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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Grimms    Fairy Tales  by The Brothers Grimm

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Title  Grimms    Fairy Tales

Author  The Brothers Grimm

Translator  Edgar Taylor and Marian Edwardes

Posting Date  December           EBook       
Release Date  April      
Last Updated  November        

Language  English

Character set encoding  UTF  

    START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRIMMS    FAIRY TALES    




Produced by Emma Dudding  John Bickers  and Dagny





FAIRY TALES

By The Brothers Grimm



PREPARER   S NOTE

     The text is based on translations from
     the Grimms    Kinder und Hausmarchen by
     Edgar Taylor and Marian Edwardes 




CONTENTS 

     THE GOLDEN BIRD
     HANS IN LUCK
     JORINDA AND JORINDEL
     THE TRAVELLING MUSICIANS
     OLD SULTAN
     THE STRAW  THE COAL  AND THE BEAN
     BRIAR ROSE
     THE DOG AND THE SPARROW
     THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES
     THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE
     THE WILLOW WREN AND THE BEAR
     THE FROG PRINCE
     CAT AND MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP
     THE GOOSE GIRL
     THE ADVENTURES OF CHANTICLEER AND PARTLET
          HOW THEY WENT TO THE MOUNTAINS TO EAT NUTS
          HOW CHANTICLEER AND PARTLET WENT TO VISIT MR KORBES
     RAPUNZEL
     FUNDEVOGEL
     THE VALIANT LITTLE TAILOR
     HANSEL AND GRETEL
     THE MOUSE  THE BIRD  AND THE SAUSAGE
     MOTHER HOLLE
     LITTLE RED CAP  LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD 
     THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM
     TOM THUMB
     RUMPELSTILTSKIN
     CLEVER GRETEL
     THE OLD MAN AND HIS GRANDSON
     THE LITTLE PEASANT
     FREDERICK AND CATHERINE
     SWEETHEART ROLAND
     SNOWDROP
     THE PINK
     CLEVER ELSIE
     THE MISER IN THE BUSH
     ASHPUTTEL
     THE WHITE SNAKE
     THE WOLF AND THE SEVEN LITTLE KIDS
     THE QUEEN BEE
     THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
     THE JUNIPER TREE
     the juniper tree 
     THE TURNIP
     CLEVER HANS
     THE THREE LANGUAGES
     THE FOX AND THE CAT
     THE FOUR CLEVER BROTHERS
     LILY AND THE LION
     THE FOX AND THE HORSE
     THE BLUE LIGHT
     THE RAVEN
     THE GOLDEN GOOSE
     THE WATER OF LIFE
     THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN
     THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN
     DOCTOR KNOWALL
     THE SEVEN RAVENS
     THE WEDDING OF MRS FOX
     FIRST STORY
     SECOND STORY
     THE SALAD
     THE STORY OF THE YOUTH WHO WENT FORTH TO LEARN WHAT FEAR WAS
     KING GRISLY BEARD
     IRON HANS
     CAT SKIN
     SNOW WHITE AND ROSE RED




THE BROTHERS GRIMM FAIRY TALES




THE GOLDEN BIRD

A certain king had a beautiful garden  and in the garden stood a tree
which bore golden apples  These apples were always counted  and about
the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one
of them was gone  The king became very angry at this  and ordered the
gardener to keep watch all night under the tree  The gardener set his
eldest son to watch  but about twelve o   clock he fell asleep  and in
the morning another of the apples was missing  Then the second son was
ordered to watch  and at midnight he too fell asleep  and in the morning
another apple was gone  Then the third son offered to keep watch  but
the gardener at first would not let him  for fear some harm should come
to him  however  at last he consented  and the young man laid himself
under the tree to watch  As the clock struck twelve he heard a rustling
noise in the air  and a bird came flying that was of pure gold  and as
it was snapping at one of the apples with its beak  the gardener   s son
jumped up and shot an arrow at it  But the arrow did the bird no harm 
only it dropped a golden feather from its tail  and then flew away 
The golden feather was brought to the king in the morning  and all the
council was called together  Everyone agreed that it was worth more than
all the wealth of the kingdom  but the king said     One feather is of no
use to me  I must have the whole bird    

Then the gardener   s eldest son set out and thought to find the golden
bird very easily  and when he had gone but a little way  he came to a
wood  and by the side of the wood he saw a fox sitting  so he took his
bow and made ready to shoot at it  Then the fox said     Do not shoot me 
for I will give you good counsel  I know what your business is  and
that you want to find the golden bird  You will reach a village in the
evening  and when you get there  you will see two inns opposite to each
other  one of which is very pleasant and beautiful to look at  go not in
there  but rest for the night in the other  though it may appear to you
to be very poor and mean     But the son thought to himself     What can
such a beast as this know about the matter     So he shot his arrow at
the fox  but he missed it  and it set up its tail above its back and
ran into the wood  Then he went his way  and in the evening came to
the village where the two inns were  and in one of these were people
singing  and dancing  and feasting  but the other looked very dirty 
and poor     I should be very silly     said he     if I went to that shabby
house  and left this charming place     so he went into the smart house 
and ate and drank at his ease  and forgot the bird  and his country too 

Time passed on  and as the eldest son did not come back  and no tidings
were heard of him  the second son set out  and the same thing happened
to him  He met the fox  who gave him the good advice  but when he came
to the two inns  his eldest brother was standing at the window where
the merrymaking was  and called to him to come in  and he could not
withstand the temptation  but went in  and forgot the golden bird and
his country in the same manner 

Time passed on again  and the youngest son too wished to set out into
the wide world to seek for the golden bird  but his father would not
listen to it for a long while  for he was very fond of his son  and
was afraid that some ill luck might happen to him also  and prevent his
coming back  However  at last it was agreed he should go  for he would
not rest at home  and as he came to the wood  he met the fox  and heard
the same good counsel  But he was thankful to the fox  and did not
attempt his life as his brothers had done  so the fox said     Sit upon my
tail  and you will travel faster     So he sat down  and the fox began to
run  and away they went over stock and stone so quick that their hair
whistled in the wind 

When they came to the village  the son followed the fox   s counsel  and
without looking about him went to the shabby inn and rested there all
night at his ease  In the morning came the fox again and met him as he
was beginning his journey  and said     Go straight forward  till you come
to a castle  before which lie a whole troop of soldiers fast asleep and
snoring  take no notice of them  but go into the castle and pass on and
on till you come to a room  where the golden bird sits in a wooden cage 
close by it stands a beautiful golden cage  but do not try to take the
bird out of the shabby cage and put it into the handsome one  otherwise
you will repent it     Then the fox stretched out his tail again  and the
young man sat himself down  and away they went over stock and stone till
their hair whistled in the wind 

Before the castle gate all was as the fox had said  so the son went in
and found the chamber where the golden bird hung in a wooden cage  and
below stood the golden cage  and the three golden apples that had been
lost were lying close by it  Then thought he to himself     It will be a
very droll thing to bring away such a fine bird in this shabby cage     so
he opened the door and took hold of it and put it into the golden cage 
But the bird set up such a loud scream that all the soldiers awoke  and
they took him prisoner and carried him before the king  The next morning
the court sat to judge him  and when all was heard  it sentenced him to
die  unless he should bring the king the golden horse which could run as
swiftly as the wind  and if he did this  he was to have the golden bird
given him for his own 

So he set out once more on his journey  sighing  and in great despair 
when on a sudden his friend the fox met him  and said     You see now
what has happened on account of your not listening to my counsel  I will
still  however  tell you how to find the golden horse  if you will do as
I bid you  You must go straight on till you come to the castle where the
horse stands in his stall  by his side will lie the groom fast asleep
and snoring  take away the horse quietly  but be sure to put the old
leathern saddle upon him  and not the golden one that is close by it    
Then the son sat down on the fox   s tail  and away they went over stock
and stone till their hair whistled in the wind 

All went right  and the groom lay snoring with his hand upon the golden
saddle  But when the son looked at the horse  he thought it a great pity
to put the leathern saddle upon it     I will give him the good one    
said he     I am sure he deserves it     As he took up the golden saddle the
groom awoke and cried out so loud  that all the guards ran in and took
him prisoner  and in the morning he was again brought before the court
to be judged  and was sentenced to die  But it was agreed  that  if he
could bring thither the beautiful princess  he should live  and have the
bird and the horse given him for his own 

Then he went his way very sorrowful  but the old fox came and said     Why
did not you listen to me  If you had  you would have carried away
both the bird and the horse  yet will I once more give you counsel  Go
straight on  and in the evening you will arrive at a castle  At twelve
o   clock at night the princess goes to the bathing house  go up to her
and give her a kiss  and she will let you lead her away  but take care
you do not suffer her to go and take leave of her father and mother    
Then the fox stretched out his tail  and so away they went over stock
and stone till their hair whistled again 

As they came to the castle  all was as the fox had said  and at twelve
o   clock the young man met the princess going to the bath and gave her the
kiss  and she agreed to run away with him  but begged with many tears
that he would let her take leave of her father  At first he refused 
but she wept still more and more  and fell at his feet  till at last
he consented  but the moment she came to her father   s house the guards
awoke and he was taken prisoner again 

Then he was brought before the king  and the king said     You shall never
have my daughter unless in eight days you dig away the hill that stops
the view from my window     Now this hill was so big that the whole world
could not take it away  and when he had worked for seven days  and had
done very little  the fox came and said     Lie down and go to sleep  I
will work for you     And in the morning he awoke and the hill was gone 
so he went merrily to the king  and told him that now that it was
removed he must give him the princess 

Then the king was obliged to keep his word  and away went the young man
and the princess  and the fox came and said to him     We will have all
three  the princess  the horse  and the bird        Ah     said the young man 
   that would be a great thing  but how can you contrive it    

   If you will only listen     said the fox     it can be done  When you come
to the king  and he asks for the beautiful princess  you must say     Here
she is     Then he will be very joyful  and you will mount the golden
horse that they are to give you  and put out your hand to take leave of
them  but shake hands with the princess last  Then lift her quickly on
to the horse behind you  clap your spurs to his side  and gallop away as
fast as you can    

All went right  then the fox said     When you come to the castle where
the bird is  I will stay with the princess at the door  and you will
ride in and speak to the king  and when he sees that it is the right
horse  he will bring out the bird  but you must sit still  and say that
you want to look at it  to see whether it is the true golden bird  and
when you get it into your hand  ride away    

This  too  happened as the fox said  they carried off the bird  the
princess mounted again  and they rode on to a great wood  Then the fox
came  and said     Pray kill me  and cut off my head and my feet     But the
young man refused to do it  so the fox said     I will at any rate give
you good counsel  beware of two things  ransom no one from the gallows 
and sit down by the side of no river     Then away he went     Well    
thought the young man     it is no hard matter to keep that advice    

He rode on with the princess  till at last he came to the village where
he had left his two brothers  And there he heard a great noise and
uproar  and when he asked what was the matter  the people said     Two men
are going to be hanged     As he came nearer  he saw that the two men were
his brothers  who had turned robbers  so he said     Cannot they in any
way be saved     But the people said    No     unless he would bestow all his
money upon the rascals and buy their liberty  Then he did not stay to
think about the matter  but paid what was asked  and his brothers were
given up  and went on with him towards their home 

And as they came to the wood where the fox first met them  it was so
cool and pleasant that the two brothers said     Let us sit down by the
side of the river  and rest a while  to eat and drink     So he said 
   Yes     and forgot the fox   s counsel  and sat down on the side of the
river  and while he suspected nothing  they came behind  and threw him
down the bank  and took the princess  the horse  and the bird  and went
home to the king their master  and said     All this have we won by our
labour     Then there was great rejoicing made  but the horse would not
eat  the bird would not sing  and the princess wept 

The youngest son fell to the bottom of the river   s bed  luckily it was
nearly dry  but his bones were almost broken  and the bank was so steep
that he could find no way to get out  Then the old fox came once more 
and scolded him for not following his advice  otherwise no evil would
have befallen him     Yet     said he     I cannot leave you here  so lay hold
of my tail and hold fast     Then he pulled him out of the river  and said
to him  as he got upon the bank     Your brothers have set watch to kill
you  if they find you in the kingdom     So he dressed himself as a poor
man  and came secretly to the king   s court  and was scarcely within the
doors when the horse began to eat  and the bird to sing  and the princess
left off weeping  Then he went to the king  and told him all his
brothers    roguery  and they were seized and punished  and he had the
princess given to him again  and after the king   s death he was heir to
his kingdom 

A long while after  he went to walk one day in the wood  and the old fox
met him  and besought him with tears in his eyes to kill him  and cut
off his head and feet  And at last he did so  and in a moment the
fox was changed into a man  and turned out to be the brother of the
princess  who had been lost a great many many years 




HANS IN LUCK

Some men are born to good luck  all they do or try to do comes
right  all that falls to them is so much gain  all their geese are
swans  all their cards are trumps  toss them which way you will  they
will always  like poor puss  alight upon their legs  and only move on so
much the faster  The world may very likely not always think of them as
they think of themselves  but what care they for the world  what can it
know about the matter 

One of these lucky beings was neighbour Hans  Seven long years he had
worked hard for his master  At last he said     Master  my time is up  I
must go home and see my poor mother once more  so pray pay me my wages
and let me go     And the master said     You have been a faithful and good
servant  Hans  so your pay shall be handsome     Then he gave him a lump
of silver as big as his head 

Hans took out his pocket handkerchief  put the piece of silver into it 
threw it over his shoulder  and jogged off on his road homewards  As he
went lazily on  dragging one foot after another  a man came in sight 
trotting gaily along on a capital horse     Ah     said Hans aloud     what a
fine thing it is to ride on horseback  There he sits as easy and happy
as if he was at home  in the chair by his fireside  he trips against no
stones  saves shoe leather  and gets on he hardly knows how     Hans did
not speak so softly but the horseman heard it all  and said     Well 
friend  why do you go on foot then        Ah     said he     I have this load to
carry  to be sure it is silver  but it is so heavy that I can   t hold up
my head  and you must know it hurts my shoulder sadly        What do you say
of making an exchange     said the horseman     I will give you my horse 
and you shall give me the silver  which will save you a great deal of
trouble in carrying such a heavy load about with you        With all my
heart     said Hans     but as you are so kind to me  I must tell you one
thing  you will have a weary task to draw that silver about with you    
However  the horseman got off  took the silver  helped Hans up  gave him
the bridle into one hand and the whip into the other  and said     When
you want to go very fast  smack your lips loudly together  and cry
   Jip       

Hans was delighted as he sat on the horse  drew himself up  squared his
elbows  turned out his toes  cracked his whip  and rode merrily off  one
minute whistling a merry tune  and another singing 

    No care and no sorrow 
  A fig for the morrow 
  We   ll laugh and be merry 
  Sing neigh down derry    

After a time he thought he should like to go a little faster  so he
smacked his lips and cried    Jip     Away went the horse full gallop  and
before Hans knew what he was about  he was thrown off  and lay on his
back by the road side  His horse would have ran off  if a shepherd who
was coming by  driving a cow  had not stopped it  Hans soon came to
himself  and got upon his legs again  sadly vexed  and said to the
shepherd     This riding is no joke  when a man has the luck to get upon
a beast like this that stumbles and flings him off as if it would break
his neck  However  I   m off now once for all  I like your cow now a great
deal better than this smart beast that played me this trick  and has
spoiled my best coat  you see  in this puddle  which  by the by  smells
not very like a nosegay  One can walk along at one   s leisure behind that
cow  keep good company  and have milk  butter  and cheese  every day 
into the bargain  What would I give to have such a prize        Well     said
the shepherd     if you are so fond of her  I will change my cow for your
horse  I like to do good to my neighbours  even though I lose by it
myself        Done     said Hans  merrily     What a noble heart that good man
has     thought he  Then the shepherd jumped upon the horse  wished Hans
and the cow good morning  and away he rode 

Hans brushed his coat  wiped his face and hands  rested a while  and
then drove off his cow quietly  and thought his bargain a very lucky
one     If I have only a piece of bread  and I certainly shall always be
able to get that   I can  whenever I like  eat my butter and cheese with
it  and when I am thirsty I can milk my cow and drink the milk  and what
can I wish for more     When he came to an inn  he halted  ate up all his
bread  and gave away his last penny for a glass of beer  When he had
rested himself he set off again  driving his cow towards his mother   s
village  But the heat grew greater as soon as noon came on  till at
last  as he found himself on a wide heath that would take him more than
an hour to cross  he began to be so hot and parched that his tongue
clave to the roof of his mouth     I can find a cure for this     thought
he     now I will milk my cow and quench my thirst     so he tied her to the
stump of a tree  and held his leathern cap to milk into  but not a drop
was to be had  Who would have thought that this cow  which was to bring
him milk and butter and cheese  was all that time utterly dry  Hans had
not thought of looking to that 

While he was trying his luck in milking  and managing the matter very
clumsily  the uneasy beast began to think him very troublesome  and at
last gave him such a kick on the head as knocked him down  and there he
lay a long while senseless  Luckily a butcher soon came by  driving a
pig in a wheelbarrow     What is the matter with you  my man     said the
butcher  as he helped him up  Hans told him what had happened  how he
was dry  and wanted to milk his cow  but found the cow was dry too  Then
the butcher gave him a flask of ale  saying     There  drink and refresh
yourself  your cow will give you no milk  don   t you see she is an old
beast  good for nothing but the slaughter house        Alas  alas     said
Hans     who would have thought it  What a shame to take my horse  and
give me only a dry cow  If I kill her  what will she be good for  I hate
cow beef  it is not tender enough for me  If it were a pig now  like
that fat gentleman you are driving along at his ease  one could do
something with it  it would at any rate make sausages        Well     said
the butcher     I don   t like to say no  when one is asked to do a kind 
neighbourly thing  To please you I will change  and give you my fine fat
pig for the cow        Heaven reward you for your kindness and self denial    
said Hans  as he gave the butcher the cow  and taking the pig off the
wheel barrow  drove it away  holding it by the string that was tied to
its leg 

So on he jogged  and all seemed now to go right with him  he had met
with some misfortunes  to be sure  but he was now well repaid for all 
How could it be otherwise with such a travelling companion as he had at
last got 

The next man he met was a countryman carrying a fine white goose  The
countryman stopped to ask what was o   clock  this led to further chat 
and Hans told him all his luck  how he had so many good bargains  and
how all the world went gay and smiling with him  The countryman then
began to tell his tale  and said he was going to take the goose to a
christening     Feel     said he     how heavy it is  and yet it is only eight
weeks old  Whoever roasts and eats it will find plenty of fat upon it 
it has lived so well        You   re right     said Hans  as he weighed it in
his hand     but if you talk of fat  my pig is no trifle     Meantime the
countryman began to look grave  and shook his head     Hark ye     said he 
   my worthy friend  you seem a good sort of fellow  so I can   t help doing
you a kind turn  Your pig may get you into a scrape  In the village I
just came from  the squire has had a pig stolen out of his sty  I was
dreadfully afraid when I saw you that you had got the squire   s pig  If
you have  and they catch you  it will be a bad job for you  The least
they will do will be to throw you into the horse pond  Can you swim    

Poor Hans was sadly frightened     Good man     cried he     pray get me out
of this scrape  I know nothing of where the pig was either bred or born 
but he may have been the squire   s for aught I can tell  you know this
country better than I do  take my pig and give me the goose        I ought
to have something into the bargain     said the countryman     give a fat
goose for a pig  indeed     Tis not everyone would do so much for you as
that  However  I will not be hard upon you  as you are in trouble     Then
he took the string in his hand  and drove off the pig by a side path 
while Hans went on the way homewards free from care     After all    
thought he     that chap is pretty well taken in  I don   t care whose pig
it is  but wherever it came from it has been a very good friend to me  I
have much the best of the bargain  First there will be a capital roast 
then the fat will find me in goose grease for six months  and then there
are all the beautiful white feathers  I will put them into my pillow 
and then I am sure I shall sleep soundly without rocking  How happy my
mother will be  Talk of a pig  indeed  Give me a fine fat goose    

As he came to the next village  he saw a scissor grinder with his wheel 
working and singing 

    O   er hill and o   er dale
  So happy I roam 
  Work light and live well 
  All the world is my home 
  Then who so blythe  so merry as I    

Hans stood looking on for a while  and at last said     You must be well
off  master grinder  you seem so happy at your work        Yes     said the
other     mine is a golden trade  a good grinder never puts his hand
into his pocket without finding money in it  but where did you get that
beautiful goose        I did not buy it  I gave a pig for it        And where
did you get the pig        I gave a cow for it        And the cow        I gave a
horse for it        And the horse        I gave a lump of silver as big as my
head for it        And the silver        Oh  I worked hard for that seven long
years        You have thriven well in the world hitherto     said the grinder 
   now if you could find money in your pocket whenever you put your hand
in it  your fortune would be made        Very true  but how is that to be
managed        How  Why  you must turn grinder like myself     said the other 
   you only want a grindstone  the rest will come of itself  Here is one
that is but little the worse for wear  I would not ask more than the
value of your goose for it  will you buy        How can you ask     said
Hans     I should be the happiest man in the world  if I could have money
whenever I put my hand in my pocket  what could I want more  there   s
the goose        Now     said the grinder  as he gave him a common rough stone
that lay by his side     this is a most capital stone  do but work it well
enough  and you can make an old nail cut with it    

Hans took the stone  and went his way with a light heart  his eyes
sparkled for joy  and he said to himself     Surely I must have been born
in a lucky hour  everything I could want or wish for comes of itself 
People are so kind  they seem really to think I do them a favour in
letting them make me rich  and giving me good bargains    

Meantime he began to be tired  and hungry too  for he had given away his
last penny in his joy at getting the cow 

At last he could go no farther  for the stone tired him sadly  and he
dragged himself to the side of a river  that he might take a drink of
water  and rest a while  So he laid the stone carefully by his side on
the bank  but  as he stooped down to drink  he forgot it  pushed it a
little  and down it rolled  plump into the stream 

For a while he watched it sinking in the deep clear water  then sprang
up and danced for joy  and again fell upon his knees and thanked Heaven 
with tears in his eyes  for its kindness in taking away his only plague 
the ugly heavy stone 

   How happy am I     cried he     nobody was ever so lucky as I     Then up he
got with a light heart  free from all his troubles  and walked on till
he reached his mother   s house  and told her how very easy the road to
good luck was 




JORINDA AND JORINDEL

There was once an old castle  that stood in the middle of a deep gloomy
wood  and in the castle lived an old fairy  Now this fairy could take
any shape she pleased  All the day long she flew about in the form of
an owl  or crept about the country like a cat  but at night she always
became an old woman again  When any young man came within a hundred
paces of her castle  he became quite fixed  and could not move a step
till she came and set him free  which she would not do till he had given
her his word never to come there again  but when any pretty maiden came
within that space she was changed into a bird  and the fairy put her
into a cage  and hung her up in a chamber in the castle  There were
seven hundred of these cages hanging in the castle  and all with
beautiful birds in them 

Now there was once a maiden whose name was Jorinda  She was prettier
than all the pretty girls that ever were seen before  and a shepherd
lad  whose name was Jorindel  was very fond of her  and they were soon
to be married  One day they went to walk in the wood  that they might be
alone  and Jorindel said     We must take care that we don   t go too near
to the fairy   s castle     It was a beautiful evening  the last rays of the
setting sun shone bright through the long stems of the trees upon
the green underwood beneath  and the turtle doves sang from the tall
birches 

Jorinda sat down to gaze upon the sun  Jorindel sat by her side  and
both felt sad  they knew not why  but it seemed as if they were to be
parted from one another for ever  They had wandered a long way  and when
they looked to see which way they should go home  they found themselves
at a loss to know what path to take 

The sun was setting fast  and already half of its circle had sunk behind
the hill  Jorindel on a sudden looked behind him  and saw through the
bushes that they had  without knowing it  sat down close under the old
walls of the castle  Then he shrank for fear  turned pale  and trembled 
Jorinda was just singing 

    The ring dove sang from the willow spray 
  Well a day  Well a day 
  He mourn   d for the fate of his darling mate 
  Well a day    

when her song stopped suddenly  Jorindel turned to see the reason  and
beheld his Jorinda changed into a nightingale  so that her song ended
with a mournful  jug  jug   An owl with fiery eyes flew three times
round them  and three times screamed 

    Tu whu  Tu whu  Tu whu    

Jorindel could not move  he stood fixed as a stone  and could neither
weep  nor speak  nor stir hand or foot  And now the sun went quite down 
the gloomy night came  the owl flew into a bush  and a moment after the
old fairy came forth pale and meagre  with staring eyes  and a nose and
chin that almost met one another 

She mumbled something to herself  seized the nightingale  and went away
with it in her hand  Poor Jorindel saw the nightingale was gone  but
what could he do  He could not speak  he could not move from the spot
where he stood  At last the fairy came back and sang with a hoarse
voice 

    Till the prisoner is fast 
  And her doom is cast 
  There stay  Oh  stay 
  When the charm is around her 
  And the spell has bound her 
  Hie away  away    

On a sudden Jorindel found himself free  Then he fell on his knees
before the fairy  and prayed her to give him back his dear Jorinda  but
she laughed at him  and said he should never see her again  then she
went her way 

He prayed  he wept  he sorrowed  but all in vain     Alas     he said     what
will become of me     He could not go back to his own home  so he went to
a strange village  and employed himself in keeping sheep  Many a time
did he walk round and round as near to the hated castle as he dared go 
but all in vain  he heard or saw nothing of Jorinda 

At last he dreamt one night that he found a beautiful purple flower 
and that in the middle of it lay a costly pearl  and he dreamt that he
plucked the flower  and went with it in his hand into the castle  and
that everything he touched with it was disenchanted  and that there he
found his Jorinda again 

In the morning when he awoke  he began to search over hill and dale for
this pretty flower  and eight long days he sought for it in vain  but
on the ninth day  early in the morning  he found the beautiful purple
flower  and in the middle of it was a large dewdrop  as big as a costly
pearl  Then he plucked the flower  and set out and travelled day and
night  till he came again to the castle 

He walked nearer than a hundred paces to it  and yet he did not become
fixed as before  but found that he could go quite close up to the door 
Jorindel was very glad indeed to see this  Then he touched the door with
the flower  and it sprang open  so that he went in through the court 
and listened when he heard so many birds singing  At last he came to the
chamber where the fairy sat  with the seven hundred birds singing in
the seven hundred cages  When she saw Jorindel she was very angry  and
screamed with rage  but she could not come within two yards of him  for
the flower he held in his hand was his safeguard  He looked around at
the birds  but alas  there were many  many nightingales  and how then
should he find out which was his Jorinda  While he was thinking what to
do  he saw the fairy had taken down one of the cages  and was making the
best of her way off through the door  He ran or flew after her  touched
the cage with the flower  and Jorinda stood before him  and threw her
arms round his neck looking as beautiful as ever  as beautiful as when
they walked together in the wood 

Then he touched all the other birds with the flower  so that they all
took their old forms again  and he took Jorinda home  where they were
married  and lived happily together many years  and so did a good many
other lads  whose maidens had been forced to sing in the old fairy   s
cages by themselves  much longer than they liked 




THE TRAVELLING MUSICIANS

An honest farmer had once an ass that had been a faithful servant to him
a great many years  but was now growing old and every day more and more
unfit for work  His master therefore was tired of keeping him and
began to think of putting an end to him  but the ass  who saw that some
mischief was in the wind  took himself slyly off  and began his journey
towards the great city     For there     thought he     I may turn musician    

After he had travelled a little way  he spied a dog lying by the
roadside and panting as if he were tired     What makes you pant so  my
friend     said the ass     Alas     said the dog     my master was going to
knock me on the head  because I am old and weak  and can no longer make
myself useful to him in hunting  so I ran away  but what can I do to
earn my livelihood        Hark ye     said the ass     I am going to the great
city to turn musician  suppose you go with me  and try what you can
do in the same way     The dog said he was willing  and they jogged on
together 

They had not gone far before they saw a cat sitting in the middle of the
road and making a most rueful face     Pray  my good lady     said the ass 
   what   s the matter with you  You look quite out of spirits        Ah  me    
said the cat     how can one be in good spirits when one   s life is in
danger  Because I am beginning to grow old  and had rather lie at my
ease by the fire than run about the house after the mice  my mistress
laid hold of me  and was going to drown me  and though I have been lucky
enough to get away from her  I do not know what I am to live upon    
   Oh     said the ass     by all means go with us to the great city  you are
a good night singer  and may make your fortune as a musician     The cat
was pleased with the thought  and joined the party 

Soon afterwards  as they were passing by a farmyard  they saw a cock
perched upon a gate  and screaming out with all his might and main 
   Bravo     said the ass     upon my word  you make a famous noise  pray what
is all this about        Why     said the cock     I was just now saying that
we should have fine weather for our washing day  and yet my mistress and
the cook don   t thank me for my pains  but threaten to cut off my
head tomorrow  and make broth of me for the guests that are coming
on Sunday        Heaven forbid     said the ass     come with us Master
Chanticleer  it will be better  at any rate  than staying here to have
your head cut off  Besides  who knows  If we care to sing in tune  we
may get up some kind of a concert  so come along with us        With all my
heart     said the cock  so they all four went on jollily together 

They could not  however  reach the great city the first day  so when
night came on  they went into a wood to sleep  The ass and the dog laid
themselves down under a great tree  and the cat climbed up into the
branches  while the cock  thinking that the higher he sat the safer he
should be  flew up to the very top of the tree  and then  according to
his custom  before he went to sleep  looked out on all sides of him to
see that everything was well  In doing this  he saw afar off something
bright and shining and calling to his companions said     There must be a
house no great way off  for I see a light        If that be the case     said
the ass     we had better change our quarters  for our lodging is not the
best in the world        Besides     added the dog     I should not be the
worse for a bone or two  or a bit of meat     So they walked off together
towards the spot where Chanticleer had seen the light  and as they drew
near it became larger and brighter  till they at last came close to a
house in which a gang of robbers lived 

The ass  being the tallest of the company  marched up to the window and
peeped in     Well  Donkey     said Chanticleer     what do you see        What
do I see     replied the ass     Why  I see a table spread with all kinds of
good things  and robbers sitting round it making merry        That would
be a noble lodging for us     said the cock     Yes     said the ass     if we
could only get in     so they consulted together how they should contrive
to get the robbers out  and at last they hit upon a plan  The ass placed
himself upright on his hind legs  with his forefeet resting against the
window  the dog got upon his back  the cat scrambled up to the dog   s
shoulders  and the cock flew up and sat upon the cat   s head  When
all was ready a signal was given  and they began their music  The ass
brayed  the dog barked  the cat mewed  and the cock screamed  and then
they all broke through the window at once  and came tumbling into
the room  amongst the broken glass  with a most hideous clatter  The
robbers  who had been not a little frightened by the opening concert 
had now no doubt that some frightful hobgoblin had broken in upon them 
and scampered away as fast as they could 

The coast once clear  our travellers soon sat down and dispatched what
the robbers had left  with as much eagerness as if they had not expected
to eat again for a month  As soon as they had satisfied themselves  they
put out the lights  and each once more sought out a resting place to
his own liking  The donkey laid himself down upon a heap of straw in
the yard  the dog stretched himself upon a mat behind the door  the
cat rolled herself up on the hearth before the warm ashes  and the
cock perched upon a beam on the top of the house  and  as they were all
rather tired with their journey  they soon fell asleep 

But about midnight  when the robbers saw from afar that the lights were
out and that all seemed quiet  they began to think that they had been in
too great a hurry to run away  and one of them  who was bolder than
the rest  went to see what was going on  Finding everything still  he
marched into the kitchen  and groped about till he found a match in
order to light a candle  and then  espying the glittering fiery eyes of
the cat  he mistook them for live coals  and held the match to them to
light it  But the cat  not understanding this joke  sprang at his face 
and spat  and scratched at him  This frightened him dreadfully  and away
he ran to the back door  but there the dog jumped up and bit him in the
leg  and as he was crossing over the yard the ass kicked him  and the
cock  who had been awakened by the noise  crowed with all his might  At
this the robber ran back as fast as he could to his comrades  and told
the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house  and had spat at
him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers  how a man with a
knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door  and stabbed him
in the leg  how a black monster stood in the yard and struck him with a
club  and how the devil had sat upon the top of the house and cried out 
   Throw the rascal up here     After this the robbers never dared to go
back to the house  but the musicians were so pleased with their quarters
that they took up their abode there  and there they are  I dare say  at
this very day 




OLD SULTAN

A shepherd had a faithful dog  called Sultan  who was grown very old 
and had lost all his teeth  And one day when the shepherd and his wife
were standing together before the house the shepherd said     I will shoot
old Sultan tomorrow morning  for he is of no use now     But his wife
said     Pray let the poor faithful creature live  he has served us well a
great many years  and we ought to give him a livelihood for the rest of
his days        But what can we do with him     said the shepherd     he has not
a tooth in his head  and the thieves don   t care for him at all  to
be sure he has served us  but then he did it to earn his livelihood 
tomorrow shall be his last day  depend upon it    

Poor Sultan  who was lying close by them  heard all that the shepherd
and his wife said to one another  and was very much frightened to think
tomorrow would be his last day  so in the evening he went to his good
friend the wolf  who lived in the wood  and told him all his sorrows 
and how his master meant to kill him in the morning     Make yourself
easy     said the wolf     I will give you some good advice  Your master 
you know  goes out every morning very early with his wife into the
field  and they take their little child with them  and lay it down
behind the hedge in the shade while they are at work  Now do you lie
down close by the child  and pretend to be watching it  and I will come
out of the wood and run away with it  you must run after me as fast as
you can  and I will let it drop  then you may carry it back  and they
will think you have saved their child  and will be so thankful to you
that they will take care of you as long as you live     The dog liked this
plan very well  and accordingly so it was managed  The wolf ran with the
child a little way  the shepherd and his wife screamed out  but Sultan
soon overtook him  and carried the poor little thing back to his master
and mistress  Then the shepherd patted him on the head  and said     Old
Sultan has saved our child from the wolf  and therefore he shall live
and be well taken care of  and have plenty to eat  Wife  go home  and
give him a good dinner  and let him have my old cushion to sleep on
as long as he lives     So from this time forward Sultan had all that he
could wish for 

Soon afterwards the wolf came and wished him joy  and said     Now  my
good fellow  you must tell no tales  but turn your head the other way
when I want to taste one of the old shepherd   s fine fat sheep        No    
said the Sultan     I will be true to my master     However  the wolf
thought he was in joke  and came one night to get a dainty morsel  But
Sultan had told his master what the wolf meant to do  so he laid wait
for him behind the barn door  and when the wolf was busy looking out for
a good fat sheep  he had a stout cudgel laid about his back  that combed
his locks for him finely 

Then the wolf was very angry  and called Sultan    an old rogue     and
swore he would have his revenge  So the next morning the wolf sent the
boar to challenge Sultan to come into the wood to fight the matter  Now
Sultan had nobody he could ask to be his second but the shepherd   s old
three legged cat  so he took her with him  and as the poor thing limped
along with some trouble  she stuck up her tail straight in the air 

The wolf and the wild boar were first on the ground  and when they
espied their enemies coming  and saw the cat   s long tail standing
straight in the air  they thought she was carrying a sword for Sultan to
fight with  and every time she limped  they thought she was picking up
a stone to throw at them  so they said they should not like this way of
fighting  and the boar lay down behind a bush  and the wolf jumped
up into a tree  Sultan and the cat soon came up  and looked about and
wondered that no one was there  The boar  however  had not quite hidden
himself  for his ears stuck out of the bush  and when he shook one of
them a little  the cat  seeing something move  and thinking it was a
mouse  sprang upon it  and bit and scratched it  so that the boar jumped
up and grunted  and ran away  roaring out     Look up in the tree  there
sits the one who is to blame     So they looked up  and espied the wolf
sitting amongst the branches  and they called him a cowardly rascal 
and would not suffer him to come down till he was heartily ashamed of
himself  and had promised to be good friends again with old Sultan 




THE STRAW  THE COAL  AND THE BEAN

In a village dwelt a poor old woman  who had gathered together a dish
of beans and wanted to cook them  So she made a fire on her hearth  and
that it might burn the quicker  she lighted it with a handful of straw 
When she was emptying the beans into the pan  one dropped without her
observing it  and lay on the ground beside a straw  and soon afterwards
a burning coal from the fire leapt down to the two  Then the straw
began and said     Dear friends  from whence do you come here     The coal
replied     I fortunately sprang out of the fire  and if I had not escaped
by sheer force  my death would have been certain   I should have been
burnt to ashes     The bean said     I too have escaped with a whole skin 
but if the old woman had got me into the pan  I should have been made
into broth without any mercy  like my comrades        And would a better
fate have fallen to my lot     said the straw     The old woman has
destroyed all my brethren in fire and smoke  she seized sixty of them at
once  and took their lives  I luckily slipped through her fingers    

   But what are we to do now     said the coal 

   I think     answered the bean     that as we have so fortunately escaped
death  we should keep together like good companions  and lest a new
mischance should overtake us here  we should go away together  and
repair to a foreign country    

The proposition pleased the two others  and they set out on their way
together  Soon  however  they came to a little brook  and as there was
no bridge or foot plank  they did not know how they were to get over
it  The straw hit on a good idea  and said     I will lay myself straight
across  and then you can walk over on me as on a bridge     The straw
therefore stretched itself from one bank to the other  and the coal 
who was of an impetuous disposition  tripped quite boldly on to the
newly built bridge  But when she had reached the middle  and heard the
water rushing beneath her  she was after all  afraid  and stood still 
and ventured no farther  The straw  however  began to burn  broke in
two pieces  and fell into the stream  The coal slipped after her  hissed
when she got into the water  and breathed her last  The bean  who had
prudently stayed behind on the shore  could not but laugh at the event 
was unable to stop  and laughed so heartily that she burst  It would
have been all over with her  likewise  if  by good fortune  a tailor who
was travelling in search of work  had not sat down to rest by the brook 
As he had a compassionate heart he pulled out his needle and thread 
and sewed her together  The bean thanked him most prettily  but as the
tailor used black thread  all beans since then have a black seam 




BRIAR ROSE

A king and queen once upon a time reigned in a country a great way off 
where there were in those days fairies  Now this king and queen had
plenty of money  and plenty of fine clothes to wear  and plenty of
good things to eat and drink  and a coach to ride out in every day  but
though they had been married many years they had no children  and this
grieved them very much indeed  But one day as the queen was walking
by the side of the river  at the bottom of the garden  she saw a poor
little fish  that had thrown itself out of the water  and lay gasping
and nearly dead on the bank  Then the queen took pity on the little
fish  and threw it back again into the river  and before it swam away
it lifted its head out of the water and said     I know what your wish is 
and it shall be fulfilled  in return for your kindness to me  you will
soon have a daughter     What the little fish had foretold soon came to
pass  and the queen had a little girl  so very beautiful that the king
could not cease looking on it for joy  and said he would hold a great
feast and make merry  and show the child to all the land  So he asked
his kinsmen  and nobles  and friends  and neighbours  But the queen
said     I will have the fairies also  that they might be kind and good
to our little daughter     Now there were thirteen fairies in the kingdom 
but as the king and queen had only twelve golden dishes for them to eat
out of  they were forced to leave one of the fairies without asking her 
So twelve fairies came  each with a high red cap on her head  and red
shoes with high heels on her feet  and a long white wand in her hand 
and after the feast was over they gathered round in a ring and gave all
their best gifts to the little princess  One gave her goodness  another
beauty  another riches  and so on till she had all that was good in the
world 

Just as eleven of them had done blessing her  a great noise was heard in
the courtyard  and word was brought that the thirteenth fairy was
come  with a black cap on her head  and black shoes on her feet  and a
broomstick in her hand  and presently up she came into the dining hall 
Now  as she had not been asked to the feast she was very angry  and
scolded the king and queen very much  and set to work to take her
revenge  So she cried out     The king   s daughter shall  in her fifteenth
year  be wounded by a spindle  and fall down dead     Then the twelfth of
the friendly fairies  who had not yet given her gift  came forward  and
said that the evil wish must be fulfilled  but that she could soften its
mischief  so her gift was  that the king   s daughter  when the spindle
wounded her  should not really die  but should only fall asleep for a
hundred years 

However  the king hoped still to save his dear child altogether from
the threatened evil  so he ordered that all the spindles in the kingdom
should be bought up and burnt  But all the gifts of the first eleven
fairies were in the meantime fulfilled  for the princess was so
beautiful  and well behaved  and good  and wise  that everyone who knew
her loved her 

It happened that  on the very day she was fifteen years old  the king
and queen were not at home  and she was left alone in the palace  So she
roved about by herself  and looked at all the rooms and chambers  till
at last she came to an old tower  to which there was a narrow staircase
ending with a little door  In the door there was a golden key  and when
she turned it the door sprang open  and there sat an old lady spinning
away very busily     Why  how now  good mother     said the princess     what
are you doing there        Spinning     said the old lady  and nodded her
head  humming a tune  while buzz  went the wheel     How prettily that
little thing turns round     said the princess  and took the spindle
and began to try and spin  But scarcely had she touched it  before the
fairy   s prophecy was fulfilled  the spindle wounded her  and she fell
down lifeless on the ground 

However  she was not dead  but had only fallen into a deep sleep  and
the king and the queen  who had just come home  and all their court 
fell asleep too  and the horses slept in the stables  and the dogs in
the court  the pigeons on the house top  and the very flies slept upon
the walls  Even the fire on the hearth left off blazing  and went to
sleep  the jack stopped  and the spit that was turning about with a
goose upon it for the king   s dinner stood still  and the cook  who was
at that moment pulling the kitchen boy by the hair to give him a box
on the ear for something he had done amiss  let him go  and both fell
asleep  the butler  who was slyly tasting the ale  fell asleep with the
jug at his lips  and thus everything stood still  and slept soundly 

A large hedge of thorns soon grew round the palace  and every year it
became higher and thicker  till at last the old palace was surrounded
and hidden  so that not even the roof or the chimneys could be seen  But
there went a report through all the land of the beautiful sleeping Briar
Rose  for so the king   s daughter was called   so that  from time to
time  several kings    sons came  and tried to break through the thicket
into the palace  This  however  none of them could ever do  for the
thorns and bushes laid hold of them  as it were with hands  and there
they stuck fast  and died wretchedly 

After many  many years there came a king   s son into that land  and an
old man told him the story of the thicket of thorns  and how a beautiful
palace stood behind it  and how a wonderful princess  called Briar Rose 
lay in it asleep  with all her court  He told  too  how he had heard
from his grandfather that many  many princes had come  and had tried to
break through the thicket  but that they had all stuck fast in it  and
died  Then the young prince said     All this shall not frighten me  I
will go and see this Briar Rose     The old man tried to hinder him  but
he was bent upon going 

Now that very day the hundred years were ended  and as the prince came
to the thicket he saw nothing but beautiful flowering shrubs  through
which he went with ease  and they shut in after him as thick as ever 
Then he came at last to the palace  and there in the court lay the dogs
asleep  and the horses were standing in the stables  and on the roof sat
the pigeons fast asleep  with their heads under their wings  And when he
came into the palace  the flies were sleeping on the walls  the spit
was standing still  the butler had the jug of ale at his lips  going
to drink a draught  the maid sat with a fowl in her lap ready to be
plucked  and the cook in the kitchen was still holding up her hand  as
if she was going to beat the boy 

Then he went on still farther  and all was so still that he could hear
every breath he drew  till at last he came to the old tower  and opened
the door of the little room in which Briar Rose was  and there she lay 
fast asleep on a couch by the window  She looked so beautiful that he
could not take his eyes off her  so he stooped down and gave her a kiss 
But the moment he kissed her she opened her eyes and awoke  and smiled
upon him  and they went out together  and soon the king and queen also
awoke  and all the court  and gazed on each other with great wonder 
And the horses shook themselves  and the dogs jumped up and barked  the
pigeons took their heads from under their wings  and looked about and
flew into the fields  the flies on the walls buzzed again  the fire in
the kitchen blazed up  round went the jack  and round went the spit 
with the goose for the king   s dinner upon it  the butler finished his
draught of ale  the maid went on plucking the fowl  and the cook gave
the boy the box on his ear 

And then the prince and Briar Rose were married  and the wedding feast
was given  and they lived happily together all their lives long 




THE DOG AND THE SPARROW

A shepherd   s dog had a master who took no care of him  but often let him
suffer the greatest hunger  At last he could bear it no longer  so he
took to his heels  and off he ran in a very sad and sorrowful mood 
On the road he met a sparrow that said to him     Why are you so sad 
my friend        Because     said the dog     I am very very hungry  and have
nothing to eat        If that be all     answered the sparrow     come with me
into the next town  and I will soon find you plenty of food     So on they
went together into the town  and as they passed by a butcher   s shop 
the sparrow said to the dog     Stand there a little while till I peck you
down a piece of meat     So the sparrow perched upon the shelf  and having
first looked carefully about her to see if anyone was watching her  she
pecked and scratched at a steak that lay upon the edge of the shelf 
till at last down it fell  Then the dog snapped it up  and scrambled
away with it into a corner  where he soon ate it all up     Well     said
the sparrow     you shall have some more if you will  so come with me to
the next shop  and I will peck you down another steak     When the dog had
eaten this too  the sparrow said to him     Well  my good friend  have you
had enough now        I have had plenty of meat     answered he     but I should
like to have a piece of bread to eat after it        Come with me then    
said the sparrow     and you shall soon have that too     So she took him
to a baker   s shop  and pecked at two rolls that lay in the window  till
they fell down  and as the dog still wished for more  she took him to
another shop and pecked down some more for him  When that was eaten  the
sparrow asked him whether he had had enough now     Yes     said he     and
now let us take a walk a little way out of the town     So they both went
out upon the high road  but as the weather was warm  they had not gone
far before the dog said     I am very much tired  I should like to take a
nap        Very well     answered the sparrow     do so  and in the meantime
I will perch upon that bush     So the dog stretched himself out on the
road  and fell fast asleep  Whilst he slept  there came by a carter with
a cart drawn by three horses  and loaded with two casks of wine  The
sparrow  seeing that the carter did not turn out of the way  but would
go on in the track in which the dog lay  so as to drive over him  called
out     Stop  stop  Mr Carter  or it shall be the worse for you     But the
carter  grumbling to himself     You make it the worse for me  indeed 
what can you do     cracked his whip  and drove his cart over the poor
dog  so that the wheels crushed him to death     There     cried the
sparrow     thou cruel villain  thou hast killed my friend the dog  Now
mind what I say  This deed of thine shall cost thee all thou art worth    
   Do your worst  and welcome     said the brute     what harm can you do me    
and passed on  But the sparrow crept under the tilt of the cart  and
pecked at the bung of one of the casks till she loosened it  and then
all the wine ran out  without the carter seeing it  At last he looked
round  and saw that the cart was dripping  and the cask quite empty 
   What an unlucky wretch I am     cried he     Not wretch enough yet     said
the sparrow  as she alighted upon the head of one of the horses  and
pecked at him till he reared up and kicked  When the carter saw this 
he drew out his hatchet and aimed a blow at the sparrow  meaning to kill
her  but she flew away  and the blow fell upon the poor horse   s head
with such force  that he fell down dead     Unlucky wretch that I am    
cried he     Not wretch enough yet     said the sparrow  And as the carter
went on with the other two horses  she again crept under the tilt of the
cart  and pecked out the bung of the second cask  so that all the wine
ran out  When the carter saw this  he again cried out     Miserable wretch
that I am     But the sparrow answered     Not wretch enough yet     and
perched on the head of the second horse  and pecked at him too  The
carter ran up and struck at her again with his hatchet  but away she
flew  and the blow fell upon the second horse and killed him on the
spot     Unlucky wretch that I am     said he     Not wretch enough yet     said
the sparrow  and perching upon the third horse  she began to peck him
too  The carter was mad with fury  and without looking about him  or
caring what he was about  struck again at the sparrow  but killed his
third horse as he done the other two     Alas  miserable wretch that I
am     cried he     Not wretch enough yet     answered the sparrow as she flew
away     now will I plague and punish thee at thy own house     The
carter was forced at last to leave his cart behind him  and to go home
overflowing with rage and vexation     Alas     said he to his wife     what
ill luck has befallen me   my wine is all spilt  and my horses all three
dead        Alas  husband     replied she     and a wicked bird has come into
the house  and has brought with her all the birds in the world  I am
sure  and they have fallen upon our corn in the loft  and are eating it
up at such a rate     Away ran the husband upstairs  and saw thousands of
birds sitting upon the floor eating up his corn  with the sparrow in the
midst of them     Unlucky wretch that I am     cried the carter  for he saw
that the corn was almost all gone     Not wretch enough yet     said the
sparrow     thy cruelty shall cost thee thy life yet     and away she flew 

The carter seeing that he had thus lost all that he had  went down
into his kitchen  and was still not sorry for what he had done  but sat
himself angrily and sulkily in the chimney corner  But the sparrow sat
on the outside of the window  and cried    Carter  thy cruelty shall cost
thee thy life     With that he jumped up in a rage  seized his hatchet 
and threw it at the sparrow  but it missed her  and only broke the
window  The sparrow now hopped in  perched upon the window seat  and
cried     Carter  it shall cost thee thy life     Then he became mad and
blind with rage  and struck the window seat with such force that he
cleft it in two  and as the sparrow flew from place to place  the carter
and his wife were so furious  that they broke all their furniture 
glasses  chairs  benches  the table  and at last the walls  without
touching the bird at all  In the end  however  they caught her  and the
wife said     Shall I kill her at once        No     cried he     that is letting
her off too easily  she shall die a much more cruel death  I will eat
her     But the sparrow began to flutter about  and stretch out her neck
and cried     Carter  it shall cost thee thy life yet     With that he
could wait no longer  so he gave his wife the hatchet  and cried     Wife 
strike at the bird and kill her in my hand     And the wife struck  but
she missed her aim  and hit her husband on the head so that he fell down
dead  and the sparrow flew quietly home to her nest 




THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES

There was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters  They slept in
twelve beds all in one room  and when they went to bed  the doors were
shut and locked up  but every morning their shoes were found to be quite
worn through as if they had been danced in all night  and yet nobody
could find out how it happened  or where they had been 

Then the king made it known to all the land  that if any person could
discover the secret  and find out where it was that the princesses
danced in the night  he should have the one he liked best for his
wife  and should be king after his death  but whoever tried and did not
succeed  after three days and nights  should be put to death 

A king   s son soon came  He was well entertained  and in the evening was
taken to the chamber next to the one where the princesses lay in their
twelve beds  There he was to sit and watch where they went to dance 
and  in order that nothing might pass without his hearing it  the door
of his chamber was left open  But the king   s son soon fell asleep  and
when he awoke in the morning he found that the princesses had all been
dancing  for the soles of their shoes were full of holes  The same thing
happened the second and third night  so the king ordered his head to be
cut off  After him came several others  but they had all the same luck 
and all lost their lives in the same manner 

Now it chanced that an old soldier  who had been wounded in battle
and could fight no longer  passed through the country where this king
reigned  and as he was travelling through a wood  he met an old woman 
who asked him where he was going     I hardly know where I am going  or
what I had better do     said the soldier     but I think I should like very
well to find out where it is that the princesses dance  and then in time
I might be a king        Well     said the old dame     that is no very hard
task  only take care not to drink any of the wine which one of the
princesses will bring to you in the evening  and as soon as she leaves
you pretend to be fast asleep    

Then she gave him a cloak  and said     As soon as you put that on
you will become invisible  and you will then be able to follow the
princesses wherever they go     When the soldier heard all this good
counsel  he determined to try his luck  so he went to the king  and said
he was willing to undertake the task 

