第11章

Nowitsohappenedthatinalittlecorneroftheking’sdominions，besidethesea，therelivedapoorfisher，whohadthreesons，andtheirnameswerePeter，Paul，andJesper。PeterandPaulweregrownmen，whileJesperwasjustcomingtomanhood。

Thetwoelderbrothersweremuchbiggerandstrongerthantheyoungest，butJesperwasfarthecleverestofthethree，thoughneitherPeternorPaulwouldadmitthis。Itwasafact，however，asweshallseeinthecourseofourstory。

Onedaythefishermanwentoutfishing，andamonghiscatchforthedayhebroughthomethreedozenoysters。Whenthesewereopened，everyshellwasfoundtocontainalargeandbeautifulpearl。Hereuponthethreebrothers，atoneandthesamemoment，fellupontheideaofofferingthemselvesassuitorsfortheprincess。Aftersomediscussion，itwasagreedthatthepearlsshouldbedividedbylot，andthateachshouldhavehischanceintheorderofhisage:ofcourse，iftheoldestwassuccessfultheothertwowouldbesavedthetroubleoftrying。

NextmorningPeterputhispearlsinalittlebasket，andsetofffortheking’spalace。HehadnotgonefaronhiswaywhenhecameupontheKingoftheAntsandtheKingoftheBeetles，who，withtheirarmiesbehindthem，werefacingeachotherandpreparingforbattle。

’Comeandhelpme，’saidtheKingoftheAnts;’thebeetlesaretoobigforus。Imayhelpyousomedayinreturn。’

’Ihavenotimetowasteonotherpeople’saffairs，’saidPeter;

’justfightawayasbestyoucan;’andwiththathewalkedoffandleftthem。

Alittlefurtheronthewayhemetanoldwoman。

’Goodmorning，youngman，’saidshe;’youareearlyastir。Whathaveyougotinyourbasket？’

’Cinders，’saidPeterpromptly，andwalkedon，addingtohimself，’Takethatforbeingsoinquisitive。’

’Verywell，cindersbeit，’theoldwomancalledafterhim，buthepretendednottohearher。

Verysoonhereachedthepalace，andwasatoncebroughtbeforetheking。Whenhetookthecoveroffthebasket，thekingandallhiscourtierssaidwithonevoicethatthesewerethefinestpearlstheyhadeverseen，andtheycouldnottaketheireyesoffthem。Butthenastrangethinghappened:thepearlsbegantolosetheirwhitenessandgrewquitedimincolour;thentheygrewblackerandblackertillatlasttheywerejustlikesomanycinders。Peterwassoamazedthathecouldsaynothingforhimself，butthekingsaidquiteenoughforboth，andPeterwasgladtogetawayhomeagainasfastashislegswouldcarryhim。

Tohisfatherandbrothers，however，hegavenoaccountofhisattempt，exceptthatithadbeenafailure。

NextdayPaulsetouttotryhisluck。HesooncameupontheKingoftheAntsandtheKingoftheBeetles，whowiththeirarmieshadencampedonthefieldofbattleallnight，andwerereadytobeginthefightagain。

’Comeandhelpme，’saidtheKingoftheAnts;’wegottheworstofityesterday。Imayhelpyousomedayinreturn。’

’Idon’tcarethoughyougettheworstofitto—daytoo，’saidPaul。’Ihavemoreimportantbusinessonhandthanmixingmyselfupinyourquarrels。’

Sohewalkedon，andpresentlythesameoldwomanmethim。’Goodmorning，’saidshe;’whathaveYOUgotinyourbasket？’

’Cinders，’saidPaul，whowasquiteasinsolentashisbrother，andquiteasanxioustoteachotherpeoplegoodmanners。

’Verywell，cindersbeit，’theoldwomanshoutedafterhim，butPaulneitherlookedbacknoransweredher。Hethoughtmoreofwhatshesaid，however，afterhispearlsalsoturnedtocindersbeforetheeyesofkingandcourt:thenhelostnotimeingettinghomeagain，andwasverysulkywhenaskedhowhehadsucceeded。

Thethirddaycame，andwithitcameJesper’sturntotryhisfortune。Hegotupandhadhisbreakfast，whilePeterandPaullayinbedandmaderuderemarks，tellinghimthathewouldcomebackquickerthanhewent，foriftheyhadfaileditcouldnotbesupposedthathewouldsucceed。Jespermadenoreply，butputhispearlsinthelittlebasketandwalkedoff。

