Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book LLX: Wishing Wethel

There was once upon a time a tailor who had three sons, andonly one goat. But as the goat supported all of them withher milk, she was obliged to have good food, and to be takenevery day to pasture. The sons did this, in turn. Once the eldesttook 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 togo 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 cordround 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 sheought. Oh, answered the son, she has eaten so much, not aleaf 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 theyouth. HI, you liar, you said the goat had had enough, and havelet her hunger, and in his anger he took the yard-measure fromthe wall, and drove him out with blows.Next day it was the turn of the second son, who sought a placein the fence of the garden, where nothing but good herbs grew, andthe 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 herup in the stable. Well, said the old tailor, has the goat had asmuch food as she ought. Oh, answered the son, she has eatenso much, not a leaf more she'll touch. The tailor would not relyon this, but went down to the stable and said, goat, have you hadenough. 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 animalhunger, and he ran up and drove the youth out of doors with theyard-measure.Now came the turn of the third son, who wanted to do his dutywell, and sought out some bushes with the finest leaves, and let thegoat devour them. In the evening when he wanted to go home, heasked, 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 led her into the stable, andtied her up. Well, said the old tailor, has the goat had her fullshare of food. She has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'lltouch. The tailor was distrustful, went down and asked, goat,have you had enough. The wicked beast answered, how should I be satisfied. Among the ditches I leapt about, found no leaf, so went without, meh. Meh.Oh, the brood of liars, cried the tailor, each as wicked andforgetful of his duty as the other. You shall no longer make afool of me, and quite beside himself with anger, he ran upstairsand belabored the poor young fellow so vigorously with theyard-measure that he sprang out of the house.The old tailor was now alone with his goat. Next morning hewent down into the stable, stroked the goat and said, come, mydear little animal, I myself will take you to feed. He took herby the rope and conducted her to green hedges, and amongst milfoiland whatever else goats like to eat. There you may for once eat toyour heart's content, said he to her, and let her browse tillevening. Then he asked, goat, are you satisfied. She replied. I have eaten so much, not a leaf more I'll touch, meh. Meh.Come home, then, said the tailor, and led her into the stable, andtied her fast. When he was going away, he turned round again andsaid, well, are you satisfied for once. But the goat behaved nobetter to him, and cried, how should I be satisfied. Among the ditches I leapt about, found no leaf, so went without, meh. Meh.When the tailor heard that, he was shocked, and saw clearly thathe had driven away his three sons without cause. Wait, youungrateful creature, cried he, it is not enough to drive you forth,I will brand you so that you will no more dare to show yourselfamongst honest tailors. In great haste he ran upstairs, fetched hisrazor, lathered the goat's head, and shaved her as clean as the palmof his hand. And as the yard-measure would have been too good forher, he brought the horsewhip, and gave her such cuts with it thatshe bounded away with tremendous leaps.When the tailor was thus left quite alone in his house he fell intogreat grief, and would gladly have had his sons back again, but noone knew whither they were gone. The eldest had apprenticedhimself to a joiner, and learnt industriously and indefatigably,and when the time came for him to go traveling, his master presentedhim with a little table which was not particularly beautiful, andwas made of common wood, but which had one good property. Ifanyone set it out, and said, little table, spread yourself, the goodlittle table was at once covered with a clean little cloth, and aplate was there, and a knife and fork beside it, and dishes withboiled meats and roasted meats, as many as there was room for, and agreat glass of red wine shone so that it made the heart glad. Theyoung journeyman thought, with this you have enough for yourwhole life, and went joyously about the world and never troubledhimself at all whether an inn was good or bad, or if anything wasto be found in it or not. When it suited him he did not enter aninn at all, but either on the plain, in a wood, a meadow, orwherever he fancied, he took his little table off his back, set itdown before him, and said, spread yourself, and then everythingappeared that his heart desired. At length he took it into his headto go back to his father, whose anger would now be appeased, andwho would now willingly receive him with his magic table. It cameto pass that on his way home, he came one evening to an inn whichwas filled with guests. They bade him welcome, and invited him tosit and eat with them, for otherwise he would have difficulty ingetting anything. No, answered the joiner, I will not take the fewmorsels out ofyour mouths. Rather than that, you shall be my guests. Theylaughed, and thought he was jesting with them. He but placed hiswooden table in the middle of the room, and said, little table,spread yourself. Instantly it was covered with food, so good thatthe host could never have procured it, and the smell of itascended pleasantly to the nostrils of the guests. Fall to, dearfriends, said the joiner, and the guests when they saw that hemeant it, did not need to be asked twice, but drew near, pulled outtheir knives and attacked it valiantly. And what surprised them themost was that when a dish became empty, a full one instantly tookits place of its own accord. The innkeeper stood in one corner andwatched the affair. He did not at all know what to say, butthought, you could easily find a use for such a cook as that in yourhousehold. The