He was as well received as the others had been  and the king ordered
fine royal robes to be given him  and when the evening came he was led
to the outer chamber  Just as he was going to lie down  the eldest of
the princesses brought him a cup of wine  but the soldier threw it all
away secretly  taking care not to drink a drop  Then he laid himself
down on his bed  and in a little while began to snore very loud as if
he was fast asleep  When the twelve princesses heard this they laughed
heartily  and the eldest said     This fellow too might have done a wiser
thing than lose his life in this way     Then they rose up and opened
their drawers and boxes  and took out all their fine clothes  and
dressed themselves at the glass  and skipped about as if they were eager
to begin dancing  But the youngest said     I don   t know how it is  while
you are so happy I feel very uneasy  I am sure some mischance will
befall us        You simpleton     said the eldest     you are always afraid 
have you forgotten how many kings    sons have already watched in vain 
And as for this soldier  even if I had not given him his sleeping
draught  he would have slept soundly enough    

When they were all ready  they went and looked at the soldier  but he
snored on  and did not stir hand or foot  so they thought they were
quite safe  and the eldest went up to her own bed and clapped her hands 
and the bed sank into the floor and a trap door flew open  The soldier
saw them going down through the trap door one after another  the eldest
leading the way  and thinking he had no time to lose  he jumped up  put
on the cloak which the old woman had given him  and followed them 
but in the middle of the stairs he trod on the gown of the youngest
princess  and she cried out to her sisters     All is not right  someone
took hold of my gown        You silly creature     said the eldest     it is
nothing but a nail in the wall     Then down they all went  and at the
bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of trees  and
the leaves were all of silver  and glittered and sparkled beautifully 
The soldier wished to take away some token of the place  so he broke
off a little branch  and there came a loud noise from the tree  Then the
youngest daughter said again     I am sure all is not right  did not you
hear that noise  That never happened before     But the eldest said     It
is only our princes  who are shouting for joy at our approach    

Then they came to another grove of trees  where all the leaves were of
gold  and afterwards to a third  where the leaves were all glittering
diamonds  And the soldier broke a branch from each  and every time there
was a loud noise  which made the youngest sister tremble with fear  but
the eldest still said  it was only the princes  who were crying for joy 
So they went on till they came to a great lake  and at the side of the
lake there lay twelve little boats with twelve handsome princes in them 
who seemed to be waiting there for the princesses 

One of the princesses went into each boat  and the soldier stepped into
the same boat with the youngest  As they were rowing over the lake  the
prince who was in the boat with the youngest princess and the soldier
said     I do not know why it is  but though I am rowing with all my might
we do not get on so fast as usual  and I am quite tired  the boat
seems very heavy today        It is only the heat of the weather     said the
princess     I feel it very warm too    

On the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated castle  from
which came the merry music of horns and trumpets  There they all landed 
and went into the castle  and each prince danced with his princess  and
the soldier  who was all the time invisible  danced with them too  and
when any of the princesses had a cup of wine set by her  he drank it
all up  so that when she put the cup to her mouth it was empty  At this 
too  the youngest sister was terribly frightened  but the eldest always
silenced her  They danced on till three o   clock in the morning  and then
all their shoes were worn out  so that they were obliged to leave off 
The princes rowed them back again over the lake  but this time the
soldier placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess   and on the
opposite shore they took leave of each other  the princesses promising
to come again the next night 

When they came to the stairs  the soldier ran on before the princesses 
and laid himself down  and as the twelve sisters slowly came up very
much tired  they heard him snoring in his bed  so they said     Now all
is quite safe     then they undressed themselves  put away their fine
clothes  pulled off their shoes  and went to bed  In the morning the
soldier said nothing about what had happened  but determined to see more
of this strange adventure  and went again the second and third night 
and every thing happened just as before  the princesses danced each time
till their shoes were worn to pieces  and then returned home  However 
on the third night the soldier carried away one of the golden cups as a
token of where he had been 

As soon as the time came when he was to declare the secret  he was taken
before the king with the three branches and the golden cup  and the
twelve princesses stood listening behind the door to hear what he would
say  And when the king asked him     Where do my twelve daughters dance at
night     he answered     With twelve princes in a castle under ground     And
then he told the king all that had happened  and showed him the three
branches and the golden cup which he had brought with him  Then the king
called for the princesses  and asked them whether what the soldier said
was true  and when they saw that they were discovered  and that it was
of no use to deny what had happened  they confessed it all  And the king
asked the soldier which of them he would choose for his wife  and he
answered     I am not very young  so I will have the eldest      And they
were married that very day  and the soldier was chosen to be the king   s
heir 




THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE

There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pigsty  close
by the seaside  The fisherman used to go out all day long a fishing  and
one day  as he sat on the shore with his rod  looking at the sparkling
waves and watching his line  all on a sudden his float was dragged away
deep into the water  and in drawing it up he pulled out a great fish 
But the fish said     Pray let me live  I am not a real fish  I am an
enchanted prince  put me in the water again  and let me go        Oh  ho    
said the man     you need not make so many words about the matter  I will
have nothing to do with a fish that can talk  so swim away  sir  as soon
as you please     Then he put him back into the water  and the fish darted
straight down to the bottom  and left a long streak of blood behind him
on the wave 

When the fisherman went home to his wife in the pigsty  he told her how
he had caught a great fish  and how it had told him it was an enchanted
prince  and how  on hearing it speak  he had let it go again     Did not
you ask it for anything     said the wife     we live very wretchedly here 
in this nasty dirty pigsty  do go back and tell the fish we want a snug
little cottage    

The fisherman did not much like the business  however  he went to the
seashore  and when he came back there the water looked all yellow and
green  And he stood at the water   s edge  and said 

    O man of the sea 
  Hearken to me 
  My wife Ilsabill
  Will have her own will 
  And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee    

Then the fish came swimming to him  and said     Well  what is her will 
What does your wife want        Ah     said the fisherman     she says that when
I had caught you  I ought to have asked you for something before I let
you go  she does not like living any longer in the pigsty  and wants
a snug little cottage        Go home  then     said the fish     she is in the
cottage already     So the man went home  and saw his wife standing at the
door of a nice trim little cottage     Come in  come in     said she     is
not this much better than the filthy pigsty we had     And there was a
parlour  and a bedchamber  and a kitchen  and behind the cottage there
was a little garden  planted with all sorts of flowers and fruits  and
there was a courtyard behind  full of ducks and chickens     Ah     said the
fisherman     how happily we shall live now        We will try to do so  at
least     said his wife 

Everything went right for a week or two  and then Dame Ilsabill said 
   Husband  there is not near room enough for us in this cottage  the
courtyard and the garden are a great deal too small  I should like to
have a large stone castle to live in  go to the fish again and tell him
to give us a castle        Wife     said the fisherman     I don   t like to go to
him again  for perhaps he will be angry  we ought to be easy with this
pretty cottage to live in        Nonsense     said the wife     he will do it
very willingly  I know  go along and try    

The fisherman went  but his heart was very heavy  and when he came to
the sea  it looked blue and gloomy  though it was very calm  and he went
close to the edge of the waves  and said 

    O man of the sea 
  Hearken to me 
  My wife Ilsabill
  Will have her own will 
  And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee    

   Well  what does she want now     said the fish     Ah     said the man 
dolefully     my wife wants to live in a stone castle        Go home  then    
said the fish     she is standing at the gate of it already     So away went
the fisherman  and found his wife standing before the gate of a great
castle     See     said she     is not this grand     With that they went into
the castle together  and found a great many servants there  and the
rooms all richly furnished  and full of golden chairs and tables  and
behind the castle was a garden  and around it was a park half a
mile long  full of sheep  and goats  and hares  and deer  and in the
courtyard were stables and cow houses     Well     said the man     now we
will live cheerful and happy in this beautiful castle for the rest of
our lives        Perhaps we may     said the wife     but let us sleep upon it 
before we make up our minds to that     So they went to bed 

The next morning when Dame Ilsabill awoke it was broad daylight  and
she jogged the fisherman with her elbow  and said     Get up  husband 
and bestir yourself  for we must be king of all the land        Wife  wife    
said the man     why should we wish to be the king  I will not be king    
   Then I will     said she     But  wife     said the fisherman     how can you
be king  the fish cannot make you a king        Husband     said she     say
no more about it  but go and try  I will be king     So the man went away
quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to be king  This time
the sea looked a dark grey colour  and was overspread with curling waves
and the ridges of foam as he cried out 

    O man of the sea 
  Hearken to me 
  My wife Ilsabill
  Will have her own will 
  And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee    

   Well  what would she have now     said the fish     Alas     said the poor
man     my wife wants to be king        Go home     said the fish     she is king
already    

Then the fisherman went home  and as he came close to the palace he saw
a troop of soldiers  and heard the sound of drums and trumpets  And when
he went in he saw his wife sitting on a throne of gold and diamonds 
with a golden crown upon her head  and on each side of her stood six
fair maidens  each a head taller than the other     Well  wife     said the
fisherman     are you king        Yes     said she     I am king     And when he had
looked at her for a long time  he said     Ah  wife  what a fine thing it
is to be king  Now we shall never have anything more to wish for as long
as we live        I don   t know how that may be     said she     never is a long
time  I am king  it is true  but I begin to be tired of that  and I
think I should like to be emperor        Alas  wife  why should you wish to
be emperor     said the fisherman     Husband     said she     go to the fish 
I say I will be emperor        Ah  wife     replied the fisherman     the fish
cannot make an emperor  I am sure  and I should not like to ask him for
such a thing        I am king     said Ilsabill     and you are my slave  so go
at once    

So the fisherman was forced to go  and he muttered as he went along 
   This will come to no good  it is too much to ask  the fish will be
tired at last  and then we shall be sorry for what we have done     He
soon came to the seashore  and the water was quite black and muddy  and
a mighty whirlwind blew over the waves and rolled them about  but he
went as near as he could to the water   s brink  and said 

    O man of the sea 
  Hearken to me 
  My wife Ilsabill
  Will have her own will 
  And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee    

   What would she have now     said the fish     Ah     said the fisherman 
   she wants to be emperor        Go home     said the fish     she is emperor
already    

So he went home again  and as he came near he saw his wife Ilsabill
sitting on a very lofty throne made of solid gold  with a great crown on
her head full two yards high  and on each side of her stood her guards
and attendants in a row  each one smaller than the other  from the
tallest giant down to a little dwarf no bigger than my finger  And
before her stood princes  and dukes  and earls  and the fisherman went
up to her and said     Wife  are you emperor        Yes     said she     I am
emperor        Ah     said the man  as he gazed upon her     what a fine thing
it is to be emperor        Husband     said she     why should we stop at being
emperor  I will be pope next        O wife  wife     said he     how can you be
pope  there is but one pope at a time in Christendom        Husband     said
she     I will be pope this very day        But     replied the husband     the
fish cannot make you pope        What nonsense     said she     if he can make
an emperor  he can make a pope  go and try him    

So the fisherman went  But when he came to the shore the wind was raging
and the sea was tossed up and down in boiling waves  and the ships were
in trouble  and rolled fearfully upon the tops of the billows  In the
middle of the heavens there was a little piece of blue sky  but towards
the south all was red  as if a dreadful storm was rising  At this sight
the fisherman was dreadfully frightened  and he trembled so that his
knees knocked together  but still he went down near to the shore  and
said 

    O man of the sea 
  Hearken to me 
  My wife Ilsabill
  Will have her own will 
  And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee    

   What does she want now     said the fish     Ah     said the fisherman     my
wife wants to be pope        Go home     said the fish     she is pope already    

Then the fisherman went home  and found Ilsabill sitting on a throne
that was two miles high  And she had three great crowns on her head  and
around her stood all the pomp and power of the Church  And on each side
of her were two rows of burning lights  of all sizes  the greatest as
large as the highest and biggest tower in the world  and the least no
larger than a small rushlight     Wife     said the fisherman  as he looked
at all this greatness     are you pope        Yes     said she     I am pope    
   Well  wife     replied he     it is a grand thing to be pope  and now
you must be easy  for you can be nothing greater        I will think about
that     said the wife  Then they went to bed  but Dame Ilsabill could not
sleep all night for thinking what she should be next  At last  as she
was dropping asleep  morning broke  and the sun rose     Ha     thought she 
as she woke up and looked at it through the window     after all I cannot
prevent the sun rising     At this thought she was very angry  and wakened
her husband  and said     Husband  go to the fish and tell him I must
be lord of the sun and moon     The fisherman was half asleep  but the
thought frightened him so much that he started and fell out of bed 
   Alas  wife     said he     cannot you be easy with being pope        No    
said she     I am very uneasy as long as the sun and moon rise without my
leave  Go to the fish at once    

Then the man went shivering with fear  and as he was going down to
the shore a dreadful storm arose  so that the trees and the very rocks
shook  And all the heavens became black with stormy clouds  and the
lightnings played  and the thunders rolled  and you might have seen in
the sea great black waves  swelling up like mountains with crowns of
white foam upon their heads  And the fisherman crept towards the sea 
and cried out  as well as he could 

    O man of the sea 
  Hearken to me 
  My wife Ilsabill
  Will have her own will 
  And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee    

   What does she want now     said the fish     Ah     said he     she wants to
be lord of the sun and moon        Go home     said the fish     to your pigsty
again    

And there they live to this very day 




THE WILLOW WREN AND THE BEAR

Once in summer time the bear and the wolf were walking in the forest 
and the bear heard a bird singing so beautifully that he said     Brother
wolf  what bird is it that sings so well        That is the King of birds    
said the wolf     before whom we must bow down     In reality the bird was
the willow wren     IF that   s the case     said the bear     I should very
much like to see his royal palace  come  take me thither        That is not
done quite as you seem to think     said the wolf     you must wait until
the Queen comes     Soon afterwards  the Queen arrived with some food in
her beak  and the lord King came too  and they began to feed their young
ones  The bear would have liked to go at once  but the wolf held him
back by the sleeve  and said     No  you must wait until the lord and lady
Queen have gone away again     So they took stock of the hole where the
nest lay  and trotted away  The bear  however  could not rest until he
had seen the royal palace  and when a short time had passed  went to it
again  The King and Queen had just flown out  so he peeped in and saw
five or six young ones lying there     Is that the royal palace     cried
the bear     it is a wretched palace  and you are not King   s children  you
are disreputable children     When the young wrens heard that  they were
frightfully angry  and screamed     No  that we are not  Our parents are
honest people  Bear  you will have to pay for that    

The bear and the wolf grew uneasy  and turned back and went into their
holes  The young willow wrens  however  continued to cry and scream  and
when their parents again brought food they said     We will not so much as
touch one fly   s leg  no  not if we were dying of hunger  until you have
settled whether we are respectable children or not  the bear has been
here and has insulted us     Then the old King said     Be easy  he shall
be punished     and he at once flew with the Queen to the bear   s cave  and
called in     Old Growler  why have you insulted my children  You shall
suffer for it  we will punish you by a bloody war     Thus war was
announced to the Bear  and all four footed animals were summoned to take
part in it  oxen  asses  cows  deer  and every other animal the earth
contained  And the willow wren summoned everything which flew in the
air  not only birds  large and small  but midges  and hornets  bees and
flies had to come 

When the time came for the war to begin  the willow wren sent out spies
to discover who was the enemy   s commander in chief  The gnat  who was
the most crafty  flew into the forest where the enemy was assembled 
and hid herself beneath a leaf of the tree where the password was to be
announced  There stood the bear  and he called the fox before him
and said     Fox  you are the most cunning of all animals  you shall be
general and lead us        Good     said the fox     but what signal shall we
agree upon     No one knew that  so the fox said     I have a fine long
bushy tail  which almost looks like a plume of red feathers  When I lift
my tail up quite high  all is going well  and you must charge  but if I
let it hang down  run away as fast as you can     When the gnat had heard
that  she flew away again  and revealed everything  down to the minutest
detail  to the willow wren  When day broke  and the battle was to begin 
all the four footed animals came running up with such a noise that the
earth trembled  The willow wren with his army also came flying through
the air with such a humming  and whirring  and swarming that every one
was uneasy and afraid  and on both sides they advanced against each
other  But the willow wren sent down the hornet  with orders to settle
beneath the fox   s tail  and sting with all his might  When the fox felt
the first string  he started so that he lifted one leg  from pain  but
he bore it  and still kept his tail high in the air  at the second
sting  he was forced to put it down for a moment  at the third  he could
hold out no longer  screamed  and put his tail between his legs  When
the animals saw that  they thought all was lost  and began to flee  each
into his hole  and the birds had won the battle 

Then the King and Queen flew home to their children and cried 
   Children  rejoice  eat and drink to your heart   s content  we have won
the battle     But the young wrens said     We will not eat yet  the bear
must come to the nest  and beg for pardon and say that we are honourable
children  before we will do that     Then the willow wren flew to the
bear   s hole and cried     Growler  you are to come to the nest to my
children  and beg their pardon  or else every rib of your body shall
be broken     So the bear crept thither in the greatest fear  and begged
their pardon  And now at last the young wrens were satisfied  and sat
down together and ate and drank  and made merry till quite late into the
night 




THE FROG PRINCE

One fine evening a young princess put on her bonnet and clogs  and went
out to take a walk by herself in a wood  and when she came to a cool
spring of water  that rose in the midst of it  she sat herself down
to rest a while  Now she had a golden ball in her hand  which was her
favourite plaything  and she was always tossing it up into the air  and
catching it again as it fell  After a time she threw it up so high that
she missed catching it as it fell  and the ball bounded away  and rolled
along upon the ground  till at last it fell down into the spring  The
princess looked into the spring after her ball  but it was very deep  so
deep that she could not see the bottom of it  Then she began to bewail
her loss  and said     Alas  if I could only get my ball again  I would
give all my fine clothes and jewels  and everything that I have in the
world    

Whilst she was speaking  a frog put its head out of the water  and said 
   Princess  why do you weep so bitterly        Alas     said she     what can you
do for me  you nasty frog  My golden ball has fallen into the spring    
The frog said     I want not your pearls  and jewels  and fine clothes 
but if you will love me  and let me live with you and eat from off
your golden plate  and sleep upon your bed  I will bring you your ball
again        What nonsense     thought the princess     this silly frog is
talking  He can never even get out of the spring to visit me  though
he may be able to get my ball for me  and therefore I will tell him he
shall have what he asks     So she said to the frog     Well  if you will
bring me my ball  I will do all you ask     Then the frog put his head
down  and dived deep under the water  and after a little while he came
up again  with the ball in his mouth  and threw it on the edge of the
spring  As soon as the young princess saw her ball  she ran to pick
it up  and she was so overjoyed to have it in her hand again  that she
never thought of the frog  but ran home with it as fast as she could 
The frog called after her     Stay  princess  and take me with you as you
said     But she did not stop to hear a word 

The next day  just as the princess had sat down to dinner  she heard a
strange noise  tap  tap  plash  plash  as if something was coming up the
marble staircase  and soon afterwards there was a gentle knock at the
door  and a little voice cried out and said 

    Open the door  my princess dear 
  Open the door to thy true love here 
  And mind the words that thou and I said
  By the fountain cool  in the greenwood shade    

Then the princess ran to the door and opened it  and there she saw
the frog  whom she had quite forgotten  At this sight she was sadly
frightened  and shutting the door as fast as she could came back to her
seat  The king  her father  seeing that something had frightened her 
asked her what was the matter     There is a nasty frog     said she     at
the door  that lifted my ball for me out of the spring this morning  I
told him that he should live with me here  thinking that he could never
get out of the spring  but there he is at the door  and he wants to come
in    

While she was speaking the frog knocked again at the door  and said 

    Open the door  my princess dear 
  Open the door to thy true love here 
  And mind the words that thou and I said
  By the fountain cool  in the greenwood shade    

Then the king said to the young princess     As you have given your word
you must keep it  so go and let him in     She did so  and the frog hopped
into the room  and then straight on  tap  tap  plash  plash  from the
bottom of the room to the top  till he came up close to the table where
the princess sat     Pray lift me upon chair     said he to the princess 
   and let me sit next to you     As soon as she had done this  the frog
said     Put your plate nearer to me  that I may eat out of it     This
she did  and when he had eaten as much as he could  he said     Now I am
tired  carry me upstairs  and put me into your bed     And the princess 
though very unwilling  took him up in her hand  and put him upon the
pillow of her own bed  where he slept all night long  As soon as it was
light he jumped up  hopped downstairs  and went out of the house 
   Now  then     thought the princess     at last he is gone  and I shall be
troubled with him no more    

But she was mistaken  for when night came again she heard the same
tapping at the door  and the frog came once more  and said 

    Open the door  my princess dear 
  Open the door to thy true love here 
  And mind the words that thou and I said
  By the fountain cool  in the greenwood shade    

And when the princess opened the door the frog came in  and slept upon
her pillow as before  till the morning broke  And the third night he did
the same  But when the princess awoke on the following morning she was
astonished to see  instead of the frog  a handsome prince  gazing on her
with the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen  and standing at the head
of her bed 

He told her that he had been enchanted by a spiteful fairy  who had
changed him into a frog  and that he had been fated so to abide till
some princess should take him out of the spring  and let him eat from
her plate  and sleep upon her bed for three nights     You     said the
prince     have broken his cruel charm  and now I have nothing to wish for
but that you should go with me into my father   s kingdom  where I will
marry you  and love you as long as you live    

The young princess  you may be sure  was not long in saying    Yes    to
all this  and as they spoke a gay coach drove up  with eight beautiful
horses  decked with plumes of feathers and a golden harness  and behind
the coach rode the prince   s servant  faithful Heinrich  who had bewailed
the misfortunes of his dear master during his enchantment so long and so
bitterly  that his heart had well nigh burst 

They then took leave of the king  and got into the coach with eight
horses  and all set out  full of joy and merriment  for the prince   s
kingdom  which they reached safely  and there they lived happily a great
many years 




CAT AND MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP

A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse  and had said so much
to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her  that at
length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together 
   But we must make a provision for winter  or else we shall suffer
from hunger     said the cat     and you  little mouse  cannot venture
everywhere  or you will be caught in a trap some day     The good advice
was followed  and a pot of fat was bought  but they did not know where
to put it  At length  after much consideration  the cat said     I know no
place where it will be better stored up than in the church  for no one
dares take anything away from there  We will set it beneath the altar 
and not touch it until we are really in need of it     So the pot was
placed in safety  but it was not long before the cat had a great
yearning for it  and said to the mouse     I want to tell you something 
little mouse  my cousin has brought a little son into the world  and has
asked me to be godmother  he is white with brown spots  and I am to hold
him over the font at the christening  Let me go out today  and you look
after the house by yourself        Yes  yes     answered the mouse     by all
means go  and if you get anything very good to eat  think of me  I
should like a drop of sweet red christening wine myself     All this 
however  was untrue  the cat had no cousin  and had not been asked to
be godmother  She went straight to the church  stole to the pot of fat 
began to lick at it  and licked the top of the fat off  Then she took a
walk upon the roofs of the town  looked out for opportunities  and then
stretched herself in the sun  and licked her lips whenever she thought
of the pot of fat  and not until it was evening did she return home 
   Well  here you are again     said the mouse     no doubt you have had a
merry day        All went off well     answered the cat     What name did they
give the child        Top off     said the cat quite coolly     Top off     cried
the mouse     that is a very odd and uncommon name  is it a usual one in
your family        What does that matter     said the cat     it is no worse
than Crumb stealer  as your godchildren are called    

Before long the cat was seized by another fit of yearning  She said to
the mouse     You must do me a favour  and once more manage the house for
a day alone  I am again asked to be godmother  and  as the child has a
white ring round its neck  I cannot refuse     The good mouse consented 
but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church  and devoured
half the pot of fat     Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to
oneself     said she  and was quite satisfied with her day   s work  When
she went home the mouse inquired     And what was the child christened    
   Half done     answered the cat     Half done  What are you saying  I
never heard the name in my life  I   ll wager anything it is not in the
calendar    

The cat   s mouth soon began to water for some more licking     All good
things go in threes     said she     I am asked to stand godmother again 
The child is quite black  only it has white paws  but with that
exception  it has not a single white hair on its whole body  this only
happens once every few years  you will let me go  won   t you        Top off 
Half done     answered the mouse     they are such odd names  they make me
very thoughtful        You sit at home     said the cat     in your dark grey
fur coat and long tail  and are filled with fancies  that   s because
you do not go out in the daytime     During the cat   s absence the mouse
cleaned the house  and put it in order  but the greedy cat entirely
emptied the pot of fat     When everything is eaten up one has some
peace     said she to herself  and well filled and fat she did not return
home till night  The mouse at once asked what name had been given to
the third child     It will not please you more than the others     said the
cat     He is called All gone        All gone     cried the mouse    that is the
most suspicious name of all  I have never seen it in print  All gone 
what can that mean     and she shook her head  curled herself up  and lay
down to sleep 

From this time forth no one invited the cat to be godmother  but
when the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found
outside  the mouse thought of their provision  and said     Come  cat 
we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves  we
shall enjoy that        Yes     answered the cat     you will enjoy it as much
as you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the
window     They set out on their way  but when they arrived  the pot of
fat certainly was still in its place  but it was empty     Alas     said the
mouse     now I see what has happened  now it comes to light  You are a true
friend  You have devoured all when you were standing godmother  First
top off  then half done  then         Will you hold your tongue     cried the
cat     one word more  and I will eat you too        All gone    was already on
the poor mouse   s lips  scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang
on her  seized her  and swallowed her down  Verily  that is the way of
the world 




THE GOOSE GIRL

The king of a great land died  and left his queen to take care of their
only child  This child was a daughter  who was very beautiful  and her
mother loved her dearly  and was very kind to her  And there was a good
fairy too  who was fond of the princess  and helped her mother to watch
over her  When she grew up  she was betrothed to a prince who lived a
great way off  and as the time drew near for her to be married  she
got ready to set off on her journey to his country  Then the queen her
mother  packed up a great many costly things  jewels  and gold  and
silver  trinkets  fine dresses  and in short everything that became a
royal bride  And she gave her a waiting maid to ride with her  and give
her into the bridegroom   s hands  and each had a horse for the journey 
Now the princess   s horse was the fairy   s gift  and it was called Falada 
and could speak 

When the time came for them to set out  the fairy went into her
bed chamber  and took a little knife  and cut off a lock of her hair 
and gave it to the princess  and said     Take care of it  dear child  for
it is a charm that may be of use to you on the road     Then they all took
a sorrowful leave of the princess  and she put the lock of hair into
her bosom  got upon her horse  and set off on her journey to her
bridegroom   s kingdom 

One day  as they were riding along by a brook  the princess began to
feel very thirsty  and she said to her maid     Pray get down  and fetch
me some water in my golden cup out of yonder brook  for I want to
drink        Nay     said the maid     if you are thirsty  get off yourself  and
stoop down by the water and drink  I shall not be your waiting maid any
longer     Then she was so thirsty that she got down  and knelt over the
little brook  and drank  for she was frightened  and dared not bring out
her golden cup  and she wept and said     Alas  what will become of me    
And the lock answered her  and said 

    Alas  alas  if thy mother knew it 
  Sadly  sadly  would she rue it    

But the princess was very gentle and meek  so she said nothing to her
maid   s ill behaviour  but got upon her horse again 

Then all rode farther on their journey  till the day grew so warm  and
the sun so scorching  that the bride began to feel very thirsty again 
and at last  when they came to a river  she forgot her maid   s rude
speech  and said     Pray get down  and fetch me some water to drink in
my golden cup     But the maid answered her  and even spoke more haughtily
than before     Drink if you will  but I shall not be your waiting maid    
Then the princess was so thirsty that she got off her horse  and lay
down  and held her head over the running stream  and cried and said 
   What will become of me     And the lock of hair answered her again 

    Alas  alas  if thy mother knew it 
  Sadly  sadly  would she rue it    

And as she leaned down to drink  the lock of hair fell from her bosom 
and floated away with the water  Now she was so frightened that she did
not see it  but her maid saw it  and was very glad  for she knew the
charm  and she saw that the poor bride would be in her power  now that
she had lost the hair  So when the bride had done drinking  and would
have got upon Falada again  the maid said     I shall ride upon Falada 
and you may have my horse instead     so she was forced to give up her
horse  and soon afterwards to take off her royal clothes and put on her
maid   s shabby ones 

At last  as they drew near the end of their journey  this treacherous
servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told anyone what had
happened  But Falada saw it all  and marked it well 

Then the waiting maid got upon Falada  and the real bride rode upon the
other horse  and they went on in this way till at last they came to the
royal court  There was great joy at their coming  and the prince flew to
meet them  and lifted the maid from her horse  thinking she was the one
who was to be his wife  and she was led upstairs to the royal chamber 
but the true princess was told to stay in the court below 

Now the old king happened just then to have nothing else to do  so he
amused himself by sitting at his kitchen window  looking at what was
going on  and he saw her in the courtyard  As she looked very pretty 
and too delicate for a waiting maid  he went up into the royal chamber
to ask the bride who it was she had brought with her  that was thus left
standing in the court below     I brought her with me for the sake of her
company on the road     said she     pray give the girl some work to do 
that she may not be idle     The old king could not for some time think
of any work for her to do  but at last he said     I have a lad who takes
care of my geese  she may go and help him     Now the name of this lad 
that the real bride was to help in watching the king   s geese  was
Curdken 

But the false bride said to the prince     Dear husband  pray do me one
piece of kindness        That I will     said the prince     Then tell one of
your slaughterers to cut off the head of the horse I rode upon  for it
was very unruly  and plagued me sadly on the road     but the truth was 
she was very much afraid lest Falada should some day or other speak  and
tell all she had done to the princess  She carried her point  and the
faithful Falada was killed  but when the true princess heard of it  she
wept  and begged the man to nail up Falada   s head against a large
dark gate of the city  through which she had to pass every morning
and evening  that there she might still see him sometimes  Then the
slaughterer said he would do as she wished  and cut off the head  and
nailed it up under the dark gate 

Early the next morning  as she and Curdken went out through the gate 
she said sorrowfully 

    Falada  Falada  there thou hangest    

and the head answered 

    Bride  bride  there thou gangest 
  Alas  alas  if thy mother knew it 
  Sadly  sadly  would she rue it    

Then they went out of the city  and drove the geese on  And when she
came to the meadow  she sat down upon a bank there  and let down her
waving locks of hair  which were all of pure silver  and when Curdken
saw it glitter in the sun  he ran up  and would have pulled some of the
locks out  but she cried 

    Blow  breezes  blow 
  Let Curdken   s hat go 
  Blow  breezes  blow 
  Let him after it go 
  O   er hills  dales  and rocks 
  Away be it whirl   d
  Till the silvery locks
  Are all comb   d and curl   d 

Then there came a wind  so strong that it blew off Curdken   s hat  and
away it flew over the hills  and he was forced to turn and run after
it  till  by the time he came back  she had done combing and curling her
hair  and had put it up again safe  Then he was very angry and sulky 
and would not speak to her at all  but they watched the geese until it
grew dark in the evening  and then drove them homewards 

The next morning  as they were going through the dark gate  the poor
girl looked up at Falada   s head  and cried 

    Falada  Falada  there thou hangest    

and the head answered 

    Bride  bride  there thou gangest 
  Alas  alas  if thy mother knew it 
  Sadly  sadly  would she rue it    

Then she drove on the geese  and sat down again in the meadow  and began
to comb out her hair as before  and Curdken ran up to her  and wanted to
take hold of it  but she cried out quickly 

    Blow  breezes  blow 
  Let Curdken   s hat go 
  Blow  breezes  blow 
  Let him after it go 
  O   er hills  dales  and rocks 
  Away be it whirl   d
  Till the silvery locks
  Are all comb   d and curl   d 

Then the wind came and blew away his hat  and off it flew a great way 
over the hills and far away  so that he had to run after it  and when
he came back she had bound up her hair again  and all was safe  So they
watched the geese till it grew dark 

In the evening  after they came home  Curdken went to the old king  and
said     I cannot have that strange girl to help me to keep the geese any
longer        Why     said the king     Because  instead of doing any good  she
does nothing but tease me all day long     Then the king made him tell him
what had happened  And Curdken said     When we go in the morning through
the dark gate with our flock of geese  she cries and talks with the head
of a horse that hangs upon the wall  and says 

    Falada  Falada  there thou hangest    

and the head answers 

    Bride  bride  there thou gangest 
  Alas  alas  if thy mother knew it 
  Sadly  sadly  would she rue it    

And Curdken went on telling the king what had happened upon the meadow
where the geese fed  how his hat was blown away  and how he was forced
to run after it  and to leave his flock of geese to themselves  But the
old king told the boy to go out again the next day  and when morning
came  he placed himself behind the dark gate  and heard how she spoke
to Falada  and how Falada answered  Then he went into the field  and
hid himself in a bush by the meadow   s side  and he soon saw with his own
eyes how they drove the flock of geese  and how  after a little time 
she let down her hair that glittered in the sun  And then he heard her
say 

    Blow  breezes  blow 
  Let Curdken   s hat go 
  Blow  breezes  blow 
  Let him after it go 
  O   er hills  dales  and rocks 
  Away be it whirl   d
  Till the silvery locks
  Are all comb   d and curl   d 

And soon came a gale of wind  and carried away Curdken   s hat  and away
went Curdken after it  while the girl went on combing and curling her
hair  All this the old king saw  so he went home without being seen  and
when the little goose girl came back in the evening he called her aside 
and asked her why she did so  but she burst into tears  and said     That
I must not tell you or any man  or I shall lose my life    

But the old king begged so hard  that she had no peace till she had told
him all the tale  from beginning to end  word for word  And it was very
lucky for her that she did so  for when she had done the king ordered
royal clothes to be put upon her  and gazed on her with wonder  she was
so beautiful  Then he called his son and told him that he had only a
false bride  for that she was merely a waiting maid  while the true
bride stood by  And the young king rejoiced when he saw her beauty  and
heard how meek and patient she had been  and without saying anything to
the false bride  the king ordered a great feast to be got ready for all
his court  The bridegroom sat at the top  with the false princess on one
side  and the true one on the other  but nobody knew her again  for her
beauty was quite dazzling to their eyes  and she did not seem at all
like the little goose girl  now that she had her brilliant dress on 

When they had eaten and drank  and were very merry  the old king said
he would tell them a tale  So he began  and told all the story of the
princess  as if it was one that he had once heard  and he asked the
true waiting maid what she thought ought to be done to anyone who would
behave thus     Nothing better     said this false bride     than that she
should be thrown into a cask stuck round with sharp nails  and that
two white horses should be put to it  and should drag it from street to
street till she was dead        Thou art she     said the old king     and as
thou has judged thyself  so shall it be done to thee     And the young
king was then married to his true wife  and they reigned over the
kingdom in peace and happiness all their lives  and the good fairy came
to see them  and restored the faithful Falada to life again 




THE ADVENTURES OF CHANTICLEER AND PARTLET


   HOW THEY WENT TO THE MOUNTAINS TO EAT NUTS

   The nuts are quite ripe now     said Chanticleer to his wife Partlet 
   suppose we go together to the mountains  and eat as many as we can 
before the squirrel takes them all away        With all my heart     said
Partlet     let us go and make a holiday of it together    

So they went to the mountains  and as it was a lovely day  they stayed
there till the evening  Now  whether it was that they had eaten so many
nuts that they could not walk  or whether they were lazy and would not 
I do not know  however  they took it into their heads that it did not
become them to go home on foot  So Chanticleer began to build a little
carriage of nutshells  and when it was finished  Partlet jumped into
it and sat down  and bid Chanticleer harness himself to it and draw her
home     That   s a good joke     said Chanticleer     no  that will never do 
I had rather by half walk home  I   ll sit on the box and be coachman 
if you like  but I   ll not draw     While this was passing  a duck came
quacking up and cried out     You thieving vagabonds  what business have
you in my grounds  I   ll give it you well for your insolence     and upon
that she fell upon Chanticleer most lustily  But Chanticleer was no
coward  and returned the duck   s blows with his sharp spurs so fiercely
that she soon began to cry out for mercy  which was only granted her
upon condition that she would draw the carriage home for them  This she
agreed to do  and Chanticleer got upon the box  and drove  crying     Now 
duck  get on as fast as you can     And away they went at a pretty good
pace 

After they had travelled along a little way  they met a needle and a pin
walking together along the road  and the needle cried out     Stop  stop    
and said it was so dark that they could hardly find their way  and such
dirty walking they could not get on at all  he told them that he and his
friend  the pin  had been at a public house a few miles off  and had sat
drinking till they had forgotten how late it was  he begged therefore
that the travellers would be so kind as to give them a lift in their
carriage  Chanticleer observing that they were but thin fellows  and not
likely to take up much room  told them they might ride  but made them
promise not to dirty the wheels of the carriage in getting in  nor to
tread on Partlet   s toes 

Late at night they arrived at an inn  and as it was bad travelling in
the dark  and the duck seemed much tired  and waddled about a good
deal from one side to the other  they made up their minds to fix their
quarters there  but the landlord at first was unwilling  and said his
house was full  thinking they might not be very respectable company 
however  they spoke civilly to him  and gave him the egg which Partlet
had laid by the way  and said they would give him the duck  who was in
the habit of laying one every day  so at last he let them come in  and
they bespoke a handsome supper  and spent the evening very jollily 

Early in the morning  before it was quite light  and when nobody was
stirring in the inn  Chanticleer awakened his wife  and  fetching the
egg  they pecked a hole in it  ate it up  and threw the shells into the
fireplace  they then went to the pin and needle  who were fast asleep 
and seizing them by the heads  stuck one into the landlord   s easy chair
and the other into his handkerchief  and  having done this  they crept
away as softly as possible  However  the duck  who slept in the open
air in the yard  heard them coming  and jumping into the brook which ran
close by the inn  soon swam out of their reach 

An hour or two afterwards the landlord got up  and took his handkerchief
to wipe his face  but the pin ran into him and pricked him  then he
walked into the kitchen to light his pipe at the fire  but when he
stirred it up the eggshells flew into his eyes  and almost blinded him 
   Bless me     said he     all the world seems to have a design against my
head this morning     and so saying  he threw himself sulkily into his
easy chair  but  oh dear  the needle ran into him  and this time the
pain was not in his head  He now flew into a very great passion  and 
suspecting the company who had come in the night before  he went to look
after them  but they were all off  so he swore that he never again
would take in such a troop of vagabonds  who ate a great deal  paid no
reckoning  and gave him nothing for his trouble but their apish tricks 


   HOW CHANTICLEER AND PARTLET WENT TO VISIT MR KORBES

Another day  Chanticleer and Partlet wished to ride out together 
so Chanticleer built a handsome carriage with four red wheels  and
harnessed six mice to it  and then he and Partlet got into the carriage 
and away they drove  Soon afterwards a cat met them  and said     Where
are you going     And Chanticleer replied 

    All on our way
  A visit to pay
  To Mr Korbes  the fox  today    

Then the cat said     Take me with you     Chanticleer said     With all my
heart  get up behind  and be sure you do not fall off    

    Take care of this handsome coach of mine 
  Nor dirty my pretty red wheels so fine 
  Now  mice  be ready 
  And  wheels  run steady 
  For we are going a visit to pay
  To Mr Korbes  the fox  today    

Soon after came up a millstone  an egg  a duck  and a pin  and
Chanticleer gave them all leave to get into the carriage and go with
them 

When they arrived at Mr Korbes   s house  he was not at home  so the mice
drew the carriage into the coach house  Chanticleer and Partlet flew
upon a beam  the cat sat down in the fireplace  the duck got into
the washing cistern  the pin stuck himself into the bed pillow  the
millstone laid himself over the house door  and the egg rolled himself
up in the towel 

When Mr Korbes came home  he went to the fireplace to make a fire  but
the cat threw all the ashes in his eyes  so he ran to the kitchen to
wash himself  but there the duck splashed all the water in his face  and
when he tried to wipe himself  the egg broke to pieces in the towel all
over his face and eyes  Then he was very angry  and went without his
supper to bed  but when he laid his head on the pillow  the pin ran into
his cheek  at this he became quite furious  and  jumping up  would have
run out of the house  but when he came to the door  the millstone fell
down on his head  and killed him on the spot 


   HOW PARTLET DIED AND WAS BURIED  AND HOW CHANTICLEER DIED OF GRIEF

Another day Chanticleer and Partlet agreed to go again to the mountains
to eat nuts  and it was settled that all the nuts which they found
should be shared equally between them  Now Partlet found a very large
nut  but she said nothing about it to Chanticleer  and kept it all to
herself  however  it was so big that she could not swallow it  and it
stuck in her throat  Then she was in a great fright  and cried out to
Chanticleer     Pray run as fast as you can  and fetch me some water  or I
shall be choked     Chanticleer ran as fast as he could to the river  and
said     River  give me some water  for Partlet lies in the mountain  and
will be choked by a great nut     The river said     Run first to the bride 
and ask her for a silken cord to draw up the water     Chanticleer ran to
the bride  and said     Bride  you must give me a silken cord  for then
the river will give me water  and the water I will carry to Partlet  who
lies on the mountain  and will be choked by a great nut     But the bride
said     Run first  and bring me my garland that is hanging on a willow
in the garden     Then Chanticleer ran to the garden  and took the garland
from the bough where it hung  and brought it to the bride  and then
the bride gave him the silken cord  and he took the silken cord to
the river  and the river gave him water  and he carried the water to
Partlet  but in the meantime she was choked by the great nut  and lay
quite dead  and never moved any more 

Then Chanticleer was very sorry  and cried bitterly  and all the beasts
came and wept with him over poor Partlet  And six mice built a little
hearse to carry her to her grave  and when it was ready they harnessed
themselves before it  and Chanticleer drove them  On the way they
met the fox     Where are you going  Chanticleer     said he     To bury my
Partlet     said the other     May I go with you     said the fox     Yes  but
you must get up behind  or my horses will not be able to draw you     Then
the fox got up behind  and presently the wolf  the bear  the goat  and
all the beasts of the wood  came and climbed upon the hearse 

So on they went till they came to a rapid stream     How shall we get
over     said Chanticleer  Then said a straw     I will lay myself across 
and you may pass over upon me     But as the mice were going over  the
straw slipped away and fell into the water  and the six mice all fell in
and were drowned  What was to be done  Then a large log of wood came
and said     I am big enough  I will lay myself across the stream  and you
shall pass over upon me     So he laid himself down  but they managed
so clumsily  that the log of wood fell in and was carried away by the
stream  Then a stone  who saw what had happened  came up and kindly
offered to help poor Chanticleer by laying himself across the stream 
and this time he got safely to the other side with the hearse  and
managed to get Partlet out of it  but the fox and the other mourners 
who were sitting behind  were too heavy  and fell back into the water
and were all carried away by the stream and drowned 

Thus Chanticleer was left alone with his dead Partlet  and having dug
a grave for her  he laid her in it  and made a little hillock over her 
Then he sat down by the grave  and wept and mourned  till at last he
died too  and so all were dead 




RAPUNZEL

There were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a
child  At length the woman hoped that God was about to grant her desire 
These people had a little window at the back of their house from which
a splendid garden could be seen  which was full of the most beautiful
flowers and herbs  It was  however  surrounded by a high wall  and no
one dared to go into it because it belonged to an enchantress  who had
great power and was dreaded by all the world  One day the woman was
standing by this window and looking down into the garden  when she saw a
bed which was planted with the most beautiful rampion  rapunzel   and it
looked so fresh and green that she longed for it  she quite pined away 
and began to look pale and miserable  Then her husband was alarmed  and
asked     What ails you  dear wife        Ah     she replied     if I can   t eat
some of the rampion  which is in the garden behind our house  I shall
die     The man  who loved her  thought     Sooner than let your wife die 
bring her some of the rampion yourself  let it cost what it will    
At twilight  he clambered down over the wall into the garden of the
enchantress  hastily clutched a handful of rampion  and took it to his
wife  She at once made herself a salad of it  and ate it greedily  It
tasted so good to her  so very good  that the next day she longed for it
three times as much as before  If he was to have any rest  her husband
must once more descend into the garden  In the gloom of evening
therefore  he let himself down again  but when he had clambered down the
wall he was terribly afraid  for he saw the enchantress standing before
him     How can you dare     said she with angry look     descend into my
garden and steal my rampion like a thief  You shall suffer for it    
   Ah     answered he     let mercy take the place of justice  I only made
up my mind to do it out of necessity  My wife saw your rampion from the
window  and felt such a longing for it that she would have died if she
had not got some to eat     Then the enchantress allowed her anger to be
softened  and said to him     If the case be as you say  I will allow
you to take away with you as much rampion as you will  only I make one
condition  you must give me the child which your wife will bring into
the world  it shall be well treated  and I will care for it like a
mother     The man in his terror consented to everything  and when the
woman was brought to bed  the enchantress appeared at once  gave the
child the name of Rapunzel  and took it away with her 

Rapunzel grew into the most beautiful child under the sun  When she was
twelve years old  the enchantress shut her into a tower  which lay in
a forest  and had neither stairs nor door  but quite at the top was a
little window  When the enchantress wanted to go in  she placed herself
beneath it and cried 

    Rapunzel  Rapunzel 
  Let down your hair to me    

Rapunzel had magnificent long hair  fine as spun gold  and when she
heard the voice of the enchantress she unfastened her braided tresses 
wound them round one of the hooks of the window above  and then the hair
fell twenty ells down  and the enchantress climbed up by it 

After a year or two  it came to pass that the king   s son rode through
the forest and passed by the tower  Then he heard a song  which was so
charming that he stood still and listened  This was Rapunzel  who in her
solitude passed her time in letting her sweet voice resound  The king   s
son wanted to climb up to her  and looked for the door of the tower 
but none was to be found  He rode home  but the singing had so deeply
touched his heart  that every day he went out into the forest and
listened to it  Once when he was thus standing behind a tree  he saw
that an enchantress came there  and he heard how she cried 

    Rapunzel  Rapunzel 
  Let down your hair to me    

Then Rapunzel let down the braids of her hair  and the enchantress
climbed up to her     If that is the ladder by which one mounts  I too
will try my fortune     said he  and the next day when it began to grow
dark  he went to the tower and cried 

    Rapunzel  Rapunzel 
  Let down your hair to me    

Immediately the hair fell down and the king   s son climbed up 

At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man  such as her eyes
had never yet beheld  came to her  but the king   s son began to talk to
her quite like a friend  and told her that his heart had been so stirred
that it had let him have no rest  and he had been forced to see her 
Then Rapunzel lost her fear  and when he asked her if she would take
him for her husband  and she saw that he was young and handsome  she
thought     He will love me more than old Dame Gothel does     and she said
yes  and laid her hand in his  She said     I will willingly go away with
you  but I do not know how to get down  Bring with you a skein of silk
every time that you come  and I will weave a ladder with it  and when
that is ready I will descend  and you will take me on your horse     They
agreed that until that time he should come to her every evening  for the
old woman came by day  The enchantress remarked nothing of this  until
once Rapunzel said to her     Tell me  Dame Gothel  how it happens that
you are so much heavier for me to draw up than the young king   s son  he
is with me in a moment        Ah  you wicked child     cried the enchantress 
   What do I hear you say  I thought I had separated you from all
the world  and yet you have deceived me     In her anger she clutched
Rapunzel   s beautiful tresses  wrapped them twice round her left hand 
seized a pair of scissors with the right  and snip  snap  they were cut
off  and the lovely braids lay on the ground  And she was so pitiless
that she took poor Rapunzel into a desert where she had to live in great
grief and misery 

On the same day that she cast out Rapunzel  however  the enchantress
fastened the braids of hair  which she had cut off  to the hook of the
window  and when the king   s son came and cried 

    Rapunzel  Rapunzel 
  Let down your hair to me    

she let the hair down  The king   s son ascended  but instead of finding
his dearest Rapunzel  he found the enchantress  who gazed at him with
wicked and venomous looks     Aha     she cried mockingly     you would fetch
your dearest  but the beautiful bird sits no longer singing in the nest 
the cat has got it  and will scratch out your eyes as well  Rapunzel is
lost to you  you will never see her again     The king   s son was beside
himself with pain  and in his despair he leapt down from the tower  He
escaped with his life  but the thorns into which he fell pierced his
eyes  Then he wandered quite blind about the forest  ate nothing but
roots and berries  and did naught but lament and weep over the loss of
his dearest wife  Thus he roamed about in misery for some years  and at
length came to the desert where Rapunzel  with the twins to which she
had given birth  a boy and a girl  lived in wretchedness  He heard a
voice  and it seemed so familiar to him that he went towards it  and
when he approached  Rapunzel knew him and fell on his neck and wept  Two
of her tears wetted his eyes and they grew clear again  and he could
see with them as before  He led her to his kingdom where he was
joyfully received  and they lived for a long time afterwards  happy and
contented 




FUNDEVOGEL

There was once a forester who went into the forest to hunt  and as
he entered it he heard a sound of screaming as if a little child were
there  He followed the sound  and at last came to a high tree  and at
the top of this a little child was sitting  for the mother had fallen
asleep under the tree with the child  and a bird of prey had seen it in
her arms  had flown down  snatched it away  and set it on the high tree 

The forester climbed up  brought the child down  and thought to himself 
   You will take him home with you  and bring him up with your Lina     He
took it home  therefore  and the two children grew up together  And the
one  which he had found on a tree was called Fundevogel  because a bird
had carried it away  Fundevogel and Lina loved each other so dearly that
when they did not see each other they were sad 

Now the forester had an old cook  who one evening took two pails and
began to fetch water  and did not go once only  but many times  out
to the spring  Lina saw this and said     Listen  old Sanna  why are you
fetching so much water        If you will never repeat it to anyone  I will
tell you why     So Lina said  no  she would never repeat it to anyone 
and then the cook said     Early tomorrow morning  when the forester
is out hunting  I will heat the water  and when it is boiling in the
kettle  I will throw in Fundevogel  and will boil him in it    

Early next morning the forester got up and went out hunting  and when he
was gone the children were still in bed  Then Lina said to Fundevogel 
   If you will never leave me  I too will never leave you     Fundevogel
said     Neither now  nor ever will I leave you     Then said Lina     Then
will I tell you  Last night  old Sanna carried so many buckets of water
into the house that I asked her why she was doing that  and she said
that if I would promise not to tell anyone  and she said that early
tomorrow morning when father was out hunting  she would set the kettle
full of water  throw you into it and boil you  but we will get up
quickly  dress ourselves  and go away together    

The two children therefore got up  dressed themselves quickly  and went
away  When the water in the kettle was boiling  the cook went into the
bedroom to fetch Fundevogel and throw him into it  But when she came in 
and went to the beds  both the children were gone  Then she was terribly
alarmed  and she said to herself     What shall I say now when the
forester comes home and sees that the children are gone  They must be
followed instantly to get them back again    