TheKingoftheAntsandtheKingoftheBeetleswereagainmarshallingtheirhosts，buttheantsweregreatlyreducedinnumbers，andhadlittlehopeofholdingoutthatday。

’Comeandhelpus，’saidtheirkingtoJesper，’orweshallbecompletelydefeated。Imayhelpyousomedayinreturn。’

NowJesperhadalwaysheardtheantsspokenofascleverandindustriouslittlecreatures，whileheneverheardanyonesayagoodwordforthebeetles，soheagreedtogivethewished—forhelp。Atthefirstchargehemade，theranksofthebeetlesbrokeandfledindismay，andthoseescapedbestthatwerenearestahole，andcouldgetintoitbeforeJesper’sbootscamedownuponthem。Inafewminutestheantshadthefieldalltothemselves;andtheirkingmadequiteaneloquentspeechtoJesper，thankinghimfortheservicehehaddonethem，andpromisingtoassisthiminanydifficulty。

’Justcallonmewhenyouwantme，’hesaid，’where—everyouare。I’mneverfarawayfromanywhere，andifIcanpossiblyhelpyou，Ishallnotfailtodoit。’

Jesperwasinclinedtolaughatthis，buthekeptagraveface，saidhewouldremembertheoffer，andwalkedon。Ataturnoftheroadhesuddenlycameupontheoldwoman。’Goodmorning，’

saidshe;’whathaveYOUgotinyourbasket？’

’Pearls，’saidJesper;’I’mgoingtothepalacetowintheprincesswiththem。’Andincaseshemightnotbelievehim，heliftedthecoverandletherseethem。

’Beautiful，’saidtheoldwoman;’verybeautifulindeed;buttheywillgoaverylittlewaytowardswinningtheprincess，unlessyoucanalsoperformthetasksthataresetyou。However，’shesaid，’Iseeyouhavebroughtsomethingwithyoutoeat。Won’tyougivethattome:youaresuretogetagooddinneratthepalace。’

’Yes，ofcourse，’saidJesper，’Ihadn’tthoughtofthat’;andhehandedoverthewholeofhislunchtotheoldwoman。

Hehadalreadytakenafewstepsonthewayagain，whentheoldwomancalledhimback。

’Here，’shesaid;’takethiswhistleinreturnforyourlunch。

Itisn’tmuchtolookat，butifyoublowit，anythingthatyouhavelostorthathasbeentakenfromyouwillfinditswaybacktoyouinamoment。’

Jesperthankedherforthewhistle，thoughhedidnotseeofwhatuseitwastobetohimjustthen，andheldonhiswaytothepalace。

WhenJesperpresentedhispearlstothekingtherewereexclamationsofwonderanddelightfromeveryonewhosawthem。

Itwasnotpleasant，however，todiscoverthatJesperwasamerefisher—lad;thatwasn’tthekindofson—in—lawthatthekinghadexpected，andhesaidsotothequeen。

’Nevermind，’saidshe，’youcaneasilysethimsuchtasksashewillneverbeabletoperform:weshallsoongetridofhim。’

’Yes，ofcourse，’saidtheking;’reallyIforgetthingsnowadays，withallthebustlewehavehadoflate。’

ThatdayJesperdinedwiththekingandqueenandtheirnobles，andatnightwasputintoabedroomgranderthananythingofthekindhehadeverseen。Itwasallsonewtohimthathecouldnotsleepawink，especiallyashewasalwayswonderingwhatkindoftaskswouldbesethimtodo，andwhetherhewouldbeabletoperformthem。Inspiteofthesoftnessofthebed，hewasverygladwhenmorningcameatlast。

Afterbreakfastwasover，thekingsaidtoJesper，’Justcomewithme，andI’llshowyouwhatyoumustdofirst。’Heledhimouttothebarn，andthereinthemiddleofthefloorwasalargepileofgrain。’Here，’saidtheking，’youhaveamixedheapofwheat，barley，oats，andrye，asackfulofeach。Byanhourbeforesunsetyoumusthavethesesortedoutintofourheaps，andifasinglegrainisfoundtobeinawrongheapyouhavenofurtherchanceofmarryingmydaughter。Ishalllockthedoor，sothatnoonecangetintoassistyou，andIshallreturnattheappointedtimetoseehowyouhavesucceeded。’

