Posted on September 12 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm The cock said to the hen , " It is nutting time ; let us go together to the mountains and have a good feast for once , before the squirrels come and carry all away . " " Yes , " answered the hen , " come along ; we will have a jolly time together . " Then they set off together to the mountains , and as it was a fine day they stayed there till the evening . Now whether it was that they had eaten so much , or because of their pride and haughtiness , I do not know , but they would not go home on foot ; so the cock set to work to make a little carriage out of nutshells . When it was ready , the hen seated herself in it , and said to the cock , " Now you can harness yourself to it . " As they were wrangling , a duck came quacking , " You thieving vagabonds , who told you you might go to my mountain ? Look out , or it will be the worse for you ! " And she flew at the cock with bill wide open . But the cock was not backward , and he gave the duck a good dig in the body , and hacked at her with his spurs so valiantly that she begged for mercy , and willingly allowed herself to be harnessed to the carriage . Then the cock seated himself on the box and was coachman ; so off they went at a great pace , the cock crying out " Run , duck , as fast as you can ! " When they had gone a part of the way they met two foot - passengers - a pin and a needle . They cried " Stop ! stop ! " and said that it would 2 soon be blindman 's holiday ; that they could not go a step farther ; that the ways were very muddy ; might they just get in for a little ? They had been standing at the door of the tailors ' house of call and had been delayed because of beer . Late in the evening they came to an inn , and there they found that they could not go any farther that night , as the duck 's paces were not good - she waddled so much from side to side - so they turned in . The landlord at first made some difficulty ; his house was full already , and he thought they had no very distinguished appearance . At last , however , when they had made many fine speeches , and had promised him the egg that the hen had laid on the way , and that he should keep the duck , who laid one every day , he agreed to let them stay the night ; and so they had a very gay time . Early in the morning , when it was beginning to grow light , and everybody was still asleep , the cock waked up the hen , fetched the egg , and made a hole in it , and they ate it up between them , and put the eggshell on the hearth . Then they went up to the needle , who was still sleeping , picked him up by his head , and stuck him in the landlord 's chair - cushion , and , having also placed the pin in his towel , off they flew over the hills and far away . The duck , who had chosen to sleep in the open air , and had remained in the yard , heard the rustling of their wings , and , waking up , looked about till she found a brook , down which she swam a good deal faster than she had drawn the carriage . Posted on August 2 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm A cock and a hen once wanted to go on a journey together . So the cock built a beautiful carriage with four red wheels , and he harnessed four little mice to it . And the cock and the hen got into it , and were driven off . Very soon they met a cat , who asked where they were going . The cock answered , " On Mr . Korbes a call to pay , And that is where we go today ! " " Take me with you , " said the cat . The cock answered , " Very well , only you must sit well back , and then you will not fall forward . " And pray take care Of my red wheels there ; And wheels be steady , And mice be ready On Mr . Korbes a call to pay , For that is where we go today ! " Then there came up a mill - stone , then an egg , then a duck , then a pin , and lastly a needle , who all got up on the carriage , and were driven along . But when they came to Mr . Korbes 's house he was not at home . So the mice drew the carriage into the barn , the cock and the hen flew up and perched on a beam , the cat sat by the fireside , the duck settled on the water ; but the egg wrapped itself in the towel , the pin stuck itself in the chair cushion , the needle jumped into the bed among the pillows , and the mill - stone laid itself by the door . Then Mr . Korbes came home , and went to the hearth to make a fire , but the cat threw ashes in his eyes . Then he ran quickly into the kitchen to wash himself , but the duck splashed water in his face . Then he was going to wipe it with the towel , but the egg broke in it , and stuck his eyelids together . In order to get a little peace he sat down in his chair , but the pin ran into him , and , starting up , in his vexation he threw himself on the bed , but as his head fell on the two pillow , in went the needle , so that he called out with the pain , and madly rushed out . But when he reached the housedoor the millstone jumped up and struck him dead . Posted on July 15 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm A shepherd 's dog had a master who took no care of him , but often let him suffer the greatest hunger . At last he could bear it no longer ; so he took to his heels , and off he ran in a very sad and sorrowful mood . On the road he met a sparrow that said to him , ' Why are you so sad , my friend ? ' ' Because , ' said the dog , ' I am