The Boy who had Golden Hair

There was a very - very poor man. He had only one son; but did not know how he would raise him. One day, he took the boy to a dense forest. Together they sat there and started eating bread. The boy fell asleep as soon as he finished the last piece of bread. While he was sleeping, his father left for home leaving him there. He knew that the boy would not be able to find the way home – the same happened as well. As the boy got up, he did not find his father around. He tried to go home. But the more he walked, more he went deeper into the forest. It was already getting dark; the boy was so scared that he started running here and there. Suddenly, he saw a small hut in one corner of the forest and wanted to take shelter there.

Entering into the hut, he found a blind man having some chicken soup sitting at a table. The boy was so hungry that he rushed to the table, took a spoon and started eating from the same bowl. But the blind man could sense it and asked, “Who is eating my chicken soup?” “This is me, Grandpa” – told the boy –“because I am too hungry.” The old man seemed happy with his voice and told, “I was waiting for you since long, and you can stay here with me.”

After dinner, the old man made a nice and soft bed for him. The boy slept so well that night that he was feeling as light as a flying kite. Next morning, after he got up, the old man told, “Now you will have to tend my goats!” The boy was happily ready for it. Coming back home in the evening, he sat with the grandfather to have the chicken soup again. The soup was delicious!

The same routine went on for twelve years. He kept on tending the goat everyday and the old man remained happy with him. Finally, one day he gave him one sword and told, “Now, use this to slaughter all these goats!”* 

He led the herd to the grazing land. This time, he needed to take them very far, while they had finished all the grass around their home. At the end, he came to a forest where the trees and their leaves were all made of sparkling copper. While he stood surprised seeing this, there appeared a dragon made of copper and shouted at him, “Hey, human child! How dare you are trying to slaughter your herd in my forest!” and wanted to swallow him right away. But the boy lifted his sword instantly and cut its heads off in a single blow. Then he saw a castle made of copper nearby. He entered into the castle, but found no sign of life inside. He saw a copper bridle hanging on the wall and picked it for himself. In the evening, he brought the herd back home and these gave more milk than other days. He told everything to the old man, how he killed the copper–dragon and took the copper-bridle from the castle. “That is the best thing from the castle!” The old man explained, “If you shake the bridle, a group of bold soldiers in a copper armor-suit will appear – as many as you want!”

Next day he took his herd further inside the forest and arrived at a place where all the trees and their leaves were made of pure sparkling silver. He stood surprised seeing this, and there appeared a dragon made of silver and shouted at him, “Hey, human child! How dare you are trying to slaughter your herd in my forest!” and wanted to devour him immediately. But the boy took his sword out and cut all it’s heads in a blow. Then he entered into the nearby castle, which was made of pure silver. But as before, there was no sign of life inside. He saw a silver bridle hanging on the wall and picked it for himself. In the evening, he brought the herd back home and these gave thrice as much as milk they gave the previous day. He told the old man, how he killed the silver–dragon and took the silver-bridle from the castle. “This is the best piece of art from that fort!” The old man clarified, “If you shake the bridle, a whole band of fearless warriors in silver armor-suit will appear before you – as many as you want them to be!”  

On the third day he took his herd deep inside the forest where all the trees and their leaves were made of pure gold. How beautifully these glittered! He stood there being amazed at this. All on a sudden, a dragon made of gold appeared and shouted at him, “Hey, human child! How dare you are trying to slaughter your herd in my forest!” and tried to gobble him. But the boy took his sword out and cut its entire heads in a blow. As before, he entered into the nearby castle, which was made of pure gold. How beautiful and dazzling it was! But even in this place, there was no sign or sound of life. He saw a gold bridle hanging on the wall which he picked for himself. In the evening, as he milked the goat after bringing them home, these gave nine times as much as milk they gave the previous day. Then he told the old man, how he killed the golden dragon and brought the gold-bridle from the castle. “This is the best of all!” The old man told, “If you shake the bridle, one large valiant armed force in gold armor-suit will appear before you.”  

On the following day, the old man told, “Give me the sword back; it has fulfilled its purpose and proved its ability. You can set out taking the three bridles. With the help of those, you may win the most beautiful and youngest princess of the world!” The boy agreed. But before he started his journey, the old man led him to a black stone; on this, a fountain was springing high up. “I must wash your head in this,” told the old man and cleaned his hair in the flowing water. As soon as the boy came out in the sun, his hair started shining like pure gold. The grandpa was very happy seeing this. He told; “Now you can move on, but always keep your hair covered so that no one can see it.”

Soon the boy reached a country run by a king. He hid his three bridles under a tree before entering the king’s courtyard and asking if the king needs a butler. Only a young cook was needed there. So he got the job of a cook. But before joining, he gave the condition that he would never take his hat off – he told he had a bad boil on his head. The boy looked so talented that the chef was very glad with him despite of his condition and appointed him.

The king had three beautiful daughters; the youngest of them was most beautiful of all. One day, she fell ill. She had to rest all the day in her bed while the king and his elder daughters went to the church leaving her alone at the palace. The king’s chef sent the young cook to her with some hot soup. The princess saw the young cook well; also did talk to him. She felt so happy that she recovered quickly.