Thekingwalkedoff，andJesperlookedindespairatthetaskbeforehim。Thenhesatdownandtriedwhathecoulddoatit，butitwassoonveryclearthatsingle—handedhecouldneverhopetoaccomplishitinthetime。Assistancewasoutofthequestion——unless，hesuddenlythought——unlesstheKingoftheAntscouldhelp。Onhimhebegantocall，andbeforemanyminuteshadpassedthatroyalpersonagemadehisappearance。

Jesperexplainedthetroublehewasin。

’Isthatall？’saidtheant;’weshallsoonputthattorights。’

Hegavetheroyalsignal，andinaminuteortwoastreamofantscamepouringintothebarn，whoundertheking’sorderssettoworktoseparatethegrainintotheproperheaps。

Jesperwatchedthemforawhile，butthroughthecontinualmovementofthelittlecreatures，andhisnothavingsleptduringthepreviousnight，hesoonfellsoundasleep。Whenhewokeagain，thekinghadjustcomeintothebarn，andwasamazedtofindthatnotonlywasthetaskaccomplished，butthatJesperhadfoundtimetotakeanapaswell。

’Wonderful，’saidhe;’Icouldn’thavebelieveditpossible。

However，thehardestisyettocome，asyouwillseeto—morrow。’

Jesperthoughtsotoowhenthenextday’staskwassetbeforehim。Theking’sgamekeepershadcaughtahundredlivehares，whichweretobeletlooseinalargemeadow，andthereJespermustherdthemallday，andbringthemsafelyhomeintheevening:ifevenoneweremissing，hemustgiveupallthoughtofmarryingtheprincess。Beforehehadquitegraspedthefactthatthiswasanimpossibletask，thekeepershadopenedthesacksinwhichthehareswerebroughttothefield，and，withawhiskoftheshorttailandaflapofthelongears，eachoneofthehundredflewinadifferentdirection。

’Now，’saidtheking，’ashewalkedaway，’let’sseewhatyourclevernesscandohere。’

Jesperstaredroundhiminbewilderment，andhavingnothingbettertodowithhishands，thrustthemintohispockets，ashewasinthehabitofdoing。Herehefoundsomethingwhichturnedouttobethewhistlegiventohimbytheoldwoman。Herememberedwhatshehadsaidaboutthevirtuesofthewhistle，butwasratherdoubtfulwhetheritspowerswouldextendtoahundredhares，eachofwhichhadgoneinadifferentdirectionandmightbeseveralmilesdistantbythistime。However，heblewthewhistle，andinafewminutestheharescameboundingthroughthehedgeonallthefoursidesofthefield，andbeforelongwereallsittingroundhiminacircle。Afterthat，Jesperallowedthemtorunaboutastheypleased，solongastheystayedinthefield。

ThekinghadtoldoneofthekeeperstohangaboutforalittleandseewhatbecameofJesper，notdoubting，however，thatassoonashesawthecoastclearhewouldusehislegstothebestadvantage，andnevershowfaceatthepalaceagain。ItwasthereforewithgreatsurpriseandannoyancethathenowlearnedofthemysteriousreturnoftheharesandthelikelihoodofJespercarryingouthistaskwithsuccess。

’Oneofthemmustbegotoutofhishandsbyhookorcrook，’saidhe。’I’llgoandseethequeenaboutit;she’sgoodatdevisingplans。’

Alittlelater，agirlinashabbydresscameintothefieldandwalkeduptoJesper。

’Dogivemeoneofthosehares，’shesaid;’wehavejustgotvisitorswhoaregoingtostaytodinner，andthere’snothingwecangivethemtoeat。’

’Ican’t，’saidJesper。’Foronething，they’renotmine;foranother，agreatdealdependsonmyhavingthemallhereintheevening。’

Butthegirl（andshewasaveryprettygirl，thoughsoshabbilydressed）beggedsohardforoneofthemthatatlasthesaid:

’Verywell;givemeakissandyoushallhaveoneofthem。’

Hecouldseethatshedidn’tquitecareforthis，butsheconsentedtothebargain，andgavehimthekiss，andwentawaywithahareinherapron。Scarcelyhadshegotoutsidethefield，however，whenJesperblewhiswhistle，andimmediatelytheharewriggledoutofitsprisonlikeaneel，andwentbacktoitsmasteratthetopofitsspeed。