Then the cook sent three servants after them  who were to run and
overtake the children  The children  however  were sitting outside the
forest  and when they saw from afar the three servants running  Lina
said to Fundevogel     Never leave me  and I will never leave you    
Fundevogel said     Neither now  nor ever     Then said Lina     Do you become
a rose tree  and I the rose upon it     When the three servants came to
the forest  nothing was there but a rose tree and one rose on it  but
the children were nowhere  Then said they     There is nothing to be done
here     and they went home and told the cook that they had seen nothing
in the forest but a little rose bush with one rose on it  Then the
old cook scolded and said     You simpletons  you should have cut the
rose bush in two  and have broken off the rose and brought it home with
you  go  and do it at once     They had therefore to go out and look for
the second time  The children  however  saw them coming from a distance 
Then Lina said     Fundevogel  never leave me  and I will never leave
you     Fundevogel said     Neither now  nor ever     Said Lina     Then do you
become a church  and I   ll be the chandelier in it     So when the three
servants came  nothing was there but a church  with a chandelier in
it  They said therefore to each other     What can we do here  let us go
home     When they got home  the cook asked if they had not found them 
so they said no  they had found nothing but a church  and there was a
chandelier in it  And the cook scolded them and said     You fools  why
did you not pull the church to pieces  and bring the chandelier home
with you     And now the old cook herself got on her legs  and went with
the three servants in pursuit of the children  The children  however 
saw from afar that the three servants were coming  and the cook waddling
after them  Then said Lina     Fundevogel  never leave me  and I will
never leave you     Then said Fundevogel     Neither now  nor ever    
Said Lina     Be a fishpond  and I will be the duck upon it     The cook 
however  came up to them  and when she saw the pond she lay down by it 
and was about to drink it up  But the duck swam quickly to her  seized
her head in its beak and drew her into the water  and there the old
witch had to drown  Then the children went home together  and were
heartily delighted  and if they have not died  they are living still 




THE VALIANT LITTLE TAILOR

One summer   s morning a little tailor was sitting on his table by the
window  he was in good spirits  and sewed with all his might  Then came
a peasant woman down the street crying     Good jams  cheap  Good jams 
cheap     This rang pleasantly in the tailor   s ears  he stretched his
delicate head out of the window  and called     Come up here  dear woman 
here you will get rid of your goods     The woman came up the three steps
to the tailor with her heavy basket  and he made her unpack all the pots
for him  He inspected each one  lifted it up  put his nose to it  and
at length said     The jam seems to me to be good  so weigh me out four
ounces  dear woman  and if it is a quarter of a pound that is of no
consequence     The woman who had hoped to find a good sale  gave him
what he desired  but went away quite angry and grumbling     Now  this jam
shall be blessed by God     cried the little tailor     and give me health
and strength     so he brought the bread out of the cupboard  cut himself
a piece right across the loaf and spread the jam over it     This won   t
taste bitter     said he     but I will just finish the jacket before I
take a bite     He laid the bread near him  sewed on  and in his joy  made
bigger and bigger stitches  In the meantime the smell of the sweet jam
rose to where the flies were sitting in great numbers  and they were
attracted and descended on it in hosts     Hi  who invited you     said the
little tailor  and drove the unbidden guests away  The flies  however 
who understood no German  would not be turned away  but came back
again in ever increasing companies  The little tailor at last lost all
patience  and drew a piece of cloth from the hole under his work table 
and saying     Wait  and I will give it to you     struck it mercilessly on
them  When he drew it away and counted  there lay before him no fewer
than seven  dead and with legs stretched out     Are you a fellow of that
sort     said he  and could not help admiring his own bravery     The whole
town shall know of this     And the little tailor hastened to cut himself
a girdle  stitched it  and embroidered on it in large letters     Seven at
one stroke        What  the town     he continued     the whole world shall hear
of it     and his heart wagged with joy like a lamb   s tail  The tailor
put on the girdle  and resolved to go forth into the world  because he
thought his workshop was too small for his valour  Before he went away 
he sought about in the house to see if there was anything which he could
take with him  however  he found nothing but an old cheese  and that
he put in his pocket  In front of the door he observed a bird which
had caught itself in the thicket  It had to go into his pocket with the
cheese  Now he took to the road boldly  and as he was light and nimble 
he felt no fatigue  The road led him up a mountain  and when he had
reached the highest point of it  there sat a powerful giant looking
peacefully about him  The little tailor went bravely up  spoke to him 
and said     Good day  comrade  so you are sitting there overlooking the
wide spread world  I am just on my way thither  and want to try my luck 
Have you any inclination to go with me     The giant looked contemptuously
at the tailor  and said     You ragamuffin  You miserable creature    

   Oh  indeed     answered the little tailor  and unbuttoned his coat  and
showed the giant the girdle     there may you read what kind of a man I
am     The giant read     Seven at one stroke     and thought that they had
been men whom the tailor had killed  and began to feel a little respect
for the tiny fellow  Nevertheless  he wished to try him first  and took
a stone in his hand and squeezed it together so that water dropped out
of it     Do that likewise     said the giant     if you have strength        Is
that all     said the tailor     that is child   s play with us     and put his
hand into his pocket  brought out the soft cheese  and pressed it until
the liquid ran out of it     Faith     said he     that was a little better 
wasn   t it     The giant did not know what to say  and could not believe it
of the little man  Then the giant picked up a stone and threw it so high
that the eye could scarcely follow it     Now  little mite of a man  do
that likewise        Well thrown     said the tailor     but after all the stone
came down to earth again  I will throw you one which shall never come
back at all     and he put his hand into his pocket  took out the bird 
and threw it into the air  The bird  delighted with its liberty 
rose  flew away and did not come back     How does that shot please you 
comrade     asked the tailor     You can certainly throw     said the giant 
   but now we will see if you are able to carry anything properly     He
took the little tailor to a mighty oak tree which lay there felled on
the ground  and said     If you are strong enough  help me to carry the
tree out of the forest        Readily     answered the little man     take you
the trunk on your shoulders  and I will raise up the branches and twigs 
after all  they are the heaviest     The giant took the trunk on his
shoulder  but the tailor seated himself on a branch  and the giant  who
could not look round  had to carry away the whole tree  and the little
tailor into the bargain  he behind  was quite merry and happy  and
whistled the song     Three tailors rode forth from the gate     as if
carrying the tree were child   s play  The giant  after he had dragged the
heavy burden part of the way  could go no further  and cried     Hark
you  I shall have to let the tree fall     The tailor sprang nimbly down 
seized the tree with both arms as if he had been carrying it  and said
to the giant     You are such a great fellow  and yet cannot even carry
the tree    

They went on together  and as they passed a cherry tree  the giant laid
hold of the top of the tree where the ripest fruit was hanging  bent it
down  gave it into the tailor   s hand  and bade him eat  But the little
tailor was much too weak to hold the tree  and when the giant let it go 
it sprang back again  and the tailor was tossed into the air with it 
When he had fallen down again without injury  the giant said     What is
this  Have you not strength enough to hold the weak twig        There is no
lack of strength     answered the little tailor     Do you think that could
be anything to a man who has struck down seven at one blow  I leapt over
the tree because the huntsmen are shooting down there in the thicket 
Jump as I did  if you can do it     The giant made the attempt but he
could not get over the tree  and remained hanging in the branches  so
that in this also the tailor kept the upper hand 

The giant said     If you are such a valiant fellow  come with me into our
cavern and spend the night with us     The little tailor was willing  and
followed him  When they went into the cave  other giants were sitting
there by the fire  and each of them had a roasted sheep in his hand and
was eating it  The little tailor looked round and thought     It is much
more spacious here than in my workshop     The giant showed him a bed  and
said he was to lie down in it and sleep  The bed  however  was too
big for the little tailor  he did not lie down in it  but crept into
a corner  When it was midnight  and the giant thought that the little
tailor was lying in a sound sleep  he got up  took a great iron bar 
cut through the bed with one blow  and thought he had finished off the
grasshopper for good  With the earliest dawn the giants went into the
forest  and had quite forgotten the little tailor  when all at once he
walked up to them quite merrily and boldly  The giants were terrified 
they were afraid that he would strike them all dead  and ran away in a
great hurry 

The little tailor went onwards  always following his own pointed nose 
After he had walked for a long time  he came to the courtyard of a royal
palace  and as he felt weary  he lay down on the grass and fell asleep 
Whilst he lay there  the people came and inspected him on all sides  and
read on his girdle     Seven at one stroke        Ah     said they     what does
the great warrior want here in the midst of peace  He must be a mighty
lord     They went and announced him to the king  and gave it as their
opinion that if war should break out  this would be a weighty and useful
man who ought on no account to be allowed to depart  The counsel pleased
the king  and he sent one of his courtiers to the little tailor to offer
him military service when he awoke  The ambassador remained standing by
the sleeper  waited until he stretched his limbs and opened his eyes 
and then conveyed to him this proposal     For this very reason have
I come here     the tailor replied     I am ready to enter the king   s
service     He was therefore honourably received  and a special dwelling
was assigned him 

The soldiers  however  were set against the little tailor  and wished
him a thousand miles away     What is to be the end of this     they said
among themselves     If we quarrel with him  and he strikes about him 
seven of us will fall at every blow  not one of us can stand against
him     They came therefore to a decision  betook themselves in a body to
the king  and begged for their dismissal     We are not prepared     said
they     to stay with a man who kills seven at one stroke     The king was
sorry that for the sake of one he should lose all his faithful servants 
wished that he had never set eyes on the tailor  and would willingly
have been rid of him again  But he did not venture to give him his
dismissal  for he dreaded lest he should strike him and all his people
dead  and place himself on the royal throne  He thought about it for a
long time  and at last found good counsel  He sent to the little tailor
and caused him to be informed that as he was a great warrior  he had one
request to make to him  In a forest of his country lived two giants 
who caused great mischief with their robbing  murdering  ravaging 
and burning  and no one could approach them without putting himself in
danger of death  If the tailor conquered and killed these two giants  he
would give him his only daughter to wife  and half of his kingdom as a
dowry  likewise one hundred horsemen should go with him to assist him 
   That would indeed be a fine thing for a man like me     thought the
little tailor     One is not offered a beautiful princess and half a
kingdom every day of one   s life        Oh  yes     he replied     I will soon
subdue the giants  and do not require the help of the hundred horsemen
to do it  he who can hit seven with one blow has no need to be afraid of
two    

The little tailor went forth  and the hundred horsemen followed him 
When he came to the outskirts of the forest  he said to his followers 
   Just stay waiting here  I alone will soon finish off the giants     Then
he bounded into the forest and looked about right and left  After a
while he perceived both giants  They lay sleeping under a tree  and
snored so that the branches waved up and down  The little tailor  not
idle  gathered two pocketsful of stones  and with these climbed up the
tree  When he was halfway up  he slipped down by a branch  until he sat
just above the sleepers  and then let one stone after another fall on
the breast of one of the giants  For a long time the giant felt nothing 
but at last he awoke  pushed his comrade  and said     Why are you
knocking me        You must be dreaming     said the other     I am not knocking
you     They laid themselves down to sleep again  and then the tailor
threw a stone down on the second     What is the meaning of this     cried
the other    Why are you pelting me        I am not pelting you     answered
the first  growling  They disputed about it for a time  but as they were
weary they let the matter rest  and their eyes closed once more  The
little tailor began his game again  picked out the biggest stone  and
threw it with all his might on the breast of the first giant     That
is too bad     cried he  and sprang up like a madman  and pushed his
companion against the tree until it shook  The other paid him back in
the same coin  and they got into such a rage that they tore up trees and
belaboured each other so long  that at last they both fell down dead on
the ground at the same time  Then the little tailor leapt down     It is
a lucky thing     said he     that they did not tear up the tree on which
I was sitting  or I should have had to sprint on to another like a
squirrel  but we tailors are nimble     He drew out his sword and gave
each of them a couple of thrusts in the breast  and then went out to the
horsemen and said     The work is done  I have finished both of them
off  but it was hard work  They tore up trees in their sore need  and
defended themselves with them  but all that is to no purpose when a man
like myself comes  who can kill seven at one blow        But are you not
wounded     asked the horsemen     You need not concern yourself about
that     answered the tailor     they have not bent one hair of mine     The
horsemen would not believe him  and rode into the forest  there they
found the giants swimming in their blood  and all round about lay the
torn up trees 

The little tailor demanded of the king the promised reward  he  however 
repented of his promise  and again bethought himself how he could get
rid of the hero     Before you receive my daughter  and the half of my
kingdom     said he to him     you must perform one more heroic deed  In
the forest roams a unicorn which does great harm  and you must catch
it first        I fear one unicorn still less than two giants  Seven at one
blow  is my kind of affair     He took a rope and an axe with him  went
forth into the forest  and again bade those who were sent with him to
wait outside  He had not long to seek  The unicorn soon came towards
him  and rushed directly on the tailor  as if it would gore him with its
horn without more ado     Softly  softly  it can   t be done as quickly as
that     said he  and stood still and waited until the animal was quite
close  and then sprang nimbly behind the tree  The unicorn ran against
the tree with all its strength  and stuck its horn so fast in the trunk
that it had not the strength enough to draw it out again  and thus it
was caught     Now  I have got the bird     said the tailor  and came out
from behind the tree and put the rope round its neck  and then with his
axe he hewed the horn out of the tree  and when all was ready he led the
beast away and took it to the king 

The king still would not give him the promised reward  and made a third
demand  Before the wedding the tailor was to catch him a wild boar that
made great havoc in the forest  and the huntsmen should give him their
help     Willingly     said the tailor     that is child   s play     He did not
take the huntsmen with him into the forest  and they were well pleased
that he did not  for the wild boar had several times received them in
such a manner that they had no inclination to lie in wait for him  When
the boar perceived the tailor  it ran on him with foaming mouth and
whetted tusks  and was about to throw him to the ground  but the hero
fled and sprang into a chapel which was near and up to the window at
once  and in one bound out again  The boar ran after him  but the tailor
ran round outside and shut the door behind it  and then the raging
beast  which was much too heavy and awkward to leap out of the window 
was caught  The little tailor called the huntsmen thither that they
might see the prisoner with their own eyes  The hero  however  went to
the king  who was now  whether he liked it or not  obliged to keep his
promise  and gave his daughter and the half of his kingdom  Had he known
that it was no warlike hero  but a little tailor who was standing before
him  it would have gone to his heart still more than it did  The wedding
was held with great magnificence and small joy  and out of a tailor a
king was made 

After some time the young queen heard her husband say in his dreams at
night     Boy  make me the doublet  and patch the pantaloons  or else I
will rap the yard measure over your ears     Then she discovered in what
state of life the young lord had been born  and next morning complained
of her wrongs to her father  and begged him to help her to get rid of
her husband  who was nothing else but a tailor  The king comforted her
and said     Leave your bedroom door open this night  and my servants
shall stand outside  and when he has fallen asleep shall go in  bind
him  and take him on board a ship which shall carry him into the wide
world     The woman was satisfied with this  but the king   s armour bearer 
who had heard all  was friendly with the young lord  and informed him of
the whole plot     I   ll put a screw into that business     said the little
tailor  At night he went to bed with his wife at the usual time  and
when she thought that he had fallen asleep  she got up  opened the door 
and then lay down again  The little tailor  who was only pretending to
be asleep  began to cry out in a clear voice     Boy  make me the doublet
and patch me the pantaloons  or I will rap the yard measure over your
ears  I smote seven at one blow  I killed two giants  I brought away one
unicorn  and caught a wild boar  and am I to fear those who are standing
outside the room     When these men heard the tailor speaking thus  they
were overcome by a great dread  and ran as if the wild huntsman were
behind them  and none of them would venture anything further against
him  So the little tailor was and remained a king to the end of his
life 




HANSEL AND GRETEL

Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood cutter with his wife and his
two children  The boy was called Hansel and the girl Gretel  He had
little to bite and to break  and once when great dearth fell on the
land  he could no longer procure even daily bread  Now when he thought
over this by night in his bed  and tossed about in his anxiety  he
groaned and said to his wife     What is to become of us  How are we
to feed our poor children  when we no longer have anything even for
ourselves        I   ll tell you what  husband     answered the woman     early
tomorrow morning we will take the children out into the forest to where
it is the thickest  there we will light a fire for them  and give each
of them one more piece of bread  and then we will go to our work and
leave them alone  They will not find the way home again  and we shall be
rid of them        No  wife     said the man     I will not do that  how can I
bear to leave my children alone in the forest   the wild animals would
soon come and tear them to pieces        O  you fool     said she     then we
must all four die of hunger  you may as well plane the planks for our
coffins     and she left him no peace until he consented     But I feel very
sorry for the poor children  all the same     said the man 

The two children had also not been able to sleep for hunger  and had
heard what their stepmother had said to their father  Gretel wept
bitter tears  and said to Hansel     Now all is over with us        Be quiet 
Gretel     said Hansel     do not distress yourself  I will soon find a way
to help us     And when the old folks had fallen asleep  he got up  put
on his little coat  opened the door below  and crept outside  The moon
shone brightly  and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house
glittered like real silver pennies  Hansel stooped and stuffed the
little pocket of his coat with as many as he could get in  Then he went
back and said to Gretel     Be comforted  dear little sister  and sleep in
peace  God will not forsake us     and he lay down again in his bed  When
day dawned  but before the sun had risen  the woman came and awoke the
two children  saying     Get up  you sluggards  we are going into the
forest to fetch wood     She gave each a little piece of bread  and said 
   There is something for your dinner  but do not eat it up before then 
for you will get nothing else     Gretel took the bread under her apron 
as Hansel had the pebbles in his pocket  Then they all set out together
on the way to the forest  When they had walked a short time  Hansel
stood still and peeped back at the house  and did so again and again 
His father said     Hansel  what are you looking at there and staying
behind for  Pay attention  and do not forget how to use your legs        Ah 
father     said Hansel     I am looking at my little white cat  which is
sitting up on the roof  and wants to say goodbye to me     The wife said 
   Fool  that is not your little cat  that is the morning sun which is
shining on the chimneys     Hansel  however  had not been looking back at
the cat  but had been constantly throwing one of the white pebble stones
out of his pocket on the road 

When they had reached the middle of the forest  the father said     Now 
children  pile up some wood  and I will light a fire that you may not
be cold     Hansel and Gretel gathered brushwood together  as high as a
little hill  The brushwood was lighted  and when the flames were burning
very high  the woman said     Now  children  lay yourselves down by the
fire and rest  we will go into the forest and cut some wood  When we
have done  we will come back and fetch you away    

Hansel and Gretel sat by the fire  and when noon came  each ate a little
piece of bread  and as they heard the strokes of the wood axe they
believed that their father was near  It was not the axe  however  but
a branch which he had fastened to a withered tree which the wind was
blowing backwards and forwards  And as they had been sitting such a long
time  their eyes closed with fatigue  and they fell fast asleep  When
at last they awoke  it was already dark night  Gretel began to cry and
said     How are we to get out of the forest now     But Hansel comforted
her and said     Just wait a little  until the moon has risen  and then we
will soon find the way     And when the full moon had risen  Hansel took
his little sister by the hand  and followed the pebbles which shone like
newly coined silver pieces  and showed them the way 

They walked the whole night long  and by break of day came once more
to their father   s house  They knocked at the door  and when the woman
opened it and saw that it was Hansel and Gretel  she said     You naughty
children  why have you slept so long in the forest   we thought you were
never coming back at all     The father  however  rejoiced  for it had cut
him to the heart to leave them behind alone 

Not long afterwards  there was once more great dearth throughout the
land  and the children heard their mother saying at night to their
father     Everything is eaten again  we have one half loaf left  and that
is the end  The children must go  we will take them farther into the
wood  so that they will not find their way out again  there is no other
means of saving ourselves     The man   s heart was heavy  and he thought 
   It would be better for you to share the last mouthful with your
children     The woman  however  would listen to nothing that he had to
say  but scolded and reproached him  He who says A must say B  likewise 
and as he had yielded the first time  he had to do so a second time
also 

The children  however  were still awake and had heard the conversation 
When the old folks were asleep  Hansel again got up  and wanted to go
out and pick up pebbles as he had done before  but the woman had locked
the door  and Hansel could not get out  Nevertheless he comforted his
little sister  and said     Do not cry  Gretel  go to sleep quietly  the
good God will help us    

Early in the morning came the woman  and took the children out of their
beds  Their piece of bread was given to them  but it was still smaller
than the time before  On the way into the forest Hansel crumbled his
in his pocket  and often stood still and threw a morsel on the ground 
   Hansel  why do you stop and look round     said the father     go on        I
am looking back at my little pigeon which is sitting on the roof  and
wants to say goodbye to me     answered Hansel     Fool     said the woman 
   that is not your little pigeon  that is the morning sun that is shining
on the chimney     Hansel  however little by little  threw all the crumbs
on the path 

The woman led the children still deeper into the forest  where they had
never in their lives been before  Then a great fire was again made  and
the mother said     Just sit there  you children  and when you are tired
you may sleep a little  we are going into the forest to cut wood  and in
the evening when we are done  we will come and fetch you away     When
it was noon  Gretel shared her piece of bread with Hansel  who had
scattered his by the way  Then they fell asleep and evening passed  but
no one came to the poor children  They did not awake until it was dark
night  and Hansel comforted his little sister and said     Just wait 
Gretel  until the moon rises  and then we shall see the crumbs of bread
which I have strewn about  they will show us our way home again     When
the moon came they set out  but they found no crumbs  for the many
thousands of birds which fly about in the woods and fields had picked
them all up  Hansel said to Gretel     We shall soon find the way     but
they did not find it  They walked the whole night and all the next day
too from morning till evening  but they did not get out of the forest 
and were very hungry  for they had nothing to eat but two or three
berries  which grew on the ground  And as they were so weary that their
legs would carry them no longer  they lay down beneath a tree and fell
asleep 

It was now three mornings since they had left their father   s house  They
began to walk again  but they always came deeper into the forest  and if
help did not come soon  they must die of hunger and weariness  When it
was mid day  they saw a beautiful snow white bird sitting on a bough 
which sang so delightfully that they stood still and listened to it  And
when its song was over  it spread its wings and flew away before them 
and they followed it until they reached a little house  on the roof of
which it alighted  and when they approached the little house they saw
that it was built of bread and covered with cakes  but that the windows
were of clear sugar     We will set to work on that     said Hansel     and
have a good meal  I will eat a bit of the roof  and you Gretel  can eat
some of the window  it will taste sweet     Hansel reached up above  and
broke off a little of the roof to try how it tasted  and Gretel leant
against the window and nibbled at the panes  Then a soft voice cried
from the parlour 

    Nibble  nibble  gnaw 
  Who is nibbling at my little house    

The children answered 

    The wind  the wind 
  The heaven born wind    

and went on eating without disturbing themselves  Hansel  who liked the
taste of the roof  tore down a great piece of it  and Gretel pushed out
the whole of one round window pane  sat down  and enjoyed herself with
it  Suddenly the door opened  and a woman as old as the hills  who
supported herself on crutches  came creeping out  Hansel and Gretel were
so terribly frightened that they let fall what they had in their
hands  The old woman  however  nodded her head  and said     Oh  you dear
children  who has brought you here  do come in  and stay with me  No
harm shall happen to you     She took them both by the hand  and led them
into her little house  Then good food was set before them  milk and
pancakes  with sugar  apples  and nuts  Afterwards two pretty little
beds were covered with clean white linen  and Hansel and Gretel lay down
in them  and thought they were in heaven 

The old woman had only pretended to be so kind  she was in reality
a wicked witch  who lay in wait for children  and had only built the
little house of bread in order to entice them there  When a child fell
into her power  she killed it  cooked and ate it  and that was a feast
day with her  Witches have red eyes  and cannot see far  but they have
a keen scent like the beasts  and are aware when human beings draw near 
When Hansel and Gretel came into her neighbourhood  she laughed with
malice  and said mockingly     I have them  they shall not escape me
again     Early in the morning before the children were awake  she was
already up  and when she saw both of them sleeping and looking so
pretty  with their plump and rosy cheeks she muttered to herself     That
will be a dainty mouthful     Then she seized Hansel with her shrivelled
hand  carried him into a little stable  and locked him in behind a
grated door  Scream as he might  it would not help him  Then she went to
Gretel  shook her till she awoke  and cried     Get up  lazy thing  fetch
some water  and cook something good for your brother  he is in the
stable outside  and is to be made fat  When he is fat  I will eat him    
Gretel began to weep bitterly  but it was all in vain  for she was
forced to do what the wicked witch commanded 

And now the best food was cooked for poor Hansel  but Gretel got nothing
but crab shells  Every morning the woman crept to the little stable  and
cried     Hansel  stretch out your finger that I may feel if you will soon
be fat     Hansel  however  stretched out a little bone to her  and
the old woman  who had dim eyes  could not see it  and thought it was
Hansel   s finger  and was astonished that there was no way of fattening
him  When four weeks had gone by  and Hansel still remained thin  she
was seized with impatience and would not wait any longer     Now  then 
Gretel     she cried to the girl     stir yourself  and bring some water 
Let Hansel be fat or lean  tomorrow I will kill him  and cook him     Ah 
how the poor little sister did lament when she had to fetch the water 
and how her tears did flow down her cheeks     Dear God  do help us     she
cried     If the wild beasts in the forest had but devoured us  we should
at any rate have died together        Just keep your noise to yourself    
said the old woman     it won   t help you at all    

Early in the morning  Gretel had to go out and hang up the cauldron with
the water  and light the fire     We will bake first     said the old woman 
   I have already heated the oven  and kneaded the dough     She pushed poor
Gretel out to the oven  from which flames of fire were already darting 
   Creep in     said the witch     and see if it is properly heated  so that
we can put the bread in     And once Gretel was inside  she intended to
shut the oven and let her bake in it  and then she would eat her  too 
But Gretel saw what she had in mind  and said     I do not know how I am
to do it  how do I get in        Silly goose     said the old woman     The door
is big enough  just look  I can get in myself     and she crept up and
thrust her head into the oven  Then Gretel gave her a push that drove
her far into it  and shut the iron door  and fastened the bolt  Oh  then
she began to howl quite horribly  but Gretel ran away and the godless
witch was miserably burnt to death 

Gretel  however  ran like lightning to Hansel  opened his little stable 
and cried     Hansel  we are saved  The old witch is dead     Then Hansel
sprang like a bird from its cage when the door is opened  How they did
rejoice and embrace each other  and dance about and kiss each other  And
as they had no longer any need to fear her  they went into the witch   s
house  and in every corner there stood chests full of pearls and jewels 
   These are far better than pebbles     said Hansel  and thrust into his
pockets whatever could be got in  and Gretel said     I  too  will take
something home with me     and filled her pinafore full     But now we must
be off     said Hansel     that we may get out of the witch   s forest    

When they had walked for two hours  they came to a great stretch of
water     We cannot cross     said Hansel     I see no foot plank  and no
bridge        And there is also no ferry     answered Gretel     but a white
duck is swimming there  if I ask her  she will help us over     Then she
cried 

    Little duck  little duck  dost thou see 
  Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee 
  There   s never a plank  or bridge in sight 
  Take us across on thy back so white    

The duck came to them  and Hansel seated himself on its back  and told
his sister to sit by him     No     replied Gretel     that will be too heavy
for the little duck  she shall take us across  one after the other     The
good little duck did so  and when they were once safely across and had
walked for a short time  the forest seemed to be more and more familiar
to them  and at length they saw from afar their father   s house  Then
they began to run  rushed into the parlour  and threw themselves round
their father   s neck  The man had not known one happy hour since he had
left the children in the forest  the woman  however  was dead  Gretel
emptied her pinafore until pearls and precious stones ran about the
room  and Hansel threw one handful after another out of his pocket to
add to them  Then all anxiety was at an end  and they lived together
in perfect happiness  My tale is done  there runs a mouse  whosoever
catches it  may make himself a big fur cap out of it 




THE MOUSE  THE BIRD  AND THE SAUSAGE

Once upon a time  a mouse  a bird  and a sausage  entered into
partnership and set up house together  For a long time all went well 
they lived in great comfort  and prospered so far as to be able to add
considerably to their stores  The bird   s duty was to fly daily into the
wood and bring in fuel  the mouse fetched the water  and the sausage saw
to the cooking 

When people are too well off they always begin to long for something
new  And so it came to pass  that the bird  while out one day  met a
fellow bird  to whom he boastfully expatiated on the excellence of his
household arrangements  But the other bird sneered at him for being a
poor simpleton  who did all the hard work  while the other two stayed
at home and had a good time of it  For  when the mouse had made the fire
and fetched in the water  she could retire into her little room and rest
until it was time to set the table  The sausage had only to watch the
pot to see that the food was properly cooked  and when it was near
dinner time  he just threw himself into the broth  or rolled in and out
among the vegetables three or four times  and there they were  buttered 
and salted  and ready to be served  Then  when the bird came home and
had laid aside his burden  they sat down to table  and when they had
finished their meal  they could sleep their fill till the following
morning  and that was really a very delightful life 

Influenced by those remarks  the bird next morning refused to bring in
the wood  telling the others that he had been their servant long enough 
and had been a fool into the bargain  and that it was now time to make a
change  and to try some other way of arranging the work  Beg and pray
as the mouse and the sausage might  it was of no use  the bird remained
master of the situation  and the venture had to be made  They therefore
drew lots  and it fell to the sausage to bring in the wood  to the mouse
to cook  and to the bird to fetch the water 

And now what happened  The sausage started in search of wood  the bird
made the fire  and the mouse put on the pot  and then these two waited
till the sausage returned with the fuel for the following day  But the
sausage remained so long away  that they became uneasy  and the bird
flew out to meet him  He had not flown far  however  when he came across
a dog who  having met the sausage  had regarded him as his legitimate
booty  and so seized and swallowed him  The bird complained to the dog
of this bare faced robbery  but nothing he said was of any avail  for
the dog answered that he found false credentials on the sausage  and
that was the reason his life had been forfeited 

He picked up the wood  and flew sadly home  and told the mouse all he
had seen and heard  They were both very unhappy  but agreed to make the
best of things and to remain with one another 

So now the bird set the table  and the mouse looked after the food and 
wishing to prepare it in the same way as the sausage  by rolling in and
out among the vegetables to salt and butter them  she jumped into the
pot  but she stopped short long before she reached the bottom  having
already parted not only with her skin and hair  but also with life 

Presently the bird came in and wanted to serve up the dinner  but he
could nowhere see the cook  In his alarm and flurry  he threw the wood
here and there about the floor  called and searched  but no cook was to
be found  Then some of the wood that had been carelessly thrown down 
caught fire and began to blaze  The bird hastened to fetch some water 
but his pail fell into the well  and he after it  and as he was unable
to recover himself  he was drowned 




MOTHER HOLLE

Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters  one of them
was beautiful and industrious  the other ugly and lazy  The mother 
however  loved the ugly and lazy one best  because she was her own
daughter  and so the other  who was only her stepdaughter  was made
to do all the work of the house  and was quite the Cinderella of the
family  Her stepmother sent her out every day to sit by the well in
the high road  there to spin until she made her fingers bleed  Now it
chanced one day that some blood fell on to the spindle  and as the girl
stopped over the well to wash it off  the spindle suddenly sprang out
of her hand and fell into the well  She ran home crying to tell of her
misfortune  but her stepmother spoke harshly to her  and after giving
her a violent scolding  said unkindly     As you have let the spindle fall
into the well you may go yourself and fetch it out    

The girl went back to the well not knowing what to do  and at last in
her distress she jumped into the water after the spindle 

She remembered nothing more until she awoke and found herself in a
beautiful meadow  full of sunshine  and with countless flowers blooming
in every direction 

She walked over the meadow  and presently she came upon a baker   s oven
full of bread  and the loaves cried out to her     Take us out  take us
out  or alas  we shall be burnt to a cinder  we were baked through long
ago     So she took the bread shovel and drew them all out 

She went on a little farther  till she came to a tree full of apples 
   Shake me  shake me  I pray     cried the tree     my apples  one and all 
are ripe     So she shook the tree  and the apples came falling down upon
her like rain  but she continued shaking until there was not a single
apple left upon it  Then she carefully gathered the apples together in a
heap and walked on again 

The next thing she came to was a little house  and there she saw an old
woman looking out  with such large teeth  that she was terrified  and
turned to run away  But the old woman called after her     What are you
afraid of  dear child  Stay with me  if you will do the work of my house
properly for me  I will make you very happy  You must be very careful 
however  to make my bed in the right way  for I wish you always to shake
it thoroughly  so that the feathers fly about  then they say  down there
in the world  that it is snowing  for I am Mother Holle     The old woman
spoke so kindly  that the girl summoned up courage and agreed to enter
into her service 

She took care to do everything according to the old woman   s bidding and
every time she made the bed she shook it with all her might  so that the
feathers flew about like so many snowflakes  The old woman was as good
as her word  she never spoke angrily to her  and gave her roast and
boiled meats every day 

So she stayed on with Mother Holle for some time  and then she began
to grow unhappy  She could not at first tell why she felt sad  but she
became conscious at last of great longing to go home  then she knew she
was homesick  although she was a thousand times better off with Mother
Holle than with her mother and sister  After waiting awhile  she went
to Mother Holle and said     I am so homesick  that I cannot stay with
you any longer  for although I am so happy here  I must return to my own
people    

Then Mother Holle said     I am pleased that you should want to go back
to your own people  and as you have served me so well and faithfully  I
will take you home myself    

Thereupon she led the girl by the hand up to a broad gateway  The gate
was opened  and as the girl passed through  a shower of gold fell upon
her  and the gold clung to her  so that she was covered with it from
head to foot 

   That is a reward for your industry     said Mother Holle  and as she
spoke she handed her the spindle which she had dropped into the well 

The gate was then closed  and the girl found herself back in the old
world close to her mother   s house  As she entered the courtyard  the
cock who was perched on the well  called out 

    Cock a doodle doo 
  Your golden daughter   s come back to you    

Then she went in to her mother and sister  and as she was so richly
covered with gold  they gave her a warm welcome  She related to them
all that had happened  and when the mother heard how she had come by her
great riches  she thought she should like her ugly  lazy daughter to go
and try her fortune  So she made the sister go and sit by the well
and spin  and the girl pricked her finger and thrust her hand into a
thorn bush  so that she might drop some blood on to the spindle  then
she threw it into the well  and jumped in herself 

Like her sister she awoke in the beautiful meadow  and walked over it
till she came to the oven     Take us out  take us out  or alas  we shall
be burnt to a cinder  we were baked through long ago     cried the loaves
as before  But the lazy girl answered     Do you think I am going to dirty
my hands for you     and walked on 

Presently she came to the apple tree     Shake me  shake me  I pray  my
apples  one and all  are ripe     it cried  But she only answered     A nice
thing to ask me to do  one of the apples might fall on my head     and
passed on 

At last she came to Mother Holle   s house  and as she had heard all about
the large teeth from her sister  she was not afraid of them  and engaged
herself without delay to the old woman 

The first day she was very obedient and industrious  and exerted herself
to please Mother Holle  for she thought of the gold she should get in
return  The next day  however  she began to dawdle over her work  and
the third day she was more idle still  then she began to lie in bed in
the mornings and refused to get up  Worse still  she neglected to
make the old woman   s bed properly  and forgot to shake it so that the
feathers might fly about  So Mother Holle very soon got tired of her 
and told her she might go  The lazy girl was delighted at this  and
thought to herself     The gold will soon be mine     Mother Holle led her 
as she had led her sister  to the broad gateway  but as she was passing
through  instead of the shower of gold  a great bucketful of pitch came
pouring over her 

   That is in return for your services     said the old woman  and she shut
the gate 

So the lazy girl had to go home covered with pitch  and the cock on the
well called out as she saw her 

    Cock a doodle doo 
  Your dirty daughter   s come back to you    

But  try what she would  she could not get the pitch off and it stuck to
her as long as she lived 




LITTLE RED CAP  LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD 

Once upon a time there was a dear little girl who was loved by everyone
who looked at her  but most of all by her grandmother  and there was
nothing that she would not have given to the child  Once she gave her a
little cap of red velvet  which suited her so well that she would never
wear anything else  so she was always called    Little Red Cap    

One day her mother said to her     Come  Little Red Cap  here is a piece
of cake and a bottle of wine  take them to your grandmother  she is ill
and weak  and they will do her good  Set out before it gets hot  and
when you are going  walk nicely and quietly and do not run off the path 
or you may fall and break the bottle  and then your grandmother will
get nothing  and when you go into her room  don   t forget to say     Good
morning     and don   t peep into every corner before you do it    

   I will take great care     said Little Red Cap to her mother  and gave
her hand on it 

The grandmother lived out in the wood  half a league from the village 
and just as Little Red Cap entered the wood  a wolf met her  Red Cap
did not know what a wicked creature he was  and was not at all afraid of
him 

   Good day  Little Red Cap     said he 

   Thank you kindly  wolf    

   Whither away so early  Little Red Cap    

   To my grandmother   s    

   What have you got in your apron    

   Cake and wine  yesterday was baking day  so poor sick grandmother is to
have something good  to make her stronger    

   Where does your grandmother live  Little Red Cap    

   A good quarter of a league farther on in the wood  her house stands
under the three large oak trees  the nut trees are just below  you
surely must know it     replied Little Red Cap 

The wolf thought to himself     What a tender young creature  what a nice
plump mouthful  she will be better to eat than the old woman  I must
act craftily  so as to catch both     So he walked for a short time by
the side of Little Red Cap  and then he said     See  Little Red Cap  how
pretty the flowers are about here  why do you not look round  I believe 
too  that you do not hear how sweetly the little birds are singing  you
walk gravely along as if you were going to school  while everything else
out here in the wood is merry    

Little Red Cap raised her eyes  and when she saw the sunbeams dancing
here and there through the trees  and pretty flowers growing everywhere 
she thought     Suppose I take grandmother a fresh nosegay  that would
please her too  It is so early in the day that I shall still get there
in good time     and so she ran from the path into the wood to look for
flowers  And whenever she had picked one  she fancied that she saw a
still prettier one farther on  and ran after it  and so got deeper and
deeper into the wood 

Meanwhile the wolf ran straight to the grandmother   s house and knocked
at the door 

   Who is there    

   Little Red Cap     replied the wolf     She is bringing cake and wine  open
the door    

   Lift the latch     called out the grandmother     I am too weak  and cannot
get up    

The wolf lifted the latch  the door sprang open  and without saying a
word he went straight to the grandmother   s bed  and devoured her  Then
he put on her clothes  dressed himself in her cap laid himself in bed
and drew the curtains 

Little Red Cap  however  had been running about picking flowers 
and when she had gathered so many that she could carry no more  she
remembered her grandmother  and set out on the way to her 

She was surprised to find the cottage door standing open  and when she
went into the room  she had such a strange feeling that she said to
herself     Oh dear  how uneasy I feel today  and at other times I like
being with grandmother so much     She called out     Good morning     but
received no answer  so she went to the bed and drew back the curtains 
There lay her grandmother with her cap pulled far over her face  and
looking very strange 

   Oh  grandmother     she said     what big ears you have    

   The better to hear you with  my child     was the reply 

   But  grandmother  what big eyes you have     she said 

   The better to see you with  my dear    

   But  grandmother  what large hands you have    

   The better to hug you with    

   Oh  but  grandmother  what a terrible big mouth you have    

   The better to eat you with    

And scarcely had the wolf said this  than with one bound he was out of
bed and swallowed up Red Cap 

When the wolf had appeased his appetite  he lay down again in the bed 
fell asleep and began to snore very loud  The huntsman was just passing
the house  and thought to himself     How the old woman is snoring  I must
just see if she wants anything     So he went into the room  and when he
came to the bed  he saw that the wolf was lying in it     Do I find you
here  you old sinner     said he     I have long sought you     Then just as
he was going to fire at him  it occurred to him that the wolf might have
devoured the grandmother  and that she might still be saved  so he did
not fire  but took a pair of scissors  and began to cut open the stomach
of the sleeping wolf  When he had made two snips  he saw the little
Red Cap shining  and then he made two snips more  and the little girl
sprang out  crying     Ah  how frightened I have been  How dark it was
inside the wolf     and after that the aged grandmother came out alive
also  but scarcely able to breathe  Red Cap  however  quickly fetched
great stones with which they filled the wolf   s belly  and when he awoke 
he wanted to run away  but the stones were so heavy that he collapsed at
once  and fell dead 

Then all three were delighted  The huntsman drew off the wolf   s skin and
went home with it  the grandmother ate the cake and drank the wine which
Red Cap had brought  and revived  but Red Cap thought to herself     As
long as I live  I will never by myself leave the path  to run into the
wood  when my mother has forbidden me to do so    




It also related that once when Red Cap was again taking cakes to the old
grandmother  another wolf spoke to her  and tried to entice her from the
path  Red Cap  however  was on her guard  and went straight forward on
her way  and told her grandmother that she had met the wolf  and that he
had said    good morning    to her  but with such a wicked look in his eyes 
that if they had not been on the public road she was certain he would
have eaten her up     Well     said the grandmother     we will shut the door 
that he may not come in     Soon afterwards the wolf knocked  and cried 
   Open the door  grandmother  I am Little Red Cap  and am bringing you
some cakes     But they did not speak  or open the door  so the grey beard
stole twice or thrice round the house  and at last jumped on the roof 
intending to wait until Red Cap went home in the evening  and then to
steal after her and devour her in the darkness  But the grandmother
saw what was in his thoughts  In front of the house was a great stone
trough  so she said to the child     Take the pail  Red Cap  I made some
sausages yesterday  so carry the water in which I boiled them to the
trough     Red Cap carried until the great trough was quite full  Then the
smell of the sausages reached the wolf  and he sniffed and peeped down 
and at last stretched out his neck so far that he could no longer keep
his footing and began to slip  and slipped down from the roof straight
into the great trough  and was drowned  But Red Cap went joyously home 
and no one ever did anything to harm her again 




THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM

There was once a miller who had one beautiful daughter  and as she was
grown up  he was anxious that she should be well married and provided
for  He said to himself     I will give her to the first suitable man who
comes and asks for her hand     Not long after a suitor appeared  and as
he appeared to be very rich and the miller could see nothing in him with
which to find fault  he betrothed his daughter to him  But the girl did
not care for the man as a girl ought to care for her betrothed husband 
She did not feel that she could trust him  and she could not look at him
nor think of him without an inward shudder  One day he said to her     You
have not yet paid me a visit  although we have been betrothed for some
time        I do not know where your house is     she answered     My house is
out there in the dark forest     he said  She tried to excuse herself by
saying that she would not be able to find the way thither  Her betrothed
only replied     You must come and see me next Sunday  I have already
invited guests for that day  and that you may not mistake the way  I
will strew ashes along the path    

When Sunday came  and it was time for the girl to start  a feeling of
dread came over her which she could not explain  and that she might
be able to find her path again  she filled her pockets with peas and
lentils to sprinkle on the ground as she went along  On reaching the
entrance to the forest she found the path strewed with ashes  and these
she followed  throwing down some peas on either side of her at every
step she took  She walked the whole day until she came to the deepest 
darkest part of the forest  There she saw a lonely house  looking so
grim and mysterious  that it did not please her at all  She stepped
inside  but not a soul was to be seen  and a great silence reigned
throughout  Suddenly a voice cried 

    Turn back  turn back  young maiden fair 
  Linger not in this murderers    lair    

The girl looked up and saw that the voice came from a bird hanging in a
cage on the wall  Again it cried 

    Turn back  turn back  young maiden fair 
  Linger not in this murderers    lair    

The girl passed on  going from room to room of the house  but they were
all empty  and still she saw no one  At last she came to the cellar 
and there sat a very  very old woman  who could not keep her head from
shaking     Can you tell me     asked the girl     if my betrothed husband
lives here    

   Ah  you poor child     answered the old woman     what a place for you to
come to  This is a murderers    den  You think yourself a promised bride 
and that your marriage will soon take place  but it is with death that
you will keep your marriage feast  Look  do you see that large cauldron
of water which I am obliged to keep on the fire  As soon as they have
you in their power they will kill you without mercy  and cook and eat
you  for they are eaters of men  If I did not take pity on you and save
you  you would be lost    

Thereupon the old woman led her behind a large cask  which quite hid her
from view     Keep as still as a mouse     she said     do not move or speak 
or it will be all over with you  Tonight  when the robbers are
all asleep  we will flee together  I have long been waiting for an
opportunity to escape    

The words were hardly out of her mouth when the godless crew returned 
dragging another young girl along with them  They were all drunk  and
paid no heed to her cries and lamentations  They gave her wine to drink 
three glasses full  one of white wine  one of red  and one of yellow 
and with that her heart gave way and she died  Then they tore off her
dainty clothing  laid her on a table  and cut her beautiful body into
pieces  and sprinkled salt upon it 

The poor betrothed girl crouched trembling and shuddering behind the
cask  for she saw what a terrible fate had been intended for her by
the robbers  One of them now noticed a gold ring still remaining on
the little finger of the murdered girl  and as he could not draw it off
easily  he took a hatchet and cut off the finger  but the finger sprang
into the air  and fell behind the cask into the lap of the girl who was
hiding there  The robber took a light and began looking for it  but he
could not find it     Have you looked behind the large cask     said one of
the others  But the old woman called out     Come and eat your suppers 
and let the thing be till tomorrow  the finger won   t run away    

   The old woman is right     said the robbers  and they ceased looking for
the finger and sat down 

The old woman then mixed a sleeping draught with their wine  and before
long they were all lying on the floor of the cellar  fast asleep and
snoring  As soon as the girl was assured of this  she came from behind
the cask  She was obliged to step over the bodies of the sleepers  who
were lying close together  and every moment she was filled with renewed
dread lest she should awaken them  But God helped her  so that she
passed safely over them  and then she and the old woman went upstairs 
opened the door  and hastened as fast as they could from the murderers   
den  They found the ashes scattered by the wind  but the peas and
lentils had sprouted  and grown sufficiently above the ground  to guide
them in the moonlight along the path  All night long they walked  and it
was morning before they reached the mill  Then the girl told her father
all that had happened 

The day came that had been fixed for the marriage  The bridegroom
arrived and also a large company of guests  for the miller had taken
care to invite all his friends and relations  As they sat at the feast 
each guest in turn was asked to tell a tale  the bride sat still and did
not say a word 

   And you  my love     said the bridegroom  turning to her     is there no
tale you know  Tell us something    

   I will tell you a dream  then     said the bride     I went alone through a
forest and came at last to a house  not a soul could I find within  but
a bird that was hanging in a cage on the wall cried 

    Turn back  turn back  young maiden fair 
  Linger not in this murderers    lair    

and again a second time it said these words    

   My darling  this is only a dream    

   I went on through the house from room to room  but they were all empty 
and everything was so grim and mysterious  At last I went down to the
cellar  and there sat a very  very old woman  who could not keep her
head still  I asked her if my betrothed lived here  and she answered 
   Ah  you poor child  you are come to a murderers    den  your betrothed
does indeed live here  but he will kill you without mercy and afterwards
cook and eat you       

   My darling  this is only a dream    

   The old woman hid me behind a large cask  and scarcely had she done
this when the robbers returned home  dragging a young girl along with
them  They gave her three kinds of wine to drink  white  red  and
yellow  and with that she died    

   My darling  this is only a dream    

   Then they tore off her dainty clothing  and cut her beautiful body into
pieces and sprinkled salt upon it    

   My darling  this is only a dream    

   And one of the robbers saw that there was a gold ring still left on her
finger  and as it was difficult to draw off  he took a hatchet and cut
off her finger  but the finger sprang into the air and fell behind the
great cask into my lap  And here is the finger with the ring     And
with these words the bride drew forth the finger and shewed it to the
assembled guests 

The bridegroom  who during this recital had grown deadly pale  up and
tried to escape  but the guests seized him and held him fast  They
delivered him up to justice  and he and all his murderous band were
condemned to death for their wicked deeds 




TOM THUMB

A poor woodman sat in his cottage one night  smoking his pipe by the
fireside  while his wife sat by his side spinning     How lonely it is 
wife     said he  as he puffed out a long curl of smoke     for you and me
to sit here by ourselves  without any children to play about and amuse
us while other people seem so happy and merry with their children    
   What you say is very true     said the wife  sighing  and turning round
her wheel     how happy should I be if I had but one child  If it were
ever so small  nay  if it were no bigger than my thumb  I should be very
happy  and love it dearly     Now  odd as you may think it  it came to
pass that this good woman   s wish was fulfilled  just in the very way she
had wished it  for  not long afterwards  she had a little boy  who was
quite healthy and strong  but was not much bigger than my thumb  So
they said     Well  we cannot say we have not got what we wished for  and 
little as he is  we will love him dearly     And they called him Thomas
Thumb 

They gave him plenty of food  yet for all they could do he never grew
bigger  but kept just the same size as he had been when he was born 
Still  his eyes were sharp and sparkling  and he soon showed himself to
be a clever little fellow  who always knew well what he was about 

One day  as the woodman was getting ready to go into the wood to cut
fuel  he said     I wish I had someone to bring the cart after me  for I
want to make haste        Oh  father     cried Tom     I will take care of that 
the cart shall be in the wood by the time you want it     Then the woodman
laughed  and said     How can that be  you cannot reach up to the horse   s
bridle        Never mind that  father     said Tom     if my mother will only
harness the horse  I will get into his ear and tell him which way to
go        Well     said the father     we will try for once    

When the time came the mother harnessed the horse to the cart  and put
Tom into his ear  and as he sat there the little man told the beast how
to go  crying out     Go on     and    Stop     as he wanted  and thus the horse
went on just as well as if the woodman had driven it himself into the
wood  It happened that as the horse was going a little too fast  and Tom
was calling out     Gently  gently     two strangers came up     What an odd
thing that is     said one     there is a cart going along  and I hear a
carter talking to the horse  but yet I can see no one        That is queer 
indeed     said the other     let us follow the cart  and see where it
goes     So they went on into the wood  till at last they came to the
place where the woodman was  Then Tom Thumb  seeing his father  cried
out     See  father  here I am with the cart  all right and safe  now take
me down     So his father took hold of the horse with one hand  and with
the other took his son out of the horse   s ear  and put him down upon a
straw  where he sat as merry as you please 

The two strangers were all this time looking on  and did not know what
to say for wonder  At last one took the other aside  and said     That
little urchin will make our fortune  if we can get him  and carry him
about from town to town as a show  we must buy him     So they went up to
the woodman  and asked him what he would take for the little man     He
will be better off     said they     with us than with you        I won   t sell
him at all     said the father     my own flesh and blood is dearer to me
than all the silver and gold in the world     But Tom  hearing of the
bargain they wanted to make  crept up his father   s coat to his shoulder
and whispered in his ear     Take the money  father  and let them have me 
I   ll soon come back to you    

So the woodman at last said he would sell Tom to the strangers for a
large piece of gold  and they paid the price     Where would you like to
sit     said one of them     Oh  put me on the rim of your hat  that will be
a nice gallery for me  I can walk about there and see the country as we
go along     So they did as he wished  and when Tom had taken leave of his
father they took him away with them 

They journeyed on till it began to be dusky  and then the little man
said     Let me get down  I   m tired     So the man took off his hat  and
put him down on a clod of earth  in a ploughed field by the side of the
road  But Tom ran about amongst the furrows  and at last slipped into
an old mouse hole     Good night  my masters     said he     I   m off  mind and
look sharp after me the next time     Then they ran at once to the place 
and poked the ends of their sticks into the mouse hole  but all in vain 
Tom only crawled farther and farther in  and at last it became quite
dark  so that they were forced to go their way without their prize  as
sulky as could be 

When Tom found they were gone  he came out of his hiding place     What
dangerous walking it is     said he     in this ploughed field  If I were to
fall from one of these great clods  I should undoubtedly break my neck    
At last  by good luck  he found a large empty snail shell     This is
lucky     said he     I can sleep here very well     and in he crept 

Just as he was falling asleep  he heard two men passing by  chatting
together  and one said to the other     How can we rob that rich parson   s
house of his silver and gold        I   ll tell you     cried Tom     What noise
was that     said the thief  frightened     I   m sure I heard someone speak    
They stood still listening  and Tom said     Take me with you  and I   ll
soon show you how to get the parson   s money        But where are you     said
they     Look about on the ground     answered he     and listen where the
sound comes from     At last the thieves found him out  and lifted him
up in their hands     You little urchin     they said     what can you do for
us        Why  I can get between the iron window bars of the parson   s house 
and throw you out whatever you want        That   s a good thought     said the
thieves     come along  we shall see what you can do    

