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    Grimms' Fairy Tales - Illustrated by Ruth Moorwood and H. Rountree
    Grimms' Fairy Tales - Illustrated by Ruth Moorwood and H. Rountree
    Grimms' Fairy Tales - Illustrated by Ruth Moorwood and H. Rountree
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    Grimms' Fairy Tales - Illustrated by Ruth Moorwood and H. Rountree

    By Brothers Grimm and Ruth Moorwood

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    About this ebook

    This edition of the Grimm’s Fairy Tales contains sixty-eight of their classic stories, beautifully illustrated with the black-and-white drawings of Ruth Moorwood and a frontispiece by Harry Rountree. It includes the narratives of ‘The Golden Bird’, ‘Tom Thumb’, ‘Rapunzel’, ‘Snow-Drop’, ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, ‘Rumpelstiltskin’, ‘Ashputtel’, and many more. Harry Rountree (1878 – 1950), was a prolific illustrator, originally from New Zealand, known for his frequent and fruitful collaborations with other artists – such as this joint venture, with Ruth Moorwood.

    The Brothers Grimm are perhaps the best known folklorists of all time. Die Brüder Grimm; Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859), were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, lexicographers and authors – who together specialized in collecting and publishing folklore during the nineteenth century. The popularity of their collected tales has endured well; they have been translated into more than 100 languages, and remain in print in the present day. This is a text to be appreciated by young and old alike; extraordinary for its literary as well as artistic significance.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRead Books Ltd.
    Release dateApr 16, 2013
    ISBN9781473384309
    Grimms' Fairy Tales - Illustrated by Ruth Moorwood and H. Rountree
    Author

    Brothers Grimm

    Wilhelm Grimm and his brother Jacob are famous for their classical collection of folk songs and folktales, especially for Children’s and Household Tales, generally known as Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

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    Reviews for Grimms' Fairy Tales - Illustrated by Ruth Moorwood and H. Rountree

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    179 ratings19 reviews

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    • 4/5
      When I was a kid I had an illustrated edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales and it always terrified and delighted me. Listening to an all star cast (Jim Dale, Alfred Molina, etc) narrate the abridged version of these classics really brought me back. Also, it helped me recall how truly messed up the stories were. This abridged version is still a cakewalk to the original messed up dark fairy tales that you can find if you dig deep enough, but they're still enough messed up to give you a picture. There's lots of murders, bad parents, naughty kids, kings that like killing their daughter's suitors, and magic animals. There is truly a little something for everyone. This collection includes all the classics such as: Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Cinderella, the little goose girl, and Rumpelstiltskin. The all ages, genders, and accents brought by the full cast make it a joy to listen to. A wonderful version, suitable for kids (and adults).
    • 3/5
      I agree with other reviewers that the stories in this are really repetitive of each other. It's like using the same story template and just giving the characters different names and faces.

      The stories are nothing like I thought 'fairytale' stories would be. All a little bit odd and not what I was expecting.
    • 5/5
      Grimm's Fairy Tales is a large cllection of short stories. I really enjoyed this book because of the variety of stories to read! My favorite one was "Death's godson" It was very well written with the plot and ending. Truthfully it took me a while to build interest in the book but once I did I read it whenever I could! It was brilliant! I highly suggest it to fantasy lovers and those who have a slight interst in murders.
    • 3/5
      The stories in this book were mostly pointless. I know they were from a different era and those were the types of stories they told then, but I've already forgotten most of what I read because they were random and uninteresting. What was interesting was reading the original stories for some of Disney's most famous animated features. Which were usually only about 5 pages or so and very dark. I would recommend skimming this book for that and also just to check back in time to what types of stories people were telling then.
    • 1/5
      i usually do a half star if i want you to know it was rated and don't want you to think that i just didn't rate it. i understand this is classic but i have to say disney is who made these stories great. i also say that because he basically re-wrote them. i look at these storiies and they are so unfullfilling or so un-entertaining that it must have a charm on to get people to even want to read this crap. the stories are pointless, unimaginative, gory (which i don't mind) and repetative. don't waste your time. its not even worth reading to see the differences in them and what is told to day not to mention completely un-entertaining while doing so.
    • 3/5
      Interesting to see the originals that Disney worked their magic on. There's a similarity across some of the stories where you can see that perhaps they are mutated versions of the same original that have morphed as they were told.

