"Sew me the seam,
Draw me the thread,
Spread it over with pitch,
Knock the nail on the head."
The shoemaker, however, could not endure a joke; he pulled a face as ifhe had drunk vinegar, and made a gesture as if he were about to seizethe tailor by the throat. But the little fellow began to laugh, reachedhim his bottle, and said, "No harm was meant, take a drink, and swallowyour anger down." The shoemaker took a very hearty drink, and the stormon his face began to clear away. He gave the bottle back to the tailor,and said, "I spoke civilly to you; one speaks well after much drinking,but not after much thirst. Shall we travel together?" "All right,"answered the tailor, "if only it suits you to go into a big town wherethere is no lack of work." "That is just where I want to go," answered theshoemaker. "In a small nest there is nothing to earn, and in the country,people like to go barefoot." They travelled therefore onwards together,and always set one foot before the other like a weasel in the snow.
Both of them had time enough, but little to bite and to break. When theyreached a town they went about and paid their respects to the tradesmen,and because the tailor looked so lively and merry, and had such prettyred cheeks, every one gave him work willingly, and when luck was goodthe master's daughters gave him a kiss beneath the porch, as well. Whenhe again fell in with the shoemaker, the tailor had always the most inhis bundle. The ill-tempered shoemaker made a wry face, and thought,"The greater the rascal the more the luck," but the tailor began to laughand to sing, and shared all he got with his comrade. If a couple of pencejingled in his pockets, he ordered good cheer, and thumped the table inhis joy till the glasses danced, and it was lightly come, lightly go,with him.
When they had travelled for some time, they came to a great forestthrough which passed the road to the capital. Two foot-paths, however,led through it, one of which was a seven days' journey, and the other onlytwo, but neither of the travellers knew which way was the short one. Theyseated themselves beneath an oak-tree, and took counsel together how theyshould forecast, and for how many days they should provide themselveswith bread. The shoemaker said, "One must look before one leaps, I willtake with me bread for a week." "What!" said the tailor, "drag bread forseven days on one's back like a beast of burden, and not be able to lookabout. I shall trust in God, and not trouble myself about anything! Themoney I have in my pocket is as good in summer as in winter, but in hotweather bread gets dry, and mouldy into the bargain; even my coat doesnot go as far as it might. Besides, why should we not find the rightway? Bread for two days, and that's enough." Each, therefore, boughthis own bread, and then they tried their luck in the forest.
It was as quiet there as in a church. No wind stirred, no brook murmured,no bird sang, and through the thickly-leaved branches no sunbeam forcedits way. The shoemaker spoke never a word, the heavy bread weigheddown his back until the perspiration streamed down his cross and gloomyface. The tailor, however, was quite merry, he jumped about, whistledon a leaf, or sang a song, and thought to himself, "God in heaven mustbe pleased to see me so happy."
This lasted two days, but on the third the forest would not come toan end, and the tailor had eaten up all his bread, so after all hisheart sank down a yard deeper. In the meantime he did not lose courage,but relied on God and on his luck. On the third day he lay down in theevening hungry under a tree, and rose again next morning hungry still;so also passed the fourth day, and when the shoemaker seated himself on afallen tree and devoured his dinner, the tailor was only a looker-on. Ifhe begged for a little piece of bread the other laughed mockingly, andsaid, "Thou hast always been so merry, now thou canst try for once whatit is to be sad: the birds which sing too early in the morning are struckby the hawk in the evening," In short he was pitiless. But on the fifthmorning the poor tailor could no longer stand up, and was hardly able toutter one word for weakness; his cheeks were white, and his eyes red. Thenthe shoemaker said to him, "I will give thee a bit of bread to-day, butin return for it, I will put out thy right eye." The unhappy tailor whostill wished to save his life, could not do it in any other way; he weptonce more with both eyes, and then held them out, and the shoemaker,who had a heart of stone, put out his right eye with a sharp knife.The tailor called to remembrance what his mother had formerly said tohim when he had been eating secretly in the pantry. "Eat what one can,and suffer what one must." When he had consumed his dearly-bought bread,he got on his legs again, forgot his misery and comforted himself withthe thought that he could always see enough with one eye. But on the sixthday, hunger made itself felt again, and gnawed him almost to the heart. Inthe evening he fell down by a tree, and on the seventh morning he couldnot raise himself up for faintness, and death was close at hand. Thensaid the shoemaker, "I will show mercy and give thee bread once more, butthou shalt not have it for nothing, I shall put out thy other eye for it."And now the tailor felt how thoughtless his life had been, prayed to Godfor forgiveness, and said, "Do what thou wilt, I will bear what I must,but remember that our Lord God does not always look on passively, andthat an hour will come when the evil deed which thou hast done to me,and which I have not deserved of thee, will be requited. When times weregood with me, I shared what I had with thee. My trade is of that kindthat each stitch must always be exactly like the other. If I no longerhave my eyes and can sew no more I must go a-begging. At any rate donot leave me here alone when I am blind, or I shall die of hunger."The shoemaker, however, who had driven God out of his heart, took theknife and put out his left eye. Then he gave him a bit of bread to eat,held out a stick to him, and drew him on behind him.
