There was a man who had three sons, the youngest of whom was called
Dummling, and was despised, mocked, and put down 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 abottle of wine in order that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst.
When he entered the forest there met him a little grey-haired old manwho bade him good-day, and said, "Do give me a piece of cake out ofyour pocket, and let me have a draught of your wine; I am so hungry andthirsty." But the prudent youth answered, "If I give you my cake andwine, I shall have none for myself; be off with you," and he left thelittle man standing and went on.
But when he began to hew down a tree, it was not long before he made afalse stroke, and the axe cut him in the arm, so that he had to go homeand have it bound up. And this was the little grey man's doing.
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 methim likewise, and asked him for a piece of cake and a drink of wine. Butthe second son, too, said with much reason, "What I give you will betaken away from myself; be off!" and he left the little man standingand went on. His punishment, however, was not delayed; when he had madea few strokes at the tree he struck himself in the leg, so that he hadto be carried home.
Then Dummling said, "Father, do let me go and cut wood." The fatheranswered, "Your brothers have hurt themselves with it, leave it alone,you do not understand anything about it." But Dummling begged so longthat at last he said, "Just go then, you will get wiser by hurtingyourself." His mother gave him a cake made with water and baked in thecinders, 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 drinkout of your bottle; I am so hungry and thirsty." Dummling answered,"I have only cinder-cake and sour beer; if that pleases you, we willsit down and eat." So they sat down, and when Dummling pulled out hiscinder-cake, it was a fine sweet cake, and the sour beer had becomegood 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 youwill find something at the roots." Then the little man took leave of him.
Dummling went and cut down the tree, and when it fell there was a goosesitting in the roots with feathers of pure gold. He lifted her up, andtaking her with him, went to an inn where he thought he would stay thenight. Now the host had three daughters, who saw the goose and werecurious to know what such a wonderful bird might be, and would haveliked to have one of its golden feathers.
The eldest thought, "I shall soon find an opportunity of pulling out afeather," and as soon as Dummling had gone out she seized the goose bythe wing, but her finger and hand remained sticking fast to it.
The second came soon afterwards, thinking only of how she might get afeather for herself, but she had scarcely touched her sister than shewas held fast.
At last the third also came with the like intent, and the others screamedout, "Keep away; for goodness' sake keep away!" But she did not understandwhy she was to keep away. "The others are there," she thought, "I mayas well be there too," and ran to them; but as soon as she had touchedher sister, she remained sticking fast to her. So they had to spend thenight with the goose.
The next morning Dummling took the goose under his arm and set out,without troubling himself about the three girls who were hanging on toit. They were obliged to run after him continually, now left, now right,just as he was inclined to go.
In the middle of the fields the parson met them, and when he saw theprocession he said, "For shame, you good-for-nothing girls, why are yourunning across the fields after this young man? is that seemly?" At thesame time he seized the youngest by the hand in order to pull her away,but as soon as he touched her he likewise stuck fast, and was himselfobliged to run behind.
Before long the sexton came by and saw his master, the parson, runningbehind three girls. He was astonished at this and called out, "Hi,your reverence, whither away so quickly? do not forget that we have achristening to-day!" and running after him he took him by the sleeve,but was also held fast to it.
Whilst the five were trotting thus one behind the other, two labourerscame with their hoes from the fields; the parson called out to them andbegged that they would set him and the sexton free. But they had scarcelytouched the sexton when they were held fast, and now there were sevenof them running behind Dummling and the goose.
Soon afterwards he came to a city, where a king ruled who had a daughterwho was so serious that no one could make her laugh. So he had putforth a decree that whosoever should be able to make her laugh shouldmarry her. When Dummling heard this, he went with his goose and all hertrain before the King's daughter, and as soon as she saw the seven peoplerunning on and on, one behind the other, she began to laugh quite loudly,and as if she would never leave off. Thereupon Dummling asked to have herfor his wife, and the wedding was celebrated. After the King's death,Dummling inherited the kingdom and lived a long time contentedly withhis wife.
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