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

by Brothers Grimm

  “You have pronounced your own sentence!” said the King to the Captain; who was first imprisoned, and afterwards torn in four pieces. But the Huntsman was married to the King’s daughter; and after the wedding he invited his father and mother to live with him; and, after the old King’s death, the Huntsman ascended the throne.

  Professor Know-All

  A long time ago there lived a peasant named “Crab,” who one day drove into a certain city his cart laden with a bundle of logs, drawn by two oxen. He soon found a purchaser for his wood in the person of a learned Professor, who bought it for two dollars, and, while the money was being counted out, the Peasant, peeping in at the door, saw how comfortably his customer was eating and drinking; and the thought thereupon came into his head that he would like to be a professor too. So he waited a little while, and at last mustered courage to ask whether he could not be a professor. “Oh, yes,” replied the Professor, “that can soon be managed!”

  “What must I do?” asked the Peasant.

  “First of all buy an A B C book, one which has a cock-a-doodle-doo for a frontispiece; secondly, sell your cart and oxen, and turn them into money to buy good clothes with, and what else belongs to a professor’s appearance; lastly, let a sign be painted, with the words, ‘I am the Professor Know-All,’ and nail that over your house door.”

  The Countryman did all that he was told, and after he had practised a little time, but not to much purpose, a certain very wealthy Baron had some money stolen from him. Mention was made to the Baron of this Professor Know-All who dwelt in such a village, and who would be sure to know where the money was gone. As soon as the Baron heard of him, he ordered his horses and his carriage and drove to the place where the Professor lived. The Baron inquired if he were the Professor Know-All, and, he replying “Yes,” the Baron said he must return with him and discover his money.

  “Very well,” replied the Professor; “but my wife Gertrude must accompany me.”

  To this the Baron agreed, and, all being seated in the carriage, away they drove back again. When they arrived at the house, a splendid collation was on the table, of which the Professor was invited to partake. “Certainly,” said he, “but my wife Gertrude too;” and he sat down with her at the bottom of the table. As soon as the first servant entered with a dish of delicate soup, the Professor poked his wife, saying, “He is the first!” meaning he was the first who had brought in meat. But the servant imagined he meant to say, “He is the first thief!” and, because he really was so, he felt very much disturbed, and told his comrades in the kitchen, “The Professor knows all; we shall come off badly, for he has said I am the first!” When the second servant heard this he felt afraid to go; but he was obliged, and, as soon as he entered the room with his dish, the man poked his wife again, and said, “Gertrude, that is the second!” This frightened the servant so much that he left the room as soon as possible; and the third servant who entered fared no better, for the Professor said to his wife, “That is the third!” The fourth servant had to bring in a covered dish, and the Baron said to the Professor he must show his powers by telling truly what was in the dish. Now, there were crabs in it; but the Peasant looked at the dish, ignorant how to get himself out of the scrape, till at last he cried out, “Oh, poor Crab that I am!” When the Baron heard this he exclaimed, “Good! he knows it! he knows, too, where my money is!”

  The servant, however, was terribly frightened; and he winked to the Professor to follow him out. When he had done so, he found all four servants there who had stolen the money, and were now so eager to get off that they offered him a large sum if he would not betray them; for if he did their necks would be in danger. They led him also to the place where the money lay hid, and the Professor was so pleased that he gave them the required promise, and then returned to the house, where he sat down again at table, and, producing his book, said, “I will now look in my book, Baron, and discover the place where the money lies.” A fifth servant, who had had a share in the robbery, wished to hear if the Professor knew more, and so he crept up the chimney to listen. Below sat the countryman, turning the leaves of his book backwards and forwards, forwards and backwards, looking for the Cock-a-doodle-doo. However, he could not find it, and he at length exclaimed, “You must come out, for I know you are in!” This made the servant up the chimney believe he meant him, and down he slipped, and got out, crying, “The man knows all, the man knows all!”

  Then Professor Know-All showed the Baron where the money lay; but he said nothing about who had stolen it, so that from both sides he received a large sum of money as a reward, and, moreover, he became a very celebrated character.

  Bearskin

  There was once upon a time a young fellow who enlisted for a soldier, and became so brave and courageous that he was always in the front ranks when it rained blue beans.s As long as the war lasted all went well, but when peace was concluded he received his discharge, and the captain told him he might go where he liked. His parents meanwhile had died, and as he had no longer any home to go to he paid a visit to his brothers, and asked them to give him shelter until war broke out again. His brothers, however, were hardhearted, and said, “What could we do with you? we could make nothing of you; see to what you have brought yourself:” and so turned a deaf ear. The poor soldier had nothing but his musket left; so he mounted this on his shoulder and set out on tramp. By-and-by he came to a great heath with nothing on it but a circle of trees, under which he sat down, sorrowfully considering his fate. “I have no money,” thought he; “I have learnt nothing but soldiering, and now, since peace is concluded, there is no need of me. I see well enough I shall have to starve.” All at once he heard a rustling, and as he looked round he perceived a stranger standing before him, dressed in a grey coat, who looked very stately, but had an ugly, cloven foot. “I know quite well what you need,” said this being: “gold and other possessions you shall have, as much as you can spend; but first I must know whether you are a coward or not, that I may not spend my money foolishly.”

