Grimm's Goblins

Gift of Dr. Robert L. Egolf

Baldwin Library of
Historical Children's Literature
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

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GRIMM'S GOBLI

Selected from the Household Stories of the

BROTHERS

GRIMM,

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLORS,

FROM

JCRUIKSHANK'S DESIGNS.

BOSTON:
TICKNOR & FIELDS.

1867.

-'I

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THE PRESENTS OF THE LITTLE FOLK.

S TAILOR and a Goldsmith were once
wandering in company, and one even-
4 ing, when the sun had sunk behind the
hills, they heard the sound of distant music,
which became clearer and clearer. The tones
were uncommon, but so inspiriting, that, forget-
ting their weariness, the "two walked on. The
moon had risen, when they arrived at a hillock
on which they perceived a number of little Men
and Women, who had joined hands, and were
whirling round in a dance with great spirit and
delight, and singing thereto in the sweetest man-
ner possible, and so making the music which the
travellers had heard. In the middle sat an Old
Man, taller 'than the others, who wore a party-
colored coat and an iron-gray beard, so long
that it reached down to his waist. The two
stopped, full of wonder, and looked on at the,

2 THE PRESENTS OF THE LITTLE FOLK.

dancers, when the Old Man beckoned to them
to join in, while the circle opened readily to
receive them. The Goldsmith, who was de-
formed, and like all other hunchbacks quick
enough, stepped in; but the Tailor, feeling shy
at first, held back, till, seeing how merry the
circle was, he took heart and joined in too. The
circle closed again directly, and the Little Folk
began to sing and dance in the wildest "manner,
while the Old Man, taking a broad-bladed knife
which hung at his girdle, sharpened it, and when
it was fit, looked round at the strangers. They
became frightened, but they had no time to con-
sider; for the Old Man, seizing the Goldsmith,
and then the Tailor, shaved off both their beards
and hair \with the greatest despatch. Their ter-
ror, however, disappeared when the Old Man,
having completed his work, tapped them both
on the shoulder in a friendly manner, as much
as to say, they had acted well in having endured
his sport without resistance. Then* he pointed
with his finger towards -a heap of coals which
stood on one side, and showed them, by signs,
that they should fill their pockets with them.

THE PRESENTS OF THE LITTLE FOLK.

Both obeyed, though neither of them could see
of what service the coals would be to them;
*and then they journeyed in quest of a night's
lodging. Just as they came to the next valley,
the clock of a neighboring church struck twelve,
and at the same moment the singing ceased,
all disappeared, and the hill lay solitary in the
moonshine.
The two wanderers found a shelter, and mak-
ing a straw couch, each of them covered himself
with. his coat, but forgot, through weariness, to
take the coals out of their pockets. A heavy
weight pressed upon their limbs more than usual,
and when they awoke in the morning and emp-
tied their pockets, they could not trust their eyes
when they saw that they were not filled with
coals, but pure gold. Their hair and beard, too,
had also grown during the night to their original
length. They were now become quite rich, but
the Goldsmith was half as rich again as the
Tailor, because, impelled by his covetous nature,
he had filled his pockets much fuller.
Now a miserly man, the more he possesses, de-
sires yet an increase; and so it happened that the

THE PRESENTS OF THE LITTLE FOLK.

Goldsmith, after the lapse of a day or two, made
a proposition to the Tailor to go and obtain more
gold from the Old Man of the Mountain. The
Tailor refused; saying, I have enough, and am
satisfied: now I am become a master tradesman,
and I will marry my object (as he called his
sweetheart), and be a happy man." However,
he stopped behind a day, in order to please his
comrade. In the evening, the Goldsmith slung
across his shoulder a couple of bags, that he might
be well furnished, and then set out on his road to
the hillock. He found the Little Folk singing
and dancing, as on the previous night; and the
Old Man, looking at him with a smile, treated
him the same as before, and pointed to the heap
of coals afterwards. The Goldsmith delayed no
longer than was necessary to fill his pockets, and
then returned home in high glee, and went to
sleep, covered with his coat. "Although the gold
does weigh heavily," said he to himself, I will
bear it patiently "; and so he went to sleep with
the sweet belief of awaking in the morning a
very wealthy man. Judge, therefore, what was
his astonishment, when, on awaking and arising,

THE PRESENTS OF THE LITTLE FOLK.

he searched in his pockets, and drew out only
black coals, and nothing besides. He consoled
himself, however, for his disappointment, by re-
flecting that he still possessed the gold which he
had taken on the previous night, but what was
not his rage when he discovered that that also was
become coal again; he beat his forehead with his
coal-begrimed hands, and then found out that
his whole head was bald and smooth as his chin!
His mishaps were not yet ended; for he perceived
that during the night, a similar hump to that on
his back had made its appearance on his breast.
He began to weep bitterly at this sight, for he
recognized in it the punishment of his covetous-
ness. The good Tailor, who then awoke, com-
forted the unhappy man as much as he could,
and told him that since he had been his compan-
ion during his travels, he would share his treasure
and remain with him.
The Tailor kept his word; but the poor Gold-
smith had to carry all his lifetime two humps,
and to cover his bald head with a wig.

THE LITTLE ELVES.

FIRST STORY.

PHERE was once a Shoemaker, who,
i from no fault of his own, had become
so poor that ,at last. he had nothing
left, but just sufficient leather for one pair of
shoes. In the evening he cut out the leather,
intending to make it up in the morning; and,
as he had a good conscience, he lay quietly down
to sleep, first commending himself to God. In
the morning he said his prayers, and then sat
down to work; but, behold, the pair of shoes
were. already made, and there they stood upon
his board. The poor man was amazed, and knew
not what to think; but he took the shoes into
his hand to look at them more closely, and they
were so:neatly worked, that not a stitch was
wrong ; just as if they had been made for a
prize. Presently a customer came in; and as the
shoes pleased 'him very much, he paid down

17

1~

THE LITTLE ELVES.

more than was usual; and so much that the Shoe-
maker was able to buy with it leather for two
pairs. By the evening he had got his leather
shaped out; and when he arose the next morn-
ing, he prepared to work with fresh spirit; but
there was no need,- for the shoes stood all per-
fect on his board. He did not want either for
customers; for two came who paid him so liber-
ally for the shoes, that he bought with the money
material for four pairs more. These also- when
he awoke -he found all ready-made, and so it
continued; what he cut out overnight was, in
the morning, turned into the neatest shoes pos-
sible. This went on until he had regained his
former appearance, and was even becoming a
prosperous man.
One evening -not long before Christmas- as
he had cut out the usual quantity, he said to his
wife before going to bed, "What say you to stop-
ping up this night, to see who it is that helps us
so kindly ?" His wife was satisfied, and fastened
up a light; and then they hid' themselves in the
corner of the room, where hung some, clothes
which concealed them. As soon as it was mid-

THE LITTLE ELVES.

night in came two little mannikins, who squatted
down on the board; and, taking up the prepared
work, set to with their little fingers, stitching and
sewing, and hammering so swiftly and lightly, that
the Shoemaker could not take his eyes off then
for astonishment. They did not cease until all
was brought to an end, and the shoes stood:ready
on the table; and then they sprang quickly away.
The following morning the wife said, "The
little men have made us rich, and we must show
our gratitude to them; for although they run
about they must be cold, for they have nothing
on their bodies. I will make a little shirt, coat,
waistcoat, trousers, 'and stockings for each, and
do you make a pair of shoes for each."
The husband assented; and one evening, when
all was ready, they laid presents, instead of the
usual work, on the board, and hid themselves to
see the result.
At midnight in came the Elves, jumping about,
and soon prepared to work; but when they saw
no leather, but the natty little clothes, they at
first were astonished, but soon showed their rap-
turous glee. They drew on their coats, and
smoothing them down, sang,-

THE LITTLE ELVES. 9

"Smart and natty boys are we;
'Cobblers we'll no longer be";
'and so they went on hopping and jumping over
the stools and chairs, and at last out at the
door. After that evening they did not come
again; but the Shoemaker prospered in all he
undertook, and lived happily to the end of his
days.

SECOND STORY.
ONCE upon a time there was a poor servant girl,
who was both industrious and cleanly, for every
day she dusted the 'house and shook out the
sweepings on a great heap before the door. One
morning, just as she was going to throw them
away, she saw a letter lying among them, and,
as she could not read, she put her broom by in
a corner, and took it to her master. It con-
tained an invitation from the Elves, asking the
girl to stand godmother to one of their children.
The girl did not know what to do, but at last,
after much consideration, she consented, for the
little men will not easily take a refusal. So
there came three Elves, who, conducted her to

THE LITTLE ELVES.

a hollow mountain where they lived. Every-
thing was very small of course, but all more
neat and elegant than I can tell you. The
mother lay in a bed of ebony studded with
pearls, and the coverings were all wrought with
gold; the cradle was made of ivory, and the
bath was of gold. The girl stood godmother,
and afterwards wished to return home, but the
little Elves pressed her earnestly to stay three
days longer. So she remained, passing the time
in pleasure and play, for the Elves behaved very
kindly to her. At the end of the time she
prepared to return home, but first they filled her
pockets full of gold, and then led her out of the
hill. As soon as she reached the house, she took
the broom, which still stood in the corner, and
went on with her sweeping; and presently out
of the house came some strange people, who
asked her who she was, and what she was doing
there. 'Then she found out that it was not three
days, as she had supposed, but seven years, that
she had passed with the little Elves in the hill,
and that her former master had died in her ab-
sence.

THE LITTLE ELVES. II

THIRD STORY.
THE little Elves once stole a child out of its
cradle, and put in its place a changeling, with a
clumsy head and red eyes, who would neither
eat nor drink. The mother, in great trouble,
went to a neighbor to ask her advice, and she
advised her to carry the changeling into the
kitchen, set it on the hearth, and boil water in
two egg-shells. If the changeling was made to
laugh, then its fate was sealed. The woman did
all the neighbor said; and as she set the egg-
shells over the fire the creature sang out,-
"Though I am as old as the oldest tree,
Cooking in an egg-shell never did I see."
And then it burst into a horse-laugh. While it
was laughing, a number of little Elves entered,
bringing the real child, whom they placed on the
hearth, and then took away the changeling with
them.

THE ALMOND-TREE.

