Grimm's Fairy Tales (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

by Brothers Grimm

  Meanwhile Hans the Hedgehog still tended his flocks and herds, and was very merry, sitting up in his tree and blowing his bagpipe. Now it happened that another King came travelling by with his attendants and courtiers, who had also lost himself and knew not how to get home, because the forest was so immense. All at once he heard the music at a distance, and said to his servant, “Go and see at once what that is.” So the servant went under the tree and saw the cock perched upon it and the hedgehog on its back, and he asked what he did up there. “I am watching my flocks and herds; but what is your desire?” was the reply. The servant said they had lost their way, and could not find their kingdom if he did not show them the road. Then Hans the Hedgehog climbed down the tree with his cock, and told the old King he would point out the path if he would give to him certainly whatever should meet him first before his royal palace. The King said “Yes,” and subscribed to it with his own hand that he should have it. When this was done Hans rode before the King on his cock, and showed him the road whereby he quickly arrived in safety in his own kingdom. As soon as he approached his court there was great rejoicing, and his only child, a daughter, who was very beautiful, ran to meet him, embraced and kissed him, in her great joy at seeing her dear father return home again. She inquired also where he had stayed so long in the world, and he told her of all his wanderings, and how he had feared he should not get back at all because he had lost his way in such a large forest, where a creature half like a hedgehog and half like a man sat upon a cock in a high tree and made beautiful music. He told her also how this animal had come down from the tree and showed him the road on condition that he gave him whatever first met him in his royal palace on his return home; and she was the first, and that made him grieve. His daughter after a while promised to go with the animal when he came, out of love to her dear father.

  Meanwhile Hans the Hedgehog tended his swine, and so many pigs were born that they filled the whole forest. Then Hans would stay no longer in the woods, and sent his father word he should clear all the stables in the village, for he was coming with such great herds that whoever wished might kill from them. At this news the father was grieved, for he thought his son had been dead long since. Soon after Hans came riding upon his cock, and driving before him his herds into the village to be killed, when there was such a slaughtering and shrieking you might have heard it eight miles off! Hans the Hedgehog did not stay long; he paid another visit to the smithy to have his cock rebri dled, then off he started again, while his father rejoiced that he should never see him again.

  Hans the Hedgehog rode to the first kingdom we before mentioned, and there the King had ordered that if any one came riding upon a cock, and carrying with him a bagpipe, all should shoot at him, cut at him, and kill him, that he might not enter the castle. When, therefore, Hans the Hedgehog came riding along they pressed round him with bayonets; but he flew high up into the air over the gate to the window of the palace, and there alighting, called the King to give him what he had promised, or he would kill both him and his daughter. Then the King spoke kindly to his child and begged her to go away, that her life and his might be saved. At last she consented, turning very pale however, and her father gave her a carriage drawn by six white horses, and servants, money, and plate besides. She set herself in it, and Hans the Hedgehog by her side, with his cock and bagpipe. Then they took leave and drove away, while the King thought he should never see them again; and it happened just as he imagined, for as soon as they had gone a little way out of the city Hans the Hedgehog pulled off the Princess’s shawl and pricked her with his quills, saying, “That is your reward for falsehood! go away! I will have nothing to do with you!” With these words he hunted her home, and to her end she was despised.

  Hans the Hedgehog rode away next upon his cock with his bagpipes in his hand to the second kingdom to which he had directed its King. This King had ordered that, if any one like Hans the Hedgehog came riding to the gate, the guards should present arms, admit him freely, shout Viva! and conduct him to the palace. As soon as the Princess saw the animal coming she was at first frightened, because it appeared so curious, but as soon as she recollected her promise she became reconciled. She welcomed Hans the Hedgehog, and was married to him, and afterwards they dined at the royal table, sitting side by side, and eating and drinking together. When evening came on and bedtime, the Princess said she was afraid of her husband’s spikes, but he said she need not fear, he would do her no harm. Then he told the old King to appoint four men who should watch before the chamber-door and keep up a great fire; and, when he entered and prepared to go to bed, he would creep out of his hedgehog skin and lay it down before the bed. When he had so done, the men must run in, snatch up the skin, and throw it in the fire, and keep it there till it was quite consumed.

