a faggot of wood and killed 
 the good creature. 
 
 From that time a change came over the Child. So long 
 as the Toad had played with it, it had grown strong and 
 hearty, but now its red cheeks vanished, and it became 
 quite thin. Soon the death-bird began to scream in the 
 
78 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 forest, and the red-breasts collected leaves and twigs for 
 crown of death ; and by-and-by the poor little Child lay 
 on a bier. 
 
 II. 
 
 An orphan Child was sitting and spinning on the cit] 
 wall, and saw a Toad come out of an opening beneath th( 
 wall. The Child quickly spread out its blue cotton ham 
 kerchief near itself, so that the Toad might be obliged t< 
 walk over it ; and, as the Child hoped, rest upon it. A{ 
 soon as the Toad saw what was done it turned round, an( 
 came again, bringing a little golden crown, which it laic 
 down on the handkerchief, and then returned to its hole 
 The little Girl took up the crown, which was spun o: 
 delicate threads of gold, and glittered in the sun, and pu 
 it out of sight ; so the Toad, when it came again, coulc 
 not see it. 
 
 Thereupon the poor Toad crept up to the wall, an( 
 beat its little head against it till it lost all strength, an( 
 fell down dead. Now, if the Child had left the crowi 
 where it was laid, the Toad would have brought more 
 treasures out of its hole. 
 
 III. 
 
 "Huhu, huhu!" cried a Toad. 
 
 " Come hither I" said a Child to it. When the Toac 
 came the Child asked, 
 
 "Have you seen my sister, Eed-Stocking, this morn 
 ing?" 
 
 "No, no; not II" croaked the Toad, "how should II 
 huhu, huhu !" 
 
 And the Toad hopped away. 
 
CIV. 
 
 The Poor Miller's Son and the Cat. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there lived in a mill an old Miller 
 who had neither wife nor children, but three appren- 
 tices instead ; and, after they had been with him several 
 years, he said to them one day, "I am old, and shall retire 
 from business soon ; do you all go out, and whichever of 
 you brings me home the best horse, to him will I give the 
 mill, and, moreover, he shall attend me in my last illness." 
 
 The third of the apprentices was a small lad despised 
 by the others, and so much so, that they did not intend 
 that he should ever have the mill, even after them. But 
 all three went out together, and as soon as they got away 
 from the village the two eldest brothers said to the stupid 
 Hans, "You may as well remain here ; in all your lifetime 
 you will never find a horse." Nevertheless Hans went 
 with them, and w^hen night came on they arrived at a 
 hollow where they laid down to sleep. The two clever 
 brothers waited till Hans was fast asleep, and then they 
 got up and walked off, leaving Hans snoring. Now they 
 thought they had done a very clever thing, but we shall 
 see how they fared. By-and-by the sun arose and awoke 
 Hans, who, when he found himself lying in a deep hollow, 
 peeped all around him and exclaimed, ''Oh, Heavens ! 
 where have I got to ?" He soon got up and scrambled out 
 of the hollow into the forest, thinking to himself, " Here I 
 am all alone, what shall I do to get at a horse ?" While 
 he ruminated, a little tortoiseshell Cat came up, and asked 
 in a most friendly manner, " Where are you going, Hans?" 
 " Ah ! you can help me," said Hans. " Yes, I know very 
 weV what you wish," replied the Cat; "you want a fine 
 
80 Grimm's Household Stories. m 
 
 horse : oome with me, and for seven years be my faithful I 
 servant, and then I will give you a handsomer steed than 
 you ever saw." 
 
 " Well," thought Hans to himself, " this is a wonder- 
 ful Cat ! but still I may as well see if this will be true." 
 
 So the Cat took him into its enchanted castle, where 
 there were many other Cats who waited upon it, jumping 
 quickly up and down the steps, and bustling about in first- 
 rate style. In the evening when they sat down to table 
 three cats had to play music ; one played the violoncello, 
 a second the violin, and a third blew a trumpet so loudly 
 that its cheeks seemed as if they would burst. When they 
 had finished dinner the table was drawn away, and the 
 Cat said, "Now, Hans, come and dance with me." No, 
 no!" replied he, "I cannot dance with a Cat! I never 
 learnt how !" 
 
 " Then take him to bed," cried the Cat to its attendants; 
 and they lighted him at once to his sleeping apartment, 
 where one drew off his shoes, another his stockings, while 
 a third blew out the light. The following morning the 
 servant-cats made their appearance again, and helped him 
 out of bed : one drew on his stockings, another buckled 
 on his garters, a third fetched his shoes, a fourth washed 
 and a fifth wiped his face with her tail. " That was done 
 well and gently," said Hans to the last. But all day 
 long Hans had to cut wood for the Cat, and for that 
 purpose he received an axe of silver and wedges and 
 saws of the same metal, while the mallet was made of 
 copper. 
 
 Here Hans remained making himself useful. Every 
 day he had good eating and drinking, but he saw nobody 
 except the tortoiseshell Cat and her attendants. One day 
 the Cat said to him, " Go and mow my meadow and dry 
 the grass well," and she gave him a scythe made of silver 
 and a whetstone of gold, which she bade him bring back 
 
The Poor Miller's Son and the Cat. 81 
 
 i safe. Hans went off and did what he was told ; and when 
 i it was finished he took home the scythe, whetstone, and 
 hay, and asked the Cat if she would not give him a reward? 
 "No," said the Cat, "you must first do several things for 
 me ; here are beams of silver, binding clamps, joists, and 
 all that is necessary, all of silver, and of these you must 
 first build me a small house." Hans built it, and when it 
 was done he reminded the Cat he had still no horse, 
 although his seven ^^ears had passed like half the time. 
 The Cat asked him whether he wished to see her liorses ? 
 "Yes," said Hans. So they went out of the house, and 
 as they opened the door there stood twelve horses, very 
 proud creatures, pawing the ground impatiently. Hans 
 was glad enough to see them, but as soon as he had looked 
 1 at them for a minute the Cat gave him his dinner, and said, 
 , " Go home ; I shall not give 3^ou your horse with you, but 
 ! in three days I will come to you and bring it wnth me." 
 ' So Hans walked off, and the cats show^ed him the way to 
 I the mill ; but as they had not furnished him with new 
 ' clothes, he was forced to go in his old ragged ones, which 
 - he had taken with, him, and which during the seven years 
 had become much too short for him. When he arrived at 
 I home he found the two other apprentices had preceded him, 
 and each had brought a horse ; but the one was blind and 
 the other lame. " Where is your horse, Hans ?" inquired 
 they. " It wWl follow me in three days," he replied. At 
 that they laughed, and cried, " Yes, Hans, and when it does 
 come it will be something wonderful, no doubt." Hans 
 then went into the parlour, but the old Miller said he 
 should not sit at table because he was so ragged and dirty ; 
 they would be ashamed of him if any one came in. So 
 they gave him something to eat out of doors, and when 
 bed-time came the two brothers refused Hans a share of 
 the bed, and he was obliged to creep into the goose-coop 
 and stretch himself upon some hard straw. The next 
 II.— 4* 
 
82 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 morning was the third day mentioned by the Cat, and 
 soon as Hans was up there came a carriage drawn by si 
 horses, which shone from their sleek condition, and a ser 
 vant besides, who led a seventh horse which was for th 
 poor miller's boy. Out of the carriage stepped a beantifu 
 Princess, who went into the mill, and she was the tortois 
 shell Cat whom poor Hans had served for seven yea 
 She asked the Miller where the mill-boy, her little slay 
 was, and he answered, "We could not take hiin into t 
 mill, he was so ragged and dirty ; he lies now in the goos 
 coop." The Princess bade him fetch Hans, but before 
 could come the poor fellow had to draw together his smoc 
 frock in order to cover himself. Then the servant dre 
 forth some elegant clothes, and after washing Hans p 
 them on, so that no king could have looked more ban 
 some. Thereupon the Princess desired to see the horses 
 which the other apprentices had brought home, and one 
 was blind and the other lame. When she had seen them 
 she ordered her servant to bring the horse he had in his 
 keeping, and as soon as the Miller saw it he declared that 
 such an animal had never before been in his farmyard. 
 " It belongs to the youngest apprentice," said the Princess. 
 " And the mill too," rejoined the Miller ; but the Princess 
 said he might keep that and the horse as well, for himself. 
 With these words she placed her faithful Hans in the car- 
 riage with her, and drove away. They went first to the 
 little house which Hans had built with the silver tools, and 
 which had become a noble castle, wherein everything was 
 of gold and silver. There the Princess married him, and 
 he was so very rich that he had enough for all his life. 
 
cy. 
 
 Hans the Hedgehog. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a Farmer who bad quite 
 enough of money and property to live upon, but rich 
 as he was he lacked one piece of fortune ; he had no chil- 
 dren. Ofttimes when he went to market with the other 
 farmers they Jaughed at him and asked why he had no 
 children ? At length he flew into a passion, and when he 
 came home he said, " I will have a child, and it shall be 
 a hedgehog." Soon after this speech a child was born to 
 him which was like a hedgehog in the upper part of its 
 body, and formed as a boy below, and when his wife saw 
 it she was frightened, and cried, " See what you have 
 wished for!" So the man said, "It cannot be helped now, 
 and it must be christened, but we can procure no godflither 
 for it." " We cannot call him anything else than 'Hans 
 the Hedgehog.' " said the wife ; and when the priest bap- 
 tized him he said, " On account of his spikes he can 
 sleep in no common cradle." So behind the stove a little 
 straw was laid, upon which the child slept, and there he 
 kept for eight years, till his father grew tired of him and 
 wished he might die. However, the child did not, but re- 
 mained in a torpid state, and one day the Farmer resolved 
 to go to a fair which was to be held in the neighbouring 
 town. He asked his wife what he should bring home, and 
 she told him, " A little piece of meat and a couple of rolls 
 of bread for the housekeeping." Then he asked the servant, 
 and she requested a couple of pots and a pair of stockings. 
 Lastly he asked Hans what he liked, and the child replied, 
 "Bring me, father, a bagpipe." Accordingly, when the 
 Farmer returned home he brought his wife the meat and 
 
84 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 bread, his servant the pots and stockings, and Hans tho 
 Hedgehog the bagpipe. As soon as Hans received his gil't 
 he said, "Father, go to the smithy, and let the Cock b© 
 bridled, that I may ride away upon it and never return." 
 
 The father was glad to be freed from his son, and 
 caused the Cock to be harnessed, and as soon as it was 
 ready Hans the liedgehog set himself upon it and rod^ 
 awav, taking^ with him a Boar and an Ass, which he meant 
 to tend in the forest. But in the forest the Cock flew tc 
 the top of a lofty tree with him on its back, and there he 
 watched the Boar and Ass for many years until there 
 were many of them, and all the time his father knew noth 
 ing of him. While Hans sat on the tree-top he playec 
 upon his bagpipe and made beautiful music; and once f 
 King came riding past who had lost his way in the forest, 
 and chanced to hear him. He wondered at the sound, and 
 sent his servants to inquire from whence the music pro 
 ceeded. They looked about, but saw only a little animal 
 upon a tree which seemed like a cock, and had a hedgehog 
 upon its back which made the music. The King told them 
 to ask why it sat there, and if it knew the way to his king- 
 dom. Then Hans the Heds^ehoor came down from the 
 tree, and said he would show the way if the King would 
 promise him in writing what first met him in the royal 
 court on his return. The King thought to himself, Hans 
 the Hedgehog understands nothing, and I can write what 
 I please, and so taking pen and ink he wrote something, 
 and when he had done Hans showed him the road, and 
 he arrived happily at home. But his daughter, seeing him 
 at a distance, was so full of joy that she ran to meet her 
 father and kissed him. Then he remembered Hans the 
 Hedgehog, and told her what had happened to him, and 
 Low he had promised to a wonderful animal whatever met 
 him first, and how this animal sat upon a cock and played 
 music. However he had written he should not have the 
 
Hans the Hedgehog. 
 
 85 
 
 first, for Hans the Hedgehog could not read what was 
 written. Thereupon the Princess was gh\d, and said it 
 was well done, for she could not have been given up to 
 such a creature. 
 
 Meanwhile Hans the Hedgehog still tended his flocks 
 and herds, and was very merry, sitting up in his tree and 
 blowing his bagpipe. Now it happened that another King 
 came travelling hy with his attendants and courtiers, who 
 had also lost himself and knew not how to get home, be- 
 cause the forest was so immense. All at once he heard 
 the music at a distance, and said to his servant, "Go and 
 see at once what that is." So the servant went under the 
 tree and saw the cock perched upon it and the hedgehog 
 on its back, and he asked what he did up there. " I am 
 watching my flocks and herds ; but what is your desire ?" 
 was the reply. The servant said they had lost their way, 
 and could not find their kingdom if he did not show them 
 the road. Then Hans the Hedgehog climbed down the 
 tree with his cock, and told the old King he would point out 
 the path if he would give to him certainly whatever should 
 meet him first before his royal palace. The King said 
 " Yes," and subscribed to it with his own hand that he 
 should have it. When this was done Hans rode before the 
 King on his cock, and showed him the road whereby he 
 quickly arrived in safety in his own kingdom. As soon 
 as he approached his court there was great rejoicing, and 
 his only child, a daughter, who was very beautiful, ran to 
 meet him, embraced and kissed him, in her great joy at 
 seeing her dear father return home again. She inquired 
 also where he had stayed so long in the world, and he told 
 her of all his wanderings, and how he had feared he should 
 not get back at all because he had lost his way in such a 
 large forest, where a creature half like a hedgehog and 
 half like a man sat upon a cock in a high tree and made 
 beautiful music. He told her also how this animal had 
 
 H 
 
86 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 come down from the tree and showed him the road on 
 condition that he gave him whatever first met him in his 
 royal palace on his return home ; and she was the first, and 
 that made him grieve. His daughter after a while promised 
 to go with the animal when he came, out of love to her 
 dear father. 
 
 Meanwhile Hans the Hedgehog tended his swine, and 
 so many pigs were born that they filled the whole forest. 
 Tlien Hans would stay no longer in the woods, and sent 
 his father word he should clear all the stables in the vil- 
 lage, for he was coming with such great herds that who- 
 ever wished might kill from them. At this news the 
 father was grieved, for he thought his son had been dead 
 long since. Soon after Hans came riding upon his cock, 
 and driving before him his herds into the villnge to be 
 killed, when there was such a slaughtering and shrieking 
 you might have heard it eight miles off! Hans the Hedge- 
 hog did not stay long ; he paid another visit to the smithy 
 to have his cock rebridled, then off he started again, while 
 his father rejoiced that he should never see him again. 
 
 Hans the Hedgehog rode to the first kingdom we be- 
 fore mentioned, and there the King had ordered that if 
 any one came riding upon a cock, and carrying with him a 
 bagpipe, all should shoot at him, cut at him, and kill him, 
 that he nnght not enter the castle. When, therefore, Hang 
 the Hedgehog came riding along they pressed round him 
 with bayonets; but he flew high up into the air over 
 the gate to the window of the palace, and there alighting, 
 called the King to give him what he had promised, 
 or he would kill both him and his daughter. Then 
 the King spoke kindly to his child and begged her to go 
 away, that her life and his might be saved. At last she 
 consented, turning very pale however, and her flither gave 
 her a carriage drawn by six white horses, and servants, 
 money, and plate besides. She set herself in it, and Hans 
 
IIaxs the Hedgehog. 
 
 87 
 
 the Hedgehog by her side, with his cock and l>ag[)ipe. 
 Then they took leave and drove away, while the King 
 thought he should never see them again ; and it happened 
 just as he imagined, for as soon as they had gone a little way 
 out of the city Jlans the Hedgehog pulled off the Princess's 
 shawl and pricked her with his quills, saying, "That is 
 your reward for falsehood ! go away ! I will have nothing 
 to do with you !" With these words he hunted her home, 
 and to her end she \vas despised. 
 
 Hans the Hedgehog rode away next upon his cock 
 with his bagpipes in his hand to the second kingdom to 
 which he had directed its King. This King had ordered 
 that, if any one like Hans the Hedgehog came riding to 
 the gate, the guards should present arms, admit liim freely, 
 shout Viva! and conduct him to the palace. As soon as 
 the Princess saw the animal coming she was at first fright- 
 ened, because it appeared so curious, but as soon as she 
 recollected her promise she became reconciled. She wel- 
 comed Hans the Hedgehog, and was married to him, and 
 afterwards they dined at the royal table, sitting side by 
 side, and eating and drinking together. When evening 
 came on and bedtime, the Princess said she was afraid of 
 her husband's spikes, but he said she need not fear, he 
 would do her no harm. Then he told the old King to ap- 
 point four men who should watch before the chamber- 
 door and keep up a great fire ; and, when he entered and 
 prepared to go to bed, he would creep out of his hedgehog 
 skin and lay it down before the bed. When he had so 
 done, the men must run in, snatch up the skin, and throw 
 it in the fire, and keep it there till it was quite consumed. 
 
 Afterwards, when the clock struck twelve, Hans the 
 Hedgehog entered his room, stripped off his skin, and laid 
 it down by the bed. Immediately the four men ran 
 in, snatched it up, and threw it into the fire, and as soon 
 as it was consumed Hans was freed, and lay in the bed in 
 
88 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 a proper human form, but coal-black as if he was burnt. 
 Thereupon the King sent to his physician, who washed 
 the young prince with a precious balsam which made his 
 skin white, so that he became quite a handsome youth. 
 As soon as the princess saw this she jumped for joy ; and 
 the following morning they arose gladly, and were married 
 again in due form and with great feasting; and aftervvarda 
 Hans the Hedgehog received the kingdom from the handa 
 of the Old king. 
 
 When several years had passed away the young king 
 went with his bride to his father's house, and told him 
 he was his son. The Farmer, however, declared he hac 
 no children. He had once, he said, had one who was 
 covered with spikes like a hedgehog, but he had wandere( 
 away into the world. Then the king made himself knowi 
 to his fiither, and showed that he was really his son, an( 
 the Farmer rejoiced greatly, and returned with him to his 
 kingdom. 
 
CVI. 
 
 The Child's Grave. 
 
 THERE was once a Mother who had a little Boy, seven 
 years old, so pretty and good that no one saw him with- 
 out loving him; and she, especially, loved him with her 
 whole heart. One day it happened that he suddenly fell 
 sick, and by-and-by the good God took him to himself; 
 and the f)oor Mother was so grieved that she would not be 
 comforted, but cried day and night. Soon after his burial 
 the Child appeared one night in the place where during 
 his lifetime he had been wont to sit and play; and while 
 his Mother wept he wept too, and at daybreak disappeared. 
 When, however, the Mother still lamented his death, and 
 cried without ceasing, he appeared again one night in the 
 white shroud in which he was laid in his coffin, and with 
 the garland of flowers round his head. He sat down at 
 the foot of his Mother on the bed, and said to her, " Ah ! 
 my Mother, cease to weep, else can I not sleep in my cofl&n, 
 for my shroud is moistened continually with your tears 
 which fill upon it 1" 
 
 The Mother thereupon was frightened, and dried her 
 tears; and the next night the Child appeared once more, 
 holding a light in his hand. "See, my dear Mother!" he 
 said, "see, my shroud is dry now, and I can rest in my 
 grave !" 
 
 After this the Mother sorrowed no more, but bore her 
 loss with patience and trust in God ; while her Child peace* 
 fully slept in his narrow grave. 
 
CVII. 
 
 The Jew among Thorns. 
 
 THERE WDS once upon a time a rich man, who had a 
 servant so honest and industrious that he was every 
 morning the first up, and every evening the last to come 
 in ; aud, besides, whenever there was a difficult job to be 
 done, which nobody else would undertake, this servant 
 always volunteered his assistance. Moreover, he never 
 complained, but was contented with everything, and happy 
 under all circumstances. When his year of service was up, 
 his master gave him no reward, for he thought to himself, 
 that will be the cleverest way, and, by saving his wages, I 
 shall keep my man quietly in my service. The servant 
 said nothing, but did his work during the second year as 
 well as the first ; but still he received nothing for it, so he 
 made himself happy about the matter, and remained a 
 year longer. 
 
 When this third year was also past, the master con- 
 sidered, and put his hand in his pocket, but drew nothing 
 out ; so the servant said, " I have served you honestly for 
 three years, master, be so good as to give me what I deserve ; 
 for I wish to leave, and look about me a bit in the world." 
 
 " Yes, my good fellow," replied the covetous old man ; 
 "you have served me industriously, and, therefore, you 
 shall be cheerfully rewarded." With these words he 
 dipped his hand into his pocket and drew out three farthings, 
 which he gave to the servant, saying, " There, you have a 
 farthing for each 3^ear, which is a much more bountiful and 
 liberal reward than you would have received from most 
 masters !" 
 
 The honest servant, who understood very little about 
 
The Jew among Thorns. 
 
 91 
 
 monej^, jinked his capital, and thought, " Ah ! now I liave 
 a pocketfal of money, so why need I |)lagi,ie myself any 
 longer with hard work?" So off he walked, skipping and 
 jumping about from one side of the road to the other, full 
 of joy. Presently he came to some bushes, out of which a 
 little man stept, and called out "Whither away, merry 
 brother? I see you do not carry much burden in the way 
 of cares." " Wh}^ should I be sad," replied the servant, 
 " I have enough, the wages of three years are rattling in 
 my pocket." 
 
 "How much is your treasure?" inquired the dwarf. 
 
 "How much? three farthings honestly counted out," 
 said the servant. 
 
 " Well," said the dwarf, "I am a poor needy man, give 
 me your three farthings ; I can work no longer, but you are 
 young, and can earn your bread easily." 
 
 Now because the servant had a compassionate heart, he 
 pitied the old man, and handed him the three farthings, 
 saying, " In the name of God take them, and I shall not 
 want." 
 
 Thereupon the little man said, " Because I see you have 
 a good heart I promise 3^ou three wishes, one for each 
 farthing, and all shall be fulfilled." 
 
 "Aha!" exclaimed the servant, "you are one who can 
 blow black and blue! Well, then, if it is to be so, I wish, 
 first, for a gun, which shall bring down all T aim at; sec- 
 ondly, a fiddle, which shall make all who hear it dance; 
 thirdly, that whatever request I may make to any one it 
 shall not be in their power to refuse me." 
 
 "All this you shall have," said the dwarf; and diving 
 into his pocket he produced a fiddle and gun, as soon as 
 you could think, all in readiness, as if they had been 
 ordered long ago. These he gave to the servant, and then 
 said to him, " Whatever you may ask, shall no man in the 
 world be able to refuse." With that he disappeared. 
 
92 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 "What more caa you desire now, my heart?" said the 
 servant to liirnself, and walked merrily onward?. Soon he 
 met a Jew with a very long beard, who was standing listen- 
 ing to the song of a bird which hung high up upon a tree. 
 " What a wonder," he was exclaiming, " that such a small 
 creature should have such an immense voice ! if it were 
 only mine! Oh that I could strew some salt upon its 
 taif!" 
 
 "Jf that is all," broke in the servant, ''the bird shall 
 soon be down ;" and aiming with his gun he pulled the' 
 trigger, and down it fell in the middle of a thorn-bush. 
 "Go, you rogue, and fetch the bird out," said he to the 
 Jew. 
 
 "Leave out the rogue, my master," returned the other; 
 "before the dog comes I will fetch out the bird, because 
 you killed it so well." So saying the Jew went down oi. 
 his hands and knees and crawled into the bush ; and while 
 he stuck fast among tlie thorns, the good servant felt sc 
 roguishly inclined, that he took up his fiddle and began to 
 pla3^ At the same moment the Jew was upon his legs, 
 and began to jump about, while the more the servant 
 played the better went the dance. But the thorns tore his 
 shabby coat, combed out his beard, and pricked and stuck 
 all over his body. "My master," cried the Jew, " what is 
 your fiddling to me? leave the fiddle alone; I do not 
 want to dance." 
 
 But the servant did not pay any attention, and said to 
 the Jew, while he played anew, so that the poor man 
 jumped higher than ever, and the rags of his clothes hung 
 about the bushes, " You have fleeced people enough in 
 your time, and now the thorny hedge shall give you a 
 turn." "Oh woe's me!" cried the Jew ; "I will give the 
 master what he desires, if only he leaves off fiddling — a 
 purse of gold." " If you are so liberal," said the servant, 
 "I will stop my music; but this I must say to your credit. 
 
The Jew among Thorn-s. 
 
 93 
 
 that you dance as if you had been bred to it;" and there- 
 upon taking the purse he went his way. 
 
 The Jew stood still and watched him out of sight, and 
 then he began to abuse him with all his might. "You 
 miserable musician, you beer-tippler! wait, if T do but 
 catch you alone, I will hunt you till the soles of your 
 shoes fall off! yoii ragamuffin, you farthingsworth !" and 
 so he went on, calling him all the names he could lay his 
 tongue to. As soon as he had regained his brenth and 
 arranged his dress a bit, he ran into the town to the justice. 
 "My lord judge," he said, " I have a sorry tale to tell : see 
 how a rascally man has used me on the public highway, 
 robbed and beaten me! a stone on the ground might pity 
 me; my clothes all torn, my body scratched and wounded 
 all over, poverty come upon me with the loss of my purse, 
 besides several ducats, one piece more valuable than all 
 the others; for Heaven's sake let the man be put in 
 prison !" 
 
 "Was it a soldier," inquired the judge, "who has thus 
 cut you with his sabre?" "God forbid!" cried the Jew; 
 " it was no sword the rogue had, but he carried a gun upon 
 his shoulder, and a fiddle slung round his neck ; the evil 
 wretch is easily known." 
 
 So the judge sent his people out after the m.an, and 
 they soon found the servant, whom they drove slowly 
 before them, when they found the purse upon him. As 
 soon as he was set before the judge he said, "I have not 
 touched the Jew, nor taken his money ; for he gave it to 
 me of his own freewill, because he wished me to cease my 
 fiddling which he could not endure." 
 
 " Heaven defend us," cried the Jew, " he tells lies as 
 fast as he can catch the flies upon the wall" 
 
 The judge also would not believe his tale, and said, 
 "This is a bad defence, for no Jew would do as you say." 
 Thereupon, because the robbery had been committed on 
 
94 Grimm's IIousEnoLD Stories. I 
 
 the public road, he sentenced the good ser\\ant to be! 
 hanged. As he was led thither the Jew began again to 
 abuse him, crying out, "You bearskin! you dog of a 
 fiddler I now you shall receive your well-earned reward!" 
 But the servant walked quietly with the hangman to the 
 gallows, and upon the last step of the ladder he turned 
 rouTid and said to the judge, "Grant me one request before 
 I die." 
 
 "Yes, if you do not ask 3'ourlife," said the judge. 
 
 "Not life do I request, but that you will allow rne to 
 play one tune upon my fiddle, for a last favour," replied 
 the servant. 
 
 The Jew raised a great cry of " Murder ! murder ! for 
 God's sake do not allow it!" "Why should I not grant 
 him this short enjoyment?" asked the judge, " it is almost 
 all over with him, and he shall have this last favour." 
 (However, he could not have refused the request which 
 the servant had made.) 
 
 Then the Jew exclaimed, " Oh ! woe's me ! hold me 
 fast, tie me fast!" while the servant, taking his fiddle from 
 his neck, began to screw up, and no sooner had he given 
 the first scrape, than the judge, his clerk, and the hangman 
 began to make steps, and the rope fell out of the hand 
 of him who was going to bind the Jew. At the second 
 sjcrape, all raised their legs, and the hangman let loose the 
 good servant and prepared for the dance. At the third 
 scrape, all began to dance and caper about; the judge and 
 the Jew being first performers. And as he continued to 
 play, all joined in the dance, and even the people who had 
 gathered in the market out of curiosity, old and young, 
 fat and thin, one with another. The dogs, likewise, as 
 they came by, got up on their hind legs and capered 
 about; and the longer he played the higher sprang the 
 dancers, till they toppled down over each other on their 
 heads, and began to shriek terribly. At length the judge 
 
The Jew among Thorns. 
 
 95 
 
 cried, quite out of breath, "I will give you your life if 
 you will step fiddling." The good servant thereupon had 
 compassion, and dismounting the ladder he hung his fiddle 
 round his neck again. Then he stepped up to the Jew, 
 who lay upon the ground panting for breath, and said, 
 " You rascal, tell me, now, whence you got the money, or 
 I will take my fiddle and begin again." " I stole it, I 
 stole it !" cried the Jew ; " but you have honestly earned it." 
 Upon this the judge caused the Jew to be hung on the 
 gallows as a thief, while the good servant went on his way, 
 rejoicing in his happy escape. 
 
xcvr. 
 
 The Flail which came from the 
 Clouds. 
 
 A COUXTRY^[AX once drove his plough with a pair 
 of oxen, and when he came about the middle of his 
 fields the horns of his two beasts began to grow, and grow, 
 till they were so high that when he went home he could 
 not get them into the stable-door. By good luck just then 
 a Butcher passed by, to whom he gave up his beasts, and 
 struck a bargain, that he should take to the Butcher a 
 measure full of turnip seed, for every grain of which the 
 Butcher should give him a Brabant dollar. That is what 
 you may call a good bargain ! The Countryman went 
 home, and came again, carrying on his back a measure of 
 seed, out of which he dropped one grain on the way. The 
 Butcher, however, reckoned out for every seed a Brabant 
 dollar; and had not the Countryman lost one he would 
 have received a dollar more. Meanwhile the seed which 
 he dropped on the road had grown up a fine tree, reaching 
 into the clouds. So the Countryman thought to himself 
 he might as well see what the people in the clouds were 
 about. Up he climbed, and at the top found a field with 
 some people thrashing oats ; but while he was looking at 
 them he felt the tree shake beneath him, and, peeping 
 downwards, he perceived that some one was on the point 
 of chopping down the tree at the roots. " If I am thrown 
 down," said the Countryman, to himself, "I shall have a 
 bad fall ;'' and, quite bewildered, he could think of nothing 
 else to save himself tha i to make a rope with tlie oat straw, 
 which laid about in heaps. He then seized hold of a 
 hatchet and flail which were near him, and let himself 
 
The Flail which came from the Clouds. 97 
 
 down by his straw rope. He fell into a deep, deep hole in 
 the earth, and found it very lucky that he had brought the 
 hatchet with him ; for with it he cut steps, and so mounted 
 again into the broad daylight, bringing with him the flail 
 for a sign of the truth of his tale, which nobody, on that 
 account, was able to doubt! 
 
 There is a wonderful adventure ! ! ! 
 
 n.— 5 
 
CIX. 
 
 The Goose Girl. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there lived an old Queen, whose 
 husband had been dead some years, and had left her 
 with a beautiful daughter. When this daughter grew up 
 she was betrothed to a King's son, who lived far away ; 
 and, when the time arrived that she should be married, it 
 became necessary that she should travel into a strange 
 country, and so the old lady packed up for her use much 
 costly furniture, utensils of gold and silver, cups and jars; 
 in short, all that belonged to a royal bridal-treasure, for 
 she loved her child dearly. She sent also a maid to wait 
 upon her and to give her away to the bridegroom, and 
 two horses for the journey; and the horse of the Princess, 
 called Falada, could speak. As soon as the hour of de- 
 parture arrived, the mother took her daughter into a 
 chamber, and there, with a knife, she cut her finger with 
 it so that it bled ; then she held a napkin beneath, and let 
 three drops of blood fall into it, which wshe gave to her 
 daughter, saying, Dear child, preserve this well, and it 
 will help you out of trouble." 
 
 Afterwards the mother and daughter took a sorrowful 
 leave of each other, and the Princess placed the napkin in 
 her bosom, mounted her horse and rode away to her in- 
 tended bridegroom. After she had ridden on for about 
 an hour she became very thirsty, and said to her servant, 
 *' Dismount and procure me some water from yonder stream 
 in the cup which you carry with you, for I am very thirsty.'' 
 " If you are thirsty," replied the servant, " dismount 
 yourself, and stoop down to drink the water, for I will not 
 be your maid !" 
 
The Goose Girl. 
 
 99 
 
 The Princess, on account of her great thirst, did as she 
 vvas bid, and bending over the brook she drank of its 
 water, without daring to use her golden cup. While she 
 did so the three drops of blood said, " Ah ! if thy mother 
 knew this her heart would break." And the Princess felt 
 humbled, but said nothing, and soon remounted her horse. 
 Then she rode several miles further, but the day was so hot 
 and the sun so scorching that soon she felt thirsty again, 
 and as soon as she reached a stream she called her hand- 
 maiden again, and bade her take the golden cup and fill it 
 with water, for she had forgotten all the saucy words which 
 before had passed. The maiden, however, replied more 
 haughtily than before, "If you wish to drink, help j^our- 
 self ! I will not be your maid !" 
 
 The Princess thereupon got off her horse, and helped 
 herself at the stream, while she wept and cried, " Ah ! 
 woe 's me 1" and the three drops of blood said again, " If 
 your mother knew this her heart would break." As she 
 leaned over the water the napkin wherein were the three 
 drops of blood fell out of her bosom and floated down the 
 stream without her perceiving it, because of her great 
 anguish. But her servant had seen what happened, and 
 she was glad, for now she had power over her mistress ; 
 because, with the loss of the drops of blood, she became 
 weak and powerless. When, then, she would mount 
 again upon the horse Falada, the maid said, " No, Falada 
 belongs to me; you must get upon this horse;" and she 
 was forced to yield. Then the servant bade her take off 
 her royal clothes, and put on her common ones instead ; 
 and, lastly, she made the Princess promise and swear by 
 the open sky that she would say nought of what had 
 passed at the King's palace ; for if she had not so sworn 
 she would have been murdered. But Falada observed all 
 that passed with great attention. 
 
 Now was the servant mounted upon Falada, and the 
 
100 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 rightful Princess upon a sorry hack ; and in that way they 
 travelled on till they came to the King's palace. On theii 
 arrival there were great rejoicings, and the young Prince 
 running towards them, lifted the servant off her horse 
 supposing that she was the true bride ; and she was led u 
 the steps in state, while the real Princess had to stop below 
 Just then the old King chanced to look out of his window 
 and saw her standing in the court, and he remarked ho\ 
 delicate and beautiful she was ; and going to the roya 
 apartments, he inquired there of the bride who it was sh 
 had brought with her, and left below in the courtyard. 
 
 " Only a girl whom I brought with me for company,' 
 said the bride. " Give the wench some work to do, tha 
 she may not grow idle." 
 
 The old King, however, had no work for her and kne^ 
 of nothing, until at last he said, "Ah ! there is a boy wh( 
 keeps the geese; she can help him." This youth wai 
 called Conrad, and the true bride was set to keep gees( 
 with him. 
 
 Soon after this the false bride said to her betrothed 
 "Dearest, will you grant me a favour?" " Yes," said he 
 " with the greatest pleasure." " Then let the knacker b( 
 summoned, that he may cut off the head of the horse oi 
 which I rode hither, for it has angered me on the way.' 
 In reality she feared lest the horse might tell how she ha( 
 used the rightful Princess, and she was glad when it wa 
 decided that Falada should die. This came to the ears o: 
 the Princess, and she promised secretly to the knacker t< 
 give him a piece of gold if he would show her a kindness 
 which was that he would nail the head of Falada over i 
 certain large and gloomy arch through which she had 
 pass daily with the geese, so that then she might still se( 
 as she had been accustomed, her old steed. The knacke 
 promised, and, after killing the horse, nailed the head ii 
 the place which was pointed out, over the door of the arch 
 
The Goose Girl. 
 
 101 
 
 Early in tlie morning, when she and Conrad drove 
 the geese through the arch, she said in passing — 
 
 " Ah, Falada, that you should hang there 1" 
 
 and the head replied, 
 
 " Ah, Princess, that you should pass here ! 
 If thy mother knew thy fate, 
 Then her heart would surely break I" 
 
 Then she drove on through the town to a field, and 
 when they arrived on the meadow she sat down and un- 
 loosened her hair, which was of a pure gold, and its shining 
 appearance so charmed Conrad that he endeavoured to pull 
 out a couple of locks. So she sang, 
 
 " Blow, blow, thou wind, 
 Blow Conrad's hat away ; 
 Its rolling do not stay 
 Till I have combed my hair, 
 And tied it up behind." 
 
 Immediately there came a strong wind which took Conrad's 
 hat quite off his head, and led him a rare dance all over 
 the meadows, so that when he returned, what with combing 
 and curling, the Princess had rearranged her hair, so that 
 he could not catch a loose lock. This made Conrad very 
 angry, and he would not speak to her, so that all day long 
 they tended their geese in silence, and at evening they 
 went home. 
 
 The following morning they passed again under the 
 gloomy arch, and the true Princess said, 
 
 " Ah, Falada, that you should bang there I" 
 
 and Falada replied, 
 
 " Ah, Princess, that you should pass here ! 
 If thy mother knew thy fate. 
 Then her heai*t would surely break 1" 
 
 Afterwards, when they got into the meadow, Conrad 
 
102 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 tried again to snatch one of her golden locks, but she sang 
 immediately, 
 
 " Blow, blow, thou wind, 
 Blow Coni-ad's hat away ; 
 Its rolling do not stay 
 Till I have combed my hair, 
 And tied it up behind." 
 
 So the wind blew and carried the hat so far away that, 
 by tlie time Conrad had caught it again, her hair was all 
 combed out, and not a single one loose ; so they kept their 
 geese till evening as before. 
 
 After they returned home, Conrad went to the old 
 King, and declared he would no longer keep geese with 
 the servant. 
 
 "Why not?" asked the old King. 
 
 " Oh ! she vexes me the whole day long," said Conrad , 
 and then the King bade him relate all that had happened. 
 So Conrad did, and told how in the morning when they 
 passed through a certain archway she spoke to a horse's 
 head which was nailed up over the door, and said, 
 
 " Ah, Falada, that you should hang there ?" 
 
 and it replied, 
 
 " Ah, Princess, that you should pass here ! 
 If thy mother knew thy fate. 
 Then her heart would surely break !" 
 
 and, further, when they arrived in the meadow, how she 
 caused the wind to blow his hat off, so that he had to run 
 after it ever so far. When he had finished his tale the old 
 King ordered him to drive the geese out again the next 
 morning, and he himself, when morning came, stationed 
 himself behind the gloomy archway, and heard the servant 
 talk to the head of Falada. Then he followed them also 
 into the fields, and hid himself in a thicket by the meadow, 
 and there he saw with his own eyes the goose girl and boy 
 
The Goose Girl. 103 
 
 drive in their geese, and after a while she sat down, and 
 unloosening her hair, which shone like gold, began to sing 
 the old rhyme, 
 
 " Blow, blow, thou wind, 
 Blow Conrad's hat away ; 
 Its rolling do not stay 
 Till I have combed my hair. 
 And tied it up behind.'' 
 
 Then the King felt a breeze come which took off Con- 
 rad's hat, so that he had to run a long way after it, while 
 the goose girl combed out her hair and put it back in 
 proper trim before his return. All this the King observed, 
 and then went home unremarked, and when the goose girl 
 returned at evening he called her aside, and asked her 
 what it all meant. " That I dare not tell you, nor any 
 other man," replied she ; " for I have sworn by the free 
 sky not to speak of my griefs, else had I lost my life." 
 
 The King pressed her to say what it was, and left her 
 no peace about it; but still she refused, so at last he said, 
 "If you will not tell me, tell your griefs to this fireplace;" 
 and he went away. Then she crept into the firepla<ie, and 
 began to weep and groan, and soon she relieved her heart 
 by telling her tale. " Here sit I," she said, " forsaken by 
 all the world, and yet I am a King's daughter, and a false 
 servant has exercised some charm over me, whereby I was 
 compelled to lay aside my royal clothes ; and she has also 
 taken my place at the bridegroom's side, and I am forced 
 to perform the common duties of a goose girl. Oh! if 
 tny mother knew this, her heart would break with grief" 
 
 The old King meanwhile stood outside by the chimney 
 and listened to what she said, and when she had finished 
 he came in and called her away from the fireplace. Then 
 her royal clothes were put on, and it was a wonder to see 
 how beautiful she was ; and the old King, calling his son, 
 showed him that it was a false bride whom he had taken, 
 
104 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 who was only a servant girl, but the true bride stood there 
 as a goose girl. The young King was glad indeed at heart 
 when he saw her beauty and virtue, and a great feast was 
 announced, to which all people and good friends were in 
 vited. On a raised platform sat the bridegroom, with the 
 Princess on one side and the servant girl on the other. 
 But the latter was dazzled, and recognised her mistress no 
 longer in her shining dress. When they had finished their 
 feasting, and were beginning to be gay, the old King set a 
 riddle to the servant girl : What such an one were worthy 
 of who had, in such and such a manner, deceived her 
 masters; and he related all that had happened to the true 
 bride. The servant girl replied, "Such an one deserves 
 nothing better than to be put into a cask, stuck all round 
 with sharp nails, and then by two horses to be dragged 
 throug:h street after street till the wretch be killed." 
 
 Thou art the woman, then !" exclaimed the Kingr • 
 "thou hast proclaimed thine own punishment, and it shall 
 be strictly fulfilled!" 
 
 The sentence was immediately carried into effect, and 
 afterwards the young King married his rightful bride, and 
 together they ruled their kingdom long in peace and hap- 
 piness. 
 
ex. 
 
 The Two Kings' Children. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a King who had a little 
 boj of whom it was foretold that when he was six- 
 teen years old he would be killed by a stag. Just when 
 he had reached this age, he went out hunting with the 
 royal huntsman, and during the chase, the Prince wandered 
 away from his companions, and soon perceived a fine stag, 
 which he took a fancy to shoot. He pursued it a long 
 way without success, until the stag ran into a little hollow, 
 where it changed itself into a tall, thin man, who said to 
 the Prince, "Now all is well; I have caught you at last; 
 often have I followed you with silent footsteps, but never 
 till this time could I catch you." So saying, the man took 
 the Prince with him, and rowed him over a wide lake, till 
 they came to a royal palace, where they sat down at a 
 table and partook of a meal together. When they had 
 finished the King said, " I have three daughters, the eldest 
 of whom you must watch this night, sitting from nine 
 o'clock in the evening till morning ; and every time the 
 clock strikes I shall come, and call gently, and, if you give 
 me no answers, in the morning you shall die ; but, if you 
 reply readily each time, you shall have my daughter to 
 wife." 
 
 When the young Prince was led into the chamber, he 
 saw a great stone image there, to which the Princess said, 
 "When my father comes at nine, and every hour after- 
 wards, do you give an answer when he speaks instead of 
 the Prince." The stone image nodded its head, at first 
 rapidly, and then gradually slower, till it stopped alto- 
 gether. The next morning the King told the Prince he 
 II.— 5* 
 
106 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 had performed his work well, but he could not yet give u 
 his daughter, and he must watch this night the second on 
 and after that he would consider about giving him h' 
 eldest daughter to wife. " Again," said he, " I shall co " 
 every hour, and call gently, that you may answer ; but i 
 you do not answer, your blood shall flow as a punishment! 
 
 With this they went up to the second daughter's char 
 ber, and there stood a much larger image, which the Pri 
 cess bade to answer when the King called. The lar^ 
 stone image thereupon nodded its head, as the other ha 
 done, first in quick time, and gradually slower, till it stoo 
 still. The Prince laid down upon the threshold and went 
 to sleep, with. his head resting upon his arm, and the next 
 morning the King said again, " I cannot now give up m}^ 
 daughter, although you have performed what I required ; 
 so this night you must watch my youngest child, and then 
 I will consider if you can have my second daughter to wife ; 
 again I shall come every hour, and call, and, if you reply, 
 well and good ; but if not, your blood must flow in satis- 
 faction !" 
 
 They ascended to the youngest Princess's room, and 
 there was a much taller and larger image, twice as big as 
 the other two, to which this Princess also said, " Answer, 
 if my father calls." The tall image nodded its head for 
 half an hour and then ceased, while the King's son laid 
 down upon the threshold, as before, and went to sleep. 
 The following morning the King said he had certainly 
 watched well, but still he could not give him his daughter 
 till he had first removed a certain huge forest, which, if he 
 had effected by the evening of that day, he would consider 
 the matter. Then he gave him a glass axe, a glass wedge, 
 and a glass mallet, with which the Prince began his work ; 
 but at the first stroke the axe broke in halves, and at the 
 first blow both the wedge and the mallet were shivered to 
 pieces. Thereupon he was so troubled, believing that he 
 
The Two Kings' Children. 
 
 107 
 
 I should be put to death, that he sat down and wept. And, 
 las it was just noonday, the King said to his daughters, 
 i" One of you must take him something to eat." " No, no," 
 Isaid the two eldest, "we will not; let the one he watched 
 last wait upon him." So the youngest Princess had to 
 [carry the Prince his meal, and when she got to the forest 
 [she asked him how he got on? "Alas!" said the youth, 
 !" everything goes ill !" The Princess pressed him to eat a 
 jbit before he went on, but he refused, saying, " No ; I must 
 die, and I am resolved I will eat no more." At length he 
 :was over-persuaded and did eat what she brought. When 
 |he had finished, she made him play at ball with her ; and 
 jsoon he fell asleep from weariness. Then she took her 
 (handkerchief, and tied a knot in the end, with which she 
 knocked three times upon the ground, and cried, " Earth- 
 imen, come up!" Immediately ever so many little dwarfs 
 imade their appearance, and inquired of the Princess what 
 she wanted. "In three hours from this time," said she, 
 " this forest must be cleared away, and all the timber piled 
 up in heaps." 
 
 The earthmen collected all their forces, and set to work, 
 and in three hours all was completed, and they summoned 
 the Princess to see, who thereupon rapped upon the ground 
 |again, crying, "Earthmen, go home!" and all disappeared 
 ;at once. Then she awoke the Prince, who was overjoyed 
 ito see what was done ; but she bade him not return till it 
 [struck six. At that time he came back, and the King in- 
 quired if he had done his work. "Yes," answered the 
 Prince, " I have cleared away the forest." Afterwards they 
 jsat down to supper, and the King then told the Prince he 
 j30uld not yet give him any of his daughters to wife till he 
 |had performed another work. This was to clear out a 
 leep ditch and fill it with water, so that it should look as 
 3lear as a mirror, and, besides, be full of all sorts of fish. 
 The next morning accordingly the King gave him a glass 
 
108 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 spade, and said the ditch must be ready at six o'clock. 
 The Prince began to dig at once, but as soon as he struck 
 the spade into the ground it broke in two, as the hatchet 
 had done the day before. He was sore troubled, for he knew 
 not what to do, and waited till noonday, when the youngest 
 Princess again brought him his dinner, and asked him how 
 he got on. " Alas !" said he, hiding his face in his hands, 
 " the same ill-luck has befallen me." The Princess tried to 
 comfort him, saying that he would think differently when 
 he had eaten and rested. Still he refused, declaring that 
 he should die, and would eat no more. At last she per- 
 suaded him to sit down, and when he had finished he fell 
 asleep, being weary with care. And while he was snoring 
 the Princess took out her handkerchief and rapped on the 
 ground as before, thrice, while she called, "Earthmeu, 
 come up!" They appeared at once, and asked her busi- 
 ness. " In three hours from this time you must clear this 
 ditch, and make it as clear as crystal ; and besides, all sorts 
 of fish must be within it." 
 
 The earthmen thereupon collected all their strength, 
 and worked so hard that in two hours it was all ready. 
 When they had done, they told the Princess her command 
 was obeyed, and she, rapping thrice on the earth as before, 
 said, "Eeturn home, then, earthmen!" They all disap- 
 peared at once, and she awoke the Prince, who saw that 
 the ditch was ready. Then the Princess returned home, 
 and bade him not come till six o'clock, at which hour he 
 arrived, and the King asked him whether the ditch were 
 ready. "Yes," he replied. " That is well," said the King; 
 but at supper he again declared that he could not give up 
 his daughter till he had done another thing. " What, then, 
 is that?" asked the Prince. " There is a great hill," replied 
 the King, " whereon are several crags of rock, which must 
 all be demolished ; and instead thereof you must build up 
 a fine castle, which must be stronger than one can imagine ; 
 
The Two Kings' Childeen-. 109 
 
 and, besides, filled with every necessary appurtenance." 
 The following morning the King gave him a glass pickaxe 
 and bore, and told him the work must be ready by six 
 o'clock. At the first stroke with the pickaxe the pieces 
 flew far and wide, and he had only the handle left in his 
 hands, and the bore would make no impression. At these 
 misfortunes he was quite disheartened, and sat down to 
 wait and see if his mistress would assist him. At noonday 
 she came as before, bringing him somewhat to eat, and he 
 ran up to her, and told her all his troubles. First she made 
 him eat and go to sleep as before, and then she rapped 
 thrice as before with her knotted handkerchief on the 
 ground, crying, " Come up, little earthmen !" They made 
 their appearance at once, and asked her wishes. And she 
 told them that, in three hours from that time, they must 
 remove all the rocks which were on the hill, and build in 
 their stead a noble castle, finer than any one had ever seen, 
 and filled, moreover, with all the necessary appurtenances. 
 The dwarfs fetched their tools and worked away, and in 
 the three hours they completed everything. They told the 
 Princess when they had finished, and she, rapping on the 
 ground as before three times with her knotted handker- 
 chief, cried, "Earthmen, go home!" and immediately they 
 all disappeared. Then she awoke the Prince; and they 
 were merry together as birds in the air, and when six 
 o'clock struck they went home together. The King asked, 
 "Is that castle ready, too?" " Yes," was the reply. After- 
 wards, when they sat down to table, the King said to the 
 Prince, " I cannot give you my youngest daughter till you 
 have asked her two sisters." This speech saddened both 
 the Princess and the Prince, who knew not what to do. 
 But at night he came to her, and they escaped together ; 
 but on the way the Princess looked back, and saw her 
 father pursuing them. " Alas !" she cried, " what shall 
 we do? my father is behind us, and will overtake us; I 
 
 K 
 
110 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 will change you into a thorn-bush, and myself into a ros 
 and always rest in your protection." 
 
 So when the father came to the spot he found only 
 thorn-bush and a rose, which he was going to pull o 
 when the thorns pricked his finger, and sent him horn 
 again. On his return his wife asked him why he had n 
 brought them with him, and he told her he had followc 
 them till he had lost sight of them, and when he came 
 the spot he found only a thorn and a rose. You shoul 
 have broken the rose-bud off, and the thorn-bush woul 
 have followed of itself!" exclaimed his wife. Thereupo 
 he went away to fetch the rose, but in the mean time th 
 two had escaped farther away from the field where he le 
 them, and the King was obliged to follow them. Th 
 Princess peeped behind her, and seeing her father comin 
 cried, " Ah 1 now what shall we do ? I will transform yo 
 into a church, and myself into the parson, and mount i 
 the pulpit to preach." So when the King came to th 
 spot, he found a church and a parson preaching in th 
 pulpit, so he stopped and heard the sermon and the 
 returned home. The Queen asked if he had brought th 
 fugitive, and he replied no : he had followed them to th 
 spot where he thought they were, and had seen only 
 church, in the pulpit of which a parson was delivering 
 sermon. "You should have brought the parson wit 
 you," said his wife ; " the church must have followed also 
 but now I must go myself, for it is useless to send you 
 Just as she was getting near the church, the Princes 
 peeping around, saw her mother coming, and exclaimed 
 "This is worse luck than all, for here comes mother; 
 will change you into a pond and myself into a fish." S 
 when the Queen came to the place she found a large pond 
 and in the midst of it a fish swimming about and leapin 
 out of the water merrily. The Queen tried to catch th 
 fish, but she could not manage it, and so she drank up th 
 
The Two Kings' Children. Ill 
 
 I whole pond, but it soon filled again, and she found that 
 she could not succeed. So she turned to go home, but 
 I first she gave her daughter three walnuts, and said, " With 
 f these you can help yourself if you are in necessity." 
 
 The young people journeyed on again, and in about an 
 hour's time they came in sight of the castle where the 
 Prince formerly dwelt, close by which was a village. The 
 Prince, as they approached the place, said to his com- 
 panions, " Stop here, my dearest, while I go up to the 
 castle and bring down carriages and servants to meet 
 you." 
 
 As soon as he arrived at the castle there was great 
 rejoicing at his return, and he told them his bride was 
 waiting for him down in the village below while he went 
 to brinsj a carriao;e. The servants soon harnessed the 
 horses and placed themselves behind the carriage ; but the 
 Prince, before he got in, kissed his mother, and as soon as 
 he had done so he forgot all that had happened and all 
 that he was about. The Queen Mother then commanded 
 the horses to be taken out of the carriage, and all went 
 back into the house. 
 
 Meanwhile the Princess remained below in the village 
 waiting and waiting to be fetched, but nobody came, and 
 by-and-by she hired herself to the miller whose mill be- 
 longed to the castle, and there, by the water, she sat all 
 day long washing linen. One morning the Queen came 
 by the stream while she was taking an airing, and saw the 
 maiden sitting there. "What a fine girl that is!" she 
 exclaimed, "she pleases me well!" but the Queen passed 
 on and thought no more about her. So the maiden 
 remained a long while with the miller, till the time came 
 that the Queen had found a bride from a far distant coun- 
 try for her son. When this bride came a great number 
 of people were invited to celebrate her arrival, and the 
 maiden asked leave of her master to go too. On the 
 
112 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 wedding-day she opened one of the three nuts her mothei 
 had given her, and in it she found a very beautiful dress, 
 which she put on, and went into the church and took a 
 place near the altar. Presently the bride and bridegroom 
 entered and placed themselves before the altar, but, just as 
 the priest was about to bless them, the bride, peeping on 
 one side, saw the maiden with the beautiful dress, and 
 thereupon refused to be married unless she was dressed 
 the same. So all the train had to return home, and the 
 strange lady was asked if she would lend her dress. No ! 
 and neither would she sell it for any money ; but there 
 was one condition on which she would part with it. This 
 was, that she should be allowed to sleep one night before 
 the door of the Prince's chamber. This was granted ; but 
 the servants gave their master a sleeping draught, so that ' 
 he did not hear a word of the maiden's plaints, and there 
 she lay all night long endeavouring to remind him how i 
 she had cut down the wood for him, filled up the ditch, ! 
 built the castle, changed him into a thorn-bush, a church, ; 
 and lastly a pond, and yet he had forsaken her. But the 
 Prince heard nothing, and the next morning the bride put 
 on the dress, and they went again to church. Then the 
 same events took place as the day before, and the maiden 
 bad leave to sleep again in return for her dress. This 
 time the Prince did not take his draught, and he heard all | 
 her complaint and was very much troubled. The next ' 
 morning he went to the maiden and begged her forgive- 
 ness for all his forgetful ness. The true bride then drew 
 out and cracked her third nut, and the dress which laid in 
 it was so beautiful that all the boys and girls ran after, and 
 strewed flowers in the path of the bride. So the Prince 
 and Princess were happily married; but the old Queen 
 and the envious bride were forced to run away. 
 
CXI. 
 
 The Yaliant Tailor. 
 
 THERE was once upon a time an excessively proud 
 Princess, who proposed a puzzle to every one who 
 came a-courting; and he who did not solve it was sent 
 away with ridicule and scorn. This conduct was talked 
 about everywhere, and it was said that whoever was lucky 
 enough to guess the riddle would have the Princess for a 
 wife. About that time it happened that three Tailors 
 came in company to the town where the Princess dwelt, 
 and the two elder of them were confident, when they heard 
 the report, that they should without doubt be successful, 
 since they had made so many fine and good stitches. The 
 third Tailor was an idle, good-for-nothing fellow, who did 
 not understand his own trade ; but still he likewise was 
 sure of his own powers of guessing a riddle. The two 
 others, however, would fain have persuaded him to stop 
 at home ; but he was obstinate, and said he would go, for 
 he had set his heart upon it ; and thereupon he marched 
 ofp as if the whole world belonged to him 
 
 The three Tailors presented themselves before the Prin- 
 cess, and told her they were come to solve her riddle, for 
 they were the only proper people, since each of them had 
 an understanding so fine that one could thread a needle 
 with it ! " Then," said the Princess, " it is this: I have a 
 hair upon my head of two colours ; which are they ?" 
 
 " If that is all," said the first man, " it is black and 
 white like the cloth which is called pepper and salt." 
 
 "Wrong !" said the Princess ; " now, second man, try !" 
 "It is not black and white, but brown and red," said 
 he, " like my father's holiday coat." 
 
114 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 " Wrong again !" cried the Princess; " now try, thirc 
 man ; who I see will be sure to guess rightly !" 
 
 The little Tailor stepped forward, bold as brass, and 
 said, " The Princess has a gold and silver hair on hei 
 head, and those are the two colours." 
 
 When the Princess heard this she turned pale, anc 
 very nearly fell down to the ground with fright, for th( 
 Tailor had guessed her riddle, which she believed nobody 
 in the world could have solved. As soon as she recoverec 
 herself, she said to the Tailor, " That is not all you have t( 
 do ; in the stable below lies a Bear, with which you must 
 pass the night ; and if you are alive when I come in the 
 morning I will marry you." 
 
 The little Tailor readily consented, exclaiming, " Brave- 
 ly ventured is half won !" But the Princess thought her- 
 self quite safe, for as yet the Bear had spared no one who 
 came within reach of its paws. 
 
 As soon as evening came the little Tailor was taken to 
 the place where the Bear lay ; and, as soon as he entered 
 the stable, the beast made a spring at him. "Softly, 
 softly !" cried the Tailor, " I must teach you manners !" 
 And out of his pocket he took some nuts, which he cracked 
 between his teeth quite unconcernedly. As soon as the 
 Bear saw this he took a fancy to have some nuts also 5 
 and the Tailor gave him a handful out of his pocket ; nol 
 of nuts, but of pebbles. The Bear put them into its mouth, 
 but he could not crack them, try all he might. " What a 
 blockhead I am!" he cried to himself; "I can't crack a 
 few nuts! Will you crack them for me?" said he to the 
 Tailor. "What a fellow you are!" exclaimed the Tailor; 
 " with such a big mouth as that, and can't crack a smaH 
 nut !" With these words he cunningly substituted a nul 
 for the pebble which the Bear handed him, and soon 
 cracked it. 
 
 "I must try once more!" said the Bear; "it seems an 
 
The Yaliant Tailor. 
 
 115 
 
 easy matter to manage !" And he bit and bit with all his 
 strength, but, as you may believe, all to no purpose. 
 When the beast was tired, the little Tailor produced a 
 fiddle out of his coat, and played a tune upon it, which as 
 soon as the Bear heard he began to dance in spite of him- 
 self. In a little while he stopped and asked the Tailor 
 whether it was easy to learn the art of fiddling. "Easy 
 as child's play!" said the Tailor; "you lay your left 
 fingers on the strings, and with the right hold the bow : 
 and then away it goes. Merrily, merrily, hop-su-sa, oi- 
 val-lera!" 
 
 "Oh ! well, if that is fiddling," cried the Bear, " I may 
 as well learn that, and then I can dance as often as I like. 
 What do you think? Will you give me instruction?" 
 
 "With all my heart!" replied the Tailor, "if you are 
 clever enough ; but let me see your claws, they are fright- 
 fully long, and I must cut them a bit !" By chance a vice 
 was lying in one corner, on which the Bear laid his paws, 
 and the Tailor screwed them fast. " Now wait till I come 
 with the scissors," said he ; and, leaving the Bear groaning 
 and growling, he laid himself down in a corner on a bun- 
 dle of straw and went to sleep. 
 
 Meanwhile the Princess was rejoicing to think she had 
 got rid of the Tailor ; and especially when she heard the 
 Bear growling, for she thought it was with satisfaction for 
 his prey. In the morning accordingly she Went down to 
 the stable ; but as soon as she looked in she saw the Tailor 
 as fresh and lively as a fish in water. She was much 
 alarmed, but it was of no use, for her word had been 
 openly pledged to the marriage ; and the King her father 
 ordered a carriage to be brought, in which she and the 
 Tailor went away to the church to the wedding. Just as 
 they had set off, the two other Tailors, who were very 
 envious of their brother's fortune, went into the stable and 
 released the Bear, who immediately ran after the carriage 
 
116 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 which contained the bridal party. The Princess heard th 
 beast growling and groaning, and became very muc 
 frightened, and cried to the Tailor, "Oh, the Bear i 
 behind, corning to fetch you away !" The Tailor was u 
 in a minute, stood on his head, put his feet out of th 
 window, and cried to the Bear, " Do you see this vice ? i 
 you do not go away you shall have a taste of it!" Th 
 Bear considered him a minute, and then turned tail an 
 ran back ; while the Tailor drove on to church with th 
 Princess, and made her his wife. And very happy the 
 were after the marriage, as merry as larks ; and to the en 
 of their lives they lived in contentment. 
 
CXII. 
 
 The Blue Light. 
 
 THERE was once upon a time a Soldier, who had 
 served his King faithfully for many years ; but when 
 the war came to a close, the Soldier, on account of his 
 many wounds, was disabled, and the King said to him, 
 " You may go home, for I no longer need you : but you 
 will not receive any more pay, for I have no money but 
 for those who render me a service for it." The Soldier did 
 not know where to earn a livelihood, and, full of care, he 
 walked on the whole day ignorant whither he went, till 
 about night he came to a large forest. Through the dark- 
 ness which covered everything he saw a light, and ap- 
 proaching it, he found a hut wherein dwelt a Witch. 
 " Please give me a night's lodging, and something to eat 
 and drink, or I shall perish," said he to the old woman. 
 "Oho! who gives anj^thing to a worn-out Soldier!" she 
 replied ; " still out of compassion I will take you in, if you 
 will do what I desire." The Soldier asked what she wished, 
 and she told him she wanted her garden dug over. To this 
 he willingly consented, and the following day, accordingly, 
 he worked with all his strength, but could not get his 
 work finished by evening. " I see very well," said the 
 Witch, " that you cannot get further to-day, so I will shelter 
 you another night ; and in return you shall fetch me a pile 
 of faggots to-morrow, and chop them small." The Soldier 
 worked all day long at this job, but as he did not finish till 
 quite the evening, the Witch again proposed that he should 
 stop the night. " You shall have but a very little work 
 to-morrow," said she ; " I want you to fetch me out of a 
 half dry well behind my house, my blue light, which float? 
 
118 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 there without ever going out." The next morning, accord 
 ingly, the old Witch led him to the well, and let him down 
 into it in a basket. He soon found the blue light, and made 
 a sign to be drawn up ; and as soon as he reached the top, 
 the old woman tried to snatch the blue light out of his 
 hand. Xo, no !" cried the Soldier, perceiving her wicked 
 intentions, " no, no, I don't give up the light till both mj 
 feet stand on dry ground.'' The Witch flew into a passion 
 when he said so, and letting him fall down into the well 
 again, went away. 
 
 The poor Soldier fell without injury on the soft mud, 
 and the blue light kept burning : but to what use ? he saw 
 well that he should not escape death. For a while he sat 
 there in great trouble, and at length searching in his pocket, 
 he took out his tobacco-pipe, which was only half-smoked 
 out. This shall be my last consolation," said he to him- 
 self; and lighting the pipe at the blue light, he began to 
 puff. As soon, now, as the smoke began to ascend, a little 
 black man suddenly stood before the Soldier, and asked, 
 "Master, what are your commands?*' 
 
 "What are my commands?" repeated the astonished 
 Soldier. "I must do all you desire,'' replied the Dwarf. 
 " That is well," said the Soldier ; " then help me first out 
 of this well." The Dwarf, thereupon, took him by the 
 hand and led him through a subterraneous passage out of 
 the well, while he carried the blue light with him. On the 
 way he showed the Soldier the concealed treasure of the 
 Witch, of which he took as much as he could carry ; and 
 as soon as they were out of the ground he bade the Dwarf 
 fetch the old Witch, and take her before the judge. In a 
 very short time she was brought riding on a wild cat, 
 which made a fearful noise, and ran as swiftly as the wind: 
 and the Dwarf, taking them before the judge, quickly re- 
 turned to his master, with the news that the Witch was 
 hung on the gallows. " Master, what else have you to 
 
The Blue Light. 
 
 119 
 
 command?" inquired the Dwarf. ''Nothing further at 
 present," replied the Soldier, " and now you can go home, 
 only be at hand when I summon you again." 
 
 "All that is necessary for that," said the Dwarf, "is, 
 that you should light your pipe at the blue lamp, and im- 
 mediately I shall present mj^self." With these words the 
 little man disappeared. 
 
 Then the Soldier returned to the city from whence he 
 first came, and, going to the head inn, ordered some fine 
 clothes, and bade the landlord furnish him a room in the 
 most expensive style. As soon as it was ready, the Sol- 
 dier took possession of it, and summoned the black Dwarf, 
 to whom he said, " The King of this city I served formerly 
 for many years, faithfully, but he sent me away to suffer 
 hunger, and now I will take my revenge." 
 
 "What shall I do then?" inquired the Dwarf "Late 
 in the evening, when the King's daughter is asleep, you 
 must fetch her out of her bed, and bring her here to wait 
 upon me as my maid-servant." 
 
 The Dwarf expostulated with the Soldier, but to no 
 purpose, telling him that though it would be an easy 
 matter for him to bring her, it might cause him danger if 
 it were found out. Accordingly, when twelve o'clock 
 struck, the Dwarf appeared with the Princess. "Aha! 
 you are there," cried the Soldier, to the Princess; "come, 
 fetch your brush and sweep the room." When she had 
 done that, he called her to his seat, and, stretching his feet 
 out, bade her pull off his boots. This she did, and, as he 
 threw the boots in her face, she was obliged to go and wash 
 herself But all was done by her with eyes half shut, 
 without complaint or resistance ; and at the first crow of 
 the cock the Dwarf carried her back again to bed in the 
 royal castle. 
 
 The next morning when the Princess arose she went 
 to her father, and told him what a curious dream she had 
 had. " I was carried," she said, " through the streets with 
 
120 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 lightning speed, and taken into the room of a soldier, 
 whom I waited upon as his maid, even sweeping the room 
 and polishing his boots. But it was only a dream, and 
 yet I am as tired as if I had really done all this work." 
 
 "The dream may have been real," said the King, "an 
 so I will give you this piece of advice. To-night, fill your 
 pocket with peas, and make a hole in it, so that if you are 
 fetched again, they will drop through as you go along, and 
 leave a trace on the road." 
 
 While the King spoke this the Dwarf was standing by 
 and overheard all he said ; and at night he strewed peas in 
 every street, so that those dropped by the Princess, as he 
 carried her along, were no guide afterwards. The poor 
 maiden had again to do all sorts of hard work till the first 
 cock-crow, when the dwarf took her home to bed. 
 
 The next morning the King sent out his servants to 
 seek traces of his daughter's journey : but it was all in 
 vain, for in every street the children were picking up the 
 peas and saying, " It has rained peas during the night." 
 
 " We must think of some other plan," said the King, 
 when his servants returned unsuccessful ; and he advised 
 his daughter to keep her shoes on when she went to bed ; 
 and then, if she were carried off, she must leave one be- 
 hind in the room whither she was taken, and in the morn- 
 ing it should be searched after. But the black Dwarf 
 again overheard the plan, and counselled the Soldier not 
 to have the Princess that evening, for there was no remedy 
 for the stratagem her father had planned. The Soldier, 
 however, would be obeyed, although the finding of the 
 shoe would be a serious offence: and the poor Princess 
 was obliged again to work like any servant; but she man 
 aged to conceal one of her shoes beneath the bed before 
 she was taken back to the palace. 
 
