The Golden Goose (Die goldene Gans)

The Golden Goose.

Once upon a time, there was a man and a woman.

They had three sons.

The youngest one was named Dummling. He was sneered at by everyone.

One day, the eldest son went to the forest to chop some wood.

His mother gave him some cake and some wine to take with him,

so that he would not be hungry or thirsty.

In the forest, he felt the need to rest.

There, he met a little old grey man.

The man greeted him and asked for a sip of wine.

"If I give you some, there won't be any for me."

"Go away!"

He began chopping wood.

But it was not long before he had injured himself with the axe.

And so he returned home to get his wound dressed.

The father then sent the second son into the forest.

The second son was also asked for food and wine by the little old grey man.

But he didn't care and went along his way.

He, too, got what he deserved.

Then the youngest son said,

"Father, please, give me the axe and let me go to the forest to chop the wood."

When the mother saw that Dummling was going to the forest,

she gave him some dry bread and water.

The elder brothers jeered him.

In the forest, Dummling also encountered the little old grey man.

The man greeted him and said,

"I am hungry and thirsty."

Dummling replied,

"I only have some dry bread and water."

"But if this is to your liking, then sit and eat."

Then the little man turned the water into a bottle of fine wine,

and the dry bread

into a roasted chicken.

They ate and drank, and the little man said,

"Because you have a good heart I would like to bestow a fortune upon you."

"There is an old tree."

"Cut it down. You will find something in the roots."

In the roots of the tree sat a goose.

Its feathers were of pure gold.

The little man said goodbye to Dummling and then said,

"Take the goose and go. I want to bestow more fortune upon you."

And so Dummling departed, eventually reaching a tavern.

The innkeeper had three daughters.

They saw the goose and wanted one of its feathers.