  “A soldier and a coward!” replied the other, “that cannot be; you may put me to any proof.”

  “Well then,” replied the stranger, “look behind you.”

  The Soldier turned and saw a huge bear, which eyed him very ferociously. “Oho!” cried he, “I will tickle your nose for you, that you shall give us the pleasure of grumbling;” and, raising his musket, he shot the bear in the forehead, so that he tumbled in a heap upon the ground, and did not stir afterwards. Thereupon the stranger said, “I see quite well that you are not wanting in courage; but there is yet one condition which you must fulfil.” “If it does not interfere with my future happiness,” said the Soldier, who had remarked who it was that addressed him; “if it does not interfere with that I shall not hesitate.”

  “That you must see about yourself!” said the stranger. “For the next seven years you must not wash yourself, nor comb your hair or beard, neither must you cut your nails nor say one pater noster.t Then I will give you this coat and mantle, which you must wear during these seven years; and if you die within that time you are mine, but if you live you are rich, and free all your life long.”

  The Soldier reflected for a while on his great necessities, and, remembering how often he had braved death, he at length consented, and ventured to accept the offer. Thereupon the Evil One pulled off the grey coat, handed it to the soldier, and said, “If you at any time search in the pocket of your coat when you have it on, you will always find your hand full of money.” Then also he pulled off the skin of the bear, and said, “That shall be your cloak and your bed; you must sleep on it, and not dare to lie in any other bed, and on this account you shall be called Bearskin.” Immediately the Evil One disappeared.

  The Soldier now put on the coat, and dipped his hands into the pockets to assure himself of the reality of the transaction. Then he hung the bearskin around himself, and went about the world chuckling at his good luck, and buying whatever suited his fancy which money could purchase. Fo
r the first year his appearance was not very remarkable but in the second he began to look quite a monster. His hair covered almost all his face, his beard appeared like a piece of dirty cloth, his nails were claws, and his countenance was so covered with dirt that one might have grown cresses upon it if one had sown seed! Whoever looked at him ran away; but, because he gave the poor in every place gold coin, they prayed that he might not die during the seven years; and, because he paid liberally everywhere, he found a night’s lodging without difficulty. In the fourth year he came to an inn where the landlord would not take him in, and refused even to give him a place in his stables, lest the horses should be frightened and become restive. However, when Bearskin put his hand into his pocket and drew it out full of gold ducats the landlord yielded the point, and gave him a place in the outbuild ings, but not till he had promised that he would not show himself, for fear the inn should gain a bad name.

  While Bearskin sat by himself in the evening, wishing from his heart that the seven years were over, he heard in the corner a loud groan. Now the old Soldier had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door and saw an old man weeping violently and wringing his hands. Bearskin stepped nearer, but the old man jumped up and tried to escape: but when he recognised a human voice he let himself be persuaded, and by kind words and soo things on the part of the old Soldier he at length disclosed the cause of his distress. His property had dwindled away by degrees, and he and his daughters would have to starve, for he was so poor that he had not the money to pay the host, and would therefore be put into prison.

  “If you have no care except that,” replied Bearskin. “I have money enough;” and, causing the landlord to be called, he paid him, and put a purse full of gold besides into the pocket of the old man. The latter, when he saw himself released from his troubles, knew not how to be sufficiently grateful, and said to the Soldier, “Come with me, my daughters are all wonders of beauty, so choose one of them for a wife. When they hear what you have done for me they will not refuse you. You appear certainly an uncommon man, but they will soon put you to rights.”

  This speech pleased Bearskin, and he went with the old man. As soon as the eldest daughter saw him, she was so terrified at his countenance that she shrieked out and ran away. The second one stopped and looked at him from head to foot; but at last she said, “How can I take a husband who has not a bit of a human countenance? The grizzly bear would have pleased me better who came to see us once, and gave himself out as a man, for he wore a hussar’s hat, and had white gloves on besides.”

  But the youngest daughter said, “Dear father, this must be a good man who has assisted you out of your troubles; if you have promised him a bride for the service your word must be kept.”

  (It was a pity the man’s face was covered with dirt and hair, else one would have seen how he laughed as he heard these words.) Bearskin took a ring off his finger, broke it in two, and, giving the youngest daughter one half, he kept the other for himself. On her half he wrote his name, and on his own he wrote hers, and begged her to preserve it carefully. Thereupon he took leave, saying, “For three years longer I must wander about; if I come back again, then we will celebrate our wedding; but if I do not, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God that he will preserve my life.”

