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
The King looked at him, and as the youth pleased him, he said, โThou mayest ask for three things to take into the castle with thee, but they must be things without life.โ
Then he answered, โThen I ask for a fire, a turning lathe, and a cutting-board with the knife.โ The King had these things carried into the castle for him during the day. When night was drawing near, the youth went up and made himself a bright fire in one of the rooms, placed the cutting-board and knife beside it, and seated himself by the turning-lathe. โAh, if I could but shudder!โ said he, โbut I shall not learn it here either.โ
Towards midnight he was about to poke his fire, and as he was blowing it, something cried suddenly from one corner, โAu, miau! how cold we are!โ
โYou simpletons!โ cried he, โwhat are you crying about? If you are cold, come and take a seat by the fire and warm yourselves.โ And when he had said that, two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat down on each side of him, and looked savagely at him with their fiery eyes.
After a short time, when they had warmed themselves, they said, โComrade, shall we have a game at cards?โ
โWhy not?โ he replied, โbut just show me your paws.โ Then they stretched out their claws. โOh,โ said he, โwhat long nails you have! Wait, I must first cut them for you.โ Thereupon he seized them by the throats, put them on the cutting-board and screwed their feet fast. โI have looked at your fingers,โ said he, โand my fancy for card-playing has gone,โ and he struck them dead and threw them out into the water. But when he had made away with these two, and was about to sit down again by his fire, out from every hole and corner came black cats and black dogs with red-hot chains, and more and more of them came until he could no longer stir, and they yelled horribly, and got on his fire, pulled it to pieces, and tried to put it out. He watched them for a while quietly, but at last when they were going too far, he seized his cutting-knife, and cried, โAway with ye, vermin,โ and began to cut them down. Part of them ran away, the others he killed, and threw out into the fishpond. When he came back he fanned the embers of his fire again and warmed himself. And as he thus sat, his eyes would keep open no longer, and he felt a desire to sleep. Then he looked round and saw a great bed in the corner. โThat is the very thing for me,โ said he, and got into it. When he was just going to shut his eyes, however, the bed began to move of its own accord, and went over the whole of the castle. โThatโs right,โ said he, โbut go faster.โ Then the bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it, up and down, over thresholds and steps, but suddenly hop, hop, it turned over upside down, and lay on him like a mountain. But he threw quilts and pillows up in the air, got out and said, โNow anyone who likes, may drive,โ and lay down by his fire, and slept till it was day.
In the morning the King came, and when he saw him lying there on the ground, he thought the evil spirits had killed him and he was dead. Then said he, โAfter all it is a pityโ โhe is a handsome man.โ
The youth heard it, got up, and said, โIt has not come to that yet.โ Then the King was astonished, but very glad, and asked how he had fared. โVery well indeed,โ answered he; โone night is past, the two others will get over likewise.โ
Then he went to the innkeeper, who opened his eyes very wide, and said, โI never expected to see thee alive again! Hast thou learnt how to shudder yet?โ
โNo,โ said he, โit is all in vain. If someone would but tell me.โ
The second night he again went up into the old castle, sat down by the fire, and once more began his old song, โIf I could but shudder.โ When midnight came, an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard; at first it was low, but it grew louder and louder. Then it was quiet for awhile, and at length with a loud scream, half a man came down the chimney and fell before him. โHollo!โ cried he, โanother half belongs to this. This is too little!โ Then the uproar began again, there was a roaring and howling, and the other half fell down likewise. โWait,โ said he, โI will just blow up the fire a little for thee.โ When he had done that and looked round again, the two pieces were joined together, and a frightful man was sitting in his place. โThat is no part of our bargain,โ said the youth, โthe bench is mine.โ The man wanted to push him away; the youth, however, would not allow that, but thrust him off with all his strength, and seated himself again in his own place. Then still more men fell down, one after the other; they brought nine dead menโs legs and two skulls, and set them up and played at ninepins with them. The youth also wanted to play and said โHark you, can I join you?โ
โYes, if thou hast any money.โ
โMoney enough,โ replied he, โbut your balls are not quite round.โ Then
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