Within a few days, it was time for all the noblemen of the country and princes from abroad to assemble in the court. All were invited so that the king’s daughters could select their husbands from them. They were all eager to marry these beautiful princesses. The youngest princess won the heart of everyone but she did not favour any of them. When both her elder sisters offered their hands to two of the princes, her father told that she should also marry a prince. She could not deny her father, but told, “I will marry the young cook only; not anyone else.” 

Her words terrified the king so much that he could not speak for some time. Within moments, he was almost burning with rage. He ordered to tie her with iron chain and lock inside a tower. Then he forgot about her.

It did not take very long before the king got involved in a war; both the princes who became his son in laws had to help him. Therefore, all of them rushed to the battlefield together. The young cook only requested the chef for his permission to go close to the battlefield so that he could see how a battle takes place.  

At first, the chef tried to plead him not to go there, because he loved him very much. But finally, he had to give consent. The boy went to the place where he had hidden his bridles. First he took his copper-bridle, shook it and there appeared a large number of soldiers – as many as the number of leaves in the forest –all of them glittering in copper armor-suit. A saddled stallion in a strong armor-suit appeared in front of the boy. He mounted on the stallion and in no time – they were in the battlefield! The king and his son-in laws were already tied up and squirmed to flee. Now the boy started fighting against the enemy. He fought so severely that the enemies ran away very soon. Out brave boy also hurried away so that the king could not even thank him. He led his troop again to the tree, kept the bridle in its place and the entire troop vanished!

Returning home, the king along with his people started talking about the heroic troop and leader of the troop who had helped them in need. They were sad that he had disappeared. Very soon, the king had to fight another battle. The cook-boy requested the chef for permission to see the battlefield from a distance once again. This time, he went to the same tree where he had hidden the bridles and picked the silver one and shook it. Instantly, there appeared soldiers in such a large number that even the earth felt their weight - all of them were covered in sparkling silver armor-suit. A saddled horse clad in an armor-suit stood in front of the boy. He sat on it and whoosh! They arrived at the battlefield! The king fled because  he was hurt. Now the boy made his companions start the fight afresh against the enemy. This time they fought so hard that all the enemies were smashed in no time. The king tried to talk to the boy, but could not even thank him. The boy led his troop to the tree in a hurry, kept the bridle in its place and the entire troop vanished!

The king wanted to quickly greet the young leader and thank him. But as soon as his task was over, the hero was away at once with his troops; he rode to the spot where the bridles are hidden, placed the silver bridle, and the army was gone at that instant. When the king and his men returned home, they were again discussing the wonders of the handsome hero and his army in silver armor. They regretted for not being able to quickly follow him, meet him and thank him.

After some time, another enemy attacked the kingdom. This was the most powerful of all they have faced before. The king left with his entire armed force to fight against them. The boy appealed his master once again to allow him to see how the battle takes place. First he went to the same tree where he had hidden the bridles, took the golden one out and shook it. Countless soldiers swarmed within a moment like a flock of locusts - all dazzling in golden armor. A saddled horse with an armor-suit stood in front of the boy. This time he removed his hat, let his amazing golden hair fall, sat on the horse and in a moment - reached the battlefield! The king was hit on his head. All his soldiers fled in all directions. Our hero engaged his own army, attacked the enemy and destroyed them. 

The king wanted to thank the savior, but even before he could take a look at him, the boy had already vanished with his troops. Back home, the king called for a big victory celebration - all his enemies are defeated! But so many guests attended the festival that the number of servants was not sufficient to attend them. The chef had to send the kitchen boy also to serve the guests. While celebrating his victory, the king was thinking of his favorite daughter, locked in the tower. His heart was pacified in that festive moment. He sent an attendant to ask her if she was ready to select one of the princes or counts from the guests as her husband. The king wanted to get his dear child back. But even after the poor girl suffered so much in the tower, living alone for a long year and having only bread and water, she remained faithful to the person she gave her heart. She said, "I will never marry any other person but the kitchen boy!”

That brought the king in great fury, and at the same time, the kitchen boy brought a plate of red-deer roast for the king wearing the hat, as he always does. "How dare you stand before me with your shameless head?"  - the king struck his hat on the boy’s head so hard, that it flew in a corner. All on a sudden, the boy seemed standing glorious with gold flakes over his head, and he was dazzling like the rising sun. The king immediately recognized his savior, broke down before him, and said, "Sorry," The boy held him in his arms. Also the King's youngest daughter was brought into the banquet hall from the dark tower. The victory celebration became the wedding party too. It was a cheerful moment for all.

After the wedding, the boy took the beautiful princess in the golden forest and took possession of the Golden fort; he gave the copper and silver forests with copper and silver forts to his in-laws. He kept on searching for the old blind man but all in vain – the man and his small house had disappeared, none could trace him again.

Translation of the “Goldhaar” from “Sächsische Volksmärchen aus Siebenbürgen” collected by Josef Haltrich, published 1882.