very very hungry , and have nothing to eat . ' ' If that be all , ' answered the sparrow , ' come with me into the next town , and I will soon find you plenty of food . ' So on they went together into the town : and as they passed by a butcher 's shop , the sparrow said to the dog , ' Stand there a little while till I peck you down a piece of meat . ' So the sparrow perched upon the shelf : and having first looked carefully about her to see if anyone was watching her , she pecked and scratched at a steak that lay upon the edge of the shelf , till at last down it fell . Then the dog snapped it up , and scrambled away with it into a corner , where he soon ate it all up . ' Well , ' said the sparrow , ' you shall have some more if you will ; so come with me to the next shop , and I will peck you down another steak . ' When the dog had eaten this too , the sparrow said to him , ' Well , my good friend , have you had enough now ? ' ' I have had plenty of meat , ' answered he , ' but I should like to have a piece of bread to eat after it . ' ' Come with me then , ' said the sparrow , ' and you shall soon have that too . ' So she took him to a baker 's shop , and pecked at two rolls that lay in the window , till they fell down : and as the dog still wished for more , she took him to another shop and pecked down some more for him . When that was eaten , the sparrow asked him whether he had had enough now . ' Yes , ' said he ; ' and now let us take a walk a little way out of the town . ' So they both went out upon the high road ; but as the weather was warm , they had not gone far before the dog said , ' I am very The carter seeing that he had thus lost all that he had , went down into his kitchen ; and was still not sorry for what he had done , but sat himself angrily and sulkily in the chimney corner . But the sparrow sat on the outside of the window , and cried ' Carter ! thy cruelty shall cost thee thy life ! ' With that he jumped up in a rage , seized his hatchet , and threw it at the sparrow ; but it missed her , and only broke the window . The sparrow now hopped in , perched upon the window - seat , and cried , ' Carter ! it shall cost thee thy life ! ' Then he became mad and blind with rage , and struck the window - seat with such force that he cleft it in two : and as the sparrow flew from place to place , the carter and his wife were so furious , that they broke all their furniture , glasses , chairs , benches , the table , and at last the walls , without touching the bird at all . In the end , however , they caught her : and the wife said , ' Shall I kill her at once ? ' ' No , ' cried he , ' that is letting her off too easily : she shall die a much more cruel death ; I will eat her . ' But the sparrow began to flutter about , and stretch out her neck and cried , ' Carter ! it shall cost thee thy life yet ! ' With that he could wait no longer : so he gave his wife the hatchet , and cried , ' Wife , strike at the bird and kill her in my hand . ' And the wife struck ; but she missed her aim , and hit her husband on the head so that he fell down dead , and the sparrow flew quietly home to her nest . Posted on June 20 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm This story , my dear young folks , seems to be false , but it really is true , for my grandfather , from whom I have it , used always , when relating it , to say , it must be true , my son , or else no one could tell it to you . The story is as follows . No sooner said than done . The hedgehog shut the house - door behind him , and took the path to the field . He had not gone very far from home , and was just turning round the sloe - bush which stands there outside the field , to go up into the turnip - field , when he observed the hare who had gone out on business of the same kind , namely , to visit his cabbages . When the hedgehog caught sight of the hare , he bade him a friendly good morning . But the hare , who was in his own way a distinguished gentleman , and frightfully haughty , did not return the hedgehog 's greeting , but said to him , assuming at the same time a very contemptuous manner , how do you happen to be running about here in the field so early in the morning . Nay , said the hedgehog , there is no such great hurry . I am still fasting , I will go home first , and have a little breakfast . In half - an - hour I will be back again at this place . Hereupon the hedgehog departed , for the hare was quite satisfied with this . On his way the hedgehog thought to himself , the hare relies on his long legs , but I will contrive to get the better of him . He may be a great man , but he is a very silly fellow , and he shall pay for what he has said . So when the hedgehog reached home , he said to his wife , wife , dress yourself quickly , you must go out to the field with me . Hold your tongue , woman , said the hedgehog , that is my affair . Don 't begin to discuss things which are matters for men . Be off , dress yourself , and come with me . What could the hedgehog 's wife do . She was forced to obey him , whether she liked it or not . So when they had set out on their way together , the hedgehog said to his wife , now pay attention to what I am going to say . Look you , I will make the long field our race - course . The hare shall run in one furrow , and when the hare arrives at the end of the furrow on the other side of you , you must cry out to