 The following morning the King ordered the whole 
 city to be searched for his daughter's shoe, and it was dis- 
 covered in the room of the Soldier, who, however, at the 
 
The Blue Light. 
 
 121 
 
 entreaty of the Dwarf, had slipped out at the door. He 
 was soon caught and thrown into prison, but, unfortu- 
 nately, he had left behind his best possessions — the blue 
 light and his gold, and had only a single ducat with him 
 in his pocket. While he stood at the window of his cell, 
 laden with chains, he perceived one of his old comrades 
 passing by. So he knocked at the bars, and beckoned his 
 comrade, whom he asked to go to the inn, and bring back 
 a bundle which he had left behind, and he should receive 
 a ducat for the service. The man ran away and soon re- 
 turned with the wished-for bundle. As soon, then, as the 
 Soldier was alone, he lighted his pipe and summoned up 
 the Dwarf "Be not afraid," said the black mannikin ; 
 "go whither you are led and let everything happen as it 
 may, only take with you the blue light." 
 
 The next day the Soldier was brought up to be tried, 
 and although he had done no great wrong, he was con- 
 demned to death by the judge. When he was led out for 
 execution, he begged a last favour of the King. " What 
 is it?" asked the King. "Permit me to smoke one pipe 
 before I die." "You may smoke three if you please," 
 said the King ; " but do not expect me to spare your life." 
 Thereupon the Soldier drew out his pipe and lighted it at 
 the blue light ; and before a couple of wreaths of smoke 
 had ascended the Black Dwarf appeared, holding a little 
 cudgel in his hand, and asked, " What are your com- 
 mands, master?" "Knock down, first, the unjust judge, 
 and his constables, and do not spare the King even, who 
 has treated me so shabbily." The little Black Dwarf com- 
 menced wielding his cudgel, and at every blow down went 
 a man, who never ventured to rise again. The King was 
 terribly frightened when he saw this, and begged for mercy, 
 but the Soldier only pardoned him on condition of his giv- 
 ing him his daughter to wife, and his kingdom to rule ; and 
 to this the unhappy King consented, for he had no choice. 
 
CXIII. 
 
 The Three Army Surgeons. 
 
 THEEE Army Surgeons were once on their trave 
 confident that they had learnt their profession p 
 fectly ; and one day they arrived at an inn where th 
 wished to pass the night. The landlord asked them when 
 they came and whither they were going ; and one of the 
 replied that they were travelling about in search of emplo 
 ment for their talents. " In what do your talents con- 
 sist ?" inquired the landlord. The first said he would cut off 
 his hand, and in the morning put it on again without diffi- 
 culty ; the second said he would take out his eyes, and in the 
 morning replace them without injury ; and the third declared 
 he would take out his own heart and put it back again. 
 
 "Can you do these things?" said the landlord: "then 
 indeed you are well taught." But they had a salve which 
 healed whatever it touched; and the bottle which con- 
 tained it they always carried carefully with them. So the 
 one cut off liis hand, another took out his eyes, and the 
 third cut out his heart as they had said, and gave them on 
 a dish to the landlord, who delivered them to the servant 
 to put them by in a cupboard till the morning. Now this 
 servant had a sweetheart on the sly, who was a soldier ; 
 and he, coming in, wanted something to eat. As soon as 
 the landlord and the Three Surgeons had gone to bed, the 
 maid opened the cupboard and fetched her lover some- 
 thing; but in her hurry she forgot to shut the door again, 
 and sat down to table with the soldier, and they made 
 themselves merry. While she sat thus, apprehending no 
 misfortune, the cat came slipping in, and, seeing the cup- 
 board-door open, snatched the hand, heart and eyes of the 
 
The Theee Army Surgeons. 
 
 123 
 
 Three Surgeons and ran away with them. As soon as the 
 soldier had finished, the maid went to put the dish away 
 in the cupboard and then perceived that the plate which 
 her master had given into her care was gone. She was 
 terribly frightened and exclaimed, " Oh ! what will be- 
 come of me ? the hand is gone, the heart is gone, and the 
 eyes too; how shall I manage in the morning?" "Be 
 quiet," said her sweetheart, "I will help you out of your 
 difficulty; on the gallows outside hangs a thief, whose 
 hand I can cut off; which was it?" " The right," said she, 
 and gave him a sharp knife, with which he went and cut 
 off the right hand of the criminal, and brought it in. Then 
 he caught the cat and took out her eyes ; but what was to 
 be done for the heart? " Did you not kill a pig to-day 
 and put the carcass in the cellar?" asked the soldier. 
 "Yes," said the maid. " Then that is just the thing," re- 
 turned the soldier ; " go and fetch the heart from it." The 
 servant did so, and they placed all three on the plate and 
 put them in the cupboard, and then her sweetheart having 
 taken leave, the maid went to bed. 
 
 On the morrow when the three Army Surgeons were 
 up, they bade the servant fetch the plate, on which lay the 
 hand, heart, and eyes. She brought it from the cupboard, 
 and the first man spread the hand with his salve, and im- 
 mediately it joined as if it had grown there. The second 
 took up the cat's eyes and placed them in his head, while 
 the third put the pig's heart where his own came from. 
 The landlord meanwhile stood by, wondering at their 
 learning, and saying he would never have believed them 
 had he not seen what they did. Afterwards they paid 
 their bill and went away. 
 
 They had not gone far before he with the pig's heart 
 began to run about and snuff in every corner after the 
 manner of swine. The others tried to hold him by the 
 coat, but it was of no use, he would run about among the 
 
124 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 thickest brush-wood. The second Surgeon all this while 
 kept rubbing his eyes and could not make out what was 
 amiss. "What have I done?" said he to his comrades; 
 *' these are not my eyes, I cannot see ; you must lead me, 
 or I shall fall." So they travelled till evening with great 
 trouble to themselves, when they came to another inn. 
 They stepped into the parlour, and there in the corner sat 
 a rich man at a table, counting his money. The Surgeon 
 with the thief's hand went up to him and peered at him, 
 and as soon as his back was turned, made a grasp at the 
 gold and took a handful. " For shame, comrade," cried the 
 others ; " you must not steal ; what are you doing ?" " Oh, 
 how can I help myself?" he asked ; " my hand is drawn to 
 it, and 1 must take it whether I will or not !" Soon after 
 this they went to bed, and it was so dark that one could 
 not see his hand before his eyes. All at once the Surgeon 
 with the cat's eyes woke up, and disturbing the others, 
 cried out, " See, see, how the white mice are running about 
 in the room I" The two others thereupon raised their 
 heads, but they could see nothing. "It is evident to me 
 now," said the first Surgeon, " that we have not got our 
 own, we must go back to the landlord who deceived us." 
 
 The following morning they rode back to the first inn, 
 and told the landlord they had not received their own 
 things again, for one had got a thief's hand, another a pig's 
 heart, and a third a cat's eyes." The landlord thereupon 
 went to call the servant-maid, but she had escaped out of 
 the backdoor as soon as she saw the Surgeons coming, and 
 did not return. The three now threatened to set fire to the 
 house if the landlord did not give them a large sum of 
 money ; and the poor man was compelled to give them all 
 he could scrape together, with which they went away. But 
 although they had enough to last them their lifetime, each 
 would rather have had his own hand, heart, or eyes than 
 all the money in the world. 
 
CXIV. 
 
 The Seven Swabians. 
 
 THEEE were once Seven Swabians in company, the 
 first of whom was named Schulz, the second Jacky, 
 the third Marli, the fourth Jergli, the fifth Michael, the 
 sixth Hans, and the seventh Yeitli ; and they all were 
 travelling in search of adventures, and for the perform- 
 ance of mighty deeds. In order that they might not be 
 without protection, they thought fit to carry along with 
 them a very long and strong pole. Upon this they all 
 seven held, and in front the boldest and most courageous 
 man, who was Schulz, walked, while the others followed 
 behind, and Veitli was last. 
 
 One day in July, after they had travelled some distance, 
 and had nearly entered the village where they intended to 
 pass the night, it happened that just as they came to a 
 large meadow a hornet or dragon-fly flew out from behind 
 a bush and hummed about the travellers in a warlike 
 manner. Schulz was frightened and almost let go the 
 pole, and the perspiration stood all over his body from 
 terror. " Listen, listen !" he cried to his companions ; " I 
 hear a trumpeting !" Jacky, who was last but one in the 
 row, and had got I know not what into his nose, exclaimed, 
 " Something certainly is at hand for I can smell brimstone 
 and powder 1" At these words Schulz sprang over a hedge 
 in a trice in his haste to escape, and, happening to alight 
 on the prongs of a rake which was left in the field by the 
 haymakers, the handle sprang up and gave him an awk- 
 ward blow on the forehead. " Oh ! oh ! oh 1 woe is me !'' 
 cried Schulz ; " take me prisoner, I give myself up, I sur- 
 render !" The six others thereupon jumped over the hedge 
 
126 Grimm's Household Stories. 1 
 
 too, and cried likewise, " We surrender if you surrender! 
 we surrender if you surrender !" I 
 
 At length, when they found no enemy came to bin J 
 and take them away, they saw they were deceived, and it 
 order that the tale might not be told of them among thl 
 villagers, and they get laughed at and mocked, they took 
 an oath among themselves never to say anything about it 
 unless any one of them should open his mouth unawares. 
 
 After this adventure they went further, but the second 
 danger they met with must not be compared with the first. 
 For after several days had elapsed their road chanced to 
 lead them through an unploughed field where a hare was 
 lying asleep in the sun, with his ears pricked up to catch 
 every sound, and his large, glossy eyes wide open. The 
 seven Swabians were terribly frightened at the sight of 
 this frightful, ferocious animal, and they took counsel 
 together what would be the least dangerous plan to adopt. 
 For if they fled away it was to be feared that the monster 
 would pursue them and cut them to pieces. So they 
 resolved to stand and have a great battle ; for, said they, 
 " Bravely dared is half won !" All seven therefore grasped 
 hold of their spear, Schulz being foremost and Veitli hind- 
 most. But Schulz wanted to have the spear himself, 
 whereupon Yeitli flew into a passion and broke away. 
 
 Then the rest advanced together upon the dragon, but 
 first Schulz crossed himself devoutly and invoked the 
 assistance of Heaven. Then he marched on, but as he 
 approached the enemy he felt very fearful and cried in 
 great terror, "Han! hurlehau! han ! hauhel !" This awoke 
 the hare, who sprang away quite frightened, and when 
 Schulz saw it flee he jumped for joy and shouted, 
 
 " Zounds, Veitli, what fools we are ! 
 The monster after all is but a hare !" 
 
 After they had recovered their fright the Seven Swa- 
 bians sought new adventures, and by-and-by they arrived at 
 
The Seven Swabians. 
 
 127 
 
 the Eiver Moselle, a smooth and deep water over which there 
 are not many bridges, but one must cross in boats to the 
 other side. The Seven Swabians, however, were ignorant 
 of this, and they therefore shouted to a man who was work- 
 ing on the other side of the river and asked him how they 
 were to cross. But the man did not understand what they 
 said on account of the distance and his ignorance of their 
 language, and so he asked in his dialect "Wat? wat?" 
 With this Schulz imagined the man said " Wade, wade 
 through the stream ;" and, being foremost on the bank, he 
 jumped into the river and began to walk across. Soon he 
 got out of his depth aod sank in the deep driving current; 
 , but his hat was carried by the wind to the opposite shore. 
 As it reached there a frog perched himself on it and croaked, 
 "Wat! wat! wat!" This noise the six other Swabians, 
 ,who then reached the bank, heard, and they said to each 
 'other, "Listen ! does not Schulz call us? Well, if he could 
 wade across we can also." With these words each one 
 jumped into the river, but they also all sank; and so it 
 happened that the frog caused the death of six Swabians, 
 for nobody has heard of or seen them ever since. 
 
cxv. 
 
 The Three Journeymen. 
 
 THERE were once three Journeymen, who agreed to- 
 gether to travel in company, and always work in the 
 same town. But one season they could find no master to 
 employ them, so that by degrees they became quite ragged, 
 and had nothing to live upon. They asked each other 
 what they should do ; and one proposed that they should 
 not stop any longer where they were, but wander about; 
 and when they came to a town where no work was to be 
 had, they should separate, first making an agreement with 
 the landlord of their inn, that he would receive their let- 
 ters, so that each might know where his companions were. 
 This plan appeared the best they could adopt, and they set 
 out on their travels. On the road a well-dressed man met 
 them, who inquired of them who they were. " We are 
 journeymen," said they, "in search of work, and hitherto 
 we have been successful ; but when we are no longer 
 fortunate we mean to separate." 
 
 " There is no necessity for that," said the stranger ; 
 " if you only do what I tell you, you shall not want for 
 money or work ; for you may even become great lords, 
 and ride in your own carriages." 
 
 " If it does not injure our souls and happiness," said 
 one, " we will readily do what you wish." 
 
 "No; I have no claim upon you," replied the man; 
 " of that sort at least." 
 
 The other Journeyman, meanwhile, had observed the 
 stranger's feet ; and when he saw one was a horse's hoof 
 and the other a human foot, he would have nothing to do 
 with the agreement at first. But the Evil One said it was 
 
The Three Journeymen. 
 
 129 
 
 not their souls, bat some other man's, which he wanted; 
 and so, being reassured, the three Journeymen consented 
 to the agreement. The Evil One then told them that what 
 he desired was, that the first man should answer to every 
 question, "All three of us;" the second, "For money;" 
 and the third should cry, "That is right." This they were 
 to say on all occasions, but any other word they must not 
 speak, on pain of losing all their money again ; but so long 
 as they obeyed the instructions, their pockets would always 
 be full of money. For a beginning the Evil One gave 
 them as much as they could carry, and bade them go into 
 such and such a city, and stop at such and such an inn. 
 They entered the appointed place, and the landlord came 
 towards them and asked if they wished for something to 
 eat. The first man replied, " All three of us." " Yes," said 
 the landlord, "that is what I mean." "For money," said 
 the second man. " That is understood." " That is right," 
 said the third. "Yes, that is right," repeated the landlord. 
 
 Soon a plentiful meal was spread before them, and they 
 were well waited on ; and as soon as they had finished the 
 landlord brought in his bill, and laid it before the three 
 companions. "All three of us," said the first; "For 
 money," said the second ; and the third repeated " That 
 is right." "You are quite right, sirs," said the landlord, 
 "all three of you must pay: and without the money I 
 cannot entertain you." Thereupon they counted out more 
 money than was asked, and the guests who were looking 
 on said to each other, " These people must be mad !" " Yes ; 
 they do not appear quite sane," said the landlord : but still 
 they remained in his house, speaking no other words than 
 "All three of us; For money; That is right." Neverthe- 
 less they saw and knew all that was going on : and one 
 day it chanced that a great merchant came, bringing with 
 him a great deal of money to the inn. He said to the 
 landlord, " Take care of my gold, or these three foolish 
 6* 
 
130 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Journeymen may steal it from me." The landlord did s 
 and as he carried the saddle-bags into his room he felt th 
 they were heavy with gold. So he put the three Journe 
 men into a lower room, and the merchant into the be 
 room by himself At midnight when the landlord thoug 
 evej'ybody was asleep, he went, accompanied by his wife, i 
 to tlie rich merchant's chamber, and killed him by a stro 
 with an axe. The murder committed, they went to b 
 again ; and when daylight came they made a great uproa 
 for the merchant was found dead, lying in pools of bio 
 All the inmates of the inn were collected, and the Ian 
 lord declared the murder had been committed by the thr 
 Journeymen. This the other lodgers confirmed, saying 
 one else could have done it ; and when the three Journe 
 men were called, and asked if they had done the deed, th 
 first replied, "All three of us;" the second, "For money; 
 and the third said, "That is right!" 
 
 "Now hear them," said the landlord, "they confess ' 
 themselves." Thereupon the three were taken and throw 
 into prison ; and while they lay there they perceived th 
 it was a serious matter for them. But by night the Evi 
 One came, and said to them, " Keep up your courage fo 
 one day, and despair not of your fortune, for not a hair o 
 you shall be injured." 
 
 The following morning they were taken before th 
 judge, and asked by him, "Are you the murderers? 
 " All three of us," replied the first. " Why did you kil 
 the merchant?" asked the judge, secondly. " For money, 
 was the reply. " You wretched men," exclaimed the judg 
 "have you repented of your crime since." " That is right, 
 said the third Journeyman. Then the judge ordered the 
 to be led away to die, for they had confessed their crim 
 and were hardened about it. 
 
 So the three companions were led away, and the land 
 lord had to accompany them, being the accusor. Just 
 
The Three Journeymen. 
 
 131 
 
 they were seized by the hangman and led up to the scaffold, 
 where the executioner stood with a sharp sword, all at once 
 a coach appeared drawn by four blood-red foxes, who went 
 so fast that fire flew out of the stones, while from the win- 
 dow of the coach some one beckoned with a white hand- 
 kerchief The executioner said, "There comes a pardon !" 
 and from the coach a voice was heard shouting, " Pardon, 
 pardon !" Presently, out of the coach, the Evil One 
 stepped, dressed as a distinguished lord, and said to the 
 three prisoners, "You are innocent, you may speak now 
 and state what you saw and heard." Thereupon, the first 
 Journeyman said, "We did not kill the merchant, the 
 murderer stands there," (pointing to the landlord,) "and 
 for a proof of this go into his cellar, and you will find 
 many other bodies of those he has destroyed." 
 
 The judge, therefore, sent his guards, and they found 
 the cellar as the man described ; and the landlord was con- 
 sequently taken, and his head was struck off. The Evil 
 One then said to the three Journeymen, " You are free, and 
 will have money all your life, for I have got that which I 
 bargained for." 
 
1 
 
 CXVI. 
 
 Ferdinand the Faithful^ and 
 Ferdinand the Unfaithful. 
 
 01^ CE upon a time there lived a certain Man and his 
 AVife who as long as they were in prosperous circum- 
 stances were blessed with no children, but as soon as poverty 
 came upon them a little boy was born to them. They were 
 now so poor that they could get no one to stand godfather 
 to their child, and the Man determined he would go to an- 
 other town and seek one. On his way he met a poor man, 
 who inquired whither he was going, and he told him he was 
 in search of some one to be sponsor to his son. " Oh !" said 
 the poor man, "you are in distress, and I also! I will be 
 godfather to your child, although I am too poor to give 
 him any gift ; go tell your wife and let her come to the 
 church with the child." As soon as they got there the 
 beggar said the name of the boy should be Ferdinand the 
 Faithful ; and so he was baptized. 
 
 When they came away from the church the beggar said 
 to the Mother, " I cannot go with you because I have no- 
 thing to give you, nor you to me ; but take this key and 
 let your husband take care of it till your boy is fourteen 
 years old; and at that age he must go up the hill, and he 
 will there come to a castle to which this key belongs and 
 whatever is in the castle it shall be his." 
 
 When the boy reached the age of seven, he was once 
 playing with other children, and they teased him and said 
 he had received no present from his godfather as they had 
 all done. Thereupon the boy went to his father and asked 
 him whether what they said was true. " Oh ! no," replied 
 the father, " your godfather left a key for you which un- 
 
The Two Ferdinands. 133 
 
 locks a castle which you will find up the hill." The boy 
 went up, but no castle was to be seen or heard of; but by 
 and-by, when another seven years had passed, he went up 
 again, and there saw the castle. As soon as he unlocked 
 it he found a horse in a stable, and this so pleased him 
 that he mounted it and rode back to his father, saying, 
 " Now, I have got a steed, I will travel." 
 
 So he went off, and on the roadside he found a shep- 
 herd whom he thought at first of taking with him, but he 
 resolved not to do so, and rode on. But as he passed, the 
 man called, " Ferdinand the Faithful, take me with you." 
 So he went back and took him up behind him. xifter 
 they had ridden a little way they came to a lake on the 
 shore of which a fish was lying gasping in agony. " Ah ! 
 my good fish," cried Ferdinand, " I must help you back 
 into the water;" and, taking it up, he threw it in, and the 
 Fish called out as it fell into the water, " Now since you 
 have assisted me when I was in trouble I will also help 
 you ; take this reed pipe, and when you are in need blow 
 thereon, and I will come ; and if you chance to fall into 
 the water I will help you out." After this Ferdinand rode 
 on, and by-and-by he asked his companion whither he 
 would go. " To the nearest place ; but what is your 
 name ?" " Ferdinand the Faithful." " Indeed," replied the 
 other; "then your name is like mine, for I am called 
 Ferdinand the Unfaithful." So they rode on to the nearest 
 place and stopped at the first inn. 
 
 Now, it was unfortunate that Ferdinand the Unfaithful 
 came there, for he knew all manner of evil tricks. There 
 Avas at this inn a maiden fair-faced and clear-eyed who 
 took a liking to Ferdinand the Faithful as soon as he came, 
 because he was handsome and cheerful, and she asked him 
 where he was going. When he had told her he was travel- 
 ling about, she advised him to stop where he was, for the 
 ' King needed good servants and couriers, and he was just 
 
 M 
 
134 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 the sort of man for him. At first he refused to hear about 
 the matter, and said he must go on ; so the maiden went 
 herself to the King and said she knew of a good servant 
 The King bade her bring him before him ; and as he had 
 a horse which he said he could not part with on any account 
 the King made him his courier. As soon then as Ferdinanc 
 the Unfaithful heard of this, he asked the maiden if sh( 
 could not assist him also ; and, willing to oblige both, she 
 went to the King and got him a place in the royal house- 
 hold also. 
 
 A morning or two after their arrival the King awoke 
 groaning and lamenting that his dear bride was not with 
 him. As soon as Ferdinand the Unfaithful heard this, he 
 went to the King (because all along he bad a spite against 
 Ferdinand the Faithful) and advised him to send a messen- 
 ger after her. " You have a courier," he said ; " why not 
 send him off to fetch her back? and if he does not bring 
 her let his head pay the forfeit !" Thereupon the King 
 summoned Ferdinand the Faithful and ordered him on 
 pain of death to bring back his beloved bride from the 
 place where she was. 
 
 Ferdinand went into the stable to his favourite horse, 
 and began to groan and weep, " Oh ! what an unlucky 
 man am I !" The Horse thereupon began to speak, and 
 asked him what was the matter? Ferdinand was astonished 
 to hear the horse speak, and exclaimed, " What, Schum- 
 mel, can you talk ? Know, then, that I have to fetch the 
 King's bride and know not where to go." Schummel re-' 
 plied, " Go you to the King, and tell him that, if he will 
 give you what you ask, you will fetch his bride ; but it 
 must be a shipful of meat and another full of bread, for 
 there are giants across the lake where you must go, who 
 would eat you if you brought no meat, and there are birds 
 also who would peck out your eyes if you took: no bread." 
 
 Ferdinand went and told the King, who caused all the 
 
The Two Ferdinands. 
 
 135 
 
 butchers to kill and dress meat, and all the bakers to make 
 loaves, with which two ships were filled. As soon as these 
 were ready, Schummel said to Ferdinand, "Now take me 
 with you in the ship, and set sail, and when we come to 
 the Giants, say to them, 
 
 " ' Peace be with you. Giants, dear, 
 For I have brought you, never fear, 
 A good supply of fleshly cheer !' 
 
 " And when the Birds come, say, 
 
 " ' Peace be with you. Ravens, dear, 
 For I have brought you, never fear, 
 A good supply of baker's clieer !' 
 
 " With these words they will be satisfied and leave 
 you, and when you come to the castle, the Giants will help 
 you; and two of them will go with you to where the 
 Princess sleeps, whom the King wants. You must not 
 awaken her, but the Giants must take her up in her bed, 
 and carry her to the ship." 
 
 All this happened precisely as the Horse said, and 
 Ferdinand the Faithful gave the Giants and the Birds what 
 he had brought with him, and thereupon the Giants were 
 satisfied, and brought the Princess to the King. As soon 
 as she came, she said she must have her letters, which were 
 left behind at the castle, and the King ordered Ferdinand 
 the Faithful to fetch them, on pain of death. 
 
 Ferdinand went again into the stable, and told his 
 horse what duty he had to perform, and Schummel advised 
 him to load the ships as before and sail to the castle. This 
 he did, and the Giants and Birds were satisfied a second 
 time ; and when they arrived at the castle, Schummel loid 
 Ferdinand where the sleeping chamber of the Princess 
 was, and he went up and fetched the packet of letters. 
 On their way^back Ferdinand unluckily dropped the letters 
 into the water, and Schummel said, " Alas ! alas ! I cannot 
 
136 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 help you now!" Then Ferdinand bethought himself of 
 his reed pipe, and began to blow it, and presently the fish 
 which he had formerly saved made its appearance, carry- 
 ing in its mouth the letters, which it delivered to its pre- 
 server. After this they brought home the letters safely to 
 the palace where the wedding was about to be held. 
 
 Now, the Queen did not love the King much, because 
 he had a small nose, but she took a great fancy to Fer- 
 dinand the Faithful. And once, when all the court was 
 assembled, the Queen said she knew some curious arts. 
 She could cut off a person's head and put it on again, 
 without doing him any harm. When Ferdinand the Un- 
 faithful heard this, he suggested that she should make the 
 experiment on Ferdinand the Faithful. And so, after 
 a while, she did ; and after cutting off his head, put it on 
 again, and it healed up, so that only a red mark was vis- 
 ible round the neck. " Where did you learn to do that, 
 my child ?" asked the King. " Oh, I understand it well 
 enough," she replied ; " shall I experiment on you ?" The 
 King consented, but when she had cut off his head she 
 would not put it on again ; and after the lapse of some 
 time she married Ferdinand the Faithful. 
 
 Now he rode again upon his horse Schummel ; and one 
 day it told him to ride thrice up the hill ; and, as soon as 
 he had done so, the horse returned to its original form, and 
 became a handsome Prince. 
 
CXVII. 
 
 The Shoes which were danced to 
 pieces. 
 
 THERE was once upon a time a King, who had twelve 
 daughters, every one of whom was prettier than her 
 sisters. They slept together in one room, where their beds 
 all stood in a row, and in the evening, as soon as they 
 were gone to sleep, the King shut the door and bolted it. 
 One morning, when he opened the door as usual, he per- 
 ceived that their shoes were danced to pieces, and nobody 
 could tell how it happened. The King, therefore, caused 
 it to be proclaimed that whoever could discover where 
 they had danced in the night should receive one of them 
 to wife, and become King at his death ; but whoever should 
 attempt to do it, and after three nights and days fail, must, 
 lose his life. In a short time a Prince came and offered 
 himself to undertake the task. He was well received, and 
 at night led to a room which adjoined the bed-chamber of 
 the Princesses. There he was to watch whither they went 
 to dance ; and, in order that they might not slip out secretly 
 to another place, their room-door was left open for him to 
 see. But the Prince soon felt a mist steal over his eyes, 
 and he went to sleep ; and when he awoke in the morning 
 he found the Princesses had all been dancing as usual, for 
 their shoes stood there with holes in the soles. The second 
 and third night it happened just the same ; and on the 
 morrow the Prince lost his head without mercy. After- 
 wards came many more and attempted the task, but they 
 all lost their lives. 
 
 One day it chanced that a poor Soldier, who had a 
 wound which prevented him from serving, came upon the 
 
138 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 road which led to the city where the King dwelt. Therw 
 he met an old womon, who asked him whither he wajK 
 going. " I do not know myself altogether," he replied ; ' 
 *' but I had an idea of going to the place where the Prin- 
 cesses dance their shoes to pieces, to find out the mystery 
 and so become King." "That is not difficult," said the 
 old woman, "if you do not drink the wine which will be 
 brought to you in the evening, but feign to be asleep." 
 With these words she gave him a cloak, and told him that 
 if he put it on his shoulders he would become invisible and 
 be able to follow the Princesses. As soon as the soldier 
 had received this good advice he plucked up courage and 
 presented himself before the King as a suitor. He was as 
 well received as the others had been, and was dressed in 
 princely clothes. When evening came he was led to his 
 sleeping-room, and, as he was about to go to bed, the eldest 
 Princess came and brought him a cup of wine, but he had 
 fastened a bag under his throat into which he poured the 
 wine, and drank none. 
 
 Then he laid himself down and in a short time began 
 to snore as if he were in a deep sleep, while the twelve 
 sisters laughed to one another, saying, " He might have 
 spared himself the trouble !" In a few minutes they arose, 
 opened cupboards, closets, and drawers, and pulled out a 
 variety of beautiful clothes. As soon as they were dressed 
 they looked at themselves in the glass, and presently began 
 to dance ; but the 3^oungest sister said, " I know not how 
 you are enjoying yourselves, but my heart sickens as if 
 some misfortune were about to fall upon us!" " What a 
 goose you are!" cried the eldest sister, "you are always 
 fearing something ; have you forgotten how many kings' 
 sons have already lost their lives? why, if I had not given 
 this soldier his sleeping draught, the simpleton could not 
 even then have kept his eyes open !" As they were now 
 quite ready, they first looked at the soldier and satisfied 
 
The Shoes which were danced to pieces. 139 
 
 ( themselves all was right, for he kept his eyes shut and did 
 not move a bit ; and then the eldest sister knocking on her 
 bed it sank down in the ground, and the twelve Princesses 
 followed it through the opening, the eldest one going first. 
 The Soldier, having observed everything all the while, put 
 on Lis invisible cloak, and descended with the youngest 
 
 i sister. About the middle of the steps down he trod on her 
 cloak, and she exclaimed, much frightened, " Who is that 
 who holds my cloak ?" " Don't be so silh^," said the eldest 
 
 I sister, "you caught it on some nail or other, that is all." 
 So they went completely down, and at the bottom was a 
 
 ■ wonderful avenue of trees, whose leaves were all silver, 
 and shone and glittered. The Soldier thought to himself 
 he would take one branch for a token, and broke it off, 
 when a tremendous crack sounded as from the tree. " It 
 
 ! is not all right !" cried the youngest ; " did you not hear 
 the crack ?" " That is a shot of welcome !" said the eldest, 
 
 ' " because we have been so lucky." Then they passed into 
 another avenue where the leaves were of gold, and then 
 
 ' into a further one where they shone like diamonds. From 
 both he broke off a twig, and each time the youngest Prin- 
 cess shrieked with terror, while the eldest ones declared 
 they were merely guns of welcome. So they went further 
 
 1 and came to a lake, on which were twelve little boats, and 
 in each boat a handsome Prince, who each took one sister, 
 and the old Soldier sat down in the boat where the young- 
 est one was. " I know not how it is," said the Prince, 
 "but the boat seems much heavier than usual, and I am 
 obliged to use all my strength to row it along." " Perhaps 
 that proceeds from the warmth of the weather," said the 
 Princess, " I am, myself, much more heated than usual." 
 On the other side of this water stood a noble castle, Avhich 
 was well lighted, and one could hear the music of horns 
 and fiddles within. Towards this they rowed, went in, and 
 each Prince danced with his own partner, while the Soldier 
 
140 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 danced among them all invisible ; and whenever a glass of 
 wine was handed to one or the other he drank it out, so 
 that it was empty when held to the lips ; and the youngest ^ 
 sister again felt very uneasy, but her sister bade her hold 
 her tongue. Here they danced till three in the morning, 
 at which hour, because their shoes were in holes, they were 
 compelled to desist. The Princes rowed them back agaiB 
 over the water, but this time the Soldier sat down with the 
 eldest Princess. On the shore they took leave of the Princes 
 and promised to return the following morning. Wh^ 
 they came back to the steps, the Soldier ran up first, and 
 laid down again in his bed ; and when the twelve sisters 
 came up, weary and sleepy, he snored so loudly that they 
 all listened, and cried, " How much safer could we be ?" 
 Then they took off their fine clothes, and locked them up, 
 and, putting their dancing shoes under the bed, they laid 
 down to sleep. The next morning the Soldier said noth- 
 ing, wishing to see more of this wonderful affair, and 
 so the second and third nights passed like the first ; the 
 Princesses danced each time till their shoes were in holes, 
 and the Sc^ldier, for an additional token of his story, 
 brought away a cup with him from the ball-room. When 
 the time arrived for him to answer, he first concealed the 
 twigs and cup about him, and then went before the King, 
 while the twelve Princesses stood behind the door, and 
 listened to all that was said. " Where have my daughters 
 danced during the night?" asked the King. " With twelve 
 Princes, in a subterranean castle," he replied ; and, relating 
 everything as it had occurred, he produced his witnesses 
 in the three twigs and the cup. The King then summoned 
 his daughters, and asked them if the Soldier had spoken 
 the truth. They were obliged to confess he had ; and the 
 King asked him which he would have for a wife. " I ara 
 no longer young," he replied, *' and so it had better be the 
 eldest." Thereupon the wedding was celebrated the self- 
 
The Shoes which were danced to pieces. 141 
 
 same day, and the kingdom appointed to him at the old 
 King's death. But the Princes were again bewitched in as 
 many days as they had danced nights with the twelve 
 Princesses. 
 
CXVIII. 
 
 The Three Brothers. 
 
 I 
 
 ^T^HERE was once a Man whose family consisted of three 
 ^ sons, and his property only of the house in which be 
 dwelt. Now, each of them wished to have the house at the 
 death of the old Man ; but they were all so dear to him that 
 he knew not what to do for fear of offending the one or the 
 other. He would have sold the house and shared the 
 money, but it had been so long in his family he did not 
 like to do that. All at once he thought of a plan, and 
 said to his sons, " Go into the world, and each of you learu 
 a trade, and he who makes the best masterpiece shall have 
 my house." 
 
 With this plan the sons were contented, and the eldest 
 became a Farrier ; the second a Barber ; and the third a 
 Fencing-master. They appointed a time when they should 
 all return, and went away ; and it so chanced that each 
 happened with a clever master, with whom he could learn 
 his trade in the best manner. The Smith had to shoe the 
 King's horses, and thought he must undoubtedly receive 
 the house. The Barber shaved many distinguished lords, 
 and made sure of getting the house on that account. The 
 Fencing-master got many a blow, but he bit his lip and 
 showed no concern ; for he feared if he flinched at any 
 stroke the house would never become his. By-and-by the 
 time came round when they returned home to their father; 
 but they none of them knew how they should find occasion 
 to show their proficiency, and so they all consulted together. 
 While they sat in consultation a hare came running across 
 the field where they were. " Ah ! he comes as if he were 
 called !" cried the Barber ; and, taking his soap and basin, 
 
THE THREE BROTHEKS. Page 143. 
 
 / 
 
The Three Brothers. 
 
 143 
 
 he made a lather ; and as soon as the hare came up he 
 .seized him, and shaved off his moustachios as he ran along, 
 without cutting him in the least, or taking off any un- 
 jnecessary hairs. " That pleases me very well !" said the 
 ^Father ; " and if the others do not do better the house is 
 Ivours." In a very short time a carriage, with a traveller 
 lin it, came rolling by at full speed. " Now you shall see, 
 father, what I can do !" cried the Farrier ; and, seizing the 
 I horse's feet as he galloped along, he pulled off the shoes, 
 and shod him again without stopping him. " You are a 
 clever fellow !" cried the Father ; " you have done your 
 work quite as well as your brother, and I shall not know 
 to whom to give the house." "Let me show you some- 
 thing !" said the third brother ; and, as it just then luckily 
 began to rain, he drew his sword and waved it so quickly 
 above his head that not a drop fell upon him ; and when 
 the rain came faster, and at length so fast that it was as if 
 one were emptying pails out of heaven, he swung the 
 sword quicker and quicker in circles above his head so that 
 he kept himself as dry as if he had been under a^ roof. 
 As soon as the Father saw this he was astonished, and 
 said to his son, " You have performed the best masterpiece, 
 the house is yours." 
 
 The two other brothers were contented with this deci- 
 sion ; and, because they all loved one another, they all 
 three remained in the house driving their several trades ; 
 and as they were so clever, and were so advanced in their 
 arts, they earned much money. Thus they lived happily 
 together till their old age, and when one fell sick and died 
 his brothers grieved so for his loss that they fell sick also 
 and died. 
 
 Then, because they all three had been so clever in their 
 several trades, and had loved one another so much, they 
 were laid together in the same grave. 
 
CXIX. 
 
 The Bright Sun brings on the Day. 
 
 — ' — I 
 
 A TAILOR'S journe3^man was tramping about tfie 
 country in search of work, but none could he find; 
 and his poverty became so great that he had not a farthing 
 to spend. Just at that time he met a Jew on the road, and, 
 deaf to the voice of conscience, he went up to him, because 
 he thought he had money, and seizing him cried ou^ 
 " Give me your money, or I will take your life !" " Spare 
 my life !" entreated the Jew, " for I have no more money 
 than eight farthings." But the Tailor said, " You have 
 money, and I will have it out ;" and he beat the poor 
 Jew till he was almost dead. But before he expired the 
 Jew cried, The bright sun brings on the day ;" and died 
 immediately. The Tailor, thereupon, searched the pockets 
 of his victim, and found nothing but the eight farthings 
 which the Jew had mentioned. So he took up the body 
 and threw it away among the bushes, and then went fur- 
 ther in search of work. After he had travelled a long 
 distance, he came to a city, where he was engaged by a 
 Master Tailor, who had a pretty daughter, whom he mar- 
 ried and lived with in great happiness. When some years 
 had passed, and the journeyman and his wife had two 
 children, the old father and mother died, and the young 
 people had to keep house for themselves. One morning, 
 as the husband was sitting at the table by the window, his 
 wife brought him his coffee ; and, just as he had poured it 
 into the saucer to drink, the bright sun shone in on it at 
 the open window, and danced on the opposite wall in circles. 
 Thereupon the Tailor jumped up and cried, " It would 
 bring on the day, but it cannot !" " Dear husband, what 
 
The Bright Sux brings on the Day. 145 
 
 do you mean, what is it ?" asked his wife. " That I dare 
 not tell you," he replied. His wife, however, teased him, 
 and spoke so very affectionately to him, saying she would 
 tell nothing about it, till at last he told her that, many 
 years ago, when he was travelling about for work, and had 
 no money, he had killed a Jew, whose last words had been, 
 The bright sun brings on the day." That morning the 
 sun had danced on the wall, but without continuing there, 
 and that had reminded him of the Jew's words, but he 
 begged his wife to say nothing of the matter to any one. 
 As soon, however, as he had sat down to work, his wife 
 went to her cousin and betrayed the secret to her, making 
 her promise to tell nobody. In three days' time, however, 
 the cousin told some one else, and so it went on till the 
 whole town knew it; and the Tailor was taken before the 
 judge and condemned. Thus, the bright sun brought on 
 the day. 
 
cxx. 
 
 The Prince who was afraid of 
 
 Nothing. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a King's Son, who felt too 
 much dissatisfied to stay at home any longer, and, as 
 he feared nobody, he thought he would travel about the 
 world, where there was plenty of time and space for him 
 to meet with wonderful things. So he took leave of his 
 parents and set out, walking straight onwards by day and 
 night ; for it was all one to him whither the road might 
 lead. Presently it chanced that he came to a Giant's hoase, 
 and, being weary, he sat down before the door to rest. He 
 soon began to look about him, and saw in the courtyard 
 bowls and ninepins as big as men, which formed the play- 
 things of the Giant. In a little while he took a fancy to 
 play ; and, setting up the ninepins, he bowled at them with 
 the balls, and as each one fell down he shouted for joy and 
 pleasure. The Giant heard the noise, and, stretching his 
 head out of the window, he saw a man no bigger than 
 ordinary mortals playing with his balls. "You worm!" 
 cried the Giant, " what are you meddling with my balls 
 for? who gave you strength to do that?" The King's Son 
 looked around, up and down, and soon saw the Giant, to 
 whom he replied, " You simpleton, do you think you alone 
 have strength of arm ? I can do anything I wish." The 
 Giant thereupon came down, and looked on in astonishment 
 at the bowling ; but soon he said, " Child of man, if you 
 are of that race, go and fetch me an apple from the tree of 
 life." 
 
 " What do you want with it ?" inquired the Prince. 
 "I do not require the apple for myself," said the Giant; 
 
The Prince who was afraid of Nothing. 147 
 
 ''but I have a wife who longs for it. I have already gone 
 far into the world, but cannot find the tree." 
 
 "I will soon find it," replied the Prince ; and I know 
 not what shall prevent me from bringing away an apple." 
 
 "Do you think, then, it is such an easy matter?" said 
 the Giant; "the garden wherein the tree stands is sur- 
 rounded with an iron railing, and before this railing lie 
 wild beasts one after the other, keeping watch, that nobody 
 may enter." 
 
 "They will soon let me in," said the Prince. 
 
 "Yes, you may enter the garden and see the apples 
 hanging on the tree," replied the Giant; "but still they 
 are not thine ; for on the tree is a ring, through which one 
 must push his hand before he can reach the fruit to pluck 
 it, and this has never yet been successfully performed." 
 
 "Then I shall be the first lucky one," said the Prince; 
 and, taking leave of the Giant, he went over fields and 
 through woods, up hill and down dale, till at last he came to 
 the wonderful garden. The beasts lay around it in a circle, 
 but they were all sunk in a deep sleep, and did not awake 
 even when he stepped across them ; and, climbing over 
 the railing, he entered the garden. In the middle of this 
 garden stood the tree of life, with the red apples glistening 
 on the boughs. The Prince climbed up the trunk of the 
 tree, and, as he reached his hand up to the fruit, he saw a 
 ring hanging down, through which he thrust his hand with- 
 out difficulty and broke off an apple. The ring slid down 
 and closed tight upon his arm, and immediately he felt as 
 it were a stream of fresh streno^th infused into his veins. 
 When he had descended the tree again with the apple, he 
 would not clamber over the railing to get out of the garden, 
 but went to the great gate, and, giving it a shake, it sprang 
 open with a crash. Then he went out, and the lion which 
 had before lain at the door jumped up and followed him, 
 Qot in rage and anger, but submissively as his master. 
 
148 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 The Prince took the promised apple to the Giant, i 
 said to him, " See, I have fetched it without trouble." 
 The Giant was very glad to have his wish fulfilled so 
 soon, and hastened to his wife to give her the apple which 
 she had longed for. This wife was a beautiful young 
 maiden, who, when she saw the ring was not on the 
 Giant's arm, said, "I do not believe that you obtained 
 it yourself, or else the ring would be on your arm." "I 
 have only to go home and fetch it," replied the Giant; for 
 he imagined it would be an easy matter to take the ring 
 from the Prince by force, if he would not give it up 
 willingly. So he went and demanded the ring, but the 
 Prince would not part with it. " Where the apple is the 
 ring must be too," said the Giant, "and, if you are not 
 willing to give it to me, we must fight for it." 
 
 For a long time they wrestled and fought, but the 
 Giant could not master the Prince, who was strengthened 
 by the ring. So he bethought himself of a stratagem, and 
 said to his opponent, "I am quite hot with fighting, and 
 you are hot too ; let us plunge into the stream and cool 
 ourselves before we begin again." The Prince did not 
 detect the false pretence, and, going to the river, he pulled 
 off his clothes, together with the ring, and plunged in. 
 Immediately he had done so the Giant snatched up the 
 ring and ran away with it; but the lion, who had per- 
 ceived the thievish trick, pursued the Giant, and tearing 
 the ring out of his hand brought it back to his master. 
 Then the Giant hid himself behind a tree, and, when the 
 Prince was busy drawing on his clothes again, he suddenly 
 came behind, and, knocking him over, put out both his 
 eyes. 
 
 Now the poor Prince was blind, and knew not how to 
 help himself; and presently the Giant came, and, leading 
 him by the hand, conducted him to the edge of a precipice. 
 There he left the Prince standing, thinking to himself, " A 
 
The Prince who was afraid of Nothing. 149 
 
 20uple of steps farther and he will be a dead man, and the 
 ring will fall into my hands." But the faithful lion had 
 not deserted his master, but kept tight hold of his clothes, 
 and drew him back by degrees from the edge. Afterwards, 
 when the Giant came to plunder the dead, he found his 
 stratagem had failed. " Is this weak man, then, not to be 
 destroyed ?" exclaimed the Giant, wrathfully ; and, catch- 
 iu^ hold of the Prince's hand, he led him by quite another 
 path to a frightful abyss ; but here also the faithful lion 
 accompanied his master, and saved him from the danger. 
 As soon as they were come to the edge, the Giant let go 
 of the Prince's hand, and thought he would soon walk 
 over ; but the lion gave the Giant himself a push, so that 
 he fell into the abyss and was dashed to pieces. 
 
 The faithful beast then pulled his master away from 
 the danger, and led him to a tree, near which a clear 
 stream ran along. Here the lion made his master sit 
 down, and began to sprinkle the water in his face with 
 his tail. Scarcely had a couple of drops touched his eye- 
 balls, when he immediately received his sight, and observed 
 a little bird which flew by and settled on a branch of the 
 tree. Then it flew down and bathed itself in the stream, 
 and soon flew away again among the trees; for it had 
 regained its sight, which was lost. Here the Prince recog- 
 nized the providence of God, and, bathing himself in the 
 stream, he washed his face ; and when he came out of the 
 water he found he could see as well as ever he had in his 
 life. 
 
 The Prince thereupon returned thanks to God for his 
 great goodness, and travelled, accompanied by his lion, 
 further a-field. It chanced next that he came to a castle 
 which was enchanted, and at its door stood a young maiden 
 of fine stature and appearance, but quite black. She ad- 
 dressed the Prince, saying, " Ah ! could you save me from 
 the wicked enchanter who has power over me?" "What 
 
150 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Bball I do to accomplish that?" asked the Prince. " Yo 
 must pass three nights in the court of this enchanted ca- 
 tie," replied the maiden ; " but during that time no fea 
 must enter your heart. If you are troubled most horribly 
 and yet you bear it without complaint, I am saved, for the 
 dare not take your life." 
 
 *' I am not afraid," said the Prince ; " with God's aid, 
 will try my fortune." And so saying, he went joyfull 
 into the hall of the castle, and when it was dark sat dow 
 and waited the issue. Till midnight all was still, and the 
 began a mighty uproar, for out of every corner and chin 
 came evil spirits. They appeared not to observe th 
 Prince, for they sat down in the middle of the room, and 
 making a fire, presently began to play. YT'hen one o 
 them lost, he said, " It is not right, there is somebody he 
 who does not belong to us, and it is his fault that I hav 
 lost." "Come and join us, you there behind the stove! 
 cried the others. All the while the screaming was so 
 awful that nobody could have heard it without terror ; but 
 the Prince remained quite quiet, and had no fear. At last 
 all the evil spirits jumped over and upon him, and there 
 were so many of them that he could not protect himself 
 They pulled him down on the ground, shook him, pricked 
 him, beat him, and tormented him ; but he uttered no cry. 
 Towards morning they disappeared ; but the Prince was so 
 wearied that he could scarcely move his limbs. Soon the 
 sun began to shine, and then appeared the black maiden, 
 who carried in her hand a bottle containing the water of 
 life. With this water she washed the Prince's face ; and 
 immediately all his strength returned and he was as vigor- 
 ous as ever. "One night," said she to him, "you have 
 luckily passed through ; but there are yet two more to try 
 you." So saying, she went away, and the Prince observed 
 that her feet were become white again. 
 
 The next night the evil spirits came, and renewed their 
 
The Prince who was afraid of Nothing. 151 
 
 gambols ; tumbling upon and over the 230or Prince, as the 
 night before, till his whole body was full of wounds. 
 Nevertheless he bore it all ; and when day broke they 
 were forced to quit him ; and the maiden again appeared 
 and healed him with the water of life. As she went aw^ay 
 he observed with joy that her arms were become white as 
 far as the tips of her fingers. Now he had only one more 
 night to pass ; but that was the worst of the three ; for 
 when the crew of evil spirits came, and saw him there, 
 they shouted, "What! are you here still? You shall be 
 tormented now till your breath is almost gone." There- 
 upon they beat and knocked him about, threw" him here 
 and there, pulled his arms and legs as if they would tear 
 them off; but he endured it all, and made no outcry. 
 When the spirits left the Prince he lay quite helpless and 
 unable to stir ; and he could not even open his eyes wide 
 enough to see the black maiden, who at daybreak came in 
 with the w^ater of life. Then all at once his aches and 
 pains left him, and he felt quite refreshed and strong as if 
 he were just awake; and when he opened his eyes he saw 
 the maiden standing by him, with, a snow-white skin, and 
 a face as fair as the bright daylight! "Arise," said she, 
 " and wave your sword thrice over the threshold ; then all 
 will be saved 1" As soon as the Prince did this, the whole 
 castle was freed from its enchantment ; and the maiden 
 became what she really was, a rich Princess. Presently 
 the servants entered and said the table was laid in the 
 great hall, and the meat placed upon it. So the Prince 
 and Princess sat down and dined together, and in the 
 evening the wedding was celebrated with great magnifi- 
 cence and rejoicing. 
 
CXXI. 
 
 The Evil Spirit and his Grandmother. 
 
 THERE was once upon a time a mighty war, and the 
 King of a certain country had many Soldiers engaged 
 in it ; but he gave them such very small pay that they had 
 scarce enough to live upon. At length three of the Sol- 
 diers agreed to run away, and one of them asked the others 
 what they should do; for, supposing they were caught 
 again, they would be hung upon the gallows. "Do you 
 see yon great corn-field?" said the other, "there we will 
 conceal ourselves, and nobody will find us ; for the army 
 will not dare to come there, and to-morrow they will march 
 on." So they crept into the corn ; but the army did not 
 move, but remained encamped in the same place. The 
 three Soldiers were obliged, therefore, to pass two days 
 and two nights in the corn, and they became so hungry 
 they thought they must die; but it was certain death if 
 they returned to the army. They said to one another, 
 "What avails our deserting? we shall now certainly perish 
 miserably from hunger." While they were talking a great 
 fiery Dragon came flying over their heads, and, alighting 
 near the spot where they were, asked why they had con- 
 cealed themselves. " We are three Soldiers," they replied, 
 "and have deserted because our pay was so small: and 
 now we shall die from hunger if we stay here, or be hung 
 on the gallows if we return." 
 
 " If yon will serve me seven years," said the Dragon, 
 " I will carry you through the midst of the army, so that 
 no one shall observe you." 
 
 " We have no choice and so must consent to your pro- 
 posal," replied the Soldiers. The Dragon thereupon caught 
 
The Evil Spirit and his Grandmother. 153 
 
 I them up by his claws, and carried them through the air, 
 over the heads of their comrades ; and presently set them 
 down. Now, this Dragon was the Evil Spirit ; and he 
 gave the Soldiers a whip each, and then said, " If you crack 
 this well, as much money as you require will instantly ap- 
 pear before you ; and you can then live like lords; keep 
 your own horses and carriages ; but at the end of seven 
 years you will be mine." With these words he handed them 
 a book in which they had to write their names, while the 
 ! Evil Spirit told them he would give them one chance when 
 the time was up of escaping his power by answering a 
 riddle which he would propose. Then the Dragon flew 
 away from them ; and the three Soldiers each cracked their 
 whips, and cracked their whips for as much money as they 
 required, with which they bought fine clothes and travelled 
 1 about like gentlemen. Wherever they went they lived in 
 the greatest splendour, driving and riding about, and eating 
 'and drinking to their hearts' content; but no bad action 
 , could be laid to their charge. The time passed quickly 
 ; by ; and as the end of the seven years approached two of 
 the three Soldiers became very unhappy and dispirited ; but 
 the third treated the matter very lightly, saying, "Fear no- 
 thing, my brothers ! I have got a plan in my head, and I 
 , will solve the riddle." Soon afterwards they went into the 
 fields, where they sat down, and two of them made very 
 I wry faces. Presently an old Woman came by, and asked 
 them why they were so sorrowful. "Alas!" said they, 
 "alas ! what does it signify? you cannot help us." " Who 
 i knows that?" she replied; "confide your griefs to me." 
 So they told her they had become the servants of the Evil 
 One, nearly seven years back, and thereby they came into 
 i possession of money as fast as they liked ; but they had 
 ' signed the deed, and if they could not guess a riddle which 
 : he would propose to them they were lost. " If you wish to 
 be helped," replied the old Woman, " one of you must go 
 II.— 7* 
 
154 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 into the forest, and there he will find a rock overthrow|j 
 and made into the form of a hut; into this he must ent^ 
 and there he will meet with help." The two low-spirit^ 
 Soldiers thought this would not help them ; but the meny 
 one got up, and, going into the forest, came soon to tli^ 
 rocky cave. In this place sat a very old Woman, who \vt§ 
 Grandmother to the Evil Spirit; and she asked the Soldi^f 
 when he entered whence he came, and what his businen 
 was. He told her everything that had happened ; aq^ 
 because his manners pleased her she took compassion f(| 
 him, and said she could assist him. Thereupon she raisej 
 a large stone, under which was the cellar, wherein she bad^ 
 the Soldier conceal himself, and he would hear all tb^ 
 transpired. " Only sit still and keep very quiet," said sh|| 
 " and then when the Dragon returns I will ask him abof^ 
 the puzzle, and 3^ou must mind what answers he makes* 
 About twelve o'clock at night the Dragon flew in, and 
 desired his dinner. His Grandmother, therefore, covereil 
 the table with food and drink ; and they ate and drank 
 together till they were satisfied. Then she asked hira 
 what success he had met with that day, and how many 
 souls he had secured? "Things did not go well to-day," 
 replied the Dragon ; " but yet I have caught three Sol- 
 diers safe enough." "Ah! three Soldiers!" said the old 
 "Woman, " and I suppose you have set them something to 
 do, that they may not escape you." " They are mine, they 
 are mine !" cried the Evil One gleefully, " for I have set 
 them a riddle which they will never guess." 
 
 "What is this riddle?" asked his Grandmother. 
 
 " I will tell you !" replied her Grandson. 
 
 " In the great North Sea lies a dead sea-cat, that shall 
 be their roast meat ; the rib of a whale shall be their silver 
 spoon ; and an old hollow horse's hoof shall be their wine^ 
 glass." As soon as the Dragon had said this he went to 
 bed, and the old Woman raised the stone and let out the 
 
The Evil Spirit and his Grandmother. 155 
 
 ! Soldier. "Have you attended perfectly to all that was 
 said?" inquired the old Woman. "Yes," he replied, "I 
 know well enough how to help myself now." 
 I Then he had to slip secretly out of the window, and by 
 I another road regain his companions with all the haste he 
 i could. He told them how craftily the old Grandmother 
 bad overreached the Dragon, and had laid bare to him the 
 solution of the riddle. When he had finished his story the 
 two other Soldiers recovered their spirits ; and, all taking 
 their whips, flogged for themselves so much money that it 
 lay in heaps all around them. 
 
 Not long after this the seven years came to an end, and 
 'the Evil Spirit made his appearance with the book, and, 
 pointing to their signatures, said to the Soldiers, " Now I 
 I will take you into my dominions, and there you shall have 
 !a meal ; but, if you can tell me what meat you shall have, 
 you shall be at liberty to go where you like and keep your 
 
 I " In the great North Sea lies a dead sea-cat, and that 
 Ishall be the roast meat," replied the first Soldier. 
 
 The Evil Spirit was very much put out with this ready 
 answer; hemmed and hawed, and asked the second man 
 what should be the spoon? " The rib of a whale shall be 
 the silver spoon !" replied the second Soldier. 
 
 The Evil Spirit now drew a longer face than before, 
 began to grumble and swear, and asked the third Soldier, 
 " Do you know what your wine-glass will be ?" 
 
 "An old horse's hoof!" he replied, 
 i At this reply the Evil Spirit flew away with a loud 
 'outcry, for he had no longer any power over the three 
 Soldiers, who, taking up their whips, procured all the 
 -money they wanted, and thereon lived happily and con 
 Itentedly to a good old age. 
 
TN a certain village lived a Man and his Wife, who was 
 such a very idle woman that she would do no work ait 
 all scarcely ; for what her husband gave her to spin she did 
 very slowly, and then would not take the trouble to wind 
 it, so that it lay on the ground ravelled and shackled. 
 Whenever her husband scolded her she was always before- 
 hand with an excuse, and used to say, " Why, how can I 
 wind without a reel ? you must go and fetch me one from 
 the wood first." " Well, if that is all," said her husband 
 one day, " if that is all, I will go and find you one." As 
 soon as he said this, the Woman began to be afraid that if 
 he found a piece of wood he would make a reel from it, and 
 she would have to wind up what was ravelled and begin 
 afresh. She therefore considered a while what she should 
 do, and then the lucky thought came to run into the forest 
 secretly after her husband. She found him in the act of 
 cutting a branch off", for the purpose of trimming it ; and 
 so, slipping in among the brushwood where he could not 
 see her, she began to sing — 
 
 " He that cuts a reel shall die, 
 And he that winds shall perish." 
 
 The Man listened, laid down his axe, and wondered what 
 the voice meant. At last he said, " Ah ! well ! what should 
 it be? it was nothing but some fancy in my head, about 
 which I need not fear !" So saying, he seized his axe and 
 began again; but the voice sang as before — 
 
 " He that cuts a reel shall die, 
 And he that winds shall perish." 
 
 / 
 
The Idle Spinner. 
 
 157 
 
 i The Man stopped again, and began to feel very uncomfort- 
 able and frightened ; but he soon took courage and began 
 , to chop again. At the same time the voice cried again — 
 
 " He that cuts a reel shall die, 
 And he that winds shaU perish." 
 
 I This time he was too frightened to do anything more, and 
 hastily leaving the tree he set out homewards. Meanwhile 
 his Wife, by a bypath, and by means of great exertion, 
 reached home before him ; and when he arrived she looked 
 as innocent as if nothing had happened, and inquired of her 
 husband if he had brought a good reel ? " No, no !" he 
 said ; " I can see very well that it is of no use ; winding 
 won't do!" and then, after telling her all that had hap- 
 pened, he ceased to scold her for her idleness. 
 
 But only for a while, for soon the disorder in his house 
 began to vex him again. "Wife, wife!" he said, "it is 
 surely a shame that you leave your thread in that ravel." 
 "Well, do you know what to do?" said she; "since we 
 can get no reel, do you lie down on the floor, and I will 
 stand above you, and then you must throw the thread up 
 to me, and I will send it back to you, and so we will make 
 a skein." "Ah! yes, that will do," said the Man; and 
 they pursued this plan, and as soon as the skein was ready 
 he talked of its being boiled. This aggravated the woman 
 again, and she bethought herself of some new plot, while 
 she consented to do as he proposed. Early in the morning, 
 accordingly, she got up, made a fire, and, putting on the 
 kettle, put a lump of tow into it instead of the skein of 
 thread, and left it to soak. This done, she went to her 
 husband, who was still in bed, and said to him, " I have to 
 go out now ; but do you get up at once and see after the 
 thread which is in the kettle over the fire ; and mind you 
 are very attentive to it, for if by chance the cock should 
 crow before you look at it the thread will all turn to tow." 
 
 o 
 
158 Grimm's Household Stories. H 
 
 The husband thereupon got up at once, and stoppei 
 for no further directions, but, running as quick as he could 
 into the kitchen, he looked into the kettle, and grew palfc 
 with affright ; the thread was already changed into tow. 
 After this the poor man was as still as a mouse, for he be- 
 lieved that it was his fault that the thread was spoiled; 
 and for the future he dared say nothing about thread an^l 
 spinning. 
 
 But I must confess that after all the Woman was in- 
 deed an idle, slovenly wife. 
 
CXXIII. 
 
 The Four Accomplished Brothers. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a Man who had four sons, 
 and when they were grown up young men he told 
 them one day that they must push their own way in the 
 world, for he had nothing to give them, and so they must 
 igo among strangers and each learn a different trade, till 
 they were perfect. The four Brothers, therefore, took their 
 walking staffs, and, after bidding their Mher good bye, set 
 out from their own door. After they had travelled some 
 distance, they came to a point where four cross-roads met. 
 I" Here we must separate," said the eldest brother; " but in 
 four years' time we will meet again in this place, and re- 
 count our several fortunes." 
 
 Each Brother, therefore, went his way ; and sodn the 
 eldest met a man, who inquired of him his business and 
 destination. "I wish to learn a trade !" he replied. " Then 
 come with me!" said the man, "and become a Thief." 
 "No!" replied the other ; " that is not an honourable em- 
 ployment; and, besides, the end of that song is that one 
 gets used like the clapper in a bell." " Oh, you need not 
 fear the gallows!" said the Thief "I will teach you so 
 that nobody shall ever be able to catch you or find any 
 [trace of you." Thereupon the man let himself be per- 
 'suaded, and became, under the other's teaching, such an 
 accomplished Thief that nothing was safe which he set his 
 jmind on having. 
 
 [ Meanwhile the second Brother had met a man who 
 [had asked the very same questions as the first one did; 
 and, when he was told what the business was, he invited 
 (the youth to become a Star-gazer. "There is nothing 
 
160 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 better than that," he said, " for nothing is hid from j^ou." 
 The third Brother was taken in hand by a Huntsman, and 
 received such capital instructions in all the branches of the 
 art of shooting that he became quite a renowned marks- 
 man. On leaving, his master presented him with a gun, 
 which he said would never miss, for whatever he aimed at 
 it was sure to hit. The youngest Brother had meanwhile 
 met a Tailor, and was asked whether he would not like 
 that trade. "I am not so sure about that," replied tbe 
 youth ; " for the sitting cross-legged from morning to nighl^ 
 the continual stitching backwards and forwards of the 
 needle, and a tailor's goose, are not altogether to my mind." 
 "There, there!" cried the man, "you are talking about 
 what you do not understand; you will learn quite a dif- 
 ferent sort of tailoring with me, and one which is verj 
 honourable in its way, besides being easy and handsomeP 
 The youth was over-persuaded with these representations, 
 and, accompanying his new friend, he learnt the tailoring 
 trade from its very basis. At leaving, his master gavfe 
 him a needle, and told him that he could sew together with 
 that whatever he pleased, even if it were as tender as an 
 egg-shell or as hard as steel, and not even a seam would be 
 perceivable to any one after he had done it. 
 
 When the four years had passed over, the four Brothers 
 arrived all together at the same time at the cross-ways, 
 and, after embracing and kissing each other, returned home 
 to their Father. " Ah !" he cried, when he saw them coine 
 in, "so the wind has blown you back again!" and there- 
 upon they related all their adventures, and said they had 
 each learnt a trade. While they were telling their tales 
 they sat under a great tree, and, as soon as they had done, 
 their Father said he would now put their accomplishments 
 to the test. So he looked up, and then said to his second 
 son, " At the top of this tree, between two boughs, there 
 is a bullfinch's nest ; now tell me how many eggs there are 
 
The Four Accomplished Brothers. 161 
 
 in it." The Star-gazer took his glass, and, looking through 
 ^ it, said there were five eggs. "Fetch the nest down with- 
 : out disturbing the mother bird, who is sitting on the eggs," 
 said the Father then to his eldest son. The clever Thief 
 climbed up the tree, and took the five eggs from "under- 
 neath the body of the bird without disturbing or frighten- 
 ^ ing her, and brought them to his Father. The Father took 
 j them, and laying one at each corner of a table placed the 
 1 fifth in the middle, and told the Huntsman to cut them all 
 in halves at one shot. He aimed his gun, and at the first 
 trial the five eggs were shot as his Father wished ; — and 
 surely he must have a good charge of powder who shoots 
 round a corner. "Now it is your turn," said the old Man 
 to his other son ; "do you sew the egg-shells together, and 
 also the young birds which were in them, in such a manner 
 i that the shot may not appear to have injured them." The 
 I Tailor produced his needle, and soon did what was ex- 
 pected of him, and, when he had finished, the Thief had 
 to carry the eggs back to the nest, and lay them again 
 I under the bird without being perceived by it. This he 
 ' did, and the old bird hatched her eggs in a couple of 
 days afterwards, and the young ones had a red streak 
 round their neck where the Tailor had joined them toge- 
 ther. 
 
 When his sons had done all these wonderful things, 
 I the Father said to them, "Well, you have certainly used 
 
 your time well, and learnt what is very useful, and for this 
 
 I must praise you in green clover, as the saying goes ; but 
 . I cannot tell which of you ought to have the preference, 
 \ and so that must be left to be seen when an opportunity 
 I occurs of displaying your talents publicly." 
 
 Not long after this a great lamentation was made in the. 
 
 country because the King's daughter had been carried away 
 ; by a Dragon. Her father was overcome with grief all day 
 
 and night long, and caused it to be proclaimed that whoever 
 
162 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 should rescue the Princess should have her for his wife. 
 The four Brothers thereupon thought this was the oppor- 
 tunity they needed, and agreed to go together and deliver 
 the Princess and show their talents. " I will soon discover 
 where she is!" cried the Star-gazer, and, peeping throu^ 
 his telescope, he said, " I can see her already ; she is on a 
 rock in the midst of the sea far away from here, and 
 watched by the Dragon." Then he went to the King, and 
 requested a ship for himself and his Brothers, in which 
 they sailed over the sea till they came near the rock. The 
 Princess observed their arrival, but the Dragon was fast 
 asleep, with his head in her lap. "I dare not shoot!" said 
 the Hunter, when he saw them, for fear I should kill the 
 Princess as w^ell as the Dragon." " Then I will try my 
 remedy !" said the Thief ; and, slipping away, he stole the 
 Princess out of the power of the Dragon, but so lightly and 
 cunningly that the monster noticed nothing, but snored on. 
 Full of joy, they hurried with her down to the ship, and 
 steered away to the open sea; but the Dragon, soon 
 awaking, missed the Princess, and came flying through 
 the air full of rage in pursuit of her. Just as he was 
 hovering above the ship, and was about to alight on it, 
 the Huntsman took aim, fired, and shot the beast through 
 the heart. The Dragon fell, but in his fall he crushed the 
 whole ship to pieces, because of his great size and weight. 
 Luckily they saved a couple of planks, and on these tlie 
 four Brothers and the Princess floated about. They were 
 now in a great strait, but the Tailor with his wonderful 
 needle sewed together the two planks with great stitches, 
 and then collected the remaining pieces of the ship. These 
 he sewed together so cleverly that in a short time the whole 
 vessel was as tight and complete as before, and they sailed 
 home in her without further accident ! 
 
 As soon as the King saw his dear daughter again he 
 was very glad, and said to the four Brothers, " One of you 
 
The Four Accomplished Brothers. 163 
 
 shall have mj daughter to wife, but which, you must settle 
 
 j amongst yourselves." 
 
 Thereupon a tremendous quarrel took place between 
 thera, for each pressed his own claims. The Star-gazer 
 
 ; declared that if he had not seen the Princess all their 
 doings would have been of no use, and so she was his. 
 But the Thief exclaimed, " Of what use would your seeing 
 have been if I had not stolen her away from the Dragon ? 
 the Princess is mine!" "But you would have been all 
 
 : torn in pieces by the Dragon had not my ball reached his 
 heart!" interrupted the Huntsman; "and so she must be 
 mine." "That is all very fine!" said the Tailor; "but if 
 it had not been for my sewing the ship together again you 
 would have been all drowned ! no, the Princess is mine !" 
 When they had all spoken thus, the King decided the 
 question by saying : — " You have all an equal claim ; but, 
 since you cannot all have the Princess, not one of you shall 
 have her, but I will give each of you instead the half of a 
 province as a reward." 
 
 This decision pleased the Brothers, who said, "Yes, it 
 
 i will be better so, for then we shall remain united." There- 
 upon each received half the revenue of a province, as the 
 King said ; and in the enjoyment of this they lived happily 
 with their Father so long as God pleased. 
 
m 
 
 CXXIV. 
 
