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THE GOLDEN GOOSE

There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was

called Dummling,[*] and was despised, mocked, and sneered at on

every occasion.

[*] Simpleton

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.

But when he began to hew down a tree, it was not long before he

made a false stroke, and the axe cut him in the arm, so that he

had to go home and have it bound up. And this was the little grey

man's doing.