The Donkey Which Sneezed Gold
Once there lived a lad named Hans. Hans lived with his widowed mother in a small cottage. Despite the lad’s willingness and hard work, they struggled to make ends meet. Hans worked tirelessly, but he could never earn enough to afford more than the bare necessities.
The Quest for Work
After a day in which Hans failed to find any work, he returned home despondent. He declared, ‘I can find no work at all. I shall have to go out into the world and seek my fortune.’ His mother was sad, but agreed that it was their only option. The next morning, Hans packed some bread and cheese and set off.
The Mysterious Benefactor
After a long journey, a tired Hans sat down on a stone to eat his bread and cheese. Not long after, a small, plump man approached. When asked about his situation, Hans explained that he was seeking work. In response, the little man offered that Hans could work for him. He took Hans to his beautiful, tree-surrounded house, where he needed help harvesting his fields.
A Strange Reward
The following morning, Hans began his work with enthusiasm. He worked happily from dawn to dusk everyday until the harvest was complete and the barns full. When he asked the little man for his wages, he received an odd reply. Instead of gold or silver, the man offered Hans an old table that would produce food whenever commanded. Hans accepted the gift gratefully and set off homeward.
The Innkeeper’s Trick
During his journey, Hans tested the table’s magic and was satisfied with the meal it provided. Eventually, Hans stopped at an inn seeking shelter. After demonstrating the magic table to the astounded innkeeper, Hans retired for the night. Little did he know, the innkeeper swapped the magic table with an identical ordinary table.
The Second Reward and Trickery
After realizing he had been fooled, Hans journeyed back to the little man’s house, worked for him again, and this time was rewarded with a gold-sneezing donkey. However, he was once again tricked by the same innkeeper who swapped the magic donkey with a normal one.
Final Confrontation and Happy Ending
For a third time, Hans sought out the little man and this time was given a magic sack containing a stick that would beat anyone on command. Armed with this new magic object, Hans managed to regain his stolen table and donkey by threatening the guilty innkeeper with the stick. Finally, Hans returned home with his two magical items, providing for his mother and himself, and they lived in comfort for the rest of their lives.