 The Donkey Cabbages. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a young Sportsman wh 
 was out in search of game. He had an honest an 
 merry heart, and whistled as he went along ; and by-an 
 by he met an ugly old Woman, who spoke to him an 
 said, " Good-day, my good Huntsman ; you are merry an 
 well fed, but I am suffering from hunger and thirst ; gi 
 me an alms, I pray you." The Sportsman pitied the po 
 woman, and, putting his hand in his pocket, gave her wh 
 he could afford. As soon as he had done so, he was wal 
 ing on ; but the Woman stopped him, and said to hi 
 Listen to what I have to say ; for your good-heartedne 
 I will make you a present; go now straight along thi 
 road, and soon you will come to a tree whereon sit nine 
 birds, quarrelling over a cloak which one will have. Aim 
 at them with your gun, and shoot in the midst of theraj 
 then, not only the mantle will drop, but also one of the 
 birds will fall down dead. Take the cloak with you; it is 
 a wishing-cloak, which if you put on your shoulders, you 
 have only to wish yourself where you would be, and at 
 the moment you will be there. Take out also the heart 
 of the dead bird, and swallow it whole, and then every 
 morning when you arise you will find a gold piece under 
 your pillow." 
 
 The Huntsman thanked the wise Woman, and thought 
 to himself, " These indeed are good gifts, if they turn out 
 as is promised." He had not gone a hundred yards from 
 the spot before he heard a great chirping and rustling 
 among the trees, and, looking up, he saw on one of them 
 a bevy of birds, who were plucking at a cloth with their 
 
The Donkey Cabbages. 
 
 165 
 
 bills and claws, tearing it among them, for each one wanted 
 it for itself. Now, this is wonderful !" cried the Sports- 
 man ; "it is come to pass just as the old woman prom- 
 ised!" and, lifting his gun to his shoulder, he shot at 
 the birds, who all flew awaj but one, which fell dead with 
 the cloak over which they had been disputing. Then the 
 Huntsman did as the old Wife had said; he cut out the 
 heart of the bird and swallowed it whole, but the cloak he 
 took home with him. 
 
 Tlie next morning when he awoke he remembered the 
 promise, and, lifting his pillow up, he found under it a 
 bright, shining piece of gold. The morrow morning it 
 was the same, and so it went on : every day he got up 
 he found another piece. Soon he collected a heap of 
 gold, and thought, "What use is all this gold to me if 
 I sta}^ at home? I will go away and look about the 
 world." 
 
 So he took leave of his parents, and, hanging around 
 
 I him his belt and pouch, he set out on his travels. One 
 day it chanced that he passed through a thick forest, and 
 as he came to the end of it he saw in the distance before 
 
 ; him a magnificent castle. At one window of it stood an 
 old Woman, with a wonderfully beautiful Maiden by her 
 side, looking out. But this old lady was a Witch, and 
 said to her daughter, "Here comes one out of the forest 
 
 , who has a wonderful treasure in his body, which we must 
 have ; for, my beloved daughter, it is more fit for us than 
 for him : it is a bird's heart, and whoever possesses it finds 
 a gold piece every morning under his pillow." She further 
 told her daughter how it was to be procured, and what she 
 was to do ; and threatened her, if she did not obey, to visit 
 her with some misfortune. As soon as the Huntsman 
 
 I approached he perceived the Maiden, and said to himself, 
 "I am weary enough with travelling about, so I will now 
 rest, and turn into this fine castle, for I have money 
 
166 Geimm's Household Stories. 
 
 enough." But the real reason was the beautiful face whic 
 he saw at the windows. 
 
 He entered the house, and was hospitably received an 
 courteously entertained ; and soon it came to pass that ^_ 
 was so in love with the daughter of the Witch that he 
 could think of nothing else, and followed her with his 
 eyes everywhere, willing to do all she Avished. Then the 
 old Woman said, " Now we must get the bird's heart, for 
 he will not miss it when it is gone !" She concocted, there- 
 fore, a drink ; and when it was ready she put it into a cup 
 and gave it to her daughter, who had to hand it to the 
 Huntsman, and say, "Now, dearest, drink to me!" He 
 took the cup, and as soon as he had swallowed the draught 
 the heart fell out of his mouth. The Maiden carried it 
 secretly away, and then swallowed it, for the old Woman 
 wanted it herself. Ever after the Huntsman no longer 
 found gold pieces under his pillow, for they lay now beneath 
 the Maiden's head, and the old Witch fetched them every 
 morning. But he never troubled himself about the matter, 
 and was content so long as he passed his time with the 
 Maiden. 
 
 Soon the old Witch began to say to her daughter, " We | 
 have the bird's heart, but not the cloak, which we ought ' 
 also to have." This the Maiden would fain have left him, 
 since he had lost his riches ; but the old mother flew into j, 
 a passion, and said, " This cloak is a wonderful thing, and i 
 such as is seldom found in the world, and I must and will 
 have it !" With these words she beat her daughter, and 
 vowed, if she did not obey her, to do her some injury. The 
 daughter, therefore, at the bidding of her mother, placed | 
 herself at the window one day, and looked sadly at the far ' 
 distance. " Why stand you so sorrowfully there ?" asked 
 the Huntsman. " Ah, my treasure !" she replied, " over 
 there lies the granite mountain, where grow precious stones, 
 and when I think about them I become quite sad, for I j 
 
The Donkey Cabbages. 
 
 167 
 
 long so for them ; but who can get them ? only the birds 
 which fly to and fro ; no man ever can." 
 
 " Is that all that you have to complain of?" said the 
 Huntsman ; " then I will soon remove that grief from your 
 heart." 
 
 Thereupon he put her under his cloak, and wished him- 
 self over the granite mountain ; and in a moment they were 
 
 1 set down in the place. There glittered the precious stones 
 on all sides, so that it was a pleasure to see them ; and 
 they collected the most costly ones together. But now the 
 Witch had caused by her arts a great drowsiness to come 
 
 ■ over the poor Huntsman, and he said to the Maiden, " We 
 will sit down and rest awhile, for I am so tired I cannot 
 keep upon my feet." So they sat down, and he laid his 
 head in her lap and went to sleep ; and while he slept the 
 Maiden took the cloak from his shoulder and threw it over 
 her own back, and then, gathering up the precious stones, 
 she wished herself home again. 
 
 By-and-by the Huntsman awoke, and found that his 
 mistress had deceived him, and left him alone on the wild 
 mountain. " Alas!" he cried, " what faithlessness there is 
 in the world !" and he remained lost in care and anxiety, 
 ignorant what to do. 
 
 The mountain belonged to some rough and mighty 
 Giants, who dwelt upon it and earned their living there ; 
 and in a short time the Huntsman perceived three of them 
 striding towards him. He laid himself down and feigned 
 to be in a deep sleep, and presently the three Giants came 
 striding along, and the first kicked him with his foot and 
 exclaimed, " What earthworm is this lying here?" " Tread 
 hira to death !" said the second Giant. But the third said, 
 contemptuously, " That is not worth while; let him alone, 
 he cannot remain here, and if he climbs higher up the hill 
 the clouds will take him and carry him away." After this 
 conversation they went away; but the Huntsman had 
 
168 Grimm's Household Stories. iH 
 
 noted all they said, and as soon as they were gone be gcJ 
 up and climbed to the top of the mountain. After he haJ 
 sat there a little while a cloud came sweeping by, which' 
 caught him up and carried him floating about the air. Then 
 it began to sink down over a large walled-in vegetable gar- 
 den, where, among cabbages and other herbs, he fell sot'tly 
 to the ground. There the Huntsman looked round, and 
 said, " If I had only something to eat, for with the distance 
 I have travelled I am very hungry ; but here I cannot see 
 a single apple, berry, or fruit of any kind ; everywhere 
 nothing but cabbages." At length he thought that out of 
 necessity he would eat a salad, which, although it had not 
 a delicate flavour, would yet refresh him. Thereupon he 
 looked out for a good head of cabbage, and ate thereof; 
 but he had scarcely tasted a couple of bites before he felt 
 a wondrous change come over hira, and found himiself quite 
 transformed. From his body grew four legs, a thick head, 
 and two long ears ; and he perceived with anguish that he 
 was changed into a donkey ! Still, however, his appetite 
 was not appeased, and because the cabbage tasted well now 
 to his animal appetite he ate with greater pleasure. At 
 last he tasted a different kind, and immediately he felt an- 
 other change come over him, and his human form returned. 
 
 The Huntsman now lay down and slept with weariness; 
 and when he awoke in the morning he broke off a head 
 of the bad and one of the good cabbages, and thought to 
 himself, " These shall help me to my own again and punish 
 the faithless one." With these words he concealed the cab- 
 bages about him, and, clambering over the wall, he set out 
 to search for the castle of his love. He luckily discovered 
 it when he had journeyed only a couple of days, and, 
 quickly browning his face so that his own mother would 
 not have recognised him, he went into the castle and 
 begged a night's lodging. "I am so tired," he said, "I 
 can go no further." The Witch asked him who he was, 
 
The Donkey Cabbages. 
 
 169 
 
 and what was his business ; and he told her he was one of 
 Ithe King's messengers, and had been sent to seek the 
 most delicate cabbage which grew upon the earth. " I 
 have been successful," said he, "and have the herb with 
 pe ; but the heat of the sun is so strong that the tender 
 'leaves threaten to wither, and I know not if I can 
 carry it farther." 
 
 As soon as the old Woman beard of this precious cab- 
 bage she became very agreeable, and begged the Hunts- 
 man to allow her to taste the vegetable. "Why not?" he 
 replied ; " I have got two cabbages with me, and will give 
 you one;" and, opening his sack, he handed her the bad 
 herb. The Witch, suspecting nothing wrong, took the 
 cabbage into the kitchen to cook it, for her mouth watered 
 ifor the unknown delicacy. As soon as it was ready she 
 Icould not wait till it was put on the table, but snatched a 
 part of it, and put it into her mouth. Scarcely had she 
 swallowed it when she lost her human form, and ran like a 
 |donkey into the stable-yard. Presently the servant went 
 into the kitchen and saw the cabbage ready dressed, which 
 she took up to carry in-doors ; but, according to old custom, 
 she tasted it on the way to the parlour. Immediately the 
 charm began to work, and she became a donkey, and ran 
 away to the other ; while the dish fell on the ground, and 
 its contents were spilled. The messenger meanwhile sat 
 with the Maiden, and when the cabbage did not come she 
 took a fancy to have some also, and wondered where it was. 
 The Huntsman thought, " The cabbage has begun to work!" 
 and said to the Maiden, " I will go into the kitchen and 
 see what has happened." As soon as he went down he 
 saw the two donkeys running about the court, and the cab- 
 bage lying on the floor. " All right !" cried he ; " two 
 'have received their share !" and, picking up the rest of the 
 cabbage, he laid it on a dish and took it to the Maiden. 
 " I have brought you this delicate dish myself," said he, 
 II.— 8 p 
 
170 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 " that you may not have to wait longer." Thereupon she 
 ate some of it, and soon, like the rest, lost her human 
 form, and ran as a donkey round the court. 
 
 Afterwards, when the Huntsman had washed his face, so 
 that the changed ones might recognise him, he went down 
 into the court, and said to the three, " Now you shall 
 be rewarded for your inconstancy I" He bound them all 
 three together with a rope, and drove them away to a mill. 
 There he knocked at the window, and the Miller, putting 
 his head out, asked him what his wishes were. " I have 
 three unruly animals here," he said, " whom I caimot keep 
 any longer. Will you take them of me, and give them 
 food and work, and treat them as I will tell you ; because, 
 if so, you shall have what you wish for so doing ?" 
 
 " Why not?" replied the Miller; "but how shall I treat 
 them?" The Huntsman told him that the old donkey, 
 which was the Witch, must be given daily three beatings 
 and one meal only ; that the youngest, which was the Ser- 
 vant, should receive one beating and three meals ; but the 
 other, which was the Maiden, no blows, but three meals; 
 for he could not make up his mind to cause her pain. 
 Thereupon the Huntsman returned to the castle, in which 
 he found all that he wanted. After three days came the 
 Miller, and told him he wished to mention that the donkey 
 for whom he had ordered only one meal and three beatings 
 was dead. " The two others," he said further, " are certain- 
 ly not dead, for they eat their three meals a day, but they 
 are so weak and ill they cannot last very long." At this 
 relation the Huntsman pitied the poor beasts, and told the 
 Miller to drive them up again. As soon as they came he 
 gave them a piece of the good cabbage to eat, and in a few 
 minutes their human form returned. Then the beautiful 
 Maiden fell on her knees before him, and said, " Oh, my 
 dear Huntsman, pardon me for the wrong I did you, for it 
 was not of my own free will, but because my mother com* 
 
The Donkey Cabbages. 
 
 171 
 
 Ipelled me, that I acted so ; then and now I love you with 
 my whole heart. Your wishing-cloak hangs in yon closet^ 
 Siud the heart of the bird I will bring to you again." 
 I When she had thus spoken the Huntsman pardoned 
 her freely, and begged her to keep the heart, for he meant 
 :to make her his bride. Soon afterwards the marriage was 
 performed, and they lived happily together to the end of 
 their lives. 
 
cxxv. 
 
 Little One-Eye, Little Two-Eyes, and 
 Little Three-Eyes. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a Woman who had three 
 daughters, the eldest of whom was named One-Eje, 
 because she had but a single eye, and that placed in the 
 middle of her forehead ; the second was called Two-Eyes, 
 because she was like other mortals ; and the third Three- 
 Eyes, because she had three eyes, and one of them in the 
 centre of her forehead, like her eldest sister. But, because 
 the second sister had nothing out of the common in her 
 appearance, she was looked down upon by her sisters, and 
 despised by her mother. " You are no better than common 
 folks," they would say to her; "you do not belong to us;'' 
 and then they would push her about, give her coarse cloth- 
 ing, and nothing else to eat but their leavings, besides 
 numerous other insults as occasion offered. 
 
 Once it happened that Two-Eyes had to go into the 
 forest to tend the goat ; and she went very hungry, because 
 her sisters had given her very little to eat that morning. 
 She sat down upon a hillock, and cried so much that her 
 tears flowed almost like rivers out of her e3^es ! By-and-by 
 she looked up, and saw a Woman standing by her, who 
 asked, "Why are you weeping, Two-Eyes?" "Because I 
 have two eyes like ordinary people," replied the maiden, 
 "and therefore my mother and sisters dislike me, push 
 me into corners, throw me their old clothes, and give me 
 nothing to eat but what they leave. To-day they have 
 given me so little that I am still hungry." "Dry your 
 eyes, then, now," said the wise Woman ; " I will tell you 
 
Little One-Eye, etc. 
 
 173 
 
 iBomething which shall prevent you from being hungry 
 again. You must say to your goat : — 
 
 * Little kid, milk 
 Table, appear!' 
 
 and immediately a nicely-filled table will stand before you, 
 with delicate food upon it, of which you can eat as much 
 as you please. And when you are satisfied, and have done 
 jwith the table, you must say : — 
 
 ' Little kid, milk 
 Table, depart !' 
 
 and it will disappear directly." With these words the wise 
 Woman went away, and little Two-Eyes thought to her- 
 self she would try at once if what the Woman said were 
 jtrue, for she felt very hungry indeed : — 
 
 " Little kid, milk 
 Table, appear !" 
 
 said the maiden, and immediately a table covered with a 
 white cloth stood before her, with a knife and fork, and 
 silver spoon ; and the most delicate dishes were ranged in 
 order upor^ it, and everything as warm as if they had been 
 just taken away from the fire. Two-Ej^es said a short 
 grace, and then began to eat; and when she had finished 
 she pronounced the words which the wise Woman had 
 told her : — 
 
 " Little kid, milk 
 Table, depart !" 
 
 and directly the table, and all that was on it, quickly 
 ! disappeared. "This is capital housekeeping," said the 
 maiden in high glee ; and at evening she went home with 
 her goat, and found an earthen dish which her sisters had 
 left her filled with their pickings. She did not touch it ; 
 and the next morning she went off again without taking 
 the meagre breakfast which was left out for her. The first 
 ^and second time she did this the sisters thought nothing 
 
 I 
 
174 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 of it ; but when she did the same the third morning theii 
 attention was roused, and they said, "All is not right witt 
 Two-Eyes; for she has left her meals twice, and haj| 
 touched nothing of what was left for her; she must havcj 
 found some other way of living." So they determined 
 that One-Eye should go with the maiden when she drove 
 the goat to the meadow, and pay attention to what passed, 
 and observe whether any one brought her to eat or to drink. 
 
 When Two-Eyes, therefore, was about to set off. One-' 
 Eye told her she was going with her to see whether she 
 took proper care of the goat and fed her sufficiently. Two- 
 Eyes, however, divined her sister's object, and drove the' 
 goat where the grass was finest, and then said, "Come, 
 One-Eye, let us sit down, and I will sing to you." So 
 One-Eye sat down, for she was quite tired with her un- 
 usual walk, and the heat of the sun. 
 
 " Are you awake or asleep, One-Eye ? 
 Are you awake or asleep ?" 
 
 sang Two-Eyes, until her sister really went to sleep. Asi 
 soon as she was quite sound the maiden had her table out, 
 and ate and drank all she needed ; and by the time One-^ 
 Eye awoke again the table had disappeared, and the maiden! 
 said to her sister, "Come, we will go home now; while you 
 have been sleeping the goat might have run about all over 
 the world !" So they went home, and, after Two-Eyes hadi 
 left her meal untouched, the mother inquired of One-Eye 
 what she had seen, and she was obliged to confess that she 
 had been asleep. 
 
 The following morning the mother told Three-Eyes 
 that she must go out and watch Two-Eyes, and see who 
 brought her food, for it was certain that some one must, 
 So Three-Eyes told her sister that she was going to accom- 
 pany her that morning to see if she took care of the goat 
 and fed her well ; but Two-Eyes saw through her design. 
 
Little One-Eye, etc. 
 
 175 
 
 and drove the goat again to the best feeding-place. Tlien 
 she asked her sister to sit down and she would sing to her, 
 and Three-Eyes did so, for she was very tired with her 
 long walk in the heat of the sun. Then Two-Eyes began 
 to sing as before : — 
 
 " Are you awake, Three-Eyes ?" 
 
 but, instead of continuing as she should have done, 
 
 " Are you asleep, Three-Eyes ?" 
 
 she said by mistake, 
 
 " Are you asleep, 2^wo-Eyes ?'* 
 
 ind so went on singing : — 
 
 " Are you awake, Three-Eyes ? 
 Are you asleep, Two-Eyes ?" 
 
 By-and-by Three-Eyes closed two of ber eyes, and went to 
 sleep with them ; but the third eye, which was not spoken 
 :o, kept open. Three-Eyes, however, cunningly shut it 
 too, and feigned to be asleep, while she was really watch- 
 ing; and soon Two-Eyes, thinking all safe, repeated the 
 words : — 
 
 " Little kid, milk 
 Table, appear !" 
 
 and as soon as she was satisfied she said the old words : — 
 
 " Little kid, milk 
 Table, depart !" 
 
 Three-Eyes watched all these proceedings ; and presently 
 Two-Eyes came and awoke her, saying, " Ah, sister! you 
 are a good watcher; but come, let us go home now." 
 When they reached home Two-Eyes again ate nothing; 
 and her sister told her mother she knew now why the 
 haughty hussy would not eat their victuals. " When she 
 is out in the meadow," said her sister, " she says. 
 
176 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 ' Little kid, milk 
 Table, appear !' 
 
 and directly a table comes up laid out with meat and wine 
 and everything of the best, much better than we have 
 and as soon as she has had enough she says, 
 
 * Little kid, milk 
 Table, depart !' 
 
 and all goes away directly, as I clearly saw. Certainly slu 
 did put to sleep two of my eyes; but the one in the middle 
 of my forehead luckily kept awake!" 
 
 Will you have better things than us ?" cried the en 
 vious mother ; " then you shall lose the chance ;" and, sc 
 saying, she took a carving-knife and killed the goat dead. 
 
 As soon as Two-Eyes saw this she went out very sor 
 rowful to the old spot and sat down where she had sat 
 before to weep bitterly. All at once the wise Woman 
 stood in front of her again, and asked why she was crying? 
 " Must I not cry," replied she, " when the goat which used , 
 to furnish me every day with a dinner, according to your 
 promise, has been killed by my mother, and I am again 
 suffering hunger and thirst?" "Two-Eyes," said the wise 
 Woman, " I will give you a piece of advice. Beg your 
 sisters to give you the entrails of the goat, and bury themi 
 in the earth before the house-door, and your fortune will 
 be made." So saying, she disappeared ; and Two-Eyes 
 went home, and said to her sisters, " Dear sisters, do give 
 me some part of the slain kid ; I desire nothing else ; let 
 me have the entrails." The sisters laughed, and readily 
 gave them to her ; and she buried them secretly before the| 
 threshold of the door, as the wise Woman had bidden her. 
 
 The following morning they found in front of the house 
 a wonderfully beautiful tree, with leaves of silver and fruits 
 of gold hanging from the boughs, than which nothing morej 
 splendid could be seen in the world. The tvvo elder sistersi 
 
Little One-Eye, etc. 
 
 177 
 
 were quite ignorant how the tree came where it stood ; but 
 Two-Ejes perceived that it was produced by the goat's en- 
 I trails, for it stood on the exact spot where she liad buried 
 i them. As soon as the mother saw it she told One-Eje to 
 I break off some of the fruit. One-Eje went up to the tree, 
 I and pulled a bough towards her, to pluck off the fruit; but 
 the bough flew back again directly out of her hands ; and 
 so it did every time she took hold of it, till she was forced 
 to give up, for she could not obtain a single golden apple 
 in spite of all her endeavours. Then the Mother said to 
 Three-Eyes, "Do you climb up, for you can see better 
 ; with your three eyes than your sister with her one." Three- 
 Eyes, however, was not more fortunate than her sister, for 
 the golden apples flew back as soon as she touched them. 
 : At last the mother got so impatient that she climbed the 
 ; tree herself ; but she met with no more success than either 
 of her daughters, and grasped the air only when she thought 
 she had the fruit. Two-Eyes now thought she would try, 
 and said to her sisters, "Let me get up ; perhaps I may be 
 1 successful." " Oh ! you are very likely, indeed," said they, 
 i "with your two eyes; you will see well, no doubt!" So 
 I Two-Eyes climbed the tree, and directly she touched the 
 I boughs the golden apples fell into her hands, so that she 
 . plucked them as fast as she could, and filled her apron be- 
 : fore she went down. Her mother took them of her, but 
 returned her no thanks ; and the two sisters, instead of 
 treating Two-Eyes better than they had done, were only 
 the more envious of her, because she alone could gather 
 the fruits — in fact, they treated her worse. 
 
 One morning, not long after the springing up of the 
 apple-tree, the three sisters were all standing together be- 
 neath it, when in the distance a young Knight was seen 
 riding towards them. " Make haste, Two-Eyes !" exclaim- 
 ed the two elder sisters, " make haste and creep out of our 
 way, that we may not be ashamed of you ;" and so saying, 
 II.— 8* 
 
178 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 they put over her in great haste an empty cask whi 
 stood near, and which covered the golden apples as we 
 which she had just been plucking off. Soon the Knig 
 came up to the tree, and the sisters saw he was a ve 
 handsome man, for he stopped to admire the fine silv 
 leaves and golden fruit, and presently asked to whom t 
 tree belonged, for he should like to have a branch off i 
 One-Eye and Three-Eyes replied that the tree belonged 
 them ; and they tried to pluck a branch off for the Knigh 
 They had their trouble for nothing, however ; for t 
 boughs and fruits flew back as soon as they touch 
 them, " This is very wonderful," cried the Knight, "th 
 this tree should belong to you, and yet you cannot pluc 
 the fruit !" The sisters, however, maintained that it w 
 theirs; but while they spoke Two-Byes rolled a golde 
 apple from underneath the cask, so that it travelled to t' 
 feet of the Knight, for she was angry because her eld 
 sisters had not spoken the truth. When he saw the appl 
 he was astonished, and asked where it came from, an 
 One-Eye and Three-Eyes said they had another sister, b 
 they dared not let her be seen, because she bad only t' 
 eyes, like common folk ! The Knight, however, woul 
 see her, and called, " Two-Eyes, come here !" and soon s' 
 made her appearance from under the cask. The Knig 
 was bewildered at her great beauty, and said, You, Tw 
 Eyes, can surely break off a bough of this tree for me ? 
 " Yes," she replied, " that I will, for it is my property ; 
 and, climbing up, she easily broke off a branch with silv 
 leaves and golden fruit, which she handed to the Knigh 
 " What can I give you in return, Two-Eyes ?" asked th 
 Knight. "Alas! if you will take me with you I shall b 
 happy, for now I suffer hunger and thirst, and am in 
 trouble and grief from early morning to late evening: take 
 me, and save me 1" Thereupon the Knight raised Two- 
 Eyes upon his saddle, and took her home to his father's 
 
Little One-Eye, etc. 
 
 179 
 
 castle. There he gave her beautiful clothes, and all she 
 i wished for to eat or to drink ; and afterwards, because his 
 i love for her had become so great, he married her, and a 
 t very happy wedding they had. 
 
 ( Her two sisters meanwhile were very jealous when 
 i Two-Eyes was carried off by the Knight ; but they con- 
 I soled themselves by saying, "The wonderful tree remains 
 I still for us; and, even if we cannot get at the fruit, every- 
 i body that passes will stop to look at it, and then come and 
 praise it to us. Who knows where our wheat may bloom !" 
 The morning after this speech, however, the tree disap- 
 I peared, and with it all their hopes; but, when Two-Eyes 
 ' that same day looked out of her chamber window, behold, 
 the tree stood before it, and there remained ! 
 
 For a long time after this occurrence Two-Eyes lived in 
 I the enjoyment of the greatest happiness ; and one morning 
 ■ two poor women came to the palace and begged an alms. 
 I Two-Eyes, after looking narrowly at their faces, recognised 
 her two sisters One-Eye and Three-Eyes, who had come to 
 such great poverty that they were forced to wander about, 
 begging their bread from day to day. Two-Eyes, however, 
 bade them welcome, invited them in, and took care of 
 ' them, till they both repented of the evil which they had 
 1 done to their sister in the days of their childhood. 
 
CXXVI. 
 
 The Fair Catherine and Pif-paf 
 Poltrie. 
 
 GOOD-DAY, Father Hollenthe. How do you do?" 
 "Very well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie." "May I 
 marry your daughter?" " Oh yes ! if the mother Malcho 
 (Milk-Cow), the brother Hohenstolz (High and Mighty), 
 the sister Kasetraut (Cheesemaker), and the fair Catherine 
 are willing, it may be so." 
 
 "Where is, then, the mother Malcho?" 
 " In the stable, milking the cow." 
 " Good-day, mother Malcho. How do you do?" " Yery 
 well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie." " May I marry your 
 daughter?" "Oh 3^es! if the father Hollenthe, the brother 
 Hohenstolz, the sister Kasetraut, and the fair Catherine are 
 willing, it may be so." 
 
 " Where is, then, the brother Hohenstolz ?" 
 "In the yard, chopping up the wood." 
 "Good-day, brother Hohenstolz. How are you?" 
 "Yery well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie." "May I 
 marry your sister?" "Oh yes! if the father Hollenthe, 
 the mother Malcho, the sister Kasetraut, and the fair 
 Catherine are willing, it may be so." 
 
 "Where is, then, the sister Kasetraut?" 
 " In the garden, cutting the cabbages." 
 " Good-day, sister Kasetraut. How do you do ?" 
 "Yery well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie." "May I 
 marry 3^our sister?" "Oh yes! if the father Hollenthe, 
 the mother Malcho, the brother Hohenstolz, and the fair 
 Catherine are willing, it may be so." 
 
 "Where is, then, the fair Catherine?" 
 
The Fair Catherine and Pif-paf Poltrie. 181 
 
 " In her chamber, counting out her pennies." 
 Good-day, fair Catherine. How do you do ?" Yery 
 well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie?" "Will you be my 
 bride?" "Oh yes! if the father Hollenthe, the mother 
 Malcho, the brother Hohenstolz, and the sister Kasetraut 
 are willing, so am I." 
 
 " How much money have you, fair Catherine?" 
 
 "Fourteen pennies in bare money, two and a half 
 farthings owing to me, half-a-pound of dried apples, a 
 handful of prunes, and a handful of roots ; and don't you 
 call that a capital dowry?" 
 
 "Pif-paf Poltrie, what trade are you ? are you a tailor?" 
 "Better still!" "A shoemaker?" "Better still!" "A 
 ploughman?" "Better still!" "A joiner?" "Better 
 still!" "Asmith?" " Better still !" "A miller?" "Bet- 
 ter still!" "Perhaps a broom-binder?" "Yes, so ami; 
 now, is not that a pretty trade ?" 
 
CXXVII. 
 
 The Fox and the Horse. 
 
 THERE was once a Farmer who had a Horse which 
 served him faithfully till he was too old to work any 
 longer, and then his master would not give him anything 
 to eat, but said, " I cannot really find any use for you now, 
 but still I mean you well, and so, if you will show your- 
 self strong enough to bring home a Lion, I will requite 
 you ; but now you must make yourself scarce in this 
 stable!" So saying, the Farmer drove the poor horse 
 out ; and he went with drooping head towards the forest 
 to shelter himself there from the weather. In among the 
 trees he met a Fox, who asked why he looked so careworn 
 and walked so downcast. 
 
 "Alas!" said the Horse, "avarice and fidelity dwell 
 not in the same house together : my master has forgotten 
 all the services which I have rendered him for so many 
 years, and, because I am unable now to work any longer, 
 he will not give me any fodder, but has driven me out of 
 the stable." 
 
 " Without any hope ?" inquired the Fox. 
 " The hope is poor," replied the Horse; "he said that 
 if I were strong enough to bring him back a Lion he would 
 receive me ; but he knows well enough I cannot do that." 
 
 "Then I will help you," replied the Fox; "now lay 
 down and stretch yourself out, and do not stir, so that you 
 may appear dead." 
 
 The Horse, accordingly, did as he was bid, and the Fox 
 went to the Lion, whose den was not very far off, and said 
 to him, " Near here lies a dead Horse ; come with me and 
 you may make a capital meal." The Lion accompanied 
 
The Fox and the Horse. 
 
 183 
 
 the Fox, and when they came to the Horse the Fox said, 
 " Hist ! Hsten to what I am about to say ; you can have 
 this at your convenience ; I will bind it to you by the tail 
 and you shall then drag it away to your den, and devour 
 it at your leisure." This advice pleased the Lion, and, in 
 order that the Fox might knot the Horse's tail fast to him, 
 he stood with his back towards it quite still. The Fox, 
 however, cunningly tied the Lion's legs together with the 
 hairs of the Horse's tail, and pulled and knotted all so 
 carefully that no strength could have divided it. As soon 
 as his work was finished the Fox tapped the Horse on the 
 shoulder, and cried, "Drag, my friend, drag!" The Horse 
 jumped up at once and drew the Lion away with him. 
 The beast soon began to roar, so that all the birds in the 
 forest flew away for terror, but the Horse let him roar 
 while he quietly dragged him to his master's door. Now, 
 when the Farmer saw this proof of the fidelity of his 
 Horse, he thought better of his former resolution, and said 
 to the faithful animal, "You shall remain with me now, 
 and live at your ease." And so the good Horse had good 
 meals and good treatment till he died. 
 
CXXVIII. 
 
 The Six Servants. 
 
 ALONG time ago lived an old Queen, who was also an 
 enchantress ; and her daughter was the most beautiful 
 creature under the sun. But the old woman was ever 
 thinking how to entice men, in order to kill them, and 
 every suitor, therefore, who came was compelled, before he 
 could marry the daughter, to answer a riddle which the 
 Queen proposed, and which was always so puzzling that 
 it could not be solved; and the unfortunate lover was 
 thereupon forced to kneel down and have his head struck 
 off. Many and many a poor youth had been thus de- 
 stroyed, for the maiden was very pretty ; and still another 
 King's son was found who made up his mind to brave the 
 danger. He had heard of the great beauty of the Princess, 
 and he prayed his father to let him go and win her. 
 "Never!" replied the King, "if you go away, you go to 
 die!" At this answer the son felt very ill, and so con- 
 tinued for seven years nigh unto death's door, for no 
 physician could do him any good. At last, when the old 
 King saw all hope was gone, he said to his son, " Go now 
 and try your fortune, for I know not how else to restore 
 you!" As soon as the Prince heard the word he jumped 
 up from his bed, and felt new strength and vigour return 
 to him while he made ready for his journey. 
 
 Soon he set off, and as he rode along across a common 
 he saw at a distance something lying on the ground like a 
 bundle of hay ; but, as he approached nearer, he discovered 
 that it was a Man who had stretched himself on the earth, 
 and was as big as a little hill ! The fellow waited till the 
 
The Six Servants. 
 
 185 
 
 Prince came up, aud then said to liim, rising as he spoke, 
 " If you need any one take me into your service !" 
 
 " What shall I do with such an uncouth fellow as you?" 
 asked the Prince. 
 
 " That matters not," replied the Man, " were I a thou- 
 ^sand times as clumsy, if I can render you a service." 
 j " Yery well, perhaps I shall need you," said the Prince ; 
 "come with me." So Fatty accompanied his new master, 
 and presently they met with another Man, who was also 
 lying on the ground, with his ear close to the grass. " What 
 are you doing there ?" asked the Prince. 
 
 " I am listening," he replied. 
 
 "And to what are you listening so attentively?" pur- 
 sued the Prince. 
 
 'I am listening to what is going on in the world 
 around," said the Man, " for nothing escapes my hearing ; 
 I can even hear the grass growing." 
 
 "Tell me, then," said the Prince, " tell me what is pass- 
 ing at the court of the old Queen who has such a beautiful 
 . daughter." 
 
 j " I hear," replied the Man, the whistling of the 
 sword which is about to cut off the head of an unsuccess- 
 ful wooer." 
 
 " Follow me, I can find a use for you," said the Prince 
 to the Listener ; and so the three now journeyed together. 
 P/esently they came to a spot where were lying two feet 
 ,and part of two legs, but they could not see the continua- 
 tion of them till they had walked a good stretch further, 
 and then they came to the body, and at length to the head. 
 "Halloa!" cried the Prince, "what a length you are !" 
 
 " Oh !" replied Long-Legs, "not so much of that! why, 
 if I stretch my limbs out as far as I can, I am a thousand 
 times as long, and taller than the highest mountain on the 
 earth ; but, if you will take me, I am ready to serve you." 
 
 The Prince accepted his offer, and, as they went along, 
 
186 Grimm's Household Stories. h 
 
 they came to a man who had his eyes bandaged up. " HaiH 
 you blood-shot eyes," inquired the Prince, " that you bind 
 your eyes up in that way ?" 
 
 " No !" rephed the Man ; " but I dare not take away 
 the bandage, for whatever I look at splits in two, so power- 
 ful is my sight ; nevertheless, if I am of use, I will accom- 
 pany you." 
 
 Thereupon the Prince accepted also the services of this 
 Man ; and, as they went on, they found another fellow, 
 who, although he was lying on the ground in the scorching 
 heat of the sun, trembled and shivered so that not a limb 
 in his body stood still. " What makes you freeze, when 
 the sun shines like this?" asked the Prince. 
 
 "Alas ! my nature is quite different from anything else!'" 
 replied the Man ; " the hotter it is the colder I feel, and 
 the frost penetrates all my bones ; while the colder it is 
 the hotter I feel ; so that I cannot touch ice for the heat of 
 my body, nor yet go near the fire for fear I should freeze 
 it!" 
 
 " You are a wonderful fellow 1" said the Prince ; " come 
 with me, and perhaps I may need you." So the Man fol- 
 lowed with the rest ; and they came next to a Man who 
 was stretching his neck to such a length that he could see 
 over all the neighbouring hills. " What are you looking 
 at so eagerly ?" asked the Prince. 
 
 " I have such clear eyes," replied the Man, " that I can 
 see over all the forests, fields, valleys, and hills ; in fact, 
 quite round the world !" 
 
 " Come with me, then," said the Prince, " for I have 
 need of a companion like you." 
 
 The Prince now pursued his way with his six servants 
 to the cit}^ where the old Queen dwelt. When he arrived 
 he would not tell his name, but told the Witch if she would 
 give him her daughter he would do all she desired. The 
 old Enchantress was delighted to have such a handsome 
 
 / 
 
The Six Servants. 
 
 187 
 
 jyoung man fall into her clutches, and told him she would 
 •set "him three tasks, and, if he performed them all, the 
 Princess should become his wife. 
 
 "What is the first, then?" asked the Prince. 
 : " You must fetch for me a ring which I have let fall into 
 ifche Eed Sea," said the Queen. Then the Prince returned 
 jliome to his servants, and said to them, " The first task is 
 no easy one ; it is to fetch a ring out of the Eed Sea ; but 
 !et us consult together." 
 
 1 "I will see where it lies," said he with the clear eyes; 
 md, looking down into the water, he continued, " there it 
 nangs on a pointed stone !" 
 
 " If I could but see it I would fetch it up," said Long- 
 A^rms. " Is that all ?" said Fatty, and, lying down on the 
 iDank, he held his mouth open to the water and the stream 
 '-an in as if into a pit, till at length the whole sea was as 
 llry as a meadow. Long- Arms, thereupon, bent down a 
 iittle, and fetched out the ring, to the great joy of the 
 ?rince, who carried it to the old Witch. She was mightily 
 istonished, but confessed it was the right ring. " The first 
 [ask you have performed, happilj^," she said; ''but now 
 •iomes the second. Do you see those three hundred oxen 
 grazing on the meadows before my palace ; all those you 
 Inust consume, flesh, bones, and skins, and horns ; then in 
 • ny cellar are three hundred casks of wine, which must all 
 pe drunk out by you; and if you leave a single hair of 
 Imy of the oxen, or one drop of the wine you will lose 
 ^our life." 
 
 "May I invite any guests to the banquet," asked the 
 Mnce, " for no dinner is worth having without?" The old 
 vYoman smiled grimly, but told him he might have one 
 ^uest for company, but no more. 
 
 Thereupon the Prince returned again to his servants, 
 nd told them what the task was ; and then he invited 
 ^atty to be his guest. He came, and quickly consumed 
 
188 Grimm's Household Stories. HI 
 
 the three hundred oxen, flesh and bones, skin and horns, 
 while he made as if it were only a good breakfast. Next 
 he drank all the wine out of every cask, without so much 
 as using a glass, but draining them all to the very dregs. 
 As soon as the meal was over the Prince went and told the 
 Queen he had performed the second task. She was much 
 astonished, and said no one had ever before got so far as^ 
 that ; but she determined that the Prince should not escape 
 her, for she felt confident he would lose his head about the 
 third task. " This evening," said she, " I will bring my 
 daughter into your room, and you shall hold her round 
 with one arm ; but mind you do not fall asleep while you 
 sit there, for at twelve o'clock I shall come, and if my 
 daughter is not with you then you are lost." " This task 
 is easy," thought the Prince to himself ; "I shall certainly 
 keep my eyes open." Still he called his servants together, 
 and told them what the old woman had said. "Who 
 knows," said he, " what craftiness may be behind? foresight 
 is necessary ; do you keep watch, that nobody passes o\]A 
 of the chamber during the night." 
 
 As soon as night came the old Queen brought the 
 Princess to the Prince, and then Long-Arms coiled himself 
 in a circle round the pair, and Fatty placed himself in the 
 doorway, so that not a living soul could enter the room. 
 So there the two sat, and the maiden spoke not a word, but 
 the moon shone through the window upon her face, so that 
 the Prince could see her great beauty. He did nothing but 
 look at her, was full of happiness and love, and felt no 
 weariness at all. This lasted till eleven o'clock, and then 
 the old Witch threw a charm over all, so that they fell 
 fast asleep, and at the same moment the maiden was car- 
 ried off. 
 
 Till a quarter to twelve the three slept soundly, but 
 then the charm lost its strength, and they all awoke again. 
 ** Oh, what a terrible misfortune !" cried the Prince as sood 
 
The Six Sekvants. 189 
 
 as he awoke, " I am lost !" The faithful servants also began 
 to complain ; but the Listener said, " Be quiet and I will 
 hear where she is !" He listened a moment, and then said, 
 "The Princess is sitting three hundred miles from hence, 
 inside a cave, bewailing her fate. You alone can help us, 
 Long- Arms ; if you set to the task you will be there in a 
 couple of strides." ''Certainly!" said Long- Arms ; "but 
 Sharp-Eyes must also go with us to pierce the rock." Then 
 he hoisted Sharp-Eyes upon his back, and in a moment, 
 while one could scarcely turn his hand round, they were 
 before the enchanted rock. Immediately Sharp-Eyes re- 
 moved his bandage, and, looking round, the rocky cave 
 (was shattered into a thousand pieces. Then Long- Arms 
 took the Princess out of the ruins and carried her home first, 
 and, immediately returning for his companion, they were 
 all seated, rejoicing at their fortunate escape, before the 
 3lock struck twelve. 
 
 i As soon as it did strike, the old Enchantress slipped 
 iinto the room, smiling horribly, for she thought her daughter 
 was safe enough in the rocky cave, and the Prince was 
 ;iers. But when she perceived her daughter in the arms 
 3f the Prince she was terrified, and exclaimed, "Here is 
 )ne who can do more than I can !" She dared not, how- 
 jver, deny her promise, and the maiden was therefore 
 Detrothed to the Prince. But the old woman whispered in 
 lier daughter's ear, "Shame upon you that you listened to 
 pommon folks, and dared not to choose a husband after 
 /our own wishes !" 
 
 With these words the proud heart of the Princess was 
 fnflamed, and she thought of revenge ; and accordingly, the 
 bllowing day, she caused three hundred bundles of faggots 
 jO be heaped together, and then said to the Prince, " The 
 [hree tasks were soon performed; but still I will not marry 
 i^ou until some one shall be found who will sit upon the 
 lire of these faggots and endure it." She thought none of 
 
190 Ghimm's Household Stories. 
 
 his servants would be burnt for their master ; and so tha^ 
 because out of love for her, he would himself sit upon th. 
 pile, she would be freed from him. But the servants said 
 that Frosty had done nothing as yet, though they all had, 
 and so they placed him on the top of the pile of wood. 
 The fire was immediately kindled and burnt for three days, 
 until all the wood was consumed; but, when the flames 
 ceased, there stood Frosty in the midst of the ashes, shiver- 
 ing like an aspen-leaf, and declaring that he never before 
 experienced such a frost, and must have perished if it had 
 lonsjer continued ! 
 
 After this no further excuse could be made, and the 
 beautiful Princess was obliged to take the unknown stran- 
 ger as her husband. But just as they were going to church 
 the old Queen declared again that she could not bear the 
 shame, and she sent her guards after the wedding party 
 with orders, at all risks, to bring back her daughter. The 
 Listener, however, had kept his ears open, and he discov- 
 ered the secret designs of the old Witch. " What shall we 
 do ?" asked he of Fatty ; but the latter was equal to thei 
 occasion, and, spitting behind him once or twice a drop orl 
 two of the sea- water which he had formerly drunk, there 
 was formed a great lake, in which the Queen's guards were 
 caught and drowned. The Queen as soon as she saw this 
 catastrophe despatched her mounted guards; but the List- 
 ener heard the rattlings of their trappings, and unbound 
 the eyes of their fellow-servant, whose look, as soon as he 
 directed it upon the approaching enemy, shivered them 
 like glass. The bridal party now passed on undisturbed; 
 and, as soon as the blessing had been pronounced over ;he 
 new married pair, the six servants took their leave, saying 
 to their former master, " Your wishes are fulfilled, and you 
 no longer require us ; we will therefore journey on and seek 
 our fortunes elsewhere." f 
 
 Now, about half a mile from the Queen's palace was aj 
 
The Six Servants. 
 
 191 
 
 Ivillage before which a swineherd was tending his drove of 
 (pigs; and, as the Prince and Princess passed hy it, the 
 former said to his wife, "Do you know who I really am? 
 1[ am no King's son, but a swineherd, and this man here 
 uvith this drove is my father; we two must therefore get 
 put and assist him !" So saying, he dismounted with her 
 from the carriage, and they went together into the inn ; 
 ind he ordered the host to carry away secretly during the 
 jiight the royal clothes belonging to his wife. Accordingly, 
 |vhen morning came, the poor Princess had nothing to 
 v^ar; but the hostess gave her an old gown and a pair of 
 •Id slippers, and of these things made a great favour, tell- 
 ng her that she certainly would not have lent them to her 
 lad not her husband begged for them ! 
 
 The Princess now began really to believe that her hus- 
 and was a swineherd, and with him she tended the drove, 
 jnd thought it was a punishment for her pride and ambi- 
 lon. This continued for eight days, and then she could 
 iear it no longer, for her feet were wounded all over. Just 
 't that time two persons came to her, and asked if she knew 
 ho her husband was. "Yes, he is a swineherd," she re- 
 [lied, "and is just now gone to drive a little trade with a 
 '•w ribands and laces." 
 
 "Come with us now, and we will take you to him," 
 -id the two strangers to the Princess ; and they took her 
 to the palace, where her husband stood arrayed in his 
 lyal robes in the great hall. She did not, however, re- 
 )gnise him until he fell on her neck, and said to her, 
 il have suffered so much for you that it was only right 
 at you should also suffer for me !" and with these words 
 ; kissed her lovingly. Soon afterwards their wedding 
 as celebrated with due form, and with so much grandeur 
 I at I who tell this story would like to have been there 
 ■ see ! 
 
CXXIX. 
 
 The Old Woman in the Wood. 
 
 ONCE upon a time a poor Servant Girl was travelling 
 with her boxes through a wood, and just as she got tc 
 the middle of it she found herself in the power of a mur- 
 dering band of robbers. All at once they sprang out of 
 the brushwood, and came towards her ; but she jumped out 
 of her cart in terror, and hid herself behind a tree. As 
 soon as the robbers had disappeared with their booty she 
 came from her hiding-place, and saw her great misfortune. 
 She began to cry bitterly, and said to herself, " What shall 
 I do now, a poor girl like me ; I cannot find my way out' 
 of the wood ; nobody lives here, and I must perish with: 
 hunger." She looked about for a road, but could not jindl 
 one ; and when evening came she sat down under a tree,i 
 and commending herself to God, determined to remain 
 where she was, whatever might happen. She had not sat 
 there a long while before a little White Pigeon came flying' 
 towards her, carrying in his beak a small golden key. Thei 
 bird put the key into the Girl's hand, and said, " Do you; 
 see yon great tree? within it is a cupboard, which is opened 
 with this key, and there you will find food enough, so that 
 you need not suffer hunger any longer." The Girl went 
 to the tree, and unlocking it^ found pure milk in a jug, and 
 white bread fit to break into it ; and of these she made ai 
 good meal. When she had finished, she said to herseli^ 
 At home now the cocks and hens are gone to roost, and! 
 am so tired I should like to go to bed myself. In a mo-| 
 ment the Pigeon flew up, bringing another gold key in hisi 
 bill, and said, "Do you see yon tree? open it and you will 
 find a bed within !" She opened it, and there stood the 
 
The Old Woman in the Wood. 
 
 193 
 
 little white bed ; and, after saying her prayers and asking 
 God's protection during the night, she went to sleep. In 
 the morning the Pigeon came for the third time, bringing 
 another key, with which he told the Girl to open a certain 
 tree, and there she would find plenty of clothes. When 
 she did so, she found dresses of all kinds ornamented with 
 gold and precious stones, as beautiful as any princess could 
 desire. And here in this spot the maiden dwelt for a 
 time ; while the Pigeon every day brought her what she 
 needed; and it was a very quiet and peaceful life. 
 
 One day, however, the Pigeon came and asked the 
 Maiden whether she would do an act of love for him. 
 "With all my heart," w^as her reply. "I wish you then," 
 said the Pigeon, " to come with me to a little cottage, and 
 to go into it, and there on the hearth you will see an old 
 Woman, who will say ' Good day !' But for my sake give 
 her no answer, let her do what she will ; but go past her 
 right hand, and you will see a door which you must open, 
 and pass into a room, where upon a table will lie a number 
 of rings of all descriptions, and among them several with 
 glittering stones; but leave them alone, and look out a 
 plain one which will be there, and bring it to me as quickly 
 as possible." 
 
 The Maiden thereupon went to the cottage, and stepped 
 in ; and there sat an old Woman who made a great face 
 when she saw her, but said, " Good day, my child !" The 
 Maiden made no answer, but went towards the door. 
 "Whither are you going?" cried the old Woman, "that 
 is my house, and nobody shall enter it unless I do wish !" 
 and she tried to detain the Maiden by catching hold of her 
 dress. But she silently loosened herself, and went into the 
 room, and saw the heap of rings upon the table, which 
 glittered and shone before her eyes. She threw them aside 
 and searched for the plain ring, but could not find it; and 
 while she searched she saw the old Woman slip in and 
 
 II.— 9 R 
 
194 
 
 Gkhim's Household Stories. 
 
 take up a bird-cage, with which she made off. So the 
 Maid pursued her, and took the bird-cage away from her. ^ 
 As she looked at it she saw the ring in the bill of the bird | 
 which was in it. She took the ring and ran home, joyfully 
 expecting the White Pigeon would come and fetch the 
 ring, but he did not. So she leaned herself back against Ij 
 her tree and waited for the bird ; but presently the t^ee 
 became as it were weak and yielding, and its branches 
 began to droop. All at once the boughs bent round, and 
 became two arms ; and as the Maiden turned round, the 
 tree became a handsome man, who embraced and kissed 
 her, saying, " You have saved me out of the power of the 
 old Woman, who is an evil witch. She changed me into 
 a tree a long while ago, and every day I became a AVhite 
 Pigeon for a couple of hours ; but so long as she had pos- 
 session of the ring I could not regain my human form." 
 Thereupon his servants and horses recovered also from the 
 enchantment, for they likewise had been changed into 
 trees; and once more they accompanied their master to 
 his kingdom (for he was a King's sOn,) and there he mar- 
 ried the Maiden, and they lived happily ever afterwards. 
 
cxxx. 
 
 The White and the Black Bride. 
 
 ONE fine day a Woman, accompanied by her Daughter 
 and Step-daughter, were walking over the fields in 
 search of food. Presently they met a poor Man, who asked 
 them, " Which is the way to the village?" ''If you want 
 to know," replied the Mother, "find it yourself!" and her 
 Daughter continued, "If you have a mind to go right, you 
 had better take a guide with you !" But the Step-daughter 
 said, "Poor man! I will show you; come with me." 
 
 Thereupon the Beggar, who was an Angel in disguise, 
 turned his back upon the Mother and Daughter, and wished 
 they might become as black as night and as ugly as owls. 
 But to the other poor Girl the Angel was kind, and went 
 with her till they approached the village, when he gave 
 her a blessing, and said, " Choose now three things, and 
 they shall be given you." " I would wish, then, to be as 
 beautiful and spotless as the sun ;" and, as she spoke, her 
 skin became as white and fair as a sunbeam. " I would 
 like next to have a purse of money which should never be 
 empty !" and this also the Angel gave her, saying, "Forget 
 not what is best." " For the third thing," said the Maiden, 
 "I desire to inherit a place in the kingdom of heaven after 
 ray death." This also was promised, and then the good 
 Angel disappeared. 
 
 By-and-by the Stepmother and Daughter returned 
 home; but as soon as they perceived their own black 
 skins and ugly faces, and saw the pureness and brightness 
 of the other Girl's face, evil thoughts entered their hearts, 
 and they thought how they could injure her. Now the 
 Girl had a brother, Eeginald, whom she loved very dearly, 
 
196 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 and to him she told all that had happened. " Dear sister," 
 said he to her, " I will paint your portrait, that I may al- 
 ways have you before me ; for my love for you is so great 
 I wish never to part with you." " Then let no one ever 
 see it, I beg you," said the Sister. So he painted the por- 
 trait, and hung it up in his room at the royal palace, for he 
 was Coachman to the King; and every day he used to 
 stand before it and bless God for his goodness to his Sister. 
 Just at that time, however, the King, his master, had lost 
 his wife, who was such a beautiful woman that nobody ha 
 ever yet seen her equal ; and the King was consequent] 
 in very deep grief. Now, the Coachman's fellow-servan* 
 had remarked how he was accustomed every day to stand 
 before a certain picture, and they grew jealous of him, and 
 mentioned it to the King. The King ordered the portrait 
 to be brought to him; and when he saw the likeness to hi- 
 dear wife, only the Girl was still more beautiful, his sorrow 
 broke out afresh. He summoned the Coachman, and asked 
 whom the picture represented ; and when his servant told 
 him it was his Sister, he determined to make her his bride; 
 and, giving the Coachman a carriage and horses and beau- 
 tiful clothes, he sent him away to fetch his Sister. As soon, 
 as Keginald arrived with his message his Sister rejoiced;jj 
 but the black one was jealous at the others good fortune, 
 vexed herself above measure, and said to her Mother, " Of 
 what use now are all our arts, since they have never 
 brought me such a luck as this?" "Be quiet!" said the 
 old Woman; "I will turn it to you;" and then, through 
 her witchcraft, she caused a half-blindness to come over the 
 Coachman's eyes, and took away the hearing of her white 
 Daughter-in-law. After this they got into the carriage to- 
 gether; first the Bride, in her beautiful princely robes, 
 and then the Stepmother with her Daughter, while Kegi- 
 nald sat on the box to drive. When they had gone a short 
 distance the Coachman said, 
 
The White and the Black Bride. 197 
 
 "Now cover yourself, my sister dear, 
 That the wind may not come too near, too near ! 
 That the rain may not against you beat, 
 And niaJie you unfit the King to greet !" 
 
 " What does my dear brother say ?" asked the Bride. 
 " Oh," said the old Mother, " he says you are to take off 
 your fine golden dress and give it to your sister." She 
 drew it off as she was bid and gave it to her Sister, receiv- 
 ing in exchange an old grey cloak. Then they drove on, 
 and presently the Coachman sang again, 
 
 "Now cover yourself, my sister dear, 
 That the wind may not come too near, too near ! 
 That the rain may not against you beat, 
 And make you unfit the King to meet !" 
 
 " What does my dear brother say ?" asked the Bride 
 again. "He says," said the old Woman, "that you must 
 take off your golden hood, and give it to your Sister!" 
 The Bride therefore handed it to her without a word, and 
 placed it on her black hair, and presently the Coachman 
 jsang the same words a third time, 
 
 ! " Now cover yourself, my sister dear, 
 
 That the wind may not come too near, too neai* ! 
 That the rain may not against you beat, 
 And make you unfit the King to greet !" 
 
 j The Bride asked once more, "What does my brother 
 isay this time?" "Alas!" cried the old Stepmother, "he 
 told you to look out of the carriage and see the palace in 
 'the distance." Just as she spoke they were passing over a 
 bridge under which ran a deep river ; and so when the 
 ■Bride stood up to look out her Mother and Sister pushed 
 her out of the carriage, and she fell into the water. At 
 the same moment that she sank a snow-white Swan made 
 its appearance on the surface of the stream, and swam 
 down it. But of all these proceedings the Brother had 
 .observed and known nothing till he had driven up to the 
 
198 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 palace. There he took the black Sister to the King, and 
 presented her as the original of his portrait, for he really 
 thought she was so because his eyes could see nothing but 
 the glitter of the golden dress. But the King was terribly 
 enraged when he saw the ugliness of his proposed bride, 
 and he ordered the Coachman to be flung into a pit fall of 
 vipers and snakes. The old Witch, however, contrived to 
 deceive the King, and blinded his eyes so much through 
 her arts, that he received her and her black Daughter, and 
 at length was really married to the latter. 
 
 One evening afterwards, when the black Bride was 
 sitting on the King's lap, a white Swan came to the gutter 
 in the kitchen, and, swimming in, said to the Cookmaid, 
 
 " Make a good fire, I pray, I pray, 
 That I my feathers may diy !" 
 
 So the maid made up a roaring fire on the hearth, and 
 the Swan placed herself before it, and smoothed her feathers 
 down with her bill. While she did so, she asked, 
 
 " What does my brother Reginald ?" 
 
 The Cookmaid answered, 
 
 " He lies buried in the gi'ound, 
 With vipers all around !" 
 
 Then the Swan asked, 
 
 " What does the black Witch in this house?" 
 
 And the Cookmaid answered, 
 
 " She sits by the fire as still as a mouse !" 
 *' Heaven have mercy upon her !" 
 
 cried the Swan, and thereupon swam out of the gutter- 
 hole. But the following night she came again and asked 
 the same questions, and also the third night, and after that 
 the Kitchenmaid could keep the matter to herself no longer, 
 
The White and the Black Bride. 199 
 
 j and therefore went and told the King everything. The 
 King, however, wished to see the truth of the tale for him- 
 self, and so he watched the fourth evening, and when the 
 j Swan stretched its neck through the gutter-hole he raised 
 his sword and cut off the bird's head. Immediately the 
 Swan was changed into a beautiful Maiden, and she ap- 
 j peared exactly like the portrait which her Brother had 
 ! painted of her. The King thereupon was greatly rejoiced, 
 , and ordered princely clothes to be brought to the Maiden, 
 I in which she arrayed herself Then she told the King how 
 } she had been betrayed by stratagem and cunning, and had 
 { been thrown into the river, where she had received the 
 ■ form of a Swan. When she had told all this, she begged, 
 ; ag the first favour, that her Brother should be released 
 I from the vipers' pit; and, as soon as the King had done 
 that, he went into the chamber of the old Witch, and asked 
 . her what such a person would deserve who should do such 
 I things, and told her the tale which the Princess had just 
 related. Now, the old Witch was so blind that she did 
 not perceive what was behind, and replied that such an 
 one would deserve to be placed in a cask stuck all over 
 ; with nails, and then drawn by a horse, which should be 
 ! harnessed to it, all through the streets. But in saying this 
 she had pronounced her own fate, for the King ordered 
 her to be so treated, together with her Daughter. After- 
 wards the King married the beautiful white Bride, and 
 rewarded the faithful Brother, whom he placed in a situa- 
 I tion of power and influence. 
 
CXXXI. 
 
 The Man of Iron. ] 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a King who possessed a 
 great wood which lay behind his castle, and wherein 
 it was his pleasure to hunt. One day it happened that 
 one of his huntsmen who had gone into this wood in the 
 morning did not return as usual. The next day, therefore, 
 the King despatched two others to seek him; but they 
 likewise never reappeared ; and so the King then ordered 
 all his huntsmen to make themselves ready to scour the 
 whole forest in search of their missing companions. But^ 
 after they had set out, not one of them ever returned again^ 
 nor even a single dog out of the whole pack that accom- 
 panied them. After this occurrence an edict was issued 
 that nobody should venture into the forest ; and from that 
 day a profound stillness and deep solitude crept over the 
 whole forest, and one saw nothing but owls or eagles which 
 now and then flew out. This lasted a long time, till once 
 came a strange Huntsman to the King, and, begging an 
 audience, said he was ready to go into the dangerous forest 
 The King would not at first give his consent, saying, "I 
 am afraid it will fare no better with you than with the 
 others, and that you will never return ;" but the Hunts- 
 man replied, " I will dare the danger, for I know nothing 
 of fear." 
 
 Thereupon the Huntsman entered the forest with his 
 dog, and in a few minutes the hound espying a wild animal 
 on the road pursued it ; but it had scarcely gone a couple 
 of yards before it fell into a deep pool, out of which a 
 naked arm stretched itself, and catching the dog drew it 
 down beneath the water. As soon as the Huntsman saw 
 
The Man of Iron. 
 
 201 
 
 fchis he went back and fetched three men who came with 
 pails to bale out the water. When they came to the bottom 
 they found a Wild Man, whose body was brown like rusty 
 iron, and his hair hung over his face down to his knees. 
 They bound him with cords and led him away to the King, 
 who caused an immense iron cage to be fixed in the court- 
 yard, and forbade any one on pain of death to open the 
 door of the cage, of which the Queen had to keep the key 
 in her charge. After this time anybody could go with 
 safety into the forest. 
 
 Now, the King had a son eight years old, who was once 
 playing in the courtyard, and during his play his ball 
 accidentally rolled into the iron cage. He ran up to it and 
 demanded his ball of the prisoner. " Not till you open my 
 door," replied the Man. "No, that I cannot," said the 
 Boy, "for my father the King has forbidden it;" and so 
 1 saying he ran away. But the next morning he came again 
 I and demanded his golden ball. " Open my door," said the 
 j Wild Man ; but the Boy refused. The third morning the 
 j King went out a hunting; and presently the Boy went 
 again to the cage, and said, "Even if I would open the 
 door, I have not got the key to do it." "It lies under 
 your mother's pillow," said the Wild Man, "and you can 
 get it if you like." So the Boy, casting all other thoughts 
 to the winds but his wish to have his ball, ran and fetched 
 the key. The door swung heavily, and the boy jammed 
 i his finger ; but soon it opened, and the Wild Man, giving 
 him the golden ball, stepped out and hurried off. At this 
 I the Boy became alarmed, and cried, and called after the 
 I Man, " Wild Man, do not go away or I shall be beaten !" 
 The Man turned round, and, raising the boy up, set him 
 upon his shoulders and walked into the forest with hasty 
 strides. As soon afterwards the King returned, he re- 
 marked the empty cage, and asked the Queen what had 
 happened. She called her Boy, but no one answered, and 
 
 I VOL. II. — 9* 
 
202 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 ike King sent out people over the fields to search for him; 
 but they returned empty-handed. Then he easily guessed 
 what had really happened, and great grief was shown at 
 the royal court. 
 
 Meanwhile, as soon as the Wild Man had reached his 
 old haunts, he set the Boy down off his shoulders, and said 
 to him, "Your father and mother you will never see again; 
 but I will keep you with me, for you delivered me, and 
 therefore I pity you.. If you do all that I tell you, you 
 will be well treated, for I have enough treasure and 
 money ; in fact, more than any one else in the world." 
 That evening the Iron Man let the Boy sleep on some 
 moss, and the next morning he took him to the pool, and 
 said, "See you, this golden water is bright and clear aa 
 crystal ; hereby you must sit, and watch that nothing falls 
 into it, or it will be dishonoured. Every evening I will 
 come, and see if you have obeyed my commands." So the 
 Boy sat down on the bank of the pool ; but by-and-by, 
 while he watched, such a sudden pain seized one of his 
 fingers that he plunged it into the water to cool it. He 
 quickly drew it out again ; but lo ! it was quite golden, 
 and in spite of all his pains he could not rub off the gold 
 again. In the evening came the Iron Man, and, after look- 
 ing at the Boy, he asked, "What has happened to my 
 pool?" "Nothing, nothing!" replied the Boy, holding 
 his fingfer behind him, that it mio^ht not be seen. But the 
 Man said, "You have dipped your finger into the water; 
 this time, however, I will overlook it, only take care it 
 does not happen again." 
 
 The next day the Boy resumed his post at the first 
 daybreak; but in the course of a little while his finger 
 ached again, and this time he put it to his head^ and un- 
 luckily pulled off a hair which fell into the water. He 
 took it out again very quickly ; but it had changed into 
 gold, and by-and-by the Iron Man returned, already con- 
 
The Man of Iron. 
 
 203 
 
 scious of what had occurred. " Yoa have let a hair fall 
 into the pool," he said to the boy ; " but once more I will 
 overlook your fault, only if it happens again the pool will 
 be dishonoured, and you can remain with me no longer." 
 The Boy took his usual seat again on the third morn- 
 1 ing, and did not once move his finger, in spite of the pain, 
 j The time, however, passed so slowly that he fell to looking 
 ; at his face reflected in the mirror of the waters, and, while 
 he bent down to do so, his long hair fell down from his 
 shoulders into the pool. In a great hurry he raised his 
 head again ; but already his locks were turned to gold, and 
 shone in the sun. You may imagine how frightened the 
 poor Boy was ! He took his pocket-handkerchief and 
 , bound it round his head, so that no one might see his 
 ; hair; but as soon as the Iron Man returned he said to 
 i him, " Untie your handkerchief!" for he knew what had 
 happened. Then the golden hair fell down on the Boy's 
 shoulders, and he tried to excuse himself, but in vain. 
 "You have not stood the proof," said the Iron Man, "and 
 must remain here no longer. Go forth into the world, and 
 there you will see how poverty fares ; but because your 
 i heart is innocent, and I mean well towards you, I will 
 ' grant you this one favour — when you are in trouble come 
 to this forest, call my name, and I will come out and help 
 you. My power is great, and I have gold and silver in 
 f abundance." 
 
 So the young Prince had to leave the forest, and trav- 
 ! elled over many rough and smooth roads till he came at 
 length to a large town. There he sought work, but with- 
 out success, for he had learnt nothing which was of use, 
 and at last he went to the King's palace itself and inquired 
 if they could take him in. The court servants were un- 
 aware of any vacancy which he could fill, but because he 
 seemed well favoured they allowed him to remain. Soon 
 afterwards the Cook took him into his service, and told 
 
I 
 
 204 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 him he might fetch wood and water for the fire and sweep 
 up the ashes. One day, however, as no one else was at 
 hand, the Prince had to carry in a dish for the royal table, 
 but, because he would not allow his golden hair to be seen, 
 he entered the room with his cap on. his head. "If you 
 come to the royal table," exclaimed the King when he saw 
 him, " you must pull off your cap 1" " Ah ! your majesty," 
 replied the Prince, "I dare not, for I have a bad disease 
 on my head." Thereupon the King ordered the Cook into 
 his presence, and scolded him because he had taken such a 
 youth into his service, and further commanded him to 
 discharge him. But the Cook pitied the poor lad and 
 changed him with the Gardener's Boy. 
 
 Now, the Prince had to plant and sow, to dig and chop, 
 in spite of all weathers, for he must bear the wind and rain. 
 One day in summer, as he was working alone in the garden, 
 he took off his cap to cool his head in the breeze, and the 
 sun shone so upon his hair that the golden locks glittered, 
 and their brightness became reflected in the mirror in the 
 chamber of the King's daughter. She jumped up to see . 
 what it was, and, perceiving the Gardener's Boy, called 
 him, to bring her a nosegay of flowers. In a great hurry 
 he put on his cap and plucked some wild flowers, which he j 
 arranged together. But, as he was going up the steps with 
 them to the Princess, the Gardener met him, and said, 
 *' How can you take the Princess such a nosegay of bad 
 flowers? go back and fetch the rarest and most beautiful." ' 
 " Oh, no !" said the Boy, " the wild flowers bloom the . 
 longest and will please the best." So he went up to the | 
 chamber, and there the Princess said to him, " Take off 
 your cap ; it is not becoming of you to wear it here !" ; 
 
 The Boy, however, replied he dared not remove it, 
 because his head was too ugly to look at, but she seized 
 his cap and pulled it off, and his golden hair fell down 
 over his shoulders, most beautiful to see. The Boy would 
 
The Man of Iron. 205 
 
 I 
 
 have run away, but the Princess detained liim and gave 
 him a handful of ducats. Then he left her and took her 
 money to the Gardener, whom he told to give it to his 
 ; children to play with, for he despised money. The follow- 
 j ing da}^ the Princess called him again to give her a bou- 
 f quet of wild flowers, and when he entered with them she 
 snatched again at his cap, but this time he held it fast with 
 I both hands, and would not let it go. She gave him still 
 ! another handful of ducats, but he would not keep them, 
 ! but gave them to the Gardener's children for playthings, 
 i The third day it was just the same : the Princess could not 
 get his cap and he would not keep her ducats. 
 