When the sun went down, they got out of the forest, and before themin the open country stood the gallows. Thither the shoemaker guidedthe blind tailor, and then left him alone and went his way. Weariness,pain, and hunger made the wretched man fall asleep, and he slept thewhole night. When day dawned he awoke, but knew not where he lay. Twopoor sinners were hanging on the gallows, and a crow sat on the head ofeach of them. Then one of the men who had been hanged began to speak,and said, "Brother, art thou awake?" "Yes, I am awake," answered thesecond. "Then I will tell thee something," said the first; "the dew whichthis night has fallen down over us from the gallows, gives every one whowashes himself with it his eyes again. If blind people did but know this,how many would regain their sight who do not believe that to be possible."
When the tailor heard that, he took his pocket-handkerchief, pressed iton the grass, and when it was moist with dew, washed the sockets of hiseyes with it. Immediately was fulfilled what the man on the gallows hadsaid, and a couple of healthy new eyes filled the sockets. It was notlong before the tailor saw the sun rise behind the mountains; in theplain before him lay the great royal city with its magnificent gatesand hundred towers, and the golden balls and crosses which were on thespires began to shine. He could distinguish every leaf on the trees, sawthe birds which flew past, and the midges which danced in the air. Hetook a needle out of his pocket, and as he could thread it as well asever he had done, his heart danced with delight. He threw himself on hisknees, thanked God for the mercy he had shown him, and said his morningprayer. He did not forget also to pray for the poor sinners who werehanging there swinging against each other in the wind like the pendulumsof clocks. Then he took his bundle on his back and soon forgot the painof heart he had endured, and went on his way singing and whistling.
The first thing he met was a brown foal running about the fields atlarge. He caught it by the mane, and wanted to spring on it and rideinto the town. The foal, however, begged to be set free. "I am stilltoo young," it said, "even a light tailor such as thou art would breakmy back in two let me go till I have grown strong. A time may perhapscome when I may reward thee for it." "Run off," said the tailor, "I seethou art still a giddy thing." He gave it a touch with a switch over itsback, whereupon it kicked up its hind legs for joy, leapt over hedgesand ditches, and galloped away into the open country.
But the little tailor had eaten nothing since the day before. "Thesun to be sure fills my eyes," said he, "but the bread does not fillmy mouth. The first thing that comes across me and is even half ediblewill have to suffer for it." In the meantime a stork stepped solemnlyover the meadow towards him. "Halt, halt!" cried the tailor, andseized him by the leg. "I don't know if thou art good to eat or not,but my hunger leaves me no great choice. I must cut thy head off, androast thee." "Don't do that," replied the stork; "I am a sacred birdwhich brings mankind great profit, and no one does me an injury. Leaveme my life, and I may do thee good in some other way." "Well, be off,Cousin Longlegs," said the tailor. The stork rose up, let its long legshang down, and flew gently away.
"What's to be the end of this?" said the tailor to himself at last,"my hunger grows greater and greater, and my stomach more and moreempty. Whatsoever comes in my way now is lost." At this moment he saw acouple of young ducks which were on a pond come swimming towards him. "Youcome just at the right moment," said he, and laid hold of one of themand was about to wring its neck. On this an old duck which was hiddenamong the reeds, began to scream loudly, and swam to him with open beak,and begged him urgently to spare her dear children. "Canst thou notimagine," said she, "how thy mother would mourn if any one wanted tocarry thee off, and give thee thy finishing stroke?" "Only be quiet,"said the good-tempered tailor, "thou shalt keep thy children," and putthe prisoner back into the water.