Notlongafterthisthehare—herdhadanothervisit。Thistimeitwasastoutoldwomaninthedressofapeasant，whoalsowasafteraharetoprovideadinnerforunexpectedvisitors。Jesperagainrefused，buttheoldladywassopressing，andwouldtakenorefusal，thatatlasthesaid:

’Verywell，youshallhaveahare，andpaynothingforiteither，ifyouwillonlywalkroundmeontiptoe，lookuptothesky，andcacklelikeahen。’

’Fie，’saidshe;’whataridiculousthingtoaskanyonetodo;

justthinkwhattheneighbourswouldsayiftheysawme。TheywouldthinkIhadtakenleaveofmysenses。’

’Justasyoulike，’saidJesper;’youknowbestwhetheryouwantthehareornot。’

Therewasnohelpforit，andaprettyfiguretheoldladymadeincarryingouthertask;thecacklingwasn’tverywelldone，butJespersaiditwoulddo，andgaveherthehare。Assoonasshehadleftthefield，thewhistlewassoundedagain，andbackcamelong—legs—and—earsatamarvellousspeed。

Thenexttoappearonthesameerrandwasafatoldfellowinthedressofagroom:itwastheroyalliveryhewore，andheplainlythoughtagooddealofhimself。

’Youngman，’saidhe，’Iwantoneofthosehares;nameyourprice，butIMUSThaveoneofthem。’

’Allright，’saidJesper;’youcanhaveoneataneasyrate。

Juststandonyourhead，whackyourheelstogether，andcry"Hurrah，"andthehareisyours。’

’Eh，what！’saidtheoldfellow;’MEstandonmyhead，whatanidea！’

’Oh，verywell，’saidJesper，’youneedn’tunlessyoulike，youknow;butthenyouwon’tgetthehare。’

Itwentverymuchagainstthegrain，onecouldsee，butaftersomeeffortstheoldfellowhadhisheadonthegrassandhisheelsintheair;thewhackingandthe’Hurrah’wereratherfeeble，butJesperwasnotveryexacting，andtheharewashandedover。Ofcourse，itwasn’tlongincomingbackagain，liketheothers。

Eveningcame，andhomecameJesperwiththehundredharesbehindhim。Greatwasthewonderoverallthepalace，andthekingandqueenseemedverymuchputout，butitwasnoticedthattheprincessactuallysmiledtoJesper。

’Well，well，’saidtheking;’youhavedonethatverywellindeed。IfyouareassuccessfulwithalittletaskwhichI

shallgiveyouto—morrowweshallconsiderthemattersettled，andyoushallmarrytheprincess。’

Nextdayitwasannouncedthatthetaskwouldbeperformedinthegreathallofthepalace，andeveryonewasinvitedtocomeandwitnessit。Thekingandqueensatontheirthrones，withtheprincessbesidethem，andthelordsandladieswereallroundthehall。Atasignfromtheking，twoservantscarriedinalargeemptytub，whichtheysetdownintheopenspacebeforethethrone，andJesperwastoldtostandbesideit。

’Now，’saidtheking，’youmusttellusasmanyundoubtedtruthsaswillfillthattub，oryoucan’thavetheprincess。’

’Buthowarewetoknowwhenthetubisfull？’saidJesper。

’Don’tyoutroubleaboutthat，’saidtheking;’that’smypartofthebusiness。’

Thisseemedtoeverybodypresentratherunfair，butnoonelikedtobethefirsttosayso，andJesperhadtoputthebestfacehecouldonthematter，andbeginhisstory。

’Yesterday，’hesaid，’whenIwasherdingthehares，therecametomeagirl，inashabbydress，andbeggedmetogiveheroneofthem。Shegotthehare，butshehadtogivemeakissforit;

ANDTHATGIRLWASTHEPRINCESS。Isn’tthattrue？’saidhe，lookingather。

Theprincessblushedandlookedveryuncomfortable，buthadtoadmitthatitwastrue。

’Thathasn’tfilledmuchofthetub，’saidtheking。’Goonagain。’

’Afterthat，’saidJesper，’astoutoldwoman，inapeasant’sdress，cameandbeggedforahare。Beforeshegotit，shehadtowalkroundmeontiptoe，turnuphereyes，andcacklelikeahen;

ANDTHATOLDWOMANWASTHEQUEEN。Isn’tthattrue，now？’

Thequeenturnedveryredandhot，butcouldn’tdenyit。

’H—m，’saidtheking;’thatissomething，butthetubisn’tfullyet。’Tothequeenhewhispered，’Ididn’tthinkyouwouldbesuchafool。’