 Not long after these events the country was drawn into 
 ' a war, and the King collected all his people, for he knew 
 I not whether he should be able to make a stand against the 
 ! enemy, who was very powerful, and led an immense army, 
 j Amongst others, the Gardener's Boy asked for a horse, 
 saying he was grown up and ready to take his part in the 
 ' fight. The others, however, laughed at him, and said, 
 "When we are gone we will leave behind a horse for 
 you, but take care of yourself!" So, as soon as the rest 
 ! had set out, the young Prince went into the stable, and 
 i found there a horse which was lame, and clicked its feet 
 , together. Kevertheless, he mounted it, and rode away to 
 I the gloomy forest; and as soon as he arrived there he 
 ' called, " Iron Man, Iron Man !" in such a loud voice that 
 ; the trees re-echoed it. Soon the wild man appeared, and 
 ; asked, "What do you desire?" "I desire a strong horse, 
 : for I am going to battle," said the Youth. "That you 
 I shall have, and more than you desire," said the Iron Man ; 
 and, diving in among the trees, a page suddenly made his 
 appearance, holding a horse so fiery and mettlesome that 
 he was scarcely to be touched. Behind the steed followed 
 a troop of warriors, all clad in iron, with swords which 
 ghttered in the sun. The Youth, thereupon, delivered up 
 
 s 
 
206 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 his tbrcc-legged horse to the page, and, mounting the other, 
 rode off at the head of his troop. Just as he reached the 
 field of battle he found the greater part of the King's 
 army already slain, and the rest were on the point of 
 yielding. The Youth, therefore, charged at once with his 
 iron troop, like a storm of hail, against the enemy, and 
 they cut down all who opposed them. The enemy turned 
 and fled, but the young Prince pursued and cut to pieces 
 all the fugitives, so that not one man was left. Then, 
 instead of leading his troop before the King, he rode back 
 with them to the forest, and summoned the Iron Man. 
 What do you desire now ?" he inquired. 
 
 " Take back all these soldiers and your steed, and 
 restore me my three-legged horse." All this was done as 
 he desired, and he rode home on his limping animal. 
 When the King arrived afterwards, his Daughter greeted 
 him, and congratulated him on his victory. " I do not 
 deserve it," he said ; " the victory was owing to a strange 
 knight who came to our aid with his troop." His Daughter 
 inquired then who he was ; but the King told her he did 
 not know, for he had pursued the enemy and had not 
 returned again. The Princess afterwards inquired of the 
 Gardener respecting his boy, and he laughed, and said he 
 had just returned home on his three-legged steed; while 
 the others had laughed at him, saying, "Here comes our 
 Hop-a-da-hop !" They asked also behind what hedge he 
 had hid himself, and he replied, " I have done the best I 
 could, and without me you would have fared badly." And 
 for this speech the poor boy was still more mocked. 
 
 Some time after this the King said to his Daughter, 1 
 will cause a great festival to be held, which shall last three 
 days, and you shall throw a golden apple, for which per- 
 haps the unknown knight will contend." 
 
 As soon as the proclamation was made, the young 
 Prince went to the forest, and called for the Iron Man, 
 
1 
 
 I 
 
THE MAN OF IFwON. 
 
 Pahb 207. 
 
The Man of Ikon. 
 
 207 
 
 "What do you desire?" lie asked. "That I may catch 
 the golden ajiple !" 
 
 "It is all the same as if you had it now," said the Iron 
 Man ; " but you shall have a red suit of armour for the 
 occasion, and ride there upon a proud fox-coloured horse." 
 
 When the appointed day came, the youth ranged him- 
 Iself along with the other knights, and was not recognised 
 by any one. Presently the Princess stepped forward and 
 threw up the golden apple, which nobody could catch but 
 the Red Knight, who coursed away as soon as he obtained 
 [it. The second day the Iron Man dressed the youth as a 
 White Knight, and gave him a grey horse; and again he 
 icaught the apple, and he alone. The King was angry 
 'when the Knight ran away with the prize, and said, 
 "That is not right; he must appear before me and declare 
 his name." Then he ordered, if the Knight who had 
 caught the apple did not return the next da}^, some one 
 should pursue him; and, if he would not return willingly, 
 cut him to pieces. The third day the Prince received from 
 the Iron Man a black coat of armour and a black steed, and 
 caught again the apple when it was thrown. When he 
 rode aw^ay the King's people pursued him, and one came 
 so near him that he wounded the Black Knight with the 
 point of his sword. Still he escaped them ; but his horse 
 jumped so violently that the helmet fell off the Knight's 
 head, and his golden hair was seen. The knights there- 
 upon rode back and told the King. 
 
 The day following these sports the Princess inquired 
 of the Gardener after his boy. *' He is working in the 
 garden," he replied ; " the wonderful fellow has also been 
 to the festival, and yesterday evening he returned home 
 and gave my children three golden apples which he won 
 there." When the King knew of this, he caused the 
 Touth to be brought before him, and he appeared as 
 ,asual with his cap on his head. But the Princess went 
 
208 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 up to him and took it off; and then his golden hair fi.. 
 down over his shoulders, and he appeared so handsome I 
 tliat every one was astonished. " Are you the knight who 
 appeared each day at the festival, and always in a different 
 colour, and won the three golden apples?'* asked the King. 
 "Yes!" he replied, "and these are the apples;" and, s 
 saying, he took them out of his pocket and handed thei. 
 to the King. "If you desire any other proof," he coo-i 
 tinued, "I will show you the wound which your people 
 gave me as I rode away; but I am also the knight who 
 won the victory for you over your enemy." 
 
 "If you can do such deeds," said the King, "you are 
 no gardener's boy ; tell me, who is your father?" 
 
 " My father is a mighty King, and of gold I have not 
 only my desire, but more even than can be imagined," said 
 the young Prince. 
 
 "I own," said the King, "that I am indebted to you; 
 can I do anything to show it?" 
 
 " Yes, if you give me your daughter to wife !" replied 
 the Youth. The Princess thereupon laughed, and said, 
 " He makes no roundabout tale ; but I saw long ago that 
 he was no gardener's bo}^ from his golden hair ;" and with 
 these words she went and kissed him. 
 
 By-and-by the wedding was celebrated, and to it came 
 the Prince's father and mother, who had long ago given 
 up their son for dead, and lost all hope of seeing him 
 again. 
 
 While they sat at the bridal feast, all at once music 
 was heard, and, the doors opening, a proud King entered, 
 attended by a long train. He went up to the young Prince, 
 and embraced him, and said, " I am the Iron Man, whom 
 you saved from his wild nature; all the treasures vvhich 
 belong to me are henceforth your property !" 
 
CXXXII. 
 
 The Three Black Princesses. 
 
 OSTENDIEN" was besieged by the enemy, and he would 
 not leave the town until he received six hundred 
 iollars. So they made it known by the drummers that 
 Avhoever could get them together should be Burgomaster. 
 There was a poor Fisherman who fished in the sea with his 
 3on, and the enemy came and took his son prisoner, and 
 ;yave him six hundred dollars for him. So the father went 
 md gave them to the great men in the town ; and the en- 
 ;my marched oif, and the Fisherman became Burgomaster. 
 Chen it was cried about that whoever did not say Mr. Bur- 
 l^omaster should be hanged. 
 
 The Son got out of the enemy's clutches again, and 
 ■ame to a great forest on a high mountain. The mountain 
 »pened, and he went into a great enchanted castle, wherein 
 jhe chairs, tables, and benches were all hung with black, 
 uhere came three Princesses, who were dressed all in 
 I'lack, and only had a little bit of white on their faces ; 
 tiey told him not to be afraid, they would not do anything 
 ;p him, and that he could release them. He said he should 
 lie glad enough to do so if he only knew how to set about 
 |L They said that for a whole year he must not speak to 
 Ipem, nor even look at them : whatever he wanted he only 
 ;ad to ask for, and when they might answer him they 
 ''ould do so. When he had been there some time, he said 
 e should like to go and see his father. So they said, 
 A' ery well ;" and that he should have this bag of gold, and 
 ut on those clothes, and must be back again in eight days. 
 
 Then he was lifted up, and was in Ostendien directly, 
 [e could not find his father any more in the fishing-hut, 
 
210 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 and asked the people where the poor Fisherman had got 
 to? but they told him he must not say that, or he would 
 come to the gallows. He then arrives at his father's, and 
 says, "Fisherman, how did you come to that?" Then he 
 answered, "You must not say that; for if the great men 
 of the town knew it you would come to the gallows." But 
 he would not leave off, so he was taken to the galloT? • 
 and when he got there he said, "Oh, gentlemen, pray giv 
 me leave to go to the old fishing-hut!" Then he put on 
 his old smock, and went back to the gentlemen, and said, 
 " Do you see now ; am I not the son of a poor Fisherman? 
 In this dress I earned the daily bread for my father and 
 mother." Then they knew him again, and begged his 
 pardon, and took him home ; and he told them all about 
 what had happened to him ; that he had got into a great 
 forest on a high mountain ; that the mountain had opened, 
 and that he had gone into an enchanted castle, where every- 
 thing was black, and three Princesses had come, who were 
 all black, except a little bit of white in the face. They 
 had told him not to be afraid, and that he could release 
 them. 
 
 Then his Mother said, " That cannot be right ; you 
 must take a hallowed kettle with you, and drop some 
 scalding water into their faces." 
 
 He went back again, and he shuddered from fear, and 
 dropped some water into their faces while they were asleep, 
 and they all turned half white. The three Princesses jump 
 ed up, and said, "Accursed dog, our blood shall cry foi 
 vengeance ! now there is no one born in the world, and nc 
 one will be born, who can release us. We have three 
 brothers locked in seven chains, and they shall tear you tc 
 pieces." Then there was a crash through the whole castle, 
 and he jumped out of a window and broke his leg; au' 
 the castle sank into the ground again, and the mountau 
 closed, and nobody knew where it had been. 
 
 il 
 
CXXXIII. 
 
 Knoist and his Three Sons. 
 
 BETWEEN Werrel and Soist there lived a man, and 
 his name was Knoist. He had three sons : the one 
 was bhnd, the other was lame, and the third was stark 
 naked. They once went into the fields, and there they 
 saw a hare. The blind one shot it, the lame one caught it, 
 and the naked one put it into his pocket. Then they came 
 to a mighty big piece of water, on which there were three 
 ships: the one floated, the other sank, and the third had 
 no bottom in it. The one that had no bottom they all 
 three got into. Then they came to a mighty great forest, 
 and there was a great mighty tree : in the tree there was a 
 mighty great chapel, in the chapel there was a wizened old 
 Sacristan and a savage old Priest, and they were dealing 
 out holy water with sticks. 
 
CXXIV. 
 
 The Iron Stove. 
 
 TN the days when wishing was having, a certain King's j 
 Son was enchanted by an old Witch, and obliged to sit i 
 in a great iron stove which stood in a wood ! There lie 
 passed many years, for nobody could release him ; till one 
 day a Princess who had lost herself, and could not find her 
 way back to her father's kingdom, came at last, after nine 
 day's wandering, to the spot where the iron stove stood. 
 As she approached it, she heard a voice say, " Whence 
 comest thou, and whither goest thou?" "I have lost the 
 road to my fathers kingdom, and am unable to find my'' 
 home !" she replied. " I will help you, and that in a short 
 time," said the voice from the iron stove, "if you will con-.! 
 sent to what I desire ; I am the child of a far greater King^ 
 than your father, and am willing to marry you." 
 
 The Princess was frightened at this proposal, and ex-| 
 claimed, " What can T do with an iron stove ?" but never-l 
 theless, as she was anxious to get home, she consented 
 what he should wish. Then the Prince told her that she 
 must return after she had been home, and bring with her's 
 knife to cut a hole in the stove ; and then he gave her sucl 
 minute directions as to her road, that in two hours si 
 reached her father's palace. There was great joy the 
 when the Princess returned, and the old King fell on h6]| 
 neck and kissed her ; but she was sore troubled, and saic 
 " Alas ! my dear father, how things have happened ! 
 should never have reached home out of the great wil 
 wood, had it not been for an iron stove, to which I hdvi 
 therefore promised to return to save it and marry it." 
 The King was so frightened when he heard this, that h| 
 
The Iron Stove. 213 
 
 ' fell into a swoon ; for she was his onl}^ daughter. When 
 he recovered, they resolved that tVie miller's daughter, a 
 very pretty girl should take her place ; and so she was led 
 to the spot, furnished with a knife, and told to scrape a 
 hole in the iron stove. For four-and-twenty hours she 
 : scraped and scraped ; but without making the least bit of 
 ia hole; and when day broke, the voice out of the stove, 
 exclaimed, " It seems to me like daylight." " Yes," replied 
 the girl, "it seems so to me too, and methinks I hear the 
 (dapping of my father's mill." "Oh then, you are the 
 miller's daughter," said the voice again ; " well, you may go 
 home, and send the Princess to me." 
 
 The girl, therefore returned, and told the King the stove 
 would not have her, but his daughter, which frightened the 
 King again, and made the Princess weep. But the King 
 'had also in his service, a swine-herd's daughter, prettier 
 I still than the miller's, to whom he offered a piece of gold 
 if she would go instead of the princess to the iron stove. 
 I Thereupon, this girl went away, and scraped for four-and- 
 ' twenty hours on the iron without producing any im^Dres- 
 ,sion ; and when day broke, a voice out of the stove, ex- 
 claimed, "It seems to me like daylight." "Yes it is so," 
 said the girl ; " for I hear my father's horn." 
 
 "You are then the swine-herd's daughter," said the 
 voice, "go straight back, and tell the Princess who sent 
 lyou, that it must be as I said ; and therefore, if she does 
 ;not come to me, everything in the old kingdom shall fall 
 to pieces, and not one stone be left upon another any- 
 where." 
 
 As soon as the Princess heard this, she began to cry; 
 but it was of no use, for her promise must be kept. So she 
 took leave of her father; and carrying a knife with her, 
 [set out towards the iron stove in the wood. As soon as 
 'she reached it she began to scrape the iron ; and before two 
 aours had passed, she had already made a small hole. 
 
214 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Through this she peeped, and beheld inside the stove a 
 handsome Prince, whose dress all glittered with gold and 
 precious stones ; and she immediately fell in love with him. 
 So she scraped away faster than before, and soon had made 
 a hole so large that the Prince could get out. " Yqu ar«^ 
 mine, and I am thine," he said, as soon as he stood on tL' 
 earth ; " you are my bride, because you have saved me.' 
 Then he wanted to take her at once to his father's kincr- 
 
 o 
 
 dom ; but she begged that she might once more go back to 
 her father, to take leave of him. The Prince consented to 
 this ; but said she must not speak more than three words, 
 and immediately return. Thereupon the Princess went 
 home ; but alas ! she said many more than three words : 
 and the iron stove consequently disappeared, and was car- 
 ried far away over many icy mountains and snowy valleys; 
 but without the Prince, who was saved, and no longer shut 
 up in his former prison. By-and-by the Princess took 
 leave of her father ; and taking some gold with her, but 
 not much, she went back into the wood, and sought for the 
 iron stove, but could find it nowhere. For nine days she 
 searched ; and then her hunger became so great, that she 
 knew not how to help herself, and thought she must perish. 
 When evening came she climbed up a little tree, for she 
 feared the wild beasts, which night would bring forth; and 
 just as midnight approached she saw a little light at a dis- 
 tance, " Ah, there I may find help," thought she ; and get- 
 ting down, she went towards the light, saying a prayer as 
 she walked along. Soon she came to a little hut, around 
 which much grass grew ; and before the door stood a heap 
 of wood, " Ah, how came you here," thought she to her- 
 self, as she peeped through the window and saw nothing] 
 but fat little toads ; and a table already covered with meatj 
 and wine, and plates and dishes made of silver. She' 
 took courage and knocked ; and immediately a Toad ex- 
 claimed : — 
 
The Iron Stove. 
 
 215 
 
 " Little Toad, with crooked leg ; 
 Open quick the door, I beg, 
 And see who stands without !" 
 
 As soon as these words were spoken, a little Toad came 
 running up, and opened the door; and the princess walked 
 in. They all bade her welcome, and told her to sit down ; 
 and then asked her whence she came, and whither she was 
 going. She told the Toads all that had happened, and 
 how, because she had overstepped the mark in speaking 
 more than three words, the stove had disappeared as well 
 as the Prince : and now she was about to search over hill 
 and valley till she found him. When she had told her tale, 
 the old toad cried out : — 
 
 " Little Toad, with crooked leg ; 
 Quickly fetch for me, I beg. 
 The basket hanging on the peg." 
 
 So the little Toad went and brought the basket to the old 
 one, who laid it down, and caused meat and drink to be 
 given to the Princess ; and after that showed her a beauti- 
 ful neat bed, made of silk and velvet, in which, under 
 God's protection, she slept soundly. As soon as day broke 
 the Princess arose ; and the old Toad gave her three 
 needles out of the bag, to take with her, for they would be 
 of use, since she would have to pass over a mountain of 
 glass, three sharp swords, and a big lake before she would 
 regain her lover. The old Toad gave her besides the three 
 needles, a ploughwheel and three nuts; and with these the 
 Princess set out on her way ; and by-and-by approached 
 the glass mountain which was so smooth that she placed the 
 three needles in the heel of her shoe, and so passed over. 
 When she came to the other side, she placed the three 
 needles in a secure place ; and soon coming to the three 
 swords, she rolled over them by means of her ploughwheel. 
 At last she came to the great lake ; and when she passed 
 that, she found herself near a fine large castle. Into this 
 she entered ; and offered herself as a servant, saying she 
 
216 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 was a poor girl: but had a little while back, rescued a 
 King's son out of an iron stove, which stood in the forest. 
 After some delay she was hired as a kitchen-maid, at a 
 very small wage ; and soon found out that the Aince had 
 an intention to marry another lady, because he supposed 
 his former favourite was long since dead. One evening 
 when she had washed and made herself neat, she felt in 
 her pocket, and found the three nuts which the old Toiit 
 had given her. One of them she cracked, and instead 
 of a kernel found a royal dress, which, when the Bride 
 heard of, she said she must have, for it was no dress for 
 a servant-maid. But the Princess said she would not sell 
 it, but on one condition, which was, that she should be 
 allowed to pass a night by the chamber of the Prince. 
 This request was granted, because the Bride was so anxious 
 to have the dress, since she had none like it ; and when 
 evening came she told her lover that the silly girl wanted 
 to pass the night near his room. " If you are contented, 
 so am I," he replied ; but she gave him a glass of wine, 
 in which she put a sleeping-draught. In consequence, he 
 slept so soundly, that the poor Princess could not awake 
 him, although she cried the whole night, and kept repeat- 
 ing, " I saved you in the wild forest, and rescued you out 
 of the iron stove ; I have sought you, and travelled over a 
 mountain of glass, and over three sharp swords, and across 
 a wide lake, before I found you; and still you will not 
 hear me !" The servants, however, who slept in the ante- 
 room, heard the complaint, and told the King of it the 
 following morning. That evening after the Princess had 
 washed and cleaned herself, she cracked open the second 
 nut and found in it a still more beautiful dress than the 
 former ; so that the Bride declared she must have it. But 
 it was not to be purchased except on the same condition as 
 the first; and the Prince allowed her to sleep where she 
 had before. The Bride, however, gave the Prince, another 
 
The Iron Stove. 
 
 217 
 
 sleeping-draught; and he slept too soundly to hear the 
 poor Princess complaining and crying as before : " I saved 
 you in the wild forest, and rescued you out of the iron 
 stove ; I have sought you, and travelled over a mountain 
 of glass, and over three sharp swords, and across a wide 
 lake, before I found you ; and still you will not hear me !" 
 The servants, however, in the ante-room, heard the crying 
 again; and told the Prince of it the next morning. 
 
 On the same evening, the poor scullery -maid, broke her 
 third nut; and produced a dress starred with gold, which 
 the Bride declared she must have at any price; and the 
 raaid petitioned for the same privilege as before. But the 
 Prince poured out this time the sleeping-draught; and 
 therefore, when the Princess began to cry, " Alas ! my 
 dear treasure, have you forgotten how I saved you in the 
 great wild wood, and rescued you out of the iron stove?" 
 the Prince heard her, and jumping up, exclaimed, "You 
 are right, I am thine, and you are mine." Thereupon 
 while the night lasted, he got into a carriage with the 
 Princess; first taking away the clothes of the false Bride, 
 that she might not follow them. When they came to the 
 lake, they rowed over very quickly, and passed the three 
 : sharp swords again by means of the ploughwheel. Soon 
 i ihey crossed the glass mountain by the aid of the three 
 I needles; and arrived at last at the little old house, which as 
 i as soon they entered, was changed into a noble castle. At 
 the same moment all the Toads were disenchanted and 
 ! returned to their natural positions; for they were the sons 
 of the King of the country. So the wedding was per- 
 formed, and the Prince and Princess remained in the castle; 
 for it was much larger than that of her father. However, 
 I because the old King grieved at his daughter's continual 
 j absence, they went and lived with him and joined the 
 I government of the two kingdoms in one ; and so for many 
 i years they reigned in happiness and prosperity. 
 
 n.— 10 T 
 
cxxxv. 
 
 The Maid of Brakel. 
 
 ONCE upon a time a Girl went from Brakel to the St. 
 Anne's chapel, under the Hinne mountain ; and as she 
 would have liked to have a husband, and thought there wm 
 nobody else inside, she began to sing — 
 
 *' Oh, holy St. Anne, 
 Get nie a husband as soon as you can ; 
 You know him quite well. 
 He lives at the Suttmer gate ; 
 Has a round yellow pate, 
 You know him quite well." 
 
 The Sacristan, however, was standing behind the altar, an(} 
 heard it all ; and he called out in a very gruff voice, " You 
 shan't have him ; you shan't have him !" 
 
 The Girl thought it was the little infant standing by 
 the mother Anne that had calledout; so she flew into a 
 passion, and cried, " Pepperlepap, little stupid ! hold your 
 noise and let the mother speak !" 
 
CXXXVI. 
 
 The Little Lamb and the Little Fish. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there were a Brother and Sister who 
 loved one another very much. Their own mother was 
 dead, but they had a stepmother who was very unkind to 
 them, and did them privately all the injury she could. One 
 day it happened that the two were playing with other chil- 
 dren on the meadow before their house, in the middle of 
 which was a pond which ran past one side of the house. 
 Round this the children used to run, joining hands and 
 singing, 
 
 " Eneke, Betifke, let me go, 
 And I will give my bird to you ; 
 The bird shall fetch of straw a bunch, 
 And that the cow shall have to munch ; 
 The cow shall give me milk so sweet, 
 And that Fll to the baker take ; 
 Who wnth it shall a small cake bake ; 
 The cake the cat shall have to eat, 
 And for it catch a mouse for me, 
 Which I will turn to sausage meat, 
 And cut it all to pieces !" 
 
 While they sang they ran round and round, and upon 
 whom the word "pieces" fell he had to run away, and the 
 others must pursue him and catch him. The old Step- 
 mother stood at her window and watched the game, which 
 vexed her very much ; but, as she understood witches' arts, 
 she wished that both of the children might be changed, the 
 one into a lamb and the other into a fish. Thereupon the 
 Brother swam round the pond in the form of a fish, and 
 the Sister trotted to and fro on the meadow, sorrowful and 
 unhappy, and would not eat or touch a single blade of 
 grass. Thus a long time passed, till one day foreign 
 
I 
 
 220 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 strangers came to the castle on a visit. " Now is a good 
 opportunity !" thought the Step-mother, and called the 
 cook, and bade him fetch the lamb out of the meadow, 
 for there was nothing else for the visitors. The cook went 
 for the lamb, and leading it into the kitchen, tied it by the 
 foot, that it might suffer patiently. While he went for his 
 knife, and was sharpening it on the grindstone, to kill the 
 poor animal with, a little fish swam up the gutter to the 
 sink, and looked at him. But this fish was the Brother, 
 and he had seen the cook carry awa}^ his lamb, and had 
 swum from the pond to the house. When the lamb saw 
 him, she cried, 
 
 " Ah ! my brother in the pond, 
 Woe is in my heart so fond ! 
 The cook is sharpening now his knife, 
 To take away my tender life 1" 
 
 The fish replied : — 
 
 " Ah ! my sister ; woe is me, 
 That I am far away from thee ! 
 Swimming in this deep, deep sea !" 
 
 When the cook heard the lamb speaking, and observed 
 the sorrowful words which she said to the fish, he was 
 frightened, for the thought it could not be a natural animal, 
 but had been bewitched by the wicked woman in the house. 
 So he said to the lamb, "Be still, I will not kill you!" 
 And with these words he fetched another lamb and dressed 
 it for the guests. Then he took the lamb to a good honest 
 countrywoman, and told her all he had seen and heard. 
 Now, this woman was in former days the nurse of the two 
 children, and she conjectured what had really taken place, 
 and went with them to a wise woman. This latter said a 
 blessing over the lamb and fish, and thereby they regained 
 their natural forms. Then the little Brother and Sister 
 went into the forest and built for themselves a little cot- 
 tage, in which they lived happily and contentedly, though 
 alone. 
 
CXXiVIl. 
 
 Simeli-Mountain. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there lived two Brothers, the one 
 rich and the other poor. The rich man, however, 
 gave nothing to the poor one, who earned a miserable 
 hving by treading in corn ; and sometimes he was so badly 
 off that he had no bread for his wife or children. Once he 
 was trundling his barrow through the forest, and suddenl}^ 
 he perceived on one side of the road a great mountain, 
 naked and uncultivated; and, because he had never ob- 
 served it before, he stopped in astonishment. As he stood 
 thus, twelve great Wild Men came up, and, thinking they 
 were robbers, he pushed his barrow among the brushwood, 
 and climbed up a tree to watch their proceedings. The 
 twelve men went up to a mountain and exclaimed, "Semsi- 
 Mountain, Semsi-Mountain, open!" Immediately the hill 
 parted in two, and the twelve men entering it closed again 
 as soon as they had done so. In a little while the mountain 
 opened, and the men came out carrying heavy sacks on their 
 shoulders, and as soon as they had all emerged into daylight 
 they said, " Semsi-Mountain, Semsi-Mountain, shut yourself 
 up !" Then the hill closed directly, and there was no open- 
 ing to be seen, and the twelve men went away. When they 
 were out of sight the poor man descended from the tree, 
 feeling curious to know what was hidden in the mountain. 
 So he went up and said, "Semsi-Mountain, Semsi-Mountain, 
 open!" It opened directly, and stepping in he found the 
 hill was hollow and filled with gold and silver, and in the 
 further part of it heaps of pearls and precious stones were 
 accumulated like corn. The poor man did not know what 
 to take, for there were so many treasures to choose from ; at 
 
I 
 
 222 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 length he filled his pockets with gold and silver, and let 
 alone the pearls and precious stones. As soon as he got 
 outside again he said the words, " Semsi-Mountain, close 
 up!" and immediately all appeared as if there were no 
 opening to be made. He went home with his barrow, and 
 had now no cares to trouble him, for with his gold he could 
 buy bread and wine for his wife and children; and could 
 afford to live freely and liberally, besides giving to the 
 poor and doing good to everybody. But when his money 
 came to an end he went to his brother, and borrowed a 
 measure, with which he fetched more money, but touched 
 none of the precious stones. A third time he borrowed 
 this measure, but this time his brother's cupidity was ex- 
 cited, for the rich man had for a long while been dissatis- 
 fied with his property, and his already beautiful house, 
 and he could not conceive where his Brother got so well 
 paid, or what he did with the measure. So he bethought 
 himself of a stratagem, and spread the bottom of the mea- 
 sure with pitch ; and, when his brother returned to him, he 
 found a gold piece sticking in it. Thereupon he went to 
 his Brother, and asked him what he had measured with 
 the measure. "Corn and beans," said the other. Then the 
 rich man showed the gold piece, and threatened his Brother 
 if he did not tell the truth to take him before the sheriff. 
 The poor Brother therefore related all that happened, and 
 the rich man, harnessing his horses to his carriage, went 
 away, determined to profit by the circumstance, and bring 
 aome greater treasures. As soon as he came to the moun- 
 iain he called out, " Semsi-Mountain, Semsi-Mountain, 
 Dpen!" The hill opened immediately, and he went in. 
 There lay all the treasures before him, and for a long while 
 he stood considering what he should take. At length ho 
 seized the precious stones and took as much as he could 
 carry ; but when he wanted to leave the mountain he had 
 forgotten its name, for his heart and mind were full of the 
 
SIMELI-MOUNTAIN. 
 
 223 
 
 treasures which he had seen. " Simeli-Mountain, Simeli- 
 Mountain, open !" he cried ; but that was not the right name, 
 and the mountain moved not, but remained closed. Soon he 
 became terrified, but the longer he thought the more bewil- 
 dered he became, mid all his treasures availed nothing. In 
 the evening, however, the mountain opened, and the twelve 
 robbers came in, and as soon as they saw the rich man they 
 laughed and exclaimed, " Ah ! have we caught you at last, 
 my bird ? did you think we had not remarked your two 
 previous visits, when we could not catch you? but this 
 time you will not go out again." 
 
 "It was not me, but my Brother," cried the rich man ; 
 but his protestations were of no use, and beg as he might 
 for his life, they had no mercy, but cut off his head. 
 
CXXXVIII. 
 
 Going out a-travelling. 
 
 I 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a poor Woman who had 
 a Son so very fond of travelling that his mother used 
 to say to him, "Where can you ride, when you have no 
 money to take with you?" "I can help myself well," said 
 the Son ; " and all day long I will say, ' Not much, not 
 much, not much !' " 
 
 So he travelled a whole day and kept saying, "Not 
 much, not much, not much !" By-and-by he came to a 
 Fisherman, to whom he said, "God help you, not much!" 
 " How say you, fellow ?" cried the Fisherman, " not much !" 
 When he drew out the net there were very few fish, and 
 taking up a stick he beat the Youth, saying, " Have you 
 never seen me thrash?" "What shall I say, then?" asked 
 the Youth. " A good catch, a good catch, a good catch !" . 
 
 Thereupon the Youth walked a whole day long, cry- {|| 
 ing, " A good catch !" till he came to a gallows, where 
 they were about to hang up a poor Criminal. " Good 
 morning!" said the Youth, "a good catch, a good catch 1" I 
 "What do you say, fellow ?" said the Criminal; " shall ^ 
 there not be a bad man in the world? is one not enough?" 
 So saying he went up the ladder. " What shall I say, 
 then ?" asked the Youth. " You should say, ' God com- 
 fort a poor soul !' " 
 
 The next day accordingly the Youth walked all day 
 long, repeating, " God comfort a poor soul !" Presently ha , 
 came to a grave, whereby stood a Knacker about to kill 
 an old horse. " Good morning ! God comfort the poar 
 soul!" said the Youth. " What do you say, you silly 
 fellow?" said the Knacker, giving the Youth a blow o» 
 
Going out a-travellixg. 
 
 225 
 
 the ear, so that he could scarce see out of his eyes. 
 "What shall I say, then?" "You should say, 'There 
 lies a carcase in its grave!'" 
 
 So all the next day the Youth went on, saying, " There 
 lies a carcase in its grave 1" Presently he met a waggon 
 full of people. " Good morning ! there lies a carcase in its 
 gravel" said the Youth. As he spoke the waggon fell into 
 the grave, and the driver, jumping off, gave the Youth a 
 cut with his whip, and drove him home to his Mother. 
 
 And all his life long afterwards he never went out a- 
 i travelling. 
 
 i 
 t 
 
 1 
 
 • 
 
 II.— 10* 
 
CXXXIX. 
 
 The Little Ass. 
 
 (NCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen, \v]j 
 
 were very rich, and possessed all they desired, b' 
 children. On this account the Queen used to cry and groa 
 all day long, saying, " I am like a barren field whci 
 nothing will grow !" At last her wishes and prayers wert 
 answered, and a child was born ; but when the nurses toolx 
 it they said it was a Little Ass, and not a human child 
 When the mother perceived this, she began to cry ai 
 groan again, for she would rather have had no child tha 
 a Little Ass, and she ordered them to throw the thing int 
 the water, that it might feed the fishes. The King, hov 
 ever, said, " No ! God gave it, and it shall be my son an^ 
 heir, and at my death sit upon the throne, and wear tht^ 
 royal crown." So the Little Ass was taken care of an 
 brought up well, while its ears grew to a good size an 
 were straight and well formed. Now, it was a frolicsonu 
 animal, and used to jump about, and, besides, it had a ver\ 
 great passion for music, so much so that it went to a cele 
 brated Musician, and said, " Teach me your art, that I ma} 
 strike the lute as well as you." ''Ah! my dear sir," r< 
 plied the Musician, "that would be difficult; your fiiigej 
 are not altogether made for the purpose ; I am afraid you 
 could not touch the strings." 
 
 The Ass, however, would not be put off, and, beiD;L! 
 determined to learn, he applied himself so strenuously and 
 industriously that in the course of time he could play as 
 well as the master himself One day afterwards the young 
 Prince went out walking in a thoughtful mood, and, pre- 
 sently coming to a running brook, he looked in and saw 
 
The Little Ass. 
 
 227 
 
 his own figure reflected like an ass. The sight made him 
 so sad that he wandered away from his home, attended 
 but by one trusty friend. They travelled to and fro for 
 many months, and at last came to a kingdom over which 
 ruled an old King, who had an only but very beautiful 
 : daughter. " Here we will stay," said the Ass Prince ; and, 
 knocking at the palace-door, he cried out, " Open, if you 
 please ! a visitor stands without who wishes to come in." 
 The door was not opened, and so the Ass sat down on the 
 1 steps and played his lute in the most charming way with. 
 I his two fore-feet. At this the guard at the door opened 
 I his eyes very wide, and running to the King told him that 
 ja young Ass was at the door, who was playing the lute 
 like a regular musician. " Let him come in then," said the 
 . King. But, as soon as the Ass entered, all began to laugh 
 jat such a lute-player, and he was told to sit down and feed 
 ' with the slaves at the lower end of the hall. This he would 
 not do, but said, " I am no cornmon animal, I am a distin- 
 jguished Ass." "If you are so," said the others, "take 
 your place with the soldiers." "No; I will sit by the 
 King himself," said the Ass. The King laughed, but said, 
 [good-naturedly, "Yes, it shall be so, as you desire; come 
 ^up hither." By-and-by the King asked, "How does my 
 daughter please you?" The Ass turnf^d his head towards 
 ;her, looked at her, and, nodding, said, " The Princess 
 pleases me beyond measure, she is so beautiful as I have 
 'never seen any one before." " Well, then, you shall sit 
 by her," said the King. "That is just right," said the 
 Ass, and, sitting down by her side, he ate and drank with 
 iher, for he knew how to conduct himself before company. 
 
 At this court the noble beast stayed many months ; but 
 soon he began to think, " Of what use is all this ? I may as 
 well return home ;" and, hanging his head down, he went 
 to the King and mentioned his wishes. But the King had 
 .become very partial to the Ass, and said, "What is the 
 
228 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 matter, my dear friend ? you look as sour as a vinegar- 
 cruet.. Do stop with me, I will give jo\i whatever you 
 desire ; do you want money ?" " ISTo," said the Ass, sha- 
 king his head. " Do you need treasures or jewels ?" " No." 
 "Will you have the half of my kingdom?" "Ah, no, 
 no !" " I would I knew what would content you," cried 
 the King; " will you. have my beautiful daughter to wife?** 
 " Oh yes ! that would please me well," replied the Ass, and 
 his spirits returned at oncp., for it was the very thing he had 
 wished. So thereupon a large and magnificent wedding 
 was celebrated. At night, when the bride and bridegroom 
 were about to go to their sleeping-apartment, the King took 
 a fancy to know if he would retain his form or not, and so 
 he bade a servant to conceal himself in his room. Bj^-and- 
 by, when they entered, the bridegroom bolted the doof 
 after him, and then, believing that he and his wife were 
 alone, he threw off his Ass's skin, and stood up a hand- 
 some and well-formed man.* "JSTow you see," said he to 
 his bride, " who I am, and that I am not unworthy of you." 
 She was of course in transports of joy to see the good 
 change, and kissed him, and thenceforth loved him dearly. 
 As soon as morning came over, he got up and put on 
 again his skin, so that no one ever would have known 
 what was concealed beneath it. Soon the old King came, 
 and when he saw the Ass he exclaimed, "Ah ! what, up 
 already !" and then turning to his daughter he said to her, 
 " Alas ! you are doubtless in grief, because you have not 
 really a human husband." " Oh no, dear father," she 
 replied; "I love him as much as if he were the hand- 
 somest man possible, and I will comfort him all my life." 
 
 The King went away astonished ; but the servant fol- 
 lowed him and told him what had happened. " That 
 never can be true," said the King. "Then watch yourself 
 to-night, my lord King," answered the servant; "and yoa 
 will see with your own eyes the truth of my words ; but I 
 
The Little Ass. 
 
 229 
 
 would advise you to snatch away the skin and burn it, and' 
 then your son-in-law will be compelled to show himself in 
 his true character. "Your advice is good," said the King; 
 and in the middle of the night, when everybody was asleep, 
 he slipped into the chamber of his son-in-law, and when ho 
 looked at the bed the moonbeams showed clearly that it 
 was no Ass, but a fine young man who laid in it, while by 
 the side, the skin had been thrown down on the floor. The 
 King took the skin up and caused a great fire to be made, 
 into which he threw it, and stood by till it was burnt to 
 ashes. He was anxious still to see how the youth would 
 behave when he discovered his loss, and so he stopped the 
 rest of the night watching. At daybreak the youth arose, 
 and looked about for his ass-skin ; but he could find it 
 nowhere. Then he was frightened, and cried out in sor- 
 row and anguish, "Alas! I must make my escape!" But 
 as he left the room, he found the King standing outside, 
 who said, " Whither away, my son, in such a hurry? what 
 do you intend? Kemain here; you are too handsome a 
 man to be readil}^ parted with. I will give you now the 
 government of half of my kingdom, and at my death you 
 shall have the whole." 
 
 " So wish I that this good beginning may have a good 
 I ending," said the youth. " I will remain with you." 
 1 Thereupon the old King put the half of the kingdom 
 I under his care, and, when he died about a year after, the 
 ! whole government descended to the young King, and in 
 another year he was called upon to rule the kingdom 
 of his own father, who died and left it to him. And 
 over these two countries he ruled so wisely that the peo- 
 ple prospered, and his Queen and he were happy and 
 I contented. 
 
 u 
 
CXL. 
 
 The Old Griffin. 
 
 THERE was once a King, but where he reigned and 
 how he was called I know nothing about. He liod 
 no son, only a daughter who was always ill, and no doctor 
 could cure her; then it was prophesied to the King that 
 his Daughter would eat herself well with an apple. So he 
 made it known all over the kingdom, whoever brought his 
 Daughter some apples with which she could eat herself 
 well should marry her and be king. Now, a Peasant, who 
 had three sons, heard of it; and he said to the eldest, ''Go 
 to the garden, take a basket full of those beautiful apples 
 with the red cheeks, and carry them to the court. Peiv 
 haps the King's Daughter will be able to eat herself well 
 with them; and then you can marry her and be king." 
 The chap did as he was bid, and took to the road. When 
 he had walked awhile he met quite a little Iron Man, who 
 asked him what he had in his basket. So Hele, for that 
 was his name, said, "Frogs' legs!" The little Man then 
 said, "Well, so it shall be, and remain;" and then went 
 on. At last Hele came to the castle, and had it announced 
 that he had got some apples which would cure the King*3 
 Daughter if she ate them. At that the King was mightily 
 pleased, and had Hele in court. Oh, dear ! when he opened 
 it, instead of apples, he had frogs' legs in the basket, and 
 they were kicking about still. The King got into a great 
 rage and had him kicked out of the house. When he got 
 home he told his Father how he had fared. Then the 
 Father sent his next son, whose name was Saeme, but it 
 went just the same with him as with Hele. The little Iron 
 Man met him very soon, and asked him what he had in 
 
The Old Griffin. 
 
 231 
 
 the basket, and Saeme said, "Sow-bristles;" and the little 
 Man said, "Well, so it shall be, and remain." When he 
 arrived at the King's castle, and said he had apples with 
 which the King's Daughter could eat herself well, they 
 would not let him in, and told him there had already been 
 one who had made fools of them. But Saeme insisted he 
 had really such apples; they should only let him in. At 
 last they believed him, and took him before the King; but 
 when he opened the basket he had nothing but sow-bristles. 
 That annoyed .the King most dreadfully, so that he had 
 Saeme whipped out of the house. When he got home he 
 told them what had happened to him. Then came the 
 3^oungest boy, whom they had always called stupid Jack, 
 and asked the Father whether he, too, might go with 
 apples. "Yes," said the Father, "you are just the right 
 
 I sort of fellow ; if the clever ones can't succeed, what will 
 
 I you be able to do ?" The boy did not believe it. " Well, 
 
 ' Father, I will go too." " Get away, you stupid chap !" 
 
 i said the Father ; " you must wait till you grow wiser ;" 
 
 I and then turned his back upon him ; but the boy tugged 
 
 I at his smock-frock behind and said, " Now, Father, I will 
 go too." " Well, just as you like ; go — you will be sure 
 to come back," he answered in a spiteful way. The boy 
 
 ■ was beyond measure delighted, and jumped for joy. " Ay, 
 there ! act like a fool ! You get stupider from one day to 
 
 [the next," said the Father. That did not affect Jack a bit, 
 who would not be disturbed in his joy. As night soon 
 
 'came on, he thought he would wait the next morning; 
 any how, he would not be able to get to court that day. 
 He could not sleep that night in bed, and when he only 
 slumbered a little he dreamed of beautiful maidens, of 
 castles, gold, silver, and all that sort of thing. Early next 
 
 j morning he went his way, and soon the little Man in his 
 iron dress met him and asked him what he had in the 
 
 , basket. "Apples," he answered, "with which the King'ij 
 
232 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Daughter should eat herself well." "Well," said the little 
 Man, "such it shall be, and remain." But at court th^ 
 would not let Jack in at all ; for that there had been tw» 
 who had said they brought apples, and one had frogs' legj^ 
 and the other sow-bristles. But Jack insisted tremendously 
 he had no frogs' legs, but the most beautiful apples that 
 grew in the kingdom. As he spoke so nicely the door- 
 keeper thought he could not be telling a lie, and let him 
 in ; and they did quite right too, for, when Jack uncovered 
 the basket before the King, gold-yellow apples came tum- 
 bling out. The King was delighted, and had some of 
 them taken to his daughter at once, and waited in anxious 
 expectation until they should bring him word what effect 
 they had. Not long after news is brought him ; but what 
 think you it was? It was the Daughter herself! As soon 
 as she had ate of those apples she had jumped out of 
 bed quite well. What the King's delight was cannot be 
 described. 
 
 But now the King would not give Jack his Daughter to 
 marry, and said that he must first make him a boat that 
 would swim more like a boat on land than in the water. 
 Jack agrees to the condition, and goes home and tells how 
 he has fared. So the Father sends Hele into the wood 
 to make such a boat ; he worked away diligently, and 
 whistled the while. At midday, when the sun was at the 
 highest, comes the little Iron Man, and asks what he is 
 making. " Wooden boat," answers he. The little Mai 
 answered, " Well, so it shall be, and remain." In the 
 evening Hele thinks he has made the boat ; but, when he 
 is going to get into it, it's nothing but wooden bowls. Thp 
 next day Saeme goes into the wood; but it went no othdr 
 with him than with Hele. On the third day stupid Jack 
 goes : he works very hard, so that the wood resounded all 
 through with his heavy blows, and he sang and whistled 
 besides right merrily. The little Man came to him at mid- 
 
The Old Griffin. 
 
 233 
 
 day when it was the hottest, and asked him what he was 
 i making. " A boat which will go on dry land more like a 
 boat than on the water," he answered, " and that when he 
 ! had done it he should marry the King's daughter." " Well," 
 said the little Man, " such a one it shall be, and remain." 
 In the evening, when the sun had turned to gold, Jack was 
 i ready with his boat and all things belonging to it ; he got 
 in and rowed towards the castle ; but the boat went as fast 
 as the wind. The King sees it from a long way off ; but 
 will not give Jack his Daughter yet, and says he must first 
 : take a hundred hares out grazing from early morning to 
 I late in the evening, and if one were missing he should not 
 i have his Daughter. Jack is quite contented, and the next 
 day goes out with his herd to the meadow, and keeps a 
 i sharp look out that none stray away. Not many hours had 
 passed away when a maid comes from the castle, and says, 
 Jack is to give her a hare directly, as some visitors had ar- 
 rived. But Jack saw through that well enough, and said 
 he would not give her one ; the King might treat his vis- 
 itors to hare-pepper. But the maid did not believe him, 
 and at last set to scolding^. So Jack said that if the Kinsr's 
 , Dau2:hter came herself he would orive her a hare. The 
 maid told them that in the castle, and the King's Daughter 
 i did go herself But in the mean time the little Man liad 
 ^ come again to Jack and asked him, what he was doing 
 j there. " Oh, he had got to watch a hundred hares so that 
 ! none ran away, and that he was to marry the King's 
 ! Daughter, and be King." "Good!" said the little Man, 
 "there's a whistle for you, and when one runs away only 
 just whistle and he will come back again." When the 
 I King's Daughter came. Jack gave her a hare into her apron. 
 But when she had got about a hundred steps off, Jaok 
 whistles, and the hare jumps out of the cloth, and jump, 
 i jump ! is back to the herd directly. In the evening the 
 hare-herd whistles again, and looks to see they are all right, 
 
234 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 and drive them to the castle. The King wondered how 
 Jack had been able to take care of a hundred hares, so that 
 none should run off: but he would not yet give him hii 
 Daughter so easily, but said he must get him a feather from 
 the old Griffin's tail. 
 
 Jack starts at once, and marches right briskly on. la 
 the evening he arrives at a castle, where he asks for a 
 night's lodging, for at that time there was no such thingi 
 as hotels; and the master of the castle greets him very 
 civilly, and asks him where he is going to ? Jack answers^ 
 "To the old Griffin." "Oh, indeed! to the old Griffia; 
 they say he knows everything, and I have lost the key to 
 an iron raonej^-chest ; perhaps you would be good enouglH 
 to ask him where it is ?" " Certainly," said Jack, " that I 
 will." Early the next morning he started off again on his 
 road, and arrives at another castle, where he again passoi 
 the night. When the people learned that he was going to 
 the old Griffin, they said " a daughter was ill in the house; 
 they had already tried every possible remedy, but without 
 effect ; would he be kind enough to ask old Griffin what 
 would cure her ?" Jack said he would do it with pleasurej 
 and went on again. He arrives at a lake ; and, instead of 
 a ferry-boat, there was a big man who had to carry every- 
 body over. The man asked him where he was bound for? 
 " To the old Griffin," said Jack. " When you get to him," 
 said the man, "just ask him why I am obliged to carry 
 everybody over the water." "Yes, to be sure," said Jack| 
 " goodness gracious ! yes, willingly !" The man then took 
 him up on his shoulder, and carried him over. At last 
 Jack arrives at the old Griffin's house, and only found the 
 wife at home — not old Griffin. The woman asked him 
 what he wanted, so he told her he must have a feather 
 from old Griffin's tail ; and that in a castle they had lost 
 the key to the money-chest, and he was to ask the Griffin 
 where it was; and then, in another castle, the daughter 
 
The Old Griffin. 
 
 235 
 
 was ill, and he was to know what would make her well 
 again ; then not far from there was the water, and the man 
 who was obliged to carry everybody over, and he should 
 very much like to know why the man was obliged to 
 carry everybody over." "But," said the Woman, "look 
 you, ray good friend, no Christian can speak with a Griffin ; 
 he eats them all up ; but, if you like, you can lie there 
 under his bed, and at night, when he is fast asleep, you 
 can reach out and pull a feather out of his tail ; and as to 
 those things that you want to know, I will ask him myself." 
 Jack was quite satisfied with the arrangement, and got under 
 the bed. In the evening old Griffin came home, and when 
 he stepped into the room he said, "Wife, I smell a Chris- 
 tian !" " Yes," said the Wife, " there has been one here to- 
 day, but he went away again." So old Griffin said no more. 
 In the middle of the night, when Griffin was snoring away 
 lustily, Jack reached up and pulled a feather out of his tail. 
 
 The Griffin jumped up suddenly, and cried, " Wife, I 
 smell a Christian ! and it was just as if some one had been 
 plucking at my tail." The wife said, " You have no doubt 
 been dreaming. I have told you already that one has 
 been here to-day, but that he went away again. He told 
 I me all sorts of things : that in a castle they had lost the 
 ■ key of the money-chest, and could not find it." " Oh, the 
 fools 1" exclaimed the Griffin ; "the key lies in the wood- 
 I shed, behind the door, under a log of wood. " " And 
 further, he said that in a castle the daughter was ill, and 
 they knew no means to cure her." " Oh, the fools !" said 
 [the Griffin, "under the cellar steps a toad has made its 
 ! nest of her hair, and if she got the hair back again she 
 1 would be well." " And, then again, he said, at a certain 
 place there was a lake, and a man who was obliged to carry 
 everybody over." " Oh, the fool !" said the old Griffin, " if 
 he were only to put somebody into the middle he need not 
 ( carry any more over." 
 
236 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Early next morning the old Griffin got up ana went^ 
 out, and so Jack gets from under the bed with such a beau- 
 tiful feather, and he had heard what the Griffin had said 
 about the key, the daughter, and the man. The wife re- 
 peated it all to hira so that he should not forget, and then 
 he started off towards home. He came to the man at the 
 water first, and he asked him directly what the Griffin 
 had said ; but Jack said he must carrj^ him over first, and 
 then he would tell him. So he carried him over ; and 
 when they got there Jack told him he only had to put I 
 somebody into the middle and then he need carry no more, j 
 The man was delighted beyond measure, and told Jack that 
 out of gratitude he should like to carry him over and back 
 once more. But Jack said nay, he would save him the 
 trouble ; he was quite contented with him already, and then 
 went on. Then he arrived at the castle where the daughter 
 was ill ; he took her on his shoulder, for she was not 
 able to walk, and carried her down the cellar stairs, and 
 then took the toad's nest from under the bottom step, and 
 put it into the daughter's hand, and all at once she jumps : 
 off his shoulder, up the stairs before him, and is quite well. 
 Now the father and mother were delighted indeed, and 
 made Jack presents of gold and silver, and whatever he 
 wanted they gave him. When Jack arrived at the other 
 castle he went straight to the wood-shed, and found the 
 key right enough behind the door, under the log of wood, 
 and took it to the master. He was not a little pleased, and 
 gave Jack in return a great deal of gold that was in the 
 box, and all sorts of things besides, such as cows, and 
 sheep, and goats. When Jack got to the King with all 
 those things, with the money, and gold and silver, and the 
 cows, sheep, and goats, the King asked him wherever he 
 had come by all that. So Jack said the old Griffin would 
 give one as much as one liked. The King thought he 
 oould find a use for that sort of thing himself, and so started 
 
The Old Griffin. 
 
 237 
 
 off to tlie Griffin ; but when he got to the water he hap- 
 pened to be the first who arrived there since Jack, and the 
 man put him in the middle and walked off, and the King 
 was drowned. 
 
 So Jack married the King's Daughter and became King. 
 
CXLI. 
 
 Snow-White and Rose-Red, 
 
 . n 
 
 ^T^HERE was once a poor Widow who lived alone in hep 
 hut with her two children, who were called Snow^ 
 White and Rose-Red, because they were like the flowers 
 which bloomed on two rose-bushes which grew before the 
 cottage. But they were two as pious, good, industrious, 
 and amiable children, as any that were in the world, only 
 Snow-White was more quiet and gentle than Rose-Red. 
 For Rose-Red would run and jump about the meadows, 
 seeking flowers and catching butterflies, while Snow-White 
 sat at home helping her Mother to keep house, or reading 
 to her if there were nothing else to do. The two children 
 loved one another dearly, and always walked hand-in-hand 
 when they went out together; and ever when they talked 
 of it they agreed that they would never separate from each 
 other, and that whatever one had the other should share. 
 Often they ran deep into the forest and gathered wild ber- 
 ries ; but no beast ever harmed them. For the hare would 
 eat cauliflowers out of their hands, the fawn would graze 
 at their side, the goats would frisk about them in play, and 
 the birds remained perched on the boughs singing as if 
 nobody were near. No accident ever befell them ; and if 
 they stayed late in the forest, and night came upon them, 
 they used to lie down on the moss and sleep till morning; 
 and because their Mother knew they would do so, she felt 
 no concern about them. One time when they had thus 
 passed the night in the forest, and the dawn of morning 
 awoke them, they saw a beautiful Child dressed in shining 
 white sitting near their couch. She got up and looked at 
 them kindly, but without saying anything went into the 
 
Snow- White and Rose-Red. 
 
 239 
 
 I forest ; and when the children looked round they saw that 
 ! where they had slept was close to the edge of a pit, into 
 [ which the}^ would have certainly fallen had they walked a 
 I couple of steps further in the dark. Their Mother told 
 them the figure they had seen was doubtless the good angel 
 I who watches over children. 
 
 j Snow- White and Rose-Red kept their Mother's cottage 
 so clean that it was a pleasure to enter it. Every morning 
 in the summer-time Rose-Red would first put the house in 
 order, and then gather a nosegay for her Mother, in which 
 she always placed a bud from each rose-tree. Every win- 
 ter's morning Snow-White would light the fire and put the 
 ; kettle on to boil, and although the kettle was made of 
 ! copper it yet shone like gold, because it was scoured so 
 . well. In the evenings, when the flakes of snow were fall- 
 j ing, the Mother would say, " Go, Snow-White, and bolt 
 I the door ;" and then they used to sit down on the hearth, 
 1 and the mother w^ould put on her spectacles and read out 
 i of a great book, while her children sat spinning. By their 
 side, too, laid a little lamb, and on a perch behind them a 
 little white dove reposed with her head under her wing. 
 One evening, when they were thus sitting comfortably 
 ) together, there came a knock at the door as if somebody 
 I wished to come in. " Make haste, Rose-Red," cried her 
 ' Mother ; "make haste and open the door ; perhaps there is 
 some traveller outside who needs shelter." So Rose-Red 
 went and drew the bolt and opened the door, expecting to 
 see some poor man outside ; but instead, a great fat Bear 
 poked his black head in. Rose-Red shrieked out and ran 
 ; back, the little lamb bleated, the dove fluttered on her 
 ' perch, and Snow-White hid herself behind her mother's 
 I bed. The Bear, however, began to speak, and said, " Be 
 not afraid, I will do you no harm ; but I am half-frozen, 
 and wish to come in and warm myself." 
 i "Poor Bear!" cried the Mother; "come in and lie 
 
240 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 down before the fire; but take care you do not burn yout 
 skin ;" and then she continued, " Come here, Rose-Red aim 
 Snow-White, tlie Bear will not harm you, he means hoii,- 
 ourably." So they both came back, and by degrees tli6 
 lamb too and the dove overcame their fears and welcomed 
 the rough visitor. 
 
 " You children !" said the Bear, before he entered, 
 "come and knock the snow off my coat." And thejr 
 fetched their brooms and swept him clean. Then 
 stretched himself before the fire and grumbled out his 
 satisfaction ; and in a little while the children became 
 familiar enough to play tricks with the unwieldy animal. 
 They pulled his long shaggy skin, set their feet upon hiii 
 back and rolled him to and fro, and even ventured to beat 
 him with a hazel stick, laughing when he grumbled. Th^ 
 Bear bore all their tricks good temperedly, and if they \St 
 too hard he cried out, 
 
 " Leave me my life, you children, 
 Snow-White and Rose-Red, 
 Or you'll never wed." 
 
 f. 
 
 When bed time came and the others were gone, the 
 Mother said to the Bear, '^You may sleep here on the 
 hearth if you like, and then you will be safely protected 
 from the cold and bad weather." 
 
 As soon as day broke the two children let the Bear out 
 again, and he trotted away over the snow, and ever after- 
 wards he came every evening at a certain hour. He 
 would lie down on the hearth and allow the children to 
 play with him as much as they liked, till by degrees they 
 became so accustomed to him that the door was left un- 
 bolted till their black friend arrived. 
 
 But as soon as spring returned, and everything out of 
 doors was green again, the Bear one morning told Snow- 
 White that he must leave her, and could not return during 
 
Snow- White and Rose-Red. 
 
 241 
 
 the whole summer. "Where are you going, then, dear 
 Bear?" asked Snow-White. "I am obliged to go into the 
 forest and guard my treasures from the evil Dwarfs ; for in 
 winter, when the ground is hard, they are obliged to keep 
 in their holes, and cannot work through ; but now, since the 
 sun has thawed the earth and warmed it, the Dwarfs pierce 
 through, and steal all they can find ; and what has once 
 passed into their hands, and gets concealed by them in 
 their caves, is not easily brought to light." Snow-White, 
 however, was very sad at the departure of the Bear, and 
 opened the door so hesitatingly that when he pressed 
 through it he left behind on the sneck a piece of his hairy 
 coat; and through the hole which was made in his coat, 
 Snow-White fancied she saw the glittering of gold ; but 
 she was not quite certain of it. The Bear, however, ran 
 j hastily away, and was soon hidden behind the trees, 
 j Some time afterwards the Mother sent the children into 
 ! the wood to gather sticks ; and while doing so, they came 
 to a tree which was lying across the path, on the trunk of 
 which something kept bobbing up and down from the 
 i grass, and they could not imagine what it was. When 
 j they came nearer they saw a Dwarf, with an old wrinkled 
 i face and a snow-white beard a yard long. The end of this 
 I beard was fixed in a split of the tree, and the little man 
 [kept jumping about like a dog tied by a chain, for he did 
 not know how to free himself. He glared at the Maidens 
 : with his red fiery eyes, and exclaimed, " Why do you stand 
 there? are you going to pass without offering me any 
 jassistance?" "What have you done, little man?" asked 
 iRose-Red. "You stupid, gaping goose!" exclaimed he. 
 I" I wanted to have split the tree, in order to get a little 
 jwood for my kitchen, for the little wood which we use is 
 soon burnt up with great faggots, not like what you rough 
 greedy people devour ! I had driven the wedge in prop- 
 erly, and everything was going on well, when the smooth 
 11.— 11 ^ 
 
242 Grimm's Household Stories. ■ 
 
 wood flew upwards, and the tree closed so suddenly tfl 
 gether that I could not draw my beautiful beard out, anj 
 here it sticks and I cannot get away. There, don't laugh, 
 you milk-faced things! are you dumb-founded?" 
 
 The children took all the pains they could to pull the 
 Dwarf 's beard out ; but without success. " I will run and 
 fetch some help," cried Rose-Red at length. 
 
 " Crackbrained sheep's-head that you are !" snarled the 
 Dwarf; "what are you going to call other people for? 
 You are two too many now for me ; can you think of 
 nothing else?" 
 
 " Don't be impatient," replied Snow-White ; " I have 
 thought of something;" and pulling her scissors out of her 
 pocket she cut off the end of the beard. As soon as the 
 Dwarf found himself at liberty, he snatched up his sack, 
 which laid between the roots of the tree, filled with gold, 
 and throwing it over his shoulder marched off, grumbling 
 and groaning and crying, "Stupid people! to cut off a 
 piece of my beautiful beard. Plague take you !" and away 
 he went without once looking at the children. 
 
 Some time afterwards Snow-White and Rose-Red went 
 a-fishing, and as they neared the pond they saw something 
 like a great locust hopping about on the bank, as if going 
 to jump into the water. They ran up and recognised the 
 Dwarf "What are you after?" asked Rose-Red; "you 
 will fall into the water." " I am not quite such a simple- 
 ton as that," replied the Dwarf : "but do you not see thi^ 
 fish will pull me in." The little man had been sitting them 
 angling, and unfortunately the wind had entangled his 
 beard with the fishing line ; and so, when a great fish bit 
 at the bait, the strength of the weak little fellow was not 
 able to draw it out, and the fish had the best of the strug* 
 gle. The Dwarf held on hy the reeds and rushes which 
 grew near ; but to no purpose, for the fish pulled him where 
 it liked, and he must soon have been drawn into the pond. 
 
Snow-White and Rose-Red. 
 
 243 
 
 Luckily just then the two Maidens arrived, and tried to 
 release the beard of the Dwarf from the fishing line; but 
 both were too closely entangled for it to be done. So the 
 Maiden pulled out her scissors again and cut off another 
 piece of the beard. When the Dwarf saw this done he was 
 in a great rage, and exclaimed, " You donkey ! that is the 
 way to disfigure my face. Was it not enough to cut it 
 once, but you must now take away the best part of my 
 fine beard? I dare not show myself again now to my own 
 people. I wish you. had run the soles off your boots before 
 you had come here !" So saying, he took up a bag of 
 pearls which laid among the rushes, and without speaking 
 another word, slipped off and disappeared behind a stone. 
 
 Not many days after this adventure, it chanced that the 
 Mother sent the two Maidens to the next town to buy 
 thread, needles and pins, laces and ribbons. Their road 
 passed over a common, on which here and there great 
 pieces of rock were lying about. Just over their heads 
 they saw a great bird flying round and round, and every 
 inow and then, dropping lower and lower, till at last it flew 
 'down behind a rock. Immediately afterwards they heard 
 a piercing shriek, and running up they saw with affright 
 that the eagle had caught their old acquaintance, the Dwarf, 
 land was trying to carry him off. The compassionate chil- 
 dren thereupon laid hold of the little man, and held him 
 ifast till the bird gave up the struggle and flew off. As 
 jsoon then as the Dwarf had recovered from his fright, he 
 exclaimed in his squeaking voice, "Could you not hold me 
 more gently? You have seized my fine brown coat in 
 such a manner that it is all torn and full of holes, meddling 
 and interfering rubbish that you are !" With these words 
 he shouldered a bag filled with precious stones, and slipped 
 away to his cave among the rocks. 
 
 The Maidens were now accustomed to his ingratitude, 
 and so they walked on to the town and transacted their 
 
244 Grimm's Household Stories. ■ 
 
 business there. Coming home, they returned over the samr 
 common, and unawares walked up to a certain clean spot 
 on which the Dwarf had shaken out his bag of precious I 
 stones, thinking nobody was near. The sun was shining, 
 and the bright stones glittered in its beams and displayed 
 such a variety of colours that the two Maidens stopped, to 
 admire them. 
 
 "What are you standing there gaping for?" asked the 
 Dwarf, while his face grew as red as copper with rage ; he , 
 was continuing to abuse the poor Maidens, when a loud ' 
 roaring noise was heard, and presently a great black Bear 
 came rolling out of the forest. The Dwarf jumped up 
 terrified, but he could not gain his retreat before the Bear 
 overtook him. Thereupon, he cried out, "Spare me, my 
 dear Lord Bear! I will give you all my treasures. See 
 these beautiful precious stones which lie here ; only give 
 me my life ; for what have you to fear from a little weak 
 fellow like me? you could not touch me with your big 
 teeth. There are two wicked girls, take them ; they would 
 make nice morsels, as fat as young quails ; eat them ficr 
 heaven's sake." 
 
 The Bear, however, without troubling himself to speak, 
 gave the bad-hearted Dwarf a single blow with his paw, 
 and he never stirred after. 
 
 The Maidens were then going to run away, but the 
 Bear called after them, " Snow-White and Eose-Ked, fear 
 not! wait a bit and I will accompany you." They recog- 
 nised his voice and stopped ; and when the Bear came, his 
 rough coat suddenly fell off, and he stood up a tall man, 
 dressed entirely in gold. " I am a king's son," he said, 
 " and was condemned by the wicked Dwarf, who stole all 
 my treasures, to wander about in this forest, in the form of 
 a bear, till his death released me. Now he has received 
 his well-deserved punishment." 
 
 Then they went home, and Snow- White was married to 
 
Snow- White and Eose-Eed. 
 
 245 
 
 the prince, and Eose-Eed to his brother, with whom they 
 shared the immense treasure which the Dwarf had collected. 
 The old Mother also lived for many years happily with her 
 two children, and the rose-trees which had stood before the 
 cottage were planted now before the palace, and produced 
 every year beautiful red and white roses. 
 
CXLII. 
 
 The Family Servants. 
 
 « TXTHERE are you going to ?" " To Walpe." 
 
 ▼ ▼ " I to Walpe, you to Walpe ; so, so, together we go." 
 " Have you got a husband ? how do you call your hus- 
 band?" 
 
 Cham." " My husband Cham, your husband Cham ; 
 I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go." 
 
 " Have you got a child? how do you call your child ?" 
 
 "Grild." "My child Grild, your child Grild; my hus- 
 band Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to 
 Walpe ; so, so, together we go." 
 
 " Have you got a cradle? how do you call your cradle?" 
 
 " Hippodadle." " My cradle Hippodadle, your cradle 
 Hippodadle ; my child Grild, your child Grild ; my hus- 
 band Cham, your husband Cham ; I to Walpe, you to 
 Walpe ; so, so, together we go." 
 
 "Have you got a man? how do you call your man?" 
 
 " Do-as-well-as-you-can." "My man Do-as-well-as-you- 
 can, your man Do-as-well-as-you-can ; my cradle Hippo- 
 dadle, your cradle Hippodadle ; my child Grild, your child 
 Grild ; my husband Cham, your husband Cham ; I to 
 Walpe, you to Walpe ; so, so, together we go." 
 
CXLIII. 
 
 The Turnip. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there were two brothers who had 
 both served as soldiers, but one had got riches while 
 the other remained poor. So the poor man, in order to 
 help himself out of his difficulties, drew off his soldiering 
 coat and turned ploughman. He dug and ploughed over 
 his piece of land, and then sewed some turnip seed. Soon 
 the seed began to show itself above ground, and there grew 
 one turnip immensely large and thick, which seemed as if 
 it would never have done growing, but was a princess 
 among turnips ; and as there had never before been seen 
 such a turnip, so also there has never been such another 
 since. At length it was such a size, that it filled of itself 
 a whole cart, and two oxen were required to draw it ; but 
 the poor man knew not what to do with it, or whether it 
 would be the making of his fortune, or just the contrary. 
 At last he thought to himself that if he sold it he should 
 not get very much for it; and as to eating it, why the 
 ordinary sized turnips would do as well ; and so he re- 
 , solved to take it to the King and offer it to him. So 
 I thinking, he laid it on a cart, and harnessing two oxen, 
 took his turnip to court and presented it to the King. 
 "What curious thing is this?" asked the King; "such a 
 wonderful sight I have never before seen, though I have 
 : looked at some curiosities ; pray from what seed was this 
 grown? or are you a luck-child who have picked it up?" 
 I "Oh no," said the man, "I am no luck-child, but only 
 a poor soldier, who, because he could not get enough to 
 live on, has pulled off his uniform and turned to tilling 
 i land. I have got a brother who is rich and well known 
 
 i 
 
248 
 
 Gkimm's Household Stories. 
 
 to you, your majesty, but I, because I have nothing, am 
 forgotten by all." 
 