*I do not exactly know how to translate “Erhauen” – aber context tells that it may be “slaughter”. I found an interesting reference of “erhauen “ in a blog : “The word "erhauen" doesn't really exist in German, but the syllable "hau" is the root for the verb hauen (to hit). The prefix "er-" usually suggests a process in which something is acquired. According to an online 19th German dictionary the verb "erhauen" could mean to beat someone or to carve out of stone. But this is not in use in modern German. So I'm not certain exactly what the verb "erhauen" might mean in this context.” - http://kurttucholsky.blogspot.de/

The Miracle Tree

One day, a shepherd’s son – I do not know whether he was the son of the same poor man, whom our Lord Christ and St. Peter had blessed – was grazing sheep in the field. Suddenly he saw a large tree there. It was so huge and beautiful that he stood there for a long time; mystified with amazement he looked on and on. At last, his admiration forced him to move forward and climb the tree. Climbing the tree was easy for him, since its branches sprouted like the steps of a ladder. He took his shoes off and climbed and climbed for nine long days. Then he reached a wide field, on which he found many palaces made of pure copper; behind the palace, there was a large forest of copper trees. On the highest tree in that forest, there sat a rooster made of copper. A copper stream was flowing under the tree; this stream was sparkling more and more with time, and that flow made the only sound he could hear. Everything else seemed to be lifeless, nobody was visible, and nothing else was moving.

As the boy finished visiting the place, he plucked a tiny twig from a tree. His legs were too tired of climbing. So he wanted to wash them in the stream. He bathed his feet in the spring and as he pulled them out, they were changed into bright copper! Quickly he returned to the tree. But the tree rose still higher piercing the clouds high above. He could not see the end of it.

“Higher it will be more beautiful I believe!” – He started climbing higher keeping this in mind. He continued climbing for another nine days till he felt tired again. Again he found another large field over there. This was also full of palaces, but all made of pure silver! And behind the row of palaces, there was a larger forest with all silver trees. On the highest tree in the forest, there was a silver rooster. Under the tree he found a stream of flowing silver; the stream was glowing evermore, and that made the only sound he could hear. Everything else remained lifeless, nobody was visible, and nothing else was moving.

As the boy finished seeing these all, he broke a small twig from a tree and went to wash his hands in the stream; but the moment he pulled his hands out of the flowing silver, they turned into sparkling silver! Quickly he returned to the large tree that rose still higher piercing the cloud above, the end of which was still invisible. “High above it will be more stunning!”- He thought and started climbing again. After nine long days, he reached at the treetop. An enormous open land was visible there; on that stood bright golden palaces and behind the row of palaces, there was a huge forest of golden trees. On the tallest tree in that forest, there sat a golden rooster; below the rooster, a golden stream was flowing. The murmuring of this glowing gold-stream made the only sound audible there. Everything else remained lifeless, nobody was visible, and nothing else was moving.

The boy had seen everything here as well, and as he finished seeing these all, he picked a small twig from a tree. He took off his hat and bent over the stream and let his long hair fall on the sparkling gold. But the moment he took it out, it all turned into golden hair! He put on his hat now. After he had seen everything here too, he came back to the large tree and started climbing down. He was not at all tired this time. After reaching the earth, he put on his shoes and started looking for his sheep. There was no trace of them. But far away, he saw a big city. Now he realized that he arrived in a different country. What can one do in such a situation?

He decided to enter the city and search for a job there. But before that, he hid all three twigs inside his coat and made a pair of gloves also in order to hide his silver hands.

The time the boy came to the city, the king’s cook was looking for an assistant in kitchen. He could not find anyone suitable till he saw our boy that day. He asked the boy if he wanted to accept the job for a very good salary. The boy was very happy with this proposal. But he had one condition – he should never be told to remove his coat, gloves and boots. He told that he wanted to hide a bad sore which he found embarrassing. The king’s cook was not very glad with the condition, but he had to agree since he didn’t find anyone else for the job. He understood that the boy can be engaged only in the kitchen so that no one can see him.

The same arrangement went on for a long time. The boy was diligent – he did everything directed by the cook so punctually that the master became very happy with him.

One fine day, the knights and noblemen of the country gathered together in order to climb a mountain of ice. The princess of the country was sitting at the peak. The man, who could touch the hands of the princess climbing the mountain, could marry her. Many tried this in vain; all of them slipped long before reaching the goal, many had broken their necks. That day, our kitchen-assistant requested the cook to grant him a leave so that he can visit the city. The cook did not want to disappoint him – while he was sincere and diligent. Only thing he told was: “But you have to hide yourself properly, so that none can see you!” The boy promised the same and then – rushed to the mountain of ice.

The knights and noblemen were already standing near the mountain, armed with their snowshoes. Some even started climbing up. But none of them could reach even midway of the mountain. All fell down; many died on their way. Now the boy thought: “How it will happen, if I also try this?” He took his hat, coat and the gloves off and then took off the boots too. He took his copper twig in hand and – before anyone could notice it, slipped through the crowd and stepped on the mountain. The knights and noblemen were taken aback; the boy carried on walking towards the top of the mountain. The snowflakes under his feet seemed like wax-flakes that protected him from slipping. Arriving at the top, he gave the copper twig to the princess in a very polite manner. Then he climbed down taking strong and certain steps, but quickly vanished before the crowd could notice him among them.

He hurried to his hideaway; put his special attire on and entered into the kitchen. The cook also arrived there soon and told the boy the story of a wonder-boy with copper feet, silver hands and golden hair who climbed the steep snowy mountain to present the princess a copper twig and then vanished. He asked the young assistant if he also had watched the incident. The boy told: “No, I haven’t seen this, ‘cause it was me!” But the cook laughed at the dumb invention and replied jokingly: “Well, I would have to be a famous man then!”

