66 other word," said she; and gave him a hundred dollars. When they came to the second palace, the king asked whether he had inquired of the dragon about that which he bade him. Yes," said the youth, "I did, and here is your daughter." At this the king was so rejoiced that he would willingly have given his daughter and the half of his kingdom to the miller-lad; but when he heard that he was already married he gave him two hundred dollars, a carriage and horses, with as much gold and silver as he could carry with him. When he came to the third royal palace, the king came out and asked him, whether he had inquired of the dragon about that which he bade him. "Yes," answered the youth; "he said, you must empty the well and take up the old rotten stick that lies at the bottom, and then you will get clear water." The king then gave him three hundred dollars. 66 He then journeyed straight home, and was so laden with gold and silver, and so fine, that no one had ever seen the like before; and was much richer than Peter the huckster. When Peter got the feathers he had nothing to say against the wedding; and when he saw all the youth's wealth, he asked, whether so much had come from the dragon's. "Yes," replied the youth, "and a great deal more than I could bring with me; there is still many horse-loads remaining, and if thou wilt go thither, thou wilt find plenty also." 66 So Peter resolved to go. His son-in-law directed him so well that he had no occasion to ask the way as he went on. "But the horses," said he, "thou hadst better leave on this side of the river, for the old carrier will bear thee across." So Peter set out on his journey, taking with him a stock of provisions and many horses, but these he left by the river-side, as the youth had directed him. The carrier then took him upon his back, and when he had gone some way out, he threw him into the middle of the river, saying: "Now you can stay here and carry folks across until thou art released." And if no one has released him, Rich Peter remains there to this day carrying people across the river. THE THREE GOATS NAMED BRUSE, THAT WENT TO ONCE on a time there were three goats that were going to the 66 66 don't take me, for I am so little; but if you will wait, the second goat Bruse is coming this way, and he is much bigger.' 'Be it so," said the Troll. 66 66 Some time after the second goat came passing over the bridge. "TRIP TRAP, TRIP TRAP, TRIP TRAP,' said the bridge. Who trips over my bridge?" cried the Troll. "Oh! it is the second goat Bruse, who is going to the mountain-pasture to get fat," said the goat, who was not delicate of speech. "Now I am coming to catch thee,” said the Troll. Oh! no, pray don't take me, but wait a little while, and then the big goat Bruse will come this way: he is much much bigger than I am.” "Be it so," answered the Troll. 66 66 Just at that moment came the big goat Bruse upon the bridge. TRIP TRAP, TRIP TRAP, TRIP TRAP," said the bridge, for he was so heavy that the bridge creaked and cracked under him. 66 "Who goes tramping on my bridge ?" screamed the Troll. "It is I, the great goat Bruse!" said the goat, who was very coarse of speech. Now I am coming to catch thee," cried the Troll. 66 "Well! come thou then. Two spears I bear, With which thy entrails' out I'll tear," said the goat, and then rushed upon the Troll, thrust out his eyes, broke his bones, and with his horns thrust him out into the waterfall; and then went on to the pasture. There the goats grew so fat, so fat, that they were hardly able to go home again; and if they have not lost their fat, they are so still; and snip, snap, snout, now is my story out. THE YOUTH WHO WENT TO THE NORTH-WIND, AND DEMANDED HIS FLOUR AGAIN. THERE was once on a time an old woman, who had a son; and as she was very weak and ailing, she desired the youth to go up to the store-room and fetch some flour to make something for dinner; but when he was returning down the stairs, the North-wind came rushing, snatched away his flour and carried it off through the air. The youth returned to the store-room to fetch more, but when he was about to descend the stairs, the North-wind came rushing again and carried away his flour; and thus it served him a third time. At this the youth became very angry; and, as it seemed to him unreasonable that the North-wind should act in such a manner, he resolved to go in search of him and demand his flour back. he. 66 66 He set off accordingly; but the way was long, and he went, and went, until he at length came to the North-wind. "Good day," said the youth, "and thank you for your kindness." Good day," answered the North-wind. He was very rough of speech. "But what dost thou want ?" added Ah!" answered the youth, "I wish just to ask you if you will be so good as to let me have the flour again which you took from me on the stairs of the store-room; for we