 Thereupon the King took compassion on the poor 
 Soldier, and said to him, "Your poverty shall be put a^i 
 end to, and you shall receive so much from me that you 
 shall be equal to your rich brother." So saying, the King 
 presented the man with much gold, land, flocks, and herdi^ 
 and made him thereby so rich that his brother's property 
 was not to be compared with his. When the latter heard 
 what his brother had gained by a single turnip, he envied 
 him, and revolved in his own mind how he could manage 
 to happen with the like luck. He thought he would be 
 much cleverer, and took to the King gold and horses as 
 a present, thinking no less than that he would receive 
 a much handsomer present; since his brother had been 
 treated so liberally for a mere turnip, what would not his 
 generous present be requited with ! The King received 
 the present very graciously, and told the Soldier he could 
 give him in return nothing richer or rarer than the mag- 
 nificent turnip ! So the wealthy soldier was obliged to lay 
 the turnip upon his carriage and drive it home with him. 
 When he reached his house he knew not what to do with 
 himself for vexation and rage, till by degrees wicked 
 thoughts took possession of him, and he resolved to kill 
 his brother. So he hired some murderers, whom he placed 
 in ambush, and then going to his brother, he said to him, 
 " I know a secret treasure, my dear brother, which we will 
 obtain and share together." The good brother was de- 
 ceived by these words, and unsuspectingly accompanied 
 the wicked one. But as they went along the murderers 
 burst out upon them, and binding the good man prepared 
 to hang him on a tree. But while they were about it a 
 sudden shouting and laughing was heard at a distance, 
 which frightened the assassins so much that they tumbled 
 their prey head over heels into a sack, and suspended him 
 
The Turnip. 
 
 249 
 
 on a bough, and then took flight. The Soldier, however, 
 worked himself about in the sack till he got his head 
 through a hole at the top, and then he perceived that the 
 noise which had saved him was made by a Student, a 
 young fellow who was singing and shouting snatches of 
 songs as he walked along. As soon as this Student was 
 just under the tree, the man in the sack called out, " I 
 hope you are well at this lucky moment." The Scholar 
 looked about him and wondered where the voice came 
 from, for he could see nobody ; at last he said, " Who calls 
 me?" "Eaise your eyes and you will see me sitting above 
 here in wisdom's sack. In a short time I have learnt great 
 things ; in fact, this place beats all schools hollow ! In a 
 httle while I shall have learnt everything, and then I shall 
 descend and mix with my fellow men. I understand 
 astronomy and the signs of heaven, the motion of all the 
 winds, the sand in the sea, the art of healing the sick, the 
 virtue of every herb, birds and stones ! Were you once in 
 this place you would feel what a noble thing it is to sit in 
 the sack of wisdom !" 
 
 When the Scholar heard all this he was astonished, and 
 said, " Blessed be the hour in which I found you ! can I 
 not also come a little while into the sack ?" 
 
 " For a short time I will allow you to take my place in 
 1 consideration of some reward and your fair speech ; but 
 j you must first wait an hour, for there is one piece of learn- 
 jing which I have not yet fully mastered." 
 
 The Scholar accordingly sat down to wait, but the time 
 appeared to him terribly long, and he soon began to pray 
 to be allowed to take his place, because his thirst for wis- 
 dom was so great. The man in the sack at length pitied 
 his impatience, and told him to let the sack down carefully 
 by the rope which held it, and then he should get in. 
 Thereupon the Scholar let him down, and, opening the 
 i mouth of the sack, delivered the man, and as soon as he 
 II.— 11* 
 
250 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 had done so he got into the sack, and said, " Now pull me 
 up quickly !" 
 
 "Stop, stop!" cried the other; "that is not quite 
 right;" and laying hold of the Scholar by the shoulders 
 he thrust him head downwards into the sack. Then he 
 pulled the neck to, and, fastening the rope on, swung the 
 sack up on the bough of the tree, while he exclaimed, 
 " How do you feel now, my good fellow ? do you find that 
 wisdom comes with your experience? Sit quietly there 
 till you become wiser." 
 
 With these words he mounted the Student's horse and 
 rode off; but in an hour's time he sent soniebody to release 
 the poor Student in the sack. 
 
CXLIV. 
 
 The Hen Roost. 
 
 ONCE -upon a time there was an Enchanter who col- 
 lected around him a great crowd of folks, before whom 
 he performed his wonderful tricks. Among other things 
 he caused an old hen to be brought in, which raised a 
 heavy beam for a roosting-place, as though it were as light 
 as a feather. But there was a Girl standing by who had 
 found a four-bladed leaf of shamrock, through which she 
 became so wise that no trick could deceive her, and she 
 saw the pretended beam was nothing but a straw. So she 
 cried out, " Do you not see, you people, that it is no beam, 
 but a straw which the hen is carrying?" Thereupon the 
 enchantment vanished, and the gazers, perceiving the truth, 
 hunted the Enchanter away with scorn and ridicule. 
 
 Some time afterwards the Girl was to be married, and 
 in a very smart dress she walked in great state over the 
 fields which led to the church. All at once she came to a 
 large swollen stream, over which there was no bridge or 
 plank to cross by. Thereupon the bride was in distress, 
 but, holding her dress up, she tried to wade through the 
 water. But just as she came about the middle of it a 
 voice, which was that of the Enchanter, cried derisively, 
 " Ah ! where are your eyes, that you take this place for 
 water?" At these words her eyes were opened, and she 
 perceived that she stood holding up her dress in the middle 
 of a field of corn flowers. Then she in her turn got 
 i laughed at by the spectators ; so the Enchanter turned the 
 tables upon her. 
 
CXLV. 
 
 The Old Beggar-Wom?,n. 
 
 |]SrCE upon a time there was an old Woman, who 
 
 begged as you may have seen other old women do; 
 and when anybody gave her anything she would say, "God 
 bless you !" Now this old Beggar- Woman went to a door, 
 and before the fire stood a good-natured lad warming him- 
 self ; and. as soon as he saw the poor Woman shivering 
 outside, he said to her, " Come and warm yourself" She 
 went in ; but going too near the fire, her old rags began to ^ 
 burn before she was aware of it. The youth stood and f 
 looked at her ; but should he not have extinguished the 
 fire? Certainly — and if he had no water at hand, he 
 should have caused water to flow out of his eyes ; and so 
 two charming little streams would have been given ! 
 
 1 
 
CXLVI. 
 
 The Three Sluggards. 
 
 ACEETAIN King had three Sons, all of whom he 
 loved so much that he did not know which he should 
 name to be King after him. When the day of his death 
 approached, he called them to his bedside, and thus spoke 
 to them : " Dear children, I have something on my mind 
 which I wish to tell you ; whichever of you is the laziest, 
 he shall be King when I am dead." 
 
 " Then, father, the kingdom belongs to me," said the 
 eldest Son ; " for I am so lazy, that if I lie down to sleep, 
 and tears come into my eyes, so that I cannot close them, 
 I yet go to sleep without wiping them away !" 
 
 " The kingdom belongs to me," cried the second Son ; 
 "for I am so lazy that when I sit by the fire to warm 
 myself, I allow my boots to scorch before I will draw away 
 my feet." 
 
 But the third Son said, " The kingdom is mine, father, 
 for I am so lazy that were I about to be hanged, and even 
 had I the rope round my neck, and any one should give 
 me a sharp sword to cut it with, T should suffer myself to 
 be swung off before I took the trouble to cut the rope." 
 
 As soon as the Father heard this he said to his young- 
 est Son, " You have shown yourself the laziest of all, and 
 you shall be King." 
 
4 
 
 CXLVII. 
 
 The Little Shepherd Boy. 
 
 OXCE upon a time there was a little Shepherd Boy who 
 was famed far and wide for the wise answers which 
 he gave to every question. Now the King of the country 
 heard of this lad, but he would not believe what was said 
 about him, so the Boy was ordered to come to court 
 When he arrived the King said to him, " If you can give 
 me answers to each of the three questions which I will 
 now put to you, I will bring you up as my own child, and 
 you shall live here with me in my palace." 
 
 "What are these three questions?" asked the Boy. 
 " The first is, ' How many drops of water are there in 
 the sea ?' " 
 
 "My Lord King," replied the Shepherd Boy, "let all 
 the waters be stopped up on the earth, so that not one 
 drop shall run into the sea before I count it, and then I 
 will tell you how many drops there are in the sea !" 
 
 " The second question," said the King, " is, ' How many 
 stars are there in the sky ?' " 
 
 "Give me a large sheet of paper," said the Boy; and 
 then he made in it with a pin so many minute holes that 
 they were far too numerous to see or to count, and dazzled 
 the eyes of whomever looked at them. This done he said. 
 " So many stars are there in the sky as there are holes 
 in this paper; now count them." But nobody was able. 
 Thereupon the King said, " The third question is, ' How 
 many seconds are there in eternity ?' " 
 
 " In Lower Pomerania is situate the adamantine moun- 
 tain, one mile in height, one mile in breadth, and one mile 
 deep; and thither comes a bird once in every thousand 
 
The Little Shepherd Boy. 
 
 255 
 
 years which rubs its beak against the hill, and, when the 
 whole shall be rubbed away, then will the first second of 
 eternity be gone by." 
 
 " You have answered the three questions like a sage," 
 said the King, "and from henceforward you shall live 
 with me in my palace, and I will treat you as my cwn 
 child." 
 
1 
 
 cxLvin. 
 
 The Undutiful Son. 
 
 ONCE upon a time a man and his wife were sitting before 
 their house-door, with a roast fowl on a table between 
 them, which they were going to eat together. Presenter 
 the man saw his old father coming, and he quickly snatcht' 
 up the fowl and concealed it, because he grudged sharing 
 it even with his own parent. The old man came, had a 
 draught of water, and then went away again. As soon as 
 he was gone his son went to fetch the roast fowl again; 
 but when he touched it he saw that it was changed into a 
 toad, which sprang upon his face and squatted there, and 
 would not go away. When any one tried to take it off, it 
 spat out poison and seemed about to spring in the face, so 
 that at length nobody dared to meddle with it. Now, this 
 toad the undutiful son was compelled to feed, lest it should 
 feed on his flesh; and with this companion he moved 
 wearily about from place to place, and had no rest any- 
 where in this world. 
 
CXLIX. 
 
 Star Dollars. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a little Girl whose father 
 and mother were dead ; and she became so poor that 
 she had no roof to shelter herself under, and no bed to 
 ' sleep in ; and at last she had nothing left but the clothes 
 on her back, and a loaf of bread in her hand, which a 
 compassionate body had given to her. But she was a good 
 ; and pious little Girl, and when she found herself forsaken 
 by all the world, she went out into the fields trusting on 
 God. Soon she met a poor Man, who said to her, " Give 
 • me something to eat, for I am so hungry." She handed 
 I him the whole loaf; and, with a "God bless you!" walked 
 on further. Next she met a little Girl crying very much, 
 who said to her, "Pray give me something to cover my 
 head with, for it is so cold!" So she took off her own 
 Sbonnet, and gave it away. And in a little while she met 
 another Child who had no cloak, and to her she gave her 
 own cloak. Then she met another who had no dress on, 
 land to this one she gave her own frock. By that time it 
 •was growing dark, and our little Girl entered a forest; and 
 presently she met a fourth Maiden, who begged something, 
 ,and to her she gave her petticoat ; for, thought our heroine, 
 "It is growing dark, and nobody will see me, I can give 
 laway this." And now she had scarcely anything left to 
 cover herself; and just then some of the stars fell down 
 in the form of silver dollars, and among them she found a 
 petticoat of the finest linen ! and in that she collected the 
 star-money, which made her rich all the rest of her life- 
 itime ! 
 
OlSTCE upon a time a Father sat at table with his wife 
 and children, and with them was a good Friend \vh 
 had come on a visit. While thej sat eating, it struci, 
 twelve, and then the Friend saw the door open, and a 
 Child, pale as death, dressed in snow-white garments, come 
 in. It did not look round or speak, but went straight into 
 the next room. Soon it returned and went as silently out 
 at the door again. The second and the third day it hap- 
 pened the same, and then the Friend asked the Father to 
 whom the Child belonged which entered the house every 
 day at noontime. " I have not seen it, nor do I know to 
 whom it belongs," said the Father. So the following day 
 when the Child came the Friend pointed it out to the 
 Father, but he could not see it, nor the Mother either, nor 
 her children. Then the Friend got up, and, going to the 
 chamber door, opened it a little and peeped in. There he 
 saw the Child sitting on the ground, digging and picking 
 industriously between the crevices of the boards; but as 
 soon as it perceived the stranger it disappeared. The 
 Friend now told the Father what he had seen, and described 
 the child exactly, whereupon the Mother recognised his 
 description, and said, "Ah! that is my dear Child who! 
 died four weeks ago." Then they broke up the boards 
 of the room and found beneath them two Farthings which 
 the Child had once received from his Mother to give to a 
 poor man, but he had thought to himself, " One can buyi 
 biscuits with these," and so he had kept the Farthings and 
 dropped them between the boards. And on that account 
 
The Stolen Farthings. 259 
 
 he had no rest in his grave, and every mid-day he was 
 compelled to come and seek for the Farthings. 
 
 So the parents gave the Farthings to a poor man, and 
 the Child was never once seen again. 
 
 I 
 
CLI. 
 
 The Bride Choosing. 
 
 THERE was once a young Shepherd who wished to get 
 married ; but although he knew three Sisters, each 
 one was as pretty as the others, and the choice was there- 
 fore so difficult, that he did not know to which to give the 
 preference. So he asked his Mother's advice ; and she told 
 him to invite all three of them to supper, and to place a 
 cheese before them and observe how they cut it. The 
 youth did so ; and the first Sister ate her cheese, rind and 
 all; the second cut off' the rind so hastily, that she cut 
 with it some of the good cheese and threw it all away : 
 but the third Sister pared the rind off* very carefully, 
 neither too much nor too little. The Shepherd thereupon 
 told all this to his Mother, and she said, " Take the youngest 
 Sister to wife." 
 
 And he did so, and lived contentedly and happily with 
 her all his life long. 
 
CLII. 
 
 The Shreds. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a Maiden who was very 
 pretty, but lazy and careless. When she used to spin, 
 she was so impatient that, if there chanced to be a little 
 knot in the thread, she snapped off a long bit with it and 
 threw the pieces down on the ground near her. Now she 
 had a Servant-Girl, who was industrious, and used to gather 
 together the shreds of thread, clean them, and weave them, 
 till she had made herself a dress with them. 
 
 And a young Man had fallen in love with this lazy- 
 Maiden; and their wedding-day was appointed. On the 
 [ evening before, the industrious Servant-Girl kept dancing 
 I about in her fine dress, till the Bride exclaimed : — 
 
 " Ah 1 how the Girl does jump about, 
 Dressed in my shreds and leavings !" 
 
 When the Bridegroom heard this, he asked the Bride what 
 she meant, and she told him that the Maid had worked 
 herself a dress with the shreds of thread which she had 
 thrown away. As soon as the Bridegroom heard this, and 
 saw the difference between the laziness of his intended and 
 ! the industry of her Servant, he gave up the Mistress, and 
 chose the Maid for his wife. 
 
CLIII. 
 
 The Sparrow and his Four 
 
 Children. 
 
 A SPARROW had four Young Ones in a swallow'a 
 nest, but just as they were fledged some naughty 
 boys discovered the nest and pushed the birds out; but 
 happily a slight breeze was blowing at the time, and bor. 
 them up. But the Old Sparrow was sorry because hei 
 Children were gone out into the world before she had 
 warned them of its dangers, or taught them good manners. 
 
 Now, in the spring time a great many sparrows chanced 
 to meet together in a field of corn, and among them the 
 old Sparrow happily met with his Young Ones and took 
 them home with him in great joy. " Ah ! my dear chil- 
 dren," he said to them, " what a trouble I have been in 
 about you all the summer, while you faced the world with- 
 out my advice : now hear my words, and attend to your 
 father, and take care of yourselves, for little birds must 
 needs meet great dangers." 
 
 Thereupon he asked his eldest Young One where he 
 had been during the summer, and how he had kept him- 
 self. " I have been in a garden," he replied, " eating 
 caterpillars and worms, till the cherries were ripe." "Ah I 
 my dear son," replied the Old Bird, "bill-grubbing is not 
 so bad ; but there is great danger in it ; therefore keep a 
 good look out, especially if people come into the garden 
 carrying long green poles, which are nevertheless hollow, 
 and have a small hole at the top !" 
 
 "Yes, my dear father," replied the young Sparrow; 
 "but what if a green leaf is stuck with wax over that 
 little hole?" "Where have you so seen it?" inquired! 
 
The Sparrow and his Four Children. 263 
 
 the father. " In a merchant's garden," was the reply. 
 "Oh! my son," cried the Old Bird, "mercliants are crafty 
 people; truly you have been among the world's children, 
 and have seen their cunning ways ; take care now that you 
 make a good use of what you have learnt ; and do not be 
 too confiding." 
 
 Then he asked the second Young One where he had 
 been. " At court," he replied. " Sparrows and those sort 
 of birds do not belong to such places as that," said the 
 father ; "at court there are much gold, velvet, silk, armour, 
 harness, and such birds as hawks, falcons, and owls. Do 
 you keep to the stables where they store the oats, or thrash 
 out the corn, and then you can satisfy your wants with a 
 daily supply of food." "Yes, father," said the son; "but 
 if the boys weave their straw into knots and meshes, many 
 a one may get hanged by them." 
 
 "Where have you seen that?" asked the Old Bird. 
 
 " At court among the stable boys." 
 
 " Ah ! my son, stable boys are bad boys ! If you have 
 been at court with the fine lords, and yet have left behind 
 you no feathers, you have learnt carefully, and know how 
 to behave yourself in the world ; still keep a sharp watch, 
 for the wolves often eat the cleverest dogs." 
 
 "And where have you sought your living?" asked the 
 Old Bird of his third Young One. " On the highways and 
 byways I have turned over tubs and ropes, and so now 
 and then I have happened with corn and barley seed." 
 
 "That is, indeed, a fine subsistence," said the father; 
 "but mind yon observe the hedges, and see that no one 
 bends down to pick up a stone ; for if so, it is time for you 
 to start." 
 
 " That is true," said the young Bird ; " but what if one 
 should carry little pebbles in his bosom or pocket before 
 stone walls?" 
 
 "Where have you seen |hat?" 
 
 " With the miners, dear father," he replied ; " for when 
 
264 Gkimm's Household Stories. 
 
 they travel about they carry with them secretly stones to 
 throw at people." 
 
 " Oh, miners, working people, curious people they ! If 
 you have been among them you have seen and experienced 
 a great deal." 
 
 At last the father came to the youngest son, and said, 
 " Ah ! my dear Cacklenestle, you were always the weakest 
 and most foolish ; do you stop with me, the world has so 
 many wicked and rough birds with sharp beaks and long 
 claws, who attack and devour all the little birds: keep 
 you with me, and let the worms and spiders on the trees 
 and ground near us content you." 
 
 " Ah ! my dear father, he who finds his own living 
 without injury to others, he fares well, and no hawk, owl, 
 eagle, or falcon shall harm him ; for at all times, and every 
 morning and evening he desires of God his daily food, — 
 of God who is both the Creator and Protector of all the 
 forest and village birds, and who also feeds the young 
 ravens, and hears their cries, for without His will no spar- 
 row nor starling falls to the ground." 
 
 "Where did you learn all this?" cried the Old Bird, 
 astonished. 
 
 " When the breeze took me away," replied the Bird, 
 "I came to a church, where I spent the summer in eating 
 the flies and spiders off the windows, and there I heard the 
 sermon preached, for the Father of all Sparrows nourished 
 me through the summer, and kept me from all misfortune 
 and fierce birds 1" 
 
 "True, my dear son," said the Old Bird; "fly back tc 
 the church and keep the flies and spiders from the win- 
 dows. Also forget not to chirp to God like the ravens, 
 and pray to the Creator daily, and so you will keep well, 
 were the whole world full of wild knavish birds: for he 
 who commends his affairs to God, endures all, prays, and 
 is gentle and kind, keeps his foith strictly, and his con- 
 science clear, him God will ever protect and defend." 
 
 / 
 
CLIV. 
 
 The Tale of Schlaurafifenland. 
 
 I WAS once in Scblauraffenland, which some folks call 
 "Fool's Paradise," and there saw I Eome and the 
 Lateran hanging by a silken thread, a footless man who 
 outran a quick horse, and a sword sharp as a razor which 
 formed a bridge. There I saw, too, a young ass with a 
 silver nose, which was coursing two hares, and a lime-tree 
 full of foliage, whereon grew hot panca.kes. There, too, I 
 saw a clumsy old goat, which carried on its back a hundred 
 cartloads of grease and sixty cartloads of salt. Is not that 
 enough ? 
 
 There, also, I saw a plough going without horse or 
 wheels, and a one-year-old child threw four mill-stones 
 from Ratisbon to Treves, and from Treves away to Stras- 
 burg, and a hawk swam over the Rhine without difficulty ! 
 There too I heard fishes caught with one another's cries, 
 , and sweet honey flowed like water out of a deep valley up 
 ' a high mountain ! 
 
 There were also two crows which mowed a meadow, 
 : and I saw two flies building a bridge, and two doves tear- 
 I ing a wolf; two children who threw down two kids, and 
 1 two frogs threshing corn with might and main ! 
 
 There I saw two mice consecrate a bishop; two cats 
 , who scratched out a bear's tongue, and a snail which sle\^ 
 j two lions. There stood a barber who shaved off his wife's 
 beard, and two sucking children who rocked their mother 
 in a cradle ! There I saw two greyhounds dragging a mill 
 out of the water, and an old horse-knacker, who said it was 
 all right ; and in a stable stood four horses kneading dough 
 I II.— 12 z 
 
266 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 with all their strength, and two goats which heated the 
 oven, and a red cow put the bread into the oven. There, 
 also, a cock crowed, " Cock-a-doodle-doo !" 
 " My tale is over ! Cock-a-doodle-doo I" 
 
CLV. 
 
 The Lying Tale. 
 
 I WILL tell you something. I saw two roast hens flying; 
 they flew quickly, and had their heads to the sky and 
 their tails to the ground 1 I saw an anvil and a millstone 
 swimming over the Ehine, but slowly and lightly, and a 
 frog sat and ate a ploughshare at Whitsuntide on the ice. 
 There were three fellows wished to catch a hare, and went 
 upon crutches and stilts ; the one was deaf, the second 
 blind, and the third dumb, and the fourth could not stir a 
 foot. Do you wish to know how that happened ? The 
 blind man saw the hare coursing over the fields, the dumb 
 man called to the lame one, and he caught the hare by 
 the neck. 
 
 There were some fellows who wished to sail on dry 
 land, and they spread the sail, and were carried over the 
 meadows; but when they attempted to get up a high 
 mountain they were miserably drowned. A crab was 
 hunting a hare, and high upon the roof lay a cow which 
 had climbed there. In this land flies are as big as goats. 
 
 Pray open the window that these lies may escape. 
 
 i 
 
^T^HEEE "Women were once changed into flowers, and 
 grew in a field ; but one of them was permitted to go 
 home at night. So one time she said to her Husband, 
 when day was dawning and she was about to return to her 
 companions in the field and become a flower again, " This 
 noontime come and break me off, and then I shall be re- 
 leased and be able to dwell with you in future," — and thus 
 it happened. 
 
 But now the question is how the Husband knew his 
 Wife ; for all the flowers were alike and had no difference 
 at all between them. The answer is this : during the 
 night which she passed at home with her Husband, the 
 dew fell upon her two companions which were in the field ; 
 and so he knew his Wife, because there was no dew on her 
 flower ! 
 
CLVII. 
 
 Wise Hans. 
 
 How happy is the man, and how well his affairs go on 
 at home, who has a wise boy who listens to every 
 I word that is said to him, and then goes and acts according 
 ; to his own discretion ! Such a wise Hans was once sent 
 : by his Master to look for a lost cow. He remained a long 
 i while absent ; but the Master thought, " My trusty Hans 
 ; spares himself no trouble in his work !" When, however, 
 ( a still longer time had elapsed, and the Boy did not return, 
 his Master began to fear something had happened, so he 
 made himself ready to go in search of him. He looked 
 about for a long while, and at length found Hans running 
 up and down in a wide field. "Xow, my good Hans," 
 cried his master when, he had overtaken him, "have you 
 found the cow which I sent you after ?" 
 I "No, Master," he replied, "I have not found the Cow, 
 for I have not looked for it." 
 
 " What have you been looking for then, Hans?" asked 
 the Master. 
 
 " Something better, and I have found it too, luckily." 
 
 "What is it, Hans?" 
 
 " Three Blackbirds," answered the Boy. 
 
 " And where are they ?" continued his Master. 
 
 " One I hear, the second I see, and the third I am 
 hunting," said the Boy. 
 
 Take now example by this; do not trouble yourself 
 with your Master's business or his orders ; but do rather 
 whatever may please you at the moment, and then you will 
 be reckoned as fine a fellow as this wise Hans. 
 
1 
 
 CLVIII. 
 
 The Glass Coffin. 
 
 NEVER tell a body that a tailor cannot travel far, and 
 arrive at as high an honour as he chooses. Nothiog 
 more is necessary than that he should go to the right spot, 
 and what is of most consequence, that he should have good 
 luck. 
 
 Such a clever and nimble Tailor's lad went out once 
 upon his wanderings, and came to a great forest, in which, 
 because he did not know the road, he lost his way. Night 
 overtook him, and there was nothing else for him to do but 
 to seek a bed in this frightful solitude. He could have 
 easily made a good bed on the soft moss, had he not been 
 afraid of the wild beasts, the thought of which disquieted 
 him so much that he resolved at length to pass the night 
 on a tree. He picked out a lofty oak, to the top of which 
 he climbed, and thanked heaven that he had brought hiB 
 goose with him, so that the wind which whistled among the 
 trees, coul^l not blow him away. After he had spent some 
 hours in the darkness, not without trembling and shive^ 
 ing, he perceived at a short distance the glimmering of a 
 candle, and thinking that it might be the habitation of 
 some man, where he could find a better resting-place than 
 on the boughs of his trees, he cautiously descended, and 
 walked towards the light. Presently he came to a little 
 hut, built of reeds and rushes, and, knocking boldly at the 
 door, which opened of itself, he saw inside a very old grey- 
 headed man, dressed in a frock made of various coloured 
 rags. " Who are you, and what do you want?" asked thii 
 figure in a hoarse voice. 
 
 "I am a poor Tailor," he replied, "surprised by night 
 
The Glass Coffin. 
 
 271 
 
 in this forest, and I pray you earnestly to keep- me in your 
 
 hut till the morning." " Go your way," cried the Old Man 
 ; peevishly ; " I will have nothing to do with vagabonds, 
 ! seek a welcome elsewhere and so saying he would have 
 
 pushed the man out of the house. The Tailor, however, 
 , caught hold of his coat, and begged so earnestly, that the 
 I Old Man, who seemed much rougher than he really was, 
 I yielded at length, and took the Tailor into his hut, where 
 i he gave him something to eat, and then showed him a bed 
 
 in a corner. 
 
 The weary Tailor needed no rocking, but slept soundly 
 till morning, and even then he would not have got up had 
 he not been aroused by a loud cry. A terrible screaming 
 ' and moaning pierced through the thin walls of the cottage, 
 and the Tailor, excited by an unusual courage, jumped up, 
 and, drawing his clothes on hastily, went out. Then he 
 saw near the cottage a great black beast and a pretty Goat 
 engaged in a hot contest. They were butting at one an- 
 ' other with so much fury that the ground trembled under 
 i their feet, and the air resounded with their cries. For some 
 i time it was uncertain which would gain the victory ; but at 
 ! last the Goat thrust his horns into his enemy's body with 
 : so much force that the latter fell to the ground with a fear- 
 ful howl, and was soon despatched with a stroke or two 
 more on the part of the Goat. 
 
 The Tailor, who had watched the fight with astonish- 
 i ment, was still standing by at its close, and as soon as the 
 Goat perceived him, it rushed at him, and, catching him up 
 on its horns before he could escape, bolted away with him 
 over hedge and ditch, hill and valley, meadow and wood. 
 I He held fast to the horns with both his hands (for he had 
 I managed to get on the goat's back), and resigned himself 
 to his fate ; but it came sooner than he expected, for at last 
 the Goat stopped before a ridge of rocks, and let the Tailor 
 j softly down to the ground. More dead than alive, he laid 
 
 1 
 
272 Grimm's Household Stories 
 
 for a long time before he recovered his senses, and when he 
 did so, the Goat, which had remained by him all the time, 
 thrust his horns with such force into a seeming door in the 
 rock that it split open. Flames of fire came out, and pres- 
 ently a great smoke followed which hid the Goat from the 
 eyes of tffe Tailor, who now knew not what to do, nor 
 where to turn to get out of the wilderness. While he stood 
 considering, a voice came from the rock, which said, " Step 
 in hither without fear, and no harm shall happen to you." 
 The Tailor hesitated; but drawn by an invisible power, ; 
 he obeyed the voice, and, passing through the iron door, he 
 found himself in an immense hall, whose roof, walls and 
 floor were formed of bright and polished square stones, on 
 each of which characters unknown to him were engraved. 
 He observed everything with wonder, and was on the point ^ 
 of making his way out again, when the voice said, " Step 
 upon the stone which lies in the middle of the hall, and 
 there await your fate." 
 
 The Tailor's courage was up now, and he walked to the 
 spot indicated, and presently the stone give way beneath 
 him, and sank slowly deeper and deeper. When it stopped, 
 and the Tailor looked about him, he saw another large 
 chamber like the first in extent, but there was much more 
 to attract his attention and wonder. In the walls were cut 
 recesses, in which stood vessels of clear glass, some filled 
 with coloured fluids, and others with a bluish smoke. On 
 the ground of the hall stood, opposite each other, two great 
 glass chests, which at once excited his wonder. He stepped 
 up to them, and found that one contained a handsome build- 
 ing similar to a castle, with farm buildings, stables, and out- 
 houses attached, and surrounded by all other necessaries. 
 Everything was diminutive, but made so carefully and 
 delicately that it must have been executed with the great- 
 est ingenuity by a cunning workman. The Tailor could 
 scarcely take his eyes away from this curiosity, but the voice 
 
The Glass Coffin. 
 
 273 
 
 warned liim to desist, and to look instead at what was con- 
 tained in the other glass chest. To what a pitch was his 
 wonder raised when he perceived in it a beautiful Maiden 
 lying fast asleep, and enveloped from head to foot with her 
 own yellow hair. Her eyes were fast closed, but the fresh 
 colour of her cheeks, and the motion of a riband to and 
 fro, which swayed with her breath, left no doubts as to her 
 being alive. The Tailor looked at her with a beating heart, 
 and all at once she opened her eyes and closed them again 
 with a joyful cry. When she saw him, "Just heaven!" she 
 exclaimed, "my liberty approaches! Quick, quick, help 
 me out of my prison ; push back the bolt of my glass cage, 
 and I am free !" 
 
 The Tailor obeyed without trembling, and as soon as he 
 raised the glass lid, the Maiden stepped out and hastened 
 to one corner of the hall, where she wrapped herself in a 
 j large cloak. Then she sat down upon a stone, and, calling 
 'the young Tailor to her, gave him a friendly kiss, and then 
 said, " My long-desired deliverer ! a gracious heaven has 
 led you hither to put an end to my sorrows. On the same 
 day that they end, your good fortune shall begin. You are 
 my husband, chosen by heaven, and you shall spend your 
 life in undisturbed peace, beloved by me, and endowed with 
 all ray earthly riches. Sit down, now, and hear the history 
 I of my misfortunes. 
 
 I " I am the daughter of a rich Count. My parents died 
 'when I was yet in tender childhood, and delivered me as 
 
 I their last request to the care of my elder Brother, by whom 
 
 I I was to be educated. We loved each other dearly, and 
 we were so of one mind in our ways of thinking and acting, 
 that we both resolved to remain single, and live together to 
 the end of our lives. In our house there was never any 
 Hack of company; neighbours and friends visited us con 
 stantly, and we exercised towards all the greatest possible 
 hospitality. Thus it happened that one evening a Stranger 
 
 II.— 12* 
 
274 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 rode into our castle yard under the pretext of not beinty 
 able to reach the next town, and requested shelter. We 
 treated his request with our usual courtesy, and he enter- 
 tained us for the rest of that evening with his conversations 
 and relations of his various adventures. My Brother even 
 took such a fancy to him that he pressed him to stay for 
 couple of days,' to which he consented after some hesitatioi. 
 Late at night we arose from table, and after the Stranger 
 had been shown to his apartment, I hastened, weary as i 
 was, to lay myself down on the soft feathers of my bed. 1 1 
 bad scarcely dropped asleep when I heard the tones of ai 
 delicious strain of music. I could not conceive from ' 
 whence it proceeded, and I resolved to summon my cham- 
 bermaid, who slept in the adjoining room. To my astonish- 
 ment it seemed as if a mountain were laid upon my breast, 
 and all power of speech was so taken away from me by 
 some invisible means, that I was unable to utter a single 
 word. Meanwhile, I saw, by the shining of the lamp, the 
 Stranger step into my room through two doors which I 
 supposed were fast closed. He approached me, and sairl 
 that by the aid of enchantments which were at his service 
 he had caused the notes of the music which had awakened 
 me, and that now he was come at all risks to offer me his 
 heart and hand. My indignation, however, at his enchant- 
 ments was so great that I deigned no answer to him ; and 
 for a long time he remained immovable before me, ap- 
 parently waiting my favourable decision. As I continued 
 silent, however, he declared passionately that he would 
 revenge himself, and find some means to punish mv 
 haughtiness ; and so saying he quitted my room. I passed 
 the rest of the night in the greatest anxiety and did not, 
 sleep till morning, and then as soon as I awoke I hastened to 
 my Brother to tell him of what had happened to me, but 
 I found him not in his room, and the servants told me that 
 he had ridden out to hunt with the Stranger at daybreak. 
 
The Glass Coffin. 
 
 275 
 
 "This foreboded no good to me. I dressed myself 
 quickly, caused my palfrey to be saddled, and rode, at- 
 tended only by one servant, at full gallop into the forest. 
 On our way the servant let his horse fall and broke his 
 knees, so that he was unable to follow me ; but I continued 
 without a stoppage to hurry on, and in a fe\v minutes I 
 saw the Stranger leading a Goat by a string coming 
 towards me. I asked him where he had left my Brother, 
 and how he had come by the Goat, from whose large eyes 
 tears were streaming. Instead of answering me he began 
 to laugh loudly ; and thereupon I became very angry, and, 
 drawing a pistol, fired it at the monster ; but the ball re- 
 bounded from his breast and pierced the head of my horse. 
 I was thrown to the o-mnnd q.nd the stranger murmured 
 some words wL__ ^^^x±yo^ uic of sensibility. 
 
 " When I recovered again the use of my faculties, I 
 found myself enclosed in a glass coffin, in this subterranean 
 chamber. The black Magician appeared once more, and 
 told me he had changed my Brother into a Goat, enclosed 
 my castle with all its surrounding buildings in another 
 glass case, and shut up my people in the form of smoke in 
 glass bottles. If I were willing, he said, to fulfil his wishes 
 now, nothing was easier for him than to put things in 
 i their previous position ; he need only to open the cases and 
 i everything would return to its natural shape. I answered 
 I him, however, as little as before, and he disappeared, leav- 
 ing me lying in my glass prison-house, where I presently 
 ' fell into a deep sleep. Among the visions which then 
 came across my dreams was the consoling one that a youth 
 1 came and delivered me ; and when I opened my eyes to- 
 day, I saw you, and knew m}^ dream was fulfilled. Help 
 me now to complete what I then dreamed. The first 
 thing is to raise this glass chest which contains my castle, 
 and place it on that wide stone." 
 
 As soon as the stone was thus laden it began to rise, 
 
276 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 carrying with it the Maiden, and the Tailor ; and at length 
 it passed through the floor of the upper room, and from 
 thence they quickly came into the open air. Here the 
 Maiden raised the lid of the case, and it was wonderful to 
 * see how, immediately, castle, farm, buildings, stables, &c., 
 unfolded themselves, and grew with marvellous rapidity to 
 their natural size. Thereupon the Maiden and the Tailor 
 turned back into the subterraneous cave, and caused the 
 stone to raise with them the bottles filled with smoke. 
 Scarcely were they opened, when the blue smoke pressed 
 out and assumed the form of men, whom the Maiden rec- 
 ognised as her servants and attendants. Their joy at this 
 recognition was still further increased when the Brother, 
 whom the Enchanter had changed into a Goat, appeared, 
 coming out of the wood, in his natural form ; and the 
 Maiden, in the excess of her jo}^, gave her hand to the 
 luo^-y Tailor on the very same day. 
 
CLIX. 
 
 Lazy Harry. 
 
 HAERY was a lazy fellow, and, although he had 
 nothing further to do than to drive his goat daily to 
 the meadow, he sighed continually when he reached home, 
 after his day's work, and would say : " In truth it is a 
 weary life this, and a troublesome job, year after year, to 
 drive a goat into the field every day till the autumn comes. 
 It were better if one could lie down and sleep ; but no ! 
 one must always be watching lest the goat should injure 
 the young trees, or creep through the hedge into some 
 garden, and so get away. Now how can I obtain quiet 
 and enjoy life ?" Once he sat down to collect his thoughts 
 and consider how he shouM free his shoulders from their 
 ! burden. For a long time nothing came of his reflections, 
 till all at once it flashed upon him as if a scale had fallen 
 from his eyes. "I know what I will do," he cried; "I 
 will marry fat Kate ; she also has a goat, and she can drive 
 ! out mine with hers, and so save me the trouble." 
 
 So thinking, Harry got up and sat his weary legs in 
 I motion to cross over the road (for the distance was no fur- 
 1 ther to the parents of fat Kate) to offer himself as a hus- 
 I band for their industrious and virtuous daughter. The 
 parents did not consider long; "Like and like agree to- 
 gether," thought they, and so consented. Thereupon fat 
 Kate became Harry's wife, and drove out the two goats 
 while her husband passed his time easily, troubling him- 
 self about no other labour than his own laziness ! Only 
 now and then he went out, because, as he said, he relished 
 the quiet the better afterwards ; and if he did not go out 
 he lost all feeling for the rest. 
 
 A A 
 
278 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Soon, however, fat Kate became no less lazy. " Dear 
 Harry," said she one day, " why should we sour our lives 
 without necessity, and harass the best part of our young 
 days? Would it not be better if we gave our two goats, 
 which now disturb us every morning in our best sleep, to 
 our neighbour, and let him give us in return a bee-hive 
 which we can place behind the house in a sunny place, and 
 afterwards need trouble no more about it ? The bees need 
 no looking after, and have not to be driven every day into 
 the meadow, for they will fly out and return home of them- 
 selves and collect their honey without any interference on 
 our part." 
 
 "You have spoken like a wise woman," replied lazy 
 Harry ; " let us pursue your plan without delay : besides, 
 honey both tastes and nourishes better than goat's milk, 
 and can be kept much longer !" 
 
 The neighbour willingly gave a bee-hive in exchange 
 for the two goats, and certainly the bees did fly unceasing- 
 ly from early morning till late in the evening in and out 
 of their hive, and filled it too with a store of the choicest 
 honey, so that Harry was able to take out a large jar-full 
 in the autumn. 
 
 This jar they placed on a board which was nailed to the 
 wall in their sleeping-room ; and as they feared it might be 
 stolen from them, or that the mice might manage to get at 
 it, fat Kate fetched a stout hazel-stick and laid it by her 
 bed, so that she could reach it without troubling herself to 
 get up, and drive away by these means the uninvited guests. 
 
 Lazy Harry, however, would not leave his bed till 
 noonday ; " He who rises early wastes his possessions," he' 
 said. One morning when the bright daylight found him 
 still in his bed, and he had just awakened from a long 
 sleep, he said to his wife, " You women like sweets, and 
 you have been stealing some of the honey ; it were better, 
 before you eat it all out, that we barter it away with some 
 
Lazy Harry. 
 
 279 
 
 one for a goose." " But not before we have a boy to take 
 care of it," replied the fat Kate. " Shall I distress myself 
 about the young geese and waste my strength unnecessarily 
 on their account?" 
 
 "Do you think," said Harry, "that a boy will take 
 care of them ? Now-a-days the children don't mind any- 
 body, but act just as they think proper, because they fancy 
 themselves wiser than their elders; just like that boy who 
 instead of looking after the cow hunted three blackbirds." 
 
 'Oh," replied Kate, "he shall catch it if he does not 
 do what I tell him. I will take a stick and give him no 
 end of blows across the shoulders. See here, Harry," she 
 cried, and caught up the stick which was laid to keep away 
 the mice. "See here, I will lay on him like this." But 
 unluckily, in raising the stick she hit the honey jar, and 
 threw it down on the bed. The jar was shivered to atoms, 
 and the beautiful honey flowed all over the ground. 
 "There lies our goose and goose boy," exclaimed Harry; 
 " they will not want to be tended now. But still it is a lucky 
 thing that the jar did not fall upon my head, so we have 
 j good reason to be contented with our fate." So saying, he 
 looked among the broken fragments and discovered one in 
 which some honey was still left. " This we will eat," said 
 I he to his wife, " and then rest awhile longer after our fright, 
 i for what does it signify if we do lie a little later than usual 
 j in bed? the day is long enough !" 
 
 " Yes, yes," replied fat Kate, " the affair has happened 
 I at a very good time. Do you know, the snail was once 
 1 invited to a wedding, but he tarried so long on the road, 
 that he arrived at the christening instead. In front of the 
 house he fell over the step, but all he said was, Hurrying 
 is no good." 
 
1 
 
 CLX. 
 
 Strong Hans. 
 
 ^T^HERE was once upon a time a man and his wife, who 
 had but one child, and they lived in a solitary valley, 
 all alone. Once it happened that the woman went into the 
 forest to collect firewood, and took with her the little Eans, 
 who was just turned two years of age. It was the begin- 
 ning of spring, and the child took great delight in the 
 various flowers which were then blooming; and running 
 from one to another, they strayed far into the forest. Sud- 
 denly two robbers jumped up out of a thicket, and seizing 
 the mother and child, carried them deep into the black 
 wood, where from year to year nobody ever penetrated. 
 The poor woman begged the robbers earnestly to let her 
 and her child go home, but their hearts were of stone, and 
 they paid no attention to her weeping and prayers, bui 
 only used force to drive her on further. After they had 
 thus travelled over two miles, through thorns and bushes, 
 they came to a rock in which was a door, whereat the rob- 
 bers knocked and immediately it opened of itself Then 
 they had to jDass through a long gloomy passage, and came 
 at length to a great cave lighted by a fire which, was biirn- 
 ing on the hearth. On the wall were hanging swords, 
 sabred, and other weapons, which shone in the light ; and 
 in the middle of the cave was a black table, at which the 
 four robbers sat down to play, and at the head sat tlie 
 Captain. The latter, as soon as he saw the woman enter, 
 came up to her and said that, if she were quiet and not 
 passionate, they would do her no harm, but she would 
 have to take care of their household ; and if she kept 
 everything in good order, she would be well treated. So 
 
Stkong Hans. 
 
 281 
 
 Baying he gave her something to eat, and showed her the 
 bed where she was to sleep with her child. 
 
 The woman remained many years with these robbers, 
 and Hans grew big and strong. His mother told him tales 
 and taught him to read from an old book of chivalry, 
 which she found in the cave. When Hans was nine years 
 old, he made himself a staff out of the branch of a fir-tree, 
 and hiding it behind the bed, he went and said to his 
 mother, " Dear mother, do tell me who my father is ; I 
 must and will know." But his mother was silent, and 
 would not tell him lest he should become home-sick ; 
 besides she knew the wicked robbers would not have 
 ■ allowed Hans to escape ; nevertheless, it would have 
 : broken her heart had she thought Hans would never see 
 I his father again. That night, when the robbers returned 
 from their day's plundering, Hans fetched out his cudgel, 
 and placing himself before the Captain said to him, "I 
 must know who is my father, and if you will not tell me 
 i I will knock you. down !" But the Captain only laughed 
 I at him, and gave him a box on the ears, so that he rolled 
 j under the table. Hans soon got up, but held his tongue, 
 ' thinking, " I will wait a year longer, and then try ; perhaps 
 : I shall manage better." 
 
 So when the year was up, he fetched his cudgel again, 
 sharpened its point and congratulated himself, that it was a 
 ! trusty and strong weapon. At night the robbers returned, 
 ( and began to drink wine, one bottle after another, till their 
 heads dropped on the table. Then Hans took his cudgel^ 
 and stationing himself before the Captain, asked him again, 
 ■'Who is my father?" The Captain dealt him a box on 
 the ear by way of answer, which knocked him under the 
 table ; but Hans was soon up again, and beat the Captain 
 and his comrades so forcibly about the legs and arms, that 
 they could not stir. The mother meanwhile remained in a 
 corner, astonished at her son's bravery and strength; but 
 
282 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 as soon as he bad finished his work, he came to her and 
 said, " You see now that I am in earnest, so tell me who is 
 my father." " Dear Hans," she replied, " let us go and 
 seek till we find him." 
 
 So saying she robbed the Captain of the key of tli' 
 outer door, and Hans, fetching a large meal-sack, cranmied 
 it full of gold, silver, and all the valuables he could find, 
 and then threw it over his back. They left the cave, bu 
 imagine what was the astonishment of Hans, when 1; 
 emerged from darkness into the light of day, and saw tb 
 green trees, the flowers, the birds, and the morning sua 
 shining over all in the clear sky ! He stood still and gazed 
 all around him quite bewildered, till his mother began to 
 look for the road to her home, where they happily arrived, 
 after two hours walking, and found it still in the solitary 
 valley. 
 
 At the door sat the father, who wept for joy when he 
 recognised his wife, and heard that Hans was his son, whom 
 he had long ago believed to be dead. But Hans, although 
 only twelve years of age, was alreadj^ a head taller than 
 his father; and they all went together into the house, 
 where Hans put down his sack upon the chimney-corner. 
 As soon as he did so, the house began to crack; and 
 presently the chimney-seat gave way, and then the floor, 
 so that the heavy sack fell quite down into the cellar. 
 " Heaven protect us 1" exclaimed the father. What is 
 that? Why, you have broken our house down!" 
 
 "Pray don't let your grey hairs grow on that account, 
 my dear father," replied Hans; " there is in that sackmucb 
 more than will build a house 1" 
 
 So, soon after, the father and son began to erect a new 
 cottage, and to buy cattle and land, and go to market. 
 Hans ploughed their fields ; and when he went behind the 
 plough and pushed it through the soil, the oxen had no 
 need to draw at all. The following spring, Hans said, 
 
Strong Hans. 
 
 283 
 
 Father, bestow some money on me, and let me make 
 an exceedingly heavy walking-stick, that I may go into 
 strange lands." When this staff was read}^, Hans left his 
 father's house, and walked off, till he came to a large dense 
 forest. There he heard something crackling and crashing, 
 and, looking around, saw a fir-tree, which was coiled round 
 from top to bottom like a rope. And, as he lifted his eyes, 
 he perceived a great fellow who had caught hold of the 
 tree, and was twisting it round like a reed. " Hilloa !" cried 
 Hans, " what are you doing there?" "I have plucked up 
 two fir-stems," replied the fellow, " and am about to make 
 a rope of them for my own use." " He has got some 
 strength," thought Hans to himself; "I might find him 
 useful." And then he called out, "Let theni be and come 
 with me." Thereupon the fellow descended the tree, and 
 walked with Hans, than whom he was a head taller, though 
 I Hans was by no means little. " You shall be called ' Fir- 
 , Twister,' " said Hans to him. As they walked on they 
 heard somebody knocking and hammering so hard, that at 
 i every blow the ground shook ; and presently they came to 
 I a great rock, before which a giant was standing, knocking 
 off great pieces with his fist. When Hans asked him what 
 he was about, he replied, " When I want to go to sleep at 
 i night, there come bears, and wolves, and all creatures of 
 \ that kind, who snuff and prowl around me and prevent 
 me from sleeping, so now I want to build myself a house 
 to rest in." 
 
 " Ah, very well, I can use you too," thought Hans ; 
 i and said to the giant, " Come with me, leave your house- 
 building, and you shall be called Kock-Splitter.' " 
 
 The man consented, and the three strode along through 
 the forest, and wherever they came the wild beasts fled 
 away from them, terrified. At evening time they came to an 
 ; old deserted castle, into which theystept, and laid down to 
 ' sleep in the hall. The following morning Hans went into 
 
284: 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 the garden, and found it quite a wilderness and full of 
 thorns and weeds. As he walked about, a wild boar sud- 
 denly sprung out at him, but he gave it such a blow with 
 his staff, that it fell down at his feet dead. So he threw it 
 over his shoulder, and, taking it home, put it on a spit to 
 roast, and chuckled over the treat it would be. Afterwards, 
 the three agreed that every day they should take it by 
 turns — two to go out and hunt, and the third to remain ar 
 home and cook for each nine pounds of meat. The first 
 day the Fir-Twister remained at home ; and Hans and the 
 Rock-Splitter went out hunting. While the former was 
 busy at home with his cooking, there came to the castle 
 gate a shrivelled-up little old man, who asked for meat. 
 
 " Take yourself off, you sneak !" replied the cook ; " you 
 want no meat!" But scarcely had he said these words 
 than, to his great surprise, the little insignificant old man 
 sprang upon him and thrashed him so with his fists, that 
 he could not protect himself from the blows, but was at 
 last forced to drop down, gasping for breath. The little 
 man did not leave till he had fully wreaked his vengeance; 
 but when the other two returned from hunting, the Fir- 
 Twister said nothing to them of the old man or his blows, 
 for he thought, when they remained at home, they might a- 
 well have a trial with the fellow ; and the bare thought ot 
 it pleased him very much. 
 
 The following day, accordingly, the Rock-Splitter 
 stopped at home, and it happened to him just as it had 
 done to the Fir-Twister ; the old man beat him unmer- 
 cifully because he would give him no meat. When ihe 
 others came home at evening, the Fir-Twister perceived at 
 once what had happened; but both held their tongues, 
 thinking that Hans should also taste of the supper. 
 
 Hans, whose turn it now was to stay at home, did his 
 work in the kitchen as he thought fit, and just as he was 
 about to polish the kettle, the little man came and de 
 
Strong Hans. 
 
 285 
 
 manded without ceremony a piece of meat. "This is a 
 poor fellow," thought Hans; *' I will give him some of my 
 share, that the others may not come short ;" and he handed 
 him a piece of meat. The Dwarf soon devoured it, and 
 demanded another piece, which the good-natured Hans 
 gave him, and said it was such a fine piece he ought to be 
 contented with it. But the Dwarf asked a third time for 
 more meat. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself," said 
 Hans, and gave him nothing. Thereupon the ill-tempered 
 Dwarf tried to spring on him, and serve him as he had 
 done the Fir-Twister and the Rock-Splitter; but he had 
 come at an unlucky moment, and Hans gave him a couple 
 of blows which made the Dwarf jump down the castle steps. 
 Hans would then have pursued him, but he was so tall 
 that he actually fell over him, and when he got up again 
 the Dwarf was off. Hans hurried after him into the forest, 
 I and saw him slip into a rocky hole ; after which he re- 
 ' turned home, first marking the place. But the two others, 
 : when they came back, wondered to see Hans so merry, and 
 I when he told them all that had passed in their absence, 
 they also concealed no longer the tale of their adventures. 
 Hans laughed at them, and said, "You were served quite 
 ; right, you should not have been so grudging with your 
 meat; but it is a shame that two such big fellows as you 
 should have allowed yourselves to be beaten by a Dwarf." 
 
 After their dinner they took a basket and some cord, 
 and all three went to the rocky hole, into which the Dwarf 
 ' had crept, and let Hans down in the basket, staff in hand, 
 j As soon as he came to the bottom he found a door, on 
 i opening which he saw a Maiden more beautiful than I 
 [ can describe, and near her sat the Dwarf, who grinned at 
 Hans like a sea-cat. But the Maiden was bound by chains, 
 and looked so sadly at Hans that he felt a great compassion 
 i for her, and thought to himself, " You must be delivered 
 from the power of this wicked Dwarf;" and he gave the 
 
286 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 fellow a blow with bis staff, wbicb killed bim outright' 
 Immediately the chains fell off the Maiden, and Hans was 
 enchanted with her beauty. She told him she was a Prin- 
 cess, whom a rebellious Count had stolen away from her 
 home, and concealed in a cave, because she would not 
 listen to his offers of marriage. The Dwarf had been placed 
 there by the Count as watchman, and he had caused h#r 
 daily vexation and trouble. Thereupon Hans placed thfe 
 Maiden in the basket, and caused her to be drawn up; but 
 when the basket came down again Hans would not trust 
 his two companions, for he thought they had already shown 
 themselves false in not telling about the Dwarf before, and 
 nobody could tell what design they might have now. So 
 he laid his staff in the basket, and it was very lucky he 
 did so, for as soon as the basket was half way up, the two 
 men let it fall again, and Hans, had he been really in it, 
 would have met with his death. But Hans now did not 
 know how he should make his way out of the cave, and 
 although he considered for a long while he could come to 
 no decision. While he walked up and down he came 
 again to the chamber where the Maiden had been sitting, 
 and saw that the Dwarf had a ring on his finger which 
 shone and glittered. This he pulled off and put on, and 
 as soon as it pressed his finger, he heard suddenly some 
 rustling over his head. He looked up, and saw two Spirits 
 fluttering about in the air, who said he was their master, 
 and they asked his wishes. Hans at first was quite aston- 
 ished, but at last he said he wished to be borne up on the 
 earth. In a moment they obeyed, and he seemed as if he 
 was flying up ; but when they set him down on the ground, 
 he saw nobody standing about, and when he went into the 
 castle he could find nobody there either. The Fir-Twistei 
 and the Rock-Splitter had made their escape, and carried 
 away with them the beautiful Maiden. Hans, however, 
 pressed the ring and the Spirits came at once, and^aid the 
 
Strong Hans. 
 
 287 
 
 two false comrades were gone off to sea. Hans thereupon 
 I hastened as fast as he could to the sea-shore, and there he 
 I perceived far out at sea the ship in which his perfidious 
 I friends had embarked. In his passionate haste he actually 
 jumped into the sea, staff in hand, and began to swim; 
 but the tremendous weight of his staff prevented him from 
 keeping his head up. He was just beginning to sink when 
 i he bethought himself of his ring, and immediately the 
 [ Spirits appeared, and carried him on board the ship with 
 the speed of lightning. As soon as he was safely set down, 
 Hans swung his staff round, and gave the wicked traitors 
 their well-merited reward ; after which he threw them into 
 ; the sea! Then he steered the vessel home to the father 
 i and mother of the Princess, who had been in the greatest 
 terror while in the hands of the two giants, and fiom whom 
 : he had happily saved her for the second time. 
 I Soon afterwards Hans married the Princess, and their 
 ' wedding was the occasion of the most splendid rejoicings. 
 
CLXI. 
 
 Lean Betty. 
 
 ERY different from lazy Harry and fat Kate, — who 
 
 ^ never troubled themselves to disturb their ease, — was 
 lean Betty. She busied herself from morning till night 
 and gave her husband, tall John, so much to do that v 
 was as heavily burdened as an ass which carries three sack? 
 But all was in vain, they had nothing, and they gained 
 nothing, and one night when they went to bed and could 
 not move their limbs from weariness, they could not sleep 
 for the thoughts that oppressed them. Lean Betty poked 
 her husband in his side, and said to him, " Listen to me, long 
 John ! hear what I have thought. Suppose I should find 
 a florin and some one should give me a second, and then if 
 I borrowed a third, and you gave me a fourth, with thes( 
 four florins I would buy a young cow." 
 
 The husband was pleased with this plan ; but he said, 
 " I certainly do not know where I shall get the florin which 
 I am to give you; but, however, supposing you get the 
 money, and can buy a cow with it, you will do well if you 
 follow out your plan. It pleases me to think," he con- 
 tinued, "that if the cow should produce a calf, I could 
 then refresh m3^self often with a draught of milk !" 
 
 " The milk is not for you," returned the wife, " we 
 must let the calf suck, that it may grow big and fat, and 
 then we can sell it for a good price." 
 
 " Oh, certainly," replied the husband ; " but still we 
 will take a little milk, for that can make no difference." 
 
 " Whoever taught you anything about cows ?" said the 
 wife angrily ; " it may or may not do harm, but I will not 
 have it done : and although you may take all the pains 
 
Lean Betty. 
 
 289 
 
 you like, you shall not have a drop of milk. Do you think, 
 you lanky John, that because you cannot satisfy yourself 
 you are going to make away with what it has cost me so 
 much trouble to earn ?" 
 
 " Hold your tongue, woman !" exclaimed the husband, 
 " or I will give you a box on the ear." 
 
 "What!" exclaimed she in return; " what, you will 
 strike me, you whipper-snapper ! you sneak ! you lazy 
 fellow!" And so saying, she tried to catch hold of his 
 hair; but long John, raising himself up, pinioned the thin 
 arms of Betty to her side with one hand, and with the 
 other he kept her head on the pillow, and let her abuse 
 him as she liked, till she fell asleep tired out. 
 
 But whether when they awoke they quarrelled again, 
 or went out to look for florins, or found them, I know noth- 
 ing about ! 
 
 II.— 13 
 
CLXII. 
 
 The House in the Wood. 
 
 THERE was a poor Wood-cutter who lived with his 
 Wife and three Daughters in a little hut on the edge 
 of a large forest. One morning, when he went out to his 
 usual work, he said to his wife, " Let mj dinner be brought 
 by our eldest Daughter, I shall not be ready to come home ; 
 and that she may not lose her way, I will take with me a 
 bag of seeds and strew them on my path." 
 
 So when the sun was risen to the centre of the heavens, 
 the Maiden set out on her way carrying a jug of soup. 
 But the field and wood sparrows, the larks, blackbirds, gold- 
 finches, and greenfinches, had many hours ago picked up 
 the seeds, so that the Maiden could find no trace of the way. 
 So she walked on, trusting to fortune, till the sun set and 
 niofht came on. The trees soon beoran to rustle in the dark- 
 
 o o 
 
 ness, the owls to hoot, and the girl began to feel frightened. 
 All at once she perceived a light shining at a distance 
 among the trees. " People must dwell there," she thought, 
 "who will keep me during the night;" and she walked 
 towards the light. In a short time she came to a cottage 
 where the windows were all lighted up, and when she 
 knocked at the door a hoarse voice called from within, 
 "Come in." The girl opened the door and perceived a 
 hoary old man sitting at a table, with his face buried in his 
 hands, and his white beard flowing down over the table on 
 to the ground. On the hearth lay three animals, a Een, 
 a Cock, and a brindled Cow. The girl told the Old Man 
 her adventures, and begged for a night's lodging. The 
 Man said : — 
 
The House in the Wood. 
 
 291 
 
 " Pi-etty Hen, pretty Cock, 
 And pretty brindled Cow, 
 What have you to say to that ?'* 
 
 "Clnck!" said the animals; and as that meant thej were 
 satisfied, the Old Man said to the Maiden, " Here is abun- 
 dance and to spare ; go now into the kitchen and cook some 
 supper for us." 
 
 The girl found plenty of everything in the kitchen, and 
 cooked a good meal ; but thought nothing about the ani- 
 mals. When she had finished, she carried a full dish into 
 the room, and sitting down opposite the Old Man ate till 
 she satisfied her hunger. When she had done, she said, 
 " I am very tired, where is my bed, where I shall lie down 
 and sleep ?" The animals replied : — 
 
 " You have eaten with him. 
 You have drunk too with hira ; 
 And yet you have not thought of us; 
 Still you may pass the night here." 
 
 Thereupon the Old Man said, Step down yon stair, and 
 you will come to a room containing two beds, shake them 
 up and cover them with white sheets, and then I will come 
 and lie down to sleep myself The maiden stepped down 
 the stair, and, as soon as she had shaken the beds up and 
 covered them afresh, she laid herself down in one bed with- 
 out waiting for the Old Man. But after some time the Old 
 Man came, and after looking at the girl with the light, 
 shook his head when he saw she was fast asleep ; and then, 
 opening a trap-door, dropped her down into the cellar 
 below. 
 
 Late in the evening the Wood-cutter arrived at home, 
 and scolded his Wife because she had let him hunger all 
 day long. "It is not my fault," she replied; " the girl was 
 5ent out with your dinner; she must have lost her way; 
 but to-morrow she will return, no doubt." At daybreak 
 :he Wood-cutter got up to go into the forest, and desired 
 
292 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 that the second Daughter should bring him his meal this 
 time. " I will take a bag of peas," he said ; " they are larger 
 than corn-seed; and the girl will therefore see them better, 
 and not lose my track." At noon-day, accordingly, the girl 
 set out with her father's dinner ; but the peas had all dis- 
 appeared, for the wood-birds had picked them all up as 
 they had on the day before, and not one was left. So the 
 poor girl wandered about in the forest till it was quite 
 dark, and then she also arrived at the Old Man's hut, was i 
 invited in, and begged food and a-* night's lodging. The I 
 Man of the white beard asked his animals again : — 
 
 " Pretty Hen, and pretty Cock, I 
 ^ And pretty brindled Cow, 
 
 What have you to say to that ?" 
 
 They answered again, " Cluck I" and everything thereupon 
 occurred the same as on the previous day. The girl 
 cooked a good meal, ate and drank with the Old Man, 
 but never once thought of the animals; and when she 
 asked for her bed, they made answer : — 
 
 " You have eaten with him, 
 You have drunk too with him ; 
 And yet you have not thought of us ; 
 Still you may pass here the night !" 
 
 As soon as she was gone to sleep the Old Man cam* 
 and after looking at her and shaking his head as before, 
 dropped her into the cellar below. 
 
 Meanwhile the third morning arrived, and the Wood- 
 cutter told his Wife to send their youngest child with his 
 umner; "For," said he, "she is always obedient and 
 good ; she will keep in the right path, and not run about 
 like those idle hussies her sisters !" 
 
 But the Mother refused, and said, "Shall I lose my 
 youngest child too ?" 
 
 "Be not afraid of that," said her husband; "the 
 will not miss her way, she is too steady and prudent ; 
 
THE HOnSE IN THE WOOD. Pagb 293. 
 
The House in the Wood. 
 
 298 
 
 for more precaution I will take beans to strew, they are 
 larger still tharn peas, and will show her the way better." 
 
 But, by-and-by, when the girl went out with her bas- 
 ket on her arm, the wood-pigeons had eaten up all the 
 beans ; and she knew not which way to turn. She was 
 full of trouble, and thought with grief, how her father 
 would want his dinner, and how her dear Mother would 
 grieve when she did not return. At length, when it be- 
 came quite dark, she also perceived the lighted cottage, 
 and, entering it, begged very politely to be allowed to pass 
 the night there. The Old Man asked the animals a third 
 time in the same words: — • 
 
 " Pretty Hen, pretty Cock, 
 And pretty brindled Cow, 
 AVhat have you to say to that ?" 
 
 " Cluck, cluck !" said they. Thereupon the Maiden step- 
 ped up to the fire near which they lay, and fondled the 
 pretty Hen and Cock, smoothing their plumage down with 
 her hands, while she stroked the Cow between her horns. 
 I Afterwards, when she had got ready a good supper at the 
 1 Old Man's request, and had placed the dishes on the table, 
 ishe thought to herself, " I must not appease my hunger till 
 I have fed these good creatures. There is an abundance 
 in the kitchen, I will serve them first." Thus thinking 
 she went and fetched some corn and strewed it before the 
 fowls, and then she brought an armful of hay and gave it 
 to the Cow. "Now eat away, you good creatures," said 
 she to them, " and when you are thirsty you shall have a 
 nice fresh draught." So saying, she brought in a pail full 
 of water ; and the Hen and Cock perched themselves on 
 its edge, put their beaks in, and then threw their heads up 
 as birds do when drinking ; the Cow also took a hearty 
 draught. When the animals were thus fed, the Maiden 
 eat down at table with the Old Man and ate what was left 
 for her. In a short while the Hen and the Cock began to 
 
294 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 fold their wings over their heads, and the brindled Cow 
 blinked with both eyes. Then the Maiden asked, " Shall 
 we not also take our rest?" The Old Man replied as 
 before. ^ 
 
 " Pi-etty Hen, pretty Cock, 
 And pretty brindled Cow, 
 
 "What have you to say to that ?" ^ 
 
 "Cluck, clack!" replied the animals, meaning — 
 
 " You have eaten with us. 
 You have drunk too with us, 
 You have thought of us kindly too, 
 And we wish you a good night's rest" 
 
 So the Maiden went down the stairs, and shook up the 
 feather-beds and laid on clean sheets, and when they wer 
 ready, the Old Man came and laid down in one, with hi; 
 white beard stretching down to his feet. The girl then 
 laid down in the other bed, first saying her prayers before 
 she went to sleep. 
 
 She slept quietly till midnight, and at that hour there 
 began such a tumult in the house that it awakened her. 
 Presently it began to crack and rumble in every corner of 
 the room, and the doors were slammed back against the 
 wall, and then the beams groaned as if they were being 
 riven away from their fastenings, and the stairs fell down, 
 and at last it seem.ed as if the whole roof fell in. Soon 
 after that all was quiet, but the Maiden took no harm, 
 and went quietly off again to sleep. When, however, the 
 bright light of the morning sun awoke her, what a sight 
 met her eyes ! She found herself lying in a large chamber, 
 with everything around belonging to regal pomp. On the 
 walls were represented gold flowers growing on a green 
 silk ground : the bed was of ivory and the curtains of red 
 velvet, and on a stool close by was placed a pair of slippers 
 ornamented with pearls. The Maiden thought it was all 
 a dream ; but presently in came three servants dressed in 
 
The House in the Wood. 
 
 295 
 
 ricb liveries, who asked her what were her commands. 
 "Leave me," replied the Maiden; "I will get up at once, 
 and cook some breakfast for the Old Man, and also feed 
 the pretty Hen, the pretty Cock, and the brindled Cow." 
 She spoke thus because she thought the Old Man was 
 already up, but when she looked round at his bed, she 
 saw a stranger to her lying asleep in it. While she was 
 looking at him, and saw that he was both young and 
 handsome, he awoke, and starting up, said to the Maiden ; 
 "I am a King's son, who was long ago changed by a 
 wicked old witch into the form of an Old Man, and con- 
 demned to live alone in the wood, with nobody to bear me 
 company but my three servants in the form of a Hen, a 
 Cock, and a brindled Cow. And the enchantment was not 
 to end until a Maiden should come so kind-hearted that 
 she should behave as well to my animals as she did to me ; 
 and such a one you have been ; and therefore this last 
 midnight we were saved through you, and the old wooden 
 hut has again become my royal palace." 
 
 AVhen he had thus spoken, the girl and he arose, and 
 the Prince told his three servants to fetch to the palace the 
 Father and Mother of the Maiden, that they might witness 
 her marriage. 
 
 "But where are my two Sisters?" she asked. "I 
 J have put them in the cellar," replied the Prince, "and 
 I there the}^ must remain till to-morrow morning, when they 
 shall be led into the forest and bound as servants to a 
 collier, until they have reformed their tempers, and learnt 
 i not to let poor animals suffer hunger." 
 
