GRIMM's FAIRY TALES - Compilation.

THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS.

A certain miller had little by little fallen into poverty, and

had nothing left but his mill and a large apple-tree behind

it.  Once when he had gone into the forest to fetch wood, an

old man stepped up to him whom he had never seen before, and

said, why do you plague yourself with cutting wood, I will

make you rich, if you will promise me what is standing behind

your mill.  What can that be but my apple-tree, thought the

miller, and said, yes, and gave a written promise to the

stranger.  He, however, laughed mockingly and said, when three

years have passed, I will come and carry away what belongs to me,

and then he went.  When the miller got home, his wife came to

meet him and said, tell me, miller, from whence comes this

sudden wealth into our house.  All at once every box and chest

was filled, no one brought it in, and I know not how it

happened.  He answered, it comes from a stranger who met me in

the forest, and promised me great treasure.  I' in return,

have promised him what stands behind the mill - we can very

well give him the big apple-tree for it.  Ah, husband, said the

terrified wife, that must have been the devil.  He did not mean the

apple-tree, but our daughter, who was standing behind the mill

sweeping the yard.

 

The miller's daughter was a beautiful, pious girl, and lived

through the three years in the fear of God and without sin.  When

therefore the time was over, and the day came when the evil one

was to fetch her, she washed herself clean, and made a circle

round herself with chalk.  The devil appeared quite early, but

he could not come near to her.  Angrily, he said to the miller,

take all water away from her, that she may no longer be able to

wash herself, for otherwise I have no power over her.  The

miller was afraid, and did so.  The next morning the devil came

again, but she had wept on her hands, and they were quite

clean.  Again he could not get near her, and furiously said to

the miller, cut her hands off, or else I have no power over

her.  The miller was shocked and answered, how could I cut off my

own child's hands.  Then the evil one threatened him and said,

if you do not do it you are mine, and I will take you yourself.

 

The father became alarmed, and promised to obey him.  So he

went to the girl and said, my child, if I do not cut off both

your hands, the devil will carry me away, and in my terror

I have promised to do it.  Help me in my need, and forgive me