On the second day, many more noblemen and knights assembled in front of the mountain of ice to give a try again. The boy again requested the cook to grant him another leave so that he can visit the city. The cook could not hurt him by denying. Only thing he told: “But you have to hide yourself properly, so that none can see you!” The boy promised so and then – rushed to location he visited day before.

The noblemen started climbing up in the meantime – but without any success. They all fell down, and more noblemen died. The young boy did not hesitate long to take a second attempt this time. Quickly he removed his special attire, took the silver twig and stepped forward bypassing the crowd before anyone could mark, from where he came. Silent and confident, he started climbing the mountain of ice. The snowflakes under his feet behaved like wax-flakes again and showed him the way. Arriving at the top, he gave the silver twig to the princess in a very polite manner. The delighted princess wanted to hold his hand. But he turned away fast, climbed down quickly and vanished before the crowd could notice him.

He hurriedly put his attire on and rushed home. Soon, the cook also arrived there and told the boy the story of the wonder-boy with copper feet, silver hands and golden hair –how he climbed the steep snowy mountain to present the princess a silver twig and vanished after climbing down fast. He asked his assistant if he also had watched the incident. The boy told: “No, I haven’t seen this, ‘cause it was me!” The cook again laughed at him loud and replied jokingly: “Well, even I would have to be a famous man then!”

On the third day, some of the noblemen and knights decided to give an attempt to climb the mountain once again. The boy again asked the cook for permission to visit the city. The cook did not want to hurt and told: “But you have to hide yourself properly, so that none can see you!” The boy promised so and then – ran to the previous location as fast as possible.

The noblemen and knights took an attempt again only to fail. They all fell down, and even more noblemen died. The young boy thought: “I have to try it once again!” He threw his special attire off his body, took the golden twig and stepped towards the mountain of ice bypassing the crowd before anyone could mark him. Everything went fine for him. He stepped upwards sure and confident. The snowflakes under his feet worked like wax-flakes to show him the way. Arriving at the top, he gave the golden twig to the princess in a very polite manner and offered her his right hand. The delighted princess wanted to climb down holding his hand. But he made himself free; turned away very fast, climbed down alone and vanished before the crowd could notice him. Quickly he put his attire on and returned to his place in kitchen.

As the cook arrived there, he told the boy the story of the wonder-boy with copper feet, silver hands and golden hair –how he climbed the steep snowy mountain third time to hand the princess a golden twig and offered his hand as well; but climbed down alone and vanished from the crowd. He asked the assistant if he also had seen that. The boy told: “No, I haven’t seen this, ‘cause it was me!” The cook again laughed at him and told: “Well, even I would have to be a famous man then!”

But the king and the princess became very sad, that the beautiful young boy did not reveal himself. The king gave an order that all young men from his kingdom have to parade before him barefoot and even without gloves, so that he can see them. Many came and walked, but the one he was looking for was not among them. The king asked everyone if there was no other boy left in his kingdom. Soon, the cook came to the king to tell: “My Lord, I have a young assistant in my kitchen. He is diligent and honest. But I am sure he is not the boy you are looking for. He has a bad sore, so he set forth a condition before joining my service that he would never remove his gloves, coat, hat and boots.” But the king wanted to be sure about his statement. The princess was secretly happy and thought: “That could be him!” The cook had to wait there. One servant brought the cook’s assistant, who was covered with kitchen dirt then, in front of the king. The king asked him: “Is that you who climbed the mountain of ice thrice?”

“Yes, that was me!” – told the boy, “and I have told the same to my master!” Hearing this, the cook felt there was no ground under his feet. He tried to remember all; finally he told: “But how can you talk like this now?” The king did not pay any attention to this conversation, only told the young assistant: “Well, remove the covers from your head, hands and feet!” The boy uncovered those immediately; everyone there was amazed to see his good look. The princess merrily pressed his hand hard as he shook hand with her. Soon they had the wedding celebration. Very soon, the king gave him the kingdom as well.

One day the boy, now he became the king, asked the cook: “Do you now believe that I was the one who climbed the mountain thrice? The cook replied: “What else can I believe if I don’t believe that?” and beg pardon from him. “Now, you should also become a big person, as you wanted to be, and supervise all the cooks in the kingdom.” – The new king made him the chief cook of the kingdom.

But the young queen still wanted to know how her man got the copper feet, silver hands and gold-hair and also the three twigs he presented her. One day, the young king told her, “Today I want to tell you all these. And you will see yourself how it all happened!” He took her to the place where the miracle-tree stood. He wanted to climb the tree once again and show her the wonder. But as they arrived at the place, there was no tree any longer. The miracle tree did vanish forever, and none could hear of it or find it anymore.

Translation of the “Der Wunderbaum” from “Sächsische Volksmärchen aus Siebenbürgen”

Reward and Punishment

There lived two neighbors in a village; one of them owned one hundred sheep and the other only three. The poor one did not have grazing field. So he told his rich neighbor once: “Let my sheep graze with yours; this will not cause you any loss.” The rich one did not quite like it, but finally gave up to the poor one. The poor man’s son took the three sheep to the neighbor’s field and stood on guard for the whole day.