have but little, and if you are to act so and take the modicum we have, nothing will remain but starvation." "I have no flour," answered the North-wind; "but as thou art so needy, thou shalt have a cloth, which will supply thee with everything thou canst wish for, only by saying: Cloth, be spread, and be covered with all kinds of costly dishes.' With this the youth was well pleased; but as the way was so long, that he could not well reach home in one day, he went into an hostel on the road; and when those who were there were about to take their evening meal, he laid his cloth upon a table which stood in a corner, and said: "Cloth be spread, and be covered with all kinds of costly dishes." Scarcely had he uttered the words, when the cloth did as it was ordered, and every one thought it a most wonderful thing; but the host's wife especially. So when the night was far advanced, and every one was fast asleep, she took the youth's cloth, and laid one in its place that looked exactly like the one he had got from the North-wind, but which could not furnish even dry bread. When the youth awoke, he took his cloth and continued his journey; and that same day reached home. "Well," said he to his mother, "I have been to the Northwind; he is a gentlemanly person, for he gave me this cloth, which if I only say to it: Cloth, be spread out, and covered with all kinds of costly dishes,' I get all the food I wish." Oh! yes," replied the mother, I dare say it is very true; though I would rather not believe it till I see it." The youth then in haste set a table out, laid the cloth on it, and said: "Cloth, be spread out, and covered with all kinds of costly dishes." But the cloth would not furnish even so much as a bit of bread. 66 66 "Then there is nothing else to be done, but that I go again to the North-wind," said the youth; and instantly set off. Towards the afternoon he came to where the Northwind dwelt. "Good evening," said the youth. "Good evening," answered the North-wind, "I am come to get compensation for the flour you took from me," said the youth; "for the cloth you gave me is worth nothing." "I have got no flour," said the North-wind, but here is a goat I will give thee, which makes pure gold ducats, if only thou sayest, My goat, make money.' This the youth thought was a fine thing to have; but as he was so far from home that he could not reach it that day, he took up his night's lodging at the hostel. Before he ordered anything, he made trial of the goat, to see if what the North-wind had said was true, and it happened just as he had said; but when the host saw this, he thought it was a most precious goat to have; so when the youth had fallen asleep, he took another, which could not however make ducats, and set it in its place. The next morning the youth departed, and when he came home to his mother, he said: The North-wind is an 66 999 66 "My excellent man after all; he has now given me a goat, which can make gold ducats. I need only say, 'My goat, make money.' I know all about it," answered his mother, "and that it is all fudge; I will believe it when I see it." goat, make money," said the youth, but not a penny did the goat make. So he went again to the North-wind, and told him that his goat was of no use, and that he would have compensation for the flour. Well, I have now nothing to give thee," said the North-wind, save this old cudgel that stands in the corner; but its nature is such, that if thou sayest, My cudgel, hit away!' it will continue striking until thou sayest, My cudgel, be still.'" 66 66 As the way home was long, the youth went into the hostel again that night. And as he now guessed how matters stood with his cloth, and his goat, he lay down directly on the bench, and began to snore as if asleep. The host, who thought the cudgel was no doubt of some use, went in search of one that resembled it, and was going to put it in the place of the other, as he heard the youth snoring; but at the same moment that the man was about to seize it, the youth cried out, My cudgel, hit away!' The cudgel then commenced beating away at the host, so that he jumped over benches and tables, and cried, and screamed for help. "Oh! for mercy's sake! oh, for mercy's sake! Let the cudgel be quiet, or it will beat me to death. You shall have your cloth and goat again." When the youth thought his host had been sufficiently cudgeled, he said: "My cudgel, be still." He then took the cloth and put it in his pocket, took the cudgel in his hand, tied a cord round the horns of the goat, and led him home. All this was good payment for the flour. SUCH WOMEN ARE; OR, THE MAN FROM RINGERIGE AND THE THREE WOMEN. THERE was once a man and his wife who wanted to sow, but had no seed-corn, nor money to buy it. They had one cow, and this they agreed that the man should drive to the town and sell, to enable them to buy seed with the money. |