joiner and his comrades made merry until lateinto the night. At length they lay down to sleep, and the youngapprentice also went to bed, and set his magic table against thewall. The host's thoughts, however, let him have no rest. Itoccurred to him that there was a little old table in his lumber-roomwhich looked just like the apprentice's and he brought it out,and carefully exchanged it for the wishing table. Next morningthe joiner paid for his bed, took up his table, never thinkingthat he had got a false one, and went his way. At mid-day hereached his father, who received him with great joy. Well, my dearson, what have you learnt. Said he to him. Father, I have becomea joiner.A good trade, replied the old man, but what have you broughtback with you from your apprenticeship. Father, the best thingwhich I have brought back with me is this little table. Thetailor inspected it on all sides and said, you did not make amasterpiece when you made that. It is a bad old table. But itis a table which furnishes itself, replied the son. When I set itout, and tell it to spread itself, the most beautiful dishes standon it, and a wine also, which gladdens the heart. Just invite allour relations and friends, they shall refresh and enjoy themselvesfor once, for the table will give them all they require. When thecompany was assembled, he put his table in the middle of the room andsaid, little table,spread yourself, but the little table did not bestir itself, andremained just as bare as any other table which does not understandlanguage. Then the poor apprentice became aware that his tablehad been changed, and was ashamed at having to stand there like aliar. The relations, however, mocked him, and were forced to gohome without having eaten or drunk. The father brought out hispatches again, and went on tailoring, but the son went to amaster in the craft.The second son had gone to a miller and had apprenticed himselfto him. When his years were over, the master said, as youhave conducted yourself so well, I give you an ass of a peculiarkind, which neither draws a cart nor carries a sack. What good ishe, then. Asked the young apprentice. He spews forth gold, answeredthe miller. If you set him on a cloth and say bricklebrit,the good animal will spew forth gold pieces for you from back andfront. That is a fine thing, said the apprentice, and thanked themaster, and went out into the world. When he had need of gold,he had only to say bricklebrit to his ass, and it rained goldpieces, and he had nothing to do but pick them off the ground.Wheresoever he went, the best of everything was good enough forhim, and the dearer the better, for he had always a full purse.When he had looked about the world for some time, he thought, youmust seek out your father. If you go to him with the gold-ass hewill forget his anger, and receive you well. It came to passthat he came to the same inn in which his brother's table had beenexchanged. He led his ass by the bridle, and the host was aboutto take the animal from him and tie him up, but the youngapprentice said, don't trouble yourself, I will take my greyhorse into the stable, and tie him up myself too, for I must knowwhere he stands. This struck the host as odd, and he thoughtthat a man who was forced to look after his ass himself, could nothave much to spend. But when the stranger put his hand in hispocket and brought out two gold pieces, and said he was toprovide something good for him, the host opened his eyes wide, andran and sought out the best he could muster. After dinner theguest asked what he owed. The host didnot see why he should not double the reckoning, and said theapprentice must give two more gold pieces. He felt in his pocket,but his gold was just at an end. Wait an instant, sir host, saidhe, I will go and fetch some money. But he took the table-clothwith him. The host could not imagine what this could mean, andbeing curious, stole after him, and as the guest bolted the stabledoor, he peeped through a hole left by a knot in the wood. Thestranger spread out the cloth under the animal and cried,bricklebrit, and immediately the beast began to let gold pieces fallfrom back and front, so that it fairly rained down money on theground. Eh, my word, said the host, ducats are quickly coinedthere. A purse like that is not to be sniffed at. The guestpaid his score, and went to bed, but in the night the host stoledown into the stable, led away the master of the mint, and tied upanother ass in his place.Early next morning the apprentice traveled away with his ass,and thought that he had his gold-ass. At mid-day he reached hisfather, who rejoiced to see him again, and gladly took him in.What have you made of yourself, my son. Asked the old man.A miller, dear father, he answered. What have you brought backwith you from your travels. Nothing else but an ass. There areasses enough here, said the father, I would rather have had a goodgoat. Yes, replied the son, but it is no common ass, but agold-ass, when I say bricklebrit, the good beast spews forth a wholesheetful of gold pieces. Just summon all our relations hither,and I will make them rich folks. That suits me well, said thetailor, for then I shall have no need to torment myself any longerwith the needle, and ran out himself and called the relationstogether. As soon as they were assembled, the miller bade themmake way, spread out his cloth, and brought the ass into the room.Now watch, said he, and cried, bricklebrit, but what fell were notgold pieces, and it was clear that the animal knew nothing of theart, for every ass does not attain such perfection. Then the poormiller pulled a long face, saw that he was betrayed, and beggedpardon of the relatives, who went home as poor as they came. Therewas no help for it, the old man had to betake him to his needle oncemore, and the youth hired himself to a miller.The third brother had apprenticed himself to a turner, and as thatis skilled labor, he was the longest in learning. His brothers,however, told him in a letter how badly things had gone with them,and how the innkeeper had cheated them of ther beautifulwishing-gifts on the last evening before they reached home. Whenthe turner had served