Myths, legends, and Fairy Tales!

Grimm Fairy Tales: The Elfs

There was once upon a time a rich king who had three daughters, who daily went to walk in the palace garden, and the king was a great
lover of all kinds of fine trees, but there was one for which he had such an affection, that if anyone gathered an apple from it he wished
him a hundred fathoms underground. And when harvest time came, the apples on this tree were all as red as blood. The three daughters
went every day beneath the tree, and looked to see if the wind had not blown down an apple, but they never by any chance found one, and
the tree was so loaded with them that it was almost breaking, and the branches hung down to the ground.

Then the king's youngest child had a great desire for an apple, and said to her sisters, our father loves us far too much to wish us
underground, it is my belief that he would only do that to people who were strangers. And while she was speaking, the child plucked off
quite a large apple, and ran to her sisters, saying, just taste, my dear little sisters, for never in my life have I tasted anything so
delightful. Then the two other sisters also ate some of the apple, whereupon all three sank deep down into the earth, where they could
hear no cock crow.

When mid-day came, the king wished to call them to come to dinner, but they were nowhere to be found. He sought them everywhere in the
palace and garden, but could not find them. Then he was much troubled, and made known to the whole land that whosoever brought his
daughters back again should have one of them to wife. Hereupon so many young men went about the country in search, that there was no
counting them, for everyone loved the three children because they were so kind to all, and so fair of face.

Three young huntsmen also went out, and when they had traveled about for eight days, they arrived at a great castle, in which were
beautiful apartments, and in one room a table was laid on which were delicate dishes which were still so warm that they were smoking, but
in the whole of the castle no human being was either to be seen or heard. They waited there for half a day, and the food still remained
warm and smoking, and at length they were so hungry that they sat down and ate, and agreed with each other that they would stay and
live in that castle, and that one of them, who should be chosen by casting lots, should remain in the house, and the two others seek the king's daughters.

They cast lots, and the lot fell on the eldest, so next day the two younger went out to seek, and the eldest had to stay home. At mid-day came a small, small mannikin and begged for a piece of bread then the huntsman took the bread which he had found there, and cut a round off the loaf and was about to give it to him, but while he was giving it to the mannikin, the latter let it fall, and asked the huntsman to be so good as to give him that piece again. The huntsman was about to do so and stooped, on which the mannikin took a stick,
seized him by the hair, and gave him a good beating.

Next day, the second stayed at home, and he fared no better. When the two others returned in the evening, the eldest said, well, how have
you got on? Oh, very badly, said he, and then they lamented their misfortune together, but they said nothing about it to the youngest,
for they did not like him at all, and always called him stupid Hans, because he did not know the ways of the world.

On the third day, the youngest stayed at home, and again the little mannikin came and begged for a piece of bread. When the youth gave
it to him, the elf let it fall as before, and asked him to be so good as to give him that piece again. Then said Hans to the little mannikin, what, can you not pick up that piece yourself? If you will not take as much trouble as that for your daily bread, you do not deserve to have it. Then the mannikin grew very angry and said he was to do it, but the huntsman would not, and took my dear mannikin, and gave him a thorough beating. Then the mannikin screamed terribly, and cried, stop, stop, and let me go, and I will tell you
where the king's daughters are.