CLXIIL 
 
 Love and Sorrow to share. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a Tailor so quarrelso 
 that his poor Wife could never get on with hi 
 although she was both affectionate, pious, and industrio 
 He was discontented with whatever she did ; and woul 
 not only mutter and scold, but even knock her about, and 
 beat her. At last the Magistrate was told of his conduct, 
 and the Tailor was summoned and put into prison till he 
 should behave better. For a long time he was kept on 
 bread and water, and at length released, after being ad- 
 monished to beat his Wife no more, but to live with her in 
 concord, and to share affection and sorrow, as it was fit 
 that married people should do. 
 
 For some time all went on well; but soon the Tailor 
 fell into his old habits, and grew more and more discon- 
 tented and quarrelsome. However, because he dared not 
 beat his Wife, he would pull her hair instead ; and one 
 day she escaped from him and rushed out of doors. The 
 Tailor pursued her with his yard measure and shears in 
 his hands, and as he did not gain on her steps he threw the 
 measure and shears at her. The poor woman ran round 
 their court, while her husband continued to throw the 
 shears at her; and if he missed his aim he abused her, and 
 if he hit her he laughed. He kept up this sport so long 
 that the neighbours came to the assistance of his Wife, and 
 he was taken again before the Magistrate and reminded of 
 his promise. " My dear lord," replied the Tailor, " I have 
 kept to what I promised ; I have not beaten my Wife, but 
 shared with her affection and sorrow." 
 
 "How can that be ?" asked the Judge ; " when she 
 
Love and Sorrow to share.' 297 
 
 has now come a second time with these loud complaints of 
 your conduct!" 
 
 "I have not beaten my wife," reiterated the Tailor; 
 "but all I did was to try and comb out her hair, because 
 she looked so wild. But she ran away from me, and would 
 not hear what I said ; so then I pursued her, and in order 
 i to remind her of her duty, I threw at her what I chanced 
 to have in my hand ; I have also shared with her my love 
 and my sorrow, for as often as I hit her she was made sorry 
 and I was glad ; and when I missed her she was glad and 
 I was sorry !" 
 
 The Judges, however, were not satisfied with this 
 answer, but sentenced him to a well-earned punishment ! 
 
CLXIV. 
 
 King Wren. 
 
 TN the olden times the birds had their own particular Ian- 
 guage, which each of them understood ; now it sounded 
 like a piping, now like a screeching, now like a whistlinp 
 and with some like music without words. Once it cam 
 into the heads of the birds that they would go no longer 
 without a King, but would choose one among themselves. 
 Only one bird, the Plover, was opposed to this plan ; " Free 
 I have lived and free I will die !" he said, and so flew 
 angrily away, crying, " Where shall I rest ? where shall I 
 rest?" He flew on till he came to an unfrequented swamp, 
 and there he stayed, and never showed himself again 
 among his fellows. 
 
 The birds kept to their first resolution, and one fine 
 May morning they all assembled together from the woods 
 and fields. There were the Eagles and Finches, the Owla 
 and the Crows, the Larks and the Sparrows ; (need I name 
 them all ?) for even the Cuckoo came, and the Hoopoe his 
 coachman, so called because he always appears two days 
 earlier; also a very small Bird who as yet had no name, 
 mingled in the crowd. The Hen, who by chance had 
 heard nothing of the affair, wondered at the immense 
 assemblage. " Wat, wat, wat, is all this ?" she quacked, 
 but the Cock comforted his dear Hen, by telling her what 
 it all meant. It was determined that he should be King 
 who could fly the highest, and thereupon a green Frog 
 which sat among the bushes began to croak, " Natt, natt^. 
 natt, natt !" because it thought that there would be many 
 tears shed on that account. But the Crow cried out, " Back, 
 croaker ! everything will be kept quiet." 
 
King Wken. 
 
 299 
 
 It was next resolved that the trial should be made at 
 once, because it was such a beautiful morning, and in order 
 that no one might afterwards say, " I could easily have 
 flown much higher, but the evening coming on prevented 
 me." 
 
 At a given sign the whole assemblage mounted in the 
 air, causing such an immense dust to rise from the field, 
 that it seemed as if a black cloud was formed with the 
 whirring, rustling, and beating of their wings. The small 
 birds, however, soon fell back, for they could not fly very 
 far, and so they alighted on the ground again. The larger 
 birds kept it up longer, but none of them like the Eagle, 
 who mounted so high that he almost touched the sun ! 
 Then he perceived that the others were not near him at 
 all, and he thought to himself, " What need I to fly any 
 higher? I am certainly the King!'' and so saying, he 
 began to fly downwards. When he alighted, the birds all 
 exclaimed, "You must be our King, nobody has flown 
 higher than you !" 
 
 " Except me !" cried the little fellow without a name, 
 who had hid himself among the feathers on the Eagle's back ; 
 and so saying he flew up high and higher still than the 
 Eagle. When he had got as high as he possibly could, he 
 folded his wings and dropped down again, exclaiming with 
 his shrill voice, " 1 am King, I am King!" 
 
 "You, our King?" replied the other birds in a rage, 
 "you have gained it by means of craft and stratagem!" 
 So they made another condition that he should be King 
 who should fall deepest into the earth. 
 
 How the Goose swam cackling to land with her broad 
 breast! How quickly the Cock grubbed up a hole! The 
 Duck went the boldest to work, for she jumped into a 
 grave, but in so doing sprained her foot, and waddled 
 away to the nearest pond, crying, " Bad work, bad work !" 
 But the Little Bird without a name found a mouse-hole, 
 
800 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 into which it crept and called out in its shrill voice, "fl 
 am King, I am King !" 
 
 "You our King!" replied the other birds in a rage, 
 "do you think your cunning shall gain you anything?" 
 and they resolved to keep the poor Bird in the hole and 
 starve him out. Thereupon the Owl was set to keep watch 
 during the night, and forbidden to let out his charge on 
 pain of death ! Then, because they were weary with ao 
 much flying, and the evening was come, the other birds 
 went to bed with their wives and children, leaving the 
 Owl standing alone by the mouse-hole, staring into it with 
 both his eyes. By-and-by the Owl began to feel tired, and 
 thought one eye would do to watch that the evil thing did 
 not escape, while he went to sleep with the other. Soon 
 the Little Bird peeped out, and thought about escaping; 
 but the Owl perceived him, and drove him back. Then 
 the Owl began to close first one eye, and go to sleep with 
 that, and then the other, and so he intended to pass the 
 whole night ; but unluckily he once forgot to open the one 
 eye when he shut the other, and so going to sleep with 
 both he did not remark the Little Bird, who took advan- 
 tage of this slip to make his escape. 
 
 From that time the Owl dared not any more suffer 
 himself to be seen by day, for fear the other birds should 
 pursue him, and maltreat him. He flies now only during 
 the night and persecutes mice, because they make such, to 
 him, unfortunate holes ! The Little Bird, too, did not like 
 to venture among the others, lest he should be injured, or 
 killed. He concealed himself in the hedges ; and when he 
 thought himself quite safe, he called out, " I am King, I 
 am King !" Therefore the other birds called him Hedge- 
 King in scorn, and that means the Wren. 
 
CLxy. 
 
 The Sole. 
 
 'T^HE Fishes once grew verj discontented because no 
 J- order was kept in their dominions. None turned 
 aside for the others, but each swam right or left just as it 
 pleased him, sometimes between those who wished to be 
 together, or else pushed them to one side, and the stronger 
 ones gave the weaker blows with their tails, which made 
 them get out of the way as fast as they could, or else 
 devoured them. "How nice it would be," thought the 
 Fishes, "if we had a king who should exercise the power 
 of judging between us!" And so at last they assembled 
 together to choose a lord, who should be he who could 
 swim the quickest and render help best to the weaker 
 fishes. 
 
 So they laid themselves all in rank and file by the 
 shore, and the Pike gave a signal with his tail, on which 
 they started off. Like an arrow darted away the Pike, 
 closely followed by the Herring, the Gudgeon, the Perch, 
 and the Carp, and the rest. Even the Sole swam among 
 them, hoping to gain the prize. 
 
 All at once a cry was heard, " The Herring is first, the 
 Herring is first!" "Who is first?" asked the flat envious 
 Sole, in a vexed tone, " who is first?" 
 
 " The Herring, the Herring !" was the reply. 
 
 " The nak-ed Her-ring, the nak-ed Her-ring !" said the 
 Sole disdainfully. And since that time the Sole's mouth 
 has become all on one side for a punishment. 
 
 e c 
 
 I 
 
1 
 
 CLXVI. P 
 
 The Bittern and the Hoopoe. 
 
 — t| 
 
 " TTTHEEE do you find the best pasturage for your f 
 ' » flocks?" asked a Master of an old Cowherd. 
 Here, Master, where the grass is neither too thick nor 
 too scarce ; else it is no use !" 
 
 Why not?" asked the Master. 
 "Do you hear that moaning cry out on the meadow?" 
 asked the Cowherd ; " that is the Bittern, who was once a 
 herdsman, and the Hoopoe also. I will tell you the tale. 
 
 " The Bittern once kept his flocks on a flourishing 
 green meadow, where flowers grew in great abundance, 
 so that the cows became fat and mettlesome. But the 
 Hoopoe drove his cattle to a high and barren hill, where 
 the wind twisted the sand about, and his cows therefore 
 grew thin, and gained no strength. When evening came, 
 and the flocks had to be driven home, the Bittern could 
 not collect his cows, because they were so well fed, and 
 they ran away from him. He called to them, ' Come here, 
 pretty cows!' but in vain, they paid no attention to his 
 words. The Hoopoe, on the contrary, could not get his 
 cows upon their legs, they were become so weary and 
 strengthless. ' Up, up ! get up !' he cried ; but it was no 
 use, they remained lying on the sand. And so it always 
 happens when one does not keep things in moderation. 
 And to this day, although they no longer keep flocks, the 
 Bittern cries daily, 'Bunt heriim,' and the Hoopoe, 'Up! 
 up! up!'" 
 
CLXVII. 
 
 The Owl. 
 
 A COUPLE of hundred years ago, when people were 
 not so wise and crafty as they are now-a-days, a 
 I curious circumstance occurred in a certain small town. 
 By chance, one of the large Owls, which folks call Screech- 
 .Owls, came from a neighbouring forest, and took up its 
 idwelling in a shed belonging to a citizen of the town, from 
 whence it dared not come out except at night, for fear the 
 other birds should raise a great outcry against it for dis- 
 turbing their peace. One morning when the Stable-boy 
 :went into the shed to fetch some straw, he was frightened 
 jon perceiving the Owl so dreadfully, that he ran away, 
 and told his Master that a horrible monster, such as he had 
 never before seen in his lifetime, was sitting in one corner 
 lof the shed, and rolled its eyes round as if it would devour 
 everything it could see. "I know you of old," replied his 
 Master; "you have courage enough to chase a blackbird 
 lover the fields, but if you see a dead hen lying about, you 
 •want a stick laid on you before you will approach it. I 
 must now go myself and see what sort of monster this is." 
 
 So saying, the Master set off and walked as bold as 
 ipossibie into the shed and peeped round. But as soon as 
 he saw the curious and hideous creature with his own eyes 
 he went into as great a panic as his servant. He made his 
 escape with a couple of leaps and ran to his neighbours, 
 whom he begged with tears in his eyes to come and assist 
 him against an unknown and dangerous animal, or perhaps 
 the whole toAvn might be endangered, if it should make 
 jits escape from the shed where it was concealed. Imme- 
 [diately there arose a great outcry and noise in the streets 
 
804 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 of the town, and tlie townsmen came armed with spikeJ 
 rakes, spades, and hatchets, as if thej were going to attack 
 an enemy. At last appeared the Mayor himself at the 
 head of his councillors, and when they were all arranged in 
 the market-place, they made their way to the shed and sur- 
 rounded it on all sides. Then one of the bravest of the 
 assemblage stepped before the others and entered the shed 
 armed with a pole ; but he came out again directly with a 
 shriek, and looking as pale as death he ran off without say- 
 ing a word. Two others next made the attempt, but they 
 met with no better success ; and at last a tall and very strong 
 man, renowned for his deeds of valour, stepped forward 
 and said, "With bare looking at the monster you will 
 never drive him away ; some determination must be used; 
 but I see you are all playing the part of old women, and 
 none of you will beard the enemy." So saying, he caused 
 his body armour, his sword and spear to be brought, and, 
 equipping himself with these, prepared for the attack, while 
 all the others praised his courage, although many of them 
 feared for his life. The two doors of the shed were thrown 
 open, and the warrior perceived the Owl perched in the 
 middle of a large beam which ran across. He caused a 
 ladder to be brought, and when it was fixed ready for him 
 to mount, all called out to him to behave bravely, and 
 reminded him of St. George and the Dragon. He mounted 
 the ladder, and as the owl saw what his intentions were, 
 and became frightened also by the cries of the people out- 
 side, who prevented its exit, it rolled its eyes, ruffled its 
 feathers, snapped its beak, and screeched loudly. " Kush 
 on it, rush on it!" exclaimed the crowd to the valiant Sol- 
 dier. "If you stood where I do," he replied, "you would 
 not be so ready to shout." Then he mounted a stave 
 higher on the ladder ; but there he began to tremble, and 
 at length he beat a retreat half fainting! 
 
 And now there was no one left who would venture to 
 
The Owl. 
 
 305 
 
 face the danger. "The monster," said the crowd, "has all 
 but poisoned and wounded to death with his snapping and 
 breathing, our strongest man, and shall we also venture our 
 lives?" Thereupon, they consulted with one another what 
 they should do to prevent ruin from involving the whole 
 town. For a long time nothing satisfactory was proposed, 
 until at last the Mayor hit on a plan. " My idea is this," 
 he said ; " that out of the common purse we purchase and 
 make good to the owner this stable with all that it contains, 
 straw, hay, and corn, and then that the whole building, 
 together with the fearful monster therein, be burnt to 
 ashes, and so no one shall lose his life by this occurrence. 
 There is no time to spare, and parsimony in this case 
 would be badly exercised." 
 
 All the rest agreed to this proposal, and so the shed 
 was set light to at the four corners, and the poor Owl 
 miserably burnt to death ! 
 
CLXVIII. 
 
 Misfortune. 
 
 WHEN misfortune pursues any one, it will find hinT 
 out into whatever corner he may creep, or however 
 far he may flee over the world. 
 
 Now, once upon a time, a certain man became so poor, 
 that he had not a single faggot of wood left wherewith to 
 light his fire. So, he went into the forest to fell a tree, but 
 they were all too large and too strong ; and he penetrated 
 deeper among them till he found one which he thought 
 would do. Just as he was about to raise his axe he per- 
 ceived a pack of wolves, coming out of the brushwood, 
 who howled dreadfully as they came nearer. The man 
 threw away his axe, and ran till he came to a bridge. The 
 deep water, however, had rotted the bridge; and so, just 
 as he was about to run over it, it cracked and fell into the 
 water. What was he to do now? If he stopped still, the 
 wolves would overtake him and tear him to pieces ; so in 
 bis perplexity, he jumped into the water, but there, because 
 he could not swim, he soon began to sink. By chance a 
 couple of fishermen, who sat on the other bank, saw him ; 
 and one of them swam after him and brought him to shore. 
 Then they laid him down beneath an old wall, to dry in 
 the sunshine and regain his strength a bit. But just as he 
 recovered his senses, and tried to thank the fishermen for 
 their help, and to tell his tale, the wall fell upon him and 
 crashed him I 
 
CLXIX. 
 
 The Duration of Life. 
 
 WHEN the world was first created, it was appointed 
 how many years each creature should exist. So 
 the Ass came and inquired how long he was to live. 
 " Thirty years," he was told, and asked, " Is that suffi- 
 cient?" "Alas!" replied the Ass, "that is a longtime. 
 Think how many wearisome burdens I shall have to carry 
 from morning till night ; cornsacks to the mill, that others 
 may eat bread, and I receive nothing but blows and kicks, 
 and yet keep always active and obliging! Take away 
 some of my years, I pray !" 
 I So the Ass was pitied, and a life of only eighteen years 
 j appointed to him ; whereupon he went gladly away, and 
 the Dog then made his appearance, and asked the same. 
 " How long do you wish to live ?" was inquired of him ; 
 "thirty years were too much for the Ass ; but perhaps you 
 will be satisfied." " Do you mean so ?" said the Dog ; " re- 
 ' member how much I shall have to run ; my feet will not 
 last it out ; and then when I have lost my voice and can- 
 ; not bark, and my teeth and cannot bite, what will there be 
 for me to do but to crawl and howl from one corner to 
 another?" 
 
 So the Dog's plea was allowed, and twelve years ap- 
 pointed for his age, after which he departed and made 
 room for the Monkey. " You will live thirty years will- 
 ingly, no doubt," was said to the Monkey ; " you need not 
 work like the Ass and the Dog, and therefore will always 
 be well off." 
 
 " Alas ! it should be so," said the Monkey ; " but really 
 it is very different. I must always be making comical 
 
308 
 
 Gkimm's Household Stories. 
 
 faces for people to laugh at ; and all the apples they give 
 me to eat turn out sour ones. How often is sadness hidden 
 by a joke ! But thirty years I can never endure !" 
 
 Thereupon ten years were allowed to him. 
 
 Last of all Man appeared, healthy and vigorous, and 
 requested a time to be appointed to him. " You shall live 
 thirty years," was the reply; "is that enough?" "What 
 a short time!" exclaimed Man; "just when I shall have 
 built myself a house, and lighted a fire upon my own 
 hearth, and just when I shall have planted trees to bear 
 me fruit in their season, and I am thinking of enjoying life, 
 I must die ! I pray let my life be lengthened !" 
 
 " The eighteen years of the Ass shall be added." 
 
 *' That is not enough !" said Man. 
 
 "You shall have also twelve years of the Dog's life." 
 
 " Still too little !" replied Man. 
 
 " Well, then, you may have the ten years allowed to 
 the Monkey ; but you must desire no more." 
 
 Man was then obliged to leave, but he was not satisfied. 
 
 Thus Man lives seventy years. The first thirty are the 
 days of his manhood, which pass quickly away ; he is then 
 healthy and vigorous, works with pleasure, and rejoices in 
 his being. Then follow the eighteen years of the life of 
 the Ass, which bring to him one burden after another; he 
 must work for corn which nourishes others, and abuse and 
 blame become the reward of his labours. Next come the 
 twelve years of the Dog, during which Man has to sit in 
 corners, grumbling because he has no longer any teeth to 
 bite with. And when this time is up, then the ten years 
 of the Monkey bring the close of the scene. Then Man 
 becomes childish and foolish, and does strange things, which 
 make him ridiculous in the eyes of children ! 
 
CLXX. 
 
 Death's Messengers. 
 
 IN olden times, a Giant was once wandering up and down 
 a road, when suddenly an unknown man appeared in 
 his path, and cried, " Stop ! not a step farther." " What, 
 you strij^ling!" said the Giant, "wdiy, I could crush you 
 between my Angers; will you stand in my way? Who 
 are you who speak so boldly?" 
 
 " I am Death," replied the stranger, " whom nobody 
 opposes, and whose commands you must obey." 
 
 The Giant, however, refused, and began to wrestle with 
 Death. It was a long and hasty battle, but at length the 
 Giant got the best of it, and knocked Death down with his 
 fist, so that he dropped like a stone. The Giant, thereupon, 
 went his way, leaving Death vanquished and strengthless, 
 so that he could not rise again. " What will be the con- 
 sequence?" thought Death; "if I lie here in this corner 
 nobody will die in the world, and it will soon get so full 
 of human beings, that they will not be able to stir for one 
 another." Just then, a Young Man came up the road, 
 strong and healthy, singing a song, and looking well about 
 him. As soon as he perceived the helpless beaten one, he 
 went up to him, and compassionately raising him poured 
 a draught of cordial out of his flask down his throat, and 
 waited till strength returned. " Do you know," asked 
 Death, when he had recovered a bit, " do you know who I 
 am^ whom you have thus helped on his legs again?" 
 
 ''No," replied the Youth, "I know you not." "I 
 am Death," he replied ; " I spare no one, and can 
 take no excuse from you even. But, to show you that 
 
810 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 I am not ungrateful, I promise not to take you unawares ; 
 but I will send my messengers before I come and fetch 
 you." 
 
 " Very well," said the Young Man ; " that is a bargain, 
 that I shall know when you are coming, and so long shall 
 be safe from your visit." 
 
 With this understanding he pursued his way merrily, 
 and lived in prosperity for some time. But youth and 
 health will not remain for ever; soon came sicknesses and 
 troubles to the Young Man, so that he complained by day 
 and could get no rest at night. "I shall not die," he said 
 to himself, "for Death must first send his messengers; but 
 I wish these terrible days of illness were over !" 
 
 By-and-by he did get well again, and began to live as 
 usual. One day somebody knocked at the window, and 
 looking round he saw Death standing behind him, who 
 said, " Follow me, the hour is come for your departure 
 from the world." 
 
 "How so?" exclaimed the Man; "will you break the 
 promise that you made to me to send your messengers 
 before you came yourself? I have seen none." 
 
 " Be silent," replied Death ; " have I not sent you one 
 messenger after another? — did not fever come and seize 
 you, shake you, and lay you prostrate ? — did not a giddi- 
 ness oppress your head? — had you not gout in all your 
 limbs? — did not a singing noise injure your ears? — had 
 not you lumbago in your back? — a film over your eyes? — 
 Above all, did not my dear half-brother, Sleep, remind you 
 of me every night when you laid down, as if you were 
 already dead?" 
 
 The Man knew not what to reply to all this, and sur- 
 rendering himself therefore to his fate he followed Death. 
 
CLXXI. 
 
 Master Cobblersawl. 
 
 MASTER COBBLERSAWL was a small, meagre, but 
 very active man, who had no rest in him. His face, 
 whose only prominent feature was a turned-up nose, was 
 seamed and deadly pale ; his hair was grey and rough ; 
 his eyes small, but they peered right and left in a piercing 
 way. He observed everything, found fault with every- 
 thing, knew everything better and did it better than any 
 one else in his own estimation. When he walked in the 
 streets he swung his two arms about in such a hasty fashion, 
 that once he knocked the pail, which a girl was carrying, 
 so high into the air that the water fell all over him. 
 "Sheep's-head!" he exclaimed, shaking himself, "could 
 you not see that I was following you By trade he was 
 a shoemaker; and when he was at work, he pulled his 
 thread out so hastily, that nobody went near him for fear 
 of his elbows poking into their sides. No comrade re- 
 mained with him longer than a month, for he had always 
 something to remark upon in the best work. Either the 
 stitches were not even, or one shoe was longer than the 
 other, or one heel h^s^her than the other, or the leather was 
 not drawn sufficiently tight. " Wait," he would say to a 
 young hand, " wait, and I will show you how one can 
 whiten the skin !" and so saying, he would fetch a strap 
 and la}^ it across the shoulders of his victim. He called 
 everybody idle and lazy ; but still he did. not do much for 
 himself, because he could not sit quiet two quarters of an 
 hour together. If his wife got up early in the morning 
 and lighted a fire, he would jump out of bed and run 
 barefeet into the kitchen, crying out, "Do you want to 
 
812 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 burn the house down ? there is a fire fit for any one to 
 roast an ox at ! Wood costs money." 
 
 If the maid, while standing at the washtub, laughed and 
 repeated to herself what she had heard, he would scold her, 
 and say, " There stands a goose, chattering and forgetting 
 her work with her gossip." "Of what use is that fresh 
 soap? shameful waste and a disgraceful dirtiness, for she 
 wants to spare her hands by not properly rubbing out the 
 stains!" So saying, he would jump up and throw down a 
 whole pailful of water, so as to set the kitchen a swim- 
 ming ! 
 
 Once they were building a new house near him, and he 
 ran to his window to look on. "There! they are using 
 that red sandstone again which never dries," he said; 
 " nobody in that house will be healthy. And see how 
 quickly the fellows are laying on the stones ! The mortar 
 too is not properly mixed ; gravel should be put in, not 
 sand. I expect the house will fall some day on the heads 
 of its owners." So saying, he sat down again, and did 
 another stitch or so; but soon he sprang up, and throwing 
 away his apron exclaimed, " I will go and speak to those 
 men myself" The carpenters were at work just then. 
 "How is this?" he asked; "you are not cutting byline. 
 Do you think the beams will lay straight? no, they will 
 come all away from the joists." Then he snatched an axe 
 out of the hand of one of the carpenters to show him how 
 he should cut; but just then a waggon laden with clay 
 chanced to be going past, so Master Cobblersawl threw 
 away the axe, and cried to the peasant who was with it, 
 "You are not rightly humane! who would harness young 
 horses to a heavily laden waggon ? the poor beasts will fall 
 down presently." 
 
 The peasant, however, gave him no answer, and so he 
 went back to his workshop in a passion. Just as he was 
 about to commence again the job which he had left, his 
 
Master Cobblersawl. 
 
 313 
 
 apprentice handed him a shoe. "What is this, again?" 
 exclain:ied Master Cobblersawl ; " have I not told you often 
 and often not to stitch your shoes so wide. Who will buy 
 a shoe like this with scarce any sole at all to it? I desire 
 that you will follow my commands to the letter." 
 
 "Yes, master," replied the apprentice, "you maybe in 
 the right to say that the shoe is worth nothing, but it is the 
 very same that you sewed, and were just now at work 
 upon ; for when you ran out you threw it under the table, 
 and I picked it up. But an angel from heaven would not 
 convince you that you were wrong." 
 
 A night or two afterwards Master Cobblersawl dreamed 
 that he was dead and on the way to heaven. When he 
 arrived there and knocked at the door, the Apostle Peter 
 opened it to see who desired to enter. "Ah, is it you. 
 Master Cobblersawl ?" said the Saint, " I will let you in 
 certainly; but I warn you not to interfere with what you 
 may observe in heaven, or it will be the worse for you." 
 
 "You might have spared yourself the trouble of saying 
 that," replied Cobblersawl; "I know very well how to 
 behave myself; and here, thank God, there is nothing to 
 blame, as there is on earth." So saying, he stepped in 
 and walked up and down over the wide expanse of heaven, 
 looking about him right and left, and now and then sha- 
 king his head or muttering to himself Presently he 
 perceived two angels carrying a beam, the same which a 
 certain one once had in his own eye when he perceived 
 the mote in his brother's eye. But they were carrying the 
 beam not longways but crossways, and this caused Master 
 Cobblersawl to say to himself, "Did ever anybody see such 
 stupidity ?" Still he held his tongue, thinking that after 
 all it was no matter whether the beam were carried straight 
 or not, provided it did not interfere with anybody. Soon 
 afterwards he saw two angels pouring water out of a spring 
 into a tub which was full of holes, so that the water escaped 
 II.— 14 
 
814 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 on al sides. They were watering the earth with raia 
 "Alle Hagel!" exclaimed he suddenly; but recollecting 
 himself, he kept his opinions to himself, and thought, 
 "Perhaps it is mere pastime, and intended for a joke, so 
 that one may do idle things here in heaven as well as upon 
 earth." So he went onwards and saw a waggon stuck fast 
 in a deep rut. " No wonder," said he to the person in 
 charge; "who would have filled it so extravagantly? 
 what have you there ?" 
 
 "Pious wishes," replied the man; " I could not with 
 them get along the right road ; but fortunately I was able 
 to get ray waggon on it, and they will not let me stick 
 fast." 
 
 Just then an angel did really come and harnessed 
 horses to the waggon. "Quite right," thought Cobbler- 
 sawl ; " but two horses are not enough to pull the waggon 
 out : there must be four horses at the least." Presently came 
 a, second angel, leading two more horses, bat he did not har- 
 ness them before, but behind. Now this was too much for 
 Master Cobblersawl. "Tallpatsch !" he exclaimed aloud, 
 "what are you about? Did anybody ever as long as the 
 world had stood pull a waggon in that way up this road? 
 You think you know better than I in your conceited 
 pride 1" and he would have said more, but one of the in- 
 habitants of heaven caught him by the neck and shoved 
 him out of the place with a stern push. Just outside the 
 gate Master Cobblersawl turned his head round, and saw 
 the waggon raised up by four winged horses. 
 
 At the same moment he awoke. " Things are certainly 
 somewhat different in heaven to what they are on earth," 
 he said to himself, " and much may therefore be excused ; 
 but who could patiently see two horses harnessed behind a 
 waggon and two before? Certainly they had wings, but I 
 did not observe that at first. However, it is a great absurd- 
 
 / 
 
Master Cobblersawl. 
 
 815 
 
 ity that a horse with four good legs must have wings tool 
 But I must get up, or else they will make further mistakes 
 about that house. Still, after all, it is a verj lucky thing 
 that I am not dead." 
 
CLXxir. 
 
 The Nix in the Pond. 
 
 ^ I ^HERE was once upon a time a Miller who lived very 
 ^ happily with his Wife, for they were very well off, ami 
 their prosperity increased year by year. But misfortiir- 
 comes by night. As their riches had grown, so they di 
 appeared ; and thus they melted away yearly till at laa 
 the Milller had only his mill, and that he could scarce!} 
 call his own property. He became very full of trouble 
 over his losses; and when he lay down after his day' 
 work he could get no rest, but tossed about in his bea 
 thinking and thinking. One morning he arose before day- 
 break, and went out into the open air, to consider somej 
 way of lightening his heart ; and as he passed by the mill- 
 dam the first ray of the sun shone forth, and he heard a 
 rippling in the pond. He turned round and perceived r 
 beautiful Maiden, raising herself slowly out of the vvatei 
 Her long hair, which she had gathered behind her shouldci 
 with her long fingers, fell down on both sides of her fac' 
 and covered her white bosom. The Miller saw at oncf 
 that it was the Nix of the mill-pond, and he knew n( 
 from fear whether to stop or go away. The Nix solve 
 his doubts by calling him by name in a gentle voice, an 
 asking him why he was so sad. At first the Miller w; 
 dumb ; but as she spoke so kindly to him, he took courage 
 and told her that he had once lived in riches and prospe 
 ity, but he was now so poor he knew not what to do. 
 
 *' Rest quietly," said the Nix ; " I will make you richr 
 and happier than you were before ; only you must prorni- 
 me that you will give me what has just now been born i 
 your house." " That can be nothing else than a puppy o 
 
THE NIX IN THE POND. 
 
 Page 316. 
 
The Nix in the Pond. 
 
 317 
 
 a kitten," thought the Miller, and so prontiised the Nix 
 what she desired. Thereupon she dived again under water, 
 and the Miller hastened home to his mill in good spirits. 
 1 He had almost reached it, when the Maid coming from it 
 I met him, and told him to rejoice, for his Wife had just 
 I borne him a little boy. The Miller started back, as if 
 f struck by lightning, for he at once perceived that the 
 j crafty Nix was aware of the fact, and had deceived him. 
 I He went into his Wife's room drooping his head; and 
 i when she inquired why he did not congratulate her on her 
 1 happiness, he told her what had happened, and the pro- 
 mise which he had given to the Nix. " Of what use are 
 ; wealth and good luck to me," he continued, "if I lose my 
 ' child? but what can I do?" And none of the friends who 
 came to congratulate him on the birth of a son and heir 
 could give any advice. 
 
 Meanwhile the luck of the mill returned. What its 
 Master undertook prospered; and it seemed as if chests 
 and coffers filled themselves, for the money in the cup- 
 board increased every night, till before many months had 
 passed away, the Miller was much richer than before. He 
 I could not, however, feel any pleasure in the prospect, for 
 I his promise to the Nix weighed on his mind ; and as often 
 ! as he passed the pond, he feared lest she should rise and 
 . claim her debt. The Boy himself he would never allow to 
 go near the water; but told him continually to beware of 
 doing so, for if he should fall in, a hand would rise and 
 : draw him under. Still, as year after year passed away, 
 and the Nix made no second appearance, the Miller began 
 to lose his suspicions. 
 
 The Boy grew up a fine youth and was bound to a 
 Huntsman to learn his art, which when he had thoroughly 
 studied, the Lord of the village took him into his service. 
 . Now in this village there dwelt a beautiful and good 
 Maiden, who took the fancy of the young Hunter, and 
 
818 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 when his Master perceived it, he presented him with a 
 small cottage ; and thereupon the two married, and lived 
 happily and lovingly together. 
 
 One day the Hunter pursued a stag, and when the ani- 
 mal escaped from the forest into the open fields, he followed 
 it, and at last struck it down with a shot from his gun. 
 But he did not observe that he had come to the brink of 
 the dangerous pond, and so when he had flaj^ed his booty, 
 he went to it to wash his hands free from the blood stains. 
 Scarcely had he touched it when the Nix arose, and smi- 
 lingly embracing him with her naked arms, drew him so 
 quickly below the surface that the water rippled on with- 
 out a bubble. 
 
 By-and-by, w^hen evening came, and the Hunter did 
 not return home, his wife felt very anxious. She went 
 out to seek him ; and as he had often told her that he had 
 to take care of the appearance of the Nix, and not venture 
 too near the mill-pond, she suspected already what had 
 happened. She hastened to the water; and as soon as she 
 saw his gun lying on the bank, she could no longer doubt 
 the misfortune which had befallen her. Wringing her 
 hands with grief and terror, she called her beloved by 
 name, but in vain; she hurried from one side of the pond 
 to the other ; she alternately entreated and scolded the 
 Nix ; but no answer followed — the surface of the water re- 
 mained as smooth as a mirror, and only the half-crescent 
 of the moon looked up at her fixedly. 
 
 The poor Wife could not leave the water. With quick 
 and hasty steps, she walked round and round the pond 
 without cessation, now silent, and now uttering a fearful 
 shriek, and anon a smothered lament. At length her 
 strength forsook her ; and sinking to the earth she fell 
 into a deep sleep, and soon a dream passed over her mind. 
 
 She thought she was sorrowfully climbing up betweeu 
 great blocks of stone ; thorns and nettles pierced her 
 
The Nix in the Pond. 
 
 319 
 
 ; feet, the rain beat in her face, and the wind disordered her 
 • long hair. But when she reached the top of the height, 
 quite another aspect appeared. The sky was blue, the air 
 ' balmy, the ground softly declined ; and upon a green 
 meadow, spangled with flowers, stood an elegant cottage. 
 She thought she went up to it and opened the door, and 
 ; saw an Old Woman with white hair sitting within, who 
 beckoned to her kindly; and at that moment she awoke, 
 i The day was already dawning, and the poor Wife deter- 
 mined to follow out her dream. There was a hill close by 
 her, and up this she ascended, and found the road as she 
 had seen in her dream. On the other side stood the cot- 
 tage, and in it an Old Woman, who kindly received her, 
 and showed her a chair to sit down upon. " You must 
 , have suffered some misfortune to induce you to seek my 
 ! solitary hut," said the Old Woman. The Wife related to 
 j her with tears what had happened; and the Old Woman 
 I replied, " Be comforted, I will help you. Here you have 
 I a golden comb ; wait now till the rising of the full moon ; 
 I and then go to the pond, and sit down on the bank, and 
 ' comb your long black hair with it. When you have done, 
 lie down on the bank, and you will see what happens." 
 
 The Wife returned, but the time passed very weari- 
 somely till the rise of the moon. At length the shining 
 orb appeared in the sky, and she went down to the pond, 
 and, sitting on its bank, combed her long black hair with 
 the golden comb, and then lay down on the shore to wait 
 the issue. In a short time the waters began to bubble, and 
 a wave rolling on to the bank, carried away with it the 
 comb as it receded. In as much time as was necessary for 
 i the sinking of the comb to the bottom, the waters parted, 
 , and the head of the Huntsman appeared. He did not 
 speak, but looked at his A¥ife sorrowfully ; and the same 
 . moment another wave rolled on and covered his head. 
 All then disappeared, the water became as placid as before, 
 
320 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 and nothing was to be seen in it but the face of the 
 moon. 
 
 The Wife turned back uncomforted, and her dreams 
 again showed the Old Woman's hut. So a second time 
 she travelled up the hill, and laid her complaint before the 
 Old Woman, who this time gave her a golden flute, with 
 directions to wait till the next full moon, and then to play 
 a sweet tune upon the shore of the pond, and that finished, 
 to lie down and wait the result as before. 
 
 The Wife did exactly as the Old Woman told her, and 
 as soon as she laid the flute down, a bubbling took place in 
 the water, and a rising wave carried away the flute. Then 
 appeared not only the head but half of the body of the 
 Man, and stretched out his arms towards his Wife ; but at 
 the same instant a wave came, and covering his head, drew 
 him down again. 
 
 "Alas! how am I helped," cried the unhappy Wife, 
 "if I see my Husband only to lose him." Grief again 
 overcame her ; but in her dreams she visited again the Old 
 Woman's hut. Accordingly she set out on the journey a 
 third time, and received a spinning-wheel of gold from the 
 Old Woman, who comforted her, and told her, " All is not 
 yet complete ; wait till the next full moon, and then sit 
 down as before on the shore of the pond and spin your reel 
 full, which done, lay it down near the water and await the 
 result." 
 
 The Wife did everything exactly. As soon as the full 
 moon came she carried her wheel to the shore and spun 
 the reel full ; but she had scarcely set it down against the 
 water than the bubbles began to rise quicker than ever, 
 and a huge wave dashing up carried away with it the 
 spinning-wheel. Immediately afterwards the head and 
 whole body of the Man arose, and he, springing quickly to 
 the shore, caught his Wife by the hand and fled away with 
 her. But they had gone but a little distance, when with a 
 
The Nix in the Pond. 
 
 321 
 
 terrible rushing noise the whole pond overflowed its banks, 
 and streamed away into the fields with overwhelming force. 
 The fugitives perceived at once death before their eyes, and 
 in her terror the poor Wife called upon the Old Woman 
 for help, and in a moment they were changed, the one into 
 a Frog and the other into a Toad. The flood wrhich then 
 reached them could not kill them, but it tore them asunder 
 and carried them far away. 
 
 When the water subsided again, and the Toad and 
 Frog touched dry ground their human forms returned, but 
 neither knew where the other was, and both were among 
 strange people who knew nothing of their country. High 
 hills and deep valleys lay between them, and in order to 
 earn a livelihood each had to tend sheep ; and through 
 many long years they fed their flocks in field and forest, 
 grieving and longing for each other. 
 
 When once again spring had covered the earth with its 
 first-fruits, it chanced that both drove their flocks out the 
 same day, and towards the same point. The former Hunts- 
 man perceived on a distant peak of a hill a flock, and 
 drove his sheep to the same place. Thus the two came 
 together in a valley ; but, without recognising each other, 
 they were glad that they would have no longer to wander 
 in solitude. From that day they drove their flocks together, 
 and without speaking much, they felt a certain comfort steal 
 over them. One evening when the full moon appeared in 
 the heavens, and the flocks were resting, the Shepherd tak- 
 ing a flute from his pocket, played a soft and mournful air. 
 As he finished he saw that the Shepherdess was weeping 
 bitterly, and he asked the reason. "Alas! I remember," 
 she replied, how the full moon was shining as it is now, 
 when I played that air upon a flute and the head of my 
 beloved rose above the water." 
 
 The Shepherd looked at her as she spoke with an ear- 
 nest gaze, and as if a cloud had been taken away from his 
 II.— 14 
 
1 
 
 322 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 eyes, he recognised his dear Wife. At the same instant she 
 remembered him, for the moon showed his face clearly ; and 
 I am sure no one needs to ask how happy they were, and 
 how happy they remained. 
 
CLXXIII. 
 
 The Presents of the Little Folk. 
 
 TAILOK and a Goldsmitli were once wandering in 
 
 company, and one evening, when the sun had sunk 
 behind the hills, they heard the sound of distant music, 
 which became clearer and clearer. The tones were uncom- 
 mon, but so inspiriting, that forgetting their weariness the 
 two walked on. The moon had risen, when they arrived 
 : at a hillock on which they perceived a number of little 
 Men and Women, who had joined hands, and were whirl- 
 ing round in a dance with great spirit and delight, and sing- 
 ' ing thereto in the sweetest manner possible, and so making 
 I the music which the travellers had heard. In the middle sat 
 an old Man, taller than the others, who wore a parti- 
 , coloured coat and an iron-grey beard, so long that it reached 
 i down to his waist. The two stopped, full of wonder, and 
 looked on at the dancers, when the Old Man beckoned to 
 , them to join in, while the circle opened readily to receive 
 ' them. The Goldsmith, who was deformed, and like all 
 other hunchbacks quick enough, stepped in ; but the Tailor, 
 ; feeling shy at first, held back, till, seeing how merry the 
 ! circle was, he took heart and joined in too. The circle 
 closed agam directly, and the Little Folks began to sing 
 and dance in the wildest manner, while the Old Man taking 
 a broad-bladed knife, which hung at his girdle, sharpened 
 ; it, and when it was fit looked round at the strangers. 
 ; They became frightened, but they had no time to consider; 
 I for the Old Man, seizing the Goldsmith and then the Tailor, 
 shaved off both their beards and hair with the greatest des- 
 patch. Their terror, however, disappeared when the Old 
 i Man, having completed thig work, tapped them both on 
 
824 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 the shoulder in a friendly manner, as much as to say they 
 had acted well in having endured his sport without resist- 
 ance. Then he pointed with his finger towards a heap of 
 coals which stood on one side, and showed them by signs 
 that they should fill their pockets with them. Both obeyed, 
 though neither of them could see of what service the coals 
 would be to them; and then they journeyed in quest 
 of a night's lodging. Just as they came to the next valley 
 the clock of a neighbouring church struck twelve, and at 
 the same moment the singing ceased, all disappeared, and 
 the hill lay solitary in the moonshine. 
 
 The two wanderers found a shelter, and, making a straw 
 couch, each of them covered himself with his coat, but for- 
 got through weariness to take the coals out of their pockets. 
 A heavy weight pressed upon their limbs more than usual, 
 and when they awoke in the morning and emptied their 
 pockets, they could not trust their eyes when they saw that 
 they were not filled with coals, but pure gold. Their hair 
 and beard, too, had also grown during the night to their 
 original length. They were now become quite rich, but the 
 Goldsmith was half as rich again as the Tailor, because im- 
 pelled by his covetous nature, he had filled his pokets much 
 fuller. 
 
 Kow a miserly man, the more he possesses, desires yet 
 an increase ; and so it happened that the Goldsmith, after 
 the lapse of a day or two, made a proposition to the Tailor 
 to go and obtain more gold from the Old Man of the 
 Mountain. The Tailor refused, saying, "I have enough, 
 and am satisfied : now I am become a master-tradesman, 
 and I will marry my object (as he called his sweetheart), 
 and be a happy man." However, he stopped behind a day 
 in order to please his comrade. In the evening, the Gold- 
 smith slung across his shoulders a couple of bags, that he 
 might be well furnished, and then set out on his road to the 
 hillock. He found the little folk singing and dancing, as 
 
The Presents of the Little Folk. 325 
 
 on the previous night ; and the Old Man, looking at him 
 with a smile, treated him the same as before, and pointed to 
 the heap of coals afterwards. The Goldsmith delayed no 
 longer than was necessary to fill his pockets, and then re- 
 turned home in high glee, and went to sleep, covered with 
 his coat. " Although the gold does weigh heavily," said he 
 to himself, " I will bear it patiently ;" and so he went to 
 sleep with the sweet belief of awaking in the morning a 
 very wealthy man. Judge, therefore, what was his as- 
 tonishment, when, on awaking and arising, he searched in 
 his pockets, and drew out only black coals, and nothing be- 
 sides. He consoled himself, however, for his disappoint- 
 ment, by reflecting that he still possessed the gold which 
 he had taken on the previous night, but what was not his 
 rasfe when he discovered that that also was become coal 
 again! He beat his forehead with his coal-begrimed 
 hands, and then found out that his whole head was bald 
 and smooth as his chin ! His mishaps were not yet ended; 
 for he perceived that, during the night, a similar hump to 
 that on his back had made its appearance on his breast. 
 I He began to weep bitterly at this sight, for he recognised 
 ' in it the punishment of his covetousness. The good Tailor, 
 who then awoke, comforted the unhappy man as well as 
 I he could, and told him that since he had been his com- 
 , panion during his travels, he should share his treasure and 
 remain with him. 
 
 The Tailor kept his word ; but the poor Goldsmith had 
 to carry all his lifetime two humps, and to cover his bald 
 head with a wig. 
 
CLXxiy. 
 
 The Giant and the Tailor. 
 
 A CERTAIN Tailor, who was a large boaster but a 
 •^-^ very small performer, took it once into his head to go 
 and look about him in the world. As soon as he could he 
 left his workshop, and travelled away over hills and valleys, 
 now on this, and now on that; but still onwards. After 
 he had gone some way, he perceived in the distance a steep 
 mountain, and behind it a lofty tower, which rose from 
 the midst of a wild dense forest. " Good gracious !" cried 
 the Tailor, "what is this?" and driven by his curiosity 
 he went rapidly towards the place. But he opened his 
 mouth and eyes wide enough when he got nearer; for the 
 tower had legs, and sprang in a trice over the steep hill, 
 and stood up a mighty Giant before the Tailor. " What 
 are you about here, you puny fly's legs ?" asked the Giant 
 in a voice which rumbled on all sides like thunder. "I am 
 trying to earn a piece of bread in this forest," whispered 
 the Tailor. 
 
 " Well, then, it is time you entered my service," said 
 the Giant fiercely. 
 
 "If it must be so, why not?" said the Tailor humbly; 
 "but what will you give me?" "What wages shall you 
 have ?" repeated the Giant contemptuously ; " listen and I 
 will tell you : every year three hundred and sixty-five 
 days, and one besides, if it be leap-year. Is that right?" 
 
 "Quite," said the Tailor; but thought to himself, "one 
 must cut according to his cloth ; I will seek to make my- 
 self free very soon." 
 
 " Go, little rascal, and fetch me a glass of water," cried 
 the Giant. 
 
The Giant and the Tailor. 
 
 327 
 
 " Why not the whole well and its spring too?" said the 
 Tailor, but fetched as he was bid. " What ! the well and 
 its spring too !" bellowed the Giant, who was rather cow- 
 ardly and weak, and so began to be afraid, thinking to 
 himself, " This fellow can do more than roast apples ; he 
 has a heap of courage. I must take care, or he will be too 
 much of a servant for me !" So, when the Tailor returned 
 with the water, the Giant set him to fetch a couple of 
 bundles of faggots from the forest, and bring them home. 
 " Why not the whole forest at one stroke, every tree, young 
 and old, knotty and smooth?" asked the Tailor, and went 
 away. " What ! the whole forest, and the well too, and its 
 spring !" murmured the frightened Giant in his beard; and 
 he began to be still more afraid, and believed that the 
 Tailor was too great a man for him, and not fit for his ser- 
 vant However, when the Tailor returned with his load 
 of faggots, the Giant told him to shoot two or three wild 
 boars for their supper. " Why not rather a thousand at 
 one shot and the rest afterwards ?" cried the boaster. 
 " What, what !" gasped the cowardly Giant, terribly fright- 
 ened ; " Oh ! well, that is enough for to-day, you may go 
 to sleep now !" 
 
 The poor Giant, however, was so very much afraid of 
 the little Tailor, that he could not close his eyes all the 
 night, but tossed about thinking how to get rid of his ser- 
 vant, whom he regarded as an enchanter conspiring against 
 his life. With time comes counsel. The following morn- 
 ing the Giant and the Dwarf went together to a marsh 
 where a great many willow trees were growing. When 
 they got there the Giant said, " Sit yourself on one of these 
 willow rods. Tailor ; on my life I only wish to see if you 
 are in condition to bend it down." 
 
 The boasting Tailor climbed the tree, and perched him- 
 self on a bough, and then, holding his breath, he made 
 himself heavy enough thereby to bend the tree down. 
 
S28 Grimm's Household Stoeies. 
 
 Soon, however, he had to take breath again, and imme- 
 diately, having been unfortunate enough to come without 
 his goose in his pocket, the bough flew up, and, to the 
 great joy of the Giant, carried with it the Tailor so high 
 into the air that he went out of sight. And whether he has 
 since fallen down again, or is yet flying about in the air, I 
 am unable to tell you satisfactorily. 
 
CLXXV. 
 
 The Goose-Girl at the Well. 
 
 THEEE was once "upon a time a very, very old Lady, 
 who dwelt with her flock of geese in a waste place 
 between two hills, where she had a small cottage. The 
 common was surrounded by a large forest, into which this 
 old Woman hobbled every morning on crutches. There 
 she was very active, more than one could have believed 
 considering her great age, in collecting grass for her geese; 
 she gathered also all the wild fruit she could reach, and 
 carried it home on her back. One would have thought 
 so heavy a burden would have bowed her down to the 
 ground, but she always reached home safe and sound. If 
 any one met her, she greeted him kindly, and wou.ld say, 
 "Good day to you, my dear countryman; what beautiful 
 weather it is ! Ah ! you wonder how I get over the ground, 
 but every one must bear his own burden !" People at last, 
 however, grew afraid to meet her, and took a bj^-path ; and 
 if a father passed near with his children, he would say to 
 them, " Take care of that old Woman ; she has mischief 
 behind her ears ; she is a witch." 
 
 One morning a lively young fellow passed through the 
 wood. The sun was shining brightly, the birds were sing- 
 ing, and a gentle breeze was blowing among the trees and 
 made everything seem gay and pleasant. Still he had met 
 nobody, till he suddenly perceived the old Woman kneel- 
 ing on the ground, and cutting grass with a sickle. She 
 had already placed a large heap in her handkerchief, and 
 by her side stood two baskets, filled with apples and wild 
 berries. " Ah ! my good Woman," exclaimed the youth, 
 "how will you carry all that?" "I must carry it, my 
 
330 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 good master," she replied, "but rich people's children do 
 not want to do such things. Will you not help me ?" she 
 continued, as the youth remained by her; "you have a 
 straight back yet, and young legs, it will be easy for you. 
 My house is not far from here ; it stands on the common 
 behind yon hill. How soon your legs could jump there!" 
 
 The youth took compassion on the old Woman, and 
 replied to her, " Certainly ; my father is no peasant, but a 
 rich Count; still that you may see it is not only the 
 peasants who carry burdens, I will take your bundle." 
 
 " If you will try it," said the old Woman, " I shall be 
 much obliged to you; but there are the apples and berries 
 which you must carry too. It is but an hour's walk which 
 you will have to take, but it will seem much less to you." 
 
 The youth became a little thoughtful when he heard of 
 an hour's journey, but the old Woman now would not let 
 him off, but packed the handkerchief of grass on his back, 
 and hung the two baskets on his arms. " See you, how 
 light it is," she said. "No, it is not at all light," answered 
 the young Count, making a rueful face ; " the bundle 
 weighs heavily as if it were full of big stones, and the 
 apples and berries seem like lead; I can scarcely breathe!" 
 
 So saying he would have liked to lay the bundle down 
 again, but the old Woman would not permit it. "Just 
 see," cried she in scorn; "the young Lord cannot convey 
 what an old Woman like me has so often borne. You people 
 are very ready with your fair words, but when it comes to 
 working, you are equally ready with your excuses. Why 
 do you stand trembling there ?" she continued ; " come, pick 
 up your legs; nobody will take your bundle off again." 
 
 Now so long as the young Count walked on level 
 ground, he managed pretty well, but when he came to the 
 hill and bes^an to ascend it, and the stones rolled under his 
 feet as if they were alive, his strength began to fail. Drops 
 of sweat stood upon his brow, and ran down his back, 
 
 / 
 
The Goose-Girl at the Well. 331 
 
 now hot and now cold. "My good Woman," he exclaimed, 
 "I can go no further till I have rested a while." "Not 
 here, not here," answered the old Woman ; " when we 
 I arrive at our destination you can rest, but now we must 
 keep on ; who knows what good it may do you !" 
 
 "You are shameless, you old Woman!" cried the Youth, 
 trying to throw away the bundle, but he wearied himself 
 in vain ; it stuck as fast to his back as if it had grown 
 there. He turned and twisted himself, but with no effect ; 
 he could not get rid of the bundle, and the old Woman 
 only laughed at his exertions, and danced around him on 
 j her crutches. " Don't put yourself in a passion, my dear 
 Lord," she said; "you are getting as red in the face as a 
 turkey-cock. Bear your burden patiently ; when we arrive 
 at home, I will give you a good draught to refresh you." 
 i What could he do? He was obliged to bear his fate and 
 1 follow patiently behind the old Woman, who appeared to 
 ' become more and more active as his burden grew heavier. 
 
 All at once she made a spring and jumped on the top of 
 ; the bundle, where she sat down ; and thin and withered as 
 I she was, her weight was yet more than that of the stoutest 
 ■ farm servant. The Youth's knees trembled and shook, but 
 if he did not keep onwards, the old Woman beat him with 
 a strap and stinging nettles about the legs. Under this 
 continual goading, he at last ascended the hill, and arrived 
 j at the old Woman's cottage, just when he was ready to 
 ' drop. As soon as the geese perceived the old AYoman, 
 they stretched out their wings and their necks, and ran 
 1 towards her crvins^ "Wulle! wulle!" Behind the flock 
 walked a middle-aged Woman with a stick in her hand, 
 who was big and strong, but as ugly as night. "My 
 mother," said she to the old Woman, " has something hap- 
 : pened, that you have remained out so long?" "Never 
 : fear, my dear daughter," replied the old Woman; "nothing 
 j evil has met me, but in fact the young Count there has 
 1 
 
332 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 carried my bundle for me: only think, when I was tired, he 
 took me also on his back. The road has not been too long 
 either, for we have been merry, and made jokes on one 
 another?" At length the old Woman ceased talking, and 
 took the bundle off the youth's back, and the baskets from 
 his arms, and then looking at him cheerfully she said to 
 him, " Sit down on the bench by the door and rest your- 
 self ; you have honestly earned your reward, and it shall 
 not be overlooked ;" and turning to the Goose-Girl she 
 continued, "Go into the house, my daughter; it is net 
 correct that you should be alone with this young man; 
 one ought not to pour oil on the fire, and he might fall 
 into love with you." 
 
 The young Count did not know whether to laugh or 
 cry. "Such a treasure!" he thought to himself. "Why, 
 even if she were thirty years younger, my heart would not 
 be touched!" Meanwhile the old Woman caressed and 
 stroked her geese, as if they were children, and at last 
 went into the house with her daughter. The youth 
 stretched himself on the bench beneath an apple tree, 
 where the breeze blew softly and gently; while around 
 him was spread a green meadow, covered with primroses, 
 wild thyme, and a thousand other flowers. In the middle 
 of it flowed a clear stream, on which the sun shone ; and 
 the white geese kept passing up and down, or paddling in 
 the water. "It is quite lovely here," he said to himself; 
 "but I am so tired that I cannot keep my eyes open: so I 
 will sleep a while, provided that no wind comes and blows 
 away my legs from my body, for they are as tender as 
 tinder!" 
 
 After he had slept some time, the old Woman came 
 and shook him till he awoke. " Stand up," she said ; "you 
 cannot stop here. Certainly I did treat you rather shab- 
 bily, but it has not cost you your life. Now I will give 
 you your reward ; it will be neither money nor property, 
 
 I 
 
The Goose-Girl at the Well. 
 
 333 
 
 but something better." With these words she placed in 
 his hands a small book, cut out of a single emerald, saying, 
 "Keep it well, and it will bring you good luck." 
 
 The Count thereupon jumped up, and felt himself quite 
 strong and refreshed ; so he thanked the old Woman for 
 her present, and set off on his journey, without once look- 
 ing back for the beautiful daughter. And when he had 
 walked a considerable way he could still hear the loud 
 cackling of the geese in the distance. 
 
 The young Count had to wander three days in the 
 wilderness before he could find his way out, and then he 
 came to a large city, where, because nobody knew him, he 
 was led to the royal palace, where the King and Queen sat 
 on their thrones. There the Count sank on one knee, and 
 drawing forth the emerald-book, laid it at the feet of the 
 Queen. She bade him arise and hand the book to her; 
 
 I but scarcely had she opened it and looked at its contents, 
 than she fell as if dead upon the ground. Thereupon the 
 Count was seized by the King's servants, and would have 
 been led off to prison, had not the Queen soon opened her 
 eyes and begged him to be set at liberty, for she must 
 
 . speak with him privately, and therefore every one must 
 
 I leave the room. 
 
 As soon as the Queen was left alone, sne began to weep 
 
 ' bitterly, and to say, " What avails all this honour and 
 pageantry which surrounds me, when every morning I give 
 way to grief and sorrow ! I once had three daughters, the 
 youngest of whom was so beautiful that all the world 
 thought her a wonder. She was as white as snow, as red 
 
 , as the bloom of an apple, and her hair was like the shin- 
 
 I ing of a sunbeam. If she cried, her tears were like pearls 
 and gems falling from her eyes. When she was fifteen, 
 
 i her father caused her and her sisters to come before his 
 throne ; and you should have seen how the people opened 
 their eyes when she came in, for it was like the appearance 
 
334. Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 of the sun. The King then said to them, ' My daughters, 
 I know not when my hist day will arrive, and therefore 
 to-day I will appoint what each shall do at my death. You 
 all love me, but w4ioever of you loves me best shall have 
 the best portion.' They each of them said they loved bim 
 best; and the King then asked them v/hether they could 
 not express in words how much they loved him, and tliea 
 he should be able to judge. So the eldest said she loved 
 him as the sweetest sugar; the second that she loved her 
 father as her smartest dress ; but the youngest was silent. 
 *My dear child, how do you love me?' asked the King. 
 *I know not,' she replied; 'and I can compare my love 
 with nothing.' Her father, however, pressed her to say 
 something, and at length she said, ' The most delicate food 
 is tasteless to me without salt, and therefore I love you, 
 father, like salt.' At this reply, the King became very 
 angry, and exclaimed, * If you love me like salt, you shall 
 be rewarded with salt.' Thereupon he divided the king- 
 dom between the two eldest daughters; but he caused a 
 sack of salt to be bound on the shoulders of his youngest 
 child, and two slaves had to lead her into the wild forest. 
 We all wept and prayed for her to the King, but his anger 
 was not to be turned away. How did she not weep when 
 she left us, so that the whole path was strewn with the 
 pearls which fell from her eyes ! However, afterwards, the 
 King did repent of his great harshness, and caused a search 
 to be made in the forest for the poor child, but without 
 success. And now, when I think how, perhaps, the wild 
 beasts devoured her, I know not what to do for grief; bat 
 many a time I try to comfort myself with the idea that 
 haply she is living still, concealed in some cave, or under 
 the hospitable protection of some one who found her. But 
 imagine my feelings when, on opening your emerald-book, 
 I saw lying therein a pearl of the same kind as used to 
 drop from my daughter's eyes, and then you may also 
 
The Goose-Girl at the Well. 335 
 
 conceive how my heart was moved at the sight. But now 
 you shall tell me how you came by the pearl." 
 
 The young Count then told the Queen that he had re- 
 ceived it from an old Woman, living in a wood which 
 seemed to be haunted, and who appeared to be a witch ; 
 but of the Queen's child he had neither seen nor heard 
 anything. The King and Queen came to the resolution 
 to seek out this old Woman, for they thought where the 
 pearl had been, there they should also obtain news of 
 their daughter. 
 
 The old Woman sat in her house in the wilderness 
 spinning at her wheel. It was dark already, and a faggot, 
 which burnt on the hearth below, gave a feeble light. All 
 at once there was a noise outside ; the geese were coming 
 home from the meadow, and they cackled with all their 
 might. Soon afterwards the daughter stepped in, but the 
 old Woman scarcely thanked her, and only shook her head. 
 The daughter sat down, and taking her wheel spun the 
 thread as quickly as a young girl. Thus they sat for two 
 hours, without speaking to one another, till at length 
 something rattled at the window, and two fiery eyes 
 glared in from the outside. It was an old night- owl, 
 which screeched thrice ; and then the old Woman, look- 
 ing up from her work, said, " Now is the time, my daugh- 
 ter, for you to go out, and do your work." 
 
 The daughter got up and went away over the meadows 
 deep into a valley beyond. By-and-by, she came to a 
 brook near which stood three oak trees ; and at the same 
 time the moon arose round and full above the mountain, 
 and shone so brightly, that one might have picked up a 
 needle by its light. She drew off the mask which covered 
 her face, and then bathing in the brook began to wash, 
 herself. As soon as she had done that, she dipped the 
 mask also in the water, and then laid it again on the mead- 
 ow to dry and bleach in the moonshine. But how was the 
 
336 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Maiden changed ! So much as you could never have fan- 
 cied. Her golden hair fell down like sunbeams, and when 
 she removed the cap which confined it, it covered her 
 whole form. Only her eyes could be seen peeping through 
 the tresses like the stars in heaven, and her cheeks bloom- 
 ing like the soft red of the apple-blossoms. 
 
 But the fair Maiden was nevertheless sad ; and she sat 
 down and wept bitterly. One tear after another flowed 
 from her eyes, and rolled to the ground between her locks ; 
 and thus sitting she would have remained for a long time 
 had she not been disturbed by a rustling noise in the 
 branches of one of the trees. She jumped up and sprang 
 away like a fawn disturbed by the gun of the hunter; and 
 at the same moment a black cloud obscured the moon, 
 under cover of which the Maiden slipped on her old mask 
 and disappeared like a light blown out by the wind. She 
 ran home trembling like an aspen-leaf, and found the old 
 Woman standing before the door ; but when she was about 
 to relate what had happened to her, the old Woman laughed, 
 and said she knew already all about it. The old mother 
 then led the Maiden into the room and lighted a fresh fag- 
 got ; but instead of sitting down to her wheel, she fetched 
 a broom and began to sweep and dust. "It must all be 
 clean and respectable," said she to the Maiden. "But, 
 mother," replied she, " why do you begin at this late hour? 
 what is the matter ?" 
 
 *' Do you then know what hour it is ?" inquired the old 
 Mother. 
 
 "Not quite midnight, but past eleven," returned the 
 daughter. 
 
 "Do you not remember then," continued the old 
 Woman, "that to-day you have been with me three years? 
 Your time is now expired; we can remain together no 
 longer!" 
 
 " Alas ! dear mother, you will not drive me out," said 
 
The Goose-Girl at the Well. 
 
 337 
 
 the Maiden in an alarmed tone ; " where shall I go ? I have 
 neither home nor friends, and whither could I turn ? I 
 have ever done all you desired, and you have been satisfied 
 with me ; send me not away !" The old Woman would 
 not however tell the Maiden what was coming, but said, 
 instead, " My dwelling is no longer here, but since the 
 house and this room must be clean when I leave, hinder 
 me not in my work, and cease to care on your own account ; 
 you shall find a roof under which to dwell, and with the 
 reward which I will give you, you will also be contented." 
 "But do tell me what is coming," entreated the Maiden. 
 "I tell you a second time, do not disturb me in my 
 work. Speak not a word more, but go into your own 
 room and pull off the mask from your face, and put on the 
 beautiful dress which you wove when yoii came to me, and 
 then remain where you are till I call you." 
 
 And now I must tell you what befell the King and 
 Queen, who were preparing, when we last heard of them, 
 to go in search of the old Woman in the wilderness. The 
 Count was first of all despatched by night to the forest 
 alone, and for two days he wandered before he found the 
 right road. Along this he went till darkness overtook him, 
 I and then he climbed a tree to pass the night, for he feared 
 I he might lose his way in the dark. As soon as the moon 
 [ rose he perceived a figure coming across the mountain, and 
 j although she had no rod in her hand he could not doubt 
 I but that it was the Goose-Girl, whom he had seen before at 
 ' home with the old Woman. " Oho !" he exclaimed to 
 himself; " here comes one witch, and when I have got her, 
 I will soon catch the other !" But how astonished he was, 
 when on stepping up to the brook she laid aside her mask 
 and washed herself, and he saw her golden hair fall down 
 and cover her whole figure, and render her more beautiful 
 1 than any one he had ever before seen ! He scarcely ven- 
 tured to breathe, but he stretched out his neck as far as he 
 II.— 15 
 
338 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 could from the foliage and looked at lier with fixed eyes. 
 Unfortunately he bent over too far and the bough cracked 
 beneath his weight, and at the same instant tlie Maiden 
 disappeared, favoured by a dark cloud, and when the moon 
 appeared again, she was out of sight. 
 
 The young Count, however, made haste down from the 
 tree and pursued the Maiden with hasty strides ; but befjre 
 he had gone very far, he perceived two figures wandering 
 over the meadows in the twilight. They were the King 
 and Queen, who had perceived at a distance the light in 
 the old Woman's cottage and were hastening towards it. 
 The Count told them what marvellous things he had wit- 
 nessed by the brook, and they felt no doubt but that he had 
 seen their lost daughter. Full of joy they journeyed on 
 till they came to the cottage, around which lay the geese, 
 with their heads under their wings, and none stirred at 
 their approach. The three peeped in at the window and 
 saw the old Woman spinning silently, without raising her 
 eyes from her work, but simply nodding her head now and 
 then. The room was as perfectly clean as if it had been 
 inhabited by the Cloud-Men, who carry no dust on their 
 feet ; and for some minutes they observed the whole scene 
 in silence ; but at last plucking up courage they knocked 
 at the window lightly. Thereupon the old Woman got up, 
 and looking at them kindly as if she had expected them, 
 called out, " Come in ; I know who you are." 
 
 As soon as the King, Queen, and Count had entered the 
 room the old Woman said, " You might have spared your- 
 selves this long journey if you had not driven out, for three 
 long years in the forest, your child who was so affectionate 
 and so beautiful. She has come to no harm, and for these 
 three years past she has tended my geese ; neither has she 
 learnt any evil, but kept her heart pure and spotless. But 
 you have been righteously punished by the sorrow and 
 trouble which you have suffered." With these words she 
 
The Goose-Girl at the Well. 
 
 339 
 
 went to the chamber-door and called to the daughter to 
 come out, and as soon as the Princess made her appearance, 
 dressed in her silk gown, with her golden hair and bright 
 eyes, it seemed like the entrance of an angel into the room. 
 
 She went up to her father and mother and fell on their 
 necks and kissed them, which made them both cry with 
 joy. But when she perceived the young Count standing 
 by them, she blushed as red as a moss rose without know- 
 ing wherefore. 
 
 "My dear child," said the King to her, "what shall I 
 give you, for I have parted my kingdom already ?" 
 
 "She needs nothing," said the old Woman, "for I 
 present her with the tears which she has wept, which are 
 in reality pearls more beautiful than any that can be found 
 in the sea, and of more value than your entire kingdom. 
 And for a further reward for her services to me I give her 
 this house." As soon as the old AYoman had said these 
 words she disappeared, and immediately after a little knock- 
 ing at the walls, the house became a noble palace, and the 
 room in which they stood a hall, in the midst of which a 
 princely table was set out, with many servants hastening 
 to and fro. 
 
 This story ends here, for my grandmother, who related 
 it to me, had partly lost her memory, and so she had for- 
 gotten its conclusion. I believe, however, that the beauti- 
 ful Princess was married to the young Count, and that they 
 remained in the palace, and lived happily so long as God 
 suffered them to remain on earth. But whether the snow- 
 white geese whom the Princess had tended were really men 
 (nobody needs to be offended), whom the old Woman had 
 taken to herself, and then restored to their natural form to 
 wait as servants upon the young Queen, I cannot say, though 
 I suspect it was so. Thus much is certain, that the Old 
 Woman was no witch as people believed, but a wise woman, 
 who had good intentions. Apparently, too, it was she who 
 
340 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 at the birth of the Princess had endowed her with the power 
 to weep pearls instead of tears. 
 
 At this day, however, that does not happen, else would 
 the poor soon become rich ! 
 