'. 7 ONG, long ago, perhaps two thousand
1'-P years, there was a rich man who had
-~ a beautiful and pious wife; a'nd they
were very fond of one another, but. had no
children. Still they wished for some very much,
and the wife prayed for them day and night;
still they had none.
Before their house was a yard; in it stood an
almond-tree, under which the woman stood once
in the winter peeling an apple; and as she peeled
the apple she cut her finger, and the blood
dropped on to the snow. "Ah, said the woman,
with a deep sigh, and she looked at the blood
before her, and was very sad; had I but a child
as red as blood and as white as snow!" and as she
said that, her heart grew light; and it seemed
to her as if something would come of her wish.
Then she went into the house; and a month
passed, the snow disappeared; and two months,

STHE ALMOND-TREE.

then all was green; and three months, then came
the flowers out of the ground; and four months,
then all the trees in the wood squeezed up against'
one another, and the green boughs all grew
twisted together, and the little birds sang, so that
the Nwhole wood resounded, and the blossoms fell
from the trees. When the fifth month had gone,
and she stood under the almond-tree, it smelt so
sweet, that her heart leaped for joy, and, she
could not help falling down on her knees; and
when the sixth month had passed, the fruits were
large, and she felt very happy; at the end of the
seventh month, she snatched the almonds and ate
them so greedily, that she was dreadfully ill;
then the eighth month passed away, and she
called her husband and cried, and said, If I die,
bury me under the almond-tree "; then she was
quite easy, and was glad, till the next month
was gone; then she had a child as white as snow,
and as red as blood; and when she saw it, she
was so delighted that she died.
Then her husband buried her under the al-
mond-tree and began to grieve most violently:
a little time and he was easier; iand when he had

THE ALMOND-TREE.

sorrowed a little longer he left off; and a little
time longer and he took another wife.
With the second wife he had a daughter; but
the child by the first wife was a little son, and
was as red as blood and as white as snow. When
the woman looked at her daughter, she loved her.
so much; but then she looked at the little boy,
and it seemed to go right through her heart; and
it seemed as if he always stood in her way, and
then she was always thinking how she could get
all the fortune for her daughter; and it was the
Evil One who suggested it to her, so that she
could n't bear the sight of the little boy, and poked
him about from one corner to another, and buf-
feted him here, and cuffed him there, so that
the poor child was always in fear; and when he
came from school he had no peace.
Once the woman had gone into the store-room,
and the little daughter came up and said,
"Mother, give me an apple." "Yes, my child,"
said the Woman, and gave her a beautiful apple
out of the box: the box had a great heavy lid,
with a great, sharp, iron lock. '" Mother," said
the little daughter, "shall not brother have one

THE ALMOND-TREE.

too?" That annoyed the woman; but she said,
"Yes, when he comes from school." And as she
saw out of the window that he was coming,
it was just as if the Evil One came over her, and
she snatched the apple away from her daughter
again; and said, "You shall not have one before
your brother!" She threw the apple into the
box and shut it.- Then the little boy came
in at the door; and the Evil One made her say,
in a friendly manner, "My son, will you have
an apple?" and she looked at him wickedly.
"Mother," said the little boy, "how horribly
you look! yes, give me an apple." Then she
thought she must pacify him. Come with me,"
she said, and opened the lid; "reach out an
apple"; and as the little boy bent into the box,
the Evil One whispered to her -bang! she
slammed the lid to, so that his head flew of and
fell amongst the red apples. Then in the fright
she thought, "Could I get that off my mind!
Then she went up into her room to the chest
of drawers, and got out a white cloth from the
top drawer, and she set the head on the throat
again and tied the handkerchief round, so that

THE ALMOND-TREE.

nothing could be seen; and placed: him outside
the door on a chair, and gave him the apple
in his hand. After a while little Marline came
in the kitchen to her mother, who 'stood by
the fire and had a kettle with hot water before
her, which she kept stirring round. "Mother,"
said little Marline, "brother is sitting outside the
door, and looks quite white, and has got an apple
in his hand, I asked him to give me the apple,
but he didn't 'answer me; then I was quite
frightened." "Go again," said the mother, "and
if he will not answer you, give him a box on the
ear." Then Marline:went to her brother, and
said, "Give me the apple"; but he was silent.
Then she gave him a box on the ear, and the
head tumbled off, at which she was frightened,
and began, to cry and sob. Then she ran 'to her
mother, and said, "0, mother, I have knocked
my brother's head off! and she cried and cried,
and would not be pacified. Marline, said the
mother, "what .have you done? -But be quiet,
so that nobody may notice it; it can't be
helped now; we'll bury him under the almond-
tree." : : : :

THE ALMOND-TREE.

Then the mother took the little boy and put
him into a box, and put it under the almond-tree;
but little Malrline stood by, and cried and cried,
and the tears all fell into the box.
Soon the father came home and sat down
to table, and said, "Where is my son?" Then
the mother brought in a great big dish of stew;
and little Marline cried, and could not leave off.
Then said the father again, "Where is my son?"
"0," said the mother, "he has-gone across the
country to NIIitten; he is going to stop there
a bit!"
"What is he doing there ? and why did he not
say good by to me?" "0, he wanted to go,
and asked me if he might stop there six weeks;
he will be taken care of there!" Ah," said the
man, "I feel very sorry; that was not right; he
ought to have wished me good by." With that
he began to eat, and said to Mlarline, "What are
you crying for? your brother will soon come
back." "Owife," said he then, ":how .delicious
this tastes; give me some more!" And he ate
till all the broth was done.
Little Mlarline went to her box and took- from
2*

THE ALMOND-TREE.

the bottom drawer 'her best silk handkerchief,
and carried it outside the door, and cried bitter
tears. Then she laid herself under the almond-
tree on the green grass; and when she had laid
herself there, all at once she felt quite light and
happy, and cried no more. Then the almond-'
tree began to move, and the boughs spread out
quite wide, and then went back again; just as
when one is very much: pleased and claps with the
hands. ,At the'same time a sort of mist rose from
the tree; ;in .the middle of the mist it burned
like a fire; and out, of the fire there flew a beau-
tiful bird that sang very 'sweetly, arid flew high
up in the air: and when it.had flown away, the
almond-tree was as it: had been before.- The
little Miarline was as light and happy as if her
brother were alive still, and went into the house
to dinner..
The bird flew away and perched upon a Gold-
smith's house, ,and began to sing,---
My .mother killed me;
SMy father grieved for me;- '
My) sister, little Marline,
Wept under the almond-tree:
Kywvitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!"

THE ALMOND-TREE.

The Goldsmith sat in his workshop and was
making a gold chain when he heard the bird that
sat upon his roof and sang, and it seemed to him
so beautiful. Then he got up, and as he stepped
over the sill of the door he lost one of his slip-
pers: but he went straight up the middle of the
street with one slipper and one sock on. He
had his leather apron on, and in the one hand
he had the gold chain, and in the other the pin-
cers, and the sun shone brightly up the street.
He went and stood and looked at the bird.
"Bird," said he then, "how beautifully you can
sing! Sing me that song again.": "Nay," said
the bird, "I don't sing twice for nothing. Give
me the gold chain and I will sing it you again."
"There," said the Goldsmith, "take the gold
chain; now sing me that again." Then the bird
came arid took the gold chain in the right claw,
and sat before the Goldsmith, and sang,-

S "My mother killed me;
My father grieved for me;
My sister, little Marline,
Wept und -r the almond-tree;
Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!"

THE ALMOND-TREE.

Then the bird flew off to a Shoemaker, and
perched upon the roof of his house, and sang, -
My mother killed me;
My father grieved for me;
My sister, little Marline,
Wept under the almond-tree:
Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I !"
The Shoemaker heard it, and ran outside the
door in his shirt-sleeves and looked up at the roof,
and was obliged to hold his hand before his eyes
to prevent the sun from blinding him. "Bird,"
said he, how beautifully you can sing! Then
he called in at the door, "Wife, come out, here's
a bird; look at the bird; he just can sing beauti-
fully." Then he called his daughter, and chil-
dren, and apprentices, servant-boy, and maid; and
they all came up the street and looked at the
bird: oh, how beautiful he was, and he had such
red and'green feathers, and round about the throat
was all like gold, and the eyes sparkled in his
head like stars! "Bird," said the Shoemaker,
"nowr sing me that piece again." "Nay," said
the bird, "I don't sing twice for nothing; you
must make me a present of something." Wife,"
said the man, "go into the shop; on the top

THE ALMOND-TREE.

shelf there stands a pair of red shoes, fetch them
down." The wife went and fetched the shoes.
"There, bird," said the man ; "now sing ,me
that song again." Then the bird came and took
the shoes in the left claw, and flew up on to the
roof again, and sang, -
My mother killed me;
My father grieved for me;
My sister, little Marline,
Wept. under the almond-tree:
Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!"
And when he had done singing he flew away.
The chain he had in the right claw, and the
shoes in the left claw; and he flew far away to
a mill; and the mill went clipp-clapp, clipp-clapp,
clipp-clapp. And in the mill there sat twenty
miller's men; they were shaping a stone, and
,chipped away, hick-hack, hick-hack, hick-hack;
and the mill went clipp-clapp, clipp-clapp, clipp-
clapp. Then the bird flew and sat on a lime-tree
that stood before the mill, and sang,-
"My mother killed me";
then one left off;
."Ny mrh er grieved for me";

THE ALMOND-TREE.

then two more left off and heard it;
"My sister,"
then again four left off;
"little Marline,"
now there were only eight chipping away;
"Wept under"
now only five;
the almond-tree":
now only one:
"Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!"
Then the last left off, when-he heard the last
word. "Bird," said he, "how beautifully you
sing!I let me, too, hear that; sing me that again."
"Nay," said the bird, "I don't sing twice for
nothing. Give me the millstone and I will sing
it again." Ay," said he, "if it belonged to me
alone, you should have it." "Yes," said the
others, "-if he sings again he shall have it."
Then the bird came down, and all the twenty
millers caught hold of a pole, and raised the stone
up, hu, uh, upp! hu, uh, upp! And the bird
stuck his head through the hole, and took it round
his neck like a collar, and flew back to the tree,
and sang, -

THE ALMOND-TREE.