him , I am here already . Then they reached the field , and the hedgehog showed his wife her place , and then walked up the field . When he reached the top , the hare was already there . Then both at once . So saying , each placed himself in his own furrow . The hare counted , once , twice , thrice , and away , and went off like a whirlwind down the field . The hedgehog , however , only ran about three paces , and then he crouched down in the furrow , and stayed quietly where he was . When the hare therefore arrived at full speed at the lower end of the field , the hedgehog 's wife met him with the cry , I am here already . The hare was shocked and wondered not a little , he thought no other than that it was the hedgehog himself who was calling to him , for the hedgehog 's wife looked just like her husband . The hare , however , thought to himself , that has not been done fairly , and cried , it must be run again , let us have it again . And once more he went off like the wind in a storm , so that he seemed to fly . But the hedgehog 's wife stayed quietly in her place . So when the hare reached the top of the field , the hedgehog himself cried out to him , I am here already . The hare , however , quite beside himself with anger , cried , it must be run again , we must have it again . So the hare ran seventy - three times more , and the hedgehog always held out against him , and every time the hare reached either the top or the bottom , either the hedgehog or his wife said , I am here already . At the seventy - fourth time , however , the hare could no longer reach the end . In the middle of the field he fell to the ground , blood streamed out of his mouth , and he lay dead on the spot . But the hedgehog took the louis - d ' or which he had won and the bottle of brandy , called his wife out of the furrow , and both went home together in great delight , and if they are not dead , they are living there still . The moral of this story is , firstly , that no one , however great he may be , should permit himself to jest at any one beneath him , even if he be only a hedgehog . And , secondly , it teaches , that when a man marries , he should take a wife in his own position , who looks just as he himself looks . So whosoever is a hedgehog let him see to it that his wife is a hedgehog also , and so forth . Posted on May 27 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm There was once a woman who lived with her daughter in a beautiful cabbage - garden ; and there came a rabbit and ate up all the cabbages . At last said the woman to her daughter , " Go into the garden , and drive out the rabbit . " - " Shoo ! shoo ! " said the maiden ; " don 't eat up all our cabbages , little rabbit ! " - " Come , maiden , " said the rabbit , " sit on my tail and go with me to my rabbit - hutch . " But the maiden would not . Another day , back came the rabbit , and ate away at the cabbages , until the woman said to her daughter , " Go into the garden , and drive away the rabbit . " - " Shoo ! shoo ! " said the maiden ; " don 't eat up all our cabbages , little rabbit ! " - " Come , maiden , " said the rabbit , " sit on my tail and go with me to my rabbit - hutch . " But the maiden would not . Again , a third time back came the rabbit , and ate away at the cabbages , until the woman said to her daughter , " Go into the garden , and drive away the rabbit . " - " Shoo ! shoo ! " said the maiden ; " don 't eat up all our cabbages , little rabbit ! " - " Come , maiden , " said the rabbit , " sit on my tail and go with me to my rabbit - hutch . " And then the girl seated herself on the rabbit 's tail , and the rabbit took her to his hutch . " Now , " said he , " set to work and cook some bran and cabbage ; I am going to bid the wedding guests . " And soon they were all collected . Would you like to know who they were ? Well , I can only tell you what was told to me ; all the hares came , and the crow who was to be the parson to marry them , and the fox for the clerk , and the altar was under the rainbow . But the maiden was sad , because she was so lonely . " Get up ! get up ! " said the rabbit , " the wedding folk are all merry . " But the bride wept and said nothing , and the rabbit went away , but very soon came back again . " Get up ! get up ! " said he , " the wedding folk are waiting . " But the bride said nothing , and the rabbit went away . Then she made a figure of straw , and dressed it in her own clothes , and gave it a red mouth , and set it to watch the kettle of bran , and then she went home to her mother . Back again came the rabbit , saying , " Get up ! get up ! " and he went up and hit the straw figure on the head , so that it tumbled down . Posted on May 13 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm In a village dwelt a poor old woman , who had gathered together a dish of beans and wanted to cook them . So she made a fire on her hearth , and that it might burn the quicker , she lighted it with a handful of straw . When she was emptying the beans into the pan , one dropped without her observing it , and lay on the ground beside a straw , and soon afterwards a burning coal from the fire leapt down to the two . Then the straw began and said : " Dear friends , from whence do you come here ? " The coal replied : " I fortunately sprang out of the fire , and if I had not escaped by sheer force , my death would have been certain , - I should have been burnt to ashes . " The bean said : " I too have escaped with a whole skin , but if the old woman had got me into the pan , I should have been made into broth without any mercy , like my comrades . " " And would a better fate have fallen to my lot ? " said the straw . " The old woman has destroyed all my brethren in fire and smoke ; she seized sixty of them at once , and took their lives . I luckily slipped through her fingers . " The proposition pleased the two others , and they set out on their way together . Soon , however , they came to a little brook , and as there was no bridge or foot - plank , they did not know how they were to get over it . The straw hit on a good idea , and said : " I will lay myself straight across , and then you can walk over on me as on a bridge . " The straw therefore stretched itself from one bank to the other , and the coal , who was of an impetuous disposition , tripped quite boldly on to the newly - built bridge . But when she had reached the middle , and heard the water rushing beneath her , she was after all , afraid , and stood still , and ventured no farther . The straw , however , began to burn , broke in two pieces , and fell into the stream . The coal slipped after her , hissed when she got into the water , and breathed her last . The bean , who had prudently stayed behind on the shore , could not but laugh at the event , was unable to stop , and laughed so heartily that she burst . It would have been all over with her , likewise , if , by good fortune , a tailor who was travelling in search of work , had not sat down to rest by the brook . As he had a compassionate heart he pulled out his needle and thread , and sewed her together . The bean thanked him most prettily , but as the tailor used black thread , all beans since then have a black seam . Posted on April 15 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm There was once on a time a King who had a daughter , and he caused a glass mountain to be made , and said that whosoever could cross to the other side of it without falling should have his daughter to wife . Then there was one who loved the King 's daughter , and he asked the King if he might have her . " Yes , " said the King ; " if you can cross the mountain without falling , you shall have her . " And the princess said she would go over it with him , and would hold him if he were about to fall . So they set out together to go over it , and when they were half way up the princess slipped and fell , and the glass - mountain opened and shut her up inside it , and her betrothed could not see where she had gone , for the mountain closed immediately . Then he wept and lamented much , and the King was miserable too , and had the mountain broken open where she had been lost , and though the would be able to get her out again , but they could not find the place into which she had fallen . Meanwhile the King 's daughter had fallen quite deep down into the earth into a great cave . An old fellow with a very long gray beard came to meet her , and told her that if she would be his servant and do everything he bade her , she might live , if not he would kill her . So she did all he bade her . In the mornings he took his ladder out of his pocket , and set it up against the mountain and climbed to the top by its help , and then he drew up the ladder after him . The princess had to cook his dinner , make his bed , and do all his work , and when he came home again he always brought with him a heap of gold and silver . When she had lived with him for many years , and had grown quite old , he called her Mother Mansrot , and she had to call him Old Rinkrank . Then once when he was out , and she had made his bed and washed his dishes , she shut the doors and windows all fast , and there was one little window through which the light shone in , and this she left open . When " Here stand I , poor Rinkrank , On my seventeen long shanks , On my weary , worn - out foot , Wash my dishes , Mother Mansrot . " Then he ran all round his house , and saw that the little window was open , and thought , " I will look in and see what she can be about , and why she will not open the door for me . " He tried to peep in , but could not get his head through because of his long beard . So he first put his beard through the open window , but just as he had got it through , Mother Mansrot came by and pulled the window down with a cord which she had tied to it , and his beard was shut fast in it . Then he began to cry most piteously , for it hurt him very much , and to entreat her to release him again . But she said not until he gave her the ladder with which he ascended the mountain . Then , whether he would or not , he had to tell her where the ladder was . And she fastened a very long ribbon to the window , and then she set up the ladder , and ascended the mountain , and when she was at the top of it she opened the window . She went to her father , and told him all that had happened to her . The King rejoiced greatly , and her betrothed was still there , and they went and dug up the mountain , and found Old Rinkrank inside it with all his gold and silver . Then the King had Old Rinkrank put to death , and took all his gold and silver . The princess married her betrothed , and lived right happily in great magnificence and joy . Posted on March 11 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm , Uncategorized Once upon a time there was a man and a woman who had long , but to no avail , wished for a child . Finally the woman came to believe that the good Lord would fulfill her wish . Through the small rear window of these people 's house they could see into a splendid garden that was filled with the most beautiful flowers and herbs . The garden was surrounded by a high wall , and no one dared enter , because it belonged to a sorceress who possessed great power and was feared by everyone . One day the woman was standing at this window , and she saw a bed planted with the most beautiful rapunzel . It looked so fresh and green that she longed for some . It was her greatest desire to eat some of the rapunzel . This desire increased with every day , and not knowing how to get any , she became miserably ill . So just as it was getting dark he climbed over the high wall into the sorceress 's garden , hastily dug up a handful of rapunzel , and took it to his wife . She immediately made a salad from it , which she devoured eagerly . It tasted so very good to her that by the next day her desire for more had grown threefold . If she were to have any peace , the man would have to climb into the garden once again . Thus he set forth once again just as it was getting dark . But no sooner than he had climbed over the wall than , to his horror , he saw the sorceress standing there before him . " Oh , " he answered , " Let mercy overrule justice . I came to do this out of necessity . My wife saw your rapunzel from our window , and such a longing came over her , that she would die , if she did not get some to eat . " The sorceress 's anger abated somewhat , and she said , " If things are as you say , I will allow you to take as much rapunzel as you want . But under one condition : You must give me the child that your wife will bring to the world . It will do well , and I will take care of it like a mother . " When the woman gave birth , the sorceress appeared , named the little girl Rapunzel , and took her away . Rapunzel became the most beautiful child under the sun . When she was twelve years old , the fairy locked her in a tower that stood in a forest and that had neither a door nor a stairway , but only a tiny little window at the very top . A few years later it happened that a king 's son was riding through the forest . As he approached the tower he heard a song so beautiful that he stopped to listen . It was Rapunzel , who was passing the time by singing with her sweet voice . The prince wanted to climb up to her , and looked for a door in the tower , but none was to be found . At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man such as she had never seen before came in to her . However , the prince began talking to her in a very friendly manner , telling her that his heart had been so touched by her singing that he could have no peace until he had seen her in person . Then Rapunzel lost her fear , and when he asked her if she would take him as her husband , she thought , " He would rather have me than would old Frau Gothel . " She said yes and placed her hand into his . She said , " I would go with you gladly , but I do not know how to get down . Every time that you come , bring a strand of silk , from which I will weave a ladder . When it is finished I will climb down , and you can take me away on your horse . " They arranged that he would come to her every evening , for the old woman came by day . " You godless child , " cried the sorceress . " What am I hearing from you ? I thought I had removed you from the whole world , but you have deceived me nonetheless . " " Aha ! " she cried scornfully . " You have come for your Mistress Darling , but that beautiful bird is no longer sitting in her nest , nor is she singing any more . The cat got her , and will scratch your eyes out as well . You have lost Rapunzel . You will never see her again . " The prince was overcome with grief , and in his despair he threw himself from the tower . He escaped with his life , but the thorns into which he fell poked out his eyes . Blind , he wandered about in the forest , eating nothing but grass and roots , and doing nothing but weeping and wailing over the loss of his beloved wife . Thus he wandered about miserably for some years , finally happening into the wilderness where Rapunzel lived miserably with the twins that she had given birth to . He heard a voice and thought it was familiar . He advanced toward it , and as he approached , Rapunzel recognized him , and crying , threw her arms around his neck . Two of her tears fell into his eyes , and they became clear once again , and he could see as well as before . He led her into his kingdom , where he was received with joy , and for a long time they lived happily and satisfied . Posted on February 7 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Let no one ever say that a poor tailor cannot do great things and win high honors ; all that is needed is that he should go to the right smithy , and what is of most consequence , that he should have good luck . A civil , adroit tailor 's apprentice once went out travelling , and came into a great forest , and , as he did not know the way , he lost himself . Night fell , and nothing was left for him to do , but to seek a bed in this painful solitude . He might certainly have found a good bed on the soft moss , but the