CLXXVI. 
 
 The Nail. 
 
 A TRADESMAN bad once transacted a good day's busi- 
 ness at a fair, disposed of all his goods, and filled his 
 purse with gold and silver. He prepared afterwards to 
 return, in order to reach home before the evening. So he 
 strapped his portmanteau, with the money in it, upon his 
 horse's back, and rode off. At noon he baited in a small 
 town, and as he was about to set out again, the Stable-boy 
 who brought his horse said to him, " Sir, a nail is wanting 
 in the shoe on the left hind-foot of your animal." 
 
 Let it be wanting," replied the Tradesman ; " I am in 
 a hurry, and the iron will doubtless hold the six hours I 
 have yet to travel." 
 
 Late in the afternoon he had to dismount again, and 
 feed his horse, and at this place also the Boy came and told 
 him that a nail was wanting in one of the shoes, and asked 
 him whether he should take the horse to a farrier. "N'o, 
 no, let it be !" replied the Master ; " it will last out the 
 couple of hours that I have now to travel ; I am in haste." 
 So saying he rode off; but his horse soon began to limp, 
 and from limping it came to stumbling, and presently the 
 beast fell down and broke its leg. Thereupon the Trades- 
 man had to leave his horse lying on the road, to unbuckle 
 the portmanteau, and to walk home with it upon his shoul- 
 der, where he arrived at last late at night." 
 
 " And all this misfortune," said he to himself, "is owing 
 to the want of a nail. More haste the less speed !" 
 
CLXXVII. 
 
 The Poor Boy in the Grave. 
 
 'T^HERE was once upon a time a poor Lad, whose father 
 ^ and mother were dead, so the Magistrate placed him 
 in the house of a rich Farmer to be fed and brought up. 
 But this Man and his Wife too had very bad dispositions; 
 and with all their wealth, they were avaricious and mean, 
 and very angry when any one took any of their bread. So 
 the poor Boy, do what he might, received little to eat and 
 many blows. 
 
 One day he was set to watch the hen and her chickens, 
 and she ran through a hole in the paling, and a hawk just 
 then flying by pounced upon her and carried her off to his 
 roost. The Boy cried, "Thief, thief! stop, thief !" but to 
 what end ? the hawk kept his prey, and did not return. 
 The Master hearing the noise came out, and perceived that 
 his hen was gone, which put him in such a rage that he 
 beat the Boy so much that for a couple of days afterwards 
 he was unable to stir. Then the poor Lad had to watch 
 the chickens, which was a harder task still, for where one 
 ran the others followed. At last, thinking to make it sure, 
 he tied all the chickens together by a string, so that the 
 hawk could not take one. But what followed? .A.fter a 
 couple of days he fell asleep from weariness with watching 
 and with hunger, and then the hawk came and seized one* 
 of the chickens, and, because all the others were tied together 
 to that one, he bore them all away and devoured them. 
 Just then the Farmer came home, and perceived the mis- 
 fortune which had happened, which angered him so much 
 that he beat the Lad so unmercifully that for several days 
 he could not leave his bed. 
 
The Poor Boy in the Grave. 
 
 When he was on his legs again, the Farmer said to him, 
 'You are so stupid that I can no longer keep you as a 
 watch, and therefore you shall be my errand-boy." So 
 saying he sent him to the Judge, to take him a basket of 
 grapes, and a letter with them. On the way hunger and 
 thirst plagued the Lad so much that he ate two of the grape- 
 bunches. So when he took the basket to the Judge, and 
 the latter had read the letter and counted the grapes, he 
 said, " Two bunches are missing." The Boy then honestly 
 confessed that, driven by hunger and thirst, he had eaten 
 two bunches ; wherefore the Judge wrote a letter to the 
 Farmer, and requested more grapes. These, also, the Boy 
 had to carry, with a letter; and again, urged by great hun- 
 ger and thirst, he devoured two bunches more. But be- 
 fore he went to the Judge he took the letter out of the 
 basket, and lajnng it under a stone put the stone over it, 
 so that it could not be seen and betray him. The Judge, 
 however, taxed him with the missing grapes. "Alas!" 
 cried the Boy, "how did you know that? the letter could 
 not tell you, for I had laid it previously under a stone." 
 The Judge was forced to laugh at the simplicity of the Lad, 
 but sent the Farmer a letter, in which he advised him to 
 treat the Boy better, and not to allow him to want meat or 
 drink, or he might be taught the difference between justice 
 and injustice. 
 
 "I will show you the difference at once!" said the hard- 
 hearted Farmer, when he had read the letter ; " if you will 
 eat, you must also work ; and if you do anything wrong, 
 you must be recompensed with blows." 
 
 The following day he set the poor Boy a hard task, 
 which w^as to cut a couple of bundles of straw for fodder 
 for the horse. " And," said the Master in a threatening 
 tone, " I shall be back in five hours, and if the straw is not 
 cut to chaff by that time, I will beat you till you cannot 
 stir a limb." 
 
544 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 With this speech the Farmer went to market with his 
 Wife and servant, and left nothing behind for the Boy but 
 i small piece of bread. He sat down at the machine, and 
 began to cut the straw with all his strength, and as he be- 
 came hot he drew off his coat and threw it aside on the 
 straw. Then, in his terror lest he should not get done in 
 time, he caught up, without noticing it, his own coat with 
 a heap of straw, and cut it all to shreds. Too late he 
 became aware of this misfortune, which he could not repair, 
 and cried out, " Alas! now it is all up with me. The bad 
 Master has not threatened in vain ; when he comes back 
 and sees what I have done, he will beat me to death. I 
 would rather he took my life at once." 
 
 Now the Boy had once heard the Farmer's Wife say 
 that she had set a jar of poison under her bed, but she had 
 only said so to keep away the sweet-tooths, for, in fact, it 
 contained honey. The Boy, however, drew it out and ate 
 the contents, and when he had done so, he thought to him- 
 self, " Ah ! people have told me that death is bitter, but it 
 tastes sweetly to me ! No wonder that the mistress should 
 so often wish for death." So thinking, he sat down on a 
 stool to die ; but instead of growing weaker, he felt really 
 strengthened by the nourishing food. Soon he began to 
 think, " This can be no poison, but I recollect the Farmer 
 once said that in his clothes-chest was a bottle of fly poison, 
 which will certainly kill me." But this, also, was no poison, 
 but Hungary wine. The Boy, however, fetched the bottle 
 and drank it out, saying, " This death also tastes sweetly !" 
 Soon the wine began to mount into his head, and to stupify 
 him, so that he thought his death really was at hand. " I 
 feel that I must die," he said; "I will go to the church- 
 yard and seek a grave." He reeled out of doors as he 
 spoke, and managed to reach the churchyard, where he 
 dropped into a fresh-opened grave, and at the same time 
 lost all consciousness. Never again in this world did the 
 
The Poor Boy in the Grave. 345 
 
 poor Boy awake. The fames of the hot wine, acted upon 
 by the cold dews of evening, took away his life, and he re- 
 mained in the grave wherein he had laid himself 
 
 By-and-by, when the Farmer received the news of the 
 death of his servant, he was frightened, because he feared 
 he might be taken before the Judge, and his terror was so 
 great that he fell to the earth in a swoon. His Wife, who 
 was turning some butter in a pan over the fire, ran to his 
 assistance, and in a moment the grease caught fire and soon 
 communicated with the whole house, which was burnt to 
 ashes in a few hours. 
 
 Then the years during which the Farmer and his Wife 
 lived afterwards were spent by them in misery and poverty. 
 
 II.— 15 
 
OlSrCE upon a time there lived a Girl, young and pretty, 
 who lost her Mother at an early age, and her Step- 
 mother behaved very cruelly to her. Although she some- 
 times had to do work beyond her years, she was left to 
 herself, and forced to do, unpitied, more than her strength 
 would allow. She could not by any means touch the 
 heart of the wicked woman, who was always discontented 
 and unsatisfied. The more industriously she worked the 
 more was laid upon her, and the Stepmother was always 
 contriving how to inflict an additional burden, and make 
 her daughter's life more intolerable. 
 
 One day the Stepmother said to the Girl, " Here arv'^ 
 twelve pounds of quills for you to strip, and remember if 
 you are not ready with them by this evening you will get 
 a good beating. Do you think you are to idle all day ?" 
 The poor Girl set to work, while the tears rolled fast down 
 her cheeks, for she saw that it Avas impossible to finish her 
 work by the time. Every now and then, as the heap of 
 feathers before her increased, she sighed and clasped her 
 hands, and then recollecting herself, stripped the quills 
 quicker than before. Once she put her elbows on the table, 
 and burying her face in her hands, exclaimed, " Alas! then, 
 is there nobody on earth who will pity me ?" As she spoke 
 she heard a soft voice reply, " Comfort yourself, my child; 
 I am come to help you." The Girl looked up and saw an 
 Old Woman standing by her side, who took her hand, and 
 said to her, " Trust me and tell me what are your troubles." 
 Encouraged by her kind voice, the Girl told the Old 
 Woman of her sad life, how one burden was heaped upon 
 
 / 
 
The True Bride. 
 
 347 
 
 another until she could make no end even with the most 
 unremitting labour. She told her also of the beating 
 promised by her Stepmother if she did not finish the 
 feathers that evening. Her tears began to flow again as 
 she concUided her tale, but the Old Woman said to her. 
 "Dry your tears and rest yourself while I go on with your 
 work." The Girl lay down upon a bed and went to sleep ; 
 and the Old Woman sat down at the table, and made such 
 short work with her thin fingers that the twelve pounds of 
 feathers were soon ready. When the Girl awoke she found 
 a great heap of snow-white feathers before her, and every- 
 thing in the room put in order, but the Old Woman had 
 disappeared. So the Girl thanked God, and waited till 
 evening, when, the Stepmother coming into the room, was 
 astonished to see the work finished. " Do you not see, 
 simpleton," she cried, " what one can do when one is in- 
 dustrious ? But w\as there nothing else that you could 
 have begun, instead of sitting there with your hands in 
 your lap?" and she went out muttering, " The Girl can eat 
 more than bread ; I must set her some harder job." 
 
 The next morning, accordingly, she called the Girl and 
 gave her a spoon, saying, " Take this and empty the pond 
 at the bottom of the garden with it, and mind you know 
 what will follow if you have not finished by the evening." 
 The Girl took the spoon and perceived that it had a hole 
 in it, and even if there had not been she never could have 
 emptied the pond in time. However she fell on her knees 
 by the side of the water and began to scoop it out. Soon 
 the Old Woman appeared again, and as soon as she heard 
 the cause of the Girl's grief, she said to her, " Well, never 
 mind ; do you go and lie down in yon thicket, and let me 
 do your work." The Girl did as she was bid, and the good 
 Old Woman, when she was alone, only touched the pond 
 and immediately all the water ascended in the form of va- 
 pour and mingled with the clouds. The pond was then 
 
348 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 completely dry, and when the sun set, the Girl awoke, and 
 saw nothing but the fishes skipping about in the mud. So 
 she went and told her Stepmother she had done her work. 
 "You ought to have been ready long ago," said she, pal^ 
 with rage, and turned away to think of some fresh device. 
 
 The next morning she said to the Girl, "You must 
 build me a fine palace in yon plain, and get it ready by 
 the evening." The poor Maiden was terrified when she 
 heard this, and asked, " How can I possibly complete such 
 a work?" "I will take no refusal," screamed the Step- 
 mother; "if you can empty a pond with a spoon with a 
 hole in it, you can also build a palace. And I require it 
 done to-day, and should it be wanting in one kitchen or 
 cellar you will catch what you well deserve." 
 
 So saying, she drove the Girl out of doors, who went 
 on till she came to the valley where the stones lay piled 
 •up ; but they were all so heavy that she could not move 
 the very smallest of them. The poor Maiden sat down 
 and cried, but hoped still the good Old Woman would 
 come to her assistance. In a short time she did make he.i 
 appearance, and bade the Maiden go and sleep in the shade 
 while she erected the castle for her, in which she told her 
 she might dwell when she was happy. As soon as the Old 
 Woman was alone she touched the stones, and immediately 
 they raised themselves and formed the walls as if giants 
 were building. Then the scaffolding raised itself, and it 
 seemed as if countless hands were laying stone upon stone. 
 The tiles were laid on in order on the roofs by invisible 
 hands, and by noonday a large weathercock, in the shape 
 of a figure with a turning wand, appeared on the summit 
 of the tower. The interior of the castle was also com- 
 pleted by the evening, — how the Old Woman did it I 
 know not, — but the walls of the various rooms were hung 
 with silk and velvet, and highly ornamented chairs were 
 also placed in them, and richly carved armchairs by marble 
 
The True Bride. 
 
 349 
 
 tables, while crystal chandeliers hung in the halls, and 
 mirrored themselves in the smooth walls ; green parrots 
 also were there in golden cages, and many other peculiar 
 birds, which sang charmingly; and about everything there 
 was a magnificence as if a king were to inhabit the palace. 
 
 The sun was just about to sink when the Maiden awoke 
 and perceived the light of a thousand lamps shining from 
 the castle. With hasty steps she entered it through the 
 open door, passing up a flight of steps covered with red 
 cloth, and adorned with flowers on the gilt balustrade. 
 As soon as she entered the room and saw its magnificence 
 she stood aghast, and how long she might have remained 
 so I know not, had she not thought of her Stepmother. 
 "Ah!" said she to herself, "perhaps if she were established 
 here she would be contented, and harass me no more." 
 With this thought she ran to her Stepmother and pointed 
 to the finished palace. " I will go and see it," said she, and 
 hastened off ; but as soon as she entered the hall she was 
 forced to cover her eyes for fear of being blinded by the 
 glare of the lamps. 
 
 " You see, now," she said to the Maiden, " how easily 
 it is done ; I wish I had set you something harder to do !" 
 and then, going into every room, she peered about in all 
 corners to find out something that was wanting, but she 
 could not. "Now we will go up stairs," said she with an 
 envious look at the Maiden ; " I must also inspect the 
 kitchens and cellars, and if there is anything forgotten you 
 shall suffer for it." There was the fire, however, burning 
 on the hearth, the meat cooking in the pots, nippers and 
 scales hanging on the wall, and the bright copper utensils 
 ranged in rows. Nothing was wanting, not even the coal- 
 scuttle or the water-pails! "Where is the door to the 
 cellar?" exclaimed the Old Woman, after she had looked 
 all round. "I warn you; you will catch it, if it is not 
 well filled with wine-casks!" So saying, she raised the 
 
 G G 
 
850 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 trap-door herself and went down the steps, but, before she 
 had got down very far the heavy door fell upon her. The 
 Maiden heard a cry, and raised the door "up as quickly as 
 she could to render assistance, but before she reached the 
 bottom of the stairs she found the Old Woman lying dead 
 upon them. The noble castle belonged now to the Maiden, 
 who dwelt there all alone, and felt quite bewildered with her 
 good fortune. For in every closet the most beautiful 
 dresses were hung upon the walls, with their trains pow- 
 dered with gold and silver, or with pearls and precious 
 stones ; and, moreover, she had not a wish which was not 
 immediately fulfilled. Soon the fame of her beauty and 
 riches went abroad through the whole world, and every 
 day suitors introduced themselves to her presence, but 
 none of them pleased her. At length, however, came 
 a young Prince, who touched her heart, and to whom 
 she betrothed herself. Now, in the castle garden stood a 
 green linden tree, under which they were one day sitting 
 engaged in conversation. " I will go home and obtain my 
 father's consent to our marriage," said the young Prince to 
 his companion ; " wait here for me under this tree, for I 
 shall be back in a few hours." The Maiden kissed him 
 first on his left cheek, and said, "Keep true to me, and let 
 nobody kiss you on this cheek, till you return. I will 
 wait for you here." 
 
 So she remained under the tree until the sun went 
 down, but the Prince did not return ; and, although she 
 waited three days afterwards, from morning till evening, 
 he came not. When the fourth day passed with the same 
 result, the Maiden thought that some misfortune had fallen 
 upon him, and she resolved to go out and search for him 
 till she found him. So she packed up three of her most 
 beautiful dresses: the one powdered with stars of gold, the 
 second with silver moons, and the third with golden suns; 
 she took also a handful of jewels in a handkerchief, and, 
 
The True Bride. 
 
 851 
 
 thus famished, began her travels. At every place she 
 came to she inquired after her betrothed lover, but nobody 
 had seen him or knew him. So she wandered on, far and 
 wide over the world, but with no result, and at last, in 
 despair, she hired herself to a farmer as a Shepherdess, 
 and concealed her clothes and jewels under a stone. 
 
 Thus she lived for a couple of years tending her flocks 
 in sadness, and ever thinking of her beloved Prince. At 
 this time she possessed a calf which would feed out of her 
 hands, and if she said to it the following rhyme it would 
 kneel down while she stroked it : 
 
 " Little calf, little calf, kneel you down, 
 Forget not your Mistress, deary ! 
 Like the King's son wlio bis sweetheart left 
 Under the linden, dreary." 
 
 When two years had passed, a report was spread every- 
 where, that the King's daughter was about to be married. 
 Now, the road to the city passed through the village where 
 the Maiden dwelt, and so it happened that one day, as she 
 was watching her flocks, the Bridegroom of the Princess 
 passed by. He was sitting proudly upon his horse and 
 did not observe the Shepherdess, who recognised him at 
 once as her former lover. The shock was, as it were, like 
 a sharp knife thrust into her heart. Alas !" she cried, " I 
 thought he was true to me, but he has, indeed, forgotten 
 me." 
 
 The next day he rode by her again : as he passed she 
 sung — 
 
 " Little calf, little calf, kneel you down — 
 Forget not your Mistress, deary ! 
 Like the King's son who bis sweetheart left 
 Under the linden, dreary." 
 
 The Prince looked round when he heard the voice, and 
 stopped his horse. He looked earnestly at the face of the 
 Shepherdess, and pressed his hand to his forehead as if 
 
352 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 trying to recollect something ; but in a minute or two, he 
 rode on and disappeared. " Alas ! alas !" cried the Maiden, 
 " he knows me no longer !" 
 
 Soon after this occurrence, a great festival of thr^e days' 
 duration was appointed to be held at the royal court, and 
 all the King's subjects were invited to it. "Now I will 
 make a last trial," thought the Maiden ; and on the even- 
 ing of the first day, she went to the stone under which she 
 had buried her treasures. She drew out the dress adorned 
 with the golden suns, and, putting it on, bedecked herself 
 also with the jewels. Her hair, which till now she had 
 hidden under a cap, she allowed to fall down in its natural 
 curls, and, thus apparelled, she went to the city unper- 
 ceived in the dusky twilight. As soon, however, as she 
 entered the well lighted ball-room all were struck with her 
 beauty, but nobody knew who she was. The Prince went 
 up to her but did not recognise her ; and after he had danced 
 with her, her manners so enchanted him that he altogether 
 slighted the other bride. As soon as the ball was over, she 
 disappeared in the crowd, and, hastening back to the vil- 
 lage, put on her shepherd's dress before the day broke. 
 
 The second evening she took out the dress with the sil- 
 ver moons, and adorned her hair with a crescent of precious 
 stones. As soon as she appeared in the ball-room all eyes 
 were turned on her, and the Prince, intoxicated with love, 
 danced with her alone, quite forgetful of any other person. 
 Before she went away he made her promise to come again 
 on the following evening. 
 
 When she thus appeared for the third time, she wore 
 her star dress, which glittered with every step she took, 
 not to mention her girdle and head-dress, which were stars 
 of diamonds. The Prince took her arm as soon as she 
 entered the room, and asked who she was, " for," said he, 
 " it seems to me as if I had known you before." 
 
 " Have you forgotten what I did when you parted from 
 
The True Bride. 
 
 853 
 
 me?" asked the Maiden, at the same time kissing him on 
 his left cheek. As soon as she did this, a mist, as it were, 
 fell from his eyes, and he recognised his true Bride. " Come," 
 he said, "I must remain here no longer;" and taking her 
 by the hand he led her out to his carriage. As if the wind 
 were pulling, the horses galloped to the wonderful castle, 
 whose windows were already lighted up, and shone to a 
 long distance. As the carriage passed beneath the linden- 
 tree innumerable glow-worms swarmed among the boughs, 
 so that the leaves were shaken and sent down their frag- 
 rance. On the castle steps bloomed the flowers, and from 
 the aviaries came the songs of many rare birds ! but in the 
 hall the whole court stood assembled, and the priests to 
 celebrate the marriage of the young Prince and the True 
 Bride. 
 
1 
 
 CLXXIX. 
 
 The Hare and the Hedgehog. 
 
 'T^HIS tale, my young readers, will seem to you to be 
 quite false ; but still it miost be true, for my Grand- 
 father, who used to tell it to me, would wind up by saying, 
 " All this is true, my son, else it would never have been 
 told to me !" The tale runs thus : — 
 
 It was a fine summer's morning just before harvest- 
 time ; the buck- wheat was in flower, and the sun was shi- 
 ning brightly in the heaven above; a breeze was blowing 
 over the fields, where the larks were singing ; and along the 
 paths the people were going to church dressed in their best. 
 Every creature seemed contented, even the Hedgehog, who 
 stood before his door singing as he best could a joyful song 
 in praise of the fine morning. In-doors, meanwhile, his 
 "Wife was washing and drying the kitchen, before going 
 into the fields for a walk to see how the crops were getting 
 on. She was such a long while, however, about her work, 
 that Mr. Hedgehog would wait no longer, and trotted off 
 by himself He had not walked any very long distance 
 before he came to a small thicket, near a field of cabbages; 
 and there he espied a Hare, who he guessed had come on a 
 similar errand to himself; namely, to devour a few fine 
 heads. As soon as Mr. Hedgehog saw the Hare he .wished 
 him a good morning; but the latter, who was in his way 
 a high-minded creature, turned a very fierce and haughty 
 look upon the Hedgehog, and made no reply to his greet- 
 ing. He asked, instead, in a very majestic tone, how he 
 came to be walking abroad at such an early hour. " I am 
 taking a walk," replied the Hedgebog. "A walk!" re- 
 
The IIaee and the Hedgehog. 
 
 355 
 
 peatcd the Hare in an ironical tone, " methinks you might 
 employ your legs about something better I" 
 
 Tliis answer vexed the Hedgehog most dreadfully, for 
 he could have borne anything better than to be quizzed 
 about his legs, because they were naturally short and from 
 no fault of his own. However, he said to the Hare, " Well, 
 you need not be so proud ; pray what can you do with 
 those legs of yours?" "That is my affair," replied the 
 Hare. "I expect, if you would venture a trial, that I 
 should beat you in a race," said the Hedgehog. 
 
 " You are laughing I you, with your short legs !" said 
 the Hare contemptuously. " But still, since you have such 
 a particular wish, I have no objection to try. What shall 
 the wager be ?" 
 
 " A gold louis-d'or and a bottle of brandy," replied the 
 Hedgehog. 
 
 " Done !" said the Hare, " and it may as well come off 
 at once." 
 
 "No! not in such great haste if you please," said the 
 Hedgehog ; "I am not quite ready yet ; I must first go 
 home and freshen up a bit. Within half-an-hour I will 
 return to this place." 
 
 Thereupon the Hedgehog hurried off, leaving the Hare 
 very merry. On his way home, the former thought to 
 himself, "Mr. Hare is very haughty and highminded, but 
 withal he is very stupid; and although he thinks to beat 
 me with his long legs, I will find a way to defeat him." 
 So, as soon as the Hedgehog reached home, he told his 
 Wife to dress herself at once to go into the field with 
 him. 
 
 " What is the matter ?" asked his Wife. 
 
 " I have made a wager with the Hare, for a louis-d'or 
 and a bottle of brandy, to run a race with him, and you 
 must be witness." 
 
 "My goodness, man! are you in your senses?" said 
 
356 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 the Wife ; " do you know what you are about. IIow can 
 you expect to run as fast as the Hare?" 
 
 *' Hold your tongue, Wife ! that is my affair. Don't 
 you reason about men's business. March, and get ready to 
 come with me." 
 
 As soon then as the Hedgehog's Wife was ready they 
 set out together; and on the way he said, "Now attend to 
 what I say. On the long field yonder, we shall decide cur 
 bet. The Hare is to run on one side of the hedge and I 
 on the other, and so all you have to do is to stop at one 
 end of the hedge, and then when the Hare arrives on th 
 other side at the same point, you must call out, *I ani 
 here already.' " 
 
 They soon came to the fields and the Hedgehog sta- 
 tioned himself at one end of the hedge, and his Wife at 
 the other end; and as soon as they had taken their places 
 the Hare arrived. " Are you ready to start ?" asked the 
 Hare. " Yes," answered the Hedgehog, and each took his 
 place. "Off once, off twice, three times and off!" cried the 
 Hare, and ran up the field like a whirlwind; while the 
 Hedgehog only took three steps and then returned to his 
 place. 
 
 The Hare soon arrived at his goal as he ran all the way 
 at top-speed ; but before he could reach it, the Hedgehog's 
 Wife on the other side called out, "'I am here already!" 
 The Hare was thunderstruck to hear this said, for he 
 thought it was really his opponent, since there was no 
 difference in the appearance of the Hedgehog and his Wife. 
 '■'This will not do!" thought the Hare to himself; but 
 presently he called out, " Once, twice, and off again ;" and 
 away he went as fast as possible, leaving the Hedgehog 
 quietly sitting in her place. " I am here before you," cried 
 Mr. Hedgehog as soon as the Hare approached. "What! 
 again ?" exclaimed the Hare in a rage ; and added, " Will 
 you dare another trial." " Oh ! as many as you like ; do 
 
The Hare and the Hedgehog. 
 
 357 
 
 not be afraid on my account," said Mr. Hedgehog court- 
 eously. 
 
 So the Hare then ran backwards and forwards three 
 and seventy times ; but each time the Hedgehogs had the 
 advantage of him, for either Mr. or Mrs. shouted before he 
 could reach the goal, " Here I am already !" 
 
 The four and seventieth time, the Hare was unable to 
 run any more. In the middle of the course he stopped 
 and dropped down quite exhausted, and there he lay mo- 
 tionless for some time. But the Hedgehog took the louis- 
 d'or and bottle of brandy which he had won, and went 
 composedly home with his Wife. 
 
CLXXX. 
 
 The Spindle^ the Shuttle, and the 
 Needle. 
 
 T^IIERE was once upon a time a little Girl whose father 
 and mother died when she was quite young. At the 
 end of the village where she lived, her Godmother dwelt 
 in a small cottage, maintaining herself by spinning, weav- 
 ing, and sewing, and she took the poor child to maintain, 
 teaching her to work and educating her piously. Just 
 when the Girl had reached the age of fifteen, the God- 
 mother fell ill, and calling her to her bedside said to her, 
 " My dear daughter, I feel my end approaching. I leave 
 you this cottage, where you will be protected from wind 
 and weather, and also this Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle, 
 with which you may earn your living." With these words 
 she laid her hands on the Girl's head and blessed her, say- 
 ing, " So long as you remember God, everything will pros- 
 per with you." Soon afterwards the good Godmotlier 
 closed her eyes in death, and when she was carried to the 
 grave, the poor Maiden followed the coffin, weeping bit- 
 terly, to pay her the last respect. 
 
 The little Girl now lived alone in her cottage, industri- 
 ously spinning, weaving, and sewing, and upon everything 
 that she did rested the blessing of God. It seemed as if 
 the flax in her room increased by itself ; and when she 
 wove a piece of cloth or tapestry, or hemmed a shirt, she 
 always found a purchaser readily, who paid her so hand- 
 somely, that she had enough for herself and could spare d 
 little for others who were poorer. 
 
 Now about this time the Son of the King of this coun- 
 try was looking about him for a bride, and as he was not 
 
The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle. 359 
 
 allowed to marry a poor wife, he would not have a rich one. 
 So he said, "She shall be my bride who is at once the 
 richest and the poorest 1" When he came to the village 
 where the Maiden dwelt, he asked, as was his custom, who 
 was the richest and poorest maiden in the place. The 
 people first named the richest, and then told him that the 
 poorest was the Maiden who dwelt in the cottage at the end 
 of the village. The young Prince therefore went first to 
 the rich Maiden, and found her sitting before her door in full 
 dress ; but as soon as she saw him approaching, she got up 
 and made him a very low curtsey. He looked at her once, 
 and then, without speaking a word, rode away to the house 
 of the poor Maiden, whom he found not standing at the 
 door, but sitting in her kitchen. He stopped his horse, 
 and, looking through the window into the kitchen, per- 
 ceived how brightly the sun shone into it and how indus- 
 triously the girl herself was engaged at her Spinning-wheel. 
 She looked up, but as soon as she saw the Prince peeping 
 at her. she blushed as red as a rose, and looked down again, 
 industriously turning her wheel round. Whether the thread 
 just then was quite even or not, I know not, but she spun 
 on till the Prince rode away. Then she stepped to the 
 window and opened it, saying, " It is so hot in this kit- 
 chen !" but she remained at the window lookino- out as \ou<x 
 as she could see the white feathers upon the Pi'ince's hat. 
 
 After this she sat down again to her work, and presentl}'' 
 a sentence came into her head which her Godmother had 
 oftentimes repeated whilst she was working. She sung: — ■ 
 
 "Spindle, Spindle, out with you, 
 And bring a wooer home. 
 
 Scarcely had she spoken the words when the Spindle 
 sprang from her hands and out of the door, and as she 
 sprang up and looked after it, she saw it merrily dancing 
 aJong, over the field, leaving a golden thread behind it. 
 
360 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 In a short time it was out of sight, and then the Maiden, 
 having no other Spindle, took the Shuttle in her hand and 
 began to weave. 
 
 Meanwhile the Spindle still danced on, and as the 
 thread came to an end it reached the King's Son. " What 
 do I see?" exclaimed he; "the Spindle showing me the 
 way?" and turning his horse's head round, he rode back 
 guided by the golden thread. At the same time the Girl 
 sitting at work, sang : — 
 
 " Shuttle, Shuttle, out with you, 
 And bring a wooer home." 
 
 Immediately it sprang out of her hands and through 
 the door, before which it began to weave a carpet more 
 beautiful than was ever before seen. On both borders 
 were represented roses and lilies blooming, and in the 
 middle, on a golden ground, green vine-branches ; hares and 
 rabbits, too, were represented jumping about, and fawns 
 and does rubbing their heads against trees, on whose 
 boughs were sitting pretty birds, who wanted nothing but 
 the gift of song. And all this pattern the Shuttle wove so 
 quickly that it seemed to grow by itself. 
 
 But, because the Shuttle had run away, the Maiden sat 
 down to her sewing : and while she stitched her work she 
 sang :— 
 
 " Needle, Needle, sharp and fine, 
 Fit the house for wooer mine." 
 
 As soon as she had said this, the Needle flew out of her 
 fingers, and sprang all about the room like a flash of light- 
 ning. It seemed as if invisible spirits were at work, for in 
 a few minutes the table and bench were covered with green 
 cloths, the chairs with velvet, and on the walls were hung 
 silken curtains. And scarcely had the Needle put the last 
 stitch to them when the Maiden saw through the window 
 the white feathers on the hat of the Prince, who was com- 
 
 / 
 
The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle. 361 
 
 ing towards her cottage drawn by the golden thread of 
 the Spindle. As soon as he approached the door he dis- 
 mounted, and walked upon the carpet into the cottage, and 
 as soon as he entered the room there stood the Maiden in 
 her shabby clothes glowing like a rose in a bush. 
 
 " You are the poorest, and yet the richest Maiden," said 
 the Prince to her; "come with me, and you shall be my 
 Bride." 
 
 She said nothing, but held out her hand, which the 
 Prince took, and giving her a kiss he led her out of the 
 cottage and seated her behind him on his horse. He took 
 her to the King's castle, where the wedding was performed 
 with great magnificence, and afterwards the Spindle, the 
 Shuttle, and the Keedle were placed in the treasure- 
 chamber, and held in great esteem. 
 
 II.— 16 
 
1 
 
 CLXXXI. 
 
 The Countiyman and the Evil Spirit. 
 
 ONCE there lived a bold and cunning Countryman, 
 whose tricks are too numerous to be told entire; but 
 one of the best tales is that, showing how he managed to 
 over-reach an Evil Spirit and make a fool of him. 
 
 It was growing quite dusky one day, when, having 
 ploughed over his fields, he was preparing to return home. 
 Just then he perceived in the middle of his field a heap of 
 red-hot coals, and as he approached it, full of wonder, he 
 observed a little Black Spirit sitting on the top. " You are 
 sitting upon some treasure ?" said the Countryman inquir- 
 ingly. "Yes, indeed," replied the Spirit; "a treasure con- 
 taining more gold and silver than you ever saw in your 
 life." 
 
 " Then the treasure belongs to me, because it lies on 
 my field," said the Countryman boldly. 
 
 " It shall be thine," replied the Spirit, " if you give me 
 for the next two years half of the produce of your land. 
 Of gold I have more than enough, and I wish for some of 
 the fruits of the earth." 
 
 To this bargain the Countryman agreed ; but first stipu- 
 lated that to avoid dispute in the division of the produce, 
 what was above ground should belong to the Spirit and 
 what was beneath the surface to himself. To this the Spirit 
 readily consented, but the crafty Countryman sowed turnip 
 seed. So when the harvest time arrived the Spirit ap- 
 peared to claim his fruits ; but he found nothing but 
 withered j^ellow stalks, while the Countrj^man contentedly 
 dug up his turnips. " For once you have got the advan- 
 tage of me," exclaimed the angrj^ Spirit, " but it shall not 
 
The Countryman and the Evil Spirit. 863 
 
 happen so again ; mine is what grows above the ground 
 and yours what grows below it." " Very well, I am satis 
 fieri," said the Countryman ; and when sowing time came 
 round he put maize-seed in the ground instead of turnips. 
 The corn ripened in due course, and then the Spirit ap- 
 peared to fetch away his crops. Just before he came the 
 Countryman had cut and carried all his corn, and so when 
 the Evil Spirit arrived he found nothing else but stubble, 
 and thereupon he hurried off in a terrible rage. "So must 
 one toss foxes in blankets 1" cried the Countryman when 
 the Evil Spirit was gone, and went and fetched the treasure. 
 
CLXXXII. 
 
 The Robber and his Sons. 
 
 /^NCE upon a time there lived in a forest a Robber and 
 bis band, who concealed themselves in caves and 
 clefts of rocks ; and when any princes, nobles, or rich mer- 
 chants passed near them, they started out and robbed them 
 of their money and other property. But in course of time 
 the head Robber grew old ; and then he took an aversion 
 to his employment, and repented of the many bad actions 
 he had done. He determined, therefore, to lead a better 
 life, like an honest man, doing good wherever he could. 
 People wondered to see him change so quickly, but they 
 were nevertheless glad of it. Now be had three Sons, 
 whom, when they were grown up, he called to him, and 
 bade tbem choose what trade or profession they would be, 
 tbat they might earn their living honestly. The Sons con- 
 sulted with one another, and then answered, " The apple 
 falls not far from its tree ; we will maintain ourselves as 
 you did, we will become Robbers. A business whereat we 
 must work from morning till night, and yet have a scanty 
 living and little gains, does not please us at all." 
 
 " Alas ! my dear children," replied the Father, " why 
 will you not live quietly, and be content with little? 
 Honest gains last the longest. Robbery is a wicked and 
 godless trade, which leads to bad endings; in the riches 
 which you may acquire you will have no peace, for that I 
 know from my own experience. I tell you again it has an 
 evil ending; the jug is taken once too often to the well, 
 and gets broken ; you will be caught at last and hung on 
 the gallows." 
 
 His Sons, however, paid no attention to his warnings, 
 
The Eobber and his Sons. 
 
 S65 
 
 j but remained unconvinced. So the three youths resolved 
 [ to make a trial, and because they knew that the Queen had 
 I a fine horse, of great value, in her stables, they determined 
 I to steal it. They were aware that the horse ate no other 
 I fodder than a tender kind of grass, which grew in a cer- 
 I tain moist wood. Thither they went and cut some of this 
 1 grass, which they made into a large bundle, and in the 
 I middle thereof the two elder brothers hid the younger one 
 j so cleverly that he could not be seen. This bundle they 
 j carried to the market, and the Queen's stable-keeper pur- 
 I chased it, caused it to be carried to the stable of the horse, 
 I and there thrown down. As soon as midnight came and 
 everybody was fast asleep, the boy made his way out of the 
 bundle of grass, and, untying the horse, bridled it with its 
 golden bridle, and laid across it the cloth picked out with 
 gold, which formed the saddle, and the bells which hung 
 from it he stopped with wax, that they might not make 
 any sound. This done he opened the stable door and rode 
 away in great haste back to his brothers. The watchmen 
 in the town, however, remarked the thief, and pursued him; 
 and catching him together with his brothers, they took all 
 three prisoners, and carried them off to gaol. 
 
 The next morning they were taken before the Queen; 
 and when she saw how young they were she made inquiries 
 about their parentage, and learnt that they were the three 
 sons of the old Eobber who had changed his mode of life, 
 and was now living an obedient subject. She caused them 
 to be taken back to prison, and asked the Father if he 
 would release his Sons. The Old Man said, " My Sons are 
 not worthy of a penny being spent to release them." 
 
 " You are a well-known and notable Eobber," replied 
 the Queen to him ; " tell me the most remarkable adven- 
 - ture which you have met with in your life, and I will re- 
 j lease your Sons." 
 
 Thus bidden, the old Eobber replied, " My lady Queen, 
 
366 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 hear my tale of an occurrence which frightened me more 
 than fire or water. While travelling about, I learnt that 
 in a wild wooded ravine between two hills, twenty miles 
 distant from any human habitation, there dwelt a Giant in 
 possession of an immense treasure of many thousand pieces 
 of gold and silver. So I selected from my companions as 
 many as a hundred men, and we set out together to the 
 place. It was a long and toilsome road among rocks and 
 precipices, and when we came to the spot, to our great joy 
 we did not find the Giant at home, so we took as much as 
 we could carry of the gold and silver. Just as we were 
 making our way home with this treasure, and fancied our- 
 selves quite safe, we were unawares surrounded and taken 
 prisoners by the Giant, who was accompanied by ten others. 
 They divided us amongst them, each taking ten, and I with 
 nine others fell to the lot of the Giant from whom we had 
 taken the treasure. He bound our hands behind our 
 backs and carried us like sheep to a rocky cave, and when 
 we offered to ransom ourselves with money or property, he 
 replied, ' I do not want your treasures ; I shall keep you 
 and devour you, for that is what I reckon upon.' So say- 
 ing, he felt of us all, and, singling out one, said, 'This one 
 is the fattest of you all, and I will make a beginning with 
 him.' Then he struck him down, and putting his flesh in 
 morsels into a kettle full of water, he set it on the fire till 
 it was boiled through, and afterwards made his meal of it. 
 Thus every day he devoured one of us, and because I was 
 the leanest I was the last. So when my nine companions 
 were devoured I bethought myself of a stratagem to es- 
 cape my turn, and at lengh I said to the Giant, 'I see you 
 have bad eyes, and suffer with pain in your face ; I am a 
 physician, and well experienced in my profession, and 
 therefore if you will spare my life I will heal your eyes.' 
 
 " He promised me my life if I were able to do what 1 
 said, and gave me everything that I asked for. I put oil 
 
The Robber and his Sons. 
 
 367 
 
 in a vessel and mixed in with sulphur, pitch, salt, arsenic, 
 and other destructive ingredients, and then I put it over 
 the fire, as if I were preparing a plaster for his eyes. As 
 soon then as the oil boiled I caused the Giant to lie down, 
 and I then poured over his eyes, head, and body the whole 
 contents of the vessel, so that he fully lost his sight and 
 the whole skin of his body, was blistered and burnt. With 
 a fearful howl he jumped up, threw himself then on the 
 ground again, and wallowed here and there, uttering dread- 
 ful cries, and roaring like a bull or lion. Then again, 
 springing up in his rage, he caught up a large club which 
 was lying on the ground, and ran all over the cave strik- 
 ing now against the floor and then on the walls, thinking 
 each time to hit me. I could not escape, for the cave was 
 everywhere surrounded with high walls, and the doors 
 were closed with iron bolts. I jumped from one corner 
 to the other, and at last, because I knew not what else to 
 do, I mounted by a ladder to the roof and hung thereon by 
 both hands. There I remained a day and a night, and 
 then, because I could bear it no longer, I climbed down 
 again and mixed with the sheep. There T was obliged to 
 be very active and always run between the Giant's legs 
 with the flock that he might not notice me. At length, I 
 found in one corner of the sheepfold a ram's skin, and 
 managed to draw it on so well that the beast's horns came 
 where my head was. Now the Giant was accustomed when 
 the sheep were going to the meadows to make them run 
 between his legs, by which means he counted them, and 
 also picked out the fattest one, whom he caught and cooked 
 for his dinner. On this occasion I thought I should easily 
 escape by pressing through his legs as the sheep did ; but 
 he caught me, and finding me heavy, said, ' You are fat, 
 and shall fill my belly to-day.' I gave one leap and sprang 
 out of his hands, but he caught me again. I escaped a 
 second time, but he caught me again ; and seven times I 
 
368 
 
 Grimm's Household Stokies. 
 
 thus alternately eluded and fell into his grasp. Then he 
 flew into a passion, and said to me, ' You may run away, 
 and may the wolves devour you, for you have fooled me 
 enough !' As soon as I was outside the cave I threw off 
 the skin which disguised me, and shouted in a mocking 
 tone to him that I had escaped him in spite of all. While 
 I did so he drew a ring from his finger and held it out to 
 me, saying, * Take this ring as a pledge from me ; you have 
 well deserved it. It would not be becoming either, that so 
 crafty and clever a man should go unrewarded by me.' I 
 took the gold ring and put it on my finger, not knowing 
 that it was enchanted, and that it compelled me to utter, 
 whether I wished or not, the words ' Here I am, here I 
 am.' In consequence of this the Giant was made aware 
 where I was, and pursued me into the forest. But there, 
 because he was blind, he ran every moment against some 
 roots or trunks of trees, and fell down like an immense 
 rock. Each time, however, he quickly raised himself, and, 
 as he had such long legs, and could make such enormous 
 strides, he gained on me very soon, while I still cried, with- 
 out cessation, ' Here I am ! Here I am !' I was well aware 
 that the ring was the cause of my exclamations, and I 
 tried to draw it off but without success. At last, as there 
 was no other resource, I bit off my finger with my own 
 teeth, and, at the same time, I ceased to cry 'Here I am!' 
 and so luckily escaped the Giant. Certainly I thus lost 
 one of my fingers, but I preserved my life by doing so." 
 
 Here the Eobber broke off and said to the Queen, 
 " Madam, if it please you, I have told you this adventure to 
 ransom one of my Sons ; and now, to liberate the second. 
 I will narrate what further happened to me : — 
 
 "As soon as I had escaped from the Giant, I wandered 
 about the wilderness totally unable to tell which way to 
 turn. I climbed to the tops of the firs and up all the hills, 
 but wherever I looked, far and wide, there was no house, 
 
The Bobber and his Sons. 369 
 
 nor field, nor a single trace of a human habitation: the 
 whole country was one terrible wilderness. From moun- 
 tains, which reached up to heaven, I reached valleys which 
 were only to be compared with abysses. I encountered 
 lions, bears, buffalos, zebras, poisonous snakes, and fearful 
 reptiles : I saw two wild uncouth men, people with horns 
 and beaks, so frightful, that I shudder even now when I 
 think of them. I hurried on and on, impelled by hunger 
 and thirst, though I feared every minute I should sink with 
 exhaustion. At last, just as the sun was going down, I 
 came to a high mountain, from whence I saw, in a deserted 
 valley, a column of smoke rising, as it were, from a baker's 
 oven. I ran out as quickly as I could down the moun- 
 tain in the direction of the smoke, and when I got below I 
 saw three dead men hano'ino^ on the bous-h of a tree. The 
 sight terrified me, for I supposed I had fallen into the 
 power of some other Griant, and I feared for my life. How- 
 ever, taking^ courasfe, I went on, and soon came to a cottao^e 
 whose door stood wide open ; and by the fire, on the hearth, 
 sat a woman with her child. I entered, greeted her, and 
 asked her why she sat there alone, and where her husband 
 was ; I asked, too, if it were far from any human habita- 
 tion. She told me, in reply, that any country where there 
 were men's dwellings was at a very great distance; and 
 she related, with tears in her eyes how, on the previous 
 night, the wild men of the wood had entered her house 
 and stole her away with her child from the side of her hus- 
 band, and carried her to this wilderness. She said, too, 
 that that morning the monsters, before going out, had com- 
 manded her to kill and dress her own child, that they might 
 devour it on their return. As soon as I had heard this tale 
 I felt great pity for the poor woman and her child, and re- 
 solved to rescue them ^rom their situation. So I ran away 
 to the tree, on which hung the three thieves, and, taking 
 down the middle one, who was the stoutest, carried him 
 II.— 16* 
 
870 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 into the house. I cut him in pieces and told the woman to 
 give them to the robbers to eat. Her child I concealed in 
 a hollow tree, and then I hid myself behind the house, 
 where I could see when the wild men arrived, and if it 
 were necessary, hasten to the relief of the woman. As soon 
 as the sun set, the three Giants came down from the moun- 
 tain ; they were fearful objects to look at, being similar to 
 apes in their stature and figure. They were dragging be- 
 hind them a dead body, but I could not see what it was. 
 As soon as they entered the house, they lighted a large 
 fire, and, tearing the body to pieces with their teeth, de- 
 voured it uncooked. After that they took the kettle, in 
 which was cooked the flesh of the thief, off the fire, and 
 divided the pieces among them for their supper. As soon 
 as they had done, one of them, who appeared to be the 
 head, asked the woman if what they had eaten were the 
 flesh of her child. She said ' Yes.' And then the monster 
 said, ' I believe that you have concealed your child, and 
 given us to eat one of the thieves off the tree.' So sajnng, 
 he told his companions to run off and bring him a piece of 
 the flesh of each of the three thieves that he might assure 
 himself they were all there. As soon as I heard this I 
 ran and hung myself by my hands between the two thieves 
 on the rope which had been round the neck of the third. 
 When the monsters came, they cut a piece of flesh from 
 the side of each of us, and I endured the pain without suf- 
 fering any cry to escape me. I have even now the scar for 
 a witness of the truth of the tale." 
 
 Here the Robber again ceased, and told the Queen tha< 
 what he had said was intended as a ransom for his second 
 Son, and for the third, he would narrate the conclusion of 
 his tale. Then he went on thus : — 
 
 " As soon as the wild people had gone away with these 
 three pieces of flesh, I let myself down again and bound 
 up my wound as well as I could with strips of my shirt, 
 
The Eobber and his Sons. 
 
 371 
 
 but I could not stop the blood, which streamed down me 
 still. I paid no attention to that, however, but kept think- 
 ing still how to perform mj promise of saving the woman 
 and her child. I hastened back, therefore, to my conceal- 
 ment, and listened to what was passing in the cottage. I 
 could scarcely keep my attention fixed, however, for I felt 
 so much pain from my wound, and, besides, I was quite 
 worn out with hunger and thirst. I observed, never- 
 theless, the Giant trying the three pieces of flesh which 
 were brought to him, and when he took up the third, which 
 was mine, he exclaimed to his three comrades, ' Kun at 
 once and fetch me the middle thief, for his flesh seems to 
 me the best flavoured !' As soon as I heard this I hurried 
 to the gallows and suspended myself again by the rope be- 
 tween the two thieves. Soon the monsters came, and pull- 
 ing me down, dragged me over the thorns and stones to 
 the house, where they threw me on the floor. Then, sharp- 
 ening their knives, they prepared to slay and devour me, 
 but just as they were about to begin, there suddenly rolled 
 such a clap of thunder, accompanied by lightning, over the 
 house, that the monsters themselves trembled and paused 
 in their work. The thunder and lightning continued and 
 the rain fell in torrents, while the wind blew as if the whole 
 cottage would be swept away. In the midst of the noise 
 and confusion the monsters fled out of the cottage through 
 the window and roof and left me lying on the ground. 
 The storm lasted for three hours and then daylight ap- 
 peared, and soon the sun shone out. I got up, and seek- 
 ing the woman and her child, we left the ruined hut, and 
 for fourteen days wandered about the wilderness, subsisting 
 on nothing but roots, herbs, and berries, which grew on our 
 path. At length we arrived in a civilized country, and I 
 found the husband of the wife, whose joy we may easily 
 imagine on the return of his wife and child." 
 
372 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 Here the Bobber ended his tale, and as soon as he had 
 concluded, the Queen said to him, "You have atoned for 
 much evil by your restoration of this poor woman to hei 
 husband, and, therefore, I now liberate your three sons." 
 
CLXXXIII. 
 
 The Master-Thief. 
 
 A N old Man and his Wife were many years ago sitting 
 ■^-^ one day before their miserable hut, resting for a while 
 from their work. All at once a handsome carriage, drawn 
 by four black steeds, drew up at the door, and out of it 
 stepped a well-dressed Man. The Peasant got up and 
 asked the seeming Lord what he wanted, and how he could 
 serve him. The stranger, offering his hand to the Peasant, 
 said, " I desire nothing more than to enjoy a homely re- 
 past with you. Cook some potatoes in your usual fashion, 
 and when they are ready I will sit down at your table and 
 eat them." 
 
 The Peasant laughed, and replied, "You are some 
 Count, or Prince, or perhaps some Arch-Duke; distin- 
 guished lords like you have often such fancies ; but your 
 will shall be done." 
 
 The Peasant's Wife thereupon went into the kitchen, 
 and began to wash the potatoes, peel them, and make them 
 into dumplings, as they 'Avere used to prepare them. While 
 she thus proceeded with her work, the Peasant invited the 
 Lord to come and look round his garden, which yet yielded 
 a little produce. Now, in the garden he had dug holes in 
 order to set trees. 
 
 "Have you no children to help you in your work?" 
 asked the Stranger. 
 
 "No!" replied the Peasant; "but I once had a son, but 
 he wandered out in the world a long while ago. He was a 
 wild youth, and very spirited, and so, instead of learning 
 anything, he was always up to some tricks ; at last he ran 
 away from me, and I have heard nothing of him since." 
 
 1 1 
 
 I 
 
374 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 As the Man spoke he took a young tree, and placing it 
 in one of the holes, planted a pole beside it. Then as he 
 filled in the soil, and pressed it down, he tied the stem at 
 the bottom, middle, and top to the pole, with a straw band. 
 
 " But tell me," suddenlj^ said the Stranger, " why you 
 do not bind the crooked, knotty stem, in yon corner, which 
 is almost bent to the ground, likewise to a pole that it may 
 grow straight?" 
 
 "My Lord," replied the Peasant, with a langh, "you 
 talk as you know ; one may easily see that you understand 
 nothing of gardening. Yon tree is old and knotted by 
 age, and nobody could make it straight again. Trees 
 should be trained while they are young." " So it is with 
 your son," said the Stranger ; " had you trained him when 
 he was young in right ways, he would not have run away ; 
 now, he will also grow hardened and knotted." 
 
 "Truly, it is long since he went away," replied the old 
 Man, " but perhaps he is changed." 
 
 " Would you know him again if he came back?" asked 
 the Stranger abruptly. 
 
 "Not by his face, indeed," replied the Peasant; "but 
 he has a mark upon him, a mole upon his shoulder as large 
 as a bean." 
 
 At these words the Stranger drew off his coat, and, 
 baring his shoulder, showed the father the mole. 
 
 " You are indeed my son," said the old Man, and all 
 his love returned for his child ; " but yet, how can you be 
 my son ; you have become a great lord, rolling in riches 
 and abundance ; by what path have you arrived at this ?" 
 
 " Alas ! my Father," replied the Son, " the young tree 
 was bound to no pole, and grew crooked ; now is it too old 
 to become straight again. How have I gained this, you 
 ask; I have been a Thief. But do not be frightened; I 
 am a Master-Thief. Neither locks nor bolts avail against 
 me ; whatever I wish for is mine. Think not that 
 
The Master-Thief. 
 
 375 
 
 I steal like a common thief; no, I only take from the 
 abundance of the rich. The poor are safe, for I rather 
 give to them than take from them. So also I touch not 
 what I can obtain without craft or skill." 
 
 "Alas! my son," replied the old Man, "I can have no 
 pleasure in this ; a thief is a thief, whether clever or not, 
 and I warn you comes not to any good end." So saying 
 he led him to his Mother, and when she heard that he was 
 her son she wept for joy, but when she was also told that 
 he had become a thief, two rivers, as it were, of tears 
 flowed from her eyes. At length she said, " He is still my 
 son, although become a Master-Thief, and mine eyes have 
 seen him once more." 
 
 The three then sat down to table, and he ate again 
 with his parents the coarse fare which he had not tasted 
 for so long. During the meal the old Peasant said to his 
 son, "If our master the Count of the castle above there, 
 knew who you were, and what you were doing, he would 
 not, methinks, take you in his arms and rock you, as he 
 once did at your christening; he would rather cause you 
 to be hung on the gallows." 
 
 "Do not be afraid, my dear Father, he will do nothing 
 to me; I understand my trade too well. To-day even I 
 will go to him." 
 
 So when it was evening the Master-Thief got into his 
 carriage and drove to the castle, where the Count received 
 him with courtesy, because he took him for some noble 
 personage. But when the stranger disclosed his real char- 
 acter, the Count turned pale, and sat in silence for some 
 time. At last he said, " Since you are ray godson I will 
 forego justice for mercy, and show forbearance to you. But 
 because you profess to be a Master-Thief, I will put your 
 art to the proof, and if then you fail, you must keep your 
 wedding with the hangman's daughter, and the cawing of 
 the rooks shall be the music to celebrate it." 
 
4 
 
 876 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 "Mv lord Count," replied the Master-Thief, "think of 
 three as difficult tasks as you can, and if I do not fulfil my 
 pretensions do with me as you will." 
 
 The Count considered for some minutes, and then said, 
 *'For the first task you shall steal out of its stable my 
 favourite horse; for the second, you shall take away from 
 my wife and me, when we are asleep, the counterpane under 
 which we lie, without our knowledge, and also the ring off 
 my wife's finger. For the third and last task, you shall 
 steal out of the church the parson and the clerk. Now 
 mark all this well, for your neck depends upon its due 
 performance." 
 
 Thereupon the Master-Thief went to the nearest town 
 and there purchased the old clothes of a country-wife and 
 put them on. Then he dyed his face a deep brown, and 
 fashioned wrinkles on it, so that nobody could have recog- 
 nised him. Lastly, he filled a small cask with old Hungary 
 wine, in which he mixed a powerful sleeping drug. Then, 
 laying the cask in a basket which he carried upon his 
 shoulder, he walked with wavering and tottering steps to 
 the castle of the Count. It was quite dark when he arrived 
 there, and so, sitting down upon a stone in the courtyard, 
 he began to cough like an asthmatic old woman, and rubbed 
 his hands together as if they were cold. Now before the 
 door of the stables Soldiers were lying round a fire, and 
 one of them remarking the old Woman called to her to 
 come nearer and warm herself. The seeming old Woman 
 trotted up to the group, and taking her basket from her 
 head, sat down near them. " What have you got in your 
 basket, old Woman?" cried one. "A good taste of wine," 
 she replied ; " I maintain myself by trading with it ; for 
 some money and your fair words I will give you a glass- 
 ful." "Come along, then," returned the Soldier; but as 
 soon as he drunk wdiat was given him, he said, " Ah ! this 
 wine is very good, I would rather have two glasses than 
 
THE MASTER THIEF. Pagk 377. 
 
The Master-Thief. 
 
 877 
 
 one !" and so be took a second glass, and then his comrades 
 followed his example. 
 
 " Holloa, there !" exclaimed one of the Soldiers, to an- 
 other inside in the stable, " Here is an old Woman with 
 some wine so good, that it will warm your chest more than 
 all the fire." As he spoke she carried her cask into the 
 stable, and saw there three Soldiers; one of whom sat on 
 the sa died horse. Another had the bridle in his hand, 
 and a tbird held on by the tail. The old Woman served 
 out to them the wine as long as it lasted, and then its 
 effects began to show themselves. He who held the bridle 
 let it drop from his hand, and sinking to the ground soon 
 began to snore ; the other let go the tail and fell asleep, 
 snoring louder than the other ; and the soldier who was 
 sitting on the horse bent his head upon its neck, and so 
 fell asleep, and snored like the noise of a smith's bellows. 
 The Soldiers outside, also, had long before fallen asleep, and 
 were lying motionless as stones round their fire. When the 
 Master-Thief saw himself so far favoured, he gave to him 
 who had held the bridle a rope in his hand, and to the other 
 who had held the tail a wisp of straw ; but what to do 
 with him who still sat on the horse's back puzzled him. 
 He could not throw him off, for that would have awakened 
 him, and he would have called for help, so he was obliged 
 to adopt a stratagem. He unbuckled the saddle-girths, and 
 knotted fast to the saddle a couple of ropes, which passed 
 through rings in the wall. This done he drew the sleeping 
 rider, saddle and all, up in the air, and then made the ropes 
 secure to the posts of the stable. He next unchained the 
 horse, but before he led him over the stone floor of the 
 yard, he wrapped his hoofs round with old rags, so that 
 they might not make any noise which could awaken the 
 watchers. Then he led his prize out cautiously, and swing- 
 ing himself upon its back rode off in haste. 
 
 As soon as day broke the Master-Thief returned to the 
 
378 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 castle, mounted on the stolen steed. The Count was up 
 already, and looking out of his window. 
 
 "Good morning, sir Count," said the Thief; "here is 
 your horse, which I have luckily taken from its stable. 
 Look around and see your soldiers lying in the yard fast 
 asleep ; and if you go into the stable you will find them 
 equally well occupied there." 
 
 The Count was forced to laugh, and said, Well, for 
 once you have succeeded; but this second time you will 
 not come off so easily. And I warn you, if you meet me 
 as a Thief, I shall treat you as a Thief." 
 
 By-and-by night came, and the Countess went to bed, 
 with her wedding-ring held fast in her closed hand. "All 
 the doors are locked and bolted," said the Count, " and I 
 shall keep awake and watch for this Thief, that, if he 
 ' makes his appearance at the window I may shoot him." 
 
 The Master-Thief, however, went in the dark to the 
 gallows, and, cutting down from the rope a poor criminal who 
 had been hung there that day, carried him on his back to 
 the castle. There he placed a ladder up to the sleeping- 
 chamber of the Count, and, hoisting the dead man upon his 
 shoulders, began to mount. As soon as he had got so high 
 that the head of the dead man was on a level with the win- 
 dow, the Count, concealed by the curtain, pointed a pistol 
 at it and fired. Immediately the Master-Thief pitched the 
 corpse over, and then rapidly descending the ladder, con- 
 cealed himself in a corner. The night was bright, with 
 a clear moonshine, and the Master-Thief plainly saw the 
 Count descend the ladder, and bear the dead man away into 
 the garden, where he began to dig a hole in which to bury 
 him. " Now is the lucky moment !" said the Thief to him- 
 self; and slipping from his hiding-place, he ran up the 
 ladder, and entered the sleeping-room. " Dear wife," he 
 began, imitating the Count's voice, " the Thief is dead, 
 but he is nevertheless my godson, and more of a rogue 
 
The Mastek-Thief. 
 
 379 
 
 than a criminal ; I do not wish, therefore, to put his 
 family to shame, for I pity his poor parents. I wish, there- 
 fore, before daybreak, to bury him in the garden, that the 
 affair may be kept quiet. Give me the bed-covering, that 
 I may wrap his body in it and bury him decently." 
 
 The Countess gave him the counterpane readily, and as 
 she did so, the Thief continued, " Do you know I have a 
 fit of magnanimity ; give me your ring; since this unfor- 
 tunate fellow has perilled his life for it, I will bury it with 
 him." 
 
 The Countess did not wish to disoblige the Count, and 
 so, drawing off her ring, though unwillingly, she handed 
 it to him. Thereupon the Thief made off with both 
 his prizes, and luckily reached his home before the Count 
 had finished his grave-digging. 
 
 You may fancy what a long face the Count pulled the 
 next morning when the Master-Thief brought him the bed- 
 covering and the ring. " Are you a wizard ?" he said to 
 him : " who has fetched you out of the grave, in which I 
 myself laid you, and who has brought you to life again ?" 
 
 " You did not bury me," replied the Thief, " but a poor 
 criminal from the gallows ;" and then he related circum- 
 stantially all that had occurred, so that the Count was com- 
 pelled to believe that he was a clever and crafty fellow. 
 
 " But your tasks are not ended yet," said the Count ; 
 " you have still the third to do, and if you do not manage 
 that all your former work will be useless." 
 
 The Master-Thief laughed, but made no answer ; and 
 when night came he went to the village-church with a long 
 sack on his back, a bundle under his arm, and a lantern in 
 his hand. In the sack he had some crabs, and in the 
 bundle some short wax-lights. When he got into the 
 church-yard he stopped and took a crab from his sack, and 
 fixing one of his wax-lights upon its back he placed it on 
 the ground and made it crawl about. Then he took out a 
 
380 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 second, and a third, and so on, till lie had emptied the 
 sack. After that he put on a long black cloak, like a 
 monk's gown, and fastened a grey beard with wax to his 
 chin. Then, being thus completely disguised, he took the 
 sack in which the crabs had been, and, going into the 
 church, proceeded up the chancel. At the same moment 
 the steeple-clock struck twelve, and as soon as the last 
 stroke had rung, the Master-Thief began to cry with a clear, 
 loud voice, " Hear all you sinners ! hear, hear! the end of 
 the world is come, the eternal day is near ; hear, hear ! 
 Whoever will go to Heaven with me, let him creep into 
 this sack. I am Peter, who opens and shuts the gate of 
 Heaven. See out there in the church-yard the dead wan- 
 dering about, collecting their bones together. Come, come, 
 come, and creep into the sack, for the world passes away." 
 
 His words resounded through the whole village ; but 
 the Parson and Clerk, who lived close to the church, first 
 understood what he said ; and when they perceived the 
 lights wandering about in the church-yard, they believed 
 that something uncommon was happening, and went into 
 the church. They listened for a while to the preacher ; and 
 at length the Clerk- nudged the Parson, and said to him. 
 It would not be a bad plan if we made use of this op- 
 portunity before the dawning of the eternal day, to get to 
 Heaven in an easy way." 
 
 "Oh, certainly!" replied the Parson, "that is exactly 
 what I think ; if you desire it, we will forthwith enter on 
 the journey." 
 
 "Yes !" said the Clerk; "but you have the precedence, 
 Mr. Parson ; I will follow you." 
 
 So the Parson mounted the chancel steps, and crept 
 into the sack which the Master-Thief held open, closely 
 followed by the Clerk. Immediately the Thief drew the 
 neck of the sack tight, and, swinging it round, dragged it 
 down the steps, and so often as the heads of the poor fel- 
 
The Master-Thief. 
 
 881 
 
 lows in it knocked against the floor, he cried to them, "Ah, 
 now we are going over the mountains !" When they were 
 out of the church he dragged them in the same manner 
 through the village, and called the puddles which the sack 
 went into " the clouds." Bj-and-by they came to the 
 castle, and as he dragged the sack up the steps he named 
 them as those which led to the gate of Heaven, and said 
 he, " We shall soon be in the entrance-court now." As 
 soon as he got to the top, he pushed the sack into the dove- 
 cote ; and when the doves fluttered about he told the Par- 
 son and Clerk to listen to the angels fluttering their wings. 
 Then he pushed the bolt to and went away. 
 
 The next morning the Master-Thief presented himself 
 before the Count, and told him that he had performed the 
 third task, and drawn the Parson and Clerk out of the 
 church. " Where have you left them then ?" asked the 
 Count. 
 
 " They are lying in a sack in the dove-cote," said the 
 Thief, " and fancy themselves in Heaven." 
 
 The Count went himself, and saw that the Thief had 
 spoken the truth ; but he freed the two poor men from 
 their imprisonment. After he had done so, he said to the 
 Thief, " You are indeed an arch- thief, and have won your 
 wager. For this time you may escape with a whole skin, 
 but take care to keep away from my provinces ; for if you 
 venture again into my power you shall be elevated on the 
 gallows." 
 
 The Master-Thief then took his leave ; and after he had 
 said good-bye to his parents, he went away to a distant 
 country, and nobody has seen or heard of him since. 
 
CLXXXIV. 
 
 The Drummer. 
 
 ONE evening a young Drummer was walking all alone 
 on the sea-shore, and as he went along he perceived 
 three pieces of linen lying on the sand. "What fine 
 linen !" said he; and picking up one of the pieces, he put 
 it in his pocket and went home, thinking no more of his 
 discovery. By-and-by he went to bed ; and just as he was 
 about to fall asleep, he fancied he heard some one call his 
 name. He listened, and presently distinguished a gentle 
 voice, calling, "Drummer, Drummer, awake!" He could 
 see nothing, for it was quite dark ; but he felt as it were 
 something flitting to and fro over his bed. " What do you 
 want?" he asked at length. " Give me back my shirt," re- 
 plied the voice, " which you found yesterday on the sea- 
 shore." 
 
 " You shall have it again if you tell me who you are." 
 
 "Alas! lam the Daughter of a mighty King; but I 
 have fallen into the power of a Witch, who has confined 
 me on the glass mountain. Every day I am allowed to 
 bathe with my two sisters in the sea : but I cannot fly 
 away again without my shirt. Yestereve my sisters escaped 
 as usual, but I was obliged to stay behind, so I beg you to 
 give me my shirt again." 
 
 " Eest happy, poor child !" replied the Drummer, " I 
 will readily give it back ;" and, feeling for it in his pocket, 
 he handed it to her. She hastily snatched it, and would 
 have hurried away, but the Drummer exclaimed, " Wait a 
 moment, perhaps I can help you!" 
 
 " That you may do," said the voice, " if you climb up 
 
The Drummer. 
 
 383 
 
 the glass mountain and free me from the Witch ; but you 
 cannot get there, nor yet ascend, were you to try." 
 
 Where there's a will there's a way," said the Drum- 
 mer. I pity you, and I fear nothing; but I do not know 
 the way to the glass mountain." 
 
 "The path lies through the large forest, where the 
 Giants are," said the child : " more I dare not tell you 
 and, so saying, she flew away. 
 
 At break of day the Drummer arose, and hanging his 
 drum round him walked straight away without fear into 
 the forest. After he had traversed some distance without 
 perceiving any Giant, he thought to himself he would 
 awake the sleepers ; and so, steadying his drum, he beat a 
 roll upon it which disturbed all the birds so much, that 
 they flew off. In a few minutes a Giant raised himself 
 from the ground, where he had been lying asleep on the 
 grass; and his height was that of a fir-tree. "You 
 wretched wight!" he exclaimed, " what are you drumming 
 here for, awaking me out of my best sleep ?" 
 
 " I am drumming," he replied, " to show the way to the 
 many thousands who follow me." 
 
 "What do they want here in my forest?" asked the 
 Giant. 
 
 " They are coming to make a path through, and rid it 
 of such monsters as you," said the Drummer. 
 
 " Oho ! I shall tread them down like ants." 
 
 " Do you fancy you will be able to do anything against 
 them?" said the Drummer. "Why if you bend down to 
 catch any of them, others will jump upon your back; and 
 then when you lie down to sleep, they will come from 
 every bush and creep upon you. And each one has a 
 steel hammer in his girdle, with which he means to beat 
 out your brains." 
 