My mother killed me;
My father grieved for me;
My sister, little Marline,
Wept under the almond-tree:
Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!"
And when he had done singing he spread his
wings, and had in his right claw the gold chain,
in his left the shoes, and round his neck the mill-
stone, and he flew far away to his father's house.
In the room sat the father, the mother, and
little Marline, at dinner;, and the father said,
"0 dear, how light and happy I feel!" "Nay,"
said the mother, "I am all of a tremble, just as
if there were going to be a heavy thunderstorm."
But little Marline sat and cried and cried, and the
bird came flying, and as he perched on the roof
the father said, I feel so cheerful, and the sun
shines so deliciously outside, it's exactly as if I
were going to see some old acquaintance again."
"Nay," said the wife, "I am so frightened, my
teeth chatter, and it's like fire in my veins";
and she tore open her stays; but little Marline
sat in a corner and-cried, and held her plate before
her eyes and cried it quite wet. Then the bird
perched on the almond-tree, and sang, -

THE ALMOND-TREE.

"" My mother killed me."
Then the mother held her ears and shut her eyes,
and would neither see nor hear; but it rumbled
in her ears like the most terrible storm, and her
eyes burned and twittered like lightning.
My father grieved for me."
" 0 mother," said the man, there is a beautiful
bird that sings so splendidly; the sun shines so
warm, and everything smells all like cinnamon!"
My sister, little Marline."
Then Marline laid her head on her knees and
cried away; but the man said, "I shall go out,
I must see the bird close." "0, do not go," said
the woman; "it seems as if the whole house
shook and were on fire! But the man went out
and looked at the bird.
"Wept under the almond-tree:
Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!"
And the bird let the gold chain fall, and it fell
just round the man's neck, and fitted beautifully.
Then he went in and said, "See what an excellent
bird it is; it has given me such a beautiful gold
chain, and it looks so splendid." But the woman
was so frightened that she fell her whole length

THE ALMOND-TREE.

on the floor, and her cap tumbled off her head.
Then the bird sang again, -
My mother killed me."
0 that I were a thousand fathoms under the
earth, not to hear that! "
My father grieved for me."
Then the woman fainted.
My sister, little Marline,"
"Ah," said Marline, "I will go out too, and see
if the bird will give me something!" and she
went out. Then the bird threw the shoes down.
Wept under the almond-tree :
Kywitt, kywitt, what a beautiful bird am I!"
Then, she was so happy and lively, she put the
new red shoes on, and danced and jumped back
again. ," said she, "I was so dull when I
went out, and now I am so happy. That is a
splendid bird: he has given me a pair of red
shoes!"
"Well," said the woman, and jumped up, and
her hair stood on end like flames of fire, "I Teel
as if the world were coming to an end; I will
go out too, and see if it will make me easier."

26 THE ALMOND-TREE.

And as she stepped outside the door bang! the
bird threw the millstone on to her head, so that
she was completely overwhelmed. The father
and little Marline heard it and went out. Then
a smoke, and flames, and fire rose from the place,
and when that had passed there stood the little
brother; and he took his father and little Marline
by the hand, and all three embraced one another
heartily, and went into the house to dinner.

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THE FOX'S BRUSH.

LONG, long while ago there was a
King who had, adjoining his palace, a
fine pleasure garden, in which stood
a tree, which bore golden apples; and as soon
as the apples were ripe they were counted, but
the next day one was missing. This vexed the
King very much, and he ordered that watch
should be kept every night beneath the tree;
and having three sons he sent the eldest, when
evening set in, into the garden; but about mid-
night the youth fell into a deep sleep, and. in
the morning another apple was missing. The
next night the second son had to watch, but he
also fared no better; for about midnight he fell
fast asleep, and another apple was wanting in the
morning. The turn came now to the third son,
who was eager to go; but the King hesitated for
a long time, thinking he would be even less wake-
ful than his brothers, but at last he consented.
The youth lay down under the tree and watched

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

steadily, without letting sleep be his master;
and just as twelve o'clock struck, something
rustled in the air, and, looking up, he saw a bird
flying by, whose feathers were of bright gold.
The bird lighted upon the tree, and had just
picked off one of the apples, when the youth
shot a bolt at it, which did not prevent its flying
away, but one of its golden feathers dropped off.
The youth took the feather up, and, showing it
the next morning to the King, told him what
he had seen during the night. Thereupon the
King assembled his council, and every one declared
that a single feather like this was worth a king-
dom. "Well, then," said the King, "if this
feather is so costly, I must and will have the
whole bird, for one feather is of no use to me."
The eldest son was now sent out on his travels,
and, relying on his own prudence, he doubted not:
that he should find the Golden Bird. When he
had walked about a mile, he saw sitting at the edge
of a forest a Fox, at which he levelled his gun;
but it cried out, Do not shoot me, and I will
give you a piece of good advice? You are now
on the road to the Golden Bird, and this evening.

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

you will come into a village where two inns
stand opposite to each other: one will be brightly
lit up and much merriment will be going on
inside, but turn not in there; enter rather into
the other, though it seem a poor place to you."
The young man, however, thought to himself,
"How can such a silly beast give me rational
advice?" and, going nearer,,he shot at the Fox;.
but he missed, and the Fox ran away with its
tail in the air. After this adventure he walked
on, and towards evening he came to the village
where stood the two public-houses, in one of
which singing and dancing were going on; while
the other looked a very ill-conditioned house. "I
should be a simpleton," said he to himself, "if
I were to go into this dirty inn while that capital
one stood opposite." So he entered the dancing-
room, and there, living in feasting. and rioting,
he forgot the Golden Bird, his father, and all
good manners.
As time passed by and the eldest son did not
return home, the second son set out also on his
travels to seek the Golden Bird. The Fox met
him as it had his brother, and gave him good

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

counsel, which he did not follow. He likewise
arrived at the two inns, and out of the window
of the riotous house his brother leaned, and in-
vited him in. He could not resist, and entered,
and lived there only to gratify his pleasures.
Again a long time elapsed with no news of
either brother, and the youngest wished to go and
try his luck; but his father would not consent.
"It is useless," said he; "you are still less likely
than your brothers to find the Golden Bird, and,
if a misfortune should happen to you, you cannot
help yourself, for you are not very quick.". The
King at last, however, was forced to consent, for
he had no rest while he refused.
On the edge of the forest the Fox was again
sitting, and again it offered in return for its life
the same piece of good advice. The youth was
good-hearted, and said, Be not afraid, little Fox;
I will do you no harm."
"You shall not repent of your goodness," re-
plied the Fox; "but, that you may travel quicker,
get up behind on my tail."
Scarcely had he seated himself when away
they went, over hedges and ditches, up hill and

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

down hill, so fast that their hair whistled in the
wind.
As soon as they arrived at the village the youth
dismounted, and, following the advice he had
received, turned, without looking round, into the,
mean-looking house, where he passed the night
comfortably. The next morning, when he went
into the fields, he found the Fox already there,
who said, '" I will tell you what further you must
do. Go straight forwards, and you will come to
a castle, before which a whole troop of soldiers
will be sleeping and snoring; be not frightened
at them, but go right through the middle of the
troop into the castle, and through all the rooms,
till you come into a chamber where a Golden
Bird hangs in a wooden cage. Near by stands
an empty golden cage for show, but take care
you do not take the bird out of its ugly cage
to place it in the golden one, or you will fare
badly." With these words the Fox again stretched
out its tail, and the King's son mounting as be-
fore, away they went over hill and valley, while
their hair whistled in the wind from the pace
they travelled at. When they arrived at the

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

castle the youth found everything as the Fox
had said. He soon discovered the room where
the Golden Bird sat in its wooden cage, and by
it stood the golden one, and three golden apples
were lying around. The youth thought it would
be a pity to take the bird in such an ugly and
dirty cage, and, opening the door, he put it in
the splendid one. At the moment he did this,
the bird set up a piercing shriek, which woke
the soldiers, who started up and made him a
prisoner. The next morning he was brought to
trial, and when he confessed all he was con-
demned to death. Still the King said he would
spare his life under one condition; namely, if
he brought to him the Golden Horse, which
travelled faster than the wind, and then for 'a
reward he should also receive the Golden Bird.
The young Prince walked out, sighing and
sorrowful, for where was he to find the Golden
Horse? All at once he saw his old friend the
Fox, who said, There, you see what has hap-
pened, because you did not mind what I said.
.But be of good courage; I will' protect you, and
tell you where you may find the horse. You

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

must follow this road straight till you come to a
castle: in the stable there this horse stands. Be-
fore the door a boy will lie fast asleep and snor-
ing, so you must lead away the horse quietly;
but there is one thing you must mind; put on
his back the old saddle of wood and leather,
and not the golden one which hangs close by,
for if you do it will be very unlucky." So say-
ing the Fox stretched out its tail, and again they
went as fast as the wind. Everything was as
the Fox had said, and the youth went into the
stall where the Golden Horse was; but, as he
was about to put on the dirty saddle, he thought
it would be a shame if he did not put on such
a fine animal the saddle which appeared to belong
to him, and so he 'took up the golden saddle.
Scarcely had it touched the back of the horse
when it set up a loud neigh, which awoke the
stable-boys, who put our hero into confinement.
The next morning he was condemned to death;
but the King promised to give him his life and
the horse, if he would bring the Beautiful
Daughter of the King of the Golden Castle.
With a heavy heart the youth set out, and by

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

great good fortune soon met the Fox. "I should
have left you in your misfortune," it said; "but
I felt compassion for you, and am willing once
more to help you out of your trouble. Your
road -to the palace lies straight before you, and
when you arrive there, about evening, wait till
night, when the Princess goes to take a bath.
As soon as she enters the bath-house, do you
spring up and give her a kiss, and she will follow
you wheresoever you will; only take care that
she does not take leave,'of her parents first, or
all will be lost."
With these words the Fox again stretched out
its tail, and the King's son seating himself there-
on, away they went over hill and valley like
the wind. When they arrived at the Golden
Palace, the youth found everything as the Fox
had foretold, and he waited till midnight when
everybody.was in a deep sleep, and at that hour
the beautiful Princess went to her bath, and he
sprang up instantly and kissed her. The Princess
said she was willing to go with him, but begged
him earnestly, with tears in her eyes, to permit
her first to take leave of her parents. At first