      Also there are a number of fairy stories that I hadn't heard before, them not having quite entered popular consciousness where I grew up. Possibly some of these would be the kernel of some good stories, Grimm's style is very much tell and no show. That suits the sort of morality tales these are, intended for someone to simply recount them at bedtime or round the fire or dinner table. They've come from an oral tradition, and anything taking longer to tell than 10 to 20 minutes would be too complex.

      Still, it is an interesting piece of folk history and I'm glad I read these stories.
    • 4/5
      No one, in my opinion tells a better fairy tale then the Grimm brothers. The collection of stories in this book included "The Goose-Girl," "Hansel and Grethel," "Little Snow White," "Cinderella," "Bearskin," "Briar Rose," "Rapunzel," "Rumpelstiltskin," and many others. Each of these stories had their own moral that readers of any age sometimes need to be reminded of, I think that is what I liked most about these stories. Many of these tales have been cleaned up and presented in a more admirable light, especially the princess stories. I think that some of these stories, while a little more gruesome, add in real elements of punishment for the evil characters. This can really hold in the message of the story. For example, in Cinderella the message is that kindness will always trump over evil. The Evil step sisters are left without toes and heels and blind by the end of the story. If that does not show children that being kind is the best way of life, then I do not think anything will.
    • 4/5
      My copy used to belong to my mother, who gave it to me one day when I complained about having read all my books. And now that I see what Barbie and Disney have based their princess stories off of, It makes me like them even less.
    • 3/5
      Enjoyed reading where some popular fairy tales originated and seeing how similar or different they are with the versions I am more familiar with. I liked some of the stories, some were just okay and some were dumb and boring. I was surprised how dark some of the stories are. Overall I am glad I read this even though it's not going to be a favorite.
    • 3/5
      More repetitive and not as dark as I expected - perhaps I had the bowdlerised version?
    • 4/5
      I myself always appreciated Grimm's Fairy Tales when I was younger, that being said it is definitely a collection one should really be wary of when suggesting to students. The language is not always as clear as some students may need, and despite the allure of fairy tales, some students may not appreciate the darker and more graphic representations. This book is something I would suggest more for older readers, perhaps 6th and on, as the material within the stories may again put some younger readers off. However, for students who are interested in folklore and the like, this is a collection they would likely be interested in ,and enjoy seeing some of the the original versions of widely known tales.
    • 1/5
      i usually do a half star if i want you to know it was rated and don't want you to think that i just didn't rate it. i understand this is classic but i have to say disney is who made these stories great. i also say that because he basically re-wrote them. i look at these storiies and they are so unfullfilling or so un-entertaining that it must have a charm on to get people to even want to read this crap. the stories are pointless, unimaginative, gory (which i don't mind) and repetative. don't waste your time. its not even worth reading to see the differences in them and what is told to day not to mention completely un-entertaining while doing so.
    • 4/5
      The Brothers Grimm were collectors of stories. Their fairytales were often dark. This editon with illustrations by Arthur Rackham is well done, easy to read and worth having. Mine is 2001 printing.
    • 3/5
      This is a collection of Grimm's stories gathered through interviews & research. These stories make for an interesting read. Many of the stories were different versions of a similar story. Some of the stories were a bit cruel, but overall, I do recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      This is a very edition- the first 35 pages are missing and some at the end as well, and the rest are loose in places. Nonetheless, it is good reading, the stories are good, as always, and it is neat to have such an old copy. I'm not positive how many stories it has (what with the table of contents missing), but it has quite a few and they are very readable.
    • 5/5
      I love books of fairy tales, and this is one of my favorites.
    • 4/5
      Potatoes are ugly yay yay yay take this. Hughvgbnb b
    • 3/5
      In 1812, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published a collection of German fairy tales. A second volume was published in 1815. After various revisions, a total of 211 stories were collected.My English hardcover contains 55 of these stories, taken from both volumes. Many of the stories are very familiar: The Frog Prince, Rumpelstiltskin Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs to name a few.The violence in these stories is shocking. The brothers received criticism for it even in their day. In 1825 they printed a Children's Edition which included some of the safer stories. Walt Disney has rendered even the safer stories innocuous.Take the original Cinderella, for example. When the prince came to find the sister who fit the golden slipper, the eldest tried first:Her great toe prevented her from getting it on. Her foot was too long.Then her mother handed her a knife and said, "Cut off the toe. When you are Queen you won't have to walk any more."The girl cut off her toe, forced her foot into the slipper, stifled her pain, and went out to the Prince. ...Then he looked at her foot and saw how the blood was streaming from it. So he turned his horse round and carried the false bride back to her home, and said that she was not the right one. (162-3)She was the lucky one! The second sister had to pare down her heel. In the end, Cinderella was married to the prince. As they walked into the church, a dove plucked one eye from each of the false brides. On their way out of the church the dove picked the other eyes. "And so for their wickedness and falseness they were punished with blindness for the rest of their days" (165).I suppose that's one way to get children to behave!These stories are part of our culture. They have staying power that is rarely seen. Enjoy them—just watch out for vindictive doves.
    • 5/5
      I have read this book so many times! It is falling apart because it's old and probably been handled a lot. It's basically the original fairy tales we have all grown to love and changed into the "Happily Ever After" endings. These stories reveal the darker side of the fairy tales as everything does not always end happily.