’WhatdidYOUdo？’shewhisperedinreturn。

’DoyousupposeIwoulddoanythingforHIM？’saidtheking，andthenhurriedlyorderedJespertogoon。

’Inthenextplace，’saidJesper，’therecameafatoldfellowonthesameerrand。Hewasveryproudanddignified，butinordertogetthehareheactuallystoodonhishead，whackedhisheelstogether，andcried"Hurrah";andthatoldfellowwasthe————’

’Stop，stop，’shoutedtheking;’youneedn’tsayanotherword;

thetubisfull。’Thenallthecourtapplauded，andthekingandqueenacceptedJesperastheirson—in—law，andtheprincesswasverywellpleased，forbythistimeshehadquitefalleninlovewithhim，becausehewassohandsomeandsoclever。Whentheoldkinggottimetothinkoverit，hewasquiteconvincedthathiskingdomwouldbesafeinJesper’shandsifhelookedafterthepeopleaswellasheherdedthehares。

[Scandinavian。]

THEUNDERGROUNDWORKERS

OnabitternightsomewherebetweenChristmasandtheNewYear，amansetouttowalktotheneighbouringvillage。Itwasnotmanymilesoff，butthesnowwassothickthattherewerenoroads，orwalls，orhedgeslefttoguidehim，andverysoonhelosthiswayaltogether，andwasgladtogetshelterfromthewindbehindathickjunipertree。Hereheresolvedtospendthenight，thinkingthatwhenthesunrosehewouldbeabletoseehispathagain。

Sohetuckedhislegssnuglyunderhimlikeahedgehog，rolledhimselfupinhissheepskin，andwenttosleep。Howlongheslept，Icannottellyou，butafterawhilehebecameawarethatsomeonewasgentlyshakinghim，whileastrangerwhispered，’Mygoodman，getup！Ifyouliethereanymore，youwillbeburiedinthesnow，andnoonewilleverknowwhatbecameofyou。’

Thesleeperslowlyraisedhisheadfromhisfurs，andopenedhisheavyeyes。Nearhimstoodalongthinman，holdinginhishandayoungfirtreetallerthanhimself。’Comewithme，’saidtheman，’alittlewayoffwehavemadealargefire，andyouwillrestfarbettertherethanoutuponthismoor。’Thesleeperdidnotwaittobeaskedtwice，butroseatonceandfollowedthestranger。Thesnowwasfallingsofastthathecouldnotseethreestepsinfrontofhim，tillthestrangerwavedhisstaff，whenthedriftspartedbeforethem。Verysoontheyreachedawood，andsawthefriendlyglowofafire。

’Whatisyourname？’askedthestranger，suddenlyturninground。

’IamcalledHans，thesonofLongHans，’saidthepeasant。

Infrontofthefirethreemenweresittingclothedinwhite，justasifitwassummer，andforaboutthirtyfeetallroundwinterhadbeenbanished。Themosswasdryandtheplantsgreen，whilethegrassseemedallalivewiththehumofbeesandcockchafers。ButabovethenoisethesonofLongHanscouldhearthewhistlingofthewindandthecracklingofthebranchesastheyfellbeneaththeweightofthesnow。

’Well！yousonofLongHans，isn’tthismorecomfortablethanyourjuniperbush？’laughedthestranger，andforanswerHansrepliedhecouldnotthankhisfriendenoughforhavingbroughthimhere，and，throwingoffhissheepskin，rolleditupasapillow。Then，afterahotdrinkwhichwarmedboththeirhearts，theylaydownontheground。ThestrangertalkedforalittletotheothermeninalanguageHansdidnotunderstand，andafterlisteningforashorttimeheoncemorefellasleep。

Whenheawoke，neitherwoodnorfirewastobeseen，andhedidnotknowwherehewas。Herubbedhiseyes，andbegantorecalltheeventsofthenight，thinkinghemusthavebeendreaming;butforallthat，hecouldnotmakeouthowhecametobeinthisplace。