  When he was gone the poor bride clothed herself in black, and whenever she thought of her bridegroom burst into tears. From her sisters she received nothing but scorn and mocking. “Pay great attention when he shakes your hand,” said the eldest, “and you will see his beautiful claws!” “Take care!” said the second, “bears are fond of sweets, and if you please him he will eat you up, perhaps!” “You must mind and do his will,” continued the eldest, “or he will begin growling!” And the second daughter said further, “But the wedding will certainly be merry, for bears dance well!” The bride kept silence, and would not be drawn from her purpose by all these taunts; and meanwhile Bearskin wandered about in the world doing good where he could, and giving liberally to the poor, for which they prayed heartily for him. At length the last day of the seven years approached, and Bearskin went and sat down again on the heath, beneath the circle of trees. In a very short time the wind whistled, and the Evil One presently stood before him and looked at him with a vexed face. He threw the Soldier his old coat, and demanded his grey one back. “We have not got so far yet,” replied Bearskin; “you must clean me first.” Then the Evil One had, whether he liked it or no, to fetch water, wash the old Soldier, comb his hair out, and cut his nails. This done, he appeared again like a brave warrior, and indeed was much handsomer than before.

  As soon as the Evil One had disappeared, Bearskin became quite light-hearted; and going into the nearest town he bought a fine velvet coat, and hired a carriage drawn by four white horses, in which he was driven to the house of his bride. Nobody knew him; the father took him for some celebrated general, and led him into the room where his daughters were. He was compelled to sit down between the two eldest, and they offered him wine, and heaped his plate with the choicest morsels; for they thought they had never seen any one so handsome before. But the bride sat opposite to him dressed in black, neither opening her eyes nor speaking a word. At length the Soldier asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, and immediately the two elder sisters arose, and ran to their chambers to dress themselves out in their most becoming clothes, for each thought she should be chosen. Meanwhile the stranger, as soon as he found himself alone with his bride, pulled out the half of the ring and threw it into a cup of wine, which he handed across the table. She took it, and as soon as she had drunk it and seen the half ring lying at the bottom her heart beat rapidly, and she produced the other half, which she wore round her neck on a riband. She held them together, and they joined each other exactly, and the stranger said, “I am your bridegroom, whom you saw first as Bearskin; but through God’s mercy I have regained my human form, and am myself once more.” With these words he embraced and kissed her: and at the same time the two eldest sisters entered in full costume. As soon as they saw that the very handsome man had fallen to the share of their youngest sister, and heard that he was the same as “Bearskin,” they ran out of the house full of rage and jealousy.

  Hans the Hedgehog

  Once upon a time there was a Farmer who had quite enough of money and property to live upon, but rich as he was he lacked one piece of fortune; he had no children. Ofttimes when he went to market with the other farmers they laughed at him and asked why he had no children. At length he flew into a passion, and when he came home he said, “I will have a child, and it shall be a hedgehog.”u Soon after this speech a child was born to him which was like a hedgehog in the upper part of its body, and formed as a boy below, and when his wife saw it she was frightened, and cried, “See what you have wished for!” So the man said, “It cannot be helped now, and it must be christened, but we can procure no godfather for it.” “We cannot call him anything else than ‘Hans the Hedgehog.’ ” said the wife; and when the priest baptized him he said, “On account of his spikes he can sleep in no common cradle.” So behind the stove a little straw was laid, upon which the child slept, and there he kept for eight years, till his father grew tired of him and wished he might die. However, the child did not, but remained in a torpid state, and one day the Farmer resolved to go to a fair which was to be held in the neighbouring town. He asked his wife what he should bring home, and she told him, “A little piece of meat and a couple of rolls of bread for the housekeeping.” Then he asked the servant, and she requested a couple of pots and a pair of stockings. Lastly he asked Hans what he liked, and the child replied. “Bring me, father, a bagpipe.” Accordingly, when the Farmer returned home he brought his wife the meat and bread, his servant the pots and stockings, and Hans the Hedgehog the bagpipe. As soon as Hans received his gift he said, “Father, go to the smithy, and let the Cock be bridled, that I may ride away upon it and never return.”

  The father was glad to be freed from his son, and cau
sed the Cock to be harnessed, and as soon as it was ready Hans the Hedgehog set himself upon it and rode away, taking with him a Boar and an Ass, which he meant to tend in the forest. But in the forest the Cock flew to the top of a lofty tree with him on its back, and there he watched the Boar and Ass for many years until there were many of them, and all the time his father knew nothing of him. While Hans sat on the tree-top he played upon his bagpipe and made beautiful music; and once a King came riding past who had lost his way in the forest, and chanced to hear him. He wondered at the sound, and sent his servants to inquire from whence the music proceeded. They looked about, but saw only a little animal upon a tree which seemed like a cock, and had a hedgehog upon its back which made the music. The King told them to ask why it sat there, and if it knew the way to his kingdom. Then Hans the Hedgehog came down from the tree, and said he would show the way if the King would promise him in writing what first met him in the royal court on his return. The King thought to himself, Hans the Hedgehog understands nothing, and I can write what I please, and so taking pen and ink he wrote something, and when he had done Hans showed him the road, and he arrived happily at home. But his daughter, seeing him at a distance, was so full of joy that she ran to met her father and kissed him. Then he remembered Hans the Hedgehog, and told her what had happened to him, and how he had promised to a wonderful animal whatever met him first, and how this animal sat upon a cock and played music. However he had written he should not have the first, for Hans the Hedgehog could not read what was written. Thereupon the Princess was glad, and said it was well done, for she could not have been given up to such a creature.