    Book preview

    Grimms' Fairy Tales - Illustrated by Ruth Moorwood and H. Rountree - Brothers Grimm

    1. HANS IN LUCK

    HANS had served his master seven years, and at last said to him, Master, my time is up; I should like to go home and see my mother; so give me my wages. And the master said, You have been a faithful and good servant, so your pay shall be handsome. Then he gave him a piece of silver that was as big as his head.

    Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief, put the piece of silver into it, threw it over his shoulder, and jogged off homewards. As he went lazily on, dragging one foot after another, a man came in sight, trotting along gaily on a capital horse. Ah! said Hans aloud, what a fine thing it is to ride on horseback! there he sits as if he was at home in his chair; he trips against no stones, spares his shoes, and yet gets on he hardly knows how. The horseman heard this, and said, Well, Hans, why do you go on foot then? Ah! said he, I have this load to carry; to be sure it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can’t hold up my head, and it hurts my shoulder sadly. What do you say to changing? said the horseman; I will give you my horse, and you shall give me the silver. With all my heart, said Hans: but I tell you one thing—you’ll have a weary task to drag it along. The horseman got off, took the silver, helped Hans up, gave him the bridle into his hand, and said, When you want to go very fast, you must smack your lips loud, and cry ‘Jip.’

    Hans was delighted as he sat on the horse, and rode merrily on. After a time he thought he should like to go a little faster, so he smacked his lips, and cried Jip. Away went the horse full gallop; and before Hans knew what he was about, he was thrown off, and lay in a ditch by the roadside; and his horse would have run off, if a shepherd who was coming by, driving a cow, had not stopped it. Hans soon came to himself, and got upon his legs again. He was sadly vexed, and said to the shepherd, This riding is no joke when a man gets on a beast like this, that stumbles and flings him off as if he would break his neck. However, I’m off now once for all: I like your cow a great deal better! one can walk along at one’s leisure behind her, and have milk, butter, and cheese every day into the bargain. What would I give to have such a cow! Well, said the shepherd, if you are so fond of her, I will change my cow for your horse. Done! said Hans merrily. The shepherd jumped upon the horse and away he rode.

    Hans drove off his cow quietly, and thought his bargain a very lucky one. If I have only a piece of bread (and I certainly shall be able to get that), I can, whenever I like, eat my butter and cheese with it; and when I am thirsty I can milk my cow and drink the milk: what can I wish for more? When he came to an inn, he halted, ate up all his bread, and gave away his last penny for a glass of beer: then he drove his cow towards his mother’s village; and the heat grew greater as noon came on, till at last he found himself on a wide heath that would take him more than an hour to cross, and he began to be so hot and parched that his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. I can find a cure for this, thought he; now will I milk my cow and quench my thirst; so he tied her to the stump of a tree, and held his leathern cap to milk into; but not a drop was to be had.