When he turned round, he was standing in front of an old tree which waspartly hollow, and saw some wild bees flying in and out of it. "ThereI shall at once find the reward of my good deed," said the tailor,"the honey will refresh me." But the Queen-bee came out, threatenedhim and said, "If thou touchest my people, and destroyest my nest, ourstings shall pierce thy skin like ten thousand red-hot needles. But ifthou wilt leave us in peace and go thy way, we will do thee a servicefor it another time."
The little tailor saw that here also nothing was to be done. "Threedishes empty and nothing on the fourth is a bad dinner!" He draggedhimself therefore with his starved-out stomach into the town, and as itwas just striking twelve, all was ready-cooked for him in the inn, and hewas able to sit down at once to dinner. When he was satisfied he said,"Now I will get to work." He went round the town, sought a master, andsoon found a good situation. As, however, he had thoroughly learnt histrade, it was not long before he became famous, and every one wanted tohave his new coat made by the little tailor, whose importance increaseddaily. "I can go no further in skill," said he, "and yet things improveevery day." At last the King appointed him court-tailor.
But how things do happen in the world! On the very same day his formercomrade the shoemaker also became court-shoemaker. When the latter caughtsight of the tailor, and saw that he had once more two healthy eyes,his conscience troubled him. "Before he takes revenge on me," thoughthe to himself, "I must dig a pit for him." He, however, who digs a pitfor another, falls into it himself. In the evening when work was overand it had grown dusk, he stole to the King and said, "Lord King, thetailor is an arrogant fellow and has boasted that he will get the goldcrown back again which was lost in ancient times." "That would please mevery much," said the King, and he caused the tailor to be brought beforehim next morning, and ordered him to get the crown back again, or toleave the town for ever. "Oho!" thought the tailor, "a rogue gives morethan he has got. If the surly King wants me to do what can be done by noone, I will not wait till morning, but will go out of the town at once,to-day." He packed up his bundle, therefore, but when he was without thegate he could not help being sorry to give up his good fortune, and turnhis back on the town in which all had gone so well with him. He came tothe pond where he had made the acquaintance of the ducks; at that verymoment the old one whose young ones he had spared, was sitting there bythe shore, pluming herself with her beak. She knew him again instantly,and asked why he was hanging his head so? "Thou wilt not be surprisedwhen thou hearest what has befallen me," replied the tailor, and toldher his fate. "If that be all," said the duck, "we can help thee. Thecrown fell into the water, and lies down below at the bottom; we willsoon bring it up again for thee. In the meantime just spread out thyhandkerchief on the bank." She dived down with her twelve young ones,and in five minutes she was up again and sat with the crown resting onher wings, and the twelve young ones were swimming round about and hadput their beaks under it, and were helping to carry it. They swam tothe shore and put the crown on the handkerchief. No one can imagine howmagnificent the crown was; when the sun shone on it, it gleamed like ahundred thousand carbuncles. The tailor tied his handkerchief togetherby the four corners, and carried it to the King, who was full of joy,and put a gold chain round the tailor's neck.
When the shoemaker saw that one stroke had failed, he contrived a second,and went to the King and said, "Lord King, the tailor has become insolentagain; he boasts that he will copy in wax the whole of the royal palace,with everything that pertains to it, loose or fast, inside and out." TheKing sent for the tailor and ordered him to copy in wax the whole of theroyal palace, with everything that pertained to it, movable or immovable,within and without, and if he did not succeed in doing this, or if somuch as one nail on the wall were wanting, he should be imprisoned forhis whole life under ground.
The tailor thought, "It gets worse and worse! No one can endure that?" andthrew his bundle on his back, and went forth. When he came to the hollowtree, he sat down and hung his head. The bees came flying out, and theQueen-bee asked him if he had a stiff neck, since he held his head soawry? "Alas, no," answered the tailor, "something quite different weighsme down," and he told her what the King had demanded of him. The beesbegan to buzz and hum amongst themselves, and the Queen-bee said, "Justgo home again, but come back to-morrow at this time, and bring a largesheet with you, and then all will be well." So he turned back again, butthe bees flew to the royal palace and straight into it through the openwindows, crept round about into every corner, and inspected everythingmost carefully. Then they hurried back and modelled the palace in waxwith such rapidity that any one looking on would have thought it wasgrowing before his eyes. By the evening all was ready, and when thetailor came next morning, the whole of the splendid building was there,and not one nail in the wall or tile of the roof was wanting, and itwas delicate withal, and white as snow, and smelt sweet as honey. Thetailor wrapped it carefully in his cloth and took it to the King, whocould not admire it enough, placed it in his largest hall, and in returnfor it presented the tailor with a large stone house.