Suddenlyaloudnoisestruckonhisear，andhefelttheearthtremblebeneathhisfeet。Hanslistenedforamoment，thenresolvedtogotowardstheplacewherethesoundcamefrom，hopinghemightcomeacrosssomehumanbeing。Hefoundhimselfatlengthatthemouthofarockycaveinwhichafireseemedburning。Heentered，andsawahugeforge，andacrowdofmeninfrontofit，blowingbellowsandwieldinghammers，andtoeachanvilweresevenmen，andasetofmorecomicalsmithscouldnotbefoundifyousearchedalltheworldthrough！Theirheadswerebiggerthantheirlittlebodies，andtheirhammerstwicethesizeofthemselves，butthestrongestmenonearthcouldnothavehandledtheirironclubsmorestoutlyorgivenlustierblows。

Thelittleblacksmithswerecladinleatheraprons，whichcoveredthemfromtheirneckstotheirfeetinfront，andlefttheirbacksnaked。Onahighstoolagainstthewallsatthemanwiththepinewoodstaff，watchingsharplythewaythelittlefellowsdidtheirwork，andnearhimstoodalargecan，fromwhicheverynowandthentheworkerswouldcomeandtakeadrink。Themasternolongerworethewhitegarmentsofthedaybefore，butablackjerkin，heldinitsplacebyaleatherngirdlewithhugeclasps。

Fromtimetotimehewouldgivehisworkmenasignwithhisstaff，foritwasuselesstospeakamidsuchanoise。

Ifanyofthemhadnoticedthattherewasastrangerpresenttheytooknoheedofhim，butwentonwithwhattheyweredoing。

Aftersomehours’hardlabourcamethetimeforrest，andtheyallflungtheirhammerstothegroundandtroopedoutofthecave。

ThenthemastergotdownfromhisseatandsaidtoHans:

’Isawyoucomein，buttheworkwaspressing，andIcouldnotstoptospeaktoyou。To—dayyoumustbemyguest，andIwillshowyousomethingofthewayinwhichIlive。Waithereforamoment，whileIlayasidethesedirtyclothes。’Withthesewordsheunlockedadoorinthecave，andbadeHanspassinbeforehim。

Oh，whatrichesandtreasuresmetHans’astonishedeyes！Goldandsilverbarslaypiledonthefloor，andglitteredsothatyoucouldnotlookatthem！Hansthoughthewouldcountthemforfun，andhadalreadyreachedthefivehundredandseventiethwhenhishostreturnedandcried，laughing:

’Donottrytocountthem，itwouldtaketoolong;choosesomeofthebarsfromtheheap，asIshouldliketomakeyouapresentofthem。’

Hansdidnotwaittobeaskedtwice，andstoopedtopickupabarofgold，butthoughheputforthallhisstrengthhecouldnotevenmoveitwithbothhands，stilllessliftitofftheground。

’Why，youhavenomorepowerthanaflea，’laughedthehost;’youwillhavetocontentyourselfwithfeastingyoureyesuponthem！’

SohebadeHansfollowhimthroughotherrooms，tilltheyenteredonebiggerthanachurch，filled，liketherest，withgoldandsilver。Hanswonderedtoseethesevastriches，whichmighthaveboughtallthekingdomsoftheworld，andlayburied，useless，hethought，toanyone。

’Whatisthereason，’heaskedofhisguide，’thatyougatherupthesetreasureshere，wheretheycandogoodtonobody？Iftheyfellintothehandsofmen，everyonewouldberich，andnoneneedworkorsufferhunger。’

’Anditisexactlyforthatreason，’answeredhe，’thatImustkeeptheserichesoutoftheirway。Thewholeworldwouldsinktoidlenessifmenwerenotforcedtoearntheirdailybread。Itisonlythroughworkandcarethatmancaneverhopetobegoodforanything。’

Hansstaredatthesewords，andatlasthebeggedthathishostwouldtellhimwhatuseitwastoanybodythatthisgoldandsilvershouldliemoulderingthere，andtheownerofitbecontinuallytryingtoincreasehistreasure，whichalreadyoverflowedhisstorerooms。

’Iamnotreallyaman，’repliedhisguide，’thoughIhavetheoutwardformofone，butoneofthosebeingstowhomisgiventhecareoftheworld。Itismytaskandthatofmyworkmentoprepareundertheearththegoldandsilver，asmallportionofwhichfindsitswayeveryyeartotheupperworld，butonlyjustenoughtohelpthemcarryontheirbusiness。Tononecomeswealthwithouttrouble:wemustfirstdigoutthegoldandmixthegrainswithearth，clay，andsand。Then，afterlongandhardseeking，itwillbefoundinthisstate，bythosewhohavegoodluckormuchpatience。But，myfriend，thehourofdinnerisathand。Ifyouwishtoremaininthisplace，andfeastyoureyesonthisgold，thenstaytillIcallyou。’