fear of wild beasts let him have no rest there , and at last he was forced to make up his mind to spend the night in a tree . He sought out a high oak , climbed up to the top of it , and thanked God that he had his goose with him , for otherwise the wind which blew over the top of the tree would have carried him away . After he had spent some hours in the darkness , not without fear and trembling , he saw at a very short distance the glimmer of a light , and as he thought that a human habitation might be there , where he would be better off than on the branches of a tree , he got carefully down and went towards the light . It guided him to a small hut that was woven together of reeds and rushes . He knocked boldly , the door opened , and by the light which came forth he saw a little hoary old man who wore a coat made of bits of colored stuff sewn together . " Who are you , and what do you want ? " asked the man in a grumbling voice . " I am a poor tailor , " he answered , " whom night has surprised here in the wilderness , and I earnestly beg you to take me into your hut until morning . " " Go your way , " replied the old man in a surly voice , " I will have nothing to do with rascals ; seek for yourself a shelter elsewhere . " After these words he was about to slip into his hut again , but the tailor held him so tightly by the corner of his coat , and pleaded so piteously , that the old man , who was not so ill - natured as he wished to appear , was at last softened , and took him into the hut with him where he gave him something to eat , and then pointed out to him a very good bed in a corner . The weary tailor needed no rocking ; but slept sweetly till morning , but even then would not have thought of getting up , if he had not been aroused by a great noise . A violent sound of screaming and roaring forced its way through the thin walls of the hut . The tailor , full of unwonted courage , jumped up , put his clothes on in haste , and hurried out . Then close by the hut , he saw a great black bull and a beautiful stag , which were just preparing for a violent struggle . They rushed at each other with such extreme rage that the ground shook with their trampling , and the air resounded with their cries . For a long time it was uncertain which of the two would gain the victory ; at length the stag thrust his horns into his adversary 's body , whereupon the bull fell to the earth with a terrific roar , and was thoroughly despatched by a few strokes from the stag . The tailor , who had watched the fight with astonishment , was still standing there motionless , when the stag in full career bounded up to him , and before he could escape , caught him up on his great horns . He had not much time to collect his thoughts , for it went in a swift race over stock and stone , mountain and valley , wood and meadow . He held with both hands to the tops of the horns , and resigned himself to his fate . It seemed , however , to him just as if he were flying away . At length the stag stopped in front of a wall of rock , and gently let the tailor down . The tailor , more dead than alive , required a longer time than that to come to himself . When he had in some degree recovered , the stag , which had remained standing by him , pushed its horns with such force against a door which was in the rock , that it sprang open . Flames of fire shot forth , after which followed a great smoke , which hid the stag from his sight . The tailor did not know what to do , or whither to turn , in order to get out of this desert and back to human beings again . Whilst he was standing thus undecided , a voice sounded out of the rock , which cried to him , " Enter without fear , no evil shall befall you thee . " He hesitated , but driven by a mysterious force , he obeyed the voice and went through the iron - door into a large spacious hall , whose ceiling , walls and floor were made of shining polished square stones , on each of which were cut letters which were unknown to him . He looked at everything full of admiration , and was on the point of going out again , when he once more heard the voice which said to him , " Step on the stone which lies in the middle of the hall , and great good fortune awaits thee . " His courage had already grown so great that he obeyed the order . The stone began to give way under his feet , and sank slowly down into the depths . When it was once more firm , and the tailor looked round , he found himself in a hall which in size resembled the former . Here , however , there was more to look at and to admire . Hollow places were cut in the walls , in which stood vases of transparent glass which were filled with colored spirit or with a bluish vapour . On the floor of the hall two great glass chests stood opposite to each other , which at once excited his curiosity . When he went to one of them he saw inside it a handsome structure like a castle surrounded by farm - buildings , stables and barns , and a quantity of other good things . Everything was small , but exceedingly carefully and delicately made , and seemed to be cut out by a dexterous hand with the greatest exactitude . He might not have turned away his eyes from the consideration of this rarity for some time , if the voice had not once more made itself heard . It ordered him to turn round and look at the glass chest which was standing opposite . How his admiration increased when