    He was thrown off, and lay in a ditch by the roadside (page 6).

    While he was trying his luck and managing the matter very clumsily, the uneasy beast gave him a kick on the head that knocked him down, and there he lay a long while senseless. Luckily a butcher soon came by driving a pig in a wheelbarrow. What is the matter with you? said the butcher as he helped him up. Hans told him what had happened, and the butcher gave him a flask, saying, There, drink and refresh yourself; your cow will give you no milk; she is an old beast, good for nothing but the slaughter-house. Alas, alas! said Hans, who would have thought it? If I kill her, what will she be good for? I hate cow-beef, it is not tender enough for me. If it were a pig now, one could do something with it; it would at any rate make some sausages. Well, said the butcher, to please you I’ll change, and give you the pig for the cow. Heaven reward you for your kindness! said Hans, as he gave the butcher the cow, and took the pig off the wheelbarrow, and drove it off, holding it by the string that was tied to its leg.

    So on he jogged, and all seemed now to go right with him; he had met with some misfortunes, to be sure; but he was now well repaid for all. The next person he met was a countryman carrying a fine white goose under his arm. The countryman stopped to ask what was o’clock; and Hans told him all his luck, and how he had made so many good bargains. The countryman said he was going to take the goose to a christening; Feel, said he, how heavy it is, and yet it is only eight weeks old. Whoever roasts and eats it may cut plenty of fat off it, it has lived so well! You’re right, said Hans as he weighed it in his hand; but my pig is no trifle. Meantime the countryman began to look grave, and shook his head. Hark ye, said he, my good friend; your pig may get you into a scrape; in the village I just came from, the squire has had a pig stolen out of his sty. I was dreadfully afraid, when I saw you, that you had got the squire’s pig; it will be a bad job if they catch you; the least they’ll do, will be to throw you into the horsepond.

    Poor Hans was sadly frightened. Good man, cried he, pray get me out of this scrape; you know this country better than I, take my pig and give me the goose. I ought to have something into the bargain, said the countryman; however, I will not bear hard upon you, as you are in trouble. Then he took the string in his hand, and drove off the pig by a side path; while Hans went on the way homewards free from care. After all, thought he, I have the best of the bargain: first there will be a capital roast, then the fat will find me in goose-grease for six months; and then there are all the beautiful white feathers; I will put them into my pillow, and then I am sure I shall sleep soundly without rocking. How happy my mother will be!

    As he came to the last village, he saw a scissor-grinder, with his wheel, working away, and singing:

    "O’er hill and o’er dale so happy I roam,

    Work light and live well, all the world is my home;

    Who so blythe, so merry as I?"

    Hans stood looking for a while, and at last said, You must be well off, master grinder, you seem so happy at your work. Yes, said the other, mine is a golden trade; a good grinder never puts his hand in his pocket without finding money in it:—but where did you get that beautiful goose? I did not buy it, but changed a pig for it. And where did you get the pig? I gave a cow for it. And the cow? I gave a horse for it. And the horse? I gave a piece of silver as big as my head for that. And the silver? Oh! I worked hard for that seven long years. You have thriven well in the world hitherto, said the grinder; now if you could find money in your pocket whenever you put your hand into it, your fortune would be made. Very true: but how is that to be managed? You must turn grinder like me, said the other; you only want a grindstone; the rest will come of itself. Here is one that is a little the worse for wear: I would not ask more than the value of your goose for it;—will you buy? How can you ask such a question? replied Hans; I should be the happiest man in the world if I could have money whenever I put my hand in my pocket; what could I want more? there’s the goose! Now, said the grinder, as he gave him a common rough stone that lay by his side, this is a most capital stone; do but manage it cleverly, and you can make an old nail cut with it.

    Hans took the stone and went off with a light heart: his eyes sparkled for joy, and he said to himself, I must have been born in a lucky hour; everything that I want or wish for comes to me of itself.