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

he withstood her prayers; but, when she wept
still more, and even fell at his feet, he at last
consented.' Scarcely had the maiden stepped up
to her father's bedside, when he awoke, and all
the others who were asleep awakening too, the
poor youth was captured, and put in prison.
The next morning the King said to him,
"Thy life is forfeited, and thou canst only find
mercy if thou clearest away the mountain which
lies before my window, and over which I cannot
see; but thou must remove it within eight days.
If thou accomplish this, then thou shalt have
my daughter as a reward."
The King's son at once began digging and
shovelling away; but when, after seven days, he
saw how little was effected and that all his work
went for nothing, he fell into great grief and
gave up all hope. But on the evening of the
seventh day the Fox appeared and -said, "You
do not deserve that I should notice you again,
but go away and sleep while I work for you."
When he awoke the next morning, and looked
out of the window, the hill had disappeared,
and he hastened to the King full of joy, and told

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

him the conditions were fulfilled; and now,
whether he liked it or not, the King was obliged
to keep his word, and give up his daughter.
Away then went these two together, and no
long time had passed before they met the faithful
Fox. "You have the best certainly," said he,
"but to the Maid of the Golden Castle belongs
also the Golden Horse."
"How shall I obtain it?" inquired the youth.
"That I will tell you," answered the Fox;
"first take to (he King who sent you to the
Golden .Castle .the beautiful Princess. Then
there will be unheard-of joy, and they will
readily show you the Golden Horse and give
it. to you. Do you mount it, and then give
your hand to each for a parting shake, and last
of all to the Princess, whom you must keep
tight hold of, and pull her up behind you, and
as soon as that is done ride off, and. no one
can pursue you, for the horse goes as fast as the
wind." All this was happily accomplished, and
the King's son led away the beautiful Princess in
triumph on the Golden Horse. The Fox did not
remain behind, and said to the prince, Now

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

I will help you to 'the Golden Bird. When
you come near the castle where it is, let the
maiden get down, and I will take her into my
cave. Then do you ride into the castle-yard,
and at the sight of you there will be such joy
that they will readily give you the bird; and as
soon as you hold the cage in your hand ride back
to us, and fetch again the maiden."
As soon as this deed was done, and the Prince
had ridden back with his treasure, the Fox said,
"Now you must reward me for my services."
"What do you desire?" asked the youth.
"When we come into yonder wood, shoot me
dead, and cut off my head and feet."
"That were a curious gratitude," said the
Prince; I cannot possibly do that."
"If you will not do it, I must leave you,"
replied the Fox; "but before I depart I will give
you one piece of counsel. Beware of these two
points: buy no gallows-flesh, and sit not on the
brink of a spring?" With these words it ran
into the forest.
The young Prince thought, "Ah, that is a
wonderful animal, with some curious fancies?

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

Who would buy gallows-flesh? and I don't see
the pleasure of sitting on the brink of a spring ?"
Onwards he rode with his beautiful companion,
and by chance the way led him through the
village where his two brothers had stopped.
There he found a great uproar and lamentation;
and when he asked the reason, he was told that
two persons were about to be hanged. When
he came nearer, he saw that they were his two
brothers, who had done some villanous deeds,
besides spending all their money. He inquired if
they could not be freed, and was told by the
people that he might buy them off if he would,
but they were not worth his gold, and deserved
nothing but hanging. Nevertheless,' he did not
hesitate, but paid down the money, and his two
brothers were released.
After this they all four set out in company, and
soon came to the forest where they had first met
the Fox; and as it was cool and pleasant beneath
the trees, for the sun was very hot, the- two
brothers said, "Come, let us rest awhile here by
this spring, and eat and drink." The youngest
consented, forgetting in the heat of conversation

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

the warning he had received, and feeling no
anxiety; but all at once the brothers threw him
backwards into the water, and taking the maiden,
the horse, and the bird, went home to their father.
"We bring you," said they to him, "not only
the Golden Bird, but also the Golden Horse and
the Princess of 'the Golden Castle." At their
arrival there was great joy; but the Horse would
not eat, the, Bird would not sing, and the Maiden
would not speak, but wept bitterly from morning
to night.
The youngest brother, however, was not dead.
The spring, by great good luck, was dry, and he
fell upon soft moss without any injury; but he
could not get out again. Even in this necessity
the faithful Fox did not leave him, but soon came
up, and scolded him for not following its advice.
"Still I cannot forsake you," it said; "but I will
again help you to escape. Hold fast upon my
tail, and I will draw you up to the top." When
this was done, the Fox said, "You are not yet
out of danger, for your brothers are not confident
of your death, and have set spies all round the
forest, who are to kill you if they should see you."

THE FOX'S BRUSH.

The youth thereupon changed clothes with
a poor old man who was sitting near, and in that
guise went to the King's palace. Nobody knew
him; but instantly the Bird began to sing, the
Horse began to eat, and the beautiful Maiden
ceased weeping. Bewildered at this change, the
King asked what it meant. "I know not,"
replied the Maiden; but I who was sad am
now gay, for I feel as if my true husband were
returned." Then she told him all that had
happened; although the other brothers, had
threatened her with death if she disclosed any-
thing. The King summoned before him all the
people who were in the castle, and among them
came the poor youth, dressed as a beggar, in his
rags; but the Maiden knew him, and fell upon
his neck. The wicked brothers were seized and
tried; but the youngest married the Princess,
and succeeded to the King's inheritance.

But what happened to the poor Fox? Long
after, the Prince went once again into the wood,
and there met the Fox, who said, "You have now
everything that you can desire, but to my mis-

THE FOX'S BRUSH. 41

fortunes there is no end, although it lies in your
power to release me." And, with tears, it begged
the Prince to cut off its head and feet. At last
he did so; and scarcely was it accomplished when
the Fox became a man, who was no other than
the brother of the Princess, delivered at length
from the charm which bound him. From that
day nothing was ever wanting to the happiness of
the Hero of the Golden Bird.

THE EVIL SPIRIT AND HIS GRAND-
MOTHER.

K HERE was once upon a time a mighty
war, and the King of a certain country
had many Soldiers engaged in it; but he
gave them such very small pay that they had
scarce enough to live upon. At length three
of the Soldiers agreed to run away, and one of
them asked the others what they should do; for,
supposing they were caught again, they would
be hung upon the gallows. "Do you see yon
great cornfield?" said the other, "there we will
conceal ourselves, and nobody will find us; for
the army will not dare to come there, and to-
morrow they will march on." So they crept
into the corn; but the army did not move, but
remained encamped in the same place. The
three Soldiers were obliged, therefore, to pass
two days and two nights in the corn, and they
became so hungry they thought they must die;
but it was certain death if they returned to the

THE EVIL SPIRIT AND HIS GRANDMOTHER. 43

army. They said to one another, "What avails
our deserting? we shall now certainly perish
miserably from hunger." While they were talk-
ing a great fiery Dragon came flying over their
heads, and, alighting near the spot where they
were, asked why they had concealed themselves.
"We are three Soldiers," they replied, and have
deserted because our pay was so small; and now
we shall die from hunger if we stay here, or be
hung on the gallows if we return."
"If you will serve me seven years," said the
Dragon, "I will carry you through the midst of
the army, so that no one shall observe you."
"We have no choice, and so must consent to
your proposal," replied the Soldiers. The Dragon
thereupon caught them up by his claws, and
carried them through the air, over the heads of
their comrades, and presently set them down.
Now, this Dragon was the Evil Spirit; and he
gave the Soldiers a whip each, and then said, "If
you crack this well, as much money as you require
will instantly appear before you; and you can
then live like lords, keep your own horses and
carriages; but at the end of seven years you will

44 THE EVIL SPIRIT AND HIS GRANDMOTHER.

be mine." With these words he handed them a
book in which they had to write their names,
while the Evil Spirit told them he would give
them one chance when the time was up of escap-
ing his power by answering a riddle which he
would propose. Then the Dragon flew away
from them; and the three Soldiers each cracked
their whips, and cracked their whips for as much
money as they required, with which they bought
fine clothes, and travelled about like gentlemen.
Wherever they went they lived in the greatest
splendor, driving and riding 'about, and eating and
drinking to their hearts' content; but no bad action
could be laid to their charge. The time passed
quickly by; and as the end of the seven years
approached, two of the three Soldiers became very
unhappy and dispirited; but the third treated the
matter very lightly, saying, "Fear nothing, my
brothers! I have got a plan in my head, and I
will solve the riddle." Soon afterwards they went
into the fields, where they sat down, and two of
them made very wry faces. Presently an old
Woman came by, and asked them why they were
so sorrowful. "Alas!" said they, "alas! what

THE EVIL SPIRIT AND HIS GRANDMOTHER. 45

does it signify? you cannot help us." "Who
knows that?" she replied; "confide your griefs
to me." So they told her they had become
the servants of the Evil One, nearly seven years
back, and thereby they came into possession of
money as fast as they liked; but they had signed
the deed, and if they could not guess a riddle
which he would propose to them they were lost.
"If you wish to be helped," replied the old Wo-
man, "one of you must go into the forest, and
there he will find a rock overthrown, and made
into the form of a hut; into this he must enter,
and there he will meet with help." The two
low-spirited Soldiers thought this would not help
them; but the merry one got up, and going into
the forest, came soon to the rocky cave. In this
place sat a very old Woman, who was Grand-
mother to the Evil Spirit; and she asked the Sol-
dier when he entered,.whence he came, and what
his business was. He told her everything that
had happened; and because his manners pleased
her she took compassion, on him, and said she
could assist him. Thereupon she raised a large
stone, under which was the cellar, wherein she

46 THE EVIL SPIRIT AND HIS GRANDMOTHER.

bade the Soldier conceal himself, and he would
hear all that transpired. "Only sit still and keep
very quiet," said she, "and then when the Dragon
returns I will ask him about the puzzle, and you
must mind what answers he makes." About
twelve o' clock at night the Dragon flew in, and,
desired his dinner. His Grandmother, therefore,
covered the table with food and drink, and they
ate and drank together till they were satisfied.
Then she asked him what success he had met
with that day, and how many souls he had se-
cured ? "Things did not go well to-day," replied
the Dragon; "but yet I have caught three Sol-
diers safe enough." "Ah! three Soldiers!" said
the old Woman; ".and I suppose you have set
them something to do, that they may not escape
you." "They are mine, they are mine!" cried
the Evil One, gleefully; "for I have set them a
riddle which they will never guess."
"What is this riddle ?" asked his Grandmother.
"I will tell you!" replied her Grandsonm
"In the great North Sea lies a dead sea-cat,
that shall be their roast meat; the rib of a whale
shall be their silver spoon; and an old hollow

THE EVIL SPIRIT AND HIS GRANDMOTHER. 47

horse's hoof shall be their wineglass." As soon
as the Dragon had said this he went to bed, and
the old Woman raised the stone and let out the
Soldier. Have you attended perfectly to all that
was said?" inquired the old Woman. "Yes,"
he replied, "I know well enough how to help
myself now."
Then he had to slip secretly out of the window,
and by another road regain his companions with
all the haste he could. He told them how craft-
ily the old Grandmother had overreached the
Dragon, and had laid bare to him the solution of
the riddle. When he had finished his story the
two other Soldiers recovered their spirits; and, all
taking their whips, flogged for themselves so
much money that it lay in heaps all around them.
Not long after this the seven years came to
an end, and the Evil Spirit made his appearance
with-the book, and pointing to their signatures,
said to the Soldiers, "Now I will take you into
my dominions, and there you shall have a meal;
but, if you can tell me what meat you shall have,
you shall be at liberty to go Where you like and
keep your whips."