his time, and had to set out on his travels,as he had conducted himself so well, his master presented him with asack and said, there is a cudgel in it. I can put on the sack, saidhe, and it may be of good service to me, but why should the cudgelbe in it. It only makes it heavy. I will tell you why, repliedthe master. If anyone has done anything to injure you, do but say,out of the sack, cudgel. And the cudgel will leap forth among thepeople, and play such a dance on their backs that they will not beable to stir or move for a week, and it will not leave off untilyou say, into the sack, cudgel. The apprentice thanked him, andput the sack on his back, and when anyone came too near him, andwished to attack him, he said, out of the sack, cudgel, andinstantly the cudgel sprang out, and dusted the coat or jacket ofone after the other on their backs, and never stopped until it hadstripped it off them, and it was done so quickly, that before anyonewas aware, it was already his own turn. In the evening theyoung turner reached the inn where his brothers had been cheated.He laid his sack on the table before him, and began to talk of allthe wonderful things which he had seen in the world. Yes, saidhe, people may easily find a table which will spread itself, agold-ass, and things of that kind - extremely good things whichI by no means despise - but these are nothing in comparison withthe treasure which I have won for myself, and am carrying aboutwith me in my sack there. The innkeeper pricked up his ears.What in the world can that be. Thought he. The sack must be filledwith nothing but jewels. I ought to get them cheap too, for allgood things go in threes. When it was time for sleep, the gueststretched himself on the bench, and laid his sack beneath himfor a pillow. When the innkeeper thought his guestwas lying in a sound sleep, he went to him and pushed and pulledquite gently and carefully at the sack to see if he could possiblydraw it away and lay another in its place.The turner, however, had been waiting for this for a long time, andnow just as the inn-keeper was about to give a hearty tug, he cried,out of the sack, cudgel. Instantly the little cudgel came forth,and fell on the inn-keeper and gave him a sound thrashing.The host cried for mercy. But the louder he cried, the harder thecudgel beat the time on his back, until at length he fell to theground exhausted. Then the turner said, if you do not give backthe table which spreads itself, and the gold-ass, the dance shallbegin afresh. Oh, no, cried the host, quite humbly, I will gladlyproduce everything, only make the accursed kobold creep back intothe sack. Then said the apprentice, I will let mercy take theplace of justice, but beware of getting into mischief again. So hecried, into the sack, cudgel. And let him have rest.Next morning the turner went home to his father with thewishing-table, and the gold-ass. The tailor rejoiced when he sawhim once more, and asked him likewise what he had learned in foreignparts. Dear father, said he, I have become a turner. A skilledtrade, said the father. What have you brought back with you fromyour travels.A precious thing, dear father, replied the son, a cudgel in thesack.What cried the father, a cudgel. That's certainly worth yourtrouble. From every tree you can cut yourself one. But not onelike this, dear father. If I say, out of the sack, cudgel, thecudgel springs out and leads anyone ill-disposed toward me a wearydance, and never stops until he lies on the ground and prays forfair weather. Look you, with this cudgel have I rescued thewishing-table and the gold-ass which the thievish innkeeper tookaway from my brothers. Now let them both be sent for, and inviteall our kinsmen. I will give them to eat and to drink, and willfill their pockets with gold into the bargain. The old tailorhad not much confidence. Nevertheless he summoned the relativestogether. Then the turner spread a cloth in the room and led in thegold-ass, and said to his brother, now, dear brother, speak to him.The miller said, bricklebrit, and instantly the gold pices raineddown on the cloth like a thunder-shower, and the ass did not stopuntil every one of them had so much that he could carry no more. - I can see by your face that you also would have liked to bethere. -Then the turner brought the little table, and said, now dearbrother, speak to it. And scarcely had the carpenter said, table,spread yourself, than it was spread and amply covered with themost exquisite dishes. Then such a meal took place as the goodtailor had never yet known in his house, and the whole party ofkinsmen stayed together till far in the night, and were all merryand glad. The tailor locked away needle and thread, yard-measureand goose, in a closet, and lived with his three sons in joy andsplendor.What, however, happened to the goat who was to blame for thetailor driving out his three sons? That I will tell you. Shewas ashamed that she had a bald head, and ran to a fox's hole andcrept into it. When the fox came home, he was met by two greateyes shining out of the darkness, and was terrified and ran away.A bear met him, and as the fox looked quite disturbed, he said,what is the matter with you, brother fox, why do you look likethat. Ah, answered redskin, a fierce beast is in my cave and staredat me with its fiery eyes. We will soon drive him out, saidthe bear, and went with him to the cave and looked in, but whenhe saw the fiery eyes, fear seized on him likewise. He would havenothing to do with the furious beast, and took to his heels. Thebee met him, and as she saw that he was ill at ease, she said,bear, you are really pulling a very pitiful face. What has becomeof all your gaiety. It is all very well for you to talk, repliedthe bear, a furious beast with staring eyes is in redskin's house,and we can't drive him out. The bee said, bear I pity you, I ama poor weak creature whom you would not turn aside to look at, butstill, I believe, I can help you. She flew into the fox's cave,lighted on the goat's smoothly-shorn head, and stung her soviolently, that she sprang up, crying meh, meh, and ran forthinto the world as if mad, and to this hour no one knows where shehas gone.