  Afterwards, when the clock struck twelve, Hans the Hedgehog entered his room, stripped off his skin, and laid it down by the bed. Immediately the four men ran in, snatched it up, and threw it into the fire, and as soon as it was consumed Hans was freed, and lay in the bed in a proper human form, but coal-black as if he was burnt. Thereupon the King sent to his physician, who washed the young prince with a precious balsam which made his skin white, so that he became quite a handsome youth. As soon as the princess saw this she jumped for joy; and the following morning they arose gladly, and were married again in due form and with great feasting; and afterwards Hans the Hedgehog received the kingdom from the hands of the old king.

  When several years had passed away the young king went with his bride to his father’s house, and told him he was his son. The Farmer, however, declared he had no children. He had once, he said, had one who was covered with spikes like a hedgehog, but he had wandered away into the world. Then the king made himself known to his father, and showed that he was really his son, and the Farmer rejoiced greatly, and returned with him to his kingdom.

  The Jew Among Thorns10

  There was once upon a time a rich man, who had a servant so honest and industrious that he was every morning the first up, and every evening the last to come in; and, besides, whenever there was a difficult job to be done, which nobody else would undertake, this servant always volunteered his assistance. Moreover, he never complained, but was contented with everything, and happy under all circumstances. When his year of service was up, his master gave him no reward, for he thought to himself that will be the cleverest way, and, by saving his wages, I shall keep my man quietly in my service. The servant said nothing, but did his work during the second year as well as the first; but still he received nothing for it, so he made himself happy about the matter, and remained a year longer.

  When this third year was also past, the master considered, and put his hand in his pocket, but drew nothing out; so the servant said, “I have served you honestly for three years, master, be so good as to give me what I deserve; for I wish to leave, and look about me a bit in the world.”

  “Yes, my good fellow,” replied the covetous old man; “you have served me industriously, and, therefore, you shall be cheerfully rewarded.” With these words he dipped his hand into his pocket and drew out three farthings, which he gave to the servant, saying, “There, you have a farthing for each 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 of joy. Presently he came to some bushes, out of which a little man stept, and called out “Whither away, merry brother? I see you do not carry much burden in the way of cares.” “Why should I be sad,” replied the servant, “I have enough, the wages of three years are rattling in my pocket.”

  “How much is your treasure?” inquired the dwarf.

  “How much? three farthings honestly counted out,” said the servant.

  “Well,” sa
id 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 may make to any one it shall not be in their power to refuse me.”

  “All this you shall have,” said the dwarf; and diving into his pocket he produced a fiddle and gun, as soon as you could think, all in readiness, as if they had been ordered long ago. These he gave to the servant, and then said to him, “Whatever you may ask, shall no man in the world be able to refuse.” With that he disappeared.

  “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! Oh 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 among the thorns, the good servant felt so roguishly inclined, that he took up his fiddle and began to play. At the same moment the Jew was upon his legs, and began to jump about, while the more the servant played the better went the dance. But the thorns tore his shabby coat, combed out his beard, and pricked and stuck all over his body. “My master,” cried the Jew, “what is your fiddling to me? leave the fiddle alone; I do not want to dance.”

  But the servant did not pay any attention, and said to the Jew, while he played anew, so that the poor man jumped higher than ever, and the rags of his clothes hung about the bushes, “You have fleeced people enough in your time, and now the thorny hedge shall give you a turn.” “Oh woe’s me!” cried the Jew; “I will give the master what he desires, if only he leaves off fiddling—a purse of gold.” “If you are so liberal,” said the servant, “I will stop my music; but this I must say to your credit, 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 sight, and then he began to abuse him with all his might. “You miserable musician, you beer-tippler! wait, if I do but catch you alone, I will hunt you till the soles of your shoes fall off! you ragamuffin, you farthingsworth!” and so he went on, calling him all the names he could lay his tongue to. As soon as he had regained his 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,v one piece more valuable than all the others; for Heaven’s sake let the man be put in prison!”

