The Golden Goose
There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was
called Dumpling, and was despised, mocked, and sneered at on every occasion. It
happened that the eldest wanted to go into the forest to hew wood, and before
he went his mother gave him a beautiful sweet cake and a bottle of wine in
order that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst.
When he entered the forest he met a little grey-haired old
man who bade him good day, and said: ’Do give me a piece of cake out of your
pocket, and let me have a draught of your wine; I am so hungry and thirsty.’
But the clever son answered: ’If I give you my cake and wine, I shall have none
for myself; be off with you,’ and he left the little man standing and went on.
Part 2
After this the second son went into the forest, and his
mother gave him, like the eldest, a cake and a bottle of wine. The little old
grey man met him likewise, and asked him for a piece of cake and a drink of
wine. But the second son, too, said sensibly enough: ’What I give you will be
taken away from myself; be off!’ and he left the little man standing and went
on. His punishment, however, was not delayed; when he had made a few blows at
the tree he struck himself in the leg, so that he had to be carried home.
Then Dummling said: ’Father, do let me go and cut wood.’ The
father answered: ’Your brothers have hurt themselves with it, leave it alone,
you do not understand anything about it.’ But Dummling begged so long that at
last he said: ’Just go then, you will get wiser by hurting yourself.’ His
mother gave him a cake made with water and baked in the cinders, and with it a
bottle of sour beer.
When he came to the forest the little old grey man met him
likewise, and greeting him, said: ’Give me a piece of your cake and a drink out
of your bottle; I am so hungry and thirsty.’ Dummling answered: ’I have only
cinder-cake and sour beer; if that pleases you, we will sit down and eat.’ So
they sat down, and when Dummling pulled out his cinder-cake, it was a fine
sweet cake, and the sour beer had become good wine. So they ate and drank, and
after that the little man said: ’Since you have a good heart, and are willing
to divide what you have, I will give you good luck. There stands an old tree,
cut it down, and you will find something at the roots.’ Then the little man
took leave of him.