48 THE EVIL SPIRIT AND HIS GRANDMOTHER.

"In the great North Sea lies a dead sea-cat, and
that shall be the roast meat," replied the first Sol-
dier.
The Evil Spirit was very much put out with
this ready answer; hemmed and hawed, and asked
the second man what should be the spoon? "The
rib of a whale shall be the silver spoon," replied
the second Soldier.
The Evil Spirit now drew a longer face than
before, began to grumble and swear, and asked the
third Soldier, "Do you know what your wine-
glass will be?"
"An old horse's hoof!" he replied.
At this reply the Evil Spirit flew away with a
loud outcry, for he had no longer any power over
the three Soldiers, who, taking up their whips,
procured all the money they wanted, and thereon
lived happily and contentedly to a good old age.

N..[. '
*-,*^*1Y
.sn4~
x' C^

-9

THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN.

.'_NCE upon a time a wonderful Fiddler
-' was travelling through a wood, thinking
of all sorts of things as he went along,
and presently he said to himself, I have plenty
of time and space in this forest, so I will fetch a
good companion "; and, taking the fiddle from his
back, he fiddled till the trees re-echoed. Pres-
ently a Wolf came crashing through the brush-
wood.
"Ah! a Wolf. comes, for whom I have no de-
sire," said the Fiddler; but the Wolf, approaching
nearer, said, "0, you dear Musician, how beauti-
fully you play! might I learn how ?"
"It is soon learnt; you have only to do exactly
as I tell you." Then the Wolf replied, "I will
mind you just as a school-boy does his master," So
the Musician told the Wolf to come with him;
and when they had gone a little distance together
they came to an old oak-tree, which was hollow
within and split in the middle. "See here," said

THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN.

the Musician, "if you wish to learn how to fiddle,
put your forefoot in this cleft." The Wolf
obeyed; but the Fiddler, snatching up a stone,
quickly wedged both his feet so fast with one
blow that the Wolf was stuck fast, and obliged to
remain where he was. "Wait there till I come
again," said, the Fiddler, and went on his way.
After a while he said to himself a second time,
"I have plenty of time and space in the forest, so
I will fetch another companion"; and, taking his
fiddle, he played away in the wood. Presently a
Fox came sneaking through the trees.
"Ah!" said the Musician, "here comes a Fox,
whom I did not desire."
The Fox, running up, said, "Ah, you dear Mis-
ter MIusician, how is it you, fiddle so beautifully?
might I learn too?"
"It is soon learnt," answered he; "but you
must do all I tell you." "I will obey you as a
school-boy does his master," answered the Fox,
and he followed the Musician. After they had
walked a little distance he came to a footpath,
with high hedges on each side. The Musician
stopped, and pulling the bough of a hazel-tree

THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN.

down to the ground on one side, he put his foot
upon it, and then bent another down on the other
side, saying, "Come, little Fox, if you wish to
learn something, reach me here your left fore-
foot." The Fox obeyed, and the Musician bound
the foot to the left bough. Now reach me the
other, little Fox," said he, and he bound that to
the right bough. And as soon as he saw that the
knots were fast he let go, and the boughs sprang
back into the air, carrying the Fox, shaking and
quivering, up with them. "Wait there till I
come again," said the Musician, and went on his
way.
After a little while he said again to himself,
"Time and space are not wanting to me in this
forest; I will fetch another companion"; and,
taking his fiddle, he made the sound re-echo in
the woods.
"Aha!" said he, "a Hare! I won't have him."
"0, you dear Musician! said the Hare, "how
do you fiddle so beautifully? Could I learn it
too ?"
"It is soon learnt," replied the Musician, "only
do all I tell you." The little Hare replied, "I

THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN.

will obey you as a school-boy does his master";
and they went on together till they came to a
clear space in the forest where an aspen-tree stood.
The Musician bound a long twine round the neck
of the Hare, and knotted the other end to a tree.
"Now, my lively little Hare, jump twenty times
round the tree," exclaimed the Musician. The
Hare obeyed; and, as he jumped round the twen-
tieth time, the twine had wound itself round the
tree twenty times also, and made the Hare pris-
oner; and, pull and tug as much as he would, the
cord only cut the deeper into his neck. "Wait
there till I come again," said the Musician, and
went on further.
The Wolf, meanwhile, had been pulling, drag-
ging, and biting at the stone, and worked at it so
long that at last he set his feet at liberty, and drew
them again out of the cleft. Then, full of rage
and anger, he hastened after the Musician, intend-
ing to tear him into pieces.: As the Fox saw him
running past he began to groan, and shouted with
all his power, "Brother Wolf, come and help me;
the Musician has deceived me!" So the Wolf,
pulling the branches down, bit the knot to pieces,

THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN.

and freed the Fox, who went on with him in
order to take revenge on the Musician. On their
way they found the Hare tied, and setting him at
liberty, all three set out in pursuit of their enemy.
The Musician, however, had once more played
his fiddle, and this time had been very lucky, for
the notes came to the ears of a poor wood-cutter,
who left off his work directly, whether he wished
or not, and with his axe under his arm, came up
to hear the music.
"At last the right companion has come," said
the Musician; "for I desired a man, and not a
wild beast." And beginning to play, he played so
beautifully and delightfully that the poor man was
as if enchanted, and his heart beat for joy. While
he thus stood, the Wolf, the Fox, and the Hare
came up, and he observed directly that they had
,some bad design; so, raising his bright axe, he
placed himself before the Musician, as if he would
say, "Who wishes to attack must take care of
himself." :His looks made the animals afraid, and
they ran back into the'forest; but the Musician,
after playing one more tune out of gratitude to the
wood-cutter, went on his journey.

THE DWARFS.

HERE was once upon a time a rich King
who had three daughters, who all day
long were accustomed to walk in the
gardens of their father's palace. The King was a
great admirer of every species of tree, but of one
in particular it was said that whoever should pluck
off a single apple would sink a hundred feet into
the ground. Now, when harvest came, the apples
on this tree were as red as blood, and the three
Princesses went every day under the tree to see if
any of the fruit had fallen; but the wind did not
blow any down, and the branches were so over-
loaded that they hung almost on the groundI At
last the youngest of the three daughters took such
a fancy to the fruit that she said to her sisters,
"Our father loves us so much he will never cause
us to disappear underground; he only meant that
judgment for strangers"; and so saying, she
plucked an apple, and, jumping before her sisters,
invited them also to taste it. So the three sisters

THE DWARFS.

shared it between them; but as soon as they had
eaten it they all sank down below the earth, so far
that no bird could scratch them up.
By and by, when it became noon, the King
wanted his daughters, but they were nowhere to
be found, though the servants searched all over the
house and gardens. At length, when he could
hear nothing about them, the King caused it to be
proclaimed throughout the country, that whoever
should bring back the Princesses should receive
one of them as a bride. Thereupon numbers of
young men travelled about on land and sea to find
the maidens;' for every one was desirous to regain
them, they were so amiable and pretty. Amongst
others there went out three young Huntsmen,
who, after travelling about eight days, came to a
large castle, wherein every room was splendidly
furnished; and in one room they fouod a large
table," and on it was spread all manner of delicate
food, and everything was still so warm that it
smoked; yet nowhere did they hear or see any
human being. Here they waited half the. day,
while the meats still smoked before them, till at
length they became very hungry, and, sitting

THE DWARFS.

down, they ate what they liked, and afterwards
agreed together that one should remain in the
castle while the two others sought the Princesses;
and, to decide the matter, they drew lots; and it
fell to the share of the eldest to stop on the spot.
The next day, accordingly, the two younger
brothers took their departure, while the .eldest
remained in the castle; and about noon a. little
Dwarf entered, and brought in some pieces of
roast meat, which he cut in pieces, and then
handed them; and while he held it to the young
Huntsman he let one piece fall, and the Dwarf
asked him to be good enough to pick it up again.
So he bent down to do so, and immediately the
Dwarf jumped on him, and caught him by the
hair, and beat him roughly. The next day the
second brother remained at home, but he fared no
better; and, when the two others returned, the
eldest asked him how he had passed the day.
"O! badly enough, I can tell you," he replied;
and the two brothers told each other of what had
befallen them; but they said nothing to their
youngest brother, for fear he should refuse to have
any part in the matter. So the third day he re-

THE DWARFS.

mained at home, and the Dwarf entered as usual
with the meat, and, letting one piece fall, re-
quested the youth to pick it up. But he said to
the Dwarf, "What! can you not pick that up
yourself? If you had the trouble of earning your
daily bread you would be glad enough, but now
you are not worth what you eat!"
This answer made the Dwarf very angry; but
the youth griped hold of him, and gave him such
a shake that he exclaimed, "Stop, stop! and let
me go, and I will tell you where the King's
daughters are."
When the youth heard this he let him drop,
and the little mannikin said he was an under-
ground Dwarf, and there were more than a thou-
sand like him; and if any one went with him he
could show him where the Princesses were living;
that he knew the place, which was a deep well,
where no water entered. The Dwarf told him
further that he knew his brothers would not act
honorably to him, and, therefore, if he would
rescue the King's daughters he must go alone, and
must take with him a great basket wherein to let
himself down, and go armed with his forester's

THE DWARFS.