After a while, the king sent for the rich man. He asked for one fat sheep from him. The rich one could not turn the king’s request down, but he found it too difficult to loss one sheep from his herd of one hundred. So he ordered his servants to catch one of the three sheep of the poor man and hand it over to the king’s servants. His servants did the same. But this brought the poor man’s son into tears when they dragged his sheep away.

Soon afterwards, the king wanted a second sheep from the rich man. Again the rich man ordered his servants to give another of the poor man’s sheep. The servants repeated what they have done last time; the boy wept much this time when they took his second sheep away. Now he thought: “The king will ask for another sheep very soon, and the boys of the rich neighbor would take the last one as well; so it’s better that I save the last one.” He took his last sheep far away on a high mountain. There were enough green grazing fields and fresh water on this mountain to nourish his sheep very well.

After a few days, the poor man thought: “I should go to my rich neighbor’s place once and see how my son and the sheep are doing!” As he came there and asked the servants about his son, they told: “We have sent two of your sheep to the king as our master ordered so; your son ran away with the last one!” The poor man wailed and asked them: “Where shall I find them now?” None could give an answer. But he set out without delay to look for them. He could not trace them for long. So he asked the sun above his head whether he could show him the route that goes to his son. Unfortunately, the sun did not know the route. Finally he came to the whirlwind which was looking really wild. The poor man asked him as well, if he could tell where his son had gone. “Yes, I know that for sure; I will move following that direction and take you with me!” Telling this, the whirlwind lifted him up and placed him near his son on the top of the mountain in a blink of an eye. His son was living in a valley where even the sun could not reach.  The poor man was very happy to see him again. Then he came to know, how his son did save the sheep. “But now,” he told, “both of us will stay here and take care of the sheep since this is only thing we own in this world!”

After some days, two travelers came wandering on this mountain. They stopped near the poor man’s place to take rest there. In reality, they were Jesus Christ and St. Peter*. Jesus said to him: “We are very tired as we have travelled a long way. We will die of hunger if we don’t have a piece of meat now.” The poor man comforted him telling, “I can help you there!” He quickly brought his sheep and killed it; made fire and cooked a big chunk of meat for the guests. The guests found it really delicious. After the meal, Christ told the poor man’s son that he should collect all the bones and wrap them in the sheepskin. The boy did so and then they all laid down for a good night’s sleep.

Jesus Christ and St. Peter got up very early in the next morning, gave blessing to the man and his son and left silently. When the poor man and his son got up, they found a large herd of sheep there, in front of which stood their sheep - the one they had killed previous night. The very healthy and fresh looking sheep had something written on its head. It was: “All these belong to the poor man and his son.” Three dogs were busy looking after these from all sides. The man could not hide his joy and happiness anymore. He drove his herd back home.

The whole village gathered together in their home. All wanted to see that large herd of healthy sheep. The man had to tell them time to time, how they were blessed by the two poor travelers. But this made their rich neighbor restless. He thought: “If one becomes rich this way, I can become even richer!” He went back home, called all travelers and beggars, killed all his sheep, cooked the meat for them and served. Then he carefully picked up all the bones, wrapped those in each of the sheep those belonged to and placed those near the travelers and beggars as they were sleeping at night. He could not sleep that night but kept on calculating till next morning, how many more sheep he would get in comparison to his neighbor - he had killed one hundred of those whereas the neighbor killed only one!

As soon as the day broke, he jumped out of bed. He wanted to see a large herd before him. But all the bones wrapped in skins were still lying there as it was. He thought: “Hah! Now I know what exactly happened! The travelers and beggars should have already left by now but they did not!” He yelled at them: “You muggers! Get up and pack up!” But that did not bring any change. The sun continued shining in the sky and the bones of the sheep remained the same. The number of sheep did not centuplicate. He started crying and lamenting now that he had destroyed all his wealth himself. He went on further and drowned himself as well.

But the once poor man became rich and happy now. People say that his son married the princess of the kingdom later on.

 Translation of the “Lohn und Strafe” from “Sächsische Volksmärchen aus Siebenbürgen”

*Jesus Christ and St. Peter, i.e. Christus and Petrus are central character of many folklores in Austria and Bavarian region. There are mythological instances of their travelling together in different places in order to observe human life and sufferings. 

The Wicked Magician and His Attendant

There was an evil castle deep inside a forest. None but a magician used to live in this castle. He had accumulated enormous wealth using his charm and was still collecting more and more every day. This magician used to appoint only one attendant at a time. The attendant was supposed to do nothing else other than looking after the rooms and wiping dust from the books during daytime, when the master used to be away from home.

Once he appointed an attendant, who served him continuously for six years, without giving a thought why his master goes out every day, comes back in the evening and reads books at night. His curiosity woke up only in the seventh year; he wanted to know more and explore how his master became so wealthy. So, he started looking also inside the books during the time he was supposed to take care of the rooms and clean the books. By the end of year, he had finished learning all the magic written there.