When they came to the parson   s house  Tom slipped through the
window bars into the room  and then called out as loud as he could bawl 
   Will you have all that is here     At this the thieves were frightened 
and said     Softly  softly  Speak low  that you may not awaken anybody    
But Tom seemed as if he did not understand them  and bawled out again 
   How much will you have  Shall I throw it all out     Now the cook lay in
the next room  and hearing a noise she raised herself up in her bed and
listened  Meantime the thieves were frightened  and ran off a little
way  but at last they plucked up their hearts  and said     The little
urchin is only trying to make fools of us     So they came back and
whispered softly to him  saying     Now let us have no more of your
roguish jokes  but throw us out some of the money     Then Tom called out
as loud as he could     Very well  hold your hands  here it comes    

The cook heard this quite plain  so she sprang out of bed  and ran to
open the door  The thieves ran off as if a wolf was at their tails  and
the maid  having groped about and found nothing  went away for a light 
By the time she came back  Tom had slipped off into the barn  and when
she had looked about and searched every hole and corner  and found
nobody  she went to bed  thinking she must have been dreaming with her
eyes open 

The little man crawled about in the hay loft  and at last found a snug
place to finish his night   s rest in  so he laid himself down  meaning
to sleep till daylight  and then find his way home to his father and
mother  But alas  how woefully he was undone  what crosses and sorrows
happen to us all in this world  The cook got up early  before daybreak 
to feed the cows  and going straight to the hay loft  carried away
a large bundle of hay  with the little man in the middle of it  fast
asleep  He still  however  slept on  and did not awake till he found
himself in the mouth of the cow  for the cook had put the hay into the
cow   s rick  and the cow had taken Tom up in a mouthful of it     Good
lack a day     said he     how came I to tumble into the mill     But he soon
found out where he really was  and was forced to have all his wits about
him  that he might not get between the cow   s teeth  and so be crushed to
death  At last down he went into her stomach     It is rather dark     said
he     they forgot to build windows in this room to let the sun in  a
candle would be no bad thing    

Though he made the best of his bad luck  he did not like his quarters at
all  and the worst of it was  that more and more hay was always coming
down  and the space left for him became smaller and smaller  At last he
cried out as loud as he could     Don   t bring me any more hay  Don   t bring
me any more hay    

The maid happened to be just then milking the cow  and hearing someone
speak  but seeing nobody  and yet being quite sure it was the same voice
that she had heard in the night  she was so frightened that she fell off
her stool  and overset the milk pail  As soon as she could pick herself
up out of the dirt  she ran off as fast as she could to her master the
parson  and said     Sir  sir  the cow is talking     But the parson
said     Woman  thou art surely mad     However  he went with her into the
cow house  to try and see what was the matter 

Scarcely had they set foot on the threshold  when Tom called out     Don   t
bring me any more hay     Then the parson himself was frightened  and
thinking the cow was surely bewitched  told his man to kill her on the
spot  So the cow was killed  and cut up  and the stomach  in which Tom
lay  was thrown out upon a dunghill 

Tom soon set himself to work to get out  which was not a very easy
task  but at last  just as he had made room to get his head out  fresh
ill luck befell him  A hungry wolf sprang out  and swallowed up the
whole stomach  with Tom in it  at one gulp  and ran away 

Tom  however  was still not disheartened  and thinking the wolf would
not dislike having some chat with him as he was going along  he called
out     My good friend  I can show you a famous treat        Where   s that    
said the wolf     In such and such a house     said Tom  describing his own
father   s house     You can crawl through the drain into the kitchen and
then into the pantry  and there you will find cakes  ham  beef  cold
chicken  roast pig  apple dumplings  and everything that your heart can
wish    

The wolf did not want to be asked twice  so that very night he went to
the house and crawled through the drain into the kitchen  and then into
the pantry  and ate and drank there to his heart   s content  As soon as
he had had enough he wanted to get away  but he had eaten so much that
he could not go out by the same way he came in 

This was just what Tom had reckoned upon  and now he began to set up a
great shout  making all the noise he could     Will you be easy     said the
wolf     you   ll awaken everybody in the house if you make such a clatter    
   What   s that to me     said the little man     you have had your frolic  now
I   ve a mind to be merry myself     and he began  singing and shouting as
loud as he could 

The woodman and his wife  being awakened by the noise  peeped through
a crack in the door  but when they saw a wolf was there  you may well
suppose that they were sadly frightened  and the woodman ran for his
axe  and gave his wife a scythe     Do you stay behind     said the woodman 
   and when I have knocked him on the head you must rip him up with the
scythe     Tom heard all this  and cried out     Father  father  I am here 
the wolf has swallowed me     And his father said     Heaven be praised  we
have found our dear child again     and he told his wife not to use the
scythe for fear she should hurt him  Then he aimed a great blow  and
struck the wolf on the head  and killed him on the spot  and when he was
dead they cut open his body  and set Tommy free     Ah     said the father 
   what fears we have had for you        Yes  father     answered he     I have
travelled all over the world  I think  in one way or other  since we
parted  and now I am very glad to come home and get fresh air again    
   Why  where have you been     said his father     I have been in a
mouse hole  and in a snail shell  and down a cow   s throat  and in the
wolf   s belly  and yet here I am again  safe and sound    

   Well     said they     you are come back  and we will not sell you again
for all the riches in the world    

Then they hugged and kissed their dear little son  and gave him plenty
to eat and drink  for he was very hungry  and then they fetched new
clothes for him  for his old ones had been quite spoiled on his journey 
So Master Thumb stayed at home with his father and mother  in peace  for
though he had been so great a traveller  and had done and seen so many
fine things  and was fond enough of telling the whole story  he always
agreed that  after all  there   s no place like HOME 




RUMPELSTILTSKIN

By the side of a wood  in a country a long way off  ran a fine stream
of water  and upon the stream there stood a mill  The miller   s house was
close by  and the miller  you must know  had a very beautiful daughter 
She was  moreover  very shrewd and clever  and the miller was so proud
of her  that he one day told the king of the land  who used to come and
hunt in the wood  that his daughter could spin gold out of straw  Now
this king was very fond of money  and when he heard the miller   s boast
his greediness was raised  and he sent for the girl to be brought before
him  Then he led her to a chamber in his palace where there was a great
heap of straw  and gave her a spinning wheel  and said     All this must
be spun into gold before morning  as you love your life     It was in vain
that the poor maiden said that it was only a silly boast of her father 
for that she could do no such thing as spin straw into gold  the chamber
door was locked  and she was left alone 

She sat down in one corner of the room  and began to bewail her hard
fate  when on a sudden the door opened  and a droll looking little man
hobbled in  and said     Good morrow to you  my good lass  what are you
weeping for        Alas     said she     I must spin this straw into gold  and
I know not how        What will you give me     said the hobgoblin     to do it
for you        My necklace     replied the maiden  He took her at her word 
and sat himself down to the wheel  and whistled and sang 

    Round about  round about 
    Lo and behold 
  Reel away  reel away 
    Straw into gold    

And round about the wheel went merrily  the work was quickly done  and
the straw was all spun into gold 

When the king came and saw this  he was greatly astonished and pleased 
but his heart grew still more greedy of gain  and he shut up the poor
miller   s daughter again with a fresh task  Then she knew not what to do 
and sat down once more to weep  but the dwarf soon opened the door  and
said     What will you give me to do your task        The ring on my finger    
said she  So her little friend took the ring  and began to work at the
wheel again  and whistled and sang 

    Round about  round about 
    Lo and behold 
  Reel away  reel away 
    Straw into gold    

till  long before morning  all was done again 

The king was greatly delighted to see all this glittering treasure 
but still he had not enough  so he took the miller   s daughter to a yet
larger heap  and said     All this must be spun tonight  and if it is 
you shall be my queen     As soon as she was alone that dwarf came in  and
said     What will you give me to spin gold for you this third time    
   I have nothing left     said she     Then say you will give me     said
the little man     the first little child that you may have when you are
queen        That may never be     thought the miller   s daughter  and as she
knew no other way to get her task done  she said she would do what he
asked  Round went the wheel again to the old song  and the manikin once
more spun the heap into gold  The king came in the morning  and  finding
all he wanted  was forced to keep his word  so he married the miller   s
daughter  and she really became queen 

At the birth of her first little child she was very glad  and forgot the
dwarf  and what she had said  But one day he came into her room  where
she was sitting playing with her baby  and put her in mind of it  Then
she grieved sorely at her misfortune  and said she would give him all
the wealth of the kingdom if he would let her off  but in vain  till at
last her tears softened him  and he said     I will give you three days   
grace  and if during that time you tell me my name  you shall keep your
child    

Now the queen lay awake all night  thinking of all the odd names that
she had ever heard  and she sent messengers all over the land to find
out new ones  The next day the little man came  and she began with
TIMOTHY  ICHABOD  BENJAMIN  JEREMIAH  and all the names she could
remember  but to all and each of them he said     Madam  that is not my
name    

The second day she began with all the comical names she could hear of 
BANDY LEGS  HUNCHBACK  CROOK SHANKS  and so on  but the little gentleman
still said to every one of them     Madam  that is not my name    

The third day one of the messengers came back  and said     I have
travelled two days without hearing of any other names  but yesterday  as
I was climbing a high hill  among the trees of the forest where the fox
and the hare bid each other good night  I saw a little hut  and before
the hut burnt a fire  and round about the fire a funny little dwarf was
dancing upon one leg  and singing 

    Merrily the feast I   ll make 
  Today I   ll brew  tomorrow bake 
  Merrily I   ll dance and sing 
  For next day will a stranger bring 
  Little does my lady dream
  Rumpelstiltskin is my name    

When the queen heard this she jumped for joy  and as soon as her little
friend came she sat down upon her throne  and called all her court round
to enjoy the fun  and the nurse stood by her side with the baby in her
arms  as if it was quite ready to be given up  Then the little man began
to chuckle at the thought of having the poor child  to take home with
him to his hut in the woods  and he cried out     Now  lady  what is my
name        Is it JOHN     asked she     No  madam        Is it TOM        No  madam    
   Is it JEMMY        It is not        Can your name be RUMPELSTILTSKIN     said the
lady slyly     Some witch told you that   some witch told you that     cried
the little man  and dashed his right foot in a rage so deep into the
floor  that he was forced to lay hold of it with both hands to pull it
out 

Then he made the best of his way off  while the nurse laughed and the
baby crowed  and all the court jeered at him for having had so much
trouble for nothing  and said     We wish you a very good morning  and a
merry feast  Mr RUMPLESTILTSKIN    




CLEVER GRETEL

There was once a cook named Gretel  who wore shoes with red heels  and
when she walked out with them on  she turned herself this way and that 
was quite happy and thought     You certainly are a pretty girl     And when
she came home she drank  in her gladness of heart  a draught of wine 
and as wine excites a desire to eat  she tasted the best of whatever she
was cooking until she was satisfied  and said     The cook must know what
the food is like    

It came to pass that the master one day said to her     Gretel  there is a
guest coming this evening  prepare me two fowls very daintily        I will
see to it  master     answered Gretel  She killed two fowls  scalded them 
plucked them  put them on the spit  and towards evening set them before
the fire  that they might roast  The fowls began to turn brown  and were
nearly ready  but the guest had not yet arrived  Then Gretel called out
to her master     If the guest does not come  I must take the fowls away
from the fire  but it will be a sin and a shame if they are not eaten
the moment they are at their juiciest     The master said     I will run
myself  and fetch the guest     When the master had turned his back 
Gretel laid the spit with the fowls on one side  and thought     Standing
so long by the fire there  makes one sweat and thirsty  who knows
when they will come  Meanwhile  I will run into the cellar  and take a
drink     She ran down  set a jug  said     God bless it for you  Gretel    
and took a good drink  and thought that wine should flow on  and should
not be interrupted  and took yet another hearty draught 

Then she went and put the fowls down again to the fire  basted them 
and drove the spit merrily round  But as the roast meat smelt so good 
Gretel thought     Something might be wrong  it ought to be tasted    
She touched it with her finger  and said     Ah  how good fowls are  It
certainly is a sin and a shame that they are not eaten at the right
time     She ran to the window  to see if the master was not coming with
his guest  but she saw no one  and went back to the fowls and thought 
   One of the wings is burning  I had better take it off and eat it    
So she cut it off  ate it  and enjoyed it  and when she had done  she
thought     The other must go down too  or else master will observe that
something is missing     When the two wings were eaten  she went and
looked for her master  and did not see him  It suddenly occurred to
her     Who knows  They are perhaps not coming at all  and have turned in
somewhere     Then she said     Well  Gretel  enjoy yourself  one fowl has
been cut into  take another drink  and eat it up entirely  when it is
eaten you will have some peace  why should God   s good gifts be spoilt    
So she ran into the cellar again  took an enormous drink and ate up the
one chicken in great glee  When one of the chickens was swallowed down 
and still her master did not come  Gretel looked at the other and said 
   What one is  the other should be likewise  the two go together  what   s
right for the one is right for the other  I think if I were to take
another draught it would do me no harm     So she took another hearty
drink  and let the second chicken follow the first 

While she was making the most of it  her master came and cried     Hurry
up  Gretel  the guest is coming directly after me        Yes  sir  I will
soon serve up     answered Gretel  Meantime the master looked to see that
the table was properly laid  and took the great knife  wherewith he was
going to carve the chickens  and sharpened it on the steps  Presently
the guest came  and knocked politely and courteously at the house door 
Gretel ran  and looked to see who was there  and when she saw the guest 
she put her finger to her lips and said     Hush  hush  go away as quickly
as you can  if my master catches you it will be the worse for you  he
certainly did ask you to supper  but his intention is to cut off your
two ears  Just listen how he is sharpening the knife for it     The guest
heard the sharpening  and hurried down the steps again as fast as he
could  Gretel was not idle  she ran screaming to her master  and cried 
   You have invited a fine guest        Why  Gretel  What do you mean by
that        Yes     said she     he has taken the chickens which I was just
going to serve up  off the dish  and has run away with them        That   s a
nice trick     said her master  and lamented the fine chickens     If he had
but left me one  so that something remained for me to eat     He called to
him to stop  but the guest pretended not to hear  Then he ran after him
with the knife still in his hand  crying     Just one  just one     meaning
that the guest should leave him just one chicken  and not take both  The
guest  however  thought no otherwise than that he was to give up one of
his ears  and ran as if fire were burning under him  in order to take
them both with him 




THE OLD MAN AND HIS GRANDSON

There was once a very old man  whose eyes had become dim  his ears dull
of hearing  his knees trembled  and when he sat at table he could hardly
hold the spoon  and spilt the broth upon the table cloth or let it run
out of his mouth  His son and his son   s wife were disgusted at this  so
the old grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove 
and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl  and not even enough
of it  And he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of
tears  Once  too  his trembling hands could not hold the bowl  and it
fell to the ground and broke  The young wife scolded him  but he said
nothing and only sighed  Then they brought him a wooden bowl for a few
half pence  out of which he had to eat 

They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old
began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground     What are
you doing there     asked the father     I am making a little trough    
answered the child     for father and mother to eat out of when I am big    

The man and his wife looked at each other for a while  and presently
began to cry  Then they took the old grandfather to the table  and
henceforth always let him eat with them  and likewise said nothing if he
did spill a little of anything 




THE LITTLE PEASANT

There was a certain village wherein no one lived but really rich
peasants  and just one poor one  whom they called the little peasant  He
had not even so much as a cow  and still less money to buy one  and
yet he and his wife did so wish to have one  One day he said to her 
   Listen  I have a good idea  there is our gossip the carpenter  he shall
make us a wooden calf  and paint it brown  so that it looks like any
other  and in time it will certainly get big and be a cow     the woman
also liked the idea  and their gossip the carpenter cut and planed
the calf  and painted it as it ought to be  and made it with its head
hanging down as if it were eating 

Next morning when the cows were being driven out  the little peasant
called the cow herd in and said     Look  I have a little calf there 
but it is still small and has to be carried     The cow herd said     All
right     and took it in his arms and carried it to the pasture  and set
it among the grass  The little calf always remained standing like one
which was eating  and the cow herd said     It will soon run by itself 
just look how it eats already     At night when he was going to drive the
herd home again  he said to the calf     If you can stand there and eat
your fill  you can also go on your four legs  I don   t care to drag you
home again in my arms     But the little peasant stood at his door  and
waited for his little calf  and when the cow herd drove the cows through
the village  and the calf was missing  he inquired where it was  The
cow herd answered     It is still standing out there eating  It would not
stop and come with us     But the little peasant said     Oh  but I must
have my beast back again     Then they went back to the meadow together 
but someone had stolen the calf  and it was gone  The cow herd said     It
must have run away     The peasant  however  said     Don   t tell me
that     and led the cow herd before the mayor  who for his carelessness
condemned him to give the peasant a cow for the calf which had run away 

And now the little peasant and his wife had the cow for which they had
so long wished  and they were heartily glad  but they had no food for
it  and could give it nothing to eat  so it soon had to be killed  They
salted the flesh  and the peasant went into the town and wanted to sell
the skin there  so that he might buy a new calf with the proceeds  On
the way he passed by a mill  and there sat a raven with broken wings 
and out of pity he took him and wrapped him in the skin  But as the
weather grew so bad and there was a storm of rain and wind  he could
go no farther  and turned back to the mill and begged for shelter  The
miller   s wife was alone in the house  and said to the peasant     Lay
yourself on the straw there     and gave him a slice of bread and cheese 
The peasant ate it  and lay down with his skin beside him  and the woman
thought     He is tired and has gone to sleep     In the meantime came the
parson  the miller   s wife received him well  and said     My husband is
out  so we will have a feast     The peasant listened  and when he heard
them talk about feasting he was vexed that he had been forced to make
shift with a slice of bread and cheese  Then the woman served up four
different things  roast meat  salad  cakes  and wine 

Just as they were about to sit down and eat  there was a knocking
outside  The woman said     Oh  heavens  It is my husband     she quickly
hid the roast meat inside the tiled stove  the wine under the pillow 
the salad on the bed  the cakes under it  and the parson in the closet
on the porch  Then she opened the door for her husband  and said     Thank
heaven  you are back again  There is such a storm  it looks as if the
world were coming to an end     The miller saw the peasant lying on the
straw  and asked     What is that fellow doing there        Ah     said the
wife     the poor knave came in the storm and rain  and begged for
shelter  so I gave him a bit of bread and cheese  and showed him where
the straw was     The man said     I have no objection  but be quick and get
me something to eat     The woman said     But I have nothing but bread and
cheese        I am contented with anything     replied the husband     so far as
I am concerned  bread and cheese will do     and looked at the peasant and
said     Come and eat some more with me     The peasant did not require to
be invited twice  but got up and ate  After this the miller saw the skin
in which the raven was  lying on the ground  and asked     What have you
there     The peasant answered     I have a soothsayer inside it        Can
he foretell anything to me     said the miller     Why not     answered
the peasant     but he only says four things  and the fifth he keeps to
himself     The miller was curious  and said     Let him foretell something
for once     Then the peasant pinched the raven   s head  so that he croaked
and made a noise like krr  krr  The miller said     What did he say     The
peasant answered     In the first place  he says that there is some wine
hidden under the pillow        Bless me     cried the miller  and went there
and found the wine     Now go on     said he  The peasant made the raven
croak again  and said     In the second place  he says that there is some
roast meat in the tiled stove        Upon my word     cried the miller  and
went thither  and found the roast meat  The peasant made the raven
prophesy still more  and said     Thirdly  he says that there is some
salad on the bed        That would be a fine thing     cried the miller  and
went there and found the salad  At last the peasant pinched the raven
once more till he croaked  and said     Fourthly  he says that there
are some cakes under the bed        That would be a fine thing     cried the
miller  and looked there  and found the cakes 

And now the two sat down to the table together  but the miller   s wife
was frightened to death  and went to bed and took all the keys with
her  The miller would have liked much to know the fifth  but the little
peasant said     First  we will quickly eat the four things  for the fifth
is something bad     So they ate  and after that they bargained how much
the miller was to give for the fifth prophecy  until they agreed on
three hundred talers  Then the peasant once more pinched the raven   s
head till he croaked loudly  The miller asked     What did he say     The
peasant replied     He says that the Devil is hiding outside there in
the closet on the porch     The miller said     The Devil must go out     and
opened the house door  then the woman was forced to give up the keys 
and the peasant unlocked the closet  The parson ran out as fast as he
could  and the miller said     It was true  I saw the black rascal with my
own eyes     The peasant  however  made off next morning by daybreak with
the three hundred talers 

At home the small peasant gradually launched out  he built a beautiful
house  and the peasants said     The small peasant has certainly been to
the place where golden snow falls  and people carry the gold home in
shovels     Then the small peasant was brought before the mayor  and
bidden to say from whence his wealth came  He answered     I sold my cow   s
skin in the town  for three hundred talers     When the peasants heard
that  they too wished to enjoy this great profit  and ran home  killed
all their cows  and stripped off their skins in order to sell them in
the town to the greatest advantage  The mayor  however  said     But my
servant must go first     When she came to the merchant in the town  he
did not give her more than two talers for a skin  and when the others
came  he did not give them so much  and said     What can I do with all
these skins    

Then the peasants were vexed that the small peasant should have thus
outwitted them  wanted to take vengeance on him  and accused him of this
treachery before the mayor  The innocent little peasant was unanimously
sentenced to death  and was to be rolled into the water  in a barrel
pierced full of holes  He was led forth  and a priest was brought who
was to say a mass for his soul  The others were all obliged to retire to
a distance  and when the peasant looked at the priest  he recognized the
man who had been with the miller   s wife  He said to him     I set you free
from the closet  set me free from the barrel     At this same moment up
came  with a flock of sheep  the very shepherd whom the peasant knew had
long been wishing to be mayor  so he cried with all his might     No  I
will not do it  if the whole world insists on it  I will not do it     The
shepherd hearing that  came up to him  and asked     What are you about 
What is it that you will not do     The peasant said     They want to make
me mayor  if I will but put myself in the barrel  but I will not do it    
The shepherd said     If nothing more than that is needful in order to be
mayor  I would get into the barrel at once     The peasant said     If you
will get in  you will be mayor     The shepherd was willing  and got in 
and the peasant shut the top down on him  then he took the shepherd   s
flock for himself  and drove it away  The parson went to the crowd 
and declared that the mass had been said  Then they came and rolled the
barrel towards the water  When the barrel began to roll  the shepherd
cried     I am quite willing to be mayor     They believed no otherwise than
that it was the peasant who was saying this  and answered     That is
what we intend  but first you shall look about you a little down below
there     and they rolled the barrel down into the water 

After that the peasants went home  and as they were entering the
village  the small peasant also came quietly in  driving a flock of
sheep and looking quite contented  Then the peasants were astonished 
and said     Peasant  from whence do you come  Have you come out of the
water        Yes  truly     replied the peasant     I sank deep  deep down 
until at last I got to the bottom  I pushed the bottom out of the
barrel  and crept out  and there were pretty meadows on which a number
of lambs were feeding  and from thence I brought this flock away with
me     Said the peasants     Are there any more there        Oh  yes     said he 
   more than I could want     Then the peasants made up their minds that
they too would fetch some sheep for themselves  a flock apiece  but the
mayor said     I come first     So they went to the water together  and just
then there were some of the small fleecy clouds in the blue sky  which
are called little lambs  and they were reflected in the water  whereupon
the peasants cried     We already see the sheep down below     The mayor
pressed forward and said     I will go down first  and look about me  and
if things promise well I   ll call you     So he jumped in  splash  went
the water  it sounded as if he were calling them  and the whole crowd
plunged in after him as one man  Then the entire village was dead  and
the small peasant  as sole heir  became a rich man 




FREDERICK AND CATHERINE

There was once a man called Frederick  he had a wife whose name was
Catherine  and they had not long been married  One day Frederick said 
   Kate  I am going to work in the fields  when I come back I shall be
hungry so let me have something nice cooked  and a good draught of ale    
   Very well     said she     it shall all be ready     When dinner time drew
nigh  Catherine took a nice steak  which was all the meat she had  and
put it on the fire to fry  The steak soon began to look brown  and to
crackle in the pan  and Catherine stood by with a fork and turned it 
then she said to herself     The steak is almost ready  I may as well go
to the cellar for the ale     So she left the pan on the fire and took a
large jug and went into the cellar and tapped the ale cask  The beer ran
into the jug and Catherine stood looking on  At last it popped into her
head     The dog is not shut up  he may be running away with the steak 
that   s well thought of     So up she ran from the cellar  and sure enough
the rascally cur had got the steak in his mouth  and was making off with
it 

Away ran Catherine  and away ran the dog across the field  but he ran
faster than she  and stuck close to the steak     It   s all gone  and    what
can   t be cured must be endured        said Catherine  So she turned round 
and as she had run a good way and was tired  she walked home leisurely
to cool herself 

Now all this time the ale was running too  for Catherine had not turned
the cock  and when the jug was full the liquor ran upon the floor till
the cask was empty  When she got to the cellar stairs she saw what had
happened     My stars     said she     what shall I do to keep Frederick from
seeing all this slopping about     So she thought a while  and at last
remembered that there was a sack of fine meal bought at the last fair 
and that if she sprinkled this over the floor it would suck up the ale
nicely     What a lucky thing     said she     that we kept that meal  we have
now a good use for it     So away she went for it  but she managed to set
it down just upon the great jug full of beer  and upset it  and thus
all the ale that had been saved was set swimming on the floor also     Ah 
well     said she     when one goes another may as well follow     Then she
strewed the meal all about the cellar  and was quite pleased with her
cleverness  and said     How very neat and clean it looks    

At noon Frederick came home     Now  wife     cried he     what have you for
dinner        O Frederick     answered she     I was cooking you a steak  but
while I went down to draw the ale  the dog ran away with it  and while
I ran after him  the ale ran out  and when I went to dry up the ale
with the sack of meal that we got at the fair  I upset the jug  but the
cellar is now quite dry  and looks so clean        Kate  Kate     said he 
   how could you do all this     Why did you leave the steak to fry  and the
ale to run  and then spoil all the meal        Why  Frederick     said she     I
did not know I was doing wrong  you should have told me before    

The husband thought to himself     If my wife manages matters thus  I must
look sharp myself     Now he had a good deal of gold in the house  so he
said to Catherine     What pretty yellow buttons these are  I shall put
them into a box and bury them in the garden  but take care that you
never go near or meddle with them        No  Frederick     said she     that
I never will     As soon as he was gone  there came by some pedlars with
earthenware plates and dishes  and they asked her whether she would buy 
   Oh dear me  I should like to buy very much  but I have no money  if
you had any use for yellow buttons  I might deal with you        Yellow
buttons     said they     let us have a look at them        Go into the garden
and dig where I tell you  and you will find the yellow buttons  I dare
not go myself     So the rogues went  and when they found what these
yellow buttons were  they took them all away  and left her plenty of
plates and dishes  Then she set them all about the house for a show 
and when Frederick came back  he cried out     Kate  what have you been
doing        See     said she     I have bought all these with your yellow
buttons  but I did not touch them myself  the pedlars went themselves
and dug them up        Wife  wife     said Frederick     what a pretty piece of
work you have made  those yellow buttons were all my money  how came you
to do such a thing        Why     answered she     I did not know there was any
harm in it  you should have told me    

Catherine stood musing for a while  and at last said to her husband 
   Hark ye  Frederick  we will soon get the gold back  let us run after
the thieves        Well  we will try     answered he     but take some butter
and cheese with you  that we may have something to eat by the way    
   Very well     said she  and they set out  and as Frederick walked the
fastest  he left his wife some way behind     It does not matter     thought
she     when we turn back  I shall be so much nearer home than he    

Presently she came to the top of a hill  down the side of which there
was a road so narrow that the cart wheels always chafed the trees
on each side as they passed     Ah  see now     said she     how they have
bruised and wounded those poor trees  they will never get well     So she
took pity on them  and made use of the butter to grease them all  so
that the wheels might not hurt them so much  While she was doing this
kind office one of her cheeses fell out of the basket  and rolled down
the hill  Catherine looked  but could not see where it had gone  so she
said     Well  I suppose the other will go the same way and find you  he
has younger legs than I have     Then she rolled the other cheese after
it  and away it went  nobody knows where  down the hill  But she said
she supposed that they knew the road  and would follow her  and she
could not stay there all day waiting for them 

At last she overtook Frederick  who desired her to give him something to
eat  Then she gave him the dry bread     Where are the butter and cheese    
said he     Oh     answered she     I used the butter to grease those poor
trees that the wheels chafed so  and one of the cheeses ran away so I
sent the other after it to find it  and I suppose they are both on
the road together somewhere        What a goose you are to do such silly
things     said the husband     How can you say so     said she     I am sure
you never told me not    

They ate the dry bread together  and Frederick said     Kate  I hope you
locked the door safe when you came away        No     answered she     you did
not tell me        Then go home  and do it now before we go any farther    
said Frederick     and bring with you something to eat    

Catherine did as he told her  and thought to herself by the way 
   Frederick wants something to eat  but I don   t think he is very fond of
butter and cheese  I   ll bring him a bag of fine nuts  and the vinegar 
for I have often seen him take some    

When she reached home  she bolted the back door  but the front door she
took off the hinges  and said     Frederick told me to lock the door  but
surely it can nowhere be so safe if I take it with me     So she took
her time by the way  and when she overtook her husband she cried
out     There  Frederick  there is the door itself  you may watch it as
carefully as you please        Alas  alas     said he     what a clever wife I
have  I sent you to make the house fast  and you take the door away  so
that everybody may go in and out as they please  however  as you have
brought the door  you shall carry it about with you for your pains    
   Very well     answered she     I   ll carry the door  but I   ll not carry the
nuts and vinegar bottle also  that would be too much of a load  so if
you please  I   ll fasten them to the door    

Frederick of course made no objection to that plan  and they set off
into the wood to look for the thieves  but they could not find them  and
when it grew dark  they climbed up into a tree to spend the night there 
Scarcely were they up  than who should come by but the very rogues they
were looking for  They were in truth great rascals  and belonged to that
class of people who find things before they are lost  they were tired 
so they sat down and made a fire under the very tree where Frederick and
Catherine were  Frederick slipped down on the other side  and picked up
some stones  Then he climbed up again  and tried to hit the thieves on
the head with them  but they only said     It must be near morning  for
the wind shakes the fir apples down    

Catherine  who had the door on her shoulder  began to be very tired 
but she thought it was the nuts upon it that were so heavy  so she said
softly     Frederick  I must let the nuts go        No     answered he     not
now  they will discover us        I can   t help that  they must go        Well 
then  make haste and throw them down  if you will     Then away rattled
the nuts down among the boughs and one of the thieves cried     Bless me 
it is hailing    

A little while after  Catherine thought the door was still very heavy 
so she whispered to Frederick     I must throw the vinegar down        Pray
don   t     answered he     it will discover us        I can   t help that     said
she     go it must     So she poured all the vinegar down  and the thieves
said     What a heavy dew there is    

At last it popped into Catherine   s head that it was the door itself that
was so heavy all the time  so she whispered     Frederick  I must throw
the door down soon     But he begged and prayed her not to do so  for he
was sure it would betray them     Here goes  however     said she  and down
went the door with such a clatter upon the thieves  that they cried
out    Murder     and not knowing what was coming  ran away as fast as they
could  and left all the gold  So when Frederick and Catherine came down 
there they found all their money safe and sound 




SWEETHEART ROLAND

There was once upon a time a woman who was a real witch and had two
daughters  one ugly and wicked  and this one she loved because she was
her own daughter  and one beautiful and good  and this one she hated 
because she was her stepdaughter  The stepdaughter once had a pretty
apron  which the other fancied so much that she became envious  and
told her mother that she must and would have that apron     Be quiet  my
child     said the old woman     and you shall have it  Your stepsister has
long deserved death  tonight when she is asleep I will come and cut her
head off  Only be careful that you are at the far side of the bed  and
push her well to the front     It would have been all over with the poor
girl if she had not just then been standing in a corner  and heard
everything  All day long she dared not go out of doors  and when bedtime
had come  the witch   s daughter got into bed first  so as to lie at the
far side  but when she was asleep  the other pushed her gently to the
front  and took for herself the place at the back  close by the wall  In
the night  the old woman came creeping in  she held an axe in her right
hand  and felt with her left to see if anyone were lying at the outside 
and then she grasped the axe with both hands  and cut her own child   s
head off 

When she had gone away  the girl got up and went to her sweetheart  who
was called Roland  and knocked at his door  When he came out  she said
to him     Listen  dearest Roland  we must fly in all haste  my stepmother
wanted to kill me  but has struck her own child  When daylight comes 
and she sees what she has done  we shall be lost        But     said Roland 
   I counsel you first to take away her magic wand  or we cannot escape
if she pursues us     The maiden fetched the magic wand  and she took the
dead girl   s head and dropped three drops of blood on the ground  one in
front of the bed  one in the kitchen  and one on the stairs  Then she
hurried away with her lover 

When the old witch got up next morning  she called her daughter  and
wanted to give her the apron  but she did not come  Then the witch
cried     Where are you        Here  on the stairs  I am sweeping     answered
the first drop of blood  The old woman went out  but saw no one on the
stairs  and cried again     Where are you        Here in the kitchen  I am
warming myself     cried the second drop of blood  She went into the
kitchen  but found no one  Then she cried again     Where are you        Ah 
here in the bed  I am sleeping     cried the third drop of blood  She went
into the room to the bed  What did she see there  Her own child 
whose head she had cut off  bathed in her blood  The witch fell into
a passion  sprang to the window  and as she could look forth quite far
into the world  she perceived her stepdaughter hurrying away with her
sweetheart Roland     That shall not help you     cried she     even if you
have got a long way off  you shall still not escape me     She put on her
many league boots  in which she covered an hour   s walk at every step 
and it was not long before she overtook them  The girl  however  when
she saw the old woman striding towards her  changed  with her magic
wand  her sweetheart Roland into a lake  and herself into a duck
swimming in the middle of it  The witch placed herself on the shore 
threw breadcrumbs in  and went to endless trouble to entice the duck 
but the duck did not let herself be enticed  and the old woman had to
go home at night as she had come  At this the girl and her sweetheart
Roland resumed their natural shapes again  and they walked on the whole
night until daybreak  Then the maiden changed herself into a beautiful
flower which stood in the midst of a briar hedge  and her sweetheart
Roland into a fiddler  It was not long before the witch came striding up
towards them  and said to the musician     Dear musician  may I pluck that
beautiful flower for myself        Oh  yes     he replied     I will play to
you while you do it     As she was hastily creeping into the hedge and was
just going to pluck the flower  knowing perfectly well who the flower
was  he began to play  and whether she would or not  she was forced
to dance  for it was a magical dance  The faster he played  the more
violent springs was she forced to make  and the thorns tore her clothes
from her body  and pricked her and wounded her till she bled  and as he
did not stop  she had to dance till she lay dead on the ground 

As they were now set free  Roland said     Now I will go to my father and
arrange for the wedding        Then in the meantime I will stay here and
wait for you     said the girl     and that no one may recognize me  I will
change myself into a red stone landmark     Then Roland went away  and the
girl stood like a red landmark in the field and waited for her beloved 
But when Roland got home  he fell into the snares of another  who so
fascinated him that he forgot the maiden  The poor girl remained there a
long time  but at length  as he did not return at all  she was sad  and
changed herself into a flower  and thought     Someone will surely come
this way  and trample me down    

It befell  however  that a shepherd kept his sheep in the field and saw
the flower  and as it was so pretty  plucked it  took it with him  and
laid it away in his chest  From that time forth  strange things happened
in the shepherd   s house  When he arose in the morning  all the work was
already done  the room was swept  the table and benches cleaned  the
fire in the hearth was lighted  and the water was fetched  and at noon 
when he came home  the table was laid  and a good dinner served  He
could not conceive how this came to pass  for he never saw a human being
in his house  and no one could have concealed himself in it  He was
certainly pleased with this good attendance  but still at last he was so
afraid that he went to a wise woman and asked for her advice  The wise
woman said     There is some enchantment behind it  listen very early some
morning if anything is moving in the room  and if you see anything  no
matter what it is  throw a white cloth over it  and then the magic will
be stopped    

The shepherd did as she bade him  and next morning just as day dawned 
he saw the chest open  and the flower come out  Swiftly he
sprang towards it  and threw a white cloth over it  Instantly the
transformation came to an end  and a beautiful girl stood before him 
who admitted to him that she had been the flower  and that up to this
time she had attended to his house keeping  She told him her story 
and as she pleased him he asked her if she would marry him  but she
answered     No     for she wanted to remain faithful to her sweetheart
Roland  although he had deserted her  Nevertheless  she promised not to
go away  but to continue keeping house for the shepherd 

And now the time drew near when Roland   s wedding was to be celebrated 
and then  according to an old custom in the country  it was announced
that all the girls were to be present at it  and sing in honour of the
bridal pair  When the faithful maiden heard of this  she grew so sad
that she thought her heart would break  and she would not go thither 
but the other girls came and took her  When it came to her turn to sing 
she stepped back  until at last she was the only one left  and then she
could not refuse  But when she began her song  and it reached Roland   s
ears  he sprang up and cried     I know the voice  that is the true
bride  I will have no other     Everything he had forgotten  and which had
vanished from his mind  had suddenly come home again to his heart  Then
the faithful maiden held her wedding with her sweetheart Roland  and
grief came to an end and joy began 




SNOWDROP

It was the middle of winter  when the broad flakes of snow were falling
around  that the queen of a country many thousand miles off sat working
at her window  The frame of the window was made of fine black ebony  and
as she sat looking out upon the snow  she pricked her finger  and three
drops of blood fell upon it  Then she gazed thoughtfully upon the red
drops that sprinkled the white snow  and said     Would that my little
daughter may be as white as that snow  as red as that blood  and as
black as this ebony windowframe     And so the little girl really did grow
up  her skin was as white as snow  her cheeks as rosy as the blood  and
her hair as black as ebony  and she was called Snowdrop 

But this queen died  and the king soon married another wife  who became
queen  and was very beautiful  but so vain that she could not bear
to think that anyone could be handsomer than she was  She had a fairy
looking glass  to which she used to go  and then she would gaze upon
herself in it  and say 

    Tell me  glass  tell me true 
  Of all the ladies in the land 
  Who is fairest  tell me  who    

And the glass had always answered 

    Thou  queen  art the fairest in all the land    

But Snowdrop grew more and more beautiful  and when she was seven years
old she was as bright as the day  and fairer than the queen herself 
Then the glass one day answered the queen  when she went to look in it
as usual 

    Thou  queen  art fair  and beauteous to see 
  But Snowdrop is lovelier far than thee    

When she heard this she turned pale with rage and envy  and called to
one of her servants  and said     Take Snowdrop away into the wide wood 
that I may never see her any more     Then the servant led her away  but
his heart melted when Snowdrop begged him to spare her life  and he
said     I will not hurt you  thou pretty child     So he left her by
herself  and though he thought it most likely that the wild beasts would
tear her in pieces  he felt as if a great weight were taken off his
heart when he had made up his mind not to kill her but to leave her to
her fate  with the chance of someone finding and saving her 

Then poor Snowdrop wandered along through the wood in great fear  and
the wild beasts roared about her  but none did her any harm  In the
evening she came to a cottage among the hills  and went in to rest  for
her little feet would carry her no further  Everything was spruce and
neat in the cottage  on the table was spread a white cloth  and there
were seven little plates  seven little loaves  and seven little glasses
with wine in them  and seven knives and forks laid in order  and by
the wall stood seven little beds  As she was very hungry  she picked
a little piece of each loaf and drank a very little wine out of each
glass  and after that she thought she would lie down and rest  So she
tried all the little beds  but one was too long  and another was too
short  till at last the seventh suited her  and there she laid herself
down and went to sleep 

By and by in came the masters of the cottage  Now they were seven little
dwarfs  that lived among the mountains  and dug and searched for gold 
They lighted up their seven lamps  and saw at once that all was not
right  The first said     Who has been sitting on my stool     The second 
   Who has been eating off my plate     The third     Who has been picking my
bread     The fourth     Who has been meddling with my spoon     The fifth 
   Who has been handling my fork     The sixth     Who has been cutting with
my knife     The seventh     Who has been drinking my wine     Then the first
looked round and said     Who has been lying on my bed     And the rest came
running to him  and everyone cried out that somebody had been upon his
bed  But the seventh saw Snowdrop  and called all his brethren to come
and see her  and they cried out with wonder and astonishment and brought
their lamps to look at her  and said     Good heavens  what a lovely child
she is     And they were very glad to see her  and took care not to wake
her  and the seventh dwarf slept an hour with each of the other dwarfs
in turn  till the night was gone 

In the morning Snowdrop told them all her story  and they pitied her 
and said if she would keep all things in order  and cook and wash and
knit and spin for them  she might stay where she was  and they would
take good care of her  Then they went out all day long to their work 
seeking for gold and silver in the mountains  but Snowdrop was left at
home  and they warned her  and said     The queen will soon find out where
you are  so take care and let no one in    

But the queen  now that she thought Snowdrop was dead  believed that she
must be the handsomest lady in the land  and she went to her glass and
said 

    Tell me  glass  tell me true 
  Of all the ladies in the land 
  Who is fairest  tell me  who    

And the glass answered 

    Thou  queen  art the fairest in all this land 
  But over the hills  in the greenwood shade 
  Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made 
  There Snowdrop is hiding her head  and she
  Is lovelier far  O queen  than thee    

Then the queen was very much frightened  for she knew that the glass
always spoke the truth  and was sure that the servant had betrayed her 
And she could not bear to think that anyone lived who was more beautiful
than she was  so she dressed herself up as an old pedlar  and went
her way over the hills  to the place where the dwarfs dwelt  Then she
knocked at the door  and cried     Fine wares to sell     Snowdrop looked
out at the window  and said     Good day  good woman  what have you to
sell        Good wares  fine wares     said she     laces and bobbins of all
colours        I will let the old lady in  she seems to be a very good
sort of body     thought Snowdrop  as she ran down and unbolted the door 
   Bless me     said the old woman     how badly your stays are laced  Let me
lace them up with one of my nice new laces     Snowdrop did not dream of
any mischief  so she stood before the old woman  but she set to work
so nimbly  and pulled the lace so tight  that Snowdrop   s breath was
stopped  and she fell down as if she were dead     There   s an end to all
thy beauty     said the spiteful queen  and went away home 

In the evening the seven dwarfs came home  and I need not say how
grieved they were to see their faithful Snowdrop stretched out upon the
ground  as if she was quite dead  However  they lifted her up  and when
they found what ailed her  they cut the lace  and in a little time she
began to breathe  and very soon came to life again  Then they said     The
old woman was the queen herself  take care another time  and let no one
in when we are away    

When the queen got home  she went straight to her glass  and spoke to it
as before  but to her great grief it still said 

    Thou  queen  art the fairest in all this land 
  But over the hills  in the greenwood shade 
  Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made 
  There Snowdrop is hiding her head  and she
  Is lovelier far  O queen  than thee    

Then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice  to see that
Snowdrop still lived  and she dressed herself up again  but in quite
another dress from the one she wore before  and took with her a poisoned
comb  When she reached the dwarfs    cottage  she knocked at the door  and
cried     Fine wares to sell     But Snowdrop said     I dare not let anyone
in     Then the queen said     Only look at my beautiful combs     and gave
her the poisoned one  And it looked so pretty  that she took it up and
put it into her hair to try it  but the moment it touched her head 
the poison was so powerful that she fell down senseless     There you may
lie     said the queen  and went her way  But by good luck the dwarfs
came in very early that evening  and when they saw Snowdrop lying on
the ground  they thought what had happened  and soon found the poisoned
comb  And when they took it away she got well  and told them all that
had passed  and they warned her once more not to open the door to
anyone 

Meantime the queen went home to her glass  and shook with rage when she
read the very same answer as before  and she said     Snowdrop shall die 
if it cost me my life     So she went by herself into her chamber  and got
ready a poisoned apple  the outside looked very rosy and tempting  but
whoever tasted it was sure to die  Then she dressed herself up as a
peasant   s wife  and travelled over the hills to the dwarfs    cottage 
and knocked at the door  but Snowdrop put her head out of the window and
said     I dare not let anyone in  for the dwarfs have told me not        Do
as you please     said the old woman     but at any rate take this pretty
apple  I will give it you        No     said Snowdrop     I dare not take it    
   You silly girl     answered the other     what are you afraid of  Do you
think it is poisoned  Come  do you eat one part  and I will eat the
other     Now the apple was so made up that one side was good  though the
other side was poisoned  Then Snowdrop was much tempted to taste  for
the apple looked so very nice  and when she saw the old woman eat  she
could wait no longer  But she had scarcely put the piece into her mouth 
when she fell down dead upon the ground     This time nothing will save
thee     said the queen  and she went home to her glass  and at last it
said 

    Thou  queen  art the fairest of all the fair    

And then her wicked heart was glad  and as happy as such a heart could
be 

When evening came  and the dwarfs had gone home  they found Snowdrop
lying on the ground  no breath came from her lips  and they were afraid
that she was quite dead  They lifted her up  and combed her hair  and
washed her face with wine and water  but all was in vain  for the little
girl seemed quite dead  So they laid her down upon a bier  and all seven
watched and bewailed her three whole days  and then they thought they
would bury her  but her cheeks were still rosy  and her face looked just
as it did while she was alive  so they said     We will never bury her in
the cold ground     And they made a coffin of glass  so that they might
still look at her  and wrote upon it in golden letters what her name
was  and that she was a king   s daughter  And the coffin was set among
the hills  and one of the dwarfs always sat by it and watched  And the
birds of the air came too  and bemoaned Snowdrop  and first of all came
an owl  and then a raven  and at last a dove  and sat by her side 

And thus Snowdrop lay for a long  long time  and still only looked as
though she was asleep  for she was even now as white as snow  and as red
as blood  and as black as ebony  At last a prince came and called at the
dwarfs    house  and he saw Snowdrop  and read what was written in golden
letters  Then he offered the dwarfs money  and prayed and besought them
to let him take her away  but they said     We will not part with her for
all the gold in the world     At last  however  they had pity on him  and
gave him the coffin  but the moment he lifted it up to carry it home
with him  the piece of apple fell from between her lips  and Snowdrop
awoke  and said     Where am I     And the prince said     Thou art quite safe
with me    

Then he told her all that had happened  and said     I love you far better
than all the world  so come with me to my father   s palace  and you shall
be my wife     And Snowdrop consented  and went home with the prince 
and everything was got ready with great pomp and splendour for their
wedding 

To the feast was asked  among the rest  Snowdrop   s old enemy the queen 
and as she was dressing herself in fine rich clothes  she looked in the
glass and said 

    Tell me  glass  tell me true 
  Of all the ladies in the land 
  Who is fairest  tell me  who    

And the glass answered 

    Thou  lady  art loveliest here  I ween 
  But lovelier far is the new made queen    

When she heard this she started with rage  but her envy and curiosity
were so great  that she could not help setting out to see the bride  And
when she got there  and saw that it was no other than Snowdrop  who  as
she thought  had been dead a long while  she choked with rage  and fell
down and died  but Snowdrop and the prince lived and reigned happily
over that land many  many years  and sometimes they went up into the
mountains  and paid a visit to the little dwarfs  who had been so kind
to Snowdrop in her time of need 




THE PINK

There was once upon a time a queen to whom God had given no children 
Every morning she went into the garden and prayed to God in heaven to
bestow on her a son or a daughter  Then an angel from heaven came to her
and said     Be at rest  you shall have a son with the power of wishing 
so that whatsoever in the world he wishes for  that shall he have     Then
she went to the king  and told him the joyful tidings  and when the time
was come she gave birth to a son  and the king was filled with gladness 

Every morning she went with the child to the garden where the wild
beasts were kept  and washed herself there in a clear stream  It
happened once when the child was a little older  that it was lying in
her arms and she fell asleep  Then came the old cook  who knew that the
child had the power of wishing  and stole it away  and he took a hen 
and cut it in pieces  and dropped some of its blood on the queen   s apron
and on her dress  Then he carried the child away to a secret place 
where a nurse was obliged to suckle it  and he ran to the king and
accused the queen of having allowed her child to be taken from her by
the wild beasts  When the king saw the blood on her apron  he believed
this  fell into such a passion that he ordered a high tower to be built 
in which neither sun nor moon could be seen and had his wife put into
it  and walled up  Here she was to stay for seven years without meat
or drink  and die of hunger  But God sent two angels from heaven in the
shape of white doves  which flew to her twice a day  and carried her
food until the seven years were over 

The cook  however  thought to himself     If the child has the power of
wishing  and I am here  he might very easily get me into trouble     So
he left the palace and went to the boy  who was already big enough to
speak  and said to him     Wish for a beautiful palace for yourself with
a garden  and all else that pertains to it     Scarcely were the words out
of the boy   s mouth  when everything was there that he had wished for 
After a while the cook said to him     It is not well for you to be so
alone  wish for a pretty girl as a companion     Then the king   s son
wished for one  and she immediately stood before him  and was more
beautiful than any painter could have painted her  The two played
together  and loved each other with all their hearts  and the old cook
went out hunting like a nobleman  The thought occurred to him  however 
that the king   s son might some day wish to be with his father  and thus
bring him into great peril  So he went out and took the maiden aside 
and said     Tonight when the boy is asleep  go to his bed and plunge this
knife into his heart  and bring me his heart and tongue  and if you do
not do it  you shall lose your life     Thereupon he went away  and when
he returned next day she had not done it  and said     Why should I shed
the blood of an innocent boy who has never harmed anyone     The cook once
more said     If you do not do it  it shall cost you your own life     When
he had gone away  she had a little hind brought to her  and ordered her
to be killed  and took her heart and tongue  and laid them on a plate 
and when she saw the old man coming  she said to the boy     Lie down in
your bed  and draw the clothes over you     Then the wicked wretch came in
and said     Where are the boy   s heart and tongue     The girl reached the
plate to him  but the king   s son threw off the quilt  and said     You old
sinner  why did you want to kill me  Now will I pronounce thy sentence 
You shall become a black poodle and have a gold collar round your neck 
and shall eat burning coals  till the flames burst forth from your
throat     And when he had spoken these words  the old man was changed
into a poodle dog  and had a gold collar round his neck  and the cooks
were ordered to bring up some live coals  and these he ate  until the
flames broke forth from his throat  The king   s son remained there a
short while longer  and he thought of his mother  and wondered if she
were still alive  At length he said to the maiden     I will go home to my
own country  if you will go with me  I will provide for you        Ah    
she replied     the way is so long  and what shall I do in a strange land
where I am unknown     As she did not seem quite willing  and as they
could not be parted from each other  he wished that she might be changed
into a beautiful pink  and took her with him  Then he went away to his
own country  and the poodle had to run after him  He went to the tower
in which his mother was confined  and as it was so high  he wished for
a ladder which would reach up to the very top  Then he mounted up and
looked inside  and cried     Beloved mother  Lady Queen  are you still
alive  or are you dead     She answered     I have just eaten  and am still
satisfied     for she thought the angels were there  Said he     I am your
dear son  whom the wild beasts were said to have torn from your arms 
but I am alive still  and will soon set you free     Then he descended
again  and went to his father  and caused himself to be announced as a
strange huntsman  and asked if he could offer him service  The king said
yes  if he was skilful and could get game for him  he should come to
him  but that deer had never taken up their quarters in any part of the
district or country  Then the huntsman promised to procure as much game
for him as he could possibly use at the royal table  So he summoned all
the huntsmen together  and bade them go out into the forest with him 
And he went with them and made them form a great circle  open at one end
where he stationed himself  and began to wish  Two hundred deer and more
came running inside the circle at once  and the huntsmen shot them 
Then they were all placed on sixty country carts  and driven home to the
king  and for once he was able to deck his table with game  after having
had none at all for years 