InhisabsenceHanswanderedfromonetreasurechambertoanother，sometimestryingtobreakoffalittlelumpofgold，butneverabletodoit。Afterawhilehishostcameback，butsochangedthatHanscouldnotbelieveitwasreallyhe。Hissilkenclotheswereofthebrightestflamecolour，richlytrimmedwithgoldfringesandlace;agoldengirdlewasroundhiswaist，whilehisheadwasencircledwithacrownofgold，andpreciousstonestwinkledabouthimlikestarsinawinter’snight，andinplaceofhiswoodenstickheheldafinelyworkedgoldenstaff。

Thelordofallthistreasurelockedthedoorsandputthekeysinhispocket，thenledHansintoanotherroom，wheredinnerwaslaidforthem。Tableandseatswereallofsilver，whilethedishesandplateswereofsolidgold。Directlytheysatdown，adozenlittleservantsappearedtowaitonthem，whichtheydidsocleverlyandsoquicklythatHanscouldhardlybelievetheyhadnowings。Astheydidnotreachashighasthetable，theywereoftenobligedtojumpandhoprightontothetoptogetatthedishes。EverythingwasnewtoHans，andthoughhewasratherbewilderedheenjoyedhimselfverymuch，especiallywhenthemanwiththegoldencrownbegantotellhimmanythingshehadneverheardofbefore。

’BetweenChristmasandtheNewYear，’saidhe，’Ioftenamusemyselfbywanderingabouttheearthwatchingthedoingsofmenandlearningsomethingaboutthem。ButasfarasIhaveseenandheardIcannotspeakwellofthem。Thegreaterpartofthemarealwaysquarrellingandcomplainingofeachother’sfaults，whilenobodythinksofhisown。’

Hanstriedtodenythetruthofthesewords，buthecouldnotdoit，andsatsilent，hardlylisteningtowhathisfriendwassaying。Thenhewenttosleepinhischair，andknewnothingofwhatwashappening。

Wonderfuldreamscametohimduringhissleep，wherethebarsofgoldcontinuallyhoveredbeforehiseyes。Hefeltstrongerthanhehadeverfeltduringhiswakingmoments，andliftedtwobarsquiteeasilyontohisback。Hedidthissooftenthatatlengthhisstrengthseemedexhausted，andhesankalmostbreathlessontheground。Thenheheardthesoundofcheerfulvoices，andthesongoftheblacksmithsastheyblewtheirbellows——heevenfeltasifhesawthesparksflashingbeforehiseyes。Stretchinghimself，heawokeslowly，andherehewasinthegreenforest，andinsteadoftheglowofthefireintheunderworldthesunwasstreamingonhim，andhesatupwonderingwhyhefeltsostrange。

Atlengthhismemorycamebacktohim，andashecalledtomindallthewonderfulthingshehadseenhetriedinvaintomakethemagreewiththosethathappeneveryday。Afterthinkingitovertillhewasnearlymad，hetriedatlasttobelievethatonenightbetweenChristmasandtheNewYearhehadmetastrangerintheforest，andhadsleptallnightinhiscompanybeforeabigfire;thenextdaytheyhaddinedtogether，andhaddrunkagreatdealmorethanwasgoodforthem——inshort，hehadspenttwowholedaysrevellingwithanotherman。Buthere，withthefulltideofsummeraroundhim，hecouldhardlyaccepthisownexplanation，andfeltthathemusthavebeentheplaythingorsportofsomemagician。

Nearhim，inthefullsunlight，werethetracesofadeadfire，andwhenhedrewclosetoithesawthatwhathehadtakenforasheswasreallyfinesilverdust，andthatthehalfburntfirewoodwasmadeofgold。

Oh，howluckyHansthoughthimself;butwhereshouldhegetasacktocarryhistreasurehomebeforeanyoneelsefoundit？

Butnecessityisthemotherofinvention:Hansthrewoffhisfurcoat，gatheredupthesilverashessocarefullyinitthatnoneremainedbehind，laidthegoldsticksontop，andtiedupthebagthusmadewithhisgirdle，sothatnothingshouldfallout。Theloadwasnot，inpointoffact，veryheavy，althoughitseemedsotohisimagination，andhemovedslowlyalongtillhefoundasafehiding—placeforit。