Then he took leave and returned home. “Be happy with me.” – He told his parents and brother, “We are going to be prosperous very soon. I will convert myself into a wonderful horse. Then my dear brother will sell me; but without the bridle so that I will be able to change into my real form and come back!” The plan worked well. He instantly changed himself into a horse. His brother sold him out retaining only the bridle and therefore, he came back home in the human form again. The buyer could not do anything but watching this.

The same went on for a long time. They have earned a lot of money as well. But once it led to a different occurrence as they came to market again. This time, a buyer arrived who offered the brother, who was selling the horse, a price four times higher in exchange of both the horse and bridle. The brother did not agree for a long time even though the buyer kept on bargaining; finally he was convinced. He did not anticipate that selling the bridle would do any big harm. The buyer was none other than the wicked magician who had recognized his old attendant. As soon as the horse and bridle was handed over to him, he sat on the horse and rode to a blacksmith. He wanted to fit red-hot shoes on his horse*. So he got down, tied the horse and went to the blacksmith to place an order for the horse-shoes. In the meantime, a group of school kids, who were coming back from school, spotted the wonderful horse. They came to the horse to watch it from a closer distance. As they were standing nearby, the horse requested a boy to take the halter off.

The moment the boy did that, the horse changed himself into a small bird and flew away in a hurry. The magician arrived meanwhile and found the small bird flying away. Instantly he converted himself into a hawk that started chasing the small bird. But the small bird kept on flying till it reached a city. The king of the country used to stay in a palace there.  A window of the princess’s room in the palace was open. The bird entered into the room though the window and converted itself into a handsome young man at once and also closed the window and doors. The princess fell in love with the young man at first sight. He told her, “If you really want to save me, I will have to change myself into a ring. Wear it on your finger but never remove or throw it at any cost, even if one forces you to give it away.” The princess promised him the same. He changed himself into a ring.

The princess did not remove it for days after she wore this. But one day, her father, the king fell ill so seriously that no physician in the country could help him. It did not take long before a new physician arrived in the court. He claimed that he would be able to heal the king, but he would do that only if the princess gives him her ring in exchange. The princess promised so in order to save her father. But at the time she was supposed to hand him the ring, she threw it on the floor instead. It changed into one quarter millet scattering on the floor. The physician turned into a rooster and started eating the millet very fast. It ate up all the millet it could see; then stopped as it believed that there was no single millet left. But a small grain was stuck inside a very narrow crack on the floor which now turned into a handsome young man with a sword in hand. He severed the head of the rooster with one blow.

It became a cheerful moment for all when the young man brought there the huge treasure of the magician from his castle. He married the beautiful princess. As the king did not live for long thereafter, he became the next king as well. He invited his parents and brother to stay with him in the palace; and all of them lived together happily thereafter.

 Translation of „Der Erzzauberer und sein Diener“ from "Sächsische  Volksmärchen aus Siebenbürgen" collected by Josef Haltrich, published 1882

*Horse shoes were usually made of iron. The process of shaping a heated horseshoe immediately before placing it on the horse was common practice in middle age Europe.

The Feather-king

A very poor couple was living in an open field with their little kid. They kept the kid on a cradle made of diapers tied to four sticks on four sides. Once a wild cat came from the nearby forest, stole the kid and carried it into her cave. She did not harm it; rather started taking care of it - brought herbs, roots and strawberries for it, so that the kid’s needs were fulfilled.

So, the kid was being brought up in the cat’s cave. When he was grown into a boy, the cat told him once, “You should marry a princess now!” “But I am naked indeed!” – told the boy, “How shall I appear before the king?”

“Do not worry. I will arrange cloths for you in a moment!” – promised the cat. She jumped into the forest and blew a silver whistle she owned. She fizzled and rustled; a large crowd of birds and wild animals assembled there within moments. She took one feather from each of the birds, made a dress with those and presented it to the boy. Then she introduced the boy to the wild animals and told, “Go to the king now; all these animals will follow you. Tell the king while greeting him, ‘My lord, the feather-king sends you these animals as gift!” So, the boy went to the castle; met the king and told the same as the cat had taught him.

Seeing those many animals, the king was very happy. He thought, “This must be a wealthy king.” Next day, the cat was to send the boy again with good number of animals. This time the boy needed to say, “This is another gift from the feather-king.” As the surprised king would indicate, “How nice it would be, if such a wealthy king did marry my daughter!”  - He only needed to tell, “Yes, the feather-king would be glad to marry your daughter. He will come after three days to celebrate the wedding.”

Everything went on as per plan. As the boy came to the castle again with some more animals, the king was delighted with the new gift and expressed how much he desired his daughter to get married to such wealthy king. The boy answered the way the cat did teach him – the feather-king would marry her and would arrive after three days for the wedding. 

After the three days were over, the cat jumped into the forest again and blew the silver whistle thrice and fizzled and rustled thrice in feline style. All birds and wild animals came there together. The cat picked up the most beautiful and colorful feathers now. She made a cloak out of these which was shining and sparkling like a starry sky. She gave it to the boy. This time the cat accompanied him to the court. As they came close to the palace, she told the boy, “Remove your old feather dress now. I will bring you elegant cloths from the palace; you will use the feather–dress only as accessory.” She quickly ran towards the palace and cried, “I need a royal dress right now - the feather-king has fallen in a swamp on his way to the palace; he needs new cloths!” The king gave her the best dresses he had. She brought those for the boy and dressed him up.