    Meantime he began to be tired, for he had been travelling ever since daybreak; he was hungry, too, for he had given away his last penny in his joy at getting the cow. At last he could go no further, and the stone tired him terribly; he dragged himself to the side of a pond that he might drink some water, and rest awhile; so he laid the stone carefully by his side on the bank; but as he stooped down to drink, he forgot it, pushed it a little, and down it went plump into the pond. For a while he watched it sinking in the deep clear water, then sprang up for joy, and again fell upon his knees, and thanked heaven with tears in his eyes for its kindness in taking away his only plague, the ugly heavy stone. How happy am I! cried he: no mortal was ever so lucky as I am. Then up he got with a light and merry heart, and walked on free from all his troubles. till he reached his mother’s house.

    2. THE YOUTH WHO WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO SHIVER.

    A FATHER had two sons. The eldest was prudent and clever, and able to do everything. The younger was dull unable to understand or learn, and people who saw him said that he would prove a burden to his father. When anything was required, it was always the elder who was called upon; yet if his father asked him late, or in the night, to fetch something, and the way lay through the churchyard or some lonely spot, he would reply, Oh no, father! I cannot go there, it makes me shiver; for he was afraid. In the winter evenings likewise, when people sat by the fire and told stories which made the hair stand on end, the listeners would sometimes exclaim, It makes me shiver. The youngest sat in a corner and listened with the others, but could never comprehend what they meant: "They are always saying, ‘I shiver, I shiver:’ I never shiver; that is a thing I do not understand."

    One day his father said to him, Listen, you in the corner, you are tall and strong, and must learn something that will earn you your bread. See how your brother works; but everything is thrown away on you. Yes, father, replied he, I am quite ready to learn something, and if it could be managed I should like to learn to shiver, for I understand nothing at all about it. The eldest son laughed when he heard this, saying to himself, What a simpleton my brother is; he will never do anything. The father sighed and said, You may learn to shiver, but that will never enable you to earn your bread, my son.

    Soon after this the sexton came to see them, and the father complained to him of the stupidity of his son, and related to him instances of his incapacity and want of intelligence. Now only think, continued he, when I asked him how he would like to earn his bread, he said he would like to learn to shiver. If that’s all, said the sexton, he can learn that with me. Send him to me, I will soon polish him up. The father was much pleased at the proposal, as he thought it would be good for his son. So the sexton took him into his house to toll the bell. After a day or two, the sexton woke him up at midnight, and told him to go up the church steeple and ring the bell. You shall now learn what it is to shiver, said the sexton to himself. So he secretly repaired to the steeple, and when the youth had ascended, and turned himself round to catch the rope, he saw on the stairs opposite the sound-hole a white figure. Who is there? cried the boy; but the figure gave no answer, and neither moved nor spoke. Answer me at once, repeated the lad, or go away; you have no business to be here at night. The sexton, however, remained motionless, that the boy might believe it was a ghost. Again he cried for the third time, What do you want? Speak, if you are a real man, or I will knock you down the stairs. The sexton thought he would never do this, and therefore uttered no sound; he stood there as if he were made of stone. The boy called out once more, but in vain; he then made a spring at the ghost, who rolled down ten or twelve steps into a corner at the bottom, where he lay quite still. The bell was then rung, and the boy proceeded home, going to bed without saying a word of what had happened. The sexton’s wife waited long for her husband, but as he did not come, she began to be afraid of some misfortune, so she went and waked the lad to inquire if he had seen his master. No, replied he, but somebody stood in the sound-hole, opposite the stairs in the steeple, and as he would neither answer nor go away when I spoke to him, I thought it was some rogue, and pushed him down the stairs. Go and see who it is; I should be very sorry if it were the sexton. The sexton’s wife ran instantly to the church, and there, in a corner, she found her husband groaning, for he had broken his leg.

    She helped him home, then hastened with loud cries to the house of the boy’s father. Your son, said she, has brought a great misfortune upon us, he has thrown my husband down the stairs from the steeple, and broken his leg. Take the good-for-nothing fellow away from our house. The father was frightened, ran to the house directly, and began to scold his son. What wicked tricks are these that I hear of? said he. Satan himself must be in you. Father, returned the boy, listen to me. I am innocent. He stood before me in the night like somebody about to do wrong. I did not know who it was, and warned him thrice to speak or to go away. Ah! said the father, you are nothing but a trouble to me; go out of my sight; I am finished with you. Very well, father; I am ready to go, only wait until it is light. I will then go out and learn to shiver, so that I may be able to keep myself. Learn what you like, returned the father, it is the same to me; there are fifty crowns for you; go into the world, but tell nobody who you are and who your father is, for I am ashamed of you. All right, father, if you wish it so; if you require nothing more, I can easily do what you ask, replied the son.