Now the king felt great joy at this  and commanded that his entire
household should eat with him next day  and made a great feast  When
they were all assembled together  he said to the huntsman     As you are
so clever  you shall sit by me     He replied     Lord King  your majesty
must excuse me  I am a poor huntsman     But the king insisted on it 
and said     You shall sit by me     until he did it  Whilst he was sitting
there  he thought of his dearest mother  and wished that one of the
king   s principal servants would begin to speak of her  and would ask how
it was faring with the queen in the tower  and if she were alive still 
or had perished  Hardly had he formed the wish than the marshal began 
and said     Your majesty  we live joyously here  but how is the queen
living in the tower  Is she still alive  or has she died     But the king
replied     She let my dear son be torn to pieces by wild beasts  I will
not have her named     Then the huntsman arose and said     Gracious lord
father she is alive still  and I am her son  and I was not carried away
by wild beasts  but by that wretch the old cook  who tore me from her
arms when she was asleep  and sprinkled her apron with the blood of a
chicken     Thereupon he took the dog with the golden collar  and said 
   That is the wretch     and caused live coals to be brought  and these the
dog was compelled to devour before the sight of all  until flames burst
forth from its throat  On this the huntsman asked the king if he would
like to see the dog in his true shape  and wished him back into the form
of the cook  in the which he stood immediately  with his white apron 
and his knife by his side  When the king saw him he fell into a passion 
and ordered him to be cast into the deepest dungeon  Then the huntsman
spoke further and said     Father  will you see the maiden who brought me
up so tenderly and who was afterwards to murder me  but did not do it 
though her own life depended on it     The king replied     Yes  I would
like to see her     The son said     Most gracious father  I will show her
to you in the form of a beautiful flower     and he thrust his hand into
his pocket and brought forth the pink  and placed it on the royal table 
and it was so beautiful that the king had never seen one to equal it 
Then the son said     Now will I show her to you in her own form     and
wished that she might become a maiden  and she stood there looking so
beautiful that no painter could have made her look more so 

And the king sent two waiting maids and two attendants into the tower 
to fetch the queen and bring her to the royal table  But when she was
led in she ate nothing  and said     The gracious and merciful God who has
supported me in the tower  will soon set me free     She lived three days
more  and then died happily  and when she was buried  the two white
doves which had brought her food to the tower  and were angels of
heaven  followed her body and seated themselves on her grave  The aged
king ordered the cook to be torn in four pieces  but grief consumed the
king   s own heart  and he soon died  His son married the beautiful maiden
whom he had brought with him as a flower in his pocket  and whether they
are still alive or not  is known to God 




CLEVER ELSIE

There was once a man who had a daughter who was called Clever Elsie  And
when she had grown up her father said     We will get her married        Yes    
said the mother     if only someone would come who would have her     At
length a man came from a distance and wooed her  who was called Hans 
but he stipulated that Clever Elsie should be really smart     Oh     said
the father     she has plenty of good sense     and the mother said     Oh 
she can see the wind coming up the street  and hear the flies coughing    
   Well     said Hans     if she is not really smart  I won   t have her     When
they were sitting at dinner and had eaten  the mother said     Elsie  go
into the cellar and fetch some beer     Then Clever Elsie took the pitcher
from the wall  went into the cellar  and tapped the lid briskly as she
went  so that the time might not appear long  When she was below she
fetched herself a chair  and set it before the barrel so that she had
no need to stoop  and did not hurt her back or do herself any unexpected
injury  Then she placed the can before her  and turned the tap  and
while the beer was running she would not let her eyes be idle  but
looked up at the wall  and after much peering here and there  saw a
pick axe exactly above her  which the masons had accidentally left
there 

Then Clever Elsie began to weep and said     If I get Hans  and we have
a child  and he grows big  and we send him into the cellar here to draw
beer  then the pick axe will fall on his head and kill him     Then she
sat and wept and screamed with all the strength of her body  over the
misfortune which lay before her  Those upstairs waited for the drink 
but Clever Elsie still did not come  Then the woman said to the servant 
   Just go down into the cellar and see where Elsie is     The maid went and
found her sitting in front of the barrel  screaming loudly     Elsie why
do you weep     asked the maid     Ah     she answered     have I not reason to
weep  If I get Hans  and we have a child  and he grows big  and has to
draw beer here  the pick axe will perhaps fall on his head  and kill
him     Then said the maid     What a clever Elsie we have     and sat down
beside her and began loudly to weep over the misfortune  After a while 
as the maid did not come back  and those upstairs were thirsty for the
beer  the man said to the boy     Just go down into the cellar and see
where Elsie and the girl are     The boy went down  and there sat Clever
Elsie and the girl both weeping together  Then he asked     Why are you
weeping        Ah     said Elsie     have I not reason to weep  If I get Hans 
and we have a child  and he grows big  and has to draw beer here  the
pick axe will fall on his head and kill him     Then said the boy     What
a clever Elsie we have     and sat down by her  and likewise began to
howl loudly  Upstairs they waited for the boy  but as he still did not
return  the man said to the woman     Just go down into the cellar and see
where Elsie is     The woman went down  and found all three in the midst
of their lamentations  and inquired what was the cause  then Elsie told
her also that her future child was to be killed by the pick axe  when it
grew big and had to draw beer  and the pick axe fell down  Then said the
mother likewise     What a clever Elsie we have     and sat down and wept
with them  The man upstairs waited a short time  but as his wife did not
come back and his thirst grew ever greater  he said     I must go into the
cellar myself and see where Elsie is     But when he got into the cellar 
and they were all sitting together crying  and he heard the reason  and
that Elsie   s child was the cause  and the Elsie might perhaps bring one
into the world some day  and that he might be killed by the pick axe  if
he should happen to be sitting beneath it  drawing beer just at the very
time when it fell down  he cried     Oh  what a clever Elsie     and sat
down  and likewise wept with them  The bridegroom stayed upstairs alone
for a long time  then as no one would come back he thought     They must be
waiting for me below  I too must go there and see what they are about    
When he got down  the five of them were sitting screaming and lamenting
quite piteously  each out doing the other     What misfortune has happened
then     asked he     Ah  dear Hans     said Elsie     if we marry each other
and have a child  and he is big  and we perhaps send him here to draw
something to drink  then the pick axe which has been left up there might
dash his brains out if it were to fall down  so have we not reason to
weep        Come     said Hans     more understanding than that is not needed
for my household  as you are such a clever Elsie  I will have you     and
seized her hand  took her upstairs with him  and married her 

After Hans had had her some time  he said     Wife  I am going out to work
and earn some money for us  go into the field and cut the corn that we
may have some bread        Yes  dear Hans  I will do that     After Hans had
gone away  she cooked herself some good broth and took it into the field
with her  When she came to the field she said to herself     What shall I
do  shall I cut first  or shall I eat first  Oh  I will eat first     Then
she drank her cup of broth and when she was fully satisfied  she once
more said     What shall I do  Shall I cut first  or shall I sleep first 
I will sleep first     Then she lay down among the corn and fell asleep 
Hans had been at home for a long time  but Elsie did not come  then said
he     What a clever Elsie I have  she is so industrious that she does not
even come home to eat     But when evening came and she still stayed away 
Hans went out to see what she had cut  but nothing was cut  and she
was lying among the corn asleep  Then Hans hastened home and brought
a fowler   s net with little bells and hung it round about her  and she
still went on sleeping  Then he ran home  shut the house door  and sat
down in his chair and worked  At length  when it was quite dark  Clever
Elsie awoke and when she got up there was a jingling all round about
her  and the bells rang at each step which she took  Then she was
alarmed  and became uncertain whether she really was Clever Elsie or
not  and said     Is it I  or is it not I     But she knew not what answer
to make to this  and stood for a time in doubt  at length she thought 
   I will go home and ask if it be I  or if it be not I  they will be sure
to know     She ran to the door of her own house  but it was shut  then
she knocked at the window and cried     Hans  is Elsie within        Yes    
answered Hans     she is within     Hereupon she was terrified  and said 
   Ah  heavens  Then it is not I     and went to another door  but when the
people heard the jingling of the bells they would not open it  and she
could get in nowhere  Then she ran out of the village  and no one has
seen her since 




THE MISER IN THE BUSH

A farmer had a faithful and diligent servant  who had worked hard for
him three years  without having been paid any wages  At last it came
into the man   s head that he would not go on thus without pay any longer 
so he went to his master  and said     I have worked hard for you a long
time  I will trust to you to give me what I deserve to have for my
trouble     The farmer was a sad miser  and knew that his man was very
simple hearted  so he took out threepence  and gave him for every year   s
service a penny  The poor fellow thought it was a great deal of money to
have  and said to himself     Why should I work hard  and live here on bad
fare any longer  I can now travel into the wide world  and make myself
merry     With that he put his money into his purse  and set out  roaming
over hill and valley 

As he jogged along over the fields  singing and dancing  a little dwarf
met him  and asked him what made him so merry     Why  what should make
me down hearted     said he     I am sound in health and rich in purse  what
should I care for  I have saved up my three years    earnings and have it
all safe in my pocket        How much may it come to     said the little man 
   Full threepence     replied the countryman     I wish you would give them
to me     said the other     I am very poor     Then the man pitied him  and
gave him all he had  and the little dwarf said in return     As you have
such a kind honest heart  I will grant you three wishes  one for every
penny  so choose whatever you like     Then the countryman rejoiced at
his good luck  and said     I like many things better than money  first  I
will have a bow that will bring down everything I shoot at  secondly 
a fiddle that will set everyone dancing that hears me play upon it  and
thirdly  I should like that everyone should grant what I ask     The dwarf
said he should have his three wishes  so he gave him the bow and fiddle 
and went his way 

Our honest friend journeyed on his way too  and if he was merry before 
he was now ten times more so  He had not gone far before he met an old
miser  close by them stood a tree  and on the topmost twig sat a thrush
singing away most joyfully     Oh  what a pretty bird     said the miser     I
would give a great deal of money to have such a one        If that   s all    
said the countryman     I will soon bring it down     Then he took up his
bow  and down fell the thrush into the bushes at the foot of the tree 
The miser crept into the bush to find it  but directly he had got into
the middle  his companion took up his fiddle and played away  and the
miser began to dance and spring about  capering higher and higher in
the air  The thorns soon began to tear his clothes till they all hung
in rags about him  and he himself was all scratched and wounded  so that
the blood ran down     Oh  for heaven   s sake     cried the miser     Master 
master  pray let the fiddle alone  What have I done to deserve this    
   Thou hast shaved many a poor soul close enough     said the other     thou
art only meeting thy reward     so he played up another tune  Then the
miser began to beg and promise  and offered money for his liberty  but
he did not come up to the musician   s price for some time  and he danced
him along brisker and brisker  and the miser bid higher and higher  till
at last he offered a round hundred of florins that he had in his purse 
and had just gained by cheating some poor fellow  When the countryman
saw so much money  he said     I will agree to your proposal     So he took
the purse  put up his fiddle  and travelled on very pleased with his
bargain 

Meanwhile the miser crept out of the bush half naked and in a piteous
plight  and began to ponder how he should take his revenge  and serve
his late companion some trick  At last he went to the judge  and
complained that a rascal had robbed him of his money  and beaten him
into the bargain  and that the fellow who did it carried a bow at his
back and a fiddle hung round his neck  Then the judge sent out his
officers to bring up the accused wherever they should find him  and he
was soon caught and brought up to be tried 

The miser began to tell his tale  and said he had been robbed of
his money     No  you gave it me for playing a tune to you     said the
countryman  but the judge told him that was not likely  and cut the
matter short by ordering him off to the gallows 

So away he was taken  but as he stood on the steps he said     My Lord
Judge  grant me one last request        Anything but thy life     replied the
other     No     said he     I do not ask my life  only to let me play upon
my fiddle for the last time     The miser cried out     Oh  no  no  for
heaven   s sake don   t listen to him  don   t listen to him     But the judge
said     It is only this once  he will soon have done     The fact was  he
could not refuse the request  on account of the dwarf   s third gift 

Then the miser said     Bind me fast  bind me fast  for pity   s sake     But
the countryman seized his fiddle  and struck up a tune  and at the first
note judge  clerks  and jailer were in motion  all began capering  and
no one could hold the miser  At the second note the hangman let his
prisoner go  and danced also  and by the time he had played the first
bar of the tune  all were dancing together  judge  court  and miser  and
all the people who had followed to look on  At first the thing was merry
and pleasant enough  but when it had gone on a while  and there seemed
to be no end of playing or dancing  they began to cry out  and beg him
to leave off  but he stopped not a whit the more for their entreaties 
till the judge not only gave him his life  but promised to return him
the hundred florins 

Then he called to the miser  and said     Tell us now  you vagabond  where
you got that gold  or I shall play on for your amusement only        I stole
it     said the miser in the presence of all the people     I acknowledge
that I stole it  and that you earned it fairly     Then the countryman
stopped his fiddle  and left the miser to take his place at the gallows 




ASHPUTTEL

The wife of a rich man fell sick  and when she felt that her end drew
nigh  she called her only daughter to her bed side  and said     Always be
a good girl  and I will look down from heaven and watch over you     Soon
afterwards she shut her eyes and died  and was buried in the garden 
and the little girl went every day to her grave and wept  and was always
good and kind to all about her  And the snow fell and spread a beautiful
white covering over the grave  but by the time the spring came  and the
sun had melted it away again  her father had married another wife  This
new wife had two daughters of her own  that she brought home with her 
they were fair in face but foul at heart  and it was now a sorry time
for the poor little girl     What does the good for nothing want in the
parlour     said they     they who would eat bread should first earn it 
away with the kitchen maid     Then they took away her fine clothes  and
gave her an old grey frock to put on  and laughed at her  and turned her
into the kitchen 

There she was forced to do hard work  to rise early before daylight  to
bring the water  to make the fire  to cook and to wash  Besides that 
the sisters plagued her in all sorts of ways  and laughed at her  In the
evening when she was tired  she had no bed to lie down on  but was made
to lie by the hearth among the ashes  and as this  of course  made her
always dusty and dirty  they called her Ashputtel 

It happened once that the father was going to the fair  and asked his
wife   s daughters what he should bring them     Fine clothes     said the
first     Pearls and diamonds     cried the second     Now  child     said he
to his own daughter     what will you have        The first twig  dear
father  that brushes against your hat when you turn your face to come
homewards     said she  Then he bought for the first two the fine clothes
and pearls and diamonds they had asked for  and on his way home  as he
rode through a green copse  a hazel twig brushed against him  and almost
pushed off his hat  so he broke it off and brought it away  and when he
got home he gave it to his daughter  Then she took it  and went to
her mother   s grave and planted it there  and cried so much that it was
watered with her tears  and there it grew and became a fine tree  Three
times every day she went to it and cried  and soon a little bird came
and built its nest upon the tree  and talked with her  and watched over
her  and brought her whatever she wished for 

Now it happened that the king of that land held a feast  which was to
last three days  and out of those who came to it his son was to choose
a bride for himself  Ashputtel   s two sisters were asked to come  so they
called her up  and said     Now  comb our hair  brush our shoes  and tie
our sashes for us  for we are going to dance at the king   s feast    
Then she did as she was told  but when all was done she could not help
crying  for she thought to herself  she should so have liked to have
gone with them to the ball  and at last she begged her mother very hard
to let her go     You  Ashputtel     said she     you who have nothing to
wear  no clothes at all  and who cannot even dance  you want to go to
the ball  And when she kept on begging  she said at last  to get rid of
her     I will throw this dishful of peas into the ash heap  and if in
two hours    time you have picked them all out  you shall go to the feast
too    

Then she threw the peas down among the ashes  but the little maiden ran
out at the back door into the garden  and cried out 

    Hither  hither  through the sky 
  Turtle doves and linnets  fly 
  Blackbird  thrush  and chaffinch gay 
  Hither  hither  haste away 
  One and all come help me  quick 
  Haste ye  haste ye   pick  pick  pick    

Then first came two white doves  flying in at the kitchen window  next
came two turtle doves  and after them came all the little birds under
heaven  chirping and fluttering in  and they flew down into the ashes 
And the little doves stooped their heads down and set to work  pick 
pick  pick  and then the others began to pick  pick  pick  and among
them all they soon picked out all the good grain  and put it into a dish
but left the ashes  Long before the end of the hour the work was quite
done  and all flew out again at the windows 

Then Ashputtel brought the dish to her mother  overjoyed at the thought
that now she should go to the ball  But the mother said     No  no  you
slut  you have no clothes  and cannot dance  you shall not go     And when
Ashputtel begged very hard to go  she said     If you can in one hour   s
time pick two of those dishes of peas out of the ashes  you shall go
too     And thus she thought she should at least get rid of her  So she
shook two dishes of peas into the ashes 

But the little maiden went out into the garden at the back of the house 
and cried out as before 

    Hither  hither  through the sky 
  Turtle doves and linnets  fly 
  Blackbird  thrush  and chaffinch gay 
  Hither  hither  haste away 
  One and all come help me  quick 
  Haste ye  haste ye   pick  pick  pick    

Then first came two white doves in at the kitchen window  next came two
turtle doves  and after them came all the little birds under heaven 
chirping and hopping about  And they flew down into the ashes  and the
little doves put their heads down and set to work  pick  pick  pick  and
then the others began pick  pick  pick  and they put all the good grain
into the dishes  and left all the ashes  Before half an hour   s time all
was done  and out they flew again  And then Ashputtel took the dishes to
her mother  rejoicing to think that she should now go to the ball 
But her mother said     It is all of no use  you cannot go  you have no
clothes  and cannot dance  and you would only put us to shame     and off
she went with her two daughters to the ball 

Now when all were gone  and nobody left at home  Ashputtel went
sorrowfully and sat down under the hazel tree  and cried out 

    Shake  shake  hazel tree 
  Gold and silver over me    

Then her friend the bird flew out of the tree  and brought a gold and
silver dress for her  and slippers of spangled silk  and she put them
on  and followed her sisters to the feast  But they did not know her 
and thought it must be some strange princess  she looked so fine and
beautiful in her rich clothes  and they never once thought of Ashputtel 
taking it for granted that she was safe at home in the dirt 

The king   s son soon came up to her  and took her by the hand and danced
with her  and no one else  and he never left her hand  but when anyone
else came to ask her to dance  he said     This lady is dancing with me    

Thus they danced till a late hour of the night  and then she wanted to
go home  and the king   s son said     I shall go and take care of you to
your home     for he wanted to see where the beautiful maiden lived  But
she slipped away from him  unawares  and ran off towards home  and as
the prince followed her  she jumped up into the pigeon house and shut
the door  Then he waited till her father came home  and told him that
the unknown maiden  who had been at the feast  had hid herself in the
pigeon house  But when they had broken open the door they found no one
within  and as they came back into the house  Ashputtel was lying  as
she always did  in her dirty frock by the ashes  and her dim little
lamp was burning in the chimney  For she had run as quickly as she could
through the pigeon house and on to the hazel tree  and had there taken
off her beautiful clothes  and put them beneath the tree  that the bird
might carry them away  and had lain down again amid the ashes in her
little grey frock 

The next day when the feast was again held  and her father  mother  and
sisters were gone  Ashputtel went to the hazel tree  and said 

    Shake  shake  hazel tree 
  Gold and silver over me    

And the bird came and brought a still finer dress than the one she
had worn the day before  And when she came in it to the ball  everyone
wondered at her beauty  but the king   s son  who was waiting for her 
took her by the hand  and danced with her  and when anyone asked her to
dance  he said as before     This lady is dancing with me    

When night came she wanted to go home  and the king   s son followed here
as before  that he might see into what house she went  but she sprang
away from him all at once into the garden behind her father   s house 
In this garden stood a fine large pear tree full of ripe fruit  and
Ashputtel  not knowing where to hide herself  jumped up into it without
being seen  Then the king   s son lost sight of her  and could not find
out where she was gone  but waited till her father came home  and said
to him     The unknown lady who danced with me has slipped away  and I
think she must have sprung into the pear tree     The father thought to
himself     Can it be Ashputtel     So he had an axe brought  and they cut
down the tree  but found no one upon it  And when they came back into
the kitchen  there lay Ashputtel among the ashes  for she had slipped
down on the other side of the tree  and carried her beautiful clothes
back to the bird at the hazel tree  and then put on her little grey
frock 

The third day  when her father and mother and sisters were gone  she
went again into the garden  and said 

    Shake  shake  hazel tree 
  Gold and silver over me    

Then her kind friend the bird brought a dress still finer than the
former one  and slippers which were all of gold  so that when she came
to the feast no one knew what to say  for wonder at her beauty  and the
king   s son danced with nobody but her  and when anyone else asked her to
dance  he said     This lady is  my  partner  sir    

When night came she wanted to go home  and the king   s son would go with
her  and said to himself     I will not lose her this time     but  however 
she again slipped away from him  though in such a hurry that she dropped
her left golden slipper upon the stairs 

The prince took the shoe  and went the next day to the king his father 
and said     I will take for my wife the lady that this golden slipper
fits     Then both the sisters were overjoyed to hear it  for they
had beautiful feet  and had no doubt that they could wear the golden
slipper  The eldest went first into the room where the slipper was  and
wanted to try it on  and the mother stood by  But her great toe could
not go into it  and the shoe was altogether much too small for her  Then
the mother gave her a knife  and said     Never mind  cut it off  when you
are queen you will not care about toes  you will not want to walk     So
the silly girl cut off her great toe  and thus squeezed on the shoe 
and went to the king   s son  Then he took her for his bride  and set her
beside him on his horse  and rode away with her homewards 

But on their way home they had to pass by the hazel tree that Ashputtel
had planted  and on the branch sat a little dove singing 

    Back again  back again  look to the shoe 
  The shoe is too small  and not made for you 
  Prince  prince  look again for thy bride 
  For she   s not the true one that sits by thy side    

Then the prince got down and looked at her foot  and he saw  by the
blood that streamed from it  what a trick she had played him  So he
turned his horse round  and brought the false bride back to her home 
and said     This is not the right bride  let the other sister try and put
on the slipper     Then she went into the room and got her foot into the
shoe  all but the heel  which was too large  But her mother squeezed it
in till the blood came  and took her to the king   s son  and he set her
as his bride by his side on his horse  and rode away with her 

But when they came to the hazel tree the little dove sat there still 
and sang 

    Back again  back again  look to the shoe 
  The shoe is too small  and not made for you 
  Prince  prince  look again for thy bride 
  For she   s not the true one that sits by thy side    

Then he looked down  and saw that the blood streamed so much from the
shoe  that her white stockings were quite red  So he turned his horse
and brought her also back again     This is not the true bride     said he
to the father     have you no other daughters        No     said he     there is
only a little dirty Ashputtel here  the child of my first wife  I am
sure she cannot be the bride     The prince told him to send her  But the
mother said     No  no  she is much too dirty  she will not dare to show
herself     However  the prince would have her come  and she first washed
her face and hands  and then went in and curtsied to him  and he reached
her the golden slipper  Then she took her clumsy shoe off her left foot 
and put on the golden slipper  and it fitted her as if it had been made
for her  And when he drew near and looked at her face he knew her  and
said     This is the right bride     But the mother and both the sisters
were frightened  and turned pale with anger as he took Ashputtel on his
horse  and rode away with her  And when they came to the hazel tree  the
white dove sang 

    Home  home  look at the shoe 
  Princess  the shoe was made for you 
  Prince  prince  take home thy bride 
  For she is the true one that sits by thy side    

And when the dove had done its song  it came flying  and perched upon
her right shoulder  and so went home with her 




THE WHITE SNAKE

A long time ago there lived a king who was famed for his wisdom through
all the land  Nothing was hidden from him  and it seemed as if news of
the most secret things was brought to him through the air  But he had a
strange custom  every day after dinner  when the table was cleared 
and no one else was present  a trusty servant had to bring him one more
dish  It was covered  however  and even the servant did not know what
was in it  neither did anyone know  for the king never took off the
cover to eat of it until he was quite alone 

This had gone on for a long time  when one day the servant  who took
away the dish  was overcome with such curiosity that he could not help
carrying the dish into his room  When he had carefully locked the door 
he lifted up the cover  and saw a white snake lying on the dish  But
when he saw it he could not deny himself the pleasure of tasting it 
so he cut of a little bit and put it into his mouth  No sooner had it
touched his tongue than he heard a strange whispering of little voices
outside his window  He went and listened  and then noticed that it was
the sparrows who were chattering together  and telling one another of
all kinds of things which they had seen in the fields and woods  Eating
the snake had given him power of understanding the language of animals 

Now it so happened that on this very day the queen lost her most
beautiful ring  and suspicion of having stolen it fell upon this trusty
servant  who was allowed to go everywhere  The king ordered the man to
be brought before him  and threatened with angry words that unless he
could before the morrow point out the thief  he himself should be looked
upon as guilty and executed  In vain he declared his innocence  he was
dismissed with no better answer 

In his trouble and fear he went down into the courtyard and took thought
how to help himself out of his trouble  Now some ducks were sitting
together quietly by a brook and taking their rest  and  whilst they
were making their feathers smooth with their bills  they were having a
confidential conversation together  The servant stood by and listened 
They were telling one another of all the places where they had been
waddling about all the morning  and what good food they had found  and
one said in a pitiful tone     Something lies heavy on my stomach  as
I was eating in haste I swallowed a ring which lay under the queen   s
window     The servant at once seized her by the neck  carried her to the
kitchen  and said to the cook     Here is a fine duck  pray  kill her    
   Yes     said the cook  and weighed her in his hand     she has spared
no trouble to fatten herself  and has been waiting to be roasted long
enough     So he cut off her head  and as she was being dressed for the
spit  the queen   s ring was found inside her 

The servant could now easily prove his innocence  and the king  to make
amends for the wrong  allowed him to ask a favour  and promised him
the best place in the court that he could wish for  The servant refused
everything  and only asked for a horse and some money for travelling  as
he had a mind to see the world and go about a little  When his request
was granted he set out on his way  and one day came to a pond  where he
saw three fishes caught in the reeds and gasping for water  Now  though
it is said that fishes are dumb  he heard them lamenting that they must
perish so miserably  and  as he had a kind heart  he got off his
horse and put the three prisoners back into the water  They leapt with
delight  put out their heads  and cried to him     We will remember you
and repay you for saving us    

He rode on  and after a while it seemed to him that he heard a voice in
the sand at his feet  He listened  and heard an ant king complain     Why
cannot folks  with their clumsy beasts  keep off our bodies  That stupid
horse  with his heavy hoofs  has been treading down my people without
mercy     So he turned on to a side path and the ant king cried out to
him     We will remember you  one good turn deserves another    

The path led him into a wood  and there he saw two old ravens standing
by their nest  and throwing out their young ones     Out with you  you
idle  good for nothing creatures     cried they     we cannot find food for
you any longer  you are big enough  and can provide for yourselves    
But the poor young ravens lay upon the ground  flapping their wings  and
crying     Oh  what helpless chicks we are  We must shift for ourselves 
and yet we cannot fly  What can we do  but lie here and starve     So the
good young fellow alighted and killed his horse with his sword  and gave
it to them for food  Then they came hopping up to it  satisfied their
hunger  and cried     We will remember you  one good turn deserves
another    

And now he had to use his own legs  and when he had walked a long
way  he came to a large city  There was a great noise and crowd in
the streets  and a man rode up on horseback  crying aloud     The king   s
daughter wants a husband  but whoever seeks her hand must perform a hard
task  and if he does not succeed he will forfeit his life     Many had
already made the attempt  but in vain  nevertheless when the youth
saw the king   s daughter he was so overcome by her great beauty that he
forgot all danger  went before the king  and declared himself a suitor 

So he was led out to the sea  and a gold ring was thrown into it  before
his eyes  then the king ordered him to fetch this ring up from the
bottom of the sea  and added     If you come up again without it you will
be thrown in again and again until you perish amid the waves     All the
people grieved for the handsome youth  then they went away  leaving him
alone by the sea 

He stood on the shore and considered what he should do  when suddenly
he saw three fishes come swimming towards him  and they were the very
fishes whose lives he had saved  The one in the middle held a mussel in
its mouth  which it laid on the shore at the youth   s feet  and when he
had taken it up and opened it  there lay the gold ring in the shell 
Full of joy he took it to the king and expected that he would grant him
the promised reward 

But when the proud princess perceived that he was not her equal in
birth  she scorned him  and required him first to perform another
task  She went down into the garden and strewed with her own hands ten
sacksful of millet seed on the grass  then she said     Tomorrow morning
before sunrise these must be picked up  and not a single grain be
wanting    

The youth sat down in the garden and considered how it might be possible
to perform this task  but he could think of nothing  and there he sat
sorrowfully awaiting the break of day  when he should be led to death 
But as soon as the first rays of the sun shone into the garden he saw
all the ten sacks standing side by side  quite full  and not a single
grain was missing  The ant king had come in the night with thousands
and thousands of ants  and the grateful creatures had by great industry
picked up all the millet seed and gathered them into the sacks 

Presently the king   s daughter herself came down into the garden  and was
amazed to see that the young man had done the task she had given him 
But she could not yet conquer her proud heart  and said     Although he
has performed both the tasks  he shall not be my husband until he had
brought me an apple from the Tree of Life     The youth did not know where
the Tree of Life stood  but he set out  and would have gone on for ever 
as long as his legs would carry him  though he had no hope of finding
it  After he had wandered through three kingdoms  he came one evening to
a wood  and lay down under a tree to sleep  But he heard a rustling in
the branches  and a golden apple fell into his hand  At the same time
three ravens flew down to him  perched themselves upon his knee  and
said     We are the three young ravens whom you saved from starving  when
we had grown big  and heard that you were seeking the Golden Apple 
we flew over the sea to the end of the world  where the Tree of Life
stands  and have brought you the apple     The youth  full of joy  set out
homewards  and took the Golden Apple to the king   s beautiful daughter 
who had now no more excuses left to make  They cut the Apple of Life in
two and ate it together  and then her heart became full of love for him 
and they lived in undisturbed happiness to a great age 




THE WOLF AND THE SEVEN LITTLE KIDS

There was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids  and
loved them with all the love of a mother for her children  One day she
wanted to go into the forest and fetch some food  So she called all
seven to her and said     Dear children  I have to go into the forest 
be on your guard against the wolf  if he comes in  he will devour you
all  skin  hair  and everything  The wretch often disguises himself  but
you will know him at once by his rough voice and his black feet     The
kids said     Dear mother  we will take good care of ourselves  you may go
away without any anxiety     Then the old one bleated  and went on her way
with an easy mind 

It was not long before someone knocked at the house door and called 
   Open the door  dear children  your mother is here  and has brought
something back with her for each of you     But the little kids knew that
it was the wolf  by the rough voice     We will not open the door     cried
they     you are not our mother  She has a soft  pleasant voice  but
your voice is rough  you are the wolf     Then the wolf went away to a
shopkeeper and bought himself a great lump of chalk  ate this and made
his voice soft with it  Then he came back  knocked at the door of the
house  and called     Open the door  dear children  your mother is here
and has brought something back with her for each of you     But the wolf
had laid his black paws against the window  and the children saw them
and cried     We will not open the door  our mother has not black feet
like you  you are the wolf     Then the wolf ran to a baker and said     I
have hurt my feet  rub some dough over them for me     And when the baker
had rubbed his feet over  he ran to the miller and said     Strew some
white meal over my feet for me     The miller thought to himself     The
wolf wants to deceive someone     and refused  but the wolf said     If you
will not do it  I will devour you     Then the miller was afraid  and made
his paws white for him  Truly  this is the way of mankind 

So now the wretch went for the third time to the house door  knocked at
it and said     Open the door for me  children  your dear little mother
has come home  and has brought every one of you something back from the
forest with her     The little kids cried     First show us your paws that
we may know if you are our dear little mother     Then he put his paws
in through the window and when the kids saw that they were white  they
believed that all he said was true  and opened the door  But who should
come in but the wolf  They were terrified and wanted to hide themselves 
One sprang under the table  the second into the bed  the third into the
stove  the fourth into the kitchen  the fifth into the cupboard  the
sixth under the washing bowl  and the seventh into the clock case  But
the wolf found them all  and used no great ceremony  one after the
other he swallowed them down his throat  The youngest  who was in
the clock case  was the only one he did not find  When the wolf had
satisfied his appetite he took himself off  laid himself down under a
tree in the green meadow outside  and began to sleep  Soon afterwards
the old goat came home again from the forest  Ah  what a sight she saw
there  The house door stood wide open  The table  chairs  and benches
were thrown down  the washing bowl lay broken to pieces  and the quilts
and pillows were pulled off the bed  She sought her children  but they
were nowhere to be found  She called them one after another by name  but
no one answered  At last  when she came to the youngest  a soft voice
cried     Dear mother  I am in the clock case     She took the kid out  and
it told her that the wolf had come and had eaten all the others  Then
you may imagine how she wept over her poor children 

At length in her grief she went out  and the youngest kid ran with her 
When they came to the meadow  there lay the wolf by the tree and snored
so loud that the branches shook  She looked at him on every side and
saw that something was moving and struggling in his gorged belly     Ah 
heavens     she said     is it possible that my poor children whom he has
swallowed down for his supper  can be still alive     Then the kid had to
run home and fetch scissors  and a needle and thread  and the goat cut
open the monster   s stomach  and hardly had she made one cut  than one
little kid thrust its head out  and when she had cut farther  all six
sprang out one after another  and were all still alive  and had suffered
no injury whatever  for in his greediness the monster had swallowed them
down whole  What rejoicing there was  They embraced their dear mother 
and jumped like a tailor at his wedding  The mother  however  said     Now
go and look for some big stones  and we will fill the wicked beast   s
stomach with them while he is still asleep     Then the seven kids dragged
the stones thither with all speed  and put as many of them into this
stomach as they could get in  and the mother sewed him up again in the
greatest haste  so that he was not aware of anything and never once
stirred 

When the wolf at length had had his fill of sleep  he got on his legs 
and as the stones in his stomach made him very thirsty  he wanted to
go to a well to drink  But when he began to walk and to move about  the
stones in his stomach knocked against each other and rattled  Then cried
he 

    What rumbles and tumbles
  Against my poor bones 
  I thought    twas six kids 
  But it feels like big stones    

And when he got to the well and stooped over the water to drink  the
heavy stones made him fall in  and he drowned miserably  When the seven
kids saw that  they came running to the spot and cried aloud     The wolf
is dead  The wolf is dead     and danced for joy round about the well with
their mother 




THE QUEEN BEE

Two kings    sons once upon a time went into the world to seek their
fortunes  but they soon fell into a wasteful foolish way of living  so
that they could not return home again  Then their brother  who was a
little insignificant dwarf  went out to seek for his brothers  but when
he had found them they only laughed at him  to think that he  who was so
young and simple  should try to travel through the world  when they  who
were so much wiser  had been unable to get on  However  they all set
out on their journey together  and came at last to an ant hill  The two
elder brothers would have pulled it down  in order to see how the poor
ants in their fright would run about and carry off their eggs  But the
little dwarf said     Let the poor things enjoy themselves  I will not
suffer you to trouble them    

So on they went  and came to a lake where many many ducks were swimming
about  The two brothers wanted to catch two  and roast them  But the
dwarf said     Let the poor things enjoy themselves  you shall not kill
them     Next they came to a bees    nest in a hollow tree  and there was
so much honey that it ran down the trunk  and the two brothers wanted to
light a fire under the tree and kill the bees  so as to get their honey 
But the dwarf held them back  and said     Let the pretty insects enjoy
themselves  I cannot let you burn them    

At length the three brothers came to a castle  and as they passed by the
stables they saw fine horses standing there  but all were of marble  and
no man was to be seen  Then they went through all the rooms  till they
came to a door on which were three locks  but in the middle of the door
was a wicket  so that they could look into the next room  There they saw
a little grey old man sitting at a table  and they called to him once or
twice  but he did not hear  however  they called a third time  and then
he rose and came out to them 

He said nothing  but took hold of them and led them to a beautiful
table covered with all sorts of good things  and when they had eaten and
drunk  he showed each of them to a bed chamber 

The next morning he came to the eldest and took him to a marble table 
where there were three tablets  containing an account of the means by
which the castle might be disenchanted  The first tablet said     In the
wood  under the moss  lie the thousand pearls belonging to the king   s
daughter  they must all be found  and if one be missing by set of sun 
he who seeks them will be turned into marble    

The eldest brother set out  and sought for the pearls the whole day 
but the evening came  and he had not found the first hundred  so he was
turned into stone as the tablet had foretold 

The next day the second brother undertook the task  but he succeeded no
better than the first  for he could only find the second hundred of the
pearls  and therefore he too was turned into stone 

At last came the little dwarf   s turn  and he looked in the moss  but it
was so hard to find the pearls  and the job was so tiresome   so he sat
down upon a stone and cried  And as he sat there  the king of the ants
 whose life he had saved  came to help him  with five thousand ants  and
it was not long before they had found all the pearls and laid them in a
heap 

The second tablet said     The key of the princess   s bed chamber must be
fished up out of the lake     And as the dwarf came to the brink of it 
he saw the two ducks whose lives he had saved swimming about  and they
dived down and soon brought in the key from the bottom 

The third task was the hardest  It was to choose out the youngest and
the best of the king   s three daughters  Now they were all beautiful  and
all exactly alike  but he was told that the eldest had eaten a piece of
sugar  the next some sweet syrup  and the youngest a spoonful of honey 
so he was to guess which it was that had eaten the honey 

Then came the queen of the bees  who had been saved by the little dwarf
from the fire  and she tried the lips of all three  but at last she sat
upon the lips of the one that had eaten the honey  and so the dwarf knew
which was the youngest  Thus the spell was broken  and all who had been
turned into stones awoke  and took their proper forms  And the dwarf
married the youngest and the best of the princesses  and was king after
her father   s death  but his two brothers married the other two sisters 




THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER

There was once a shoemaker  who worked very hard and was very honest 
but still he could not earn enough to live upon  and at last all he
had in the world was gone  save just leather enough to make one pair of
shoes 

Then he cut his leather out  all ready to make up the next day  meaning
to rise early in the morning to his work  His conscience was clear and
his heart light amidst all his troubles  so he went peaceably to bed 
left all his cares to Heaven  and soon fell asleep  In the morning after
he had said his prayers  he sat himself down to his work  when  to his
great wonder  there stood the shoes all ready made  upon the table  The
good man knew not what to say or think at such an odd thing happening 
He looked at the workmanship  there was not one false stitch in the
whole job  all was so neat and true  that it was quite a masterpiece 

The same day a customer came in  and the shoes suited him so well that
he willingly paid a price higher than usual for them  and the poor
shoemaker  with the money  bought leather enough to make two pairs more 
In the evening he cut out the work  and went to bed early  that he might
get up and begin betimes next day  but he was saved all the trouble  for
when he got up in the morning the work was done ready to his hand  Soon
in came buyers  who paid him handsomely for his goods  so that he bought
leather enough for four pair more  He cut out the work again overnight
and found it done in the morning  as before  and so it went on for some
time  what was got ready in the evening was always done by daybreak  and
the good man soon became thriving and well off again 

One evening  about Christmas time  as he and his wife were sitting over
the fire chatting together  he said to her     I should like to sit up and
watch tonight  that we may see who it is that comes and does my work for
me     The wife liked the thought  so they left a light burning  and hid
themselves in a corner of the room  behind a curtain that was hung up
there  and watched what would happen 

As soon as it was midnight  there came in two little naked dwarfs  and
they sat themselves upon the shoemaker   s bench  took up all the work
that was cut out  and began to ply with their little fingers  stitching
and rapping and tapping away at such a rate  that the shoemaker was all
wonder  and could not take his eyes off them  And on they went  till the
job was quite done  and the shoes stood ready for use upon the table 
This was long before daybreak  and then they bustled away as quick as
lightning 

The next day the wife said to the shoemaker     These little wights have
made us rich  and we ought to be thankful to them  and do them a good
turn if we can  I am quite sorry to see them run about as they do  and
indeed it is not very decent  for they have nothing upon their backs to
keep off the cold  I   ll tell you what  I will make each of them a shirt 
and a coat and waistcoat  and a pair of pantaloons into the bargain  and
do you make each of them a little pair of shoes    

The thought pleased the good cobbler very much  and one evening  when
all the things were ready  they laid them on the table  instead of the
work that they used to cut out  and then went and hid themselves  to
watch what the little elves would do 

About midnight in they came  dancing and skipping  hopped round the
room  and then went to sit down to their work as usual  but when they
saw the clothes lying for them  they laughed and chuckled  and seemed
mightily delighted 

Then they dressed themselves in the twinkling of an eye  and danced and
capered and sprang about  as merry as could be  till at last they danced
out at the door  and away over the green 

The good couple saw them no more  but everything went well with them
from that time forward  as long as they lived 




THE JUNIPER TREE

Long  long ago  some two thousand years or so  there lived a rich
man with a good and beautiful wife  They loved each other dearly  but
sorrowed much that they had no children  So greatly did they desire
to have one  that the wife prayed for it day and night  but still they
remained childless 

In front of the house there was a court  in which grew a juniper tree 
One winter   s day the wife stood under the tree to peel some apples  and
as she was peeling them  she cut her finger  and the blood fell on the
snow     Ah     sighed the woman heavily     if I had but a child  as red as
blood and as white as snow     and as she spoke the words  her heart grew
light within her  and it seemed to her that her wish was granted  and
she returned to the house feeling glad and comforted  A month passed 
and the snow had all disappeared  then another month went by  and all
the earth was green  So the months followed one another  and first the
trees budded in the woods  and soon the green branches grew thickly
intertwined  and then the blossoms began to fall  Once again the wife
stood under the juniper tree  and it was so full of sweet scent that her
heart leaped for joy  and she was so overcome with her happiness  that
she fell on her knees  Presently the fruit became round and firm  and
she was glad and at peace  but when they were fully ripe she picked the
berries and ate eagerly of them  and then she grew sad and ill  A little
while later she called her husband  and said to him  weeping     If I
die  bury me under the juniper tree     Then she felt comforted and happy
again  and before another month had passed she had a little child  and
when she saw that it was as white as snow and as red as blood  her joy
was so great that she died 

Her husband buried her under the juniper tree  and wept bitterly for
her  By degrees  however  his sorrow grew less  and although at times he
still grieved over his loss  he was able to go about as usual  and later
on he married again 

He now had a little daughter born to him  the child of his first wife
was a boy  who was as red as blood and as white as snow  The mother
loved her daughter very much  and when she looked at her and then looked
at the boy  it pierced her heart to think that he would always stand in
the way of her own child  and she was continually thinking how she could
get the whole of the property for her  This evil thought took possession
of her more and more  and made her behave very unkindly to the boy  She
drove him from place to place with cuffings and buffetings  so that the
poor child went about in fear  and had no peace from the time he left
school to the time he went back 

One day the little daughter came running to her mother in the
store room  and said     Mother  give me an apple        Yes  my child     said
the wife  and she gave her a beautiful apple out of the chest  the chest
had a very heavy lid and a large iron lock 

   Mother     said the little daughter again     may not brother have one
too     The mother was angry at this  but she answered     Yes  when he
comes out of school    

Just then she looked out of the window and saw him coming  and it seemed
as if an evil spirit entered into her  for she snatched the apple out
of her little daughter   s hand  and said     You shall not have one before
your brother     She threw the apple into the chest and shut it to  The
little boy now came in  and the evil spirit in the wife made her say
kindly to him     My son  will you have an apple     but she gave him a
wicked look     Mother     said the boy     how dreadful you look  Yes  give
me an apple     The thought came to her that she would kill him     Come
with me     she said  and she lifted up the lid of the chest     take one
out for yourself     And as he bent over to do so  the evil spirit urged
her  and crash  down went the lid  and off went the little boy   s head 
Then she was overwhelmed with fear at the thought of what she had done 
   If only I can prevent anyone knowing that I did it     she thought  So
she went upstairs to her room  and took a white handkerchief out of
her top drawer  then she set the boy   s head again on his shoulders  and
bound it with the handkerchief so that nothing could be seen  and placed
him on a chair by the door with an apple in his hand 

Soon after this  little Marleen came up to her mother who was stirring
a pot of boiling water over the fire  and said     Mother  brother is
sitting by the door with an apple in his hand  and he looks so pale 
and when I asked him to give me the apple  he did not answer  and that
frightened me    

   Go to him again     said her mother     and if he does not answer  give him
a box on the ear     So little Marleen went  and said     Brother  give me
that apple     but he did not say a word  then she gave him a box on the
ear  and his head rolled off  She was so terrified at this  that she ran
crying and screaming to her mother     Oh     she said     I have knocked off
brother   s head     and then she wept and wept  and nothing would stop her 

   What have you done     said her mother     but no one must know about it 
so you must keep silence  what is done can   t be undone  we will make
him into puddings     And she took the little boy and cut him up  made him
into puddings  and put him in the pot  But Marleen stood looking on 
and wept and wept  and her tears fell into the pot  so that there was no
need of salt 

Presently the father came home and sat down to his dinner  he asked 
   Where is my son     The mother said nothing  but gave him a large dish of
black pudding  and Marleen still wept without ceasing 

The father again asked     Where is my son    

   Oh     answered the wife     he is gone into the country to his mother   s
great uncle  he is going to stay there some time    

   What has he gone there for  and he never even said goodbye to me    

   Well  he likes being there  and he told me he should be away quite six
weeks  he is well looked after there    

   I feel very unhappy about it     said the husband     in case it should not
be all right  and he ought to have said goodbye to me    

With this he went on with his dinner  and said     Little Marleen  why do
you weep  Brother will soon be back     Then he asked his wife for more
pudding  and as he ate  he threw the bones under the table 

Little Marleen went upstairs and took her best silk handkerchief out of
her bottom drawer  and in it she wrapped all the bones from under the
table and carried them outside  and all the time she did nothing but
weep  Then she laid them in the green grass under the juniper tree  and
she had no sooner done so  then all her sadness seemed to leave her 
and she wept no more  And now the juniper tree began to move  and the
branches waved backwards and forwards  first away from one another  and
then together again  as it might be someone clapping their hands for
joy  After this a mist came round the tree  and in the midst of it there
was a burning as of fire  and out of the fire there flew a beautiful
bird  that rose high into the air  singing magnificently  and when it
could no more be seen  the juniper tree stood there as before  and the
silk handkerchief and the bones were gone 

Little Marleen now felt as lighthearted and happy as if her brother were
still alive  and she went back to the house and sat down cheerfully to
the table and ate 

The bird flew away and alighted on the house of a goldsmith and began to
sing 

    My mother killed her little son 
  My father grieved when I was gone 
  My sister loved me best of all 
  She laid her kerchief over me 
  And took my bones that they might lie
  Underneath the juniper tree
  Kywitt  Kywitt  what a beautiful bird am I    

The goldsmith was in his workshop making a gold chain  when he heard the
song of the bird on his roof  He thought it so beautiful that he got
up and ran out  and as he crossed the threshold he lost one of his
slippers  But he ran on into the middle of the street  with a slipper on
one foot and a sock on the other  he still had on his apron  and still
held the gold chain and the pincers in his hands  and so he stood gazing
up at the bird  while the sun came shining brightly down on the street 

   Bird     he said     how beautifully you sing  Sing me that song again    

   Nay     said the bird     I do not sing twice for nothing  Give that gold
chain  and I will sing it you again    

   Here is the chain  take it     said the goldsmith     Only sing me that
again    

The bird flew down and took the gold chain in his right claw  and then
he alighted again in front of the goldsmith and sang 

    My mother killed her little son 
  My father grieved when I was gone 
  My sister loved me best of all 
  She laid her kerchief over me 
  And took my bones that they might lie
  Underneath the juniper tree
  Kywitt  Kywitt  what a beautiful bird am I    

Then he flew away  and settled on the roof of a shoemaker   s house and
sang 

    My mother killed her little son 
  My father grieved when I was gone 
  My sister loved me best of all 
  She laid her kerchief over me 
  And took my bones that they might lie
  Underneath the juniper tree
  Kywitt  Kywitt  what a beautiful bird am I    

The shoemaker heard him  and he jumped up and ran out in his
shirt sleeves  and stood looking up at the bird on the roof with his
hand over his eyes to keep himself from being blinded by the sun 

   Bird     he said     how beautifully you sing     Then he called through the
door to his wife     Wife  come out  here is a bird  come and look at it
and hear how beautifully it sings     Then he called his daughter and the
children  then the apprentices  girls and boys  and they all ran up the
street to look at the bird  and saw how splendid it was with its red
and green feathers  and its neck like burnished gold  and eyes like two
bright stars in its head 

   Bird     said the shoemaker     sing me that song again    

   Nay     answered the bird     I do not sing twice for nothing  you must
give me something    

   Wife     said the man     go into the garret  on the upper shelf you will
see a pair of red shoes  bring them to me     The wife went in and fetched
the shoes 

   There  bird     said the shoemaker     now sing me that song again    

The bird flew down and took the red shoes in his left claw  and then he
went back to the roof and sang 

    My mother killed her little son 
  My father grieved when I was gone 
  My sister loved me best of all 
  She laid her kerchief over me 
  And took my bones that they might lie
  Underneath the juniper tree
  Kywitt  Kywitt  what a beautiful bird am I    

When he had finished  he flew away  He had the chain in his right claw
and the shoes in his left  and he flew right away to a mill  and the
mill went    Click clack  click clack  click clack     Inside the mill were
twenty of the miller   s men hewing a stone  and as they went    Hick hack 
hick hack  hick hack     the mill went    Click clack  click clack  click
clack    

The bird settled on a lime tree in front of the mill and sang 

    My mother killed her little son 

then one of the men left off 

  My father grieved when I was gone 

two more men left off and listened 

  My sister loved me best of all 

then four more left off 

  She laid her kerchief over me 
  And took my bones that they might lie

now there were only eight at work 

  Underneath

And now only five 

  the juniper tree 

And now only one 

  Kywitt  Kywitt  what a beautiful bird am I    

then he looked up and the last one had left off work 

   Bird     he said     what a beautiful song that is you sing  Let me hear it
too  sing it again    

   Nay     answered the bird     I do not sing twice for nothing  give me that
millstone  and I will sing it again    

   If it belonged to me alone     said the man     you should have it    

   Yes  yes     said the others     if he will sing again  he can have it    

The bird came down  and all the twenty millers set to and lifted up the
stone with a beam  then the bird put his head through the hole and took
the stone round his neck like a collar  and flew back with it to the
tree and sang  

    My mother killed her little son 
  My father grieved when I was gone 
  My sister loved me best of all 
  She laid her kerchief over me 
  And took my bones that they might lie
  Underneath the juniper tree
  Kywitt  Kywitt  what a beautiful bird am I    

And when he had finished his song  he spread his wings  and with the
chain in his right claw  the shoes in his left  and the millstone round
his neck  he flew right away to his father   s house 

The father  the mother  and little Marleen were having their dinner 

   How lighthearted I feel     said the father     so pleased and cheerful    

   And I     said the mother     I feel so uneasy  as if a heavy thunderstorm
were coming    

But little Marleen sat and wept and wept 

Then the bird came flying towards the house and settled on the roof 

   I do feel so happy     said the father     and how beautifully the sun
shines  I feel just as if I were going to see an old friend again    

   Ah     said the wife     and I am so full of distress and uneasiness that
my teeth chatter  and I feel as if there were a fire in my veins     and
she tore open her dress  and all the while little Marleen sat in the
corner and wept  and the plate on her knees was wet with her tears 

The bird now flew to the juniper tree and began singing 

    My mother killed her little son 

the mother shut her eyes and her ears  that she might see and hear
nothing  but there was a roaring sound in her ears like that of a
violent storm  and in her eyes a burning and flashing like lightning 