Then the boy marched towards the castle with all animals following him. As soon as he reached the palace, he wrapped the feather cloak on his dress; this was shining and glittering so much that people could hardly look at that. The king and the princess were very happy seeing the wealthy groom. But after the wedding celebration was over, the king told, “I would like to visit your country and your palace. Let me accompany you!” As the feather-king sat with his new bride in the carriage, he kept on looking at his own beautiful dress but never looked at the bride. The cat marked this; she jumped on his neck and scratched him, “Look at your bride!” she whispered, “But if you forget this again and anyone asks you why you are always staring at your own nice dress, tell them you have many more gorgeous dresses in your home.” The cat ran away telling this. After some time, the feather-king started looking at own dress again. The young bride asked him, “Why are you looking at your dress?” “I remember I have even more gorgeous dresses in my palace” – he replied.

On the way, the cat found a large flock of sheep. She rushed to the shepherd, jumped at him, scratched him so hard on the neck that he started bleeding and threatened, “If anyone asks you who owns this flock, tell him, ‘This belongs to the feather-king.’ Otherwise I will come back and scratch all over you again.”  After some time, the king and the young couple came on the way. The king asked the shepherd, “Who owns this large flock of sheep?” The shepherd did not want to get scratched again and therefore, he replied, “All these belong to the feather-king.” The boy told, “Yes, those are mine” - as he noticed by now, how the cat made a plan for him.

Shortly they came close to a large herd of buffalo. The cat was already there before them. She had scratched this herder also to make sure the same happens in this case too. As the king asked, “Who owns this large herd?”, the herder replied, “Well, the feather-king owns these all” – while even he did not want to get scratched by the cat. “Yes, those belong to me,”-told the boy sitting in the carriage. The King was amazed at all these and told, “I could not believe you are so wealthy!” Likewise, they found a stud of horses on their way. The cat did the same as she did before. She went to the herdsman beforehand, scratched him and directed what he needed to tell the king. So, when the king asked him, “Who owns the large stud of horses” - he also did not want the cat to scratch him again – he replied, “Well, the feather-king!” “Yes, I own those as well” – told the boy from the carriage again. “Now I believe you are richer than that I imagined. So you have everything at you place more beautiful than those I have!”

At last, they reached the castle of a magician. Everything there was made of gold and silver, crystal and precious stones. Everything was arranged there in most elegant order. The table was also nicely decorated with delicious food. They sat there in a short while and started eating. But the cat was standing at the door and kept on watching.

The magician came back in the meantime and seeing all these, he hurtled and blasted, “Robber in my palace, at my table! Aha! Congratulations! But the cat was still standing in the doorway and did not let him in and told, “Tell me only one thing – are you the famous magician people talk about? They say, you could turn yourself into large as well as small animals!” “Yes, that is a small magic for me” – he replied and turned himself into a lion. The cat panicked so much that he jumped on the roof. “That went excellent!” cried the cat, “but I want to see if you can turn yourself into a small animal like a mouse. I think that is really difficult thing. You may not be able to do that! ” The magician, outraged, changed himself into a mouse at once. The cat jumped on him and mauled him in no time.

Now the cat called the boy outside the hall and told, “You will not need my help anymore. The palace and everything inside and around it, and the large herd of animals which you have already seen on the way, are all yours while I have killed the magician, who was the owner of all these. But I would request you for a help now – take the sword and hit on my head,” But the boy did not want to do that, “How can I be so ungrateful!” “If you don’t do that right now, I will scratch your eyes out!”  Hence, the boy took a sword and gave a big blow on her head. What happened to the cat then! It turned into a wonderful lady at once! The boy immediately took her arm and led her to the table and introduced her, “This is my mother!” The old king liked the lady very much. His queen passed away long back; so he took her hand and told, “Shall we celebrate another wedding here?” She did not oppose that as well. So there was another celebration for eight more days. After the celebration was over, the old king went home with his new wife. The young boy, now wealthier than seven kings together, stayed back in the magician’s palace with his princess-wife. 

Translation of „Der Federkönig“ from "Sächsische  Volksmärchen aus Siebenbürgen" collected by Josef Haltrich, published 1882.

The God and the Father of a Church

A father of a church, as we usually see everywhere, brought an offering to the church with a magnificent chandelier and a large wax-candle. The God appeared before him in the form of an old man and promised him something to thank him for the gift: he would warn the father of death thrice before calling him back from the earth. The father was so happy with this, that he started living a splendid life of leisure, eating and drinking after this. The church cellar had to take care of all these and he did not at all think of death while living that kind of a life.

But after a few years, his body could not withstand his lifestyle anymore – his knees became weaker, his back bended and he needed to walk with the help of a crutch. Within a short period, he lost his vision; then hearing. Bend, blind and deaf, he was still enjoying his grand life as before.

At the end, the God again appeared to take him away. The father was dismayed and disheartened and blamed the God for not calling him thrice as promised. Equally angry, The God told, “What? Did not I warn you? Did not I tap on your shoulder and knees at first, so that your back did break? Did not I put my finger on your eyes so that you could not see anymore? Did not I finally give a jolt to your ears so that you went deaf? It’s all fulfilled, what I have promised you. Now you have to follow me!” The father begged for pardon very politely now for not understanding the warning correctly and also for not being prepared for death so soon. The God looked at the repenting church-father softly and told, “You have only to come with me; I am not going to be just gracious to you.”