    At daybreak the lad put the fifty crowns into his pocket and took his way along the high road, repeating to himself, Oh! if I could shiver; oh! if I could only shiver. A man passing by heard what the boy repeated to himself, and when he had gone a little farther, so that the gallows might be seen, he said to him, Look, there is the tree where seven men have kept their wedding with the rope-maker’s daughter, and now are learning to fly; sit beneath it, and wait until night comes, and you will soon learn to shiver. If nothing else is to be done, that is very easy, answered the youth; and if I learn so quickly to shiver, you shall have my fifty crowns; so come back early to me to-morrow morning.

    The youth went beneath the gallows, and waited until the evening; but as it was frosty, he lighted a fire, and towards midnight the wind became so cold that even the fire could not keep him warm. The wind shook the dead men in the tree, and they struck against each other as they swung from side to side. So the youth said to himself, If I freeze down here by the fire, how the people up there must chatter and freeze with the cold. Being compassionate, he raised the ladder which was near, ascended it, and untying one after the other, brought all seven down. He then stirred and blew the fire, and placed them all around, that they might warm themselves; but they sat as he placed them, and did not stir; so that the fire singed their clothes. Upon this he spoke to them, saying, Take care of yourselves, or I will hang you all up again; but as the dead men could not hear, they remained silent, and their rags continued to burn. This made him very angry, and he said, If you will not take care of yourselves, I cannot help you. I do not intend to be burnt with you. He then carried them all up and hung them up in a row as they were before. He then seated himself by his fire and slept soundly. The next morning the man came to him in expectation of receiving the fifty crowns, and said, Well, now do you know what shivering means? No, replied the lad, how should I know? The people up there would not open their mouths, and were so stupid that they would have allowed the rags to be burnt off their backs. Upon this the man saw clearly that he would not get the fifty crowns, so he went away, saying to himself, I never saw such a fellow in my life."