  My father grieved when I was gone 

   Look  mother     said the man     at the beautiful bird that is singing so
magnificently  and how warm and bright the sun is  and what a delicious
scent of spice in the air    

  My sister loved me best of all 

then little Marleen laid her head down on her knees and sobbed 

   I must go outside and see the bird nearer     said the man 

   Ah  do not go     cried the wife     I feel as if the whole house were in
flames    

But the man went out and looked at the bird 

 She laid her kerchief over me 
 And took my bones that they might lie
 Underneath the juniper tree
 Kywitt  Kywitt  what a beautiful bird am I    

With that the bird let fall the gold chain  and it fell just round the
man   s neck  so that it fitted him exactly 

He went inside  and said     See  what a splendid bird that is  he has
given me this beautiful gold chain  and looks so beautiful himself    

But the wife was in such fear and trouble  that she fell on the floor 
and her cap fell from her head 

Then the bird began again 

    My mother killed her little son 

   Ah me     cried the wife     if I were but a thousand feet beneath the
earth  that I might not hear that song    

  My father grieved when I was gone 

then the woman fell down again as if dead 

  My sister loved me best of all 

   Well     said little Marleen     I will go out too and see if the bird will
give me anything    

So she went out 

  She laid her kerchief over me 
  And took my bones that they might lie

and he threw down the shoes to her 

  Underneath the juniper tree
  Kywitt  Kywitt  what a beautiful bird am I    

And she now felt quite happy and lighthearted  she put on the shoes and
danced and jumped about in them     I was so miserable     she said     when I
came out  but that has all passed away  that is indeed a splendid bird 
and he has given me a pair of red shoes    

The wife sprang up  with her hair standing out from her head like flames
of fire     Then I will go out too     she said     and see if it will lighten
my misery  for I feel as if the world were coming to an end    

But as she crossed the threshold  crash  the bird threw the millstone
down on her head  and she was crushed to death 

The father and little Marleen heard the sound and ran out  but they only
saw mist and flame and fire rising from the spot  and when these had
passed  there stood the little brother  and he took the father and
little Marleen by the hand  then they all three rejoiced  and went
inside together and sat down to their dinners and ate 




THE TURNIP

There were two brothers who were both soldiers  the one was rich and
the other poor  The poor man thought he would try to better himself  so 
pulling off his red coat  he became a gardener  and dug his ground well 
and sowed turnips 

When the seed came up  there was one plant bigger than all the rest  and
it kept getting larger and larger  and seemed as if it would never cease
growing  so that it might have been called the prince of turnips for
there never was such a one seen before  and never will again  At last it
was so big that it filled a cart  and two oxen could hardly draw it  and
the gardener knew not what in the world to do with it  nor whether it
would be a blessing or a curse to him  One day he said to himself     What
shall I do with it  if I sell it  it will bring no more than another 
and for eating  the little turnips are better than this  the best thing
perhaps is to carry it and give it to the king as a mark of respect    

Then he yoked his oxen  and drew the turnip to the court  and gave it
to the king     What a wonderful thing     said the king     I have seen many
strange things  but such a monster as this I never saw  Where did you
get the seed  or is it only your good luck  If so  you are a true child
of fortune        Ah  no     answered the gardener     I am no child of fortune 
I am a poor soldier  who never could get enough to live upon  so I
laid aside my red coat  and set to work  tilling the ground  I have a
brother  who is rich  and your majesty knows him well  and all the world
knows him  but because I am poor  everybody forgets me    

The king then took pity on him  and said     You shall be poor no
longer  I will give you so much that you shall be even richer than your
brother     Then he gave him gold and lands and flocks  and made him so
rich that his brother   s fortune could not at all be compared with his 

When the brother heard of all this  and how a turnip had made the
gardener so rich  he envied him sorely  and bethought himself how he
could contrive to get the same good fortune for himself  However  he
determined to manage more cleverly than his brother  and got together a
rich present of gold and fine horses for the king  and thought he must
have a much larger gift in return  for if his brother had received so
much for only a turnip  what must his present be worth 

The king took the gift very graciously  and said he knew not what to
give in return more valuable and wonderful than the great turnip  so
the soldier was forced to put it into a cart  and drag it home with him 
When he reached home  he knew not upon whom to vent his rage and spite 
and at length wicked thoughts came into his head  and he resolved to
kill his brother 

So he hired some villains to murder him  and having shown them where to
lie in ambush  he went to his brother  and said     Dear brother  I have
found a hidden treasure  let us go and dig it up  and share it between
us     The other had no suspicions of his roguery  so they went out
together  and as they were travelling along  the murderers rushed out
upon him  bound him  and were going to hang him on a tree 

But whilst they were getting all ready  they heard the trampling of a
horse at a distance  which so frightened them that they pushed their
prisoner neck and shoulders together into a sack  and swung him up by a
cord to the tree  where they left him dangling  and ran away  Meantime
he worked and worked away  till he made a hole large enough to put out
his head 

When the horseman came up  he proved to be a student  a merry fellow 
who was journeying along on his nag  and singing as he went  As soon as
the man in the sack saw him passing under the tree  he cried out     Good
morning  good morning to thee  my friend     The student looked about
everywhere  and seeing no one  and not knowing where the voice came
from  cried out     Who calls me    

Then the man in the tree answered     Lift up thine eyes  for behold here
I sit in the sack of wisdom  here have I  in a short time  learned great
and wondrous things  Compared to this seat  all the learning of the
schools is as empty air  A little longer  and I shall know all that man
can know  and shall come forth wiser than the wisest of mankind  Here
I discern the signs and motions of the heavens and the stars  the laws
that control the winds  the number of the sands on the seashore  the
healing of the sick  the virtues of all simples  of birds  and of
precious stones  Wert thou but once here  my friend  though wouldst feel
and own the power of knowledge 

The student listened to all this and wondered much  at last he said 
   Blessed be the day and hour when I found you  cannot you contrive to
let me into the sack for a little while     Then the other answered  as if
very unwillingly     A little space I may allow thee to sit here  if thou
wilt reward me well and entreat me kindly  but thou must tarry yet an
hour below  till I have learnt some little matters that are yet unknown
to me    

So the student sat himself down and waited a while  but the time hung
heavy upon him  and he begged earnestly that he might ascend forthwith 
for his thirst for knowledge was great  Then the other pretended to give
way  and said     Thou must let the sack of wisdom descend  by untying
yonder cord  and then thou shalt enter     So the student let him down 
opened the sack  and set him free     Now then     cried he     let me ascend
quickly     As he began to put himself into the sack heels first     Wait a
while     said the gardener     that is not the way     Then he pushed him
in head first  tied up the sack  and soon swung up the searcher after
wisdom dangling in the air     How is it with thee  friend     said he 
   dost thou not feel that wisdom comes unto thee  Rest there in peace 
till thou art a wiser man than thou wert    

So saying  he trotted off on the student   s nag  and left the poor fellow
to gather wisdom till somebody should come and let him down 




CLEVER HANS

The mother of Hans said     Whither away  Hans     Hans answered     To
Gretel        Behave well  Hans        Oh  I   ll behave well  Goodbye  mother    
   Goodbye  Hans     Hans comes to Gretel     Good day  Gretel        Good day 
Hans  What do you bring that is good        I bring nothing  I want to have
something given me     Gretel presents Hans with a needle  Hans says 
   Goodbye  Gretel        Goodbye  Hans    

Hans takes the needle  sticks it into a hay cart  and follows the cart
home     Good evening  mother        Good evening  Hans  Where have you been    
   With Gretel        What did you take her        Took nothing  had something
given me        What did Gretel give you        Gave me a needle        Where is the
needle  Hans        Stuck in the hay cart        That was ill done  Hans  You
should have stuck the needle in your sleeve        Never mind  I   ll do
better next time    

   Whither away  Hans        To Gretel  mother        Behave well  Hans        Oh 
I   ll behave well  Goodbye  mother        Goodbye  Hans     Hans comes to
Gretel     Good day  Gretel        Good day  Hans  What do you bring that is
good        I bring nothing  I want to have something given to me     Gretel
presents Hans with a knife     Goodbye  Gretel        Goodbye  Hans     Hans
takes the knife  sticks it in his sleeve  and goes home     Good evening 
mother        Good evening  Hans  Where have you been        With Gretel     What
did you take her        Took her nothing  she gave me something        What did
Gretel give you        Gave me a knife        Where is the knife  Hans        Stuck
in my sleeve        That   s ill done  Hans  you should have put the knife in
your pocket        Never mind  will do better next time    

   Whither away  Hans        To Gretel  mother        Behave well  Hans        Oh 
I   ll behave well  Goodbye  mother        Goodbye  Hans     Hans comes to
Gretel     Good day  Gretel        Good day  Hans  What good thing do you
bring        I bring nothing  I want something given me     Gretel presents
Hans with a young goat     Goodbye  Gretel        Goodbye  Hans     Hans takes
the goat  ties its legs  and puts it in his pocket  When he gets home it
is suffocated     Good evening  mother        Good evening  Hans  Where have
you been        With Gretel        What did you take her        Took nothing  she
gave me something        What did Gretel give you        She gave me a goat    
   Where is the goat  Hans        Put it in my pocket        That was ill done 
Hans  you should have put a rope round the goat   s neck        Never mind 
will do better next time    

   Whither away  Hans        To Gretel  mother        Behave well  Hans        Oh 
I   ll behave well  Goodbye  mother        Goodbye  Hans     Hans comes to
Gretel     Good day  Gretel        Good day  Hans  What good thing do you
bring        I bring nothing  I want something given me     Gretel presents
Hans with a piece of bacon     Goodbye  Gretel        Goodbye  Hans    

Hans takes the bacon  ties it to a rope  and drags it away behind him 
The dogs come and devour the bacon  When he gets home  he has the rope
in his hand  and there is no longer anything hanging on to it     Good
evening  mother        Good evening  Hans  Where have you been        With
Gretel        What did you take her        I took her nothing  she gave me
something        What did Gretel give you        Gave me a bit of bacon        Where
is the bacon  Hans        I tied it to a rope  brought it home  dogs took
it        That was ill done  Hans  you should have carried the bacon on your
head        Never mind  will do better next time    

   Whither away  Hans        To Gretel  mother        Behave well  Hans        I   ll
behave well  Goodbye  mother        Goodbye  Hans     Hans comes to Gretel 
   Good day  Gretel        Good day  Hans  What good thing do you bring        I
bring nothing  but would have something given     Gretel presents Hans
with a calf     Goodbye  Gretel        Goodbye  Hans    

Hans takes the calf  puts it on his head  and the calf kicks his face 
   Good evening  mother        Good evening  Hans  Where have you been        With
Gretel        What did you take her        I took nothing  but had something
given me        What did Gretel give you        A calf        Where have you the
calf  Hans        I set it on my head and it kicked my face        That was
ill done  Hans  you should have led the calf  and put it in the stall    
   Never mind  will do better next time    

   Whither away  Hans        To Gretel  mother        Behave well  Hans        I   ll
behave well  Goodbye  mother        Goodbye  Hans    

Hans comes to Gretel     Good day  Gretel        Good day  Hans  What good
thing do you bring        I bring nothing  but would have something given    
Gretel says to Hans     I will go with you    

Hans takes Gretel  ties her to a rope  leads her to the rack  and binds
her fast  Then Hans goes to his mother     Good evening  mother        Good
evening  Hans  Where have you been        With Gretel        What did you take
her        I took her nothing        What did Gretel give you        She gave me
nothing  she came with me        Where have you left Gretel        I led her by
the rope  tied her to the rack  and scattered some grass for her        That
was ill done  Hans  you should have cast friendly eyes on her        Never
mind  will do better    

Hans went into the stable  cut out all the calves    and sheep   s eyes 
and threw them in Gretel   s face  Then Gretel became angry  tore herself
loose and ran away  and was no longer the bride of Hans 




THE THREE LANGUAGES

An aged count once lived in Switzerland  who had an only son  but he
was stupid  and could learn nothing  Then said the father     Hark you 
my son  try as I will I can get nothing into your head  You must go from
hence  I will give you into the care of a celebrated master  who shall
see what he can do with you     The youth was sent into a strange town 
and remained a whole year with the master  At the end of this time 
he came home again  and his father asked     Now  my son  what have you
learnt        Father  I have learnt what the dogs say when they bark        Lord
have mercy on us     cried the father     is that all you have learnt  I
will send you into another town  to another master     The youth was taken
thither  and stayed a year with this master likewise  When he came back
the father again asked     My son  what have you learnt     He answered 
   Father  I have learnt what the birds say     Then the father fell into a
rage and said     Oh  you lost man  you have spent the precious time and
learnt nothing  are you not ashamed to appear before my eyes  I will
send you to a third master  but if you learn nothing this time also  I
will no longer be your father     The youth remained a whole year with the
third master also  and when he came home again  and his father inquired 
   My son  what have you learnt     he answered     Dear father  I have this
year learnt what the frogs croak     Then the father fell into the most
furious anger  sprang up  called his people thither  and said     This man
is no longer my son  I drive him forth  and command you to take him
out into the forest  and kill him     They took him forth  but when they
should have killed him  they could not do it for pity  and let him go 
and they cut the eyes and tongue out of a deer that they might carry
them to the old man as a token 

The youth wandered on  and after some time came to a fortress where he
begged for a night   s lodging     Yes     said the lord of the castle     if
you will pass the night down there in the old tower  go thither  but I
warn you  it is at the peril of your life  for it is full of wild dogs 
which bark and howl without stopping  and at certain hours a man has to
be given to them  whom they at once devour     The whole district was in
sorrow and dismay because of them  and yet no one could do anything to
stop this  The youth  however  was without fear  and said     Just let me
go down to the barking dogs  and give me something that I can throw to
them  they will do nothing to harm me     As he himself would have it so 
they gave him some food for the wild animals  and led him down to the
tower  When he went inside  the dogs did not bark at him  but wagged
their tails quite amicably around him  ate what he set before them  and
did not hurt one hair of his head  Next morning  to the astonishment of
everyone  he came out again safe and unharmed  and said to the lord of
the castle     The dogs have revealed to me  in their own language  why
they dwell there  and bring evil on the land  They are bewitched  and
are obliged to watch over a great treasure which is below in the tower 
and they can have no rest until it is taken away  and I have likewise
learnt  from their discourse  how that is to be done     Then all who
heard this rejoiced  and the lord of the castle said he would adopt him
as a son if he accomplished it successfully  He went down again  and
as he knew what he had to do  he did it thoroughly  and brought a chest
full of gold out with him  The howling of the wild dogs was henceforth
heard no more  they had disappeared  and the country was freed from the
trouble 

After some time he took it in his head that he would travel to Rome  On
the way he passed by a marsh  in which a number of frogs were sitting
croaking  He listened to them  and when he became aware of what they
were saying  he grew very thoughtful and sad  At last he arrived in
Rome  where the Pope had just died  and there was great doubt among
the cardinals as to whom they should appoint as his successor  They at
length agreed that the person should be chosen as pope who should be
distinguished by some divine and miraculous token  And just as that was
decided on  the young count entered into the church  and suddenly two
snow white doves flew on his shoulders and remained sitting there  The
ecclesiastics recognized therein the token from above  and asked him on
the spot if he would be pope  He was undecided  and knew not if he were
worthy of this  but the doves counselled him to do it  and at length he
said yes  Then was he anointed and consecrated  and thus was fulfilled
what he had heard from the frogs on his way  which had so affected him 
that he was to be his Holiness the Pope  Then he had to sing a mass  and
did not know one word of it  but the two doves sat continually on his
shoulders  and said it all in his ear 




THE FOX AND THE CAT

It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest  and as she thought to
herself     He is clever and full of experience  and much esteemed in the
world     she spoke to him in a friendly way     Good day  dear Mr Fox 
how are you  How is all with you  How are you getting on in these hard
times     The fox  full of all kinds of arrogance  looked at the cat from
head to foot  and for a long time did not know whether he would give
any answer or not  At last he said     Oh  you wretched beard cleaner  you
piebald fool  you hungry mouse hunter  what can you be thinking of  Have
you the cheek to ask how I am getting on  What have you learnt  How
many arts do you understand        I understand but one     replied the
cat  modestly     What art is that     asked the fox     When the hounds are
following me  I can spring into a tree and save myself        Is that all    
said the fox     I am master of a hundred arts  and have into the bargain
a sackful of cunning  You make me sorry for you  come with me  I will
teach you how people get away from the hounds     Just then came a hunter
with four dogs  The cat sprang nimbly up a tree  and sat down at the top
of it  where the branches and foliage quite concealed her     Open your
sack  Mr Fox  open your sack     cried the cat to him  but the dogs had
already seized him  and were holding him fast     Ah  Mr Fox     cried the
cat     You with your hundred arts are left in the lurch  Had you been
able to climb like me  you would not have lost your life    




THE FOUR CLEVER BROTHERS

   Dear children     said a poor man to his four sons     I have nothing to
give you  you must go out into the wide world and try your luck  Begin
by learning some craft or another  and see how you can get on     So the
four brothers took their walking sticks in their hands  and their little
bundles on their shoulders  and after bidding their father goodbye  went
all out at the gate together  When they had got on some way they came
to four crossways  each leading to a different country  Then the eldest
said     Here we must part  but this day four years we will come back
to this spot  and in the meantime each must try what he can do for
himself    

So each brother went his way  and as the eldest was hastening on a man
met him  and asked him where he was going  and what he wanted     I am
going to try my luck in the world  and should like to begin by learning
some art or trade     answered he     Then     said the man     go with me  and
I will teach you to become the cunningest thief that ever was        No    
said the other     that is not an honest calling  and what can one look
to earn by it in the end but the gallows        Oh     said the man     you need
not fear the gallows  for I will only teach you to steal what will be
fair game  I meddle with nothing but what no one else can get or care
anything about  and where no one can find you out     So the young man
agreed to follow his trade  and he soon showed himself so clever  that
nothing could escape him that he had once set his mind upon 

The second brother also met a man  who  when he found out what he was
setting out upon  asked him what craft he meant to follow     I do not
know yet     said he     Then come with me  and be a star gazer  It is a
noble art  for nothing can be hidden from you  when once you understand
the stars     The plan pleased him much  and he soon became such a skilful
star gazer  that when he had served out his time  and wanted to leave
his master  he gave him a glass  and said     With this you can see all
that is passing in the sky and on earth  and nothing can be hidden from
you    

The third brother met a huntsman  who took him with him  and taught him
so well all that belonged to hunting  that he became very clever in the
craft of the woods  and when he left his master he gave him a bow  and
said     Whatever you shoot at with this bow you will be sure to hit    

The youngest brother likewise met a man who asked him what he wished to
do     Would not you like     said he     to be a tailor        Oh  no     said
the young man     sitting cross legged from morning to night  working
backwards and forwards with a needle and goose  will never suit me    
   Oh     answered the man     that is not my sort of tailoring  come with me 
and you will learn quite another kind of craft from that     Not knowing
what better to do  he came into the plan  and learnt tailoring from the
beginning  and when he left his master  he gave him a needle  and said 
   You can sew anything with this  be it as soft as an egg or as hard as
steel  and the joint will be so fine that no seam will be seen    

After the space of four years  at the time agreed upon  the four
brothers met at the four cross roads  and having welcomed each other 
set off towards their father   s home  where they told him all that had
happened to them  and how each had learned some craft 

Then  one day  as they were sitting before the house under a very high
tree  the father said     I should like to try what each of you can do in
this way     So he looked up  and said to the second son     At the top of
this tree there is a chaffinch   s nest  tell me how many eggs there are
in it     The star gazer took his glass  looked up  and said     Five    
   Now     said the father to the eldest son     take away the eggs without
letting the bird that is sitting upon them and hatching them know
anything of what you are doing     So the cunning thief climbed up the
tree  and brought away to his father the five eggs from under the bird 
and it never saw or felt what he was doing  but kept sitting on at its
ease  Then the father took the eggs  and put one on each corner of the
table  and the fifth in the middle  and said to the huntsman     Cut all
the eggs in two pieces at one shot     The huntsman took up his bow  and
at one shot struck all the five eggs as his father wished 

   Now comes your turn     said he to the young tailor     sew the eggs and
the young birds in them together again  so neatly that the shot shall
have done them no harm     Then the tailor took his needle  and sewed the
eggs as he was told  and when he had done  the thief was sent to take
them back to the nest  and put them under the bird without its knowing
it  Then she went on sitting  and hatched them  and in a few days they
crawled out  and had only a little red streak across their necks  where
the tailor had sewn them together 

   Well done  sons     said the old man     you have made good use of your
time  and learnt something worth the knowing  but I am sure I do not
know which ought to have the prize  Oh  that a time might soon come for
you to turn your skill to some account    

Not long after this there was a great bustle in the country  for the
king   s daughter had been carried off by a mighty dragon  and the king
mourned over his loss day and night  and made it known that whoever
brought her back to him should have her for a wife  Then the four
brothers said to each other     Here is a chance for us  let us try
what we can do     And they agreed to see whether they could not set the
princess free     I will soon find out where she is  however     said the
star gazer  as he looked through his glass  and he soon cried out     I
see her afar off  sitting upon a rock in the sea  and I can spy the
dragon close by  guarding her     Then he went to the king  and asked for
a ship for himself and his brothers  and they sailed together over the
sea  till they came to the right place  There they found the princess
sitting  as the star gazer had said  on the rock  and the dragon was
lying asleep  with his head upon her lap     I dare not shoot at him    
said the huntsman     for I should kill the beautiful young lady also    
   Then I will try my skill     said the thief  and went and stole her away
from under the dragon  so quietly and gently that the beast did not know
it  but went on snoring 

Then away they hastened with her full of joy in their boat towards the
ship  but soon came the dragon roaring behind them through the air  for
he awoke and missed the princess  But when he got over the boat  and
wanted to pounce upon them and carry off the princess  the huntsman took
up his bow and shot him straight through the heart so that he fell down
dead  They were still not safe  for he was such a great beast that in
his fall he overset the boat  and they had to swim in the open sea
upon a few planks  So the tailor took his needle  and with a few large
stitches put some of the planks together  and he sat down upon these 
and sailed about and gathered up all pieces of the boat  and then tacked
them together so quickly that the boat was soon ready  and they then
reached the ship and got home safe 

When they had brought home the princess to her father  there was great
rejoicing  and he said to the four brothers     One of you shall marry
her  but you must settle amongst yourselves which it is to be     Then
there arose a quarrel between them  and the star gazer said     If I had
not found the princess out  all your skill would have been of no use 
therefore she ought to be mine        Your seeing her would have been of
no use     said the thief     if I had not taken her away from the dragon 
therefore she ought to be mine        No  she is mine     said the huntsman 
   for if I had not killed the dragon  he would  after all  have torn you
and the princess into pieces        And if I had not sewn the boat together
again     said the tailor     you would all have been drowned  therefore she
is mine     Then the king put in a word  and said     Each of you is right 
and as all cannot have the young lady  the best way is for neither of
you to have her  for the truth is  there is somebody she likes a great
deal better  But to make up for your loss  I will give each of you  as a
reward for his skill  half a kingdom     So the brothers agreed that this
plan would be much better than either quarrelling or marrying a lady who
had no mind to have them  And the king then gave to each half a kingdom 
as he had said  and they lived very happily the rest of their days  and
took good care of their father  and somebody took better care of the
young lady  than to let either the dragon or one of the craftsmen have
her again 




LILY AND THE LION

A merchant  who had three daughters  was once setting out upon a
journey  but before he went he asked each daughter what gift he should
bring back for her  The eldest wished for pearls  the second for jewels 
but the third  who was called Lily  said     Dear father  bring me a
rose     Now it was no easy task to find a rose  for it was the middle
of winter  yet as she was his prettiest daughter  and was very fond of
flowers  her father said he would try what he could do  So he kissed all
three  and bid them goodbye 

And when the time came for him to go home  he had bought pearls and
jewels for the two eldest  but he had sought everywhere in vain for the
rose  and when he went into any garden and asked for such a thing  the
people laughed at him  and asked him whether he thought roses grew in
snow  This grieved him very much  for Lily was his dearest child  and as
he was journeying home  thinking what he should bring her  he came to a
fine castle  and around the castle was a garden  in one half of which it
seemed to be summer time and in the other half winter  On one side the
finest flowers were in full bloom  and on the other everything looked
dreary and buried in the snow     A lucky hit     said he  as he called to
his servant  and told him to go to a beautiful bed of roses that was
there  and bring him away one of the finest flowers 

This done  they were riding away well pleased  when up sprang a fierce
lion  and roared out     Whoever has stolen my roses shall be eaten up
alive     Then the man said     I knew not that the garden belonged to you 
can nothing save my life        No     said the lion     nothing  unless you
undertake to give me whatever meets you on your return home  if you
agree to this  I will give you your life  and the rose too for your
daughter     But the man was unwilling to do so and said     It may be my
youngest daughter  who loves me most  and always runs to meet me when
I go home     Then the servant was greatly frightened  and said     It may
perhaps be only a cat or a dog     And at last the man yielded with a
heavy heart  and took the rose  and said he would give the lion whatever
should meet him first on his return 

And as he came near home  it was Lily  his youngest and dearest
daughter  that met him  she came running  and kissed him  and welcomed
him home  and when she saw that he had brought her the rose  she was
still more glad  But her father began to be very sorrowful  and to weep 
saying     Alas  my dearest child  I have bought this flower at a high
price  for I have said I would give you to a wild lion  and when he has
you  he will tear you in pieces  and eat you     Then he told her all that
had happened  and said she should not go  let what would happen 

But she comforted him  and said     Dear father  the word you have given
must be kept  I will go to the lion  and soothe him  perhaps he will let
me come safe home again    

The next morning she asked the way she was to go  and took leave of her
father  and went forth with a bold heart into the wood  But the lion was
an enchanted prince  By day he and all his court were lions  but in the
evening they took their right forms again  And when Lily came to the
castle  he welcomed her so courteously that she agreed to marry him  The
wedding feast was held  and they lived happily together a long time  The
prince was only to be seen as soon as evening came  and then he held his
court  but every morning he left his bride  and went away by himself 
she knew not whither  till the night came again 

After some time he said to her     Tomorrow there will be a great feast in
your father   s house  for your eldest sister is to be married  and if
you wish to go and visit her my lions shall lead you thither     Then she
rejoiced much at the thoughts of seeing her father once more  and set
out with the lions  and everyone was overjoyed to see her  for they had
thought her dead long since  But she told them how happy she was  and
stayed till the feast was over  and then went back to the wood 

Her second sister was soon after married  and when Lily was asked to
go to the wedding  she said to the prince     I will not go alone this
time  you must go with me     But he would not  and said that it would be
a very hazardous thing  for if the least ray of the torch light should
fall upon him his enchantment would become still worse  for he should be
changed into a dove  and be forced to wander about the world for seven
long years  However  she gave him no rest  and said she would take care
no light should fall upon him  So at last they set out together  and
took with them their little child  and she chose a large hall with thick
walls for him to sit in while the wedding torches were lighted  but 
unluckily  no one saw that there was a crack in the door  Then the
wedding was held with great pomp  but as the train came from the church 
and passed with the torches before the hall  a very small ray of light
fell upon the prince  In a moment he disappeared  and when his wife came
in and looked for him  she found only a white dove  and it said to her 
   Seven years must I fly up and down over the face of the earth  but
every now and then I will let fall a white feather  that will show you
the way I am going  follow it  and at last you may overtake and set me
free    

This said  he flew out at the door  and poor Lily followed  and every
now and then a white feather fell  and showed her the way she was to
journey  Thus she went roving on through the wide world  and looked
neither to the right hand nor to the left  nor took any rest  for seven
years  Then she began to be glad  and thought to herself that the time
was fast coming when all her troubles should end  yet repose was still
far off  for one day as she was travelling on she missed the white
feather  and when she lifted up her eyes she could nowhere see the dove 
   Now     thought she to herself     no aid of man can be of use to me     So
she went to the sun and said     Thou shinest everywhere  on the hill   s
top and the valley   s depth  hast thou anywhere seen my white dove    
   No     said the sun     I have not seen it  but I will give thee a
casket  open it when thy hour of need comes    

So she thanked the sun  and went on her way till eventide  and when
the moon arose  she cried unto it  and said     Thou shinest through the
night  over field and grove  hast thou nowhere seen my white dove    
   No     said the moon     I cannot help thee but I will give thee an
egg  break it when need comes    

Then she thanked the moon  and went on till the night wind blew  and she
raised up her voice to it  and said     Thou blowest through every tree
and under every leaf  hast thou not seen my white dove        No     said the
night wind     but I will ask three other winds  perhaps they have seen
it     Then the east wind and the west wind came  and said they too had
not seen it  but the south wind said     I have seen the white dove  he
has fled to the Red Sea  and is changed once more into a lion  for the
seven years are passed away  and there he is fighting with a dragon 
and the dragon is an enchanted princess  who seeks to separate him from
you     Then the night wind said     I will give thee counsel  Go to the
Red Sea  on the right shore stand many rods  count them  and when thou
comest to the eleventh  break it off  and smite the dragon with it  and
so the lion will have the victory  and both of them will appear to you
in their own forms  Then look round and thou wilt see a griffin  winged
like bird  sitting by the Red Sea  jump on to his back with thy beloved
one as quickly as possible  and he will carry you over the waters to
your home  I will also give thee this nut     continued the night wind 
   When you are half way over  throw it down  and out of the waters will
immediately spring up a high nut tree on which the griffin will be able
to rest  otherwise he would not have the strength to bear you the whole
way  if  therefore  thou dost forget to throw down the nut  he will let
you both fall into the sea    

So our poor wanderer went forth  and found all as the night wind had
said  and she plucked the eleventh rod  and smote the dragon  and the
lion forthwith became a prince  and the dragon a princess again  But
no sooner was the princess released from the spell  than she seized
the prince by the arm and sprang on to the griffin   s back  and went off
carrying the prince away with her 

Thus the unhappy traveller was again forsaken and forlorn  but she
took heart and said     As far as the wind blows  and so long as the cock
crows  I will journey on  till I find him once again     She went on for
a long  long way  till at length she came to the castle whither the
princess had carried the prince  and there was a feast got ready  and
she heard that the wedding was about to be held     Heaven aid me now    
said she  and she took the casket that the sun had given her  and found
that within it lay a dress as dazzling as the sun itself  So she put it
on  and went into the palace  and all the people gazed upon her  and
the dress pleased the bride so much that she asked whether it was to be
sold     Not for gold and silver     said she     but for flesh and blood    
The princess asked what she meant  and she said     Let me speak with the
bridegroom this night in his chamber  and I will give thee the dress    
At last the princess agreed  but she told her chamberlain to give the
prince a sleeping draught  that he might not hear or see her  When
evening came  and the prince had fallen asleep  she was led into
his chamber  and she sat herself down at his feet  and said     I have
followed thee seven years  I have been to the sun  the moon  and the
night wind  to seek thee  and at last I have helped thee to overcome
the dragon  Wilt thou then forget me quite     But the prince all the time
slept so soundly  that her voice only passed over him  and seemed like
the whistling of the wind among the fir trees 

Then poor Lily was led away  and forced to give up the golden dress  and
when she saw that there was no help for her  she went out into a meadow 
and sat herself down and wept  But as she sat she bethought herself of
the egg that the moon had given her  and when she broke it  there ran
out a hen and twelve chickens of pure gold  that played about  and then
nestled under the old one   s wings  so as to form the most beautiful
sight in the world  And she rose up and drove them before her  till the
bride saw them from her window  and was so pleased that she came forth
and asked her if she would sell the brood     Not for gold or silver  but
for flesh and blood  let me again this evening speak with the bridegroom
in his chamber  and I will give thee the whole brood    

Then the princess thought to betray her as before  and agreed to
what she asked  but when the prince went to his chamber he asked
the chamberlain why the wind had whistled so in the night  And the
chamberlain told him all  how he had given him a sleeping draught  and
how a poor maiden had come and spoken to him in his chamber  and was
to come again that night  Then the prince took care to throw away the
sleeping draught  and when Lily came and began again to tell him what
woes had befallen her  and how faithful and true to him she had been 
he knew his beloved wife   s voice  and sprang up  and said     You have
awakened me as from a dream  for the strange princess had thrown a spell
around me  so that I had altogether forgotten you  but Heaven hath sent
you to me in a lucky hour    

And they stole away out of the palace by night unawares  and seated
themselves on the griffin  who flew back with them over the Red Sea 
When they were half way across Lily let the nut fall into the water 
and immediately a large nut tree arose from the sea  whereon the griffin
rested for a while  and then carried them safely home  There they found
their child  now grown up to be comely and fair  and after all their
troubles they lived happily together to the end of their days 




THE FOX AND THE HORSE

A farmer had a horse that had been an excellent faithful servant to
him  but he was now grown too old to work  so the farmer would give him
nothing more to eat  and said     I want you no longer  so take yourself
off out of my stable  I shall not take you back again until you are
stronger than a lion     Then he opened the door and turned him adrift 

The poor horse was very melancholy  and wandered up and down in the
wood  seeking some little shelter from the cold wind and rain  Presently
a fox met him     What   s the matter  my friend     said he     why do you hang
down your head and look so lonely and woe begone        Ah     replied the
horse     justice and avarice never dwell in one house  my master has
forgotten all that I have done for him so many years  and because I
can no longer work he has turned me adrift  and says unless I become
stronger than a lion he will not take me back again  what chance can I
have of that  he knows I have none  or he would not talk so    

However  the fox bid him be of good cheer  and said     I will help you 
lie down there  stretch yourself out quite stiff  and pretend to be
dead     The horse did as he was told  and the fox went straight to the
lion who lived in a cave close by  and said to him     A little way off
lies a dead horse  come with me and you may make an excellent meal of
his carcase     The lion was greatly pleased  and set off immediately  and
when they came to the horse  the fox said     You will not be able to eat
him comfortably here  I   ll tell you what  I will tie you fast to
his tail  and then you can draw him to your den  and eat him at your
leisure    

This advice pleased the lion  so he laid himself down quietly for the
fox to make him fast to the horse  But the fox managed to tie his legs
together and bound all so hard and fast that with all his strength he
could not set himself free  When the work was done  the fox clapped the
horse on the shoulder  and said     Jip  Dobbin  Jip     Then up he sprang 
and moved off  dragging the lion behind him  The beast began to roar
and bellow  till all the birds of the wood flew away for fright  but the
horse let him sing on  and made his way quietly over the fields to his
master   s house 

   Here he is  master     said he     I have got the better of him     and when
the farmer saw his old servant  his heart relented  and he said     Thou
shalt stay in thy stable and be well taken care of     And so the poor old
horse had plenty to eat  and lived  till he died 




THE BLUE LIGHT

There was once upon a time a soldier who for many years had served the
king faithfully  but when the war came to an end could serve no longer
because of the many wounds which he had received  The king said to him 
   You may return to your home  I need you no longer  and you will not
receive any more money  for he only receives wages who renders me
service for them     Then the soldier did not know how to earn a living 
went away greatly troubled  and walked the whole day  until in the
evening he entered a forest  When darkness came on  he saw a light 
which he went up to  and came to a house wherein lived a witch     Do give
me one night   s lodging  and a little to eat and drink     said he to
her     or I shall starve        Oho     she answered     who gives anything to a
run away soldier  Yet will I be compassionate  and take you in  if you
will do what I wish        What do you wish     said the soldier     That you
should dig all round my garden for me  tomorrow     The soldier consented 
and next day laboured with all his strength  but could not finish it by
the evening     I see well enough     said the witch     that you can do no
more today  but I will keep you yet another night  in payment for
which you must tomorrow chop me a load of wood  and chop it small     The
soldier spent the whole day in doing it  and in the evening the witch
proposed that he should stay one night more     Tomorrow  you shall only
do me a very trifling piece of work  Behind my house  there is an old
dry well  into which my light has fallen  it burns blue  and never goes
out  and you shall bring it up again     Next day the old woman took him
to the well  and let him down in a basket  He found the blue light  and
made her a signal to draw him up again  She did draw him up  but when he
came near the edge  she stretched down her hand and wanted to take the
blue light away from him     No     said he  perceiving her evil intention 
   I will not give you the light until I am standing with both feet upon
the ground     The witch fell into a passion  let him fall again into the
well  and went away 

The poor soldier fell without injury on the moist ground  and the blue
light went on burning  but of what use was that to him  He saw very well
that he could not escape death  He sat for a while very sorrowfully 
then suddenly he felt in his pocket and found his tobacco pipe  which
was still half full     This shall be my last pleasure     thought he 
pulled it out  lit it at the blue light and began to smoke  When the
smoke had circled about the cavern  suddenly a little black dwarf stood
before him  and said     Lord  what are your commands        What my commands
are     replied the soldier  quite astonished     I must do everything you
bid me     said the little man     Good     said the soldier     then in the
first place help me out of this well     The little man took him by the
hand  and led him through an underground passage  but he did not forget
to take the blue light with him  On the way the dwarf showed him the
treasures which the witch had collected and hidden there  and the
soldier took as much gold as he could carry  When he was above  he said
to the little man     Now go and bind the old witch  and carry her before
the judge     In a short time she came by like the wind  riding on a wild
tom cat and screaming frightfully  Nor was it long before the little man
reappeared     It is all done     said he     and the witch is already hanging
on the gallows  What further commands has my lord     inquired the dwarf 
   At this moment  none     answered the soldier     you can return home  only
be at hand immediately  if I summon you        Nothing more is needed than
that you should light your pipe at the blue light  and I will appear
before you at once     Thereupon he vanished from his sight 

The soldier returned to the town from which he came  He went to the
best inn  ordered himself handsome clothes  and then bade the landlord
furnish him a room as handsome as possible  When it was ready and the
soldier had taken possession of it  he summoned the little black manikin
and said     I have served the king faithfully  but he has dismissed me 
and left me to hunger  and now I want to take my revenge        What am I to
do     asked the little man     Late at night  when the king   s daughter is
in bed  bring her here in her sleep  she shall do servant   s work for
me     The manikin said     That is an easy thing for me to do  but a very
dangerous thing for you  for if it is discovered  you will fare ill    
When twelve o   clock had struck  the door sprang open  and the manikin
carried in the princess     Aha  are you there     cried the soldier     get
to your work at once  Fetch the broom and sweep the chamber     When
she had done this  he ordered her to come to his chair  and then he
stretched out his feet and said     Pull off my boots     and then he
threw them in her face  and made her pick them up again  and clean
and brighten them  She  however  did everything he bade her  without
opposition  silently and with half shut eyes  When the first cock
crowed  the manikin carried her back to the royal palace  and laid her
in her bed 

Next morning when the princess arose she went to her father  and told
him that she had had a very strange dream     I was carried through the
streets with the rapidity of lightning     said she     and taken into a
soldier   s room  and I had to wait upon him like a servant  sweep his
room  clean his boots  and do all kinds of menial work  It was only a
dream  and yet I am just as tired as if I really had done everything    
   The dream may have been true     said the king     I will give you a piece
of advice  Fill your pocket full of peas  and make a small hole in the
pocket  and then if you are carried away again  they will fall out and
leave a track in the streets     But unseen by the king  the manikin was
standing beside him when he said that  and heard all  At night when
the sleeping princess was again carried through the streets  some peas
certainly did fall out of her pocket  but they made no track  for the
crafty manikin had just before scattered peas in every street there
was  And again the princess was compelled to do servant   s work until
cock crow 

Next morning the king sent his people out to seek the track  but it was
all in vain  for in every street poor children were sitting  picking up
peas  and saying     It must have rained peas  last night        We must think
of something else     said the king     keep your shoes on when you go to
bed  and before you come back from the place where you are taken  hide
one of them there  I will soon contrive to find it     The black manikin
heard this plot  and at night when the soldier again ordered him to
bring the princess  revealed it to him  and told him that he knew of no
expedient to counteract this stratagem  and that if the shoe were found
in the soldier   s house it would go badly with him     Do what I bid you    
replied the soldier  and again this third night the princess was obliged
to work like a servant  but before she went away  she hid her shoe under
the bed 

Next morning the king had the entire town searched for his daughter   s
shoe  It was found at the soldier   s  and the soldier himself  who at the
entreaty of the dwarf had gone outside the gate  was soon brought back 
and thrown into prison  In his flight he had forgotten the most valuable
things he had  the blue light and the gold  and had only one ducat in
his pocket  And now loaded with chains  he was standing at the window of
his dungeon  when he chanced to see one of his comrades passing by  The
soldier tapped at the pane of glass  and when this man came up  said to
him     Be so kind as to fetch me the small bundle I have left lying in
the inn  and I will give you a ducat for doing it     His comrade ran
thither and brought him what he wanted  As soon as the soldier was alone
again  he lighted his pipe and summoned the black manikin     Have no
fear     said the latter to his master     Go wheresoever they take you  and
let them do what they will  only take the blue light with you     Next day
the soldier was tried  and though he had done nothing wicked  the judge
condemned him to death  When he was led forth to die  he begged a last
favour of the king     What is it     asked the king     That I may smoke one
more pipe on my way        You may smoke three     answered the king     but do
not imagine that I will spare your life     Then the soldier pulled out
his pipe and lighted it at the blue light  and as soon as a few wreaths
of smoke had ascended  the manikin was there with a small cudgel in his
hand  and said     What does my lord command        Strike down to earth that
false judge there  and his constable  and spare not the king who has
treated me so ill     Then the manikin fell on them like lightning 
darting this way and that way  and whosoever was so much as touched by
his cudgel fell to earth  and did not venture to stir again  The king
was terrified  he threw himself on the soldier   s mercy  and merely to
be allowed to live at all  gave him his kingdom for his own  and his
daughter to wife 




THE RAVEN

There was once a queen who had a little daughter  still too young to run
alone  One day the child was very troublesome  and the mother could not
quiet it  do what she would  She grew impatient  and seeing the ravens
flying round the castle  she opened the window  and said     I wish you
were a raven and would fly away  then I should have a little peace    
Scarcely were the words out of her mouth  when the child in her arms was
turned into a raven  and flew away from her through the open window  The
bird took its flight to a dark wood and remained there for a long time 
and meanwhile the parents could hear nothing of their child 

Long after this  a man was making his way through the wood when he heard
a raven calling  and he followed the sound of the voice  As he drew
near  the raven said     I am by birth a king   s daughter  but am now under
the spell of some enchantment  you can  however  set me free        What
am I to do     he asked  She replied     Go farther into the wood until you
come to a house  wherein lives an old woman  she will offer you food and
drink  but you must not take of either  if you do  you will fall into
a deep sleep  and will not be able to help me  In the garden behind the
house is a large tan heap  and on that you must stand and watch for me 
I shall drive there in my carriage at two o   clock in the afternoon for
three successive days  the first day it will be drawn by four white  the
second by four chestnut  and the last by four black horses  but if you
fail to keep awake and I find you sleeping  I shall not be set free    

The man promised to do all that she wished  but the raven said     Alas  I
know even now that you will take something from the woman and be unable
to save me     The man assured her again that he would on no account touch
a thing to eat or drink 

When he came to the house and went inside  the old woman met him  and
said     Poor man  how tired you are  Come in and rest and let me give you
something to eat and drink    

   No     answered the man     I will neither eat not drink    

But she would not leave him alone  and urged him saying     If you will
not eat anything  at least you might take a draught of wine  one drink
counts for nothing     and at last he allowed himself to be persuaded  and
drank 

As it drew towards the appointed hour  he went outside into the garden
and mounted the tan heap to await the raven  Suddenly a feeling of
fatigue came over him  and unable to resist it  he lay down for a little
while  fully determined  however  to keep awake  but in another minute
his eyes closed of their own accord  and he fell into such a deep sleep 
that all the noises in the world would not have awakened him  At two
o   clock the raven came driving along  drawn by her four white horses 
but even before she reached the spot  she said to herself  sighing     I
know he has fallen asleep     When she entered the garden  there she found
him as she had feared  lying on the tan heap  fast asleep  She got out
of her carriage and went to him  she called him and shook him  but it
was all in vain  he still continued sleeping 

The next day at noon  the old woman came to him again with food and
drink which he at first refused  At last  overcome by her persistent
entreaties that he would take something  he lifted the glass and drank
again 

Towards two o   clock he went into the garden and on to the tan heap to
watch for the raven  He had not been there long before he began to feel
so tired that his limbs seemed hardly able to support him  and he could
not stand upright any longer  so again he lay down and fell fast asleep 
As the raven drove along her four chestnut horses  she said sorrowfully
to herself     I know he has fallen asleep     She went as before to look
for him  but he slept  and it was impossible to awaken him 

The following day the old woman said to him     What is this  You are not
eating or drinking anything  do you want to kill yourself    

He answered     I may not and will not either eat or drink    

But she put down the dish of food and the glass of wine in front of him 
and when he smelt the wine  he was unable to resist the temptation  and
took a deep draught 

When the hour came round again he went as usual on to the tan heap in
the garden to await the king   s daughter  but he felt even more overcome
with weariness than on the two previous days  and throwing himself down 
he slept like a log  At two o   clock the raven could be seen approaching 
and this time her coachman and everything about her  as well as her
horses  were black 

She was sadder than ever as she drove along  and said mournfully     I
know he has fallen asleep  and will not be able to set me free     She
found him sleeping heavily  and all her efforts to awaken him were of no
avail  Then she placed beside him a loaf  and some meat  and a flask
of wine  of such a kind  that however much he took of them  they would
never grow less  After that she drew a gold ring  on which her name was
engraved  off her finger  and put it upon one of his  Finally  she laid
a letter near him  in which  after giving him particulars of the food
and drink she had left for him  she finished with the following words 
   I see that as long as you remain here you will never be able to set me
free  if  however  you still wish to do so  come to the golden castle
of Stromberg  this is well within your power to accomplish     She then
returned to her carriage and drove to the golden castle of Stromberg 

When the man awoke and found that he had been sleeping  he was grieved
at heart  and said     She has no doubt been here and driven away again 
and it is now too late for me to save her     Then his eyes fell on the
things which were lying beside him  he read the letter  and knew from it
all that had happened  He rose up without delay  eager to start on his
way and to reach the castle of Stromberg  but he had no idea in which
direction he ought to go  He travelled about a long time in search of it
and came at last to a dark forest  through which he went on walking for
fourteen days and still could not find a way out  Once more the night
came on  and worn out he lay down under a bush and fell asleep  Again
the next day he pursued his way through the forest  and that evening 
thinking to rest again  he lay down as before  but he heard such a
howling and wailing that he found it impossible to sleep  He waited till
it was darker and people had begun to light up their houses  and then
seeing a little glimmer ahead of him  he went towards it 

He found that the light came from a house which looked smaller than
it really was  from the contrast of its height with that of an immense
giant who stood in front of it  He thought to himself     If the giant
sees me going in  my life will not be worth much     However  after a
while he summoned up courage and went forward  When the giant saw him 
he called out     It is lucky for that you have come  for I have not had
anything to eat for a long time  I can have you now for my supper        I
would rather you let that alone     said the man     for I do not willingly
give myself up to be eaten  if you are wanting food I have enough to
satisfy your hunger        If that is so     replied the giant     I will leave
you in peace  I only thought of eating you because I had nothing else    

So they went indoors together and sat down  and the man brought out the
bread  meat  and wine  which although he had eaten and drunk of them 
were still unconsumed  The giant was pleased with the good cheer  and
ate and drank to his heart   s content  When he had finished his supper
the man asked him if he could direct him to the castle of Stromberg 
The giant said     I will look on my map  on it are marked all the towns 
villages  and houses     So he fetched his map  and looked for the castle 
but could not find it     Never mind     he said     I have larger maps
upstairs in the cupboard  we will look on those     but they searched in
vain  for the castle was not marked even on these  The man now thought
he should like to continue his journey  but the giant begged him to
remain for a day or two longer until the return of his brother  who was
away in search of provisions  When the brother came home  they asked him
about the castle of Stromberg  and he told them he would look on his own
maps as soon as he had eaten and appeased his hunger  Accordingly  when
he had finished his supper  they all went up together to his room and
looked through his maps  but the castle was not to be found  Then he
fetched other older maps  and they went on looking for the castle until
at last they found it  but it was many thousand miles away     How shall I
be able to get there     asked the man     I have two hours to spare     said
the giant     and I will carry you into the neighbourhood of the castle  I
must then return to look after the child who is in our care    

The giant  thereupon  carried the man to within about a hundred leagues
of the castle  where he left him  saying     You will be able to walk the
remainder of the way yourself     The man journeyed on day and night
till he reached the golden castle of Stromberg  He found it situated 
however  on a glass mountain  and looking up from the foot he saw the
enchanted maiden drive round her castle and then go inside  He was
overjoyed to see her  and longed to get to the top of the mountain  but
the sides were so slippery that every time he attempted to climb he
fell back again  When he saw that it was impossible to reach her  he was
greatly grieved  and said to himself     I will remain here and wait for
her     so he built himself a little hut  and there he sat and watched for
a whole year  and every day he saw the king   s daughter driving round her
castle  but still was unable to get nearer to her 

Looking out from his hut one day he saw three robbers fighting and he
called out to them     God be with you     They stopped when they heard the
call  but looking round and seeing nobody  they went on again with their
fighting  which now became more furious     God be with you     he cried
again  and again they paused and looked about  but seeing no one went
back to their fighting  A third time he called out     God be with you    
and then thinking he should like to know the cause of dispute between
the three men  he went out and asked them why they were fighting so
angrily with one another  One of them said that he had found a stick 
and that he had but to strike it against any door through which he
wished to pass  and it immediately flew open  Another told him that he
had found a cloak which rendered its wearer invisible  and the third had
caught a horse which would carry its rider over any obstacle  and even
up the glass mountain  They had been unable to decide whether they
would keep together and have the things in common  or whether they would
separate  On hearing this  the man said     I will give you something in
exchange for those three things  not money  for that I have not got 
but something that is of far more value  I must first  however  prove
whether all you have told me about your three things is true     The
robbers  therefore  made him get on the horse  and handed him the stick
and the cloak  and when he had put this round him he was no longer
visible  Then he fell upon them with the stick and beat them one after
another  crying     There  you idle vagabonds  you have got what you
deserve  are you satisfied now    

After this he rode up the glass mountain  When he reached the gate of
the castle  he found it closed  but he gave it a blow with his stick 
and it flew wide open at once and he passed through  He mounted the
steps and entered the room where the maiden was sitting  with a golden
goblet full of wine in front of her  She could not see him for he still
wore his cloak  He took the ring which she had given him off his finger 
and threw it into the goblet  so that it rang as it touched the bottom 
   That is my own ring     she exclaimed     and if that is so the man must
also be here who is coming to set me free    

She sought for him about the castle  but could find him nowhere 
Meanwhile he had gone outside again and mounted his horse and thrown off
the cloak  When therefore she came to the castle gate she saw him  and
cried aloud for joy  Then he dismounted and took her in his arms  and
she kissed him  and said     Now you have indeed set me free  and tomorrow
we will celebrate our marriage    




THE GOLDEN GOOSE

There was a man who had three sons  the youngest of whom was called
Dummling     and was despised  mocked  and sneered at on every occasion 

It happened that the eldest wanted to go into the forest to hew wood 
and before he went his mother gave him a beautiful sweet cake and a
bottle of wine in order that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst 

When he entered the forest he met a little grey haired old man who bade
him good day  and said     Do give me a piece of cake out of your pocket 
and let me have a draught of your wine  I am so hungry and thirsty     But
the clever son answered     If I give you my cake and wine  I shall have
none for myself  be off with you     and he left the little man standing
and went on 

