GRIMM's FAIRY TALES - Compilation.

The Wishing-Table, The Gold-Ass, and The Cudgel in the Sack

There was once upon a time a tailor who had three sons, and

only one goat. But as the goat supported all of them with

her milk, she was obliged to have good food, and to be taken

every day to pasture. The sons did this, in turn. Once the eldest

took her to the churchyard, where the finest herbs were to be found,

and let her eat and run about there. At night when it was time to

go home he asked, goat, have you had enough. The goat answered

I have eaten so much,

not a leaf more I'll touch, meh. Meh.

Come home, then, said the youth, and took hold of the cord

round her neck, led her into the stable and tied her up securely.

Well, said the old tailor, has the goat had as much food as she

ought. Oh, answered the son, she has eaten so much, not a

leaf more she'll touch. But the father wished to satisfy himself,

and went down to the stable, stroked the dear animal and asked,

goat, are you satisfied. The goat answered,

how should I be satisfied.

Among the ditches I leapt about,

found no leaf, so went without, meh. Meh.

What do I hear, cried the tailor, and ran upstairs and said to the

youth. HI, you liar, you said the goat had had enough, and have

let her hunger, and in his anger he took the yard-measure from

the wall, and drove him out with blows.

Next day it was the turn of the second son, who sought a place

in the fence of the garden, where nothing but good herbs grew, and

the goat gobbled them all up. At night when he wanted to go home,

he asked, goat, are you satisfied. The goat answered,

I have eaten so much,

not a leaf more I'll touch, meh. Meh.

Come home, then, said the youth, and led her home, and tied her

up in the stable. Well, said the old tailor, has the goat had as

much food as she ought. Oh, answered the son, she has eaten

so much, not a leaf more she'll touch. The tailor would not rely

on this, but went down to the stable and said, goat, have you had

enough. The goat answered,

how should I be satisfied.

Among the ditches I leapt about,

found no leaf, so went without, meh. Meh.

The godless wretch. Cried the tailor, to let such a good animal

hunger, and he ran up and drove the youth out of doors with the

yard-measure.

Now came the turn of the third son, who wanted to do his duty

well, and sought out some bushes with the finest leaves, and let the

goat devour them. In the evening when he wanted to go home, he