But I would like to tell all of you – dear God warns all of you like this; just pay attention that you do not remain so unprepared when he calls you up.*

Translation of Unser Herrgott und der Kirchenvater from "Sächsische  Volksmärchen aus Siebenbürgen" collected by Josef Haltrich, published 1882.

*Is this a signature of Josef Haltrich? I found many of his stories ending with a suggestion like this.

The Equal Share

A trader had three sons. As they were grown up, the father called them once, “Now I want to see how well you can do business on your own. Each of you will get one hundred Gulden; you have to go to the town and purchase goods”.

Both the elder brothers went together leaving the youngest one behind, as they did not want to work with him. They considered him to be a fool who would only make them ashamed before others.  

The elder brothers purchased goods that none else could buy for hundred Gulden. Their father was very happy with them as they came back home. But when the youngest one was going to the town, he saw a corpse lying on the road, and birds were eating it. The view saddened him. He ran towards the next town to ask people there, why dead people are left on the road like that. People told that there was no one to pay for the burial. “I will pay,” told the foolish boy and arranged a proper burial of the dead man. He had to spend fifty Gulden for this. He was cheerful as he moved to the large town after this and bought goods using the rest fifty Gulden.

Coming back home, he told his father what he had done; but the father shouted at him being furious, “You are a worthless trader. If you do this once again with me, I will throw you out!”

After some days, the father sent his sons once more to the city giving two hundred Gulden to each one of them. He told, “I want to see who among you turns into the best purchaser.” Both the elder brothers again went to the town with hurried eagerness for good business and purchased things at such a low rate that their father became very happy with them.

Also the youngest brother came to the city. This time, when he was walking by the road, he found a beautiful girl behind the bars of a prison cage. He stopped there and asked the girl how she did land in jail. She was in tears while describing him the story – someone in the city did steal one hundred Gulden and people caught her for the theft. She was not at all a thief but could not tell why and how she was caught.  The boy became compassionate; he went before the court and told, “The girl is innocent, set her free. Keep this hundred Gulden till you find the real thief.” Then they freed the girl. In reality, the girl was the daughter of the king. She used to dress as a commoner to go the houses of the poor everyday and help them out. On that very day, she was on the road when the city people were chasing for the thief. She fell in the hands of the captors who did not know her. They directly took her into the jail. After she was freed, she gave the boy a golden ring and told, “I will recognize you by this!” Then she rushed into the royal castle being happy that none would miss her there anymore.

The boy purchased goods with the hundred Gulden he still had and moved towards home happily as it happens after a good work done. He told his father in detail how he had saved the poor girl from captivity. “You are good for nothing!”  - yelled the father in anger. “Go away from my eyes, so that I do not see you anymore.” The poor boy had to set out. His father gave him a few more Gulden so that the boy could live in the world without telling anyone, whose son he was. He went on wandering for a long time, but could not find shelter anywhere.

As he was sitting on the road depressed, an old man in a gray mantle* appeared before him and asked, “Why are you so sad?” The boy told him about his ill fate. The old man trusted him and said, “If you promise me that you will share half of all your possessions with me after seven years, then I can bring you good luck.” “That I can readily promise!” replied the boy. “Then rush to the city; the princess is waiting for you!” The old man left the place telling this and the boy went to the city in a hurry.

The king wanted that his daughter should get married. He loved her so much that he told, “I do not want to become a hurdle for you. Your heart should choose freely. Even if the person you love is the poorest one in the kingdom, I will be happy.”

Many noblemen and knights, princes and kings tried to win her heart, but all their efforts went in vain. The boy arrived in the city on the right time. As soon as the princess looked at the ring in his hand, she became cheerful. “Here comes the right man!” She held his hand, took him to the king and told, “Give us your blessings, father!” Who would be happier than the person, whose child is blessed and whose wishes are fulfilled like this? 

They had a grand wedding celebration. The boy became the king after his father-in-law passed away and lived happily.

 After seven years, the old man appeared again before the new king and demanded the half of everything from him as promised. The king readily accepted this and divided all his wealth into two halves and gave him one part. Now the old man demanded the half of the children also as the right share. The king gave him one as he had two; but with heavy heart. Finally, only his wife was left and the old man asked for half of her as well. “How is that possible?“  - screamed the king being upset. “She has to be cut into halves”– told the old man. The king was shocked. After a brief thought, he told, “I love her so much that I cannot do any harm to her - not even tear a single hair of hers. But I should keep my word. You may take her along.”

“Keep everything for yourself.”  - cried the old man, “I have realized how loyal you are!” and vanished from the sight of the king.

Translation of „Die Hälfte von allem“ by Josef Haltrich from "Sächsische  Volksmärchen aus Siebenbürgen" collected by Josef Haltrich, published 1882.

·         Gulden – Austro-Hungarian currency before 1867. This was the currency (1754-1892) of Habsburger dynasty, the ruler of considerable part of Europe within which today’s Germany is located. German Gulden was known as Forint in Hungary.

*In some other text version – an old female Ibex instead of the old man in gray mantle.