he saw therein a maiden of the greatest beauty ! She lay as if asleep , and was wrapped in her long fair hair as in a precious mantle . Her eyes were closely shut , but the brightness of her complexion and a ribbon which her breathing moved to and fro , left no doubt that she was alive . The tailor was looking at the beauty with beating heart , when she suddenly opened her eyes , and started up at the sight of him in joyful terror . " Just Heaven ! " cried she , " my deliverance is at hand ! Quick , quick , help me out of my prison ; if thou pushest back the bolt of this glass coffin , then I shall be free . " The tailor obeyed without delay , and she immediately raised up the glass lid , came out and hastened into the corner of the hall , where she covered herself with a large cloak . Then she seated herself on a stone , ordered the young man to come to her , and after she had imprinted a friendly kiss on his lips , she said , " My long - desired deliverer , kind Heaven has guided thee to me , and put an end to my sorrows . On the self - same day when they end , shall thy happiness begin . Thou art the husband chosen for me by Heaven , and shalt pass thy life in unbroken joy , loved by me , and rich to overflowing in every earthly possession . Seat thyself , and listen to the story of my life : " I am the daughter of a rich count . My parents died when I was still in my tender youth , and recommended me in their last will to my elder brother , by whom I was brought up . We loved each other so tenderly , and were so alike in our way of thinking and our inclinations , that we both embraced the resolution never to marry , but to stay together to the end of our lives . In our house there was no lack of company ; neighbors and friends visited us often , and we showed the greatest hospitality to every one . So it came to pass one evening that a stranger came riding to our castle , and , under pretext of not being able to get on to the next place , begged for shelter for the night . We granted his request with ready courtesy , and he entertained us in the most agreeable manner during supper by conversation intermingled with stories . My brother liked the stranger so much that he begged him to spend a couple of days with us , to which , after some hesitation , he consented . We did not rise from table until late in the night , the stranger was shown to room , and I hastened , as I was tired , to lay my limbs in my soft bed . Hardly had I slept for a short time , when the sound of faint and delightful music awoke me . As I could not conceive from whence it came , I wanted to summon my waiting - maid who slept in the next room , but to my astonishment I found that speech was taken away from me by an unknown force . I felt as if a mountain were weighing down my breast , and was unable to make the very slightest sound . In the meantime , by the light of my night - lamp , I saw the stranger enter my room through two doors which were fast bolted . He came to me and said , that by magic arts which were at his command , he had caused the lovely music to sound in order to awaken me , and that he now forced his way through all fastenings with the intention of offering me his hand and heart . My repugnance to his magic arts was , however , so great , that I vouchsafed him no answer . He remained for a time standing without moving , apparently with the idea of waiting f " I at once suspected nothing good . I dressed myself quickly , ordered my palfrey to be saddled , and accompanied only by one servant , rode full gallop to the forest . The servant fell with his horse , and could not follow me , for the horse had broken its foot . I pursued my way without halting , and in a few minutes I saw the stranger coming towards me with a beautiful stag which he led by a cord . I asked him where he had left my brother , and how he had come by this stag , out of whose great eyes I saw tears flowing . Instead of answering me , he began to laugh loudly . I fell into a great rage at this , pulled out a pistol and discharged it at the monster ; but the ball rebounded from his breast and went into my horse 's head . I fell to the ground , and the stranger muttered some words which deprived me of consciousness . " When I came to my senses again I found myself in this underground cave in a glass coffin . The magician appeared once again , and said he had changed my brother into a stag , my castle with all that belonged to it , diminished in size by his arts , he had shut up in the other glass chest , and my people , who were all turned into smoke , he had confined in glass bottles . He told me that if I would now comply with his wish , it was an easy thing for him to put everything back in its former state , as he had nothing to do but open the vessels , and everything would return once more to its natural form . I answered him as little as I had done the first time . He vanished and left me in my prison , in which a deep sleep came on me . Amongst the visions which passed before my eyes , that was the most comforting in which a young man came and set me free , and when I opened my eyes to - day I saw thee , and beheld my dream fulfilled . Help me to accomplish the other things which happened in those visions . The first is that we lift the glass chest in which my castle is enclosed , on to that broad stone . " As soon as the stone was laden , it began to rise