The shoemaker, however, did not give up, but went for the third time tothe King and said, "Lord King, it has come to the tailor's ears that nowater will spring up in the court-yard of the castle, and he has boastedthat it shall rise up in the midst of the court-yard to a man's heightand be clear as crystal." Then the King ordered the tailor to be broughtbefore him and said, "If a stream of water does not rise in my court-yardby to-morrow as thou hast promised, the executioner shall in that veryplace make thee shorter by the head." The poor tailor did not take longto think about it, but hurried out to the gate, and because this time itwas a matter of life and death to him, tears rolled down his face. Whilsthe was thus going forth full of sorrow, the foal to which he had formerlygiven its liberty, and which had now become a beautiful chestnut horse,came leaping towards him. "The time has come," it said to the tailor,"when I can repay thee for thy good deed. I know already what is needfulto thee, but thou shalt soon have help; get on me, my back can carrytwo such as thou." The tailor's courage came back to him; he jumped upin one bound, and the horse went full speed into the town, and rightup to the court-yard of the castle. It galloped as quick as lightningthrice round it, and at the third time it fell violently down. At thesame instant, however, there was a terrific clap of thunder, a fragmentof earth in the middle of the court-yard sprang like a cannon-ball intothe air, and over the castle, and directly after it a jet of water roseas high as a man on horseback, and the water was as pure as crystal,and the sunbeams began to dance on it. When the King saw that he arosein amazement, and went and embraced the tailor in the sight of all men.
But good fortune did not last long. The King had daughters in plenty,one still prettier than the other, but he had no son. So the maliciousshoemaker betook himself for the fourth time to the King, and said,"Lord King, the tailor has not given up his arrogance. He has now boastedthat if he liked, he could cause a son to be brought to the Lord kingthrough the air." The King commanded the tailor to be summoned, andsaid, "If thou causest a son to be brought to me within nine days, thoushalt have my eldest daughter to wife." "The reward is indeed great,"thought the little tailor; "one would willingly do something for it,but the cherries grow too high for me, if I climb for them, the boughwill break beneath me, and I shall fall."
He went home, seated himself cross-legged on his work-table, and thoughtover what was to be done. "It can't be managed," cried he at last,"I will go away; after all I can't live in peace here." He tied uphis bundle and hurried away to the gate. When he got to the meadow,he perceived his old friend the stork, who was walking backwards andforwards like a philosopher. Sometimes he stood still, took a frog intoclose consideration, and at length swallowed it down. The stork came tohim and greeted him. "I see," he began, "that thou hast thy pack on thyback. Why art thou leaving the town?" The tailor told him what the Kinghad required of him, and how he could not perform it, and lamented hismisfortune. "Don't let thy hair grow grey about that," said the stork,"I will help thee out of thy difficulty. For a long time now, I havecarried the children in swaddling-clothes into the town, so for oncein a way I can fetch a little prince out of the well. Go home and beeasy. In nine days from this time repair to the royal palace, and therewill I come." The little tailor went home, and at the appointed timewas at the castle. It was not long before the stork came flying thitherand tapped at the window. The tailor opened it, and cousin Longlegscame carefully in, and walked with solemn steps over the smooth marblepavement. He had, moreover, a baby in his beak that was as lovely as anangel, and stretched out its little hands to the Queen. The stork laidit in her lap, and she caressed it and kissed it, and was beside herselfwith delight. Before the stork flew away, he took his travelling bagoff his back and handed it over to the Queen. In it there were littlepaper parcels with colored sweetmeats, and they were divided amongstthe little princesses. The eldest, however, had none of them, but gotthe merry tailor for a husband. "It seems to me," said he, "just as if Ihad won the highest prize. My mother was if right after all, she alwayssaid that whoever trusts in God and only has good luck, can never fail."
The shoemaker had to make the shoes in which the little tailor dancedat the wedding festival, after which he was commanded to quit the townfor ever. The road to the forest led him to the gallows. Worn out withanger, rage, and the heat of the day, he threw himself down. When hehad closed his eyes and was about to sleep, the two crows flew down fromthe heads of the men who were hanging there, and pecked his eyes out. Inhis madness he ran into the forest and must have died there of hunger,for no one has ever either seen him again or heard of him.
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