    The young man then went on his way, and began as before to say aloud, Oh! if I could only shiver; oh! if I could only shiver. A driver, who was walking behind him, heard him, and asked, Who are you? I do not know, replied the youth. Who is your father? I may not tell you that. Why are you grumbling to yourself then? said the man. I was wishing I could shiver, but nobody can teach me. Don’t talk such nonsense, said the driver; come with me, and I will shelter you. The youth went with the man, and in the evening they came to an inn, where they proposed to pass the night. On entering the house, he again repeated aloud, If I could only shiver! Oh! if I could only shiver! The host heard this, laughed, and said, Certainly, if you want to do that, you can have a good opportunity here. Don’t talk like that, said the hostess, so many silly people have already lost their lives; it would be a pity if those bright eyes should see the daylight no more. But the youth entreated, saying, If it be ever so hard I must learn, for that is why I have left home. He left the host no peace until the latter had related to him, that not far from the inn was an enchanted castle, and any one passing three nights there could not fail to understand what shivering was. The king had promised his daughter for a wife to any one brave enough to venture to do this, and she was the most beautiful princess the sun ever shone upon. Besides this, great treasures were hidden in the castle, watched over by evil spirits. This treasure would then be set free, and would be riches enough for a poor man. Many had already undertaken to watch three nights in the enchanted castle, and had entered for that purpose, but not one had ever returned. The next morning the youth went to the king, and asked permission to pass three nights in the castle. The king looked at him, was pleased with his manner, and told him he might ask for three things to carry with him into the castle, but he added, they may not be living things. Then, said the youth, I will have a fire, a cooper’s bench, a knife, and a turning-lathe. The king commanded these things to be taken by day into the castle, and when the night came the youth went thither, made himself a bright fire in one of the apartments, placed the bench near him, and seated himself on the turning-lathe. Oh, said he, if I could only shiver! but I shall never learn it here. About midnight, he wished to stir and make up his fire, but as he was blowing it, suddenly he heard, from one of the corners, the exclamation, Oh! mortal! how cold we are! You foolish creatures! cried he, what are you screaming about? if you are cold, come and sit by the fire and warm yourselves. Scarcely had he said this, than two great black cats sprang forward, placed themselves one on each side, and looked fiercely at him with their fiery eyes. After a time, having warmed themselves, they said, Comrade, shall we play cards? Why not? replied the youth, but show me your paws first. They stretched out their claws. Oh, said he, what long nails! wait, I must cut them. Then seizing them by their necks, he took them to the bench and looked at their claws. Now I have seen your fingers, said he, I have no mind to play cards with you. He then struck them both dead and flung them through the window into the moat. But when he had disposed of these two, and wished to settle in peace by his fire, there came out of every hole and corner a horde of black cats and dogs, each with a red-hot chain attached to it; they trod on the hearth, and over the fire, scattering the embers, and seemed as if they would extinguish it altogether. He looked quietly on for some time, but getting angry at their boldness, he seized his carving-knife, and shouted, Begone, rogues! striking at the same time both right and left. Some escaped, but many were killed and afterwards thrown into the water. Returning to his fire, the youth blew upon the sparks until it revived, and sitting down he warmed himself. While so seated, he could no longer keep his eyes open. He felt the strongest inclination to sleep; he looked around him, and discovering in the corner a large bed, he took possession of it. Just as his eyes began to close, the bed began to move, and carried him all round the castle. Very good, said he, all the better. The bed continued to travel as if six horses were harnessed to it, over thresholds, up and down stairs, until suddenly it ended by all being turned topsy-turvy, and there he lay, as if under a mountain. He threw the coverings and pillows aside, extricated himself from the confusion, and saying, Now any one may ride for me that likes, laid himself down by his fire and slept until day. In the morning came the king, and when he saw him lying on the ground he thought the evil spirits had killed him, and that he was dead; so he said, What a pity the handsome fellow is gone! The youth heard this, jumped up directly, and said, Indeed, it is not quite so bad as that. The king was very much astonished, but joyful, and asked how he had passed the night. Quite well, he answered; one night is now over, the two others will pass too. When he came to the inn, the host opened his eyes wide. I never thought to see you alive again, said he; but have you now learnt what it is to shiver? No, said the youth, it is all in vain, I wish some one would only tell me how it is done.

    The second night he again went to the old castle, sat by the fire, and began the old refrain, If I could only shiver! Towards midnight, a dreadful noise of tumbling was heard—first distant, then louder and nearer, again more subdued, then with a loud cry half of a man tumbled down the chimney, right before him. Hullo! cried the youth, we want another half, this is too little. Then the noise began again, and after much knocking and howling, the other half fell down. Wait, cried he, let me blow up the fire a little. When he had done so, and could see around, he found the two parts had come together, and a hideous man sat in his place. I did not bargain for that, said the youth; the bench is mine. The man would have pushed him away, but the youth, who had no mind to be treated in this way, pushed the man with all his strength off his feet, and again took his place. More men now came down, one after the other, who fetched nine bones and two skulls, set them up, and began to play at bowls. The youth felt the strongest inclination to join in their game, and cried out, My merry men, can I play with you? Oh yes, replied one, if you have any money. Plenty, returned the youth, but your balls are not round. Then he took the skulls, placed them in his lathe, and made them round, saying, as he gave them back, They will roll better now, so let us begin to play. They then all began the game, and he lost some of his money; but as the clock struck twelve, the whole party, bowls and all, vanished before his eyes. The next morning the king came as before, to ask what he had been doing. I have been playing at bowls, and lost my money, said the youth. Did you shiver? returned the king. Shiver! said the youth; I was never more merry in my life. Oh, if I could only shiver!