  “Was it a soldier,” inquired the judge, “who has thus cut you with his sabre?” “God forbid!” cried the Jew; “it was no sword the rogue had, but he carried a gun upon his shoulder, and a fiddle slung round his neck; the evil wretch is easily known.”

  So the judge sent his people out after the man, 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 me to play one tune upon my fiddle, for a last favour,” replied the servant.

  The Jew raised a great cry of “Murder! murder! for God’s sake do not allow it!” “Why should I not grant him this short enjoyment?” asked the judge, “it is almost all over with him, and he shall have this last favour.” (However, he could not have refused the request which the servant had made.)

  Then the Jew exclaimed, “Oh! woe’s me! hold me fast, tie me fast!” while the servant, taking his fiddle from his neck, began to screw up, and no sooner had he given the first scrape, than the judge, his clerk, and the hangman began to make steps, and the rope fell out of the hand of him who was going to bind the Jew. At the second 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 market out of curiosity, old and young, fat and thin, one with another. The dogs, likewise, as they came by, got up on their hind legs and capered about; and the longer he played the higher sprang the dancers, till they toppled down over each other on their heads, and began to shriek terribly. At length the judge cried, quite out of breath, “I will give you your life if you will stop fiddling.” the good servant thereupon had compassion, and dismounting the ladder he hung his fiddle round his neck again. Then he stepped up to the Jew, who lay upon the ground panting for breath, and said, “You rascal, tell me, now, whence you got the money, or I will take my fiddle and begin again.” “I stole it, I stole it!” cried the Jew; “but you have honestly earned it.” Upon this the judge caused the Jew to be hung on the gallows as a thief, while the good servant went on his way, rejoicing in his happy escape.

  The Goose Girl

  Once upon a time there lived an old Queen, whose hus band had been dead some years, and had left her with a beautiful daughter. When this daughter grew up she was betrothed to a King’s son, who lived far away; and, when the time arrived that she should be married, it became necessary that she should travel into a strange country, and so the old lady packed up for her use much costly furniture, utensils of gold and silver, cups and jars; in short, all that belonged to a royal bridal-treasure, for she loved her child dearly. She sent also a maid to wait upon her and to give her away to the bridegroom, and two horses for the journey; and the horse of the Princess, called Falada, could speak. As soon as the hour of departure arrived, the mother took her daughter into a chamber, and there, with a knife, she cut her finger with it so that it bled; then she held a napkin beneath, and let three drops of blood fall into it, which she gave to her daughter, saying, “Dear child, preserve this well, and it will help you out of trouble.”

  Afterwards the mother and daughter took a sorrowful leave of each other, and the Princess placed the napkin in her bosom, mounted her horse and rode away to her intended bridegroom. After she had ridden on for about an hou
r she became very thirsty, and said to her servant, “Dismount and procure me some water from yonder stream in the cup which you carry with you, for I am very thirsty.”

  “If you are thirsty,” replied the servant, “dismount yourself, and stoop down to drink the water, for I will not be your maid!”

  The Princess, on account of her great thirst, did as she was bid, and bending over the brook she drank of its water, without daring to use her golden cup. While she did so the three drops of blood said, “Ah! if thy mother knew this her heart would break.” And the Princess felt humbled, but said nothing, and soon remounted her horse. Then she rode several miles further, but the day was so hot and the sun so scorching that soon she felt thirsty again, and as soon as she reached a stream she called her hand-maiden again, and bade her take the golden cup and fill it with water, for she had forgotten all the saucy words which before had passed. The maiden, however, replied more naughtily than before, “If you wish to drink, help yourself! I will not be your maid!”