But when he began to hew down a tree  it was not long before he made a
false stroke  and the axe cut him in the arm  so that he had to go home
and have it bound up  And this was the little grey man   s doing 

After this the second son went into the forest  and his mother gave him 
like the eldest  a cake and a bottle of wine  The little old grey man
met him likewise  and asked him for a piece of cake and a drink of wine 
But the second son  too  said sensibly enough     What I give you will be
taken away from myself  be off     and he left the little man standing and
went on  His punishment  however  was not delayed  when he had made a
few blows at the tree he struck himself in the leg  so that he had to be
carried home 

Then Dummling said     Father  do let me go and cut wood     The father
answered     Your brothers have hurt themselves with it  leave it alone 
you do not understand anything about it     But Dummling begged so long
that at last he said     Just go then  you will get wiser by hurting
yourself     His mother gave him a cake made with water and baked in the
cinders  and with it a bottle of sour beer 

When he came to the forest the little old grey man met him likewise 
and greeting him  said     Give me a piece of your cake and a drink out
of your bottle  I am so hungry and thirsty     Dummling answered     I have
only cinder cake and sour beer  if that pleases you  we will sit
down and eat     So they sat down  and when Dummling pulled out his
cinder cake  it was a fine sweet cake  and the sour beer had become good
wine  So they ate and drank  and after that the little man said     Since
you have a good heart  and are willing to divide what you have  I will
give you good luck  There stands an old tree  cut it down  and you will
find something at the roots     Then the little man took leave of him 

Dummling went and cut down the tree  and when it fell there was a goose
sitting in the roots with feathers of pure gold  He lifted her up  and
taking her with him  went to an inn where he thought he would stay the
night  Now the host had three daughters  who saw the goose and were
curious to know what such a wonderful bird might be  and would have
liked to have one of its golden feathers 

The eldest thought     I shall soon find an opportunity of pulling out a
feather     and as soon as Dummling had gone out she seized the goose by
the wing  but her finger and hand remained sticking fast to it 

The second came soon afterwards  thinking only of how she might get a
feather for herself  but she had scarcely touched her sister than she
was held fast 

At last the third also came with the like intent  and the others
screamed out     Keep away  for goodness    sake keep away     But she did
not understand why she was to keep away     The others are there     she
thought     I may as well be there too     and ran to them  but as soon as
she had touched her sister  she remained sticking fast to her  So they
had to spend the night with the goose 

The next morning Dummling took the goose under his arm and set out 
without troubling himself about the three girls who were hanging on to
it  They were obliged to run after him continually  now left  now right 
wherever his legs took him 

In the middle of the fields the parson met them  and when he saw the
procession he said     For shame  you good for nothing girls  why are you
running across the fields after this young man  Is that seemly     At the
same time he seized the youngest by the hand in order to pull her away 
but as soon as he touched her he likewise stuck fast  and was himself
obliged to run behind 

Before long the sexton came by and saw his master  the parson  running
behind three girls  He was astonished at this and called out     Hi 
your reverence  whither away so quickly  Do not forget that we have a
christening today     and running after him he took him by the sleeve  but
was also held fast to it 

Whilst the five were trotting thus one behind the other  two labourers
came with their hoes from the fields  the parson called out to them
and begged that they would set him and the sexton free  But they had
scarcely touched the sexton when they were held fast  and now there were
seven of them running behind Dummling and the goose 

Soon afterwards he came to a city  where a king ruled who had a daughter
who was so serious that no one could make her laugh  So he had put forth
a decree that whosoever should be able to make her laugh should marry
her  When Dummling heard this  he went with his goose and all her train
before the king   s daughter  and as soon as she saw the seven people
running on and on  one behind the other  she began to laugh quite
loudly  and as if she would never stop  Thereupon Dummling asked to have
her for his wife  but the king did not like the son in law  and made all
manner of excuses and said he must first produce a man who could drink
a cellarful of wine  Dummling thought of the little grey man  who could
certainly help him  so he went into the forest  and in the same place
where he had felled the tree  he saw a man sitting  who had a very
sorrowful face  Dummling asked him what he was taking to heart so
sorely  and he answered     I have such a great thirst and cannot quench
it  cold water I cannot stand  a barrel of wine I have just emptied  but
that to me is like a drop on a hot stone    

   There  I can help you     said Dummling     just come with me and you shall
be satisfied    

He led him into the king   s cellar  and the man bent over the huge
barrels  and drank and drank till his loins hurt  and before the day was
out he had emptied all the barrels  Then Dummling asked once more
for his bride  but the king was vexed that such an ugly fellow  whom
everyone called Dummling  should take away his daughter  and he made a
new condition  he must first find a man who could eat a whole mountain
of bread  Dummling did not think long  but went straight into the
forest  where in the same place there sat a man who was tying up his
body with a strap  and making an awful face  and saying     I have eaten a
whole ovenful of rolls  but what good is that when one has such a hunger
as I  My stomach remains empty  and I must tie myself up if I am not to
die of hunger    

At this Dummling was glad  and said     Get up and come with me  you shall
eat yourself full     He led him to the king   s palace where all the
flour in the whole Kingdom was collected  and from it he caused a huge
mountain of bread to be baked  The man from the forest stood before it 
began to eat  and by the end of one day the whole mountain had vanished 
Then Dummling for the third time asked for his bride  but the king again
sought a way out  and ordered a ship which could sail on land and on
water     As soon as you come sailing back in it     said he     you shall
have my daughter for wife    

Dummling went straight into the forest  and there sat the little grey
man to whom he had given his cake  When he heard what Dummling wanted 
he said     Since you have given me to eat and to drink  I will give you
the ship  and I do all this because you once were kind to me     Then he
gave him the ship which could sail on land and water  and when the king
saw that  he could no longer prevent him from having his daughter  The
wedding was celebrated  and after the king   s death  Dummling inherited
his kingdom and lived for a long time contentedly with his wife 

         Simpleton




THE WATER OF LIFE

Long before you or I were born  there reigned  in a country a great way
off  a king who had three sons  This king once fell very ill  so ill
that nobody thought he could live  His sons were very much grieved
at their father   s sickness  and as they were walking together very
mournfully in the garden of the palace  a little old man met them and
asked what was the matter  They told him that their father was very ill 
and that they were afraid nothing could save him     I know what would    
said the little old man     it is the Water of Life  If he could have a
draught of it he would be well again  but it is very hard to get     Then
the eldest son said     I will soon find it     and he went to the sick
king  and begged that he might go in search of the Water of Life  as
it was the only thing that could save him     No     said the king     I had
rather die than place you in such great danger as you must meet with in
your journey     But he begged so hard that the king let him go  and the
prince thought to himself     If I bring my father this water  he will
make me sole heir to his kingdom    

Then he set out  and when he had gone on his way some time he came to a
deep valley  overhung with rocks and woods  and as he looked around  he
saw standing above him on one of the rocks a little ugly dwarf  with a
sugarloaf cap and a scarlet cloak  and the dwarf called to him and said 
   Prince  whither so fast        What is that to thee  you ugly imp     said
the prince haughtily  and rode on 

But the dwarf was enraged at his behaviour  and laid a fairy spell
of ill luck upon him  so that as he rode on the mountain pass became
narrower and narrower  and at last the way was so straitened that he
could not go to step forward  and when he thought to have turned his
horse round and go back the way he came  he heard a loud laugh ringing
round him  and found that the path was closed behind him  so that he was
shut in all round  He next tried to get off his horse and make his way
on foot  but again the laugh rang in his ears  and he found himself
unable to move a step  and thus he was forced to abide spellbound 

Meantime the old king was lingering on in daily hope of his son   s
return  till at last the second son said     Father  I will go in search
of the Water of Life     For he thought to himself     My brother is surely
dead  and the kingdom will fall to me if I find the water     The king was
at first very unwilling to let him go  but at last yielded to his wish 
So he set out and followed the same road which his brother had done 
and met with the same elf  who stopped him at the same spot in the
mountains  saying  as before     Prince  prince  whither so fast        Mind
your own affairs  busybody     said the prince scornfully  and rode on 

But the dwarf put the same spell upon him as he put on his elder
brother  and he  too  was at last obliged to take up his abode in the
heart of the mountains  Thus it is with proud silly people  who think
themselves above everyone else  and are too proud to ask or take advice 

When the second prince had thus been gone a long time  the youngest son
said he would go and search for the Water of Life  and trusted he should
soon be able to make his father well again  So he set out  and the dwarf
met him too at the same spot in the valley  among the mountains  and
said     Prince  whither so fast     And the prince said     I am going in
search of the Water of Life  because my father is ill  and like to die 
can you help me  Pray be kind  and aid me if you can        Do you know
where it is to be found     asked the dwarf     No     said the prince     I do
not  Pray tell me if you know        Then as you have spoken to me kindly 
and are wise enough to seek for advice  I will tell you how and where to
go  The water you seek springs from a well in an enchanted castle  and 
that you may be able to reach it in safety  I will give you an iron wand
and two little loaves of bread  strike the iron door of the castle three
times with the wand  and it will open  two hungry lions will be lying
down inside gaping for their prey  but if you throw them the bread they
will let you pass  then hasten on to the well  and take some of the
Water of Life before the clock strikes twelve  for if you tarry longer
the door will shut upon you for ever    

Then the prince thanked his little friend with the scarlet cloak for his
friendly aid  and took the wand and the bread  and went travelling on
and on  over sea and over land  till he came to his journey   s end  and
found everything to be as the dwarf had told him  The door flew open at
the third stroke of the wand  and when the lions were quieted he went on
through the castle and came at length to a beautiful hall  Around it he
saw several knights sitting in a trance  then he pulled off their rings
and put them on his own fingers  In another room he saw on a table a
sword and a loaf of bread  which he also took  Further on he came to a
room where a beautiful young lady sat upon a couch  and she welcomed him
joyfully  and said  if he would set her free from the spell that bound
her  the kingdom should be his  if he would come back in a year and
marry her  Then she told him that the well that held the Water of Life
was in the palace gardens  and bade him make haste  and draw what he
wanted before the clock struck twelve 

He walked on  and as he walked through beautiful gardens he came to a
delightful shady spot in which stood a couch  and he thought to himself 
as he felt tired  that he would rest himself for a while  and gaze on
the lovely scenes around him  So he laid himself down  and sleep
fell upon him unawares  so that he did not wake up till the clock was
striking a quarter to twelve  Then he sprang from the couch dreadfully
frightened  ran to the well  filled a cup that was standing by him full
of water  and hastened to get away in time  Just as he was going out of
the iron door it struck twelve  and the door fell so quickly upon him
that it snapped off a piece of his heel 

When he found himself safe  he was overjoyed to think that he had got
the Water of Life  and as he was going on his way homewards  he passed
by the little dwarf  who  when he saw the sword and the loaf  said     You
have made a noble prize  with the sword you can at a blow slay whole
armies  and the bread will never fail you     Then the prince thought
to himself     I cannot go home to my father without my brothers     so he
said     My dear friend  cannot you tell me where my two brothers are  who
set out in search of the Water of Life before me  and never came back    
   I have shut them up by a charm between two mountains     said the dwarf 
   because they were proud and ill behaved  and scorned to ask advice    
The prince begged so hard for his brothers  that the dwarf at last set
them free  though unwillingly  saying     Beware of them  for they have
bad hearts     Their brother  however  was greatly rejoiced to see them 
and told them all that had happened to him  how he had found the Water
of Life  and had taken a cup full of it  and how he had set a beautiful
princess free from a spell that bound her  and how she had engaged to
wait a whole year  and then to marry him  and to give him the kingdom 

Then they all three rode on together  and on their way home came to a
country that was laid waste by war and a dreadful famine  so that it was
feared all must die for want  But the prince gave the king of the land
the bread  and all his kingdom ate of it  And he lent the king the
wonderful sword  and he slew the enemy   s army with it  and thus the
kingdom was once more in peace and plenty  In the same manner he
befriended two other countries through which they passed on their way 

When they came to the sea  they got into a ship and during their voyage
the two eldest said to themselves     Our brother has got the water which
we could not find  therefore our father will forsake us and give him the
kingdom  which is our right     so they were full of envy and revenge  and
agreed together how they could ruin him  Then they waited till he was
fast asleep  and poured the Water of Life out of the cup  and took it
for themselves  giving him bitter sea water instead 

When they came to their journey   s end  the youngest son brought his cup
to the sick king  that he might drink and be healed  Scarcely  however 
had he tasted the bitter sea water when he became worse even than he was
before  and then both the elder sons came in  and blamed the youngest
for what they had done  and said that he wanted to poison their father 
but that they had found the Water of Life  and had brought it with them 
He no sooner began to drink of what they brought him  than he felt his
sickness leave him  and was as strong and well as in his younger days 
Then they went to their brother  and laughed at him  and said     Well 
brother  you found the Water of Life  did you  You have had the trouble
and we shall have the reward  Pray  with all your cleverness  why did
not you manage to keep your eyes open  Next year one of us will take
away your beautiful princess  if you do not take care  You had better
say nothing about this to our father  for he does not believe a word you
say  and if you tell tales  you shall lose your life into the bargain 
but be quiet  and we will let you off    

The old king was still very angry with his youngest son  and thought
that he really meant to have taken away his life  so he called his court
together  and asked what should be done  and all agreed that he ought to
be put to death  The prince knew nothing of what was going on  till one
day  when the king   s chief huntsmen went a hunting with him  and they
were alone in the wood together  the huntsman looked so sorrowful that
the prince said     My friend  what is the matter with you        I cannot and
dare not tell you     said he  But the prince begged very hard  and said 
   Only tell me what it is  and do not think I shall be angry  for I will
forgive you        Alas     said the huntsman     the king has ordered me to
shoot you     The prince started at this  and said     Let me live  and I
will change dresses with you  you shall take my royal coat to show to my
father  and do you give me your shabby one        With all my heart     said
the huntsman     I am sure I shall be glad to save you  for I could not
have shot you     Then he took the prince   s coat  and gave him the shabby
one  and went away through the wood 

Some time after  three grand embassies came to the old king   s court 
with rich gifts of gold and precious stones for his youngest son  now
all these were sent from the three kings to whom he had lent his sword
and loaf of bread  in order to rid them of their enemy and feed their
people  This touched the old king   s heart  and he thought his son might
still be guiltless  and said to his court     O that my son were still
alive  how it grieves me that I had him killed        He is still alive    
said the huntsman     and I am glad that I had pity on him  but let him
go in peace  and brought home his royal coat     At this the king was
overwhelmed with joy  and made it known throughout all his kingdom  that
if his son would come back to his court he would forgive him 

Meanwhile the princess was eagerly waiting till her deliverer should
come back  and had a road made leading up to her palace all of shining
gold  and told her courtiers that whoever came on horseback  and rode
straight up to the gate upon it  was her true lover  and that they must
let him in  but whoever rode on one side of it  they must be sure was
not the right one  and that they must send him away at once 

The time soon came  when the eldest brother thought that he would make
haste to go to the princess  and say that he was the one who had set
her free  and that he should have her for his wife  and the kingdom with
her  As he came before the palace and saw the golden road  he stopped to
look at it  and he thought to himself     It is a pity to ride upon this
beautiful road     so he turned aside and rode on the right hand side of
it  But when he came to the gate  the guards  who had seen the road
he took  said to him  he could not be what he said he was  and must go
about his business 

The second prince set out soon afterwards on the same errand  and when
he came to the golden road  and his horse had set one foot upon it 
he stopped to look at it  and thought it very beautiful  and said to
himself     What a pity it is that anything should tread here     Then he
too turned aside and rode on the left side of it  But when he came to
the gate the guards said he was not the true prince  and that he too
must go away about his business  and away he went 

Now when the full year was come round  the third brother left the forest
in which he had lain hid for fear of his father   s anger  and set out in
search of his betrothed bride  So he journeyed on  thinking of her all
the way  and rode so quickly that he did not even see what the road was
made of  but went with his horse straight over it  and as he came to the
gate it flew open  and the princess welcomed him with joy  and said
he was her deliverer  and should now be her husband and lord of the
kingdom  When the first joy at their meeting was over  the princess told
him she had heard of his father having forgiven him  and of his wish to
have him home again  so  before his wedding with the princess  he went
to visit his father  taking her with him  Then he told him everything 
how his brothers had cheated and robbed him  and yet that he had borne
all those wrongs for the love of his father  And the old king was very
angry  and wanted to punish his wicked sons  but they made their escape 
and got into a ship and sailed away over the wide sea  and where they
went to nobody knew and nobody cared 

And now the old king gathered together his court  and asked all his
kingdom to come and celebrate the wedding of his son and the princess 
And young and old  noble and squire  gentle and simple  came at once
on the summons  and among the rest came the friendly dwarf  with the
sugarloaf hat  and a new scarlet cloak 

  And the wedding was held  and the merry bells run 
  And all the good people they danced and they sung 
  And feasted and frolick   d I can   t tell how long 




THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN

There was once a king   s son who had a bride whom he loved very much  And
when he was sitting beside her and very happy  news came that his father
lay sick unto death  and desired to see him once again before his end 
Then he said to his beloved     I must now go and leave you  I give you
a ring as a remembrance of me  When I am king  I will return and fetch
you     So he rode away  and when he reached his father  the latter was
dangerously ill  and near his death  He said to him     Dear son  I wished
to see you once again before my end  promise me to marry as I wish     and
he named a certain king   s daughter who was to be his wife  The son was
in such trouble that he did not think what he was doing  and said     Yes 
dear father  your will shall be done     and thereupon the king shut his
eyes  and died 

When therefore the son had been proclaimed king  and the time of
mourning was over  he was forced to keep the promise which he had given
his father  and caused the king   s daughter to be asked in marriage  and
she was promised to him  His first betrothed heard of this  and fretted
so much about his faithfulness that she nearly died  Then her father
said to her     Dearest child  why are you so sad  You shall have
whatsoever you will     She thought for a moment and said     Dear father 
I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face  figure  and size    
The father said     If it be possible  your desire shall be fulfilled    
and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom  until eleven
young maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face 
figure  and size 

When they came to the king   s daughter  she had twelve suits of
huntsmen   s clothes made  all alike  and the eleven maidens had to put
on the huntsmen   s clothes  and she herself put on the twelfth suit 
Thereupon she took her leave of her father  and rode away with them 
and rode to the court of her former betrothed  whom she loved so dearly 
Then she asked if he required any huntsmen  and if he would take all of
them into his service  The king looked at her and did not know her  but
as they were such handsome fellows  he said     Yes     and that he would
willingly take them  and now they were the king   s twelve huntsmen 

The king  however  had a lion which was a wondrous animal  for he knew
all concealed and secret things  It came to pass that one evening he
said to the king     You think you have twelve huntsmen        Yes     said the
king     they are twelve huntsmen     The lion continued     You are mistaken 
they are twelve girls     The king said     That cannot be true  How
will you prove that to me        Oh  just let some peas be strewn in the
ante chamber     answered the lion     and then you will soon see  Men have
a firm step  and when they walk over peas none of them stir  but girls
trip and skip  and drag their feet  and the peas roll about     The king
was well pleased with the counsel  and caused the peas to be strewn 

There was  however  a servant of the king   s who favoured the huntsmen 
and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went to
them and repeated everything  and said     The lion wants to make the king
believe that you are girls     Then the king   s daughter thanked him  and
said to her maidens     Show some strength  and step firmly on the peas    
So next morning when the king had the twelve huntsmen called before
him  and they came into the ante chamber where the peas were lying  they
stepped so firmly on them  and had such a strong  sure walk  that not
one of the peas either rolled or stirred  Then they went away again 
and the king said to the lion     You have lied to me  they walk just like
men     The lion said     They have been informed that they were going to
be put to the test  and have assumed some strength  Just let twelve
spinning wheels be brought into the ante chamber  and they will go to
them and be pleased with them  and that is what no man would do    
The king liked the advice  and had the spinning wheels placed in the
ante chamber 

But the servant  who was well disposed to the huntsmen  went to them 
and disclosed the project  So when they were alone the king   s daughter
said to her eleven girls     Show some constraint  and do not look round
at the spinning wheels     And next morning when the king had his twelve
huntsmen summoned  they went through the ante chamber  and never once
looked at the spinning wheels  Then the king again said to the lion 
   You have deceived me  they are men  for they have not looked at the
spinning wheels     The lion replied     They have restrained themselves    
The king  however  would no longer believe the lion 

The twelve huntsmen always followed the king to the chase  and his
liking for them continually increased  Now it came to pass that
once when they were out hunting  news came that the king   s bride was
approaching  When the true bride heard that  it hurt her so much that
her heart was almost broken  and she fell fainting to the ground  The
king thought something had happened to his dear huntsman  ran up to him 
wanted to help him  and drew his glove off  Then he saw the ring which
he had given to his first bride  and when he looked in her face he
recognized her  Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her  and
when she opened her eyes he said     You are mine  and I am yours  and
no one in the world can alter that     He sent a messenger to the other
bride  and entreated her to return to her own kingdom  for he had a wife
already  and someone who had just found an old key did not require a new
one  Thereupon the wedding was celebrated  and the lion was again taken
into favour  because  after all  he had told the truth 




THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN

There was once a merchant who had only one child  a son  that was very
young  and barely able to run alone  He had two richly laden ships then
making a voyage upon the seas  in which he had embarked all his wealth 
in the hope of making great gains  when the news came that both were
lost  Thus from being a rich man he became all at once so very poor that
nothing was left to him but one small plot of land  and there he often
went in an evening to take his walk  and ease his mind of a little of
his trouble 

One day  as he was roaming along in a brown study  thinking with no
great comfort on what he had been and what he now was  and was like
to be  all on a sudden there stood before him a little  rough looking 
black dwarf     Prithee  friend  why so sorrowful     said he to the
merchant     what is it you take so deeply to heart        If you would do me
any good I would willingly tell you     said the merchant     Who knows but
I may     said the little man     tell me what ails you  and perhaps you
will find I may be of some use     Then the merchant told him how all his
wealth was gone to the bottom of the sea  and how he had nothing left
but that little plot of land     Oh  trouble not yourself about that    
said the dwarf     only undertake to bring me here  twelve years hence 
whatever meets you first on your going home  and I will give you as much
as you please     The merchant thought this was no great thing to ask 
that it would most likely be his dog or his cat  or something of that
sort  but forgot his little boy Heinel  so he agreed to the bargain  and
signed and sealed the bond to do what was asked of him 

But as he drew near home  his little boy was so glad to see him that he
crept behind him  and laid fast hold of his legs  and looked up in
his face and laughed  Then the father started  trembling with fear and
horror  and saw what it was that he had bound himself to do  but as no
gold was come  he made himself easy by thinking that it was only a joke
that the dwarf was playing him  and that  at any rate  when the money
came  he should see the bearer  and would not take it in 

About a month afterwards he went upstairs into a lumber room to look
for some old iron  that he might sell it and raise a little money  and
there  instead of his iron  he saw a large pile of gold lying on the
floor  At the sight of this he was overjoyed  and forgetting all about
his son  went into trade again  and became a richer merchant than
before 

Meantime little Heinel grew up  and as the end of the twelve years drew
near the merchant began to call to mind his bond  and became very sad
and thoughtful  so that care and sorrow were written upon his face  The
boy one day asked what was the matter  but his father would not tell for
some time  at last  however  he said that he had  without knowing it 
sold him for gold to a little  ugly looking  black dwarf  and that the
twelve years were coming round when he must keep his word  Then Heinel
said     Father  give yourself very little trouble about that  I shall be
too much for the little man    

When the time came  the father and son went out together to the place
agreed upon  and the son drew a circle on the ground  and set himself
and his father in the middle of it  The little black dwarf soon came 
and walked round and round about the circle  but could not find any way
to get into it  and he either could not  or dared not  jump over it  At
last the boy said to him     Have you anything to say to us  my friend  or
what do you want     Now Heinel had found a friend in a good fairy  that
was fond of him  and had told him what to do  for this fairy knew what
good luck was in store for him     Have you brought me what you said you
would     said the dwarf to the merchant  The old man held his tongue  but
Heinel said again     What do you want here     The dwarf said     I come to
talk with your father  not with you        You have cheated and taken in my
father     said the son     pray give him up his bond at once        Fair and
softly     said the little old man     right is right  I have paid my money 
and your father has had it  and spent it  so be so good as to let me
have what I paid it for        You must have my consent to that first     said
Heinel     so please to step in here  and let us talk it over     The old
man grinned  and showed his teeth  as if he should have been very glad
to get into the circle if he could  Then at last  after a long talk 
they came to terms  Heinel agreed that his father must give him up  and
that so far the dwarf should have his way  but  on the other hand  the
fairy had told Heinel what fortune was in store for him  if he followed
his own course  and he did not choose to be given up to his hump backed
friend  who seemed so anxious for his company 

So  to make a sort of drawn battle of the matter  it was settled that
Heinel should be put into an open boat  that lay on the sea shore hard
by  that the father should push him off with his own hand  and that he
should thus be set adrift  and left to the bad or good luck of wind and
weather  Then he took leave of his father  and set himself in the boat 
but before it got far off a wave struck it  and it fell with one side
low in the water  so the merchant thought that poor Heinel was lost  and
went home very sorrowful  while the dwarf went his way  thinking that at
any rate he had had his revenge 

The boat  however  did not sink  for the good fairy took care of her
friend  and soon raised the boat up again  and it went safely on  The
young man sat safe within  till at length it ran ashore upon an unknown
land  As he jumped upon the shore he saw before him a beautiful castle
but empty and dreary within  for it was enchanted     Here     said he to
himself     must I find the prize the good fairy told me of     So he once
more searched the whole palace through  till at last he found a white
snake  lying coiled up on a cushion in one of the chambers 

Now the white snake was an enchanted princess  and she was very glad
to see him  and said     Are you at last come to set me free  Twelve
long years have I waited here for the fairy to bring you hither as she
promised  for you alone can save me  This night twelve men will come 
their faces will be black  and they will be dressed in chain armour 
They will ask what you do here  but give no answer  and let them do
what they will  beat  whip  pinch  prick  or torment you  bear all  only
speak not a word  and at twelve o   clock they must go away  The second
night twelve others will come  and the third night twenty four  who
will even cut off your head  but at the twelfth hour of that night their
power is gone  and I shall be free  and will come and bring you the
Water of Life  and will wash you with it  and bring you back to life
and health     And all came to pass as she had said  Heinel bore all  and
spoke not a word  and the third night the princess came  and fell on his
neck and kissed him  Joy and gladness burst forth throughout the castle 
the wedding was celebrated  and he was crowned king of the Golden
Mountain 

They lived together very happily  and the queen had a son  And thus
eight years had passed over their heads  when the king thought of his
father  and he began to long to see him once again  But the queen was
against his going  and said     I know well that misfortunes will come
upon us if you go     However  he gave her no rest till she agreed  At his
going away she gave him a wishing ring  and said     Take this ring  and
put it on your finger  whatever you wish it will bring you  only promise
never to make use of it to bring me hence to your father   s house     Then
he said he would do what she asked  and put the ring on his finger  and
wished himself near the town where his father lived 

Heinel found himself at the gates in a moment  but the guards would
not let him go in  because he was so strangely clad  So he went up to a
neighbouring hill  where a shepherd dwelt  and borrowed his old frock 
and thus passed unknown into the town  When he came to his father   s
house  he said he was his son  but the merchant would not believe him 
and said he had had but one son  his poor Heinel  who he knew was long
since dead  and as he was only dressed like a poor shepherd  he would
not even give him anything to eat  The king  however  still vowed that
he was his son  and said     Is there no mark by which you would know me
if I am really your son        Yes     said his mother     our Heinel had a mark
like a raspberry on his right arm     Then he showed them the mark  and
they knew that what he had said was true 

He next told them how he was king of the Golden Mountain  and was
married to a princess  and had a son seven years old  But the merchant
said     that can never be true  he must be a fine king truly who travels
about in a shepherd   s frock     At this the son was vexed  and forgetting
his word  turned his ring  and wished for his queen and son  In an
instant they stood before him  but the queen wept  and said he had
broken his word  and bad luck would follow  He did all he could to
soothe her  and she at last seemed to be appeased  but she was not so in
truth  and was only thinking how she should punish him 

One day he took her to walk with him out of the town  and showed her
the spot where the boat was set adrift upon the wide waters  Then he sat
himself down  and said     I am very much tired  sit by me  I will rest my
head in your lap  and sleep a while     As soon as he had fallen asleep 
however  she drew the ring from his finger  and crept softly away  and
wished herself and her son at home in their kingdom  And when he awoke
he found himself alone  and saw that the ring was gone from his finger 
   I can never go back to my father   s house     said he     they would say I
am a sorcerer  I will journey forth into the world  till I come again to
my kingdom    

So saying he set out and travelled till he came to a hill  where three
giants were sharing their father   s goods  and as they saw him pass they
cried out and said     Little men have sharp wits  he shall part the goods
between us     Now there was a sword that cut off an enemy   s head whenever
the wearer gave the words     Heads off      a cloak that made the owner
invisible  or gave him any form he pleased  and a pair of boots that
carried the wearer wherever he wished  Heinel said they must first let
him try these wonderful things  then he might know how to set a value
upon them  Then they gave him the cloak  and he wished himself a fly 
and in a moment he was a fly     The cloak is very well     said he     now
give me the sword        No     said they     not unless you undertake not to
say     Heads off     for if you do we are all dead men     So they gave it
him  charging him to try it on a tree  He next asked for the boots also 
and the moment he had all three in his power  he wished himself at
the Golden Mountain  and there he was at once  So the giants were left
behind with no goods to share or quarrel about 

As Heinel came near his castle he heard the sound of merry music  and
the people around told him that his queen was about to marry another
husband  Then he threw his cloak around him  and passed through the
castle hall  and placed himself by the side of the queen  where no one
saw him  But when anything to eat was put upon her plate  he took it
away and ate it himself  and when a glass of wine was handed to her  he
took it and drank it  and thus  though they kept on giving her meat and
drink  her plate and cup were always empty 

Upon this  fear and remorse came over her  and she went into her chamber
alone  and sat there weeping  and he followed her there     Alas     said
she to herself     was I not once set free  Why then does this enchantment
still seem to bind me    

   False and fickle one     said he     One indeed came who set thee free  and
he is now near thee again  but how have you used him  Ought he to
have had such treatment from thee     Then he went out and sent away the
company  and said the wedding was at an end  for that he was come back
to the kingdom  But the princes  peers  and great men mocked at him 
However  he would enter into no parley with them  but only asked them
if they would go in peace or not  Then they turned upon him and tried
to seize him  but he drew his sword     Heads Off     cried he  and with the
word the traitors    heads fell before him  and Heinel was once more king
of the Golden Mountain 




DOCTOR KNOWALL

There was once upon a time a poor peasant called Crabb  who drove with
two oxen a load of wood to the town  and sold it to a doctor for two
talers  When the money was being counted out to him  it so happened that
the doctor was sitting at table  and when the peasant saw how well he
ate and drank  his heart desired what he saw  and would willingly
have been a doctor too  So he remained standing a while  and at length
inquired if he too could not be a doctor     Oh  yes     said the doctor 
   that is soon managed        What must I do     asked the peasant     In the
first place buy yourself an A B C book of the kind which has a cock on
the frontispiece  in the second  turn your cart and your two oxen into
money  and get yourself some clothes  and whatsoever else pertains to
medicine  thirdly  have a sign painted for yourself with the words     I
am Doctor Knowall     and have that nailed up above your house door     The
peasant did everything that he had been told to do  When he had doctored
people awhile  but not long  a rich and great lord had some money
stolen  Then he was told about Doctor Knowall who lived in such and such
a village  and must know what had become of the money  So the lord had
the horses harnessed to his carriage  drove out to the village  and
asked Crabb if he were Doctor Knowall  Yes  he was  he said  Then he was
to go with him and bring back the stolen money     Oh  yes  but Grete  my
wife  must go too     The lord was willing  and let both of them have a
seat in the carriage  and they all drove away together  When they came
to the nobleman   s castle  the table was spread  and Crabb was told to
sit down and eat     Yes  but my wife  Grete  too     said he  and he seated
himself with her at the table  And when the first servant came with a
dish of delicate fare  the peasant nudged his wife  and said     Grete 
that was the first     meaning that was the servant who brought the first
dish  The servant  however  thought he intended by that to say     That is
the first thief     and as he actually was so  he was terrified  and said
to his comrade outside     The doctor knows all  we shall fare ill  he
said I was the first     The second did not want to go in at all  but was
forced  So when he went in with his dish  the peasant nudged his wife 
and said     Grete  that is the second     This servant was equally alarmed 
and he got out as fast as he could  The third fared no better  for the
peasant again said     Grete  that is the third     The fourth had to carry
in a dish that was covered  and the lord told the doctor that he was to
show his skill  and guess what was beneath the cover  Actually  there
were crabs  The doctor looked at the dish  had no idea what to say  and
cried     Ah  poor Crabb     When the lord heard that  he cried     There  he
knows it  he must also know who has the money    

On this the servants looked terribly uneasy  and made a sign to the
doctor that they wished him to step outside for a moment  When therefore
he went out  all four of them confessed to him that they had stolen
the money  and said that they would willingly restore it and give him a
heavy sum into the bargain  if he would not denounce them  for if he
did they would be hanged  They led him to the spot where the money was
concealed  With this the doctor was satisfied  and returned to the hall 
sat down to the table  and said     My lord  now will I search in my book
where the gold is hidden     The fifth servant  however  crept into the
stove to hear if the doctor knew still more  But the doctor sat still
and opened his A B C book  turned the pages backwards and forwards  and
looked for the cock  As he could not find it immediately he said     I
know you are there  so you had better come out     Then the fellow in the
stove thought that the doctor meant him  and full of terror  sprang out 
crying     That man knows everything     Then Doctor Knowall showed the lord
where the money was  but did not say who had stolen it  and received
from both sides much money in reward  and became a renowned man 




THE SEVEN RAVENS

There was once a man who had seven sons  and last of all one daughter 
Although the little girl was very pretty  she was so weak and small that
they thought she could not live  but they said she should at once be
christened 

So the father sent one of his sons in haste to the spring to get some
water  but the other six ran with him  Each wanted to be first at
drawing the water  and so they were in such a hurry that all let their
pitchers fall into the well  and they stood very foolishly looking at
one another  and did not know what to do  for none dared go home  In the
meantime the father was uneasy  and could not tell what made the
young men stay so long     Surely     said he     the whole seven must have
forgotten themselves over some game of play     and when he had waited
still longer and they yet did not come  he flew into a rage and wished
them all turned into ravens  Scarcely had he spoken these words when he
heard a croaking over his head  and looked up and saw seven ravens as
black as coal flying round and round  Sorry as he was to see his wish
so fulfilled  he did not know how what was done could be undone  and
comforted himself as well as he could for the loss of his seven sons
with his dear little daughter  who soon became stronger and every day
more beautiful 

For a long time she did not know that she had ever had any brothers  for
her father and mother took care not to speak of them before her  but one
day by chance she heard the people about her speak of them     Yes     said
they     she is beautiful indeed  but still    tis a pity that her brothers
should have been lost for her sake     Then she was much grieved  and went
to her father and mother  and asked if she had any brothers  and what
had become of them  So they dared no longer hide the truth from her  but
said it was the will of Heaven  and that her birth was only the innocent
cause of it  but the little girl mourned sadly about it every day  and
thought herself bound to do all she could to bring her brothers back 
and she had neither rest nor ease  till at length one day she stole
away  and set out into the wide world to find her brothers  wherever
they might be  and free them  whatever it might cost her 

She took nothing with her but a little ring which her father and mother
had given her  a loaf of bread in case she should be hungry  a little
pitcher of water in case she should be thirsty  and a little stool
to rest upon when she should be weary  Thus she went on and on  and
journeyed till she came to the world   s end  then she came to the sun 
but the sun looked much too hot and fiery  so she ran away quickly to
the moon  but the moon was cold and chilly  and said     I smell flesh
and blood this way     so she took herself away in a hurry and came to the
stars  and the stars were friendly and kind to her  and each star sat
upon his own little stool  but the morning star rose up and gave her a
little piece of wood  and said     If you have not this little piece of
wood  you cannot unlock the castle that stands on the glass mountain 
and there your brothers live     The little girl took the piece of wood 
rolled it up in a little cloth  and went on again until she came to the
glass mountain  and found the door shut  Then she felt for the little
piece of wood  but when she unwrapped the cloth it was not there  and
she saw she had lost the gift of the good stars  What was to be done 
She wanted to save her brothers  and had no key of the castle of the
glass mountain  so this faithful little sister took a knife out of her
pocket and cut off her little finger  that was just the size of the
piece of wood she had lost  and put it in the door and opened it 

As she went in  a little dwarf came up to her  and said     What are you
seeking for        I seek for my brothers  the seven ravens     answered she 
Then the dwarf said     My masters are not at home  but if you will wait
till they come  pray step in     Now the little dwarf was getting their
dinner ready  and he brought their food upon seven little plates  and
their drink in seven little glasses  and set them upon the table  and
out of each little plate their sister ate a small piece  and out of each
little glass she drank a small drop  but she let the ring that she had
brought with her fall into the last glass 

On a sudden she heard a fluttering and croaking in the air  and the
dwarf said     Here come my masters     When they came in  they wanted to
eat and drink  and looked for their little plates and glasses  Then said
one after the other 

   Who has eaten from my little plate  And who has been drinking out of my
little glass    

    Caw  Caw  well I ween
  Mortal lips have this way been    

When the seventh came to the bottom of his glass  and found there the
ring  he looked at it  and knew that it was his father   s and mother   s 
and said     O that our little sister would but come  then we should be
free     When the little girl heard this  for she stood behind the door
all the time and listened   she ran forward  and in an instant all
the ravens took their right form again  and all hugged and kissed each
other  and went merrily home 




THE WEDDING OF MRS FOX


FIRST STORY

There was once upon a time an old fox with nine tails  who believed that
his wife was not faithful to him  and wished to put her to the test  He
stretched himself out under the bench  did not move a limb  and behaved
as if he were stone dead  Mrs Fox went up to her room  shut herself in 
and her maid  Miss Cat  sat by the fire  and did the cooking  When it
became known that the old fox was dead  suitors presented themselves 
The maid heard someone standing at the house door  knocking  She went
and opened it  and it was a young fox  who said 

    What may you be about  Miss Cat 
  Do you sleep or do you wake    

She answered 

    I am not sleeping  I am waking 
  Would you know what I am making 
  I am boiling warm beer with butter 
  Will you be my guest for supper    

   No  thank you  miss     said the fox     what is Mrs Fox doing     The maid
replied 

    She is sitting in her room 
  Moaning in her gloom 
  Weeping her little eyes quite red 
  Because old Mr Fox is dead    

   Do just tell her  miss  that a young fox is here  who would like to woo
her        Certainly  young sir    

  The cat goes up the stairs trip  trap 
  The door she knocks at tap  tap  tap 
    Mistress Fox  are you inside    
    Oh  yes  my little cat     she cried 
    A wooer he stands at the door out there    
    What does he look like  my dear    

   Has he nine as beautiful tails as the late Mr Fox        Oh  no     answered
the cat     he has only one        Then I will not have him    

Miss Cat went downstairs and sent the wooer away  Soon afterwards there
was another knock  and another fox was at the door who wished to woo Mrs
Fox  He had two tails  but he did not fare better than the first  After
this still more came  each with one tail more than the other  but they
were all turned away  until at last one came who had nine tails  like
old Mr Fox  When the widow heard that  she said joyfully to the cat 

    Now open the gates and doors all wide 
  And carry old Mr Fox outside    

But just as the wedding was going to be solemnized  old Mr Fox stirred
under the bench  and cudgelled all the rabble  and drove them and Mrs
Fox out of the house 


SECOND STORY

When old Mr Fox was dead  the wolf came as a suitor  and knocked at the
door  and the cat who was servant to Mrs Fox  opened it for him  The
wolf greeted her  and said 

    Good day  Mrs Cat of Kehrewit 
  How comes it that alone you sit 
  What are you making good    

The cat replied 

    In milk I   m breaking bread so sweet 
  Will you be my guest  and eat    

   No  thank you  Mrs Cat     answered the wolf     Is Mrs Fox not at home    

The cat said 

    She sits upstairs in her room 
  Bewailing her sorrowful doom 
  Bewailing her trouble so sore 
  For old Mr Fox is no more    

The wolf answered 

    If she   s in want of a husband now 
  Then will it please her to step below    
  The cat runs quickly up the stair 
  And lets her tail fly here and there 
  Until she comes to the parlour door 
  With her five gold rings at the door she knocks 
    Are you within  good Mistress Fox 
  If you   re in want of a husband now 
  Then will it please you to step below 

Mrs Fox asked     Has the gentleman red stockings on  and has he a pointed
mouth        No     answered the cat     Then he won   t do for me    

When the wolf was gone  came a dog  a stag  a hare  a bear  a lion  and
all the beasts of the forest  one after the other  But one of the good
qualities which old Mr Fox had possessed  was always lacking  and the
cat had continually to send the suitors away  At length came a young
fox  Then Mrs Fox said     Has the gentleman red stockings on  and has a
little pointed mouth        Yes     said the cat     he has        Then let him come
upstairs     said Mrs Fox  and ordered the servant to prepare the wedding
feast 

    Sweep me the room as clean as you can 
  Up with the window  fling out my old man 
  For many a fine fat mouse he brought 
  Yet of his wife he never thought 
  But ate up every one he caught    

Then the wedding was solemnized with young Mr Fox  and there was much
rejoicing and dancing  and if they have not left off  they are dancing
still 




THE SALAD

As a merry young huntsman was once going briskly along through a wood 
there came up a little old woman  and said to him     Good day  good day 
you seem merry enough  but I am hungry and thirsty  do pray give me
something to eat     The huntsman took pity on her  and put his hand in
his pocket and gave her what he had  Then he wanted to go his way  but
she took hold of him  and said     Listen  my friend  to what I am going
to tell you  I will reward you for your kindness  go your way  and after
a little time you will come to a tree where you will see nine birds
sitting on a cloak  Shoot into the midst of them  and one will fall down
dead  the cloak will fall too  take it  it is a wishing cloak  and when
you wear it you will find yourself at any place where you may wish to
be  Cut open the dead bird  take out its heart and keep it  and you will
find a piece of gold under your pillow every morning when you rise  It
is the bird   s heart that will bring you this good luck    

The huntsman thanked her  and thought to himself     If all this does
happen  it will be a fine thing for me     When he had gone a hundred
steps or so  he heard a screaming and chirping in the branches over him 
and looked up and saw a flock of birds pulling a cloak with their bills
and feet  screaming  fighting  and tugging at each other as if
each wished to have it himself     Well     said the huntsman     this is
wonderful  this happens just as the old woman said     then he shot into
the midst of them so that their feathers flew all about  Off went the
flock chattering away  but one fell down dead  and the cloak with it 
Then the huntsman did as the old woman told him  cut open the bird  took
out the heart  and carried the cloak home with him 

The next morning when he awoke he lifted up his pillow  and there lay
the piece of gold glittering underneath  the same happened next day  and
indeed every day when he arose  He heaped up a great deal of gold  and
at last thought to himself     Of what use is this gold to me whilst I am
at home  I will go out into the world and look about me    

Then he took leave of his friends  and hung his bag and bow about his
neck  and went his way  It so happened that his road one day led through
a thick wood  at the end of which was a large castle in a green meadow 
and at one of the windows stood an old woman with a very beautiful young
lady by her side looking about them  Now the old woman was a witch  and
said to the young lady     There is a young man coming out of the wood who
carries a wonderful prize  we must get it away from him  my dear child 
for it is more fit for us than for him  He has a bird   s heart that
brings a piece of gold under his pillow every morning     Meantime the
huntsman came nearer and looked at the lady  and said to himself     I
have been travelling so long that I should like to go into this castle
and rest myself  for I have money enough to pay for anything I want    
but the real reason was  that he wanted to see more of the beautiful
lady  Then he went into the house  and was welcomed kindly  and it was
not long before he was so much in love that he thought of nothing else
but looking at the lady   s eyes  and doing everything that she wished 
Then the old woman said     Now is the time for getting the bird   s heart    
So the lady stole it away  and he never found any more gold under his
pillow  for it lay now under the young lady   s  and the old woman took it
away every morning  but he was so much in love that he never missed his
prize 

   Well     said the old witch     we have got the bird   s heart  but not the
wishing cloak yet  and that we must also get        Let us leave him that    
said the young lady     he has already lost his wealth     Then the witch
was very angry  and said     Such a cloak is a very rare and wonderful
thing  and I must and will have it     So she did as the old woman told
her  and set herself at the window  and looked about the country and
seemed very sorrowful  then the huntsman said     What makes you so sad    
   Alas  dear sir     said she     yonder lies the granite rock where all the
costly diamonds grow  and I want so much to go there  that whenever I
think of it I cannot help being sorrowful  for who can reach it  only
the birds and the flies  man cannot        If that   s all your grief     said
the huntsman     I   ll take you there with all my heart     so he drew her under
his cloak  and the moment he wished to be on the granite mountain they
were both there  The diamonds glittered so on all sides that they were
delighted with the sight and picked up the finest  But the old witch
made a deep sleep come upon him  and he said to the young lady     Let us
sit down and rest ourselves a little  I am so tired that I cannot stand
any longer     So they sat down  and he laid his head in her lap and
fell asleep  and whilst he was sleeping on she took the cloak from
his shoulders  hung it on her own  picked up the diamonds  and wished
herself home again 

When he awoke and found that his lady had tricked him  and left him
alone on the wild rock  he said     Alas  what roguery there is in the
world     and there he sat in great grief and fear  not knowing what to
do  Now this rock belonged to fierce giants who lived upon it  and as
he saw three of them striding about  he thought to himself     I can only
save myself by feigning to be asleep     so he laid himself down as if he
were in a sound sleep  When the giants came up to him  the first pushed
him with his foot  and said     What worm is this that lies here curled
up        Tread upon him and kill him     said the second     It   s not worth the
trouble     said the third     let him live  he   ll go climbing higher up the
mountain  and some cloud will come rolling and carry him away     And they
passed on  But the huntsman had heard all they said  and as soon as they
were gone  he climbed to the top of the mountain  and when he had sat
there a short time a cloud came rolling around him  and caught him in a
whirlwind and bore him along for some time  till it settled in a garden 
and he fell quite gently to the ground amongst the greens and cabbages 

Then he looked around him  and said     I wish I had something to eat  if
not I shall be worse off than before  for here I see neither apples
nor pears  nor any kind of fruits  nothing but vegetables     At last he
thought to himself     I can eat salad  it will refresh and strengthen
me     So he picked out a fine head and ate of it  but scarcely had he
swallowed two bites when he felt himself quite changed  and saw with
horror that he was turned into an ass  However  he still felt very
hungry  and the salad tasted very nice  so he ate on till he came
to another kind of salad  and scarcely had he tasted it when he felt
another change come over him  and soon saw that he was lucky enough to
have found his old shape again 

Then he laid himself down and slept off a little of his weariness  and
when he awoke the next morning he broke off a head both of the good and
the bad salad  and thought to himself     This will help me to my fortune
again  and enable me to pay off some folks for their treachery     So he
went away to try and find the castle of his friends  and after wandering
about a few days he luckily found it  Then he stained his face all over
brown  so that even his mother would not have known him  and went into
the castle and asked for a lodging     I am so tired     said he     that I
can go no farther        Countryman     said the witch     who are you  and what
is your business        I am     said he     a messenger sent by the king to
find the finest salad that grows under the sun  I have been lucky
enough to find it  and have brought it with me  but the heat of the sun
scorches so that it begins to wither  and I don   t know that I can carry
it farther    

When the witch and the young lady heard of his beautiful salad  they
longed to taste it  and said     Dear countryman  let us just taste it    
   To be sure     answered he     I have two heads of it with me  and will
give you one     so he opened his bag and gave them the bad  Then the
witch herself took it into the kitchen to be dressed  and when it was
ready she could not wait till it was carried up  but took a few leaves
immediately and put them in her mouth  and scarcely were they swallowed
when she lost her own form and ran braying down into the court in the
form of an ass  Now the servant maid came into the kitchen  and seeing
the salad ready  was going to carry it up  but on the way she too felt a
wish to taste it as the old woman had done  and ate some leaves  so she
also was turned into an ass and ran after the other  letting the dish
with the salad fall on the ground  The messenger sat all this time with
the beautiful young lady  and as nobody came with the salad and she
longed to taste it  she said     I don   t know where the salad can be    
Then he thought something must have happened  and said     I will go
into the kitchen and see     And as he went he saw two asses in the court
running about  and the salad lying on the ground     All right     said
he     those two have had their share     Then he took up the rest of
the leaves  laid them on the dish and brought them to the young lady 
saying     I bring you the dish myself that you may not wait any longer    
So she ate of it  and like the others ran off into the court braying
away 

Then the huntsman washed his face and went into the court that they
might know him     Now you shall be paid for your roguery     said he  and
tied them all three to a rope and took them along with him till he
came to a mill and knocked at the window     What   s the matter     said the
miller     I have three tiresome beasts here     said the other     if you
will take them  give them food and room  and treat them as I tell you 
I will pay you whatever you ask        With all my heart     said the miller 
   but how shall I treat them     Then the huntsman said     Give the old
one stripes three times a day and hay once  give the next  who was
the servant maid  stripes once a day and hay three times  and give
the youngest  who was the beautiful lady  hay three times a day and
no stripes     for he could not find it in his heart to have her beaten 
After this he went back to the castle  where he found everything he
wanted 

Some days after  the miller came to him and told him that the old ass
was dead     The other two     said he     are alive and eat  but are so
sorrowful that they cannot last long     Then the huntsman pitied them 
and told the miller to drive them back to him  and when they came  he
gave them some of the good salad to eat  And the beautiful young lady
fell upon her knees before him  and said     O dearest huntsman  forgive
me all the ill I have done you  my mother forced me to it  it was
against my will  for I always loved you very much  Your wishing cloak
hangs up in the closet  and as for the bird   s heart  I will give it you
too     But he said     Keep it  it will be just the same thing  for I mean
to make you my wife     So they were married  and lived together very
happily till they died 




THE STORY OF THE YOUTH WHO WENT FORTH TO LEARN WHAT FEAR WAS

A certain father had two sons  the elder of who was smart and sensible 
and could do everything  but the younger was stupid and could neither
learn nor understand anything  and when people saw him they said 
   There   s a fellow who will give his father some trouble     When anything
had to be done  it was always the elder who was forced to do it  but
if his father bade him fetch anything when it was late  or in the
night time  and the way led through the churchyard  or any other dismal
place  he answered     Oh  no father  I   ll not go there  it makes me
shudder     for he was afraid  Or when stories were told by the fire at
night which made the flesh creep  the listeners sometimes said     Oh 
it makes us shudder     The younger sat in a corner and listened with
the rest of them  and could not imagine what they could mean     They are
always saying     It makes me shudder  it makes me shudder     It does not
make me shudder     thought he     That  too  must be an art of which I
understand nothing    

Now it came to pass that his father said to him one day     Hearken to me 
you fellow in the corner there  you are growing tall and strong  and you
too must learn something by which you can earn your bread  Look how your
brother works  but you do not even earn your salt        Well  father     he
replied     I am quite willing to learn something  indeed  if it could but
be managed  I should like to learn how to shudder  I don   t understand
that at all yet     The elder brother smiled when he heard that  and
thought to himself     Goodness  what a blockhead that brother of mine is 
He will never be good for anything as long as he lives  He who wants to
be a sickle must bend himself betimes    

The father sighed  and answered him     You shall soon learn what it is to
shudder  but you will not earn your bread by that    

Soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit  and the father
bewailed his trouble  and told him how his younger son was so backward
in every respect that he knew nothing and learnt nothing     Just think    
said he     when I asked him how he was going to earn his bread  he
actually wanted to learn to shudder        If that be all     replied the
sexton     he can learn that with me  Send him to me  and I will soon
polish him     The father was glad to do it  for he thought     It will
train the boy a little     The sexton therefore took him into his house 
and he had to ring the church bell  After a day or two  the sexton awoke
him at midnight  and bade him arise and go up into the church tower and
ring the bell     You shall soon learn what shuddering is     thought he 
and secretly went there before him  and when the boy was at the top of
the tower and turned round  and was just going to take hold of the bell
rope  he saw a white figure standing on the stairs opposite the sounding
hole     Who is there     cried he  but the figure made no reply  and did
not move or stir     Give an answer     cried the boy     or take yourself
off  you have no business here at night    

The sexton  however  remained standing motionless that the boy might
think he was a ghost  The boy cried a second time     What do you want
here   speak if you are an honest fellow  or I will throw you down the
steps     The sexton thought     He can   t mean to be as bad as his words    
uttered no sound and stood as if he were made of stone  Then the boy
called to him for the third time  and as that was also to no purpose 
he ran against him and pushed the ghost down the stairs  so that it fell
down the ten steps and remained lying there in a corner  Thereupon he
rang the bell  went home  and without saying a word went to bed  and
fell asleep  The sexton   s wife waited a long time for her husband  but
he did not come back  At length she became uneasy  and wakened the boy 
and asked     Do you know where my husband is  He climbed up the tower
before you did        No  I don   t know     replied the boy     but someone was
standing by the sounding hole on the other side of the steps  and as he
would neither gave an answer nor go away  I took him for a scoundrel 
and threw him downstairs  Just go there and you will see if it was he 
I should be sorry if it were     The woman ran away and found her husband 
who was lying moaning in the corner  and had broken his leg 

She carried him down  and then with loud screams she hastened to the
boy   s father     Your boy     cried she     has been the cause of a great
misfortune  He has thrown my husband down the steps so that he broke his
leg  Take the good for nothing fellow out of our house     The father was
terrified  and ran thither and scolded the boy     What wicked tricks
are these     said he     The devil must have put them into your head    
   Father     he replied     do listen to me  I am quite innocent  He was
standing there by night like one intent on doing evil  I did not know
who it was  and I entreated him three times either to speak or to go
away        Ah     said the father     I have nothing but unhappiness with you 
Go out of my sight  I will see you no more    

   Yes  father  right willingly  wait only until it is day  Then will I
go forth and learn how to shudder  and then I shall  at any rate 
understand one art which will support me        Learn what you will     spoke
the father     it is all the same to me  Here are fifty talers for you 
Take these and go into the wide world  and tell no one from whence you
come  and who is your father  for I have reason to be ashamed of you    
   Yes  father  it shall be as you will  If you desire nothing more than
that  I can easily keep it in mind    

When the day dawned  therefore  the boy put his fifty talers into his
pocket  and went forth on the great highway  and continually said to
himself     If I could but shudder  If I could but shudder     Then a man
approached who heard this conversation which the youth was holding with
himself  and when they had walked a little farther to where they could
see the gallows  the man said to him     Look  there is the tree where
seven men have married the ropemaker   s daughter  and are now learning
how to fly  Sit down beneath it  and wait till night comes  and you will
soon learn how to shudder        If that is all that is wanted     answered
the youth     it is easily done  but if I learn how to shudder as fast as
that  you shall have my fifty talers  Just come back to me early in the
morning     Then the youth went to the gallows  sat down beneath it  and
waited till evening came  And as he was cold  he lighted himself a fire 
but at midnight the wind blew so sharply that in spite of his fire  he
could not get warm  And as the wind knocked the hanged men against each
other  and they moved backwards and forwards  he thought to himself 
   If you shiver below by the fire  how those up above must freeze and
suffer     And as he felt pity for them  he raised the ladder  and climbed
up  unbound one of them after the other  and brought down all seven 
Then he stoked the fire  blew it  and set them all round it to warm
themselves  But they sat there and did not stir  and the fire caught
their clothes  So he said     Take care  or I will hang you up again     The
dead men  however  did not hear  but were quite silent  and let their
rags go on burning  At this he grew angry  and said     If you will not
take care  I cannot help you  I will not be burnt with you     and he hung
them up again each in his turn  Then he sat down by his fire and fell
asleep  and the next morning the man came to him and wanted to have
the fifty talers  and said     Well do you know how to shudder        No    
answered he     how should I know  Those fellows up there did not open
their mouths  and were so stupid that they let the few old rags which
they had on their bodies get burnt     Then the man saw that he would not
get the fifty talers that day  and went away saying     Such a youth has
never come my way before    

The youth likewise went his way  and once more began to mutter to
himself     Ah  if I could but shudder  Ah  if I could but shudder     A
waggoner who was striding behind him heard this and asked     Who are
you        I don   t know     answered the youth  Then the waggoner asked     From
whence do you come        I know not        Who is your father        That I may
not tell you        What is it that you are always muttering between your
teeth        Ah     replied the youth     I do so wish I could shudder  but
no one can teach me how        Enough of your foolish chatter     said the
waggoner     Come  go with me  I will see about a place for you     The
youth went with the waggoner  and in the evening they arrived at an inn
where they wished to pass the night  Then at the entrance of the parlour
the youth again said quite loudly     If I could but shudder  If I could
but shudder     The host who heard this  laughed and said     If that is
your desire  there ought to be a good opportunity for you here        Ah 
be silent     said the hostess     so many prying persons have already lost
their lives  it would be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes as
these should never see the daylight again    

But the youth said     However difficult it may be  I will learn it  For
this purpose indeed have I journeyed forth     He let the host have
no rest  until the latter told him  that not far from thence stood a
haunted castle where anyone could very easily learn what shuddering was 
if he would but watch in it for three nights  The king had promised that
he who would venture should have his daughter to wife  and she was the
most beautiful maiden the sun shone on  Likewise in the castle lay great
treasures  which were guarded by evil spirits  and these treasures would
then be freed  and would make a poor man rich enough  Already many men
had gone into the castle  but as yet none had come out again  Then the
youth went next morning to the king  and said     If it be allowed  I will
willingly watch three nights in the haunted castle    

The king looked at him  and as the youth pleased him  he said     You may
ask for three things to take into the castle with you  but they must
be things without life     Then he answered     Then I ask for a fire  a
turning lathe  and a cutting board with the knife    

The king had these things carried into the castle for him during the
day  When night was drawing near  the youth went up and made himself
a bright fire in one of the rooms  placed the cutting board and knife
beside it  and seated himself by the turning lathe     Ah  if I could
but shudder     said he     but I shall not learn it here either     Towards
midnight he was about to poke his fire  and as he was blowing it 
something cried suddenly from one corner     Au  miau  how cold we are    
   You fools     cried he     what are you crying about  If you are cold  come
and take a seat by the fire and warm yourselves     And when he had said
that  two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat down
on each side of him  and looked savagely at him with their fiery
eyes  After a short time  when they had warmed themselves  they said 
   Comrade  shall we have a game of cards        Why not     he replied     but
just show me your paws     Then they stretched out their claws     Oh     said
he     what long nails you have  Wait  I must first cut them for you    
Thereupon he seized them by the throats  put them on the cutting board
and screwed their feet fast     I have looked at your fingers     said he 
   and my fancy for card playing has gone     and he struck them dead and
threw them out into the water  But when he had made away with these two 
and was about to sit down again by his fire  out from every hole and
corner came black cats and black dogs with red hot chains  and more
and more of them came until he could no longer move  and they yelled
horribly  and got on his fire  pulled it to pieces  and tried to put
it out  He watched them for a while quietly  but at last when they were
going too far  he seized his cutting knife  and cried     Away with you 
vermin     and began to cut them down  Some of them ran away  the others
he killed  and threw out into the fish pond  When he came back he fanned
the embers of his fire again and warmed himself  And as he thus sat  his
eyes would keep open no longer  and he felt a desire to sleep  Then he
looked round and saw a great bed in the corner     That is the very thing
for me     said he  and got into it  When he was just going to shut his
eyes  however  the bed began to move of its own accord  and went over
the whole of the castle     That   s right     said he     but go faster     Then
the bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it  up and down 
over thresholds and stairs  but suddenly hop  hop  it turned over upside
down  and lay on him like a mountain  But he threw quilts and pillows up
in the air  got out and said     Now anyone who likes  may drive     and
lay down by his fire  and slept till it was day  In the morning the king
came  and when he saw him lying there on the ground  he thought the evil
spirits had killed him and he was dead  Then said he     After all it is a
pity   for so handsome a man     The youth heard it  got up  and said     It
has not come to that yet     Then the king was astonished  but very glad 
and asked how he had fared     Very well indeed     answered he     one
night is past  the two others will pass likewise     Then he went to the
innkeeper  who opened his eyes very wide  and said     I never expected to
see you alive again  Have you learnt how to shudder yet        No     said he 
   it is all in vain  If someone would but tell me    

The second night he again went up into the old castle  sat down by the
fire  and once more began his old song     If I could but shudder     When
midnight came  an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard  at
first it was low  but it grew louder and louder  Then it was quiet for
a while  and at length with a loud scream  half a man came down the
chimney and fell before him     Hullo     cried he     another half belongs
to this  This is not enough     Then the uproar began again  there was a
roaring and howling  and the other half fell down likewise     Wait     said
he     I will just stoke up the fire a little for you     When he had done
that and looked round again  the two pieces were joined together  and a
hideous man was sitting in his place     That is no part of our bargain    
said the youth     the bench is mine     The man wanted to push him away 
the youth  however  would not allow that  but thrust him off with all
his strength  and seated himself again in his own place  Then still more
men fell down  one after the other  they brought nine dead men   s legs
and two skulls  and set them up and played at nine pins with them  The
youth also wanted to play and said     Listen you  can I join you        Yes 
if you have any money        Money enough     replied he     but your balls are
not quite round     Then he took the skulls and put them in the lathe and
turned them till they were round     There  now they will roll better    
said he     Hurrah  now we   ll have fun     He played with them and lost some
of his money  but when it struck twelve  everything vanished from his
sight  He lay down and quietly fell asleep  Next morning the king came
to inquire after him     How has it fared with you this time     asked he 
   I have been playing at nine pins     he answered     and have lost a couple
of farthings        Have you not shuddered then        What     said he     I have
had a wonderful time  If I did but know what it was to shudder    

The third night he sat down again on his bench and said quite sadly 
   If I could but shudder     When it grew late  six tall men came in and
brought a coffin  Then he said     Ha  ha  that is certainly my little
cousin  who died only a few days ago     and he beckoned with his finger 
and cried     Come  little cousin  come     They placed the coffin on the
ground  but he went to it and took the lid off  and a dead man lay
therein  He felt his face  but it was cold as ice     Wait     said he     I
will warm you a little     and went to the fire and warmed his hand and
laid it on the dead man   s face  but he remained cold  Then he took him
out  and sat down by the fire and laid him on his breast and rubbed his
arms that the blood might circulate again  As this also did no good  he
thought to himself     When two people lie in bed together  they warm each
other     and carried him to the bed  covered him over and lay down by
him  After a short time the dead man became warm too  and began to move 
Then said the youth     See  little cousin  have I not warmed you     The
dead man  however  got up and cried     Now will I strangle you    

   What     said he     is that the way you thank me  You shall at once go
into your coffin again     and he took him up  threw him into it  and shut
the lid  Then came the six men and carried him away again     I cannot
manage to shudder     said he     I shall never learn it here as long as I
live    

Then a man entered who was taller than all others  and looked terrible 
He was old  however  and had a long white beard     You wretch     cried he 
   you shall soon learn what it is to shudder  for you shall die        Not so
fast     replied the youth     If I am to die  I shall have to have a say
in it        I will soon seize you     said the fiend     Softly  softly  do not
talk so big  I am as strong as you are  and perhaps even stronger    
   We shall see     said the old man     If you are stronger  I will let you
go  come  we will try     Then he led him by dark passages to a smith   s
forge  took an axe  and with one blow struck an anvil into the ground 
   I can do better than that     said the youth  and went to the other
anvil  The old man placed himself near and wanted to look on  and his
white beard hung down  Then the youth seized the axe  split the anvil
with one blow  and in it caught the old man   s beard     Now I have you    
said the youth     Now it is your turn to die     Then he seized an iron bar
and beat the old man till he moaned and entreated him to stop  when he
would give him great riches  The youth drew out the axe and let him go 
The old man led him back into the castle  and in a cellar showed him
three chests full of gold     Of these     said he     one part is for the
poor  the other for the king  the third yours     In the meantime it
struck twelve  and the spirit disappeared  so that the youth stood in
darkness     I shall still be able to find my way out     said he  and felt
about  found the way into the room  and slept there by his fire 
Next morning the king came and said     Now you must have learnt what
shuddering is        No     he answered     what can it be  My dead cousin was
here  and a bearded man came and showed me a great deal of money down
below  but no one told me what it was to shudder        Then     said the
king     you have saved the castle  and shall marry my daughter        That
is all very well     said he     but still I do not know what it is to
shudder    

Then the gold was brought up and the wedding celebrated  but howsoever
much the young king loved his wife  and however happy he was  he still
said always     If I could but shudder  if I could but shudder     And this
at last angered her  Her waiting maid said     I will find a cure for him 
he shall soon learn what it is to shudder     She went out to the stream
which flowed through the garden  and had a whole bucketful of gudgeons
brought to her  At night when the young king was sleeping  his wife was
to draw the clothes off him and empty the bucket full of cold water
with the gudgeons in it over him  so that the little fishes would
sprawl about him  Then he woke up and cried     Oh  what makes me shudder
so   what makes me shudder so  dear wife  Ah  now I know what it is to
shudder    




KING GRISLY BEARD

A great king of a land far away in the East had a daughter who was very
beautiful  but so proud  and haughty  and conceited  that none of the
princes who came to ask her in marriage was good enough for her  and she
only made sport of them 

Once upon a time the king held a great feast  and asked thither all
her suitors  and they all sat in a row  ranged according to their
rank  kings  and princes  and dukes  and earls  and counts  and barons 
and knights  Then the princess came in  and as she passed by them she
had something spiteful to say to every one  The first was too fat     He   s
as round as a tub     said she  The next was too tall     What a maypole    
said she  The next was too short     What a dumpling     said she  The
fourth was too pale  and she called him    Wallface     The fifth was too
red  so she called him    Coxcomb     The sixth was not straight enough 
so she said he was like a green stick  that had been laid to dry over
a baker   s oven  And thus she had some joke to crack upon every one  but
she laughed more than all at a good king who was there     Look at
him     said she     his beard is like an old mop  he shall be called
Grisly beard     So the king got the nickname of Grisly beard 

But the old king was very angry when he saw how his daughter behaved 
and how she ill treated all his guests  and he vowed that  willing or
unwilling  she should marry the first man  be he prince or beggar  that
came to the door 

Two days after there came by a travelling fiddler  who began to play
under the window and beg alms  and when the king heard him  he said 
   Let him come in     So they brought in a dirty looking fellow  and when
he had sung before the king and the princess  he begged a boon  Then the
king said     You have sung so well  that I will give you my daughter for
your wife     The princess begged and prayed  but the king said     I have
sworn to give you to the first comer  and I will keep my word     So words
and tears were of no avail  the parson was sent for  and she was married
to the fiddler  When this was over the king said     Now get ready to
go  you must not stay here  you must travel on with your husband    

Then the fiddler went his way  and took her with him  and they soon came
to a great wood     Pray     said she     whose is this wood        It belongs
to King Grisly beard     answered he     hadst thou taken him  all had been
thine        Ah  unlucky wretch that I am     sighed she     would that I had
married King Grisly beard     Next they came to some fine meadows     Whose
are these beautiful green meadows     said she     They belong to King
Grisly beard  hadst thou taken him  they had all been thine        Ah 
unlucky wretch that I am     said she     would that I had married King
Grisly beard    

Then they came to a great city     Whose is this noble city     said she 
   It belongs to King Grisly beard  hadst thou taken him  it had all been
thine        Ah  wretch that I am     sighed she     why did I not marry King
Grisly beard        That is no business of mine     said the fiddler     why
should you wish for another husband  Am not I good enough for you    

At last they came to a small cottage     What a paltry place     said she 
   to whom does that little dirty hole belong     Then the fiddler said 
   That is your and my house  where we are to live        Where are your
servants     cried she     What do we want with servants     said he     you
must do for yourself whatever is to be done  Now make the fire  and put
on water and cook my supper  for I am very tired     But the princess knew
nothing of making fires and cooking  and the fiddler was forced to help
her  When they had eaten a very scanty meal they went to bed  but the
fiddler called her up very early in the morning to clean the house  Thus
they lived for two days  and when they had eaten up all there was in the
cottage  the man said     Wife  we can   t go on thus  spending money and
earning nothing  You must learn to weave baskets     Then he went out and
cut willows  and brought them home  and she began to weave  but it made
her fingers very sore     I see this work won   t do     said he     try and
spin  perhaps you will do that better     So she sat down and tried to
spin  but the threads cut her tender fingers till the blood ran     See
now     said the fiddler     you are good for nothing  you can do no work 
what a bargain I have got  However  I   ll try and set up a trade in pots
and pans  and you shall stand in the market and sell them        Alas    
sighed she     if any of my father   s court should pass by and see me
standing in the market  how they will laugh at me    

But her husband did not care for that  and said she must work  if she
did not wish to die of hunger  At first the trade went well  for many
people  seeing such a beautiful woman  went to buy her wares  and paid
their money without thinking of taking away the goods  They lived on
this as long as it lasted  and then her husband bought a fresh lot of
ware  and she sat herself down with it in the corner of the market  but
a drunken soldier soon came by  and rode his horse against her stall 
and broke all her goods into a thousand pieces  Then she began to cry 
and knew not what to do     Ah  what will become of me     said she     what
will my husband say     So she ran home and told him all     Who would
have thought you would have been so silly     said he     as to put an
earthenware stall in the corner of the market  where everybody passes 
but let us have no more crying  I see you are not fit for this sort of
work  so I have been to the king   s palace  and asked if they did not
want a kitchen maid  and they say they will take you  and there you will
have plenty to eat    

Thus the princess became a kitchen maid  and helped the cook to do all
the dirtiest work  but she was allowed to carry home some of the meat
that was left  and on this they lived 

She had not been there long before she heard that the king   s eldest son
was passing by  going to be married  and she went to one of the windows
and looked out  Everything was ready  and all the pomp and brightness of
the court was there  Then she bitterly grieved for the pride and folly
which had brought her so low  And the servants gave her some of the rich
meats  which she put into her basket to take home 

All on a sudden  as she was going out  in came the king   s son in golden
clothes  and when he saw a beautiful woman at the door  he took her
by the hand  and said she should be his partner in the dance  but she
trembled for fear  for she saw that it was King Grisly beard  who was
making sport of her  However  he kept fast hold  and led her in  and the
cover of the basket came off  so that the meats in it fell about  Then
everybody laughed and jeered at her  and she was so abashed  that she
wished herself a thousand feet deep in the earth  She sprang to the
door to run away  but on the steps King Grisly beard overtook her  and
brought her back and said     Fear me not  I am the fiddler who has lived
with you in the hut  I brought you there because I really loved you  I
am also the soldier that overset your stall  I have done all this only
to cure you of your silly pride  and to show you the folly of your
ill treatment of me  Now all is over  you have learnt wisdom  and it is
time to hold our marriage feast    

Then the chamberlains came and brought her the most beautiful robes  and
her father and his whole court were there already  and welcomed her home
on her marriage  Joy was in every face and every heart  The feast was
grand  they danced and sang  all were merry  and I only wish that you
and I had been of the party 




IRON HANS

There was once upon a time a king who had a great forest near his
palace  full of all kinds of wild animals  One day he sent out a
huntsman to shoot him a roe  but he did not come back     Perhaps some
accident has befallen him     said the king  and the next day he sent out
two more huntsmen who were to search for him  but they too stayed away 
Then on the third day  he sent for all his huntsmen  and said     Scour
the whole forest through  and do not give up until you have found all
three     But of these also  none came home again  none were seen again 
From that time forth  no one would any longer venture into the forest 
and it lay there in deep stillness and solitude  and nothing was seen
of it  but sometimes an eagle or a hawk flying over it  This lasted for
many years  when an unknown huntsman announced himself to the king as
seeking a situation  and offered to go into the dangerous forest  The
king  however  would not give his consent  and said     It is not safe in
there  I fear it would fare with you no better than with the others 
and you would never come out again     The huntsman replied     Lord  I will
venture it at my own risk  of fear I know nothing    

The huntsman therefore betook himself with his dog to the forest  It was
not long before the dog fell in with some game on the way  and wanted to
pursue it  but hardly had the dog run two steps when it stood before a
deep pool  could go no farther  and a naked arm stretched itself out of
the water  seized it  and drew it under  When the huntsman saw that  he
went back and fetched three men to come with buckets and bale out the
water  When they could see to the bottom there lay a wild man whose body
was brown like rusty iron  and whose hair hung over his face down to his
knees  They bound him with cords  and led him away to the castle  There
was great astonishment over the wild man  the king  however  had him put
in an iron cage in his courtyard  and forbade the door to be opened
on pain of death  and the queen herself was to take the key into her
keeping  And from this time forth everyone could again go into the
forest with safety 

The king had a son of eight years  who was once playing in the
courtyard  and while he was playing  his golden ball fell into the cage 
The boy ran thither and said     Give me my ball out        Not till you have
opened the door for me     answered the man     No     said the boy     I will
not do that  the king has forbidden it     and ran away  The next day he
again went and asked for his ball  the wild man said     Open my door    
but the boy would not  On the third day the king had ridden out hunting 
and the boy went once more and said     I cannot open the door even if I
wished  for I have not the key     Then the wild man said     It lies under
your mother   s pillow  you can get it there     The boy  who wanted to have
his ball back  cast all thought to the winds  and brought the key  The
door opened with difficulty  and the boy pinched his fingers  When it
was open the wild man stepped out  gave him the golden ball  and hurried
away  The boy had become afraid  he called and cried after him     Oh 
wild man  do not go away  or I shall be beaten     The wild man turned
back  took him up  set him on his shoulder  and went with hasty steps
into the forest  When the king came home  he observed the empty cage 
and asked the queen how that had happened  She knew nothing about it 
and sought the key  but it was gone  She called the boy  but no one
answered  The king sent out people to seek for him in the fields  but
they did not find him  Then he could easily guess what had happened  and
much grief reigned in the royal court 

When the wild man had once more reached the dark forest  he took the boy
down from his shoulder  and said to him     You will never see your father
and mother again  but I will keep you with me  for you have set me free 
and I have compassion on you  If you do all I bid you  you shall fare
well  Of treasure and gold have I enough  and more than anyone in the
world     He made a bed of moss for the boy on which he slept  and the
next morning the man took him to a well  and said     Behold  the gold
well is as bright and clear as crystal  you shall sit beside it  and
take care that nothing falls into it  or it will be polluted  I will
come every evening to see if you have obeyed my order     The boy placed
himself by the brink of the well  and often saw a golden fish or a
golden snake show itself therein  and took care that nothing fell in 
As he was thus sitting  his finger hurt him so violently that he
involuntarily put it in the water  He drew it quickly out again  but saw
that it was quite gilded  and whatsoever pains he took to wash the gold
off again  all was to no purpose  In the evening Iron Hans came back 
looked at the boy  and said     What has happened to the well        Nothing
nothing     he answered  and held his finger behind his back  that the
man might not see it  But he said     You have dipped your finger into
the water  this time it may pass  but take care you do not again let
anything go in     By daybreak the boy was already sitting by the well and
watching it  His finger hurt him again and he passed it over his head 
and then unhappily a hair fell down into the well  He took it quickly
out  but it was already quite gilded  Iron Hans came  and already knew
what had happened     You have let a hair fall into the well     said he 
   I will allow you to watch by it once more  but if this happens for the
third time then the well is polluted and you can no longer remain with
me    

On the third day  the boy sat by the well  and did not stir his finger 
however much it hurt him  But the time was long to him  and he looked at
the reflection of his face on the surface of the water  And as he
still bent down more and more while he was doing so  and trying to look
straight into the eyes  his long hair fell down from his shoulders into
the water  He raised himself up quickly  but the whole of the hair of
his head was already golden and shone like the sun  You can imagine how
terrified the poor boy was  He took his pocket handkerchief and tied it
round his head  in order that the man might not see it  When he came he
already knew everything  and said     Take the handkerchief off     Then the
golden hair streamed forth  and let the boy excuse himself as he might 
it was of no use     You have not stood the trial and can stay here no
longer  Go forth into the world  there you will learn what poverty is 
But as you have not a bad heart  and as I mean well by you  there is
one thing I will grant you  if you fall into any difficulty  come to the
forest and cry     Iron Hans     and then I will come and help you  My
power is great  greater than you think  and I have gold and silver in
abundance    

Then the king   s son left the forest  and walked by beaten and unbeaten
paths ever onwards until at length he reached a great city  There he
looked for work  but could find none  and he learnt nothing by which he
could help himself  At length he went to the palace  and asked if they
would take him in  The people about court did not at all know what use
they could make of him  but they liked him  and told him to stay  At
length the cook took him into his service  and said he might carry wood
and water  and rake the cinders together  Once when it so happened that
no one else was at hand  the cook ordered him to carry the food to the
royal table  but as he did not like to let his golden hair be seen  he
kept his little cap on  Such a thing as that had never yet come under
the king   s notice  and he said     When you come to the royal table you
must take your hat off     He answered     Ah  Lord  I cannot  I have a bad
sore place on my head     Then the king had the cook called before him
and scolded him  and asked how he could take such a boy as that into his
service  and that he was to send him away at once  The cook  however 
had pity on him  and exchanged him for the gardener   s boy 

And now the boy had to plant and water the garden  hoe and dig  and bear
the wind and bad weather  Once in summer when he was working alone in
the garden  the day was so warm he took his little cap off that the air
might cool him  As the sun shone on his hair it glittered and flashed so
that the rays fell into the bedroom of the king   s daughter  and up she
sprang to see what that could be  Then she saw the boy  and cried to
him     Boy  bring me a wreath of flowers     He put his cap on with all
haste  and gathered wild field flowers and bound them together  When he
was ascending the stairs with them  the gardener met him  and said     How
can you take the king   s daughter a garland of such common flowers  Go
quickly  and get another  and seek out the prettiest and rarest        Oh 
no     replied the boy     the wild ones have more scent  and will please
her better     When he got into the room  the king   s daughter said     Take
your cap off  it is not seemly to keep it on in my presence     He again
said     I may not  I have a sore head     She  however  caught at his
cap and pulled it off  and then his golden hair rolled down on his
shoulders  and it was splendid to behold  He wanted to run out  but she
held him by the arm  and gave him a handful of ducats  With these he
departed  but he cared nothing for the gold pieces  He took them to the
gardener  and said     I present them to your children  they can play with
them     The following day the king   s daughter again called to him that he
was to bring her a wreath of field flowers  and then he went in with it 
she instantly snatched at his cap  and wanted to take it away from him 
but he held it fast with both hands  She again gave him a handful of
ducats  but he would not keep them  and gave them to the gardener for
playthings for his children  On the third day things went just the
same  she could not get his cap away from him  and he would not have her
money 

Not long afterwards  the country was overrun by war  The king gathered
together his people  and did not know whether or not he could offer any
opposition to the enemy  who was superior in strength and had a mighty
army  Then said the gardener   s boy     I am grown up  and will go to the
wars also  only give me a horse     The others laughed  and said     Seek
one for yourself when we are gone  we will leave one behind us in the
stable for you     When they had gone forth  he went into the stable  and
led the horse out  it was lame of one foot  and limped hobblety jib 
hobblety jib  nevertheless he mounted it  and rode away to the dark
forest  When he came to the outskirts  he called    Iron Hans    three
times so loudly that it echoed through the trees  Thereupon the wild man
appeared immediately  and said     What do you desire        I want a strong
steed  for I am going to the wars        That you shall have  and still more
than you ask for     Then the wild man went back into the forest  and it
was not long before a stable boy came out of it  who led a horse that
snorted with its nostrils  and could hardly be restrained  and behind
them followed a great troop of warriors entirely equipped in iron  and
their swords flashed in the sun  The youth made over his three legged
horse to the stable boy  mounted the other  and rode at the head of the
soldiers  When he got near the battlefield a great part of the king   s
men had already fallen  and little was wanting to make the rest give
way  Then the youth galloped thither with his iron soldiers  broke like
a hurricane over the enemy  and beat down all who opposed him  They
began to flee  but the youth pursued  and never stopped  until there
was not a single man left  Instead of returning to the king  however  he
conducted his troop by byways back to the forest  and called forth Iron
Hans     What do you desire     asked the wild man     Take back your horse
and your troops  and give me my three legged horse again     All that he
asked was done  and soon he was riding on his three legged horse  When
the king returned to his palace  his daughter went to meet him  and
wished him joy of his victory     I am not the one who carried away the
victory     said he     but a strange knight who came to my assistance with
his soldiers     The daughter wanted to hear who the strange knight was 
but the king did not know  and said     He followed the enemy  and I did
not see him again     She inquired of the gardener where his boy was  but
he smiled  and said     He has just come home on his three legged horse 
and the others have been mocking him  and crying     Here comes our
hobblety jib back again     They asked  too     Under what hedge have you
been lying sleeping all the time     So he said     I did the best of all 
and it would have gone badly without me     And then he was still more
ridiculed    

The king said to his daughter     I will proclaim a great feast that shall
last for three days  and you shall throw a golden apple  Perhaps the
unknown man will show himself     When the feast was announced  the youth
went out to the forest  and called Iron Hans     What do you desire    
asked he     That I may catch the king   s daughter   s golden apple        It is
as safe as if you had it already     said Iron Hans     You shall likewise
have a suit of red armour for the occasion  and ride on a spirited
chestnut horse     When the day came  the youth galloped to the spot  took
his place amongst the knights  and was recognized by no one  The king   s
daughter came forward  and threw a golden apple to the knights  but none
of them caught it but he  only as soon as he had it he galloped away 

On the second day Iron Hans equipped him as a white knight  and gave him
a white horse  Again he was the only one who caught the apple  and
he did not linger an instant  but galloped off with it  The king grew
angry  and said     That is not allowed  he must appear before me and tell
his name     He gave the order that if the knight who caught the apple 
should go away again they should pursue him  and if he would not come
back willingly  they were to cut him down and stab him 

On the third day  he received from Iron Hans a suit of black armour and
a black horse  and again he caught the apple  But when he was riding off
with it  the king   s attendants pursued him  and one of them got so near
him that he wounded the youth   s leg with the point of his sword  The
youth nevertheless escaped from them  but his horse leapt so violently
that the helmet fell from the youth   s head  and they could see that he
had golden hair  They rode back and announced this to the king 

The following day the king   s daughter asked the gardener about his
boy     He is at work in the garden  the queer creature has been at the
festival too  and only came home yesterday evening  he has likewise
shown my children three golden apples which he has won    

The king had him summoned into his presence  and he came and again had
his little cap on his head  But the king   s daughter went up to him and
took it off  and then his golden hair fell down over his shoulders  and
he was so handsome that all were amazed     Are you the knight who came
every day to the festival  always in different colours  and who caught
the three golden apples     asked the king     Yes     answered he     and here
the apples are     and he took them out of his pocket  and returned them
to the king     If you desire further proof  you may see the wound which
your people gave me when they followed me  But I am likewise the knight
who helped you to your victory over your enemies        If you can perform
such deeds as that  you are no gardener   s boy  tell me  who is your
father        My father is a mighty king  and gold have I in plenty as great
as I require        I well see     said the king     that I owe my thanks to
you  can I do anything to please you        Yes     answered he     that indeed
you can  Give me your daughter to wife     The maiden laughed  and said 
   He does not stand much on ceremony  but I have already seen by his
golden hair that he was no gardener   s boy     and then she went and
kissed him  His father and mother came to the wedding  and were in great
delight  for they had given up all hope of ever seeing their dear
son again  And as they were sitting at the marriage feast  the music
suddenly stopped  the doors opened  and a stately king came in with a
great retinue  He went up to the youth  embraced him and said     I am
Iron Hans  and was by enchantment a wild man  but you have set me free 
all the treasures which I possess  shall be your property    




CAT SKIN

There was once a king  whose queen had hair of the purest gold  and was
so beautiful that her match was not to be met with on the whole face of
the earth  But this beautiful queen fell ill  and when she felt that her
end drew near she called the king to her and said     Promise me that you
will never marry again  unless you meet with a wife who is as beautiful
as I am  and who has golden hair like mine     Then when the king in his
grief promised all she asked  she shut her eyes and died  But the king
was not to be comforted  and for a long time never thought of taking
another wife  At last  however  his wise men said     this will not do 
the king must marry again  that we may have a queen     So messengers were
sent far and wide  to seek for a bride as beautiful as the late queen 
But there was no princess in the world so beautiful  and if there had
been  still there was not one to be found who had golden hair  So the
messengers came home  and had had all their trouble for nothing 

Now the king had a daughter  who was just as beautiful as her mother 
and had the same golden hair  And when she was grown up  the king looked
at her and saw that she was just like this late queen  then he said to
his courtiers     May I not marry my daughter  She is the very image of my
dead wife  unless I have her  I shall not find any bride upon the whole
earth  and you say there must be a queen     When the courtiers heard this
they were shocked  and said     Heaven forbid that a father should marry
his daughter  Out of so great a sin no good can come     And his daughter
was also shocked  but hoped the king would soon give up such thoughts 
so she said to him     Before I marry anyone I must have three dresses 
one must be of gold  like the sun  another must be of shining silver 
like the moon  and a third must be dazzling as the stars  besides this 
I want a mantle of a thousand different kinds of fur put together  to
which every beast in the kingdom must give a part of his skin     And thus
she thought he would think of the matter no more  But the king made the
most skilful workmen in his kingdom weave the three dresses  one golden 
like the sun  another silvery  like the moon  and a third sparkling 
like the stars  and his hunters were told to hunt out all the beasts in
his kingdom  and to take the finest fur out of their skins  and thus a
mantle of a thousand furs was made 

When all were ready  the king sent them to her  but she got up in the
night when all were asleep  and took three of her trinkets  a golden
ring  a golden necklace  and a golden brooch  and packed the three
dresses  of the sun  the moon  and the stars  up in a nutshell  and
wrapped herself up in the mantle made of all sorts of fur  and besmeared
her face and hands with soot  Then she threw herself upon Heaven for
help in her need  and went away  and journeyed on the whole night  till
at last she came to a large wood  As she was very tired  she sat herself
down in the hollow of a tree and soon fell asleep  and there she slept
on till it was midday 

Now as the king to whom the wood belonged was hunting in it  his dogs
came to the tree  and began to snuff about  and run round and round  and
bark     Look sharp     said the king to the huntsmen     and see what sort
of game lies there     And the huntsmen went up to the tree  and when they
came back again said     In the hollow tree there lies a most wonderful
beast  such as we never saw before  its skin seems to be of a thousand
kinds of fur  but there it lies fast asleep        See     said the king     if
you can catch it alive  and we will take it with us     So the huntsmen
took it up  and the maiden awoke and was greatly frightened  and said 
   I am a poor child that has neither father nor mother left  have pity on
me and take me with you     Then they said     Yes  Miss Cat skin  you will
do for the kitchen  you can sweep up the ashes  and do things of that
sort     So they put her into the coach  and took her home to the king   s
palace  Then they showed her a little corner under the staircase  where
no light of day ever peeped in  and said     Cat skin  you may lie and
sleep there     And she was sent into the kitchen  and made to fetch wood
and water  to blow the fire  pluck the poultry  pick the herbs  sift the
ashes  and do all the dirty work 

Thus Cat skin lived for a long time very sorrowfully     Ah  pretty
princess     thought she     what will now become of thee     But it happened
one day that a feast was to be held in the king   s castle  so she said to
the cook     May I go up a little while and see what is going on  I will
take care and stand behind the door     And the cook said     Yes  you may
go  but be back again in half an hour   s time  to rake out the ashes    
Then she took her little lamp  and went into her cabin  and took off the
fur skin  and washed the soot from off her face and hands  so that her
beauty shone forth like the sun from behind the clouds  She next opened
her nutshell  and brought out of it the dress that shone like the sun 
and so went to the feast  Everyone made way for her  for nobody knew
her  and they thought she could be no less than a king   s daughter  But
the king came up to her  and held out his hand and danced with her  and
he thought in his heart     I never saw any one half so beautiful    

When the dance was at an end she curtsied  and when the king looked
round for her  she was gone  no one knew wither  The guards that stood
at the castle gate were called in  but they had seen no one  The truth
was  that she had run into her little cabin  pulled off her dress 
blackened her face and hands  put on the fur skin cloak  and was
Cat skin again  When she went into the kitchen to her work  and began
to rake the ashes  the cook said     Let that alone till the morning  and
heat the king   s soup  I should like to run up now and give a peep  but
take care you don   t let a hair fall into it  or you will run a chance of
never eating again    

As soon as the cook went away  Cat skin heated the king   s soup  and
toasted a slice of bread first  as nicely as ever she could  and when it
was ready  she went and looked in the cabin for her little golden ring 
and put it into the dish in which the soup was  When the dance was over 
the king ordered his soup to be brought in  and it pleased him so well 
that he thought he had never tasted any so good before  At the bottom
he saw a gold ring lying  and as he could not make out how it had got
there  he ordered the cook to be sent for  The cook was frightened when
he heard the order  and said to Cat skin     You must have let a hair fall
into the soup  if it be so  you will have a good beating     Then he went
before the king  and he asked him who had cooked the soup     I did    
answered the cook  But the king said     That is not true  it was better
done than you could do it     Then he answered     To tell the truth I did
not cook it  but Cat skin did        Then let Cat skin come up     said the
king  and when she came he said to her     Who are you        I am a poor
child     said she     that has lost both father and mother        How came you
in my palace     asked he     I am good for nothing     said she     but to be
scullion girl  and to have boots and shoes thrown at my head        But how
did you get the ring that was in the soup     asked the king  Then she
would not own that she knew anything about the ring  so the king sent
her away again about her business 

After a time there was another feast  and Cat skin asked the cook to let
her go up and see it as before     Yes     said he     but come again in half
an hour  and cook the king the soup that he likes so much     Then she
ran to her little cabin  washed herself quickly  and took her dress
out which was silvery as the moon  and put it on  and when she went in 
looking like a king   s daughter  the king went up to her  and rejoiced at
seeing her again  and when the dance began he danced with her  After the
dance was at an end she managed to slip out  so slyly that the king did
not see where she was gone  but she sprang into her little cabin  and
made herself into Cat skin again  and went into the kitchen to cook the
soup  Whilst the cook was above stairs  she got the golden necklace and
dropped it into the soup  then it was brought to the king  who ate it 
and it pleased him as well as before  so he sent for the cook  who
was again forced to tell him that Cat skin had cooked it  Cat skin was
brought again before the king  but she still told him that she was only
fit to have boots and shoes thrown at her head 

But when the king had ordered a feast to be got ready for the third
time  it happened just the same as before     You must be a witch 
Cat skin     said the cook     for you always put something into your soup 
so that it pleases the king better than mine     However  he let her go up
as before  Then she put on her dress which sparkled like the stars  and
went into the ball room in it  and the king danced with her again  and
thought she had never looked so beautiful as she did then  So whilst
he was dancing with her  he put a gold ring on her finger without her
seeing it  and ordered that the dance should be kept up a long time 
When it was at an end  he would have held her fast by the hand  but she
slipped away  and sprang so quickly through the crowd that he lost sight
of her  and she ran as fast as she could into her little cabin under
the stairs  But this time she kept away too long  and stayed beyond the
half hour  so she had not time to take off her fine dress  and threw her
fur mantle over it  and in her haste did not blacken herself all over
with soot  but left one of her fingers white 

Then she ran into the kitchen  and cooked the king   s soup  and as soon
as the cook was gone  she put the golden brooch into the dish  When the
king got to the bottom  he ordered Cat skin to be called once more  and
soon saw the white finger  and the ring that he had put on it whilst
they were dancing  so he seized her hand  and kept fast hold of it  and
when she wanted to loose herself and spring away  the fur cloak fell off
a little on one side  and the starry dress sparkled underneath it 

Then he got hold of the fur and tore it off  and her golden hair and
beautiful form were seen  and she could no longer hide herself  so she
washed the soot and ashes from her face  and showed herself to be the
most beautiful princess upon the face of the earth  But the king said 
   You are my beloved bride  and we will never more be parted from each
other     And the wedding feast was held  and a merry day it was  as ever
was heard of or seen in that country  or indeed in any other 




SNOW WHITE AND ROSE RED

There was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage  In front of
the cottage was a garden wherein stood two rose trees  one of which bore
white and the other red roses  She had two children who were like the
two rose trees  and one was called Snow white  and the other Rose red 
They were as good and happy  as busy and cheerful as ever two children
in the world were  only Snow white was more quiet and gentle than
Rose red  Rose red liked better to run about in the meadows and fields
seeking flowers and catching butterflies  but Snow white sat at home
with her mother  and helped her with her housework  or read to her when
there was nothing to do 

The two children were so fond of one another that they always held each
other by the hand when they went out together  and when Snow white said 
   We will not leave each other     Rose red answered     Never so long as we
live     and their mother would add     What one has she must share with the
other    

They often ran about the forest alone and gathered red berries  and no
beasts did them any harm  but came close to them trustfully  The little
hare would eat a cabbage leaf out of their hands  the roe grazed by
their side  the stag leapt merrily by them  and the birds sat still upon
the boughs  and sang whatever they knew 

No mishap overtook them  if they had stayed too late in the forest  and
night came on  they laid themselves down near one another upon the moss 
and slept until morning came  and their mother knew this and did not
worry on their account 

Once when they had spent the night in the wood and the dawn had roused
them  they saw a beautiful child in a shining white dress sitting near
their bed  He got up and looked quite kindly at them  but said nothing
and went into the forest  And when they looked round they found that
they had been sleeping quite close to a precipice  and would certainly
have fallen into it in the darkness if they had gone only a few paces
further  And their mother told them that it must have been the angel who
watches over good children 

Snow white and Rose red kept their mother   s little cottage so neat that
it was a pleasure to look inside it  In the summer Rose red took care
of the house  and every morning laid a wreath of flowers by her mother   s
bed before she awoke  in which was a rose from each tree  In the winter
Snow white lit the fire and hung the kettle on the hob  The kettle
was of brass and shone like gold  so brightly was it polished  In the
evening  when the snowflakes fell  the mother said     Go  Snow white  and
bolt the door     and then they sat round the hearth  and the mother took
her spectacles and read aloud out of a large book  and the two girls
listened as they sat and spun  And close by them lay a lamb upon the
floor  and behind them upon a perch sat a white dove with its head
hidden beneath its wings 

One evening  as they were thus sitting comfortably together  someone
knocked at the door as if he wished to be let in  The mother said 
   Quick  Rose red  open the door  it must be a traveller who is seeking
shelter     Rose red went and pushed back the bolt  thinking that it was a
poor man  but it was not  it was a bear that stretched his broad  black
head within the door 

Rose red screamed and sprang back  the lamb bleated  the dove fluttered 
and Snow white hid herself behind her mother   s bed  But the bear began
to speak and said     Do not be afraid  I will do you no harm  I am
half frozen  and only want to warm myself a little beside you    

   Poor bear     said the mother     lie down by the fire  only take care that
you do not burn your coat     Then she cried     Snow white  Rose red  come
out  the bear will do you no harm  he means well     So they both came
out  and by and by the lamb and dove came nearer  and were not afraid
of him  The bear said     Here  children  knock the snow out of my coat a
little     so they brought the broom and swept the bear   s hide clean 
and he stretched himself by the fire and growled contentedly and
comfortably  It was not long before they grew quite at home  and played
tricks with their clumsy guest  They tugged his hair with their hands 
put their feet upon his back and rolled him about  or they took a
hazel switch and beat him  and when he growled they laughed  But the
bear took it all in good part  only when they were too rough he called
out     Leave me alive  children 

  Snow white  Rose red 
  Will you beat your wooer dead    

When it was bed time  and the others went to bed  the mother said to the
bear     You can lie there by the hearth  and then you will be safe from
the cold and the bad weather     As soon as day dawned the two children
let him out  and he trotted across the snow into the forest 

Henceforth the bear came every evening at the same time  laid himself
down by the hearth  and let the children amuse themselves with him as
much as they liked  and they got so used to him that the doors were
never fastened until their black friend had arrived 

When spring had come and all outside was green  the bear said one
morning to Snow white     Now I must go away  and cannot come back for the
whole summer        Where are you going  then  dear bear     asked Snow white 
   I must go into the forest and guard my treasures from the wicked
dwarfs  In the winter  when the earth is frozen hard  they are obliged
to stay below and cannot work their way through  but now  when the sun
has thawed and warmed the earth  they break through it  and come out to
pry and steal  and what once gets into their hands  and in their caves 
does not easily see daylight again    

Snow white was quite sorry at his departure  and as she unbolted the
door for him  and the bear was hurrying out  he caught against the bolt
and a piece of his hairy coat was torn off  and it seemed to Snow white
as if she had seen gold shining through it  but she was not sure about
it  The bear ran away quickly  and was soon out of sight behind the
trees 

A short time afterwards the mother sent her children into the forest
to get firewood  There they found a big tree which lay felled on the
ground  and close by the trunk something was jumping backwards and
forwards in the grass  but they could not make out what it was  When
they came nearer they saw a dwarf with an old withered face and a
snow white beard a yard long  The end of the beard was caught in a
crevice of the tree  and the little fellow was jumping about like a dog
tied to a rope  and did not know what to do 

He glared at the girls with his fiery red eyes and cried     Why do you
stand there  Can you not come here and help me        What are you up to 
little man     asked Rose red     You stupid  prying goose     answered the
dwarf     I was going to split the tree to get a little wood for cooking 
The little bit of food that we people get is immediately burnt up with
heavy logs  we do not swallow so much as you coarse  greedy folk  I had
just driven the wedge safely in  and everything was going as I wished 
but the cursed wedge was too smooth and suddenly sprang out  and the
tree closed so quickly that I could not pull out my beautiful white
beard  so now it is tight and I cannot get away  and the silly  sleek 
milk faced things laugh  Ugh  how odious you are    

The children tried very hard  but they could not pull the beard out  it
was caught too fast     I will run and fetch someone     said Rose red     You
senseless goose     snarled the dwarf     why should you fetch someone  You
are already two too many for me  can you not think of something better    
   Don   t be impatient     said Snow white     I will help you     and she pulled
her scissors out of her pocket  and cut off the end of the beard 

As soon as the dwarf felt himself free he laid hold of a bag which lay
amongst the roots of the tree  and which was full of gold  and lifted it
up  grumbling to himself     Uncouth people  to cut off a piece of my fine
beard  Bad luck to you     and then he swung the bag upon his back  and
went off without even once looking at the children 

Some time afterwards Snow white and Rose red went to catch a dish
of fish  As they came near the brook they saw something like a large
grasshopper jumping towards the water  as if it were going to leap in 
They ran to it and found it was the dwarf     Where are you going     said
Rose red     you surely don   t want to go into the water        I am not such
a fool     cried the dwarf     don   t you see that the accursed fish wants
to pull me in     The little man had been sitting there fishing  and
unluckily the wind had tangled up his beard with the fishing line  a
moment later a big fish made a bite and the feeble creature had not
strength to pull it out  the fish kept the upper hand and pulled the
dwarf towards him  He held on to all the reeds and rushes  but it was of
little good  for he was forced to follow the movements of the fish  and
was in urgent danger of being dragged into the water 

The girls came just in time  they held him fast and tried to free his
beard from the line  but all in vain  beard and line were entangled fast
together  There was nothing to do but to bring out the scissors and cut
the beard  whereby a small part of it was lost  When the dwarf saw that
he screamed out     Is that civil  you toadstool  to disfigure a man   s
face  Was it not enough to clip off the end of my beard  Now you have
cut off the best part of it  I cannot let myself be seen by my people 
I wish you had been made to run the soles off your shoes     Then he took
out a sack of pearls which lay in the rushes  and without another word
he dragged it away and disappeared behind a stone 

It happened that soon afterwards the mother sent the two children to the
town to buy needles and thread  and laces and ribbons  The road led them
across a heath upon which huge pieces of rock lay strewn about  There
they noticed a large bird hovering in the air  flying slowly round and
round above them  it sank lower and lower  and at last settled near a
rock not far away  Immediately they heard a loud  piteous cry  They ran
up and saw with horror that the eagle had seized their old acquaintance
the dwarf  and was going to carry him off 

The children  full of pity  at once took tight hold of the little man 
and pulled against the eagle so long that at last he let his booty go 
As soon as the dwarf had recovered from his first fright he cried
with his shrill voice     Could you not have done it more carefully  You
dragged at my brown coat so that it is all torn and full of holes  you
clumsy creatures     Then he took up a sack full of precious stones  and
slipped away again under the rock into his hole  The girls  who by
this time were used to his ingratitude  went on their way and did their
business in town 

As they crossed the heath again on their way home they surprised the
dwarf  who had emptied out his bag of precious stones in a clean spot 
and had not thought that anyone would come there so late  The evening
sun shone upon the brilliant stones  they glittered and sparkled with
all colours so beautifully that the children stood still and stared
at them     Why do you stand gaping there     cried the dwarf  and his
ashen grey face became copper red with rage  He was still cursing when a
loud growling was heard  and a black bear came trotting towards them out
of the forest  The dwarf sprang up in a fright  but he could not reach
his cave  for the bear was already close  Then in the dread of his heart
he cried     Dear Mr Bear  spare me  I will give you all my treasures 
look  the beautiful jewels lying there  Grant me my life  what do you
want with such a slender little fellow as I  you would not feel me
between your teeth  Come  take these two wicked girls  they are tender
morsels for you  fat as young quails  for mercy   s sake eat them     The
bear took no heed of his words  but gave the wicked creature a single
blow with his paw  and he did not move again 

The girls had run away  but the bear called to them     Snow white and
Rose red  do not be afraid  wait  I will come with you     Then they
recognized his voice and waited  and when he came up to them suddenly
his bearskin fell off  and he stood there a handsome man  clothed all in
gold     I am a king   s son     he said     and I was bewitched by that wicked
dwarf  who had stolen my treasures  I have had to run about the forest
as a savage bear until I was freed by his death  Now he has got his
well deserved punishment 

Snow white was married to him  and Rose red to his brother  and they
divided between them the great treasure which the dwarf had gathered
together in his cave  The old mother lived peacefully and happily with
her children for many years  She took the two rose trees with her  and
they stood before her window  and every year bore the most beautiful
roses  white and red 


     


The Brothers Grimm  Jacob             and Wilhelm              were born
in Hanau  near Frankfurt  in the German state of Hesse  Throughout
their lives they remained close friends  and both studied law at Marburg
University  Jacob was a pioneer in the study of German philology 
and although Wilhelm   s work was hampered by poor health the brothers
collaborated in the creation of a German dictionary  not completed until
a century after their deaths  But they were best  and universally  known
for the collection of over two hundred folk tales they made from oral
sources and published in two volumes of    Nursery and Household Tales    in
     and       Although their intention was to preserve such material as
part of German cultural and literary history  and their collection was
first published with scholarly notes and no illustration  the tales soon
came into the possession of young readers  This was in part due to Edgar
Taylor  who made the first English translation in       selecting about
fifty stories    with the amusement of some young friends principally in
view     They have been an essential ingredient of children   s reading ever
since 





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