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
·
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.
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