knife; and below he would find three rooms, in
each of which would sit a Princess, guarded by
dragons with many heads, all of which heads he
must cut off. As soon as the Dwarf had said all
this he disappeared; and about evening the two
brothers returned, and asked the youngest how he
had passed the time. "0, very well, indeed,"
he replied; "and about noon a Dwarf came in,
who cut up the meat,' and let one piece fall, which
he asked me to pick up; but I refused; and, as he
flew into a passion, I gave him a shake, and pres-
ently he told me where to find the Princesses."
This tale sorely vexed the other brothers, who
turned blue with suppressed rage; but the next
morning they all went up the hill, and drew lots
who should descend first into the basket. The lot
fell, as before, to the eldest, and he went down,
taking a bell with him, which when he rang they
were to pull him up as fast as they could. So
after he had been down a little while he rang his
bell furiously; and, as soon as he was drawn up,
the second brother took his place and went down;
-but he quickly rang to be pulled up again. The
turn now came to the youngest brother, who al-

THE DWARFS.

lowed himself to be let down to the very bottom,
and there, getting out pf the basket, he marched
bbldly up to the first door, with his drawn knife
in his hand. There he heard the dragons snoring
loudly; and, on his carefully opening the door, he
saw one of the Princesses sitting within, with the
dragon's nine heads in her lap. He raised his
knife and cut these heads off; and immediately
the Princess jumped up and hugged and kissed
him, and fell upon his neck, and then gave him
her golden necklace for a reward. Next he went
after the second Princess, who had a dragon with
seven heads by her side,; he also freed her, and
then went to the youngest, who was guarded by a
four-headed dragon. This beast he also destroyed;
and then the three sisters embraced and kissed him
so much that at last he clashed the bell very hard,
so that those above might hear. When the basket
came down he set each Princess in by turns, and
let them be drawn up; but, as -it descended for
him, he remembered the Dwarf's saying that his
brothers would be faithless to him. So he picked
up a huge stone, and laid it in the basket, and just
as the false brothers had drawn it half-way up
they cut the cord at the top, and the basket with

THE DWARFS.

the stone in it fell plump to the bottom. By this
means they thought they.had rid themselves of
their brother; and they made the three Princesses
promise that they would tell their father it was
they who had delivered them; and then they
went home to the King and demanded the Prin-
cesses for their wives. 'But meanwhile the young-
est brother wandered about sadly in the three
.chambers, and thought he should have to die here,
when all at once he perceived on the walls a flute,
and he thought to himself, "Ah! what good can
this be here? What is there to make one
merry?" He kicked, too, the dragons' heads,
saying, "And what good are you to me? you can-
not help-me!" Up and down, to and fro, many
times he walked, so often, indeed, the floor was
worn smooth.
By and by other thoughts came into his head,
and, seizing the flute, he blew a little on it; and,
behold, ever so many little Dwarfs instantly ap-
peared! He blew a little longer, and with every
note a fresh one came, till at last the room was
quite filled with them. Then all of them asked
what his wishes were, and he told them that he
wanted to be up above on earth again, and in the

THE DWARFS.

clear daylight. Immediately each Dwarf seized a
hair of his head, and away they flew up the well
with him till they landed him at the top. As
soon as ever he was safe on his legs again, he set
out for the royal palace, and arrived about the
time the weddings of the Princesses were to be
celebrated. So he hurried up to the room where
the King sat with his three daughters; and as
soon as he entered they were so overcome that
they fainted away. This made the King very
angry; and he ordered the new-comer to be put in
prison, for he thought he had done his children
some injury; but as soon as they recovered them-
selves they begged their father to set him at
liberty. But he asked them their reason; and
when they said they dare not tell him, he bade
them tell their story to the oven; an'd meantime he
went outside and listened at the door. When the
King had heard all, he caused the two traitorous
brothers to be hanged; but he gave his youngest
daughter .in marriage to the true deliverer.

And to their wedding I went in a pair of glass
shoes, and, kicking against the wall, broke them
all topieces.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN.

SERE was once a poor Miller who had
a beautiful daughter; and one day, hav-
ing to go to speak with the King, he
said, in order to make himself appear of conse-
quence, that he had a daughter who could spin
straw into gold. The King was very fond of gold,
and thought to himself, "That is an art which
would please me very well"; and so he said to the.
Miller, "If your daughter is so very clever, bring
her to' the castle in the morning,, and I will put
her to the proof."
As soon as she arrived, the King led her into a
chamber which was full of straw; and, giving her
a wheel and a reel, he said, "Now set yourself to
work, and if you have not spun this straw into
gold by an early hour to-morrow, you must die."
With these words he shut the room door, and left
the maiden alone.
There she sat for a long time, thinking how to
save her life; for she understood nothing of the

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RUMPELSTILTSKIN.

art whereby straw might be spun into gold; and
her perplexity increased more and more, till at last,
she began to weep. All at once the door opened
and in stepped a little Man, who said, "Good
evening, fair maiden; why do you weep so sore?"
"Ah!" she replied, "I must spin this straw into
gold, and I am sure I do not know how."
The little Man asked, "What will you give me
if I spin it for you ?"
"My necklace," said the maiden.
The Dwarf took it, placed himself in front of
the wheel, and whir, whir, whir, three times
round, and the bobbin was full. Then he set
up another, and whir, whir, whir, thrice round
again, and a second bobbin was full; and so he
went all night long, until all the straw was spun,
and the bobbins were full of gold. At sunrise the
King came, very much astonished to see the gold;
the sight of which gladdened him, but did not
make his heart less covetous. He caused the
maiden to be led into another room, still larger,
full of straw; and then he bade her spin it into
gold during the night if she valued her life. The
maiden was again quite at a loss what to do; but

RUMPELSTILTSKIN.

while she cried the door opened suddenly, as be-
fore, and the Dwarf appeared and asked her what
she would give, him in return for his assistance.
"The ring off my finger," she replied. The little
Man took the ring and began to spin at once, and
by the morning all the straw was changed to glis-
tening gold. The King was rejoiced above meas-
ure at the sight of this, but still he was not satis-
fied; but, leading the maiden into another still
larger room, full of straw as the others, he said,
"Thi' you must spin during the night; but if you
accomplish it you shall be my bride." "For,"
thought he to himself, "a richer wife thou canst
not have in all the world."
When the maiden was left alone, the Dwarf
again appeared, and asked, for the third time,
"What will you give me to do this for you?"
I have nothing left that I can give you," re-
plied the maiden.
"Then promise me your first-born child if you
become Queen," said he.
The Miller's daughter thought, "Who can tell
if that will ever happen?" and, ignorant how else
to help herself out of her trouble, she promised the

RUMPELSTILTSKIN.

Dwarf what he desired; and he immediately set
about and finished the spinning. When morning
came, and the King found all he had wished for
done, he celebrated his wedding, and the fair Mil-
ler's daughter became Queen.
About a year after the marriage, when she had
ceased to think about the little Dwarf, she brought
a fine child into the world; and, suddenly, soon
after its birth, the very man appeared and demanded
what she had promised. The frightened Queen
offered him all the riches of the kingdom if he
would leave her her child; but the Dwarf an-
swered, "No; something human is dearer to me
than all the wealth of the world."
The Queen began to weep and groan so much,
that the Dwarf compassionate her, and said, "I
will leave you three days to consider; if you in
that time discover my name you shall keep your
child."
All night long the Queen racked her brains for
all the names she could think of, and sent a mes-
senger through the country to collect far and wide
any new names. The following morning came
the Dwarf, and she began with "Caspar," "Mel-

RUMPELSTILTSKIN.

chior," "Balthassar," and all the odd names she
knew; but at each the little Man exclaimed,
"That is not my name." The second day the
Queen inquired of all her people for uncommon
and curious names, and called the Dwarf "Ribs-
of-Beef," "Sheep-shank," "Whalebone"; but at
each he said, "This is not my name." The third
day the messenger came back and said, "I have
not found a single name; but as I came to a high
mountain near the edge of a forest, where foxes
and hares say good night to each other, I saw
there a little house, and before the door a fire was
burning, and round this fire a very curious little
Man was dancing on one leg, and shouting, -
"'To-day I stew, and then I'11 bake,
To-morrow I shall the 'Queen's child take;
Ah! how famous it is that nobody knows
That my name is Rumpelstiltskin.'"

When the Queen heard this she was very glad,
for now she knew the name; and soon after came
the Dwarf, and asked, "Now, my lady Queen,
what is my name ?"
First she said, "Are you called Conrade?"
'' No."

RUMPELSTILTSKIN. 67

"Are you called Hal ?" "No."
"Are you called Rumpelstiltskin ?"
"A witch has told you! a witch has told you "
shrieked the little Man, and stamped his right foot
so hard in the ground with rage that he could not
draw it out again. Then he took hold of his left
leg with both his hands, and pulled away so hard
that his right came off in the struggle, and he
hopped away howling terribly. And from that
day to this the Queen has heard no more of her
troublesome visitor.

FLORINDA AND FLORINDEL.

NCE upon a time, in a castle in the midst
of a large thick wood, there lived an old
Witch all by herself. By day she
changed herself into a cat or an owl; but in the
evening she resumed her right form. She was
able also to allure to her the wild animals and birds,
whom she killed, cooked, and ate, for whoever
ventured within a hundred steps of her castle was
obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the
spot until she allowed it; but if a pretty maiden
came into the circle, the Witch changed her into
a bird, and then put her into a basket, which she
carried into one of the rooms in the castle; and in
this room were already many thousand such bas-
kets of rare birds.
Now there was a young maiden called Florinda,
who was exceedingly pretty, and she was be-
trothed to a youth named Florindel, and just at
the time that the events which I am about to re-
late happened, they were passing the days together

B

FLQRINDA AND FLORINDEL.

in a round of pleasure. One day they went into
the forest for a walk, and Florindel said, "Take
care that you do not go too near the castle." It was
a beautiful evening; the sun shining between the
stems of the trees, and brightening up the dark
green leaves and the turtle-doves cooing softly
upon the May-bushes. Florinda began to cry, and
sat down in the sunshine with Florindel, who
cried-too, for they were quite frightened, and
thought they should die, when they looked round
and saw how far they had wandered, and that
there was no house in sight. The sun was yet
half above the hills and half below, and Florindel,
looking through the brushwood, saw the old walls
of the castle close by them, which frightened him
terribly, so that he fell off his seat. Then Florinda
sang,-
My little bird, with his ring so red,
Sings sorrow, and sorrow and woe;
For he sings that the turtle-dove soon will be dead,
Oh sorrow, and sorrow -jug, jug, jug."
Florindel lifted up his head, and saw Florinda was
changed into a nightingale, which was singing,
"Jug, jug, jug," and presently an owl flew round
thrice, with his eyes glistening, and crying; "Tu