 The Giant was terribly frightened to hear all this, and 
 he thought to himself : " If I meddle with these crafty people 
 
884: Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 they will do me some injury. I can strangle wolves and 
 bears, but these earthworms I cannot guard against." Then 
 speaking aloud he said, " Here, you little fellow, I promise 
 for the future to leave you and yo.ur comrades in peace; 
 and if you have a wish, tell it to me, for I will do anything 
 to please you." 
 
 " Well then," replied the Drummer, " you have got 
 long legs, and run quicker than I, so carry me to the glass 
 mountain, and I will beat a retreat march to my com- 
 panions, so that for this time you shall not be disturbed." 
 
 "Come hither, you worm," said the Giant, "set your- 
 self on my shoulder, and I will bear you whither you de- 
 sire." 
 
 The Giant took him up ; and the Drummer began to 
 beat with all his might and main. "That is the sign," 
 thought the Giant, "for the others to go back." After 
 a while a second Giant started up on the road, and took the 
 Drummer from the shoulders of the first, and put him in 
 his button-hole. The Drummer took hold of the button, 
 which was as big as a plate, to hold on by and looked 
 round in high spirits. By-and-by they met with a third 
 Giant, who took him out of the button-hole and placed him 
 on the rim of his hat. Here the Drummer walked round 
 and round observing the country ; and perceiving in the 
 blue distance a mountain, he supposed it to be the glass- 
 mountain, and so it was. The Giant took only a couple 
 more strides and arrived at the foot of the mountain, where 
 he set down the Drummer. The latter desired to be taken 
 to. the summit ; but the Giant only shook his head and 
 went away, muttering something in his beard 
 
 So there the poor Drummer was left standing before 
 the mountain, which was as high as if three hills had been 
 placed on each other, and withal as smooth as a mirror, so 
 that he knew not how he should ascend it. He began to 
 climb, but it was in vain, he slipped back every step. " Oh 
 
The Drummek. 
 
 385 
 
 that I were a bird!" he exclaimed; but of what use was 
 wishing? wings never grew for that. While he rumi- 
 nated, he saw at a little distance, two men hotly quarrel- 
 ling. He went up to them and found that their dispute 
 related to a saddle, which lay on the ground before them ; 
 and for the possession of which they were contending. 
 *' What fools you are," he exclaimed, "to quarrel about a 
 saddle for which you have no horse." 
 
 " The saddle is worth fighting about," replied one, "for 
 whoever sits upon it, may wish himself where he will, and 
 may go even to the end of the world if he so desire. The 
 saddle belongs to us in common ; but it is now my turn to 
 ride and this other will not let me." 
 
 "I will soon end your quarrel !" exclaimed the Drum- 
 mer, walking a few steps forward, and planting a white 
 wand in the ground ; "run both of you to that point, and 
 whoever gets there first shall ride first." 
 
 The two men started off at once, but they had scarcely 
 gone two steps, when the Drummer sat himself hastily 
 down on their saddle, and wishing himself on the top of 
 the glass mountain, was there before one could turn his 
 hand round. On the summit was a large plain whereon 
 stood an old stone mansion, and before its door a fish-pond, 
 and behind, a dark wood. The Drummer saw neither man 
 nor beast, all was still, but the noise of the wind among the 
 trees ; while close above his head the clouds were rolling 
 along. He stepped up to the door of the house and knocked 
 thrice, and after the third time, an old Woman with red 
 eyes and a brown face opened it. She had spectacles upon 
 her nose, and looked at him very sharply before she asked 
 what his business was. 
 
 " Entrance, a night's lodging, and provisions," replied 
 the Drummer boldly. 
 
 " That you shall have, if you promise to perform three 
 tasks I" said she. 
 
 II.— 17 
 
886 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 "And why not?" he replied, "I am not afraid of 
 work, be it ever so hard !" 
 
 So the old Woman let him come in, and gave him 
 supper, and afterwards a good bed. 
 
 The next morning when the Drummer arose, the old 
 "Woman handed him a thimble off her withered finger, 
 and said; "I^ow go to work and empty the pond out 
 there with this thimble, but you must finish it before night; 
 and besides that, you must take out all the fishes, and 
 range them according to their species upon the bank." 
 
 " That is a queer job !" said the Drummer ; but going 
 to the pond he began to thimble out the water. He worked 
 all the morning, but what could he do with a single thimble 
 if he had kept at work for a thousand years ? When noon- 
 day came he stopped and sat down ; for as he thought, " It 
 is no use, and all the same whether I work or not." Just 
 then, a Girl came from the house and brought him a basket 
 of provisions. "What do you want?" she asked, "that 
 you sit there so sorrowful." 
 
 The Drummer looked up, and seeing that the speaker 
 was very beautiful, he replied : " Alas ! I cannot perform 
 the first task, and how I shall do the others, I cannot tell ! 
 I have come here to seek a King's daughter, who lives 
 hereabouts, but I have not found her, and I must go 
 further." 
 
 "Stop here!" said the Girl, "I will assist you out of 
 your trouble. You are tired, so lay your head in my lap 
 and go to sleep ; when you awake again the work will be 
 done!" 
 
 The Drummer did not need twice telling, and as soon 
 as his eyes were closed, the Maiden pressed a wishing ring 
 which she had, and said ; " Out water, out fishes." Im- 
 mediately the water rose in the air like a white vapour, 
 and rolled away with the other clouds, while the fishes all 
 
The Drummer. 
 
 387 
 
 jumped out, and arranged themselves on the banks accord- 
 ing to their size and species. 
 
 Bj-and-by the Drummer awoke and saw to his astonish- 
 ment his work completed. " One of the fishes," said the 
 Maiden, "does not lie with its companions, but quite alone ; 
 and so, when the old Woman comes this evening and sees 
 that all is done, she will ask why this fish is left out, and 
 you must take it up and throw it in her face, saying, 
 ' That is for you, old Witch.' " 
 
 So when it was evening the old Worr.an came and asked 
 the question, and he immediately threw the fish in her face. 
 She did not appear to notice it, but only looked silently 
 and maliciously at him. The next morning she said to 
 him, "You got off too easily yesterday; I must give you 
 a harder task ; to-day you must cut down all my trees, 
 split the wood into faggots, and range them in bundles; 
 and all must be ready by night." 
 
 With these words she gave him an axe, a mallet, and 
 two wedges ; but the first was made of lead and the others 
 of tin. When, therefore, he began to chop, the axe doubled 
 quite up, while the mallet and wedges stuck together. He 
 knew not what to do ; but at noon the Maiden came again 
 with his dinner and comforted him. "Lay your head in 
 my lap," said she, " and when you awake the work will be 
 done." Thereupon she turned her wishing ring, and at the 
 same moment the whole forest fell down with a crash, the 
 timber split of itself and laid itself together in heaps, as if 
 innumerable giants were at work. As soon as the Drummer 
 awoke, the Maiden said to him, " See, here is all your wood 
 properly cut and stacked, with the exception of one bough, 
 which, if the old Woman, when she comes this evening, 
 asks the reason of, give her a blow with it, and say, ' That 
 is for thee, old Witch.' " 
 
 Accordingly, when the Old Woman came, she said, 
 
388 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 " See how easy the work is ; but for whom is this bough 
 left out 
 
 " For you, old Witch !" he replied, giving her a blow. 
 But she appeared not to feel it, and, laughing fiendishly, 
 said to him, " To-morrow you shall lay all the wood in one 
 pile, and kindle and burn it." 
 
 At daybreak he arose and began to work; but how 
 could a single man pile up a whole forest? The work 
 proceeded very slowly. The Maiden, however, did not 
 forget him in his troubles, and brought him as usual his 
 mid-day meal, after eating which he laid his head in her 
 lap and slept. On his awaking he found the whole pile 
 burning in one immense flame, whose tongues of fire 
 reached up to heaven. " Attend to me," said the Maiden to 
 him ; " when the Witch comes she will demand something 
 singular, but do what she desires without fear, and you 
 will take no harm ; but if you are afraid, the fire will catch 
 and consume you. Lastly, when you have fulfilled her 
 demands, take her with both hands and throw her into the 
 midst of the flames." 
 
 Thereupon the Maiden left him, and presently the old 
 Woman slipped in, crying, "Hu! hu ! how I freeze! but 
 there is fire to warm me and my old bones ; that is well ; 
 but," she continued, turning to the Drummer, ''there is a 
 log which will not burn, fetch it out for me ; come, if you 
 do that, you shall be free and go where yo\x will, only be 
 brisk." 
 
 The Drummer plunged into the flames without a mo- 
 ment's consideration ; but they did him no harm, not even 
 singeing a single hair. He bore the faggot off and laid it 
 beside the old Witch ; but as soon as it touched the earth 
 it changed into the beautiful Maiden who had delivered 
 him from his troubles, and he perceived at once by her 
 silken shining robes that she was the King's daughter. 
 The old Woman laughed fiendishly again, and exclaimed, 
 
The Drummer. 
 
 389 
 
 "Do you think you have her? not yet, not yet!" And so 
 saying, she would have seized the Maiden ; but the Drum- 
 mer, catching her with both his hands, threw her into the 
 middle of the burning pile, and the flames closed in around 
 her, as if rejoicing in the destruction of such a Witch. 
 
 When this was done the Maiden looked at the Drum- 
 mer, and, seeing that he was a handsome youth, and that 
 he had ventured his life to save hers, she held out her hand 
 to him and said, " You have dared a great deal for me, and 
 I must do something for you; promise me to be true and 
 faithful, and you shall be my husband. For wealth we 
 shall not want; we have enough here in the treasure which 
 the old Witch has gathered together." 
 
 Thereupon she led him into the house and showed him 
 chests upon chests which were filled with treasures. They 
 left the gold and silver, and took nothing but diamonds 
 and pearls ; and then, as they no longer wished to remain 
 on the glass mountain, the Drummer proposed that they 
 should descend on the wishing saddle. " The old saddle 
 does not please me," said the Maiden, "and I need only 
 turn the ring on my finger and we shall be at home." 
 
 "Well, then, wish ourselves at the city gate," replied 
 the Drummer : and in tlie twinkling of an eye they were 
 there. " I will go and take the news to my parents first," 
 said the Drummer; "wait here for me, for I shall soon be 
 back." 
 
 " Ah ! I pray you then take care not to kiss your 
 parents when you arrive on the right cheek, else will you 
 forget everything, and I shall be left alone in this field*" 
 " How can I forget you ?" said he, and promised her faith- 
 fully to return in a very short time. When he entered Ws 
 father's house nobody knew him, he was so altered, for the 
 three days which he had imagined he had spent on the 
 glass mountain were three long years. He soon recalled 
 hinself to their remembrance, and his parents hung round 
 
390 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 his neck, so that, moved by affection, he entirely forget 
 the Maiden's injunctions and kissed them on both cheeks. 
 Every thought concerning the Princess at once faded from 
 his mind, and emptying his pockets, he laid handfuls of 
 precious stones upon the table. The parents could not tell 
 what to do with so much wealth, till at length they built a 
 noble castle surrounded by gardens, woods, and meadows, 
 and fit for a prince to inhabit. When it was done the 
 Mother of the Drummer said to him, "I have looked out 
 for a wife for you, and you shall be married in three days' 
 time." 
 
 Now the Drummer was quite content with all that his 
 Parents proposed ; but the poor Princess was very discon- 
 solate. For a long time after he first left her she waited 
 for him in the fields; but when evening fell she believed 
 that he had kissed his Parents on the right cheek, and for- 
 gotten all about her. Her heart was full of grief, and she 
 wished herself in some solitary forest that she might not 
 return to her father's court. Every evening she went to 
 the city and passed by the Drumm.er's house, but although 
 he saw her many times he never recognised her. At last 
 she heard one day the people talking of the wedding of the 
 Drummer, and she thereupon resolved to make a trial if 
 she could regain his love. As soon as the first festival day 
 was appointed, she turned her wishing ring, saying, "A 
 dress as shining as the sun." Immediately the dress lay 
 before her, and seemed as if wove out of the purest sun- 
 beams ! Then, as soon as the guests had assembled she 
 slipped into the hall, and everybody admired her beautiful 
 dress ; but most of all the bride elect, who had a passion 
 for fine dresses, and went up to her and asked if she would 
 sell it. " Not for money," she replied ; " but for the privi- 
 lege of sleeping for one night next to the chamber of the 
 bridegroom." 
 
 The Bride elect could not resist her wish for the dres^ 
 
The Drummer. 
 
 891 
 
 and so she consented; but first of all she mixed in the 
 sleeping-draught of the Bridegroom a strong potion which 
 prevented him from being awakened. Bj-and-by, when 
 all was quiet, the Princess crept to the chamber door, and 
 opening it slightly, called gently, 
 
 " Drummer, Drummer, list to me, 
 Forget not what I did for tbee ; 
 Think of tlie mountain of glass so liigh, 
 Think of the Witch and her cruelty ; 
 Think of my plighted troth with thee: 
 Drummer ! Drummer ! list to me 1" 
 
 She cried all in vain, the Drummer did not awake, and 
 when day dawned the Princess was forced to leave. The 
 second evening she turned her wishing-ring, and said, " A 
 dress as silvery as the moon." As soon as she had spoken 
 it lay before her ; and when she appeared in it at the ball, 
 the Bride elect wished to have it as well as the other, and 
 the Princess gave it to her for the privilege of passing 
 another night next the chamber of the Bridegroom. And 
 everything passed as on the first night. 
 
 The servants in the house, however, had overheard the 
 plaint of the strange Maiden, and they told the Bridegroom 
 about it. They told him also that it was not possible for 
 him to hear anything about what was said because of the 
 potion which was put into his sleeping draught. 
 
 The third evening the Princess turned her ring and 
 wished for a dress as glittering as the stars. As soon as 
 she appeared in the ball-room thus arrayed, the Bride elect 
 was enchanted with its beauty, and declared rapturously, 
 " I must and will have it." The Maiden gave it up like 
 the former, for a night's sleep next the Bridegroom's 
 chamber. This time he did not drink his wine as usual, 
 but poured it out behind the bed; and so, when all the 
 house was quiet, he heard a gentle voice repeating, 
 
392 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 " Drummer, Drummer, list to me, 
 Foi-get not what I did for tbee ; 
 Think of the mountain of glass so high, 
 Think of the Witch and her cruelty ; 
 Think of my plighted troth with thee : 
 Drummer 1 Drummer ! list to me." 
 
 All at once his memory returned, and he exclaimed, 
 "Alas! alas! how could I have treated you so heart- 
 lessly ; but the kisses which I gave my parents on the right 
 cheek in the excess of my joy, they have bewildered me." 
 He jumped up, and taking the Princess by the hand, led 
 her to the bedside of his Parents. This is my true Bride," 
 said he; "and if I marry the other I shall do a grievous 
 wrong." When the Parents heard all that had happened 
 they gave their consent, and thereupon the lights in the 
 hall were rekindled, the drums and trumpets refetched. the 
 friends and visitors invited to come again, and the true 
 wedding was celebrated with great pomp and happiness. 
 
 But the second Bride received the three splendid 
 dresses, and was as well contented as if she had been 
 married ! 
 
CLXXXV. 
 
 The Ears of Wheat. 
 
 AGES upon ages ago, when the angels used to wander 
 on earth, the fruitfuhiess of the ground was much 
 greater than it is now. Then the Ears of Wheat bore, not 
 fifty or sixty-fold, but four times five-hundred-fold. . Then 
 the corn grew from the bottom of the stalk to the top ; 
 and so long as the stalk was, so long were the Ears. But 
 as men always do in the midst of their abundance, they 
 forgot the blessing which came from God, and became idle 
 and selfish. 
 
 One day a Woman went to a corn-field, and her little 
 Child who accompanied her fell into a puddle and soiled 
 her frock. The Mother tore oflp a handful of Wheat-ears 
 and cleaned her Daughter's dress with them. Just then 
 an Angel passed by, and saw her. He became very angry, 
 and declared to her that henceforth the Wheat-stalks should 
 no longer produce Ears, for, said he, " You mortals are not 
 worthy of heaven's gifts." The bystanders who heard him, 
 fell on their knees, weeping and praying him to leave the 
 Wheat-stalks alone, if not for themselves, yet for the poor 
 fowls, who must otherwise perish with hunger. The 
 Angel pitied their distress and granted part of their 
 prayer; and from that day the Ears of Wheat grew as 
 they do now. 
 
 IT.— 17* 
 
CLXXXVI. 
 
 The Grave-Mound. 
 
 ONCE Tipon a time a rich Farmer was standing in his 
 yard, looking out over his fields and gardens, where 
 the corn was growing quite yellow, and the trees hanging 
 down with fruit. The produce of the previous year lay yet 
 in his granaries, and its weight was so great that the beams 
 could scarcely support it. Next he went into his stables, 
 and there stood stall-fed oxen, fat cows, and sleek horses. 
 Lastly, he went back to his kitchen and his parlour, where 
 stood the iron chests in which his gold was contained. 
 Whilst he stood meditating upon his riches he heard sud- 
 denly a knock close to him. It was not at the door of his 
 house, but at his heart. He listened, and heard a voice 
 which said to him, " Have you done good with your 
 wealth ? have you cared for the troubles of the poor ? 
 have you shared your bread with the hungry? have you 
 been contented with what you possess, or have you desired 
 more ?" His heart replied without delay, " I have been 
 hard and unmerciful to all ; I have done good to no one; 
 when a poor man has come to my door I have turned 
 away m}^ eyes ; nor have I concerned myself about a God. 
 but thought only how to increase my riches, and had all 
 that heaven covered been mine, I should not even then 
 have been satisfied !" As soon as these answers had passed 
 through his mind, he became terribly frightened; and his 
 knees trembled so much that he was forced to sit down. 
 Then a second knock was heard by him, but this time it 
 was not at his heart, but at the door. It was his neigh- 
 bour, a Poor Man, who had a great many children, more 
 than he could satisfy. "I know that my neighbour is 
 
The Grave-Mound. 
 
 895 
 
 rich," the poor fellow had thought to himself; "but he is 
 also very stingy : I do not believe that he will help me, 
 but my children cry so for bread, I will venture it !" 
 When the Kich Man answered the knock, the Poor Man 
 said to him ; " You are not accustomed, I know, to give 
 readily to the poor ; but I stand here like one whose head 
 is nearly under water; my children are hungry, lend me 
 four measures of meal ?" 
 
 The Kich Man looked at him for some time, and soon 
 the first sunbeam of compassion began to melt the ice of 
 his selfishness. "I will not lend you four measures," he 
 replied ; " but I will give you eight measures, on one con- 
 dition !" 
 
 What is that ?" asked the Poor Man. 
 " When I am dead, you must watch three nights by my 
 grave." 
 
 This condition caused the Poor Man much secret un- 
 easiness ; still, on account of the necessity in which he was, 
 he consented ; and promising all, he carried the corn home 
 with him. 
 
 It seemed as if the Rich Man had a presentiment of 
 what was to happen, for after three days, he suddenly fell 
 dead on the ground ; nobody knew the cause of his decease, 
 but no suspicion was excited. After he was buried, the 
 Poor Man remembered his agreement, from which he 
 wished he could have released himself; but he thought, 
 "The man behaved very compassionately to me, and I 
 satisfied my children's hunger with his corn ; and besides, 
 I promised, and must perform." 
 
 As soon, then, as night fell, he went to the churchyard 
 and sat down on a grave-mound. All was still, only the 
 moon was shining on the hillocks, and many times an owl 
 flew by, making her doleful cries. As soon as the sun 
 again arose, the poor man returned home wearied out ; and 
 In due time passed the second night in similar quiet. But 
 
396 Grimai's Household Stories. 
 
 on the third evening he felt a peculiar terror; it seemed as 
 if something stood before him. As soon as he got out he 
 perceived a man on the wall of the churchyard, whom he 
 had never seen before. He was by no means young, for 
 his face was full of wrinkles; but his eyes shone with a 
 bright light. He was quite enveloped by a large cloak, 
 and only his large jackboots were to be seen. "What 
 are you seeking here ?" asked the Peasant ; " are you not 
 afraid of the lone churchyard ?" 
 
 "I fear nothing and desire nothing," replied the Man. 
 I am like the youth who travelled to learn what shiver- 
 ing meant, and wearied himself in so doing, but still re- 
 ceived a Princess for his Wife and great riches ; but I have 
 always been poor; I am nothing but a discharged Soldier, 
 and want to pass the night here, because I have no other 
 shelter." 
 
 "If you have no fear, then," said the Peasant, "remain 
 with me, and assist me to watch this grassy mound." 
 
 "Keeping guard is part of the Soldier's business," re- 
 plied the stranger ; " so, whatever. meets us here, whether 
 bad or good, we will bear in common." 
 
 To this the Peasant assented, and the pair sat down by 
 the grassy mound. Everything was quiet till midnight; 
 and then all at once a cutting sound was heard in the air, 
 and the two watchers perceived an Evil Spirit standing be- 
 fore them. " Away, you rascals !" he cried, " away ! the 
 man who lies in this grave belongs to me ; I am come to 
 fetch him, and if you do not take yourselves off I will break 
 your necks." " Captain with the red feather!" replied the 
 Soldier, " you are not my captain ; I need not obey you ; 
 and to fear I have never learnt. Go your way ! we shall 
 stop here." 
 
 When the Soldier had spoken this, the Evil Spirit be^ 
 gan to think to himself that perhaps he could manage the 
 two watchers better by offering them money ; and so mod- 
 
The Grave-Mound. 
 
 397 
 
 crating his tune, he asked civilly whether they would not 
 be satisfied to go home on the receipt of a purse of gold. 
 
 " That deserves consideration," said the Soldier ; " but 
 we shall not be sufficiently rewarded with one purseful of 
 gold : if, however, you will give us as much as will fill one 
 of my jackboots, we will leave the field to you and go 
 away." 
 
 " I have not so much with me," replied the Evil Spirit; 
 "but I will fetch it. In the neighbouring town lives a 
 banker, who is an intimate friend of mine, and he will 
 readily lend me all I require." 
 
 So saying, the Spirit disappeared ; and as soon as he 
 was gone, the Soldier, drawing off his left boot, said to his 
 companion, " Ah ! now see how we will pull the nose of 
 this coal-burner; only give me your knife, cousin." 
 
 He first cut off the sole, and then set the boot upright 
 in the long grass on the edge of a half-dug grave, near the 
 one they were watching. " That is well done," he said : 
 "now the chimney-sweeper may come as soon as he likes." 
 
 The pair sat down again to watch, and in a short time 
 the Spirit returned, carrying a bag of gold in his hand. 
 
 "Shoot it in!" said the Soldier, raising the boot up a 
 little as he approached ; " but that lot will not be enough." 
 The Spirit emptied the bag ; but the gold fell through the 
 boot of course, so that there remained nothing in it. 
 "Stupid Spirit!" exclaimed the Soldier; " it is nothing at 
 all, did I not tell you so ? You must return and fetch 
 more." Shaking his head, the Spirit went and returned in 
 an hour with a much larger bag under his arm. " Shoot it 
 in I" said the Soldier again, " but I doubt there is still not 
 enough." The gold clinked as it fell, but the boot was still 
 empty, and the Spirit himself, looking in with fiery eyes, 
 convinced himself of the fact. " You have shamefully 
 calves 1" exclaimed the Spirit, making a wry face. 
 
 " Did you think," answered the Soldier, " that I had 
 
398 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 hoofs lil^e you ? Since when have you been so illiberal ? 
 Come, make haste and fetch some more gold, or our bar- 
 gain will be at an end." 
 
 The Evil Spirit trotted off a third time, and after some 
 long while returned with a sack upon his shoulders which 
 nearly bent him double, fie shot its contents quickly into 
 the boot, but still it remained as empty as before. There- 
 upon he flew into a dreadful passion, and tried to snatch 
 the boot out of the ground ; but at the same moment the 
 first dawn of daylight appeared, and the sun began to rise, 
 so that the Evil Spirit was forced to fly away with loud 
 shrieks. And the body of the rich man thenceforth rested 
 in peace. 
 
 The Peasant would have shared the gold which the 
 Spirit had left behind him ; but the Soldier said, " No ! 
 give to the poor what should belong to me, and I will re- 
 turn with you to your cottage, and there we will spend the 
 remainder of our days in quiet happiness, so long as it 
 shall please God to spare us." 
 
CLXXXVII. 
 
 Old Rinkrank. 
 
 npHERE was once a King who had a Daughter ; and he 
 had a glass mountain built, and said that whoever 
 could run over it without tumbling should have this 
 Daughter for his wife. Then there was one who was so 
 fond of the King's Daughter that he asked the King 
 whether he might not marry her. " Yes," said the King, 
 *'if you can run over the mountain without tumbling, then 
 you shall have her." The King's Daughter said she would 
 run over with him, so that she might hold him up if he were 
 going to fall ; so they ran over together, but when they 
 got up to the middle the King's Daughter slipped and fell, 
 and the glass mountain opened itself, and she tumbled right 
 into it. Her Sweetheart couldn't see a bit where she had 
 gone through, for the mountain had closed again directly. 
 Then he fretted and cried so much, and the King too was 
 so wretched, that he had the mountain broken down again, 
 thinking he would get his daughter out again ; but they 
 could never find the place where she had tumbled through. 
 In the mean time the King's Daughter had got quite deep 
 into the ground, in a great cave. There, there came to her 
 an old fellow with a tremendous long grey beard, and he 
 told her that if she would be his servant and do all he 
 bade her, she should remain alive ; if not, he would make 
 away with her. So she did all he told her. In the morn- 
 ing he took his ladder out of his pocket and placed it 
 against the mountain, and climbed up out of it. Then he 
 pulled the ladder up after him. She had then to cook his 
 dinner, to make his bed, and to do all his work ; and when 
 
400 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 he came home again he always brought great heaps of gold 
 and silver with him. 
 
 Now, when she had been many years with him, and 
 had already grown quite old, he called her Mother Mans- 
 rot, and she had to call him Old Einkrank. One day, 
 when he was out again, she made his bed, and washed his 
 dishes, and then she shut up all the doors and windows 
 quite close ; but there was a little loophole, through which 
 the light shone into the house, and that she left open. 
 When Old Einkrank came home again he knocked at his 
 door, and called out, " Open the door for me." " Nay, Old 
 Einkrank," said she; "I sha'n't open the door." Then he 
 said : — 
 
 " Here stand I, poor Rinkrank, 
 Upon my seventeen long shanks ; 
 Mother Mansrot, wash my dishes!' 
 
 "I have already washed your dishes," said she. Then 
 he said again : — 
 
 " Here stand I, poor Rinkrank, , 
 Upon my seventeen long shanks ; 
 Mother Mansrot, make my bed !" 
 
 " I have already made your bed," said she. Then he 
 said again : — 
 
 " Here stand I, poor Rinkrank, 
 Upon my seventeen longs-hanks ; 
 Mother Mansrot, open the dooi- !" 
 
 Then he ran all round about the house, and saw that the 
 little loophole was open, so he thought, "I will just look 
 in there, to see what she is about that she won't open the 
 door for me." So he went and tried to look in, but he 
 couldn't get his head through on account of his long beard, 
 so he poked his beard through the loophole first, and when 
 he had got it quite through Mother Mansrot ran up, and 
 fastened the trap-door with a band which she had tied to it, 
 
Old Einkrank. 
 
 401 
 
 and so the beard was fastened in quite tight. Then he 
 began to scream most miserably, it hurt him so ; and he 
 begged and prayed she would let him loose ; but she said 
 not before he gave her the ladder on which he climbed out 
 of the mountain. Then, whether he willed or not, he was 
 obliged to say where the ladder was. So she tied a very 
 long band to the trap-door, and placed the ladder against 
 the mountain, and climbed up out of it ; and when she was 
 up at the top she pulled the trap-door open. She went 
 then to her father and told all about what happened to her. 
 The King was greatly rejoiced ; and her Sweetheart was 
 there still ; so they went and dug up the mountain, and 
 found Old Kinkrank with all his gold and silver. Then 
 the King had Old Rinkrank killed, and took home all 
 his silver and gold. And the King's Daughter married 
 her old Sweetheart, and they lived right merrily in splen- 
 dour and happiness. 
 
CLXXXVIII. 
 
 The Ball of Crvstal. 
 
 THERE was once upon a time an Enchantress who bad 
 three sons, who loved one another dearly, but yet 
 their mother would not trust them, and was always suspect- 
 ing that they would rob her of her power : so she changed 
 the eldest into an Eagle, and condemned hira to dwell on 
 the tops of a rocky chain of mountains, where one might 
 see him many times wheeling round and round in the air 
 in Vreat circles. The second brother she changed into a 
 Whale, and he dwelt in the deep sea, where one might see 
 him now and then throwing up a huge stream of water. 
 These two could retake their human form for two hours a 
 day. The third son, however, fearing that he might be 
 changed into some wild beast, bear or lion, secretly took 
 his departure, for he had heard that in the Castle of the 
 Golden Sun sat an enchanted Princess awaitinsj a deliverer. 
 Many a youth had felt bound to venture his life in her 
 cause, but already had three-and-twenty met with horrible 
 deaths, and only one remained to tell the dreadful tale. 
 Our hero drove away all fear from his mind, and resolved 
 to search out this wonderful castle. For a very long time 
 he had wandered about, when one day he unexpectedly 
 arrived in a large forest, from which he could not get out. 
 He perceived, however, in the distance two Giants, who 
 beckoned him with their hands. He went towards them, 
 and they told him that they were fighting for the pos- 
 session of a hat : but, as they were both equally strong, 
 neither could gain the mastery, and they wished, therefore, 
 to leave the decision to him, since men of his size were 
 generally very wise and crafty. 
 
The Ball of Crystal. 
 
 403 
 
 "What can induce you to fight for an old hat?" asked 
 the Youth. 
 
 " You do not know the wonderful properties which 
 belong to it," answered the Giants; "it is a wishing hat, 
 and whoever wears it may go instantly whither he wishes." 
 
 " Give me the hat," said the Youth ; " I will go a short 
 way, then do you both run as if for a wager, and whoever 
 comes up to me first shall have the hat." With these 
 words he put the hat on and walked off ; but, beginning to 
 think of the Princess, he forgot the Giants, and walked on 
 and on. All at once he heaved a sigh from the bottom of 
 his heart, and exclaimed, " Ah ! that I were near the Castle 
 of the Golden Sun." Scarcely had the words passed his 
 lips when he found himself standing on a high mountain 
 before the very place. He entered the Castle by the door 
 and passed through all the rooms till he came to the last, 
 where he found the Princess. But how startled he was 
 when he saw her. Her face was full of wrinkles, her eyes 
 were sunk deep in her head, and her hair was red. "Are 
 you the King's Daughter of whose beauty all the world 
 talks?" asked the Youth. "Alas!" she replied, "this is 
 not my form ; the eyes of mortal men can only see me in 
 this hateful guise ; but that you may know how beautiful 
 is the reality, look in this mirror which cannot err, that will 
 show you my face as it is in reality." She gave him a 
 mirror, and he beheld in it the portrait of the most beauti- 
 ful Maiden the earth could contain, and over her cheeks he 
 could even see the tears of sorrow rolling. " How can I 
 save you?" he asked; "no danger will appal me." The 
 Princess replied, " He who can obtain possession of the 
 Crystal Ball, and hold it before the Enchanter, will thereby 
 break his power, and I shall return to my original shape. 
 But, alas ! already many a one has met death for me, and I 
 shall grieve for your youthful blood if you dare these great 
 perils." 
 
404 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 "Nothing can keep me from the attempt," said the 
 Youth; "but what must I do?" 
 
 " You shall know all," said the Princess : " if you de- 
 scend the mountain on which this castle stands you will 
 find a wild Ox, with which you must fight, and if you are 
 lucky enough to kill it, a Fiery Bird will rise from its 
 carcase, in whose body is a red hot egg, the yolk of which 
 forms the Crystal Ball. This Bird will not drop the egg 
 till it is compelled ; but if it falls to the ground it will burn 
 and consume whatever is near it, and then the iron will 
 melt, and with it the Crystal Ball, and all your trouble will 
 be futile." 
 
 The Youth, thereupon, descended to the bottom of the 
 mountain, where he saw the Ox, who commenced as soon 
 as he appeared to bellow and run at him. After a long 
 fight the Youth plunged his sword into its body, so that it 
 fell dead to the ground. At the same instant the Fiery 
 Bird rose from the carcase and was about to fly away, 
 when the Eagle, the brother of the Youth, who was just 
 then passing over the spot, swooped down and struck the 
 Bird towards the sea, so that in its endeavours to escape 
 it let fall the egg. The egg, however, did not fall into the 
 sea, but on the roof of a fisherman's hut which stood on the 
 shore. The roof began to burn, for the egg instantly blazed 
 up ; but at the moment, immense waves dashed out of the 
 sea, and rolling quite over the hut extinguished the fire. It 
 was the other brother, the Whale, who had caused this, 
 having luckily swum there at the right time. As soon as 
 the fire was out, the Youth searched for the egg, and found 
 it very quickly ; it was not quite molten, but the shell was 
 so cracked b}^ the sudden cooling of the cold sea water 
 that he managed easily to extract the Crystal Ball. 
 
 The Youth took it at once to show to the Enchanter, 
 who, as soon as he saw it, said, " My power is destroyed, 
 and you are henceforth King of the Castle of the Geldea 
 
The Ball of Ckystal. 
 
 405 
 
 Sun. Your brothers, also, can now return to their human 
 forms. 
 
 The Youth then hastened to the Princess, and as soon 
 as he entered the room her former beauty returned in all its 
 glory, and they both exchanged rings with great joy, which 
 means to say, I suppose, that they married and were very 
 happy. 
 
CLXXXIX. 
 
 Jungfrau Male en. 
 
 ^T^nERE was once upon a time a King's Son, who went 
 a-wooing the Daughter of another mighty King, and 
 her name was Jungfrau Maleen. Her father, however, 
 refused his permission to the match, because he wished her 
 to marry some one else. But they both still loved one an- 
 other so dearly, that Jungfrau Maleen told her father she 
 could not and would not marry any one except this Prince. 
 When she said so, her father flew into a great passion, and 
 caused a gloomy tower to be btiilt, into which no ray of 
 either sun or moon could penetrate. When it was com- 
 pleted he said to his Daughter, "For seven years you 
 shall sit therein ; and at the end of that period I will come 
 and see if your stubborn disposition is conquered." Meat 
 and drink sufficient for these seven years were carried into 
 the tower, and then the Princess and her Maid were led 
 into it, and bricked up, so that earth and heaven were shut 
 out from them. They were quite in darkness, and knew 
 no difference between day and night. The Prince often 
 came to the outside of the tower and called their names, 
 but they heard nothing, for no sound could penetrate 
 through the thick walls. What could they do, then, ex- 
 cept weep and lament their fate ! So time passed by ; and, 
 by the decreasing of their food and drink they perceived 
 that the end of their imprisonment was approaching. 
 They imagined that their release was at hand; but no 
 sound of a hammer was to be heard, nor were any stones 
 picked out of the wall, and it seemed as if the King had 
 forgotten them. So, when they had sufficient food left for 
 only a few days, and the prospect of a miserable death stared 
 
JUNGFRAU MaLEEN. 
 
 407 
 
 them in the face, Jungfrau Maleen said to her companion, 
 " It is time now that we should try to break through the 
 wall" 
 
 So saying, she took their bread-knife, and picked and 
 scraped away the mortar round one stone; and when she 
 was tired the Maid assisted her. After a long time they 
 succeeded in taking out one stone, then a second, and a 
 third, and thus, after three days' labour, a ray of light 
 illumined their cell ; and then they made the opening so 
 large that they could peep through it. The heaven was 
 blue, and a fresh breeze came in their faces, but how mourn- 
 ful looked everything around! The castle of the King lay 
 in ruins; the towns and villages, as far as the eye could 
 reach, were burnt to the ground ; the fields far and near 
 were laid waste ; and not one human being was to be seen. 
 Soon the opening in the wall was so large that they could 
 pass through it ; and the Maiden first jumping out, her 
 Mistress followed her. But where were they to turn? 
 Enemies had depopulated the whole kingdom, and driven 
 away or slain the King, with all his subjects. The pair 
 therefore wandered on and on, seeking some other country ; 
 but nowhere could they find a shelter, or any man to give 
 them bread to eat, and their hunger compelled them to eat 
 the burnt roots of nettles. 
 
 However, after much weary travelling, they did at last 
 come to cultivated land, and there, at every house, they 
 offered their services ; but nobody would take them in, or 
 show them any pity. At last they arrived at a large city, 
 and went to the King's palace ; but there, also, they were 
 on the point of being turned back, when the cook told 
 them they might stop and serve as kitchen maids if they 
 liked. 
 
 I^ow the son of this King was the very same who was 
 betrothed to Jungfrau Maleen, and his father had engaged 
 him to another maiden, who was as wickedly disposed in 
 
408 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 her heart as she was ugly in her looks. When the two 
 travellers arrived, the wedding-day had been already ap- 
 pointed, and the bride was come, but she had shut herself 
 up in her room, and would not be seen, because of her 
 "Ugliness, and Jungfrau Maleen was ordered to take in her 
 meals. When the day came that the betrothed couple 
 should go to church, the bride elect was so ashamed of her 
 ugliness that she feared she should be laughed at, and 
 derided by the common people if she showed herself to 
 them. So she said to Jungfrau Maleen, " A great piece of 
 luck is presented to you, for I have hurt my foot and can- 
 not walk at all on the road; so you shall put on my bridal 
 clothes, and take my place : a greater honour could not 
 have fallen to your share." 
 
 Jungfrau Maleen, however, refused, and said, "I desire 
 no honour that does not belong to me;" and she would 
 not be tempted even with gold. At last the bride elect 
 exclaimed passionately, "If you do not obey me, it shall 
 cost you your life. I have only to say one word, and your 
 head will lie at my feet." 
 
 Jungfrau Maleen was now forced to comply, and she 
 arrayed herself in the bridal clothes and ornaments. As 
 soon as she appeared in the royal apartments all were as- 
 tonished at her great beauty, and the King told his son she 
 was the bride whom he had chosen for him, and it was time 
 now to go to church. The Prince was astonished, and 
 thought to himself, " She looks like my Jungfrau Maleen, 
 and I almost believe it is she ; but no ! she is dead, or shut 
 up in the tower." He took the Maiden by the hand, and 
 led her to the church, and on the road they passed a nettle- 
 bush, whereupon the bride sang in a strange language — 
 
 " Nettle bush ! oh, nettle bush ! 
 Have you forgot the day 
 "When I cooked your juicy roots, 
 My hunger sharp to stay ?" 
 
JUNGFRAU MaLEEN. 
 
 409 
 
 "What did yoa say, then?" asked the Prince. "No- 
 thing! I was only thinking of Jungfrau Maleen," replied 
 the seeming bride. He marvelled that she should know 
 her, but he said nothing ; and when they came to the church 
 steps she sang — 
 
 "Church-steps ! break not, I pray, 
 The ti'ue bride coaaes not to-day." 
 
 " What did you say ?" asked the Prince. " Nothing," 
 she replied, as before: "I was but thinking of Jungfrau 
 Maleen." 
 
 "Do you know that maiden, then?" asked the Prince. 
 "No, how should I? I have only heard of her," said she; 
 and when they passed through the church-door she sang — • 
 
 " Church-door ! crack not, I pray. 
 The true bride comes not to-day." 
 
 "What did you say?" asked the Prince a third time. 
 "Alas! I was only thinking of Jungfrau Maleen," she said. 
 Then he drew out a costly chain, and fastened it around 
 her neck; and thereupon they walked into the church, and 
 the priest, joining their hands together at the altar, mar- 
 ried them in due form. The ceremony over, the bride- 
 groom led back the bride, but she never spoke a single 
 word all the way home. As soon as they arrived at the 
 palace, she hastened into the bride's chamber, and, laying 
 aside her beautiful clothes and ornaments, she put on her 
 grey kirtle, but kept the chain round her neck which she 
 had received from the bridegroom. 
 
 When night came, and it was time for the bride to be 
 ushered into the bridegroom's chamber, the ugly maiden let 
 fall her veil over her features, that the deceit might not 
 be discovered. As soon as they were alone, the bride- 
 groom asked her, "What did you say to the nettle-bush 
 which we passed on the road ?" 
 II.— 18 
 
410 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 "To what nettle-bush?" she asked, "I spoke to no 
 nettle-bush !" 
 
 "If jou did not, you are not my real Bride," said he. 
 Thereupon she left the room, and seeking Jungfrau Maleen, 
 asked her what she had said to the nettle-bush. She sang 
 the words over — 
 
 " Nettle-busb, oh nettle bush. 
 Have you forgot the day 
 When I cooked your juicy roots, 
 My hunger sharp to stay ?" 
 
 And as soon as she had done, the Bride ran back to the 
 room and repeated them to the Prince. "But what did 
 you say to the church-steps as we passed up them?" he 
 inquired. " To the church-steps !" she echoed in surprise; 
 
 spoke to none." "Then you are not the right Bride," 
 said the Bridegroom again. " I will go and ask my Maid 
 what my thoughts were," said the Bride; and seeking 
 Jungfrau Maleen, she inquired of her what she had said. 
 The Maid repeated the words — 
 
 " Church-steps, break not, I pray, 
 The true Bride comes not to-day." 
 
 " That shall cost you your life !" exclaimed the Bride ; 
 but, hastening back to the chamber, she told the Prince 
 the words which she had just heard. "But what did 
 you say to the church-door?" he inquired next. "To 
 the church-door!" she replied; "I spoke to no church- 
 door." 
 
 " Then you are not the right Bride," said the Prince. 
 Thereupon away she went a third time to Jungfrau Maleen, 
 and inquired what she had said. The Maid repeated the 
 words — 
 
 " Church-door, break not, I pray, 
 The true Bride comes not to-day." 
 
 " Your neck shall be broken for saying so," exclaimed the 
 
JUNGFRAU MaLEEN. 
 
 411 
 
 Bride in a rage ; but hastening back to the chamber, she 
 repeated the words she had just heard to the Bridegroom. 
 
 "But where have you put the chain I gave you at 
 the church-door?" asked the Prince. 
 
 " What chain ? you gave me no chain !" exclaimed the 
 Bride. " But I hung it round your neck myself; and fast 
 ened it myself; and if you do not remember that, you are 
 not the right Bride." With that he tore the veil from her 
 face, and when he saw her extreme ugliness, he exclaimed, 
 springing away from her, " Who are you ? whence come 
 you?" 
 
 " I am your betrothed Bride," she replied ; " but be- 
 cause I feared the people would mock me if I showed 
 myself to them, I ordered our Kitchen-Girl to put on my 
 dresses, and to go to church in my place." 
 
 " Where is the Girl, then, now ? Go and fetch her im- 
 mediately," said the Prince. 
 
 She went out and told the other servants that the 
 Kitchen-Girl was an enchantress, and that they must drag 
 her away from the court and cut off her head. The ser- 
 vants soon caught the Maiden, and would have done as 
 they were told ; but she cried so loudly for help, that the 
 Prince heard her voice, and hastening out of his room gave 
 orders for the Maiden's instant release. Lights were im- 
 mediately brought, and then the Prince perceived round 
 the Maiden's neck the golden chain which he had given 
 her at the church-door. 
 
 " You are the true Bride who went to church with me," 
 he exclaimed ; " come with me now." As soon as they 
 were alone, he said to her, " On the way to church you 
 named Jungfrau Maleen, who was once betrothed to me. 
 Now, if I thought it possible, I should say that you were 
 that Maiden, for you are so like to her." 
 
 " I am Jungfrau Maleen," she replied, " and for seven 
 long years have I been shut up in darkness ; hunger and 
 
412 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 thirst, too, I have suffered, and in poverty and distress 
 have I lived ever since ; but on this day the sun shines 
 again. I did indeed accompany you to church, and it was 
 to me that you were married." 
 
 So the Prince recovered his true Bride, Jungfrau 
 Maleen, and with her lived happily for many long years. 
 
 But the false Bride had her head cut off. 
 
GXG. 
 
 The Boots made of Buffalo-Leather. 
 
 SOLDIER who is afraid of nothing, cares for nothing. 
 
 Now such an one had received his discharge, and be- 
 cause he had learnt no trade, he could earn no money; 
 and so he wandered about hither and thither, begging alms 
 of good people. Over his shoulders hung an old weather- 
 proof cloak, and he had still left a pair of Buffalo-leather 
 Boots. One day, thus equipped, he went on walking 
 through the fields without attending to the guide-posts, 
 and at last he came to an immense forest. He did not 
 know where he was, but he saw a man sitting upon the 
 trunk of a tree, who was well dressed in a green hunts- 
 man's coat. The Soldier held out his hand to him, and 
 then laying himself down on the grass stretched out his 
 legs. "I. see you have a pair of fine shining boots on," 
 said he to the Huntsman ; " but if you had to walk about 
 as much as I, they would not last you very long. Look at 
 niine ! they are made of Buffalo-leather, and although they 
 have served me a long time, they would still 'go through 
 thick and thin.'" The Hnntsman made no answer; and 
 after a while the Soldier go*t up and said, " I can stop here 
 no longer ; hunger urges me forward ; but pray, Brother 
 Thin-Boots, where does this path lead ?" " I do not know 
 myself," replied the Huntsman ; " I have lost myself in this 
 forest." " Then you are in the same plight as I," returned 
 the Soldier ; " like and like please one another ; we will 
 remain together and seek the way." The Huntsman only 
 laughed, but they set out together, and kept on till night- 
 fall. " We shall not get out of this forest to-night," ex- 
 claimed the Soldier at last ; " but I can see a light glim- 
 
il4 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 mering in the distance, where the}^ will give us something 
 to eat." It was a stone cottage, and when they knocked 
 at the door, an old Woman opened it. " We are seeking 
 a night's lodging," said the Soldier to her, " and some fod- 
 der for our stomachs, for mine is as empty as my purse." 
 
 "You cannot stop here," answered the old Woman; 
 " this is a robbers' house, and you will be wise if you go 
 away before they return, or you will be lost." 
 
 "It cannot be worse," said the Soldier; "for two days 
 I have not eaten a morsel ; and so it is all one to me 
 whether I perish in this house or out in the forest. I shall 
 come in and risk it !" 
 
 The Huntsman did not wish to follow, but the Soldier 
 drawing his arm within his own, drew him in, saying, 
 " Come, comrade ; we will suffer together !" 
 
 " The old Woman pitied them, and told them to creep 
 behind the oven, and then when the robbers were satisfied 
 and slept, she would give them something to eat. Scarcely 
 had they hid snugly in the corner, than in came the twelve 
 robbers ; and placing themselves round the table, demanded 
 their supper with harsh language. The old Woman soon 
 brought in an immense dish of baked meat, and the rob- 
 bers prepared to fall to. Soon the smell of the savoury 
 mess ascended the Soldier's nose, and he said to the Hunts- 
 man, "I can hold out no longer, I must sit down at the 
 table and take a share !" " You will lose your life !" whis- 
 pered the Huntsman, holding him fast by the arm. The 
 Soldier began to cough loudly, and as soon as the robbers 
 heard this, they threw aside their knives and forks, and 
 rising hastily from the table discovered the pair behind the 
 oven. " Aha, you rascals !" they called; " what are you 
 Bitting there in that corner for? Are you sent as spies? 
 Just wait a bit and you shall learn how to fly on a bare 
 branch !" " Oh ! have some manners, if you please !" re- 
 turned the Soldier; "give us something to eat first, and 
 
The Boots made of Buffalo-Leather. 415 
 
 afterwards jou shall do what you like with us !" The rob- 
 bers were astonished to hear such bold words, and the 
 Captain said ; " Good ! I see you are not afraid ; eat you 
 shall, but afterwards you shall die." " That is to be seen," 
 muttered the Soldier; and sitting down at the table, he 
 began to cut and eat in earnest. "Brother Thin-Boots," 
 he exclaimed to the Huntsraan, "come and eat; you are 
 hungry as well as I, and a better joint than this you could 
 not have at home." The Huntsman however refused ; and 
 the robbers looking at the Soldier, said to one another, 
 " This fellow makes no ceremony." When he had done 
 eating, he asked for something to drink, saying, " Well ! 
 the meat was good enough ; now let us have a good draught 
 of wine." The Captain happened to be in a good humour, 
 and so he told the old Woman to fetch a bottle of the very 
 best wine out of the cellar. When it was brought, the 
 Soldier drew out the cork so that it made a great noise ; 
 and then going to the Huntsman he whispered to him, 
 "Pay attention, my brother, and you shall see a grand 
 wonder; I will now drink the health of the whole com- 
 pany!" So saying, he swung the bottle over the heads of 
 the robbers, at the same time shouting out, " You shall all 
 live, but with your mouths open and your right hands up- 
 lifted !" Scarcely were the words out of his mouth, than 
 the robbers all sat motionless as if they were made of 
 stone, their mouths open and their right arms stretched 
 out. "I see," said the Huntsman to the Soldier, "you can 
 do any other trick you please; but, come now, let us go 
 home." " Oh no. Brother Thin-Shoes !" replied the Soldier, 
 ^' that were too early to march away ; we have beaten the 
 enemy and now we must take the booty. Come now, eat 
 and drink what you like." So they stopped there three 
 days, and every day the old Woman had to fetch up fresh 
 wine. The fourth day the Soldier said to his companion, 
 "It is time now to break the spell, but that we may have 
 
416 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 a short march the old Woman shall show us the nearest 
 road." 
 
 As soon as they arrived at the town the Soldier went to 
 his old comrades, and told them that he had found in the 
 forest a nest of thieves, and if they wished he would show 
 them where. They agreed to go, and the Soldier pur- 
 suaded the Huntsman to accompany him again, and see 
 how the robbers behaved when they were caught. So first 
 he placed the soldiers round the robbers in a circle, and 
 then drinking a draught of wine out of the bottle, he 
 swung it over them and exclaimed, "You shall all live." 
 In a moment they had the power of motion again, but they 
 were soon thrown down and bound hand and foot with 
 ropes. Then they were thrown like sacks upon a waggon, 
 and the Soldier bade his comrades drive it away to the 
 prison. But the Huntsman, taking aside one of the soldiers, 
 gave him a commission and sent him off to the town. 
 They walked on, and by-and-by, as they approached the 
 town, the Soldier perceived an immense crowd of men 
 rushing out at the gates, hurraing loudly and waving green 
 branches of trees in the air. Soon he saw that it was the 
 body-guards of the King who were approaching them ; and 
 turning to the Huntsman he asked, "What does this mean?" 
 " Do you not know," he replied, " that the King has been 
 absent from his kingdom for a length of time ? To-day he 
 returns and these are coming out to meet him." " But 
 where is the King? I do not see him," said the Soldier. 
 " Here he is," answered the Huntsman ; " I am the King, 
 and I caused my return to be proclaimed." With these 
 words he opened his hunting-coat and showed his royal 
 dress. The Soldier was frightened, and falling on his 
 knees he begged the King's pardon for having treated him 
 so unceremoniously, and called him by such names. The 
 King, however, holding out his hand, said to him, " You 
 are a brave Soldier, and have saved my 'ife ; you shall en- 
 
The Boots made of Buffalo-Leather. 417 
 
 dure poverty no longer ; I will care for you, and if at any 
 time you need a piece of meat as good as we had in the 
 robber-house, come to my palace and dine with me. But 
 before you drink healths, you must ask my permission." 
 
CXCI. 
 
 Joseph in the Forest. 
 
 T^HEEE was once upon a time a Mother who had three 
 Daughters, the eldest of whom was stupid and bad- 
 tempered; the second, however, was much better, though 
 she, too, had her faults; but the youngest was a pious, 
 good child. The Mother was odd in her tastes, for she loved 
 the eldest the most, and could not endure her youngest 
 Daughter; and therefore she often sent the poor girl out 
 into the forest, where she hoped to be rid from her, hoping 
 that she would wander about so as to lose herself. Her 
 guardian angel, however, (and such an one watches over 
 every good child,) did not forsake her, but led her always 
 along the right road. Once the angel seemed to have for- 
 saken her, and the Child wandered on by herself She 
 walked on till evening, and then saw a light burning in the 
 distance. She went up to it, and found a little cottage, 
 and knocking at the door it opened, and she came to a 
 second door, where she knocked again. An old man, with 
 a snow-white beard and a venerable countenance, opened 
 it, and he was no other than St. Joseph. In a friendly 
 voice he said, " Come in, dear Child ; sit down on my stool 
 by the fire and warm yourself ; I will fetch you some clear 
 water if you are thirsty, but I have nothing for you to eat 
 but a couple of roots, and those you must scrape and cook 
 for yourself" With these words St. Joseph handed her the 
 roots, and carefully peeling them, she took up a small 
 
Joseph m the Forest. 
 
 419 
 
 saucepan and put them in. Then she added to them some 
 water and the bread which her Mother had given her, and 
 put them over the fire till they were boiled down to a soup. 
 When it was done, St. Joseph said, " I am so hungry, give 
 me some of your broth to eat," This the Girl very willingly 
 did, and gave him more than she took for herself Still, 
 however, with God's blessing, she had quite sufficient. As 
 soon as they had finished their supper, St. Joseph said, "It 
 is time now to go to bed, but as I have only one bed, do 
 you lie down in that, and I will make my bed of straw." 
 
 No, no," she replied ; " keep you your own bed, the straw 
 is tender enough ' for me." St. Joseph, however, would 
 carry her to the bed, and there laying her down, she went 
 to sleep as soon as she had said her prayers. The next 
 morning, when she awoke, she would have saicj, "Good 
 morning!" to St. Joseph, but she could nowhere see him. 
 She arose and looked for him, but she could not find him 
 in any corner; and while she searched she perceived hang- 
 ing behind the door a sack full of money, on which it was 
 written that it was for the Maiden who had slept there that 
 night. She took the sack, and jumping merrily along 
 under its weight, took it to her Mother, who was obliged 
 for once to be satisfied with her youngest Daughter. 
 
 The following day the second Daughter also took a fancy 
 to go into the forest, and her Mother gave her a much 
 larger pancake and a piece of bread. It happened to her 
 the same as it had done to her Sister. Towards evening 
 she came to the cottage where St. Joseph lived, and he told 
 her to make herself some soup. As soon as it was ready 
 he said as before, "I pray you give me some of that to eat, 
 for I am so hungry." The child told him to eat with her; 
 and when afterwards he proposed to give her his bed and 
 lie himself on the straw, she said to him, " Share the bed with 
 me, there is room enough for us both !" But St. Joseph 
 laid her down in the bed by herself and slept on the straw, 
 
420 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 and by the next morning, when she awoke, he had disap- 
 peared. Behind the door she found a small bag of gold, 
 as long as her hand, and on it was written that it was for 
 the Maiden who had slept there that night. She took the 
 bag and hastened home to her Mother, but she kept secretly 
 two pieces of the gold for herself 
 
 Now, the eldest Sister became covetous, and the next 
 morning she prepared to go to the forest. Her Mother gave 
 her several pancakes, as many as she liked, and not only 
 bread, but cheese. About evening she arrived, like her 
 Sisters, at the cottage of St. Joseph, and found him there. She 
 was also bidden to cook her soup, and when it was ready St. 
 Joseph said, " I am so hungrj^, give me some of your soup 
 to eat." But the Maiden replied, " Wait until I am satis- 
 fied, and then what I leave you shall have." So she went 
 on eating till she had nearly finished, and St. Joseph had 
 only the scrapings of the basin. The good old man, how- 
 ever, offered her his bed, and said he would lie on the 
 straw, and this kindness she took as if it were her due, and 
 she let the Holy Joseph lie down on his hard couch. The 
 next morning, when she awoke, he had disappeared, but 
 she cared nothing about that, and thought only of the bag 
 of gold, which she expected to find behind the door. She 
 certainly did see something lying there, but because she 
 could not exactly tell what it was, she bent herself down so 
 that her nose touched it. It stuck to her nose, and when she 
 stood up and looked at herself she found to her terror that 
 it was a second nose growing from the first ! She began to 
 howl and shriek, but to what purpose ? she could not help 
 seeing her nose, because it was so long. She ran out of the 
 house with a loud cry, and ran on till she met St. Joseph, 
 and as soon as she saw him she fell down on her knees and 
 begged him to take away the second nose. Out of pity for 
 her, he did at last remove it and gave her two pennies. As 
 soon as she reached home her Mother met her at the door. 
 
Joseph in the Forest. 
 
 421 
 
 and asked her what she had received. She told a lie, and 
 answered, " A great sack fall of money, bat I lost it on 
 the way." " Lost it !" repeated the Mother, "then let us 
 look for it again;" and catching her Daughter's hand, she 
 dragged her back to search. At first she wept and would 
 not go, but at length she consented and on they went. At 
 every step they took, snakes and lizards started up, so 
 many that they could not guard them off; and soon one 
 stuck its fang into the breast of the Daughter and she fell 
 dead, and then another pierced the foot of the Mother be- 
 cause she had not brought her Child up better. 
 
CXCII. 
 
 Humility and Poverty lead to 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a King's Son, who went 
 out into the fields sad and thoughtful. He looked up 
 at the sky, which was so beautifully blue and clear, and 
 said with a sigh, " Ah ! how happy must they be who are 
 in heaven." At the same moment he perceived a grey old 
 Man, who was walking the same way, and he asked him 
 the question how he could go to heaven. " Through 
 humility and poverty," answered the old Man. " Pat on 
 my old clothes, and wander about the world for seven 
 years to learn what misery is : take no money with you, 
 but when you are hungry, beg a piece of bread of chari- 
 table people, and thus yoa will approach gradually the 
 gate of heaven." 
 
 Thus advised, the Prince drew off his fine clothing, and 
 putting on instead the Beggar's rags, he went forth into the 
 world, and endured much misery. He took only the 
 scantiest meals, spoke never a word, but prayed daily to 
 God, to take him, if he pleased, to Heaven. When seven 
 years had passed, he returned to his father's house, but no- 
 body recognised him. He told the servants to go and tell 
 his parents that he was returned ; but the servants would 
 not believe him, and only laughed at his pretensions. 
 "Then go and tell my brothers," said he, "that they may 
 come to me, for I should like to see them once again." 
 This request they also refused ; but at length one went and 
 told the King's children, but they troubled not their heads 
 about it. Then he wrote a letter to his mother, and de- 
 picted all his misery, but said nothing about his being her 
 
 Heaven. 
 
Humility and Poverty lead to Heaven. 423 
 
 son. The Queen pitying his misfortunes, caused a place 
 to be made for him below the staircase, and there two ser- 
 vants daily had to bring him food. But one of them was 
 wicked at heart, and asked, "What shall the Beggar dc 
 with good food?" and so he kept it for himself, or gave it 
 to the dogs, while he took the poor weak, half-star vpd 
 Prince nothing but water. The other servant, however, 
 was honest, and took him daily what he received for him. 
 It was only a little, but still enough to sustain life for a 
 long while ; and with it he was quite content, though he 
 grew weaker and weaker. But when his illness increased, 
 he desired to receive the last rites of the church, and while 
 the service was performing, all at once every bell in the city 
 and the country round tolled. As soon as the service was 
 over, the Priest went to the poor Beggar, and found him 
 lying dead, holding in one hand a rose, and in the other a 
 lily ; and near him lay a paper whereon was written his 
 history. 
 
 And after he was buried, there grew on one side of his 
 grave a rose, and on the other a lily. 
 
cxcin. 
 
 The Three Green Twigs. 
 
 ONCE upon a time there lived a Hermit at the foot of 
 a mountain near the forest, who spent his time in 
 prayer and good works, and each evening he carried up 
 the hill a pail of water as an act of penitence. Many a 
 beast refreshed himself from this pail, and many a flower 
 also was revived, for on the height blew continually a hot 
 wind, which dried the air and the earth. The wild fowls 
 also who avoided human beino-s would circle down near 
 the water and dip their long beaks into it. And because 
 the Hermit was so pious, unseen an Angel always accom- 
 panied him up the hill, counting his steps, and bringing 
 him, when the work was done, a meal, like as was done to 
 that Prophet who, at God's command, was fed by the ravens. 
 Thus the Hermit grew older and more pious every day ; 
 and once it happened that as he ascended the hill, he saw 
 at a distance a poor sinner led to the gallows. As he 
 looked he said, "Now is he judged rightly!" and as soon as 
 he had so said the Angel left him and brought him no food 
 that evening. He grew frightened, and tried in his heart 
 to think how he had offended God ; but he could remem- 
 ber nothing. He ceased to eat or drink, and, throwing 
 himself on the earth, prayed all day and night long. 
 Once, as he was bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a 
 little Bird singing clearly and beautifully, and the sound so 
 disturbed him that he exclaimed, "Alas ! you sing merrily, 
 because you are happy ; but I would that you could tell 
 me wherein I have offended God that I might do penance, 
 and so my heart become glad again !" Presently the Bird 
 spoke, " You did wrong, because you condemned a poor 
 
The Three Green Twigs. 
 
 425 
 
 criminal whom jou saw led to the gallows, and therefore 
 was God angry, because to him alone belongs the right of 
 judgment. Still, if you are penitent and confess your 
 sins, God will yet pardon you." At the moment the Bird 
 finished speaking the Angel stood once more beside the 
 Hermit, and giving a withered branch, said to him, " You 
 shall carry this till Three Green Twigs spring from it ; 
 and at night when you sleep you must always place it be- 
 neath your head. Your bread you must beg from door to 
 door, and you must not remain in any house more than 
 one night. This is the penance which God imposes on 
 you." 
 
 So the Hermit took the dry branch and went back to 
 the world which he had not seen for so long. He ate and 
 drank nothing but what was given to him at the door of 
 charitable people, although at many houses his prayer was 
 refused, and many a door was shut against him, and thus 
 he often passed whole days without a crumb of bread. One 
 day he had thus passed, door after door was shut against 
 him, and nobody would give him anything, or shelter him 
 for the night; so he went into the wood and found a 
 tumble-down cottage, in which an old Woman was sitting. 
 He went in and said to her, "Pray shelter me this night, 
 my good woman." She replied, "No, I dare not, even if 
 I would ; I have three sons, wild and wicked, who, if they 
 come home from their plundering and find you here, will 
 kill us both." " Let me stop, nevertheless," entreated the 
 Hermit ; " they will do nothing to either you or me." So 
 the old Woman took compassion on him, and bade him sit 
 down. He laid himself down in a corner with the dry 
 branch under his head, and when the old Woman observed 
 this she inquired the reason, and he told her that he carried 
 it as a penance, and was forced to use it every night for his 
 pillow. "I have offended God," he said, "because, when 
 I saw a poor criminal led to the gallows, I said that justice 
 
4:26 Gkimm's Household Stories. 
 
 was done to him. The old Woman began to weep bitterly 
 as he finished his tale, and exclaimed, "Alas! if God so 
 punishes for a single word, how will he judge mj sons 
 when they appear before him !" 
 
 At midnight the Eobbers came home shouting and 
 laughing. They lighted a fire, and as the blaze lit up the 
 cottage they saw the old Man lying in one corner. In a 
 rage they started up and asked their Mother, " Who is 
 this man ? Have we not forbidden you ever to allow any 
 one to enter our house ?" 
 
 "Let him be, he is only a poor sinner doing penance 
 for his sins," pleaded the Mother. " What has he done ?" 
 asked the Robbers ; and turning to the old Man they said, 
 " Tell us your crimes." So the Hermit lifted himself up, 
 and related how he had sinned by saying a few words, for 
 which God was very angry with him, and had made him 
 do penance. As he finished his tale the hearts of the Three 
 Brothers were powerfully affected, and they were so fright- 
 ened with the remembrance of their daily lives that they 
 began to repent with heartfelt sorrow. Meanwhile, the 
 old Hermit having thus turned the three sinners from their 
 evil ways, laid down to sleep. In the morning he was 
 found dead, and from the dry branch which formed his 
 pillow Three Green Twigs had burst forth. 
 
 And by this it was known that God had fully pardoned 
 him. 
 
CXCIV. 
 
 The Old Widow. 
 
 IN a certain large town there once lived an Old Widow, 
 who sat every evening alone in her room, thinking how, 
 one by one, she had lost and buried her husband, her two 
 sons, and all her relations and friends, so that now she was 
 quite alone in the world. Her heart grew very sorrowful 
 with these thoughts ; but the loss of her two sons troubled 
 her the most, and she wept for them very bitterly. She 
 sat quite still, lost in thought, and all at once she heard the 
 bell ringing for early prayers in the church. She won- 
 dered how she could have passed all the night in sorrow- 
 ing; but lighting her lantern she went to the church. As 
 she entered she saw it was already lit up ; but not as usual 
 with tapers, but a glimmering light shone through the whole 
 building. It was already filled with worshippers, and every 
 seat was occupied, so that when the Poor Widow went to 
 her accustomed place, she found it already filled. As she 
 looked round at the people, she perceived that they were 
 her deceased relations, who sat there in their old every-day 
 dresses ; but with pale countenances. They neither spoke 
 nor sang, but a gentle whisper and hum floated through 
 the church. Presently an Aunt of the Poor Widow got 
 up and said to her, " Look towards the altar, and you will 
 see your two sons." She looked and saw her two children, 
 the one hanging on the gallows, and the other broken on 
 the wheel. "See," continued the Aunt, "thus would it have 
 happened to them, had life been given to them, instead of 
 their being mercifully taken by God when they were in- 
 nocent children." With trembling steps the Old Widow 
 
428 
 
 Grimm's Household Stories. 
 
 went home, and on her knees thanked God that he had 
 dealt so much better with her than her heart had ima- 
 gined. But on the third day she laid down on her bed 
 and died. 
 
cxcv. 
 
 The Golden Key, 
 
 ONE winter, when a deep snow was lying on the ground 
 a poor Boy had to go out in a sledge to fetch wood. 
 As soon as he had collected together a sufficient quantity, 
 he thought that before he returned home he would make a 
 fire to warm himself at, because his limbs were so frozen. 
 So sweeping the snow away he made a clear space, and 
 presently found a small gold key. As soon as he picked it 
 up, he began to think that where there was a key there 
 must also be a lock ; and digging in the earth he found a 
 small iron chest. "I hope the key will fit," thought he to 
 himself; "there are certainly great treasures in this box !" 
 He looked all over it, but could not find any key-hole ; till 
 at last he did discover one, which was, however, so small, 
 that it could scarcely be seen. He tried the key, and be- 
 hold I it fitted exactly. Then he turned it once round, 
 and now we must wait until he has quite unlocked it, and 
 lifted the lid up, and then we shall learn what wonderful 
 treasures were in the chest ! 
 
CXCVI. 
 
 The Rose. 
 
 ^ I ^IIERE was once a poor Woman who had two Children, 
 and the youngest went every day into the forest to 
 fetch wood. Once, wh^n it had strayed far away, looking 
 for branches, a little, but strong and healthy Child came to 
 it and helped it to pick up wood, and carried the bundles 
 up to the house ; but then in less than a moment he was 
 gone. The Child told its Mother of this ; but she would 
 not believe it. At last the Child brought home a Rose, 
 and told its Mother that the beautiful Child had given it, 
 and had said that when the Rose was in full bloom then he 
 would come again. The Mother put the Rose into water 
 One morning the Child did not get out of bed, and the 
 Mother went to it and found it dead ; but it lay looking 
 quite happy and pleased, and the Rose that same morning 
 was in full bloom. 
 
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