Household Tales by Jacob Grimm (classic books for 12 year olds .txt) ๐
Description
When it was first published in 1812 as Childrenโs and Household Tales, this collection of Germanic fairy tales contained eighty-six stories and was criticized because, despite the name, it wasnโt particularly well-suited to children. Over the next forty-five years, stories were added, removed, and modified until the final seventh edition was published in 1857, containing 210 fairy tales. Today, the book is commonly referred to as Grimmsโ Fairy Tales.
These fairy tales include well-known characters such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, as well as many more that never became quite as popular. Over the years, these stories have been translated, retold, and adapted to many different media.
This is a collection of Margaret Huntโs 1884 English translation, originally published in two volumes.
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- Author: Jacob Grimm
Read book online ยซHousehold Tales by Jacob Grimm (classic books for 12 year olds .txt) ๐ยป. Author - Jacob Grimm
โNo, it is not light,โ answered the count, and pulled a rueful face. โVerily, the bundle weighs as heavily as if it were full of cobble stones, and the apples and pears are as heavy as lead! I can scarcely breathe.โ He had a mind to put everything down again, but the old woman would not allow it.
โJust look,โ said she mockingly, โthe young gentleman will not carry what I, an old woman, have so often dragged along. You are ready with fine words, but when it comes to be earnest, you want to take to your heels. Why are you standing loitering there?โ she continued. โStep out. No one will take the bundle off again.โ As long as he walked on level ground, it was still bearable, but when they came to the hill and had to climb, and the stones rolled down under his feet as if they were alive, it was beyond his strength. The drops of perspiration stood on his forehead, and ran, hot and cold, down his back.
โDame,โ said he, โI can go no farther. I want to rest a little.โ
โNot here,โ answered the old woman, โwhen we have arrived at our journeyโs end, you can rest; but now you must go forward. Who knows what good it may do you?โ
โOld woman, thou art becoming shameless!โ said the count, and tried to throw off the bundle, but he laboured in vain; it stuck as fast to his back as if it grew there. He turned and twisted, but he could not get rid of it. The old woman laughed at this, and sprang about quite delighted on her crutch.
โDonโt get angry, dear sir,โ said she, โyou are growing as red in the face as a turkey-cock! Carry your bundle patiently. I will give you a good present when we get home.โ
What could he do? He was obliged to submit to his fate, and crawl along patiently behind the old woman. She seemed to grow more and more nimble, and his burden still heavier. All at once she made a spring, jumped on to the bundle and seated herself on the top of it; and however withered she might be, she was yet heavier than the stoutest country lass. The youthโs knees trembled, but when he did not go on, the old woman hit him about the legs with a switch and with stinging-nettles. Groaning continually, he climbed the mountain, and at length reached the old womanโs house, when he was just about to drop. When the geese perceived the old woman, they flapped their wings, stretched out their necks, ran to meet her, cackling all the while. Behind the flock walked, stick in hand, an old wench, strong and big, but ugly as night.
โGood mother,โ said she to the old woman, โhas anything happened to you, you have stayed away so long?โ
โBy no means, my dear daughter,โ answered she, โI have met with nothing bad, but, on the contrary, with this kind gentleman, who has carried my burden for me; only think, he even took me on his back when I was tired. The way, too, has not seemed long to us; we have been merry, and have been cracking jokes with each other all the time.โ At last the old woman slid down, took the bundle off the young manโs back, and the baskets from his arm, looked at him quite kindly, and said, โNow seat yourself on the bench before the door, and rest. You have fairly earned your wages, and they shall not be wanting.โ Then she said to the goose-girl, โGo into the house, my dear daughter, it is not becoming for thee to be alone with a young gentleman; one must not pour oil on to the fire, he might fall in love with thee.โ
The count knew not whether to laugh or to cry. โSuch a sweetheart as that,โ thought he, โcould not touch my heart, even if she were thirty years younger.โ In the meantime the old woman stroked and fondled her geese as if they were children, and then went into the house with her daughter. The youth lay down on the bench, under a wild apple-tree. The air was warm and mild; on all sides stretched a green meadow, which was set with cowslips, wild thyme, and a thousand other flowers; through the midst of it rippled a clear brook on which the sun sparkled, and the white geese went walking backwards and forwards, or paddled in the water. โIt is quite delightful here,โ said he, โbut I am so tired that I cannot keep my eyes open; I will sleep a little. If only a gust of wind does not come and blow my legs off my body, for they are as rotten as tinder.โ
When he had slept a little while, the old woman came and shook him till he awoke. โSit up,โ said she, โthou canst not stay here; I have certainly treated thee hardly, still it has not cost thee thy life. Of money and land thou hast no need, here is something else for thee.โ Thereupon she thrust a little book into his hand, which was cut out of a single emerald. โTake great care of it,โ said she, โit will bring thee good fortune.โ The count sprang up, and as he felt that he was quite fresh, and had recovered his vigor, he thanked the old woman for her present, and set off without even once looking back at the beautiful daughter. When he was already some way off, he still heard in the distance the noisy cry of the geese.
For three days the count
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