Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book LLIX: Clever Elsie

There was once a man who had a daughter who was called cleverelsie. And when she had grown up her father said, we will gether married. Yes, said the mother, if only someone would come whowould have her. At length a man came from a distance and wooedher, who was called Hans, but he stipulated that clever elsieshould be really smart. Oh, said the father, she has plenty ofgood sense. And the mother said, oh, she can see the wind comingup the street, and hear the flies coughing.Well, said Hans, if she is not really smart, I won't have her.When they were sitting at dinner and had eaten, the mother said,elsie, go into the cellar and fetch some beer. Then clever elsietook the pitcher from the wall, went into the cellar, and tappedthe lid briskly as she went, so that the time might not appearlong. When she was below she fetched herself a chair, and setit before the barrel so that she had no need to stoop, and didnot hurt her back or do herself any unexpected injury. Then sheplaced the can before her, and turned the tap, and while thebeer was running she would not let her eyes be idle, but lookedup at the wall, and after much peering here and there, saw apick-axe exactly above her, which the masons had accidentallyleft there.Then clever elsie began to weep, and said, if I get Hans, and wehave a child, and he grows big, and we send him into the cellarhere to draw beer, then the pick-axe will fall on his head andkill him. Then she sat and wept and screamed with all the strengthof her body, over the misfortune which lay before her. Thoseupstairs waited for the drink, but clever elsie still did notcome. Then the woman said to the servant, just go down into thecellar and see where elsie is. The maid went and found hersitting in front of the barrel, screaming loudly. Elsie, why doyou weep, asked the maid. Ah, she answered, have I not reasonto weep. If I get Hans, and we have a child, and he grows big,and has to draw beer here, the pick-axe will perhaps fall on hishead, and kill him. Then said the maid, what a clever elsie wehave. And sat down beside her and began loudly to weep over themisfortune. After a while, as the maid did not come back, thoseupstairs were thirsty for the beer, the man said to the boy, justgo down into the cellar and see where elsie and the girl are.The boy went down, and there sat clever elsie and the girl bothweeping together. Then he asked, why are you weeping, ah, saidelsie, have I not reason to weep. If I get Hans, and we have achild, and he grows big, and has to draw beer here, the pick-axewill fall on his head and kill him. Then said the boy, what aclever elsie we have. And sat down by her, and likewise beganto howl loudly. Upstairs theywaited for the boy, but as he still did not return, the man saidto the woman, just go down into the cellar and see where elsie is.The woman went down, and found all three in the midst of theirlamentations, and inquired what was the cause, then elsie toldher also that her future child was to be killed by the pick-axe,when it grew big and had to draw beer, and the pick-axe felldown. Then said the mother likewise, what a clever elsie we have.And sat down and wept with them. The man upstairs waited a shorttime, but as his wife did not come back and his thirst grew evergreater, he said, I must go into the cellar myself and see whereelsie is. But when he got into the cellar, and they were allsitting together crying, and he heard the reason, and that elsie'schild was the cause, and that elsie might perhaps bring one intothe world some day, and that he might be killed by thepick-axe, if he should happen to be sitting beneath it, drawingbeer just at the very time when it fell down, he cried, oh,what a clever elsie. And sat down, and likewise wept with them.The bridegroom stayed upstairs alone for a long time, then asno one would come back he thought, they must be waiting for mebelow, I too must go there and see what they are about. When hegot down, the five of them were sitting screaming and lamentingquite piteously, each out-doing the other. What misfortune hashappened then, he asked. Ah, dear Hans, said elsie, if we marryeach other and have a child, and he is big, and we perhaps sendhim here to draw something to drink, then the pick-axe which hasbeen left up there might dash his brains out if it were to falldown, so have we not reason to weep. Come, said Hans, moreunderstanding than that is not needed for my household, as youare such a clever elsie, I will have you. And he seized herhand, took her upstairs with him, and married her.After Hans had had her some time, he said, wife, I am goingout to work and earn some money for us, go into the field and cutthe corn that we may have some bread. Yes, dear Hans, I will dothat. After Hans had gone away, she cooked herself some goodbroth and took it into the field with her. When she came to thefield she said to herself, what shall I do, shall I cut first, orshall I eat first. Oh, I will eat first. Then she drank her cupof broth, and when she was fully satisfied, she once more said,what shall I do. Shall I cut first, or shall I sleep first. Iwill sleep first. Then she lay down among the corn and fellasleep. Hans had been at home for a long time, but elsie did notcome, then said he, what a clever elsie I have, she is soindustrious that she does not even come home to eat. But whenevening came and she still stayed away, Hans went out to see whatshe had cut, but nothing was cut, and she was lying among thecorn asleep. Then Hans hastened home and brought a fowler's netwith little bells and hung it round about her, and she stillwent on sleeping. Then he ran home, shut the house-door, and satdown in his chair and worked. At length, when it was quite dark,clever elsie awoke and when she got up there was a jingling allround about her, and the bells rang at each step which she took.Then she was alarmed, and became uncertain whether she really wasclever elsie or not, and said, is it I, or is it not I. But sheknew not what answer to make to this, and stood for a time indoubt, at length she thought, I will go home and ask if it be I,or if it be not I, they will be sure to know. She ran to the doorof her own house, but it was shut, then she knocked at thewindow and cried, Hans, is elsie within. Yes, answered Hans, sheis within. Hereupon she was terrified, and said, ah, heavens.Then it is not I. And went to another door, but when the peopleheard the jingling of the bells they would not open it, and shecould get in nowhere. Then she ran out of the village, and noone has seen her since.