    The next night he seated himself again upon his bench, and was repeating to himself in a melancholy tone, Oh! if I could only shiver! when six tall men entered, carrying a coffin between them. Upon seeing what they carried, This is certainly my cousin, said he, who died a day or two ago; so he beckoned, saying at the same time, Come, cousin; come! The men then placed the coffin on the ground, and he, going nearer, took off the lid, and saw that a dead man lay within. He felt his face, but it was cold as ice. Wait! he cried, I will warm you a little. So, going to the fire, he warmed his own hands, and then placed them on the dead man’s face, which remained as cold as ever. Then taking the dead man out, he placed him by the fire, rubbing in vain his limbs in order to restore circulation to the blood. He then thought of another way, and placing him on the bed, covered him up, and lay down himself beside the body. After a while the dead man became warm, and began to stir. Then the youth said, Now, cousin, have I not warmed you at last? But the dead man sat up and said, I will strangle you! What! returned the other, is this your gratitude? You shall go back instantly into your coffin. So he lifted him up, cast him in the coffin, and shut the lid down; then the six men appeared, raised the coffin, and bore it away. If I stay all my life here, said the youth, I shall never shiver.

    At this moment a huge man entered, of most hideous aspect; he was old, and had a long white beard. Mortal! he cried to the young man, soon shalt thou learn to shiver, for thou shalt die. Not so fast, said the other; if I am to die you must have my consent first. But the monster said, with a grim smile, I do not think that at all necessary; I can easily kill you. Softly, softly, said the youth; I am as strong as you, perhaps stronger. That we shall soon see, replied the old man; if you prove stronger than I, you shall go free; come, let us try. The old man conducted the youth through a dark passage to a smith’s fire or forge, seized an axe, and with one blow struck one of the anvils into the ground. I can do better than that, said the other, and went towards the other anvil; the old man placed himself near to observe what was taking place, and his white beard hung down. Then seizing an axe, with one blow the youth split the anvil, and fastened the old man’s beard at the same moment in the cleft. Now I have you fast, said he, and you shall die. Taking up an iron rod, he struck him several blows, until he shrieked out, begging him to cease, and he would make him rich for the rest of his days. The youth then set free his axe, and gave the old man his liberty. The latter led him back to the castle, and showed him a cellar where there were three chests full of gold. Take these, said he; one is for the poor, one for the king, and the third for you. At that moment the clock struck twelve, the ghost vanished, and the youth found himself in pitch darkness. I will soon find my way out, however, said he; and he groped about till he found himself in the old chamber, where he slept peacefully by his fire until the morning. The king did not fail to appear, with the old question. I know nothing more about shivering, said the youth, but I have seen my cousin, and an old man with a beard came, who showed me plenty of gold in the cellar, but said not a word about shivering. Then the king took him by the hand, and said, You have delivered the castle from the evil spirits, and you shall marry my daughter. That is all very pleasant, returned the other, but shall I never be able to learn to shiver? The gold was now brought up, and the marriage celebrated; but although the young king was very happy with his bride, he continually repeated the old refrain, Oh, if I could shiver! This at last began to annoy his wife; but her waiting woman said, With your permission, I will soon find a way to teach him to shiver. She went to the brook which ran through the garden, and got a tub full of gudgeons. At night, when the young king had retired to rest, the queen withdrew the covering, and threw the entire contents of the tub over him, so the little fish splashed about all over him, which made him wake up with a start, exclaiming, Wife, what makes me shiver so? Now I know what shivering means.

    3. THE TRAVELLING MUSICIANS;

    OR, THE WAITS OF BREMEN.

    AN honest farmer had once an ass that had been a faithful servant to him a great many years, but was now growing old and every day more and more unfit for work. His master therefore was tired of keeping him, and began to think of putting an end to him; but the ass, who saw that some mischief was in the wind, took himself slyly off, and began his journey towards Bremen, for there, thought he, I may chance to be chosen town musician.

    After he had travelled a little way, he espied a dog lying by the roadside and panting as if he was tired. What makes you pant so, my friend? said the ass. Alas! said the dog, my master was going to knock me on the head, because I am old and weak, and can no longer make myself useful to him in hunting; so I ran away; but what can I do to earn my livelihood? Hark ye! said the ass, I am going to Bremen to turn musician: suppose you go with me, and try what you can do in the same way? The dog said he was willing, and they jogged on together.

    They had not gone far before they saw a cat sitting in the middle of the road and making a most rueful face. Pray, my good lady, said the ass, "what’s the matter with you? you look quite out of

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