up on high with the maiden and the young man , and mounted through the opening of the ceiling into the upper hall , from whence they then could easily reach the open air . Here the maiden opened the lid , and it was marvellous to behold how the castle , the houses , and the farm buildings which were enclosed , stretched themselves out and grew to their natural size with the greatest rapidity . After this , the maiden and the tailor returned to the cave beneath the earth , and had the vessels which were filled with smoke carried up by the stone . The maiden had scarcely opened the bottles when the blue smoke rushed out and changed itself into living men , in whom she recognized her servants and her people . Her joy was still more increased when her brother , who had killed the magician in the form of the bull , came out of the forest towards them in his human form , and on the self - same day the maiden , in accordance with her promise , gave her hand at the altar to the lucky tailor . Sorry there 's no picture today , guys ! I couldn 't find anything that didn 't involve Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , which this story definitely is not . I hope you enjoyed today 's story ! For new fairy tale , Prince of Prophecy , and Writer 's Corner updates every Wednesday and Saturday , follow this blog ! Posted on January 4 , 2015 by N . M . Mac Arthur under Fairy Tales and Excerpts , Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm There were two brothers ; one was rich , the other poor . However , the rich one gave nothing to the poor one , who barely made a living as a grain dealer . Things often went so badly for him that he had no bread for his wife and children . One day he was pushing his cart through the forest when off to the side he saw a large bare mountain . He had never seen it before , so he stopped and looked at it with amazement . While he was standing there he saw twelve tall wild men approaching . Thinking that they were robbers , he pushed his cart into the thicket , climbed up a tree , and waited to see what would happen . The twelve men went to the mountain and cried out , " Mount Semsi , Mount Semsi , open up . " The barren mountain immediately separated down the middle . The twelve men walked into it , and as soon as they were inside it shut . A little while later it opened again , and the men came out carrying heavy sacks on their backs . As soon as they were all back in the daylight they said , " Mount Semsi , Mount Semsi , close . " Then the mountain went back together , and the entrance could no longer be seen . Then the twelve men went away . He went inside , and the entire mountain was a cavern full of silver and gold , and in the back of the cavern there lay great piles of pearls and sparkling jewels , piled up like grain . The poor man did not know what he should do , whether or not he could take any of these treasures for himself . At last he filled his pockets with gold , but he left the pearls and precious stones lying where they were . He no longer had any cares , for with his gold he could buy bread for his wife and children , and wine as well . He lived happily and honestly , gave to the poor , and did good for everyone . When he ran out of money he went to his brother , borrowed a bushel , and got some more money , but did not touch any of the very valuable things . When he wanted to get some more money for the third time he again borrowed the bushel from his brother . However , the rich man had long been envious of his brother 's wealth and of the fine household that he had furnished for himself . He could not understand where the riches came from , and what his brother wanted with the bushel . Then he thought of a trap . He covered the bottom of the bushel with pitch , and when he got the bushel back a gold coin was sticking to it . Then he showed him the gold coin and threatened that if he did not tell the truth he would bring charges against him before the court . Then the poor man then told him everything that had happened to him . The rich man immediately had his wagon hitched up and drove away , intending to do better than his brother had done , and to bring back with him quite different treasures . The mountain opened , and he went inside . There lay the riches all before him , and for a long time he did not know what he should take hold of first . Finally took as many precious stones as he could carry . He wanted to carry his load outside , but as his heart and soul were entirely occupied with the treasures , he had forgotten the name of the mountain , and cried out , " Mount Simeli , Mount Simeli , open up . " In the evening the mountain opened up , and the twelve robbers came inside . When they saw him they laughed and cried out , " Bird , we have you at last . Did you think we did not notice that you came here twice ? We could not catch you then , this third time you shall not get out again . " I decided to upload this fairy tale by the Grimm brothers ( it 's about two brothers - go figure ) on Jacob Grimm 's ACTUAL birthday instead of yesterday ( I was super busy with my launch party ) . I hope you enjoyed this fairy tale by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm , and I 'll post again with another fairy tale on Wednesday ! For more fairy tale , Prince of Prophecy , and Writer 's Corner updates every Wednesday and Saturday , follow this blog !