FLORINDA AND FLORINDEL.

wit, tu woo." Florindel could not stir; there he
stood like a stone, and could not weep, nor speak,
nor move hand or fdot. Meanwhile the sun set,.
and the owl flying into a bush, out came an ugly
old woman, thin and yellow, with great red eyes,
and a crooked nose which reached down to her
chin. She muttered, and seized the nightingale,
and carried it away in her hand, while Florindel
remained there incapable of moving or speaking.
At last the Witch returned, and said, with a hol-
low voice, "Greet you, Zachiel! if the moon
shines on your side, release this one at once."
Then Florindel became free, and fell down on
his knees before the Witch, and begged her to
give-him back Florinda; but she refused, and said
he should never again have her, and went away.
He cried, and wept, and groaned after her, but all
to no purpose; and at length he rose and went
into a strange village, where for some time he
tended sheep. He often went round about the
enchanted castle, but never too near, and one
night, after so walking, he dreamt that he found a
blood-red flower, in the middle of which lay a
fine pearl. This flower, he thought, he broke

FLORINDA AND FLORINDEL.

off, and, going therewith to the castle, all he
touched with it was free from enchantment, and
thus he regained his Florinda.
When he awoke next morning he began his
search over hill and valley to find such a flower,
but nine days had passed away. At length, early
one morning he discovered it, and in its middle
was a large dewdrop, like a beautiful pearl, Then
he carried the flower day and night, till he came
to the castle; and, although he ventured within
the enchanted circle, he was not stopped, but
walked on quite to the door. Florindel was now
in high spirits, and touching the door with his
flower, it flew open. He entered, and passed
through the hall, listening for the sound of the
birds, which at last he heard. He found the
room, and went in, and there was the Enchantress
feeding the birds in the seven thousand baskets.
As soon as she saw Florindel, she became fright-
fully enraged, and spat out poison and gall at him,
but she dared not come too close. He wquld not
turn back for her, but looked at the baskets of
birds; but, alas! there were many hundreds of
nightingales, and how was he to know his Flo-

72 FLORINDA AND FLORINDEL.
ririda ? While he was examining them he per-
ceived the old woman secretly taking away one
of the baskets, and slipping but of the door. Flo-
rindel flew after her, and touched the basket with
his flower, and also the old woman, so that she
could no longer bewitch; and at once Florinda
stood before him and fell upon his neck, as beauti-
ful as she ever was. Afterwards he disenchanted
all the other birds, and then returned home with
his Florinda, and for many years they lived to-
gether happily and contentedly.

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

HERE was once upon a time a rich man,
who had a Servant so honest and indus-
trious that he was every morning the
first up, and every evening the last to come in;
and, besides, whenever there was a difficult job to
be done, which nobody else would undertake, this
servant always volunteered his assistance. More-
over, he never complained, but was contented with
everything, and happy under all circumstances.
When his year of service was up, his master gave
him no reward, for he thought to himself, that
will be the cleverest way, and by saving his wage,
I shall keep my. man quietly in my service. The
Servant said nothing, but did his work during the
second year as well as the first; but still he re-
ceived nothing for it, so he made himself happy
about the matter, and remained a year longer.
When this third year was also past, the master
considered, and put his hand in his pocket, but
drew nothing out; so the Servant said, '"I have

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

served you honestly for three years, master, be so
good as to give me what I deserve; for I wish to
leave, and look about me a bit in the world."
"Yes, my good fellow," replied the covetous old
man; "you have served me industriously, and,
therefore, you shall be cheerfully rewarded." With
these words he ,dipped his hand into his pocket,
and drew out three farthings, which he gave the
Servanit, saying, "There, you, have a farthing for
each year, which is a much more bountiful and
liberal reward than you would have received'from
most masters! "
The honest Servant, who understood very little
about money, jinked his capital, and thought,
"Ah! now I have a pocketful of money, so:why
need I plague myself any longer with hard work!"
So off he walked, skipping and jumping about from
one side of the road to the other, full ofjoy. Pres-
ently he came to some bushes, out of which a lit-
tle man stepped, and called out, "Whither away,
merry brother? I see you do not carry much bur-
den in the .way of cares." "Why should I be
sad?" replied the Servant; "I have enough; the
wages of three years are rattling in my pocket."

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

How much is your treasure?" inquired the
Dwarf
"How much? Three farthings, honestly counted
out," said the Servant.
"Well," said the Dwarf, 'I am a poor needy
man; give me your three farthings; I can work no
longer, but you are young, and can earn your bread
easily."
Now, because the Servant had a compassionate
heart, he pitied the old man, and handed him the
three farthings, saying, "In the name of God take
them, and I shall not want."
Thereupon the little man said, "Because I see
you have a good heart I promise you three wishes,
one for each farthing, and all shall be fulfilled."
Aha ?" exclaimed the Servant, "you are one
who can blow black and blue! Well, then, if it
is to be so, I wish, first, for a gun, which shall
bring down all I aim at; secondly, a fiddle, which
shall make all who hear it dance; thirdly, that
whatever request I make to any one, it shall not
be in their power to refuse me.'
All this you shall have," said the Dwarf; and
diving into his pocket he produced a fiddle and

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

gun, as soonas you could think, all in readiness,
as if they had been ordered long ago. These he
gave to the Servant, and then said to him, What-
ever you may ask, shall no man in the world be
able to refuse." With that he disappeared.
"What more can you desire now, my heart?"
said the Servant to himself, and walked merrily
onwards. Soon he met a Jew with a very long
beard, who was standing listening to the song of a
bird which hung high up upon a tree. "What a
wonder," he was exclaiming, "that such a small
creature should- have such an immense voice! if it
were only mine! 0, that I could strew some salt
upon its tail!"
"If that is all," broke in the Servant, "the bird
shall soon be down "; and aiming with his gun he
pulled the trigger, and down it fell in the middle
of a thorn-bush. "Go, you rogue, and fetch the
bird out!" said he to the Jew.
"Leave out the rogue, my'master," returned the
other; "before the dog comes I will fetch out the
bird, because you killed it so well." So saying,
the Jew went down on his hands and knees and
crawled into the bush; and while he stuck fast

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

among the thorns, the good Servant felt so ro-
guishly inclined, that he took up his fiddle and
began to play. At the same moment the Jew was
upon his legs, and began to dance about, while the
more the Servant played the better went the dance.
But the thorns tore his shabby coat, combed out
his beard, and pricked and stuck all over his body.
"My master," 'cried the Jew, "what is your fid-
dling to me! leave the fiddle alone; I do not
want to dance."
But the Servant did not pay any attention, and
said to the Jew, while he played anew, so that the
poor man jumped higher than ever, and the rags
of his clothes hung about the bushes, "You have
fleeced people enough in your time, and now the
'thorny hedge shall give you a turn." 0, woe's
me!" 'cried the Jew; "I will give the master
what he desires, if only he leaves off fiddling, a
purse of gold." "If you are so liberal," said the
Servant, "I will stop my music; but this I must
say to your credit, that you dance as if you had
been bred to it"; and thereupon taking the purse
he went his way.
The Jew stood still and watched him out of

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

sight, and then he began to abuse him with all his
might. "You miserable musician, you beer-tip-
pler! wait, if I do but catch you alone, I will hunt
you till the soles of your shoes fall off! you raga-
muffin, you farthingsworth!" And so he went on
calling him all the names he could lay-his tongue
Sto. As soon as he had regained his breath and
arranged his dress a bit, he ran into the town to
the justice. "My lord judge," he said, "I have a
sorry tale to tell: see how a rascally man has used
me on the public highway, robbed and beaten me!
A stone on the ground might pity me; my clothes
all torn, my body scratched and wounded all over,
poverty come upon me with the loss of my purse,
besides several ducats, one piece more valuable
than all the others; for Heaven's sake let the man
be put in prison!"
"Was it a soldier," inquired the judge, "who
has thus cut you with his sabre?" "God forbid !"
cried the Jew; "it was no sword the rogue had,
but he carried a gun upon his shoulder, and a fid-
dle slung round his neck; the evil wretch is easily
known."
So the judge sent his people out after the man,

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

and they soon found the Servant, whom they drove
slowly before them, when they found the purse
upon him. As soon as he was set before the judge
he said, "I have not touched the Jew, nor taken
his money; for he gave it to me of his own free-
will, because he wished me to cease my fiddling,
which he could not endure."
Heaven defend us!" cried the Jew. "He tells
lies as fast as he can catch the flies upon the wall."
The judge also would not believe his tale, and
said, "This is a bad defence, for no Jew would do
as you say." Thereupon, because the robbery had
been committed on the public road, he sentenced
the good Servant to be hanged. As he was led
thither the Jew began again to abuse him, crying
out, "You bearskin! you dog of a fiddler! now
you shall receive your well-earned reward!" But
the Servant walked quietly with the hangman to
the gallows, and upon the last step of the ladder
he turned round and said to the judge," Grant me
one request before I die."
"Yes, if you do not ask your life," said the
judge.
Not life do I request, but that you will allow

79

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

me to play one tune upon my fiddle, for a last fa-
vor," replied the Servant.
The Jew raised a great cry of "Murder! mur-
der! for God's sake do not allow it!" "Why
should I not grant him this short enjoyment ? "
asked the judge: it is almost all over with him,!
and he shall have this last favor." (However, he
could not have refused the request which the Ser-
vant had made.)
Then the Jew exclaimed, "0! woe's me! hold
me fast, tie me fast!" while the Servant taking his
fiddle from his neck, began to screw up, and no
sooner had he given the first scrape, than the judge,
his clerk, and the hangman began to make steps,
and the rope fell out of the hand of him who was
going to bind the Jew. At the second scrape, all
raised their legs, and the hangman let loose the
good Servant and prepared for the dance. At the
third scrape all began to dance and caper about;
the judge and the Jew being first performers. And
as he- continued to play, all joined in the dance,
and even the people who had gathered in the mar-
ket out of curiosity, old and young, fat and thin,
one with another. The dogs, likewise, as they-

THE JEW AMONG THORNS.

came by, got up on their hind legs and capered
about; and the longer he played, the higher sprang
the dancers, till they toppled down over each other
on their heads, and began to shriek terribly. At
length the judge cried, quite out of breath, I will
give you your life if you will stop fiddling." The
good Servant thereupon had compassion, and dis-
mounting the ladder he hung his fiddle round his
neck again. Then he stepped up to the Jew, who
lay upon the ground panting for breath, and said,
"You rascal, tell me, now, whence you got the
money, or I will take my fiddle and begin again."
"I stole it, I stole it!" cried the Jew,; "but you
have honestly earned it." Upon this the judge
caused the Jew to be hung on the gallows as a
thief, while the good Servant went on his way
rejoicing in his happy escape.

THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD.

2T',NCE upon a time there lived a man,
..-l whose wife had died; and a woman,
-~i=d 'C also, who had lost her husband; and this
man and this woman had each a daughter. These
two maidens were friendly with each other, and
used to walk together, and one day they came by
the widow's house. Then the widow said to the
man's daughter, "Do you hear, tell your father I
wish to marry him, and you shall every morning
wash in milk and drink wine, but my daughter
shall wash in water and drink water." So the
girl went home and told her father what the'
woman had said, and he replied, "What shall
I do ? marriage is a comfort, but it is also a tor-
ment." At last, as he could come to no conclu-
sion, he drew off his boot and said: "Take this
boot, which has a hole in the sole, and go with
it out of doors and hang it on the great nail, and
then pour water into it. If it holds the water,
I will again take a wife; but if it runs through,

THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD. 83

I will not have her." The girl did as he bid her,
but the water drew the hole together and the
boot became full to overflowing. So she told her
father how it had happened, and he, getting up,
saw it was quite true; and going to the widow
he settled the matter, and the wedding was cele-
brated.
The next morning, when the two girls arose,
milk to wash in and wine to' drink were set for
the man's daughter, but only water, both for
washing and drinking, for the woman's daughter.
The second morning, water for washing and
drinking stood before both the man's daughter
and the woman's; and on the third morning,
water to wash in and water to drink were set
before the man's daughter, and milk to wash in
and wine to drink before the woman's daughter,
and so it continued.
Soon the woman conceived a deadly hatred for
her step-daughter, and knew not how to behave
badly enough to her, from day to day. She was
envious too, because her step-daughter was beau-
tiful and lovely, and her own daughter was ugly
and hateful.

84 THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD.

Once, in the winter time, when the river was
frozen as hard as a stone, and hill and valley were
covered with snow, the woman made a cloak of
paper, and called the maiden to her and said,
"Put on this cloak, and go away into the wood
to fetch me a little basketful of strawberries, for
I have a wish for some."
"Mercy on us!" said the maiden, "in winter
there are no strawberries growing; the ground
is frozen, and the snow, too, has covered every-
thing. And why must I go in that paper cloak?
It is so cold out of doors that it freezes one's
breath even, and if the wind does not blow off
this cloak, the thorns will tear it from my body."
Will you dare to contradict me?" said the
step-mother. "Make haste off, and let me not see
you again until you have found me a basket of
strawberries." Then she gave her a small piece
of dry bread, saying, On that you must subsist
the whole day." But ,she thought, out of doors
she will be frozen and starved, so that my eyes
will never see her again!
So the girl did as she was told, and put on the
paper cloak, and went away with the basket. Far

THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD. 85

ana near there was nothing but snow, and not a
green blade was to be seen. When she came to
the forest she discovered a little cottage, out of
which three little Dwarfs were peeping. The.
girl wished them good morning, and knocked
gently at the door. They called her in, and
entering the room, she sat down on a bench by
the fire to warm herself, and eat her breakfast.
The Dwarfs called out, "Give us some of it!"
"Willingly," she replied, and, dividing her bread
in two, she gave them half. They asked, "What
do you here in the forest, in the winter time, in
this thin cloak ?"
"Ah!" she answered, "I must seek a basketful
of strawberries, and I dare not return home until
I can take them with me." When she had eaten
her bread, they gave her a broom, saying, "Sweep
away the snow with this from the back door."
But when she was gone out of doors, the three
Dwarfs said one to another, "What shall we give
her, because she is so gentle and good, and has
shared her bread with us?" Then said the first,
" I grant to her that she shall become more beau-
tiful every dav." The second said, I grant that

86 THE THREE LITTLE MEN, IN THE WOOD.

a piece of gold shall fall out of her mouth for
every word she speaks." The third said, I grant
that a king shall come and make her his bride."
Meanwhile, the girl had done as the dwarfs had
bidden her, and had swept away the snow from
behind the house. And what do you think she
found there? Actually, ripe strawberries! which
came quite red and sweet up under the snow. So
filling her basket in great glee, she thanked the
little men and gave them each her hand, and then
ran home to take her step-mother what she wished
for. As she went in and said, "Good evening,"
a piece of gold fell from' her mouth. Thereupon
she related what had happened to her in the
forest; but at every word she spoke a piece of gold
fell, so that the whole floor was covered.
"Just see her arrogance," said the step-sister,
" to throw away money in that way but in her
heart she was jealous, and wished to go into the
forest too, to seek strawberries. Her mother said,
"No, my dear daughter; it is too cold, you will
be frozen?" but as her girl let her have no peace,
she at last consented, and made her a beautiful fur
cloak to put on; she also gave her buttered bread
and cooked meat to eat on her way.

THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD. 87

The girl went into the forest and came straight
to the little cottage. The three Dwarfs were
peeping out again, but she did not greet them;
and, stumbling on without looking at them or
speaking, she entered the room, and, seating her-
self by the fire, began to eat the bread and butter
and meat. "Give us some of that," exclaimed the
Dwarfs; but she answered, "I have not got
enough for myself, so how can I give any away?"
When she had finished they said, "You have a
broom there, go and sweep the back door clean."
"0, sweep it yourself," she replied; "I am not
your servant." When she saw that they would
not give her anything she went out at the door,
and the three Dwarfs said to each other, "What
shall we give her? she is so ill-behaved, and has
such a bad and envious disposition, that nobody
can wish well to her." The first said, "I grant
that she becomes more ugly every day." The
second said, "I grant that at every word she speaks
a toad shall spring out of her mouth." The third
said, "I grant that she shall die a miserable death."
Meanwhile the girl had been looking for straw-
berries out of doors, but as she could find none, she

88 THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD.

went home' very peevish. When she opened her
mouth to tell her mother what had happened to
her in the forest, a toad jumped out of her mouth
at each word, so that every one fled away from
her in horror.
The step-mother was now still more vexed, and
was always thinking how she could do the most
harm to her husband's daughter, who every day
became more beautiful. At last she took a kettle,
set it on the fire, and boiled a net therein. When
it was sodden she hung it on the shoulder of the
poor girl, and gave her an axe, that she might go
upon the frozen pond and cut a hole in the ice
to drag the net. She obeyed, and went away and
cut an ice-hole; and while she was cutting, an
elegant carriage came by, in which the King sat.
The carriage stopped, and the King asked, My
child, who are you ? and what do you here ?" "I
am a poor girl, and am dragging a net," said she.
Then the King pitied her, and saw how beautiful
she was, and said, "Will you go with me?"
"Yes, indeed, with all my heart," she replied, for
she was glad to get out of the sight of her mother
and sister.

THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD. 89

> So she was handed into the carriage, and driven
-away with the King; and as soon as they arrived
at his castle the wedding was celebrated with great
splendor, as the Dwarfs had granted to the maiden.
After a year the young Queen bore a son; and
when the \step-mother heard of'her great good for-
tune, she came to the castle with her daughter, and
behaved as if she had come on a visit. But one
day, when the King had gone out, and no one was
present, this bad woman seized the Queen by the
head, and her daughter caught hold of her feet,
and raising her out of bed, they threw her out
of the window into the river which ran past.
Then, laying her ugly daughter in the bed, the
old woman covered her up, even over her head;
and when the King came back he wished to speak
to his wife, but the old woman exclaimed, "Softly!
Softly I do not go near her; she is lying in a beau-.
tiful sleep, and must be kept quiet to-day." The
King, not thinking of any evil design, came again
the next morning the first thing; and when he
spoke to his wife, and she answered, a toad sprang
out of her mouth at every word, as a piece of gold
had done before. So he asked what had happeneL,

90 THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD.

and the old woman said, "That is produced by
her weakness, she will soon lose it again."
But in the night the kitchen-boy saw a Duck
swimming through the brook, and the Duck
asked,
"King, King, what are you doing ?
Are you sleeping, or are you waking ?"
And.as he gave.no answer, the Duck said,
What are my guests a-doing ?"
Then the boy answered,
They all sleep sound."
And she asked-hinm,
How fares my child ?"
And he replied,
In his cradle he sleeps."

Then she came up in the form of the Queen to
the cradle, and gave the child drink, shook up his
bed, and covered him up, and then swam again
away as a Duck through the brook. The second
night she came again; and on the third she said
to the kitchen-boy; "Go and tell the King to take
his sword, and swing it thrice over me, on the

	Front Cover
	Front Matter
	Title Page
	The Presents of the Little...
	The Little Elves
	The Almond-tree
	The Fox's Brush
	The Evil Spirit and His Grandm...
	The Wonderful Musician
	The Dwarfs
	Rumpelstiltskin
	Florinda and Florindel
	The Jew among Thorns
	The Three Little Men in the...
	The Golden Goose
	The King of the Golden Mountai...
	Back Matter
	Back Cover
	Spine

MILLISECOND	CLASS.METHOD	MESSAGE
0	sobekcm_page_globals.constructor
0	sobekcm_page_globals.constructor	Application State validated or built
0	sobekcm_database.verify_item_lookup_object
0	sobekcm_page_globals.constructor	Navigation Object created from URI query string
0	sobekcm_database.verify_item_lookup_object
0	sobekcm_page_globals.display_item	Retrieving item or group information
0	sobekcm_page_globals.get_entire_collection_hierarchy	Retrieving hierarchy information
0	sobekcm_assistant.get_entire_collection_hierarchy
0	cached_data_manager.retrieve_item_aggregation
0	cached_data_manager.retrieve_item_aggregation	Found item aggregation on local cache
0	item_aggregation_builder.get_item_aggregation	Found 'all' item aggregation in cache
0	system.web.ui.page.page_load (ufdc.page_load)
0	sobekcm_page_globals.constructor.on_page_load
0	html_echo_mainwriter.add_style_references	Adding style references to HTML
0	html_echo_mainwriter.add_text_to_page	Reading the text from the file and echoing back to the output stream
84	html_echo_mainwriter.add_text_to_page	Finished reading and writing the file