The Golden Goose
Based on the original by the Brothers Grimm
There was once a mother and father who had three sons. The eldest two were both tall and strong and they were very good an helping their father to cut trees. The third son, the youngest was not very tall and not very strong. He was not very good at helping to cut trees. He was kind and polite, but his family thought he was stupid, so they called him Dummling.
One morning, the eldest son decided to go into the forest to cut down a tree. He would bring home the wood to burn on the fire. His mother was very proud of him. She told him how strong and clever he was. Then she handed him a lovely sweet cake that she had baked specially and a bottle of wine to take with him on his journey.
So the eldest son set off towards the woods. But on his way, he met an old man with grey hair. This man was very poor and he looked cold and hungry.
“Do give me a piece of cake out of your pocket, and let me have a bit of your wine; I am so hungry and thirsty.” he called out.
But the eldest son said “’If I give you my cake and wine, I shall have none for myself; be off with you”. And with that he left the man standing alone and he carried on towards the woods.
The little grey man, may have seemed weak and helpless, but little did anyone realise, he knew magic and he didn’t forget the son’s selfishness.
After a short while, the eldest son found a tree that he wanted to cut. But when he began to hack it with his axe, his hand slipped and the axe cut him in the arm! So he ran all the way home where his mother bandaged the cut and put him to bed with some soup.
The next morning, the middle son decided to go into the forest to cut down a tree. He wanted to show how much better he was than his older brother. His mother was very proud of him. She told him how strong and clever he was. Then she handed him a lovely chocolate cake that she had baked specially and a bottle of wine to take with him on his journey.
So the middle son set off towards the woods. But on his way, he met the old man with grey hair. The man was very poor and he looked cold and hungry.
“Do give me a piece of cake out of your pocket, and let me have a bit of your wine; I am so hungry and thirsty.” he called out.
But the middle son replied “Whatever I give you, I won’t be able to have. So be off!” And with that he left the man standing alone and he carried on towards the woods.
The little grey man, once again drew on some magic to punish the boy’s selfishness.
After a short while, the son found a tree that he wanted to cut. But as he swung his axe around, the top fell off and landed on his head! So he ran all the way home where his mother put some ice on his bump and put him to bed, next to his brother with some soup.
Well, the eldest brothers spent the rest of the week in bed and their mother made soup for them every day. But the house was getting cold, so the youngest brother, Dummling, said
“Father, let me go and cut wood!”
To which his father replied “You? Your two older stronger, better brothers have both been hurt cutting trees, but you think you can do better?”
“I just want to help” said Dummling.
So his father let him go. He hoped that when Dummling came home with an injury – he’d learn not to go again!”
His mother was too busy looking after the eldest brothers to bake him a cake, so she handed him a bit of the burnt cake from last week and a bottle of sour beer to take with him on his journey.
So the youngest son set off towards the woods. But on his way, he met the old man with grey hair. The man was very poor and he looked cold and hungry.
“Do give me a piece of cake out of your pocket, and let me have a bit of your wine; I am so hungry and thirsty.” he called out.
Dummling answered: ’I have only burnt cake and sour beer. If that pleases you, we will sit down and eat.’
The grey-haired man nodded and they both sat on the side of the path. The old burnt cake tasted quite sweet and soft and the sour beer tasted like good wine! So they both enjoyed a lovely lunch and told stories.
As Dummling got up to leave, the old man said
“Since you have a good heart, and are willing to divide what you have, I will give you good luck. There stands an old tree, cut it down, and you will find something at the roots.”
Then the little man turned and walked off along the path.
Dummling didn’t think this old tree was the best one for cutting, but he took his axe and started work. He found the axe very light and the job was very easy. When the old tree fell, what did he find in the roots? But a goose with feathers of pure gold. He could barely believe his eyes! He lifted her up, and carried her back to the road. The old man had gone, so he sat on the path to think.
He could either go back home to his family who would take the goose off him and still treat him badly… Or he could run away! So he decided to go the inn for the night.
The Inn keeper gladly accepted a golden feather and he gave him a lovely room with large comfortable bed.
Dummling climbed into bed, still holding the goose, and they both went off the sleep.
Now the inn-keeper had three daughters, who had seen the goose and they wanted to have one of its golden feathers each! Imagine what beautiful pearls and jewels they might buy!
So, in the middle of the night, the eldest daughter crept silently into the room where Dummling and the goose slept and she reached out to take a feather. But as soon as her fingers touched the goose, they stuck fast to it, so that she could not let go! She ducked down the side of the bed, wondering what she should do! Then, quietly, the bedroom door opened an in crept the second eldest daughter!
“Quick, help me off this goose – I’m stuck!” she whispered.
So the second daughter took hold of her sister and no sooner had she touched her than her hand became stuck to her! She pulled and pulled but could not be separated from her! So she too sat down, wondering what they should do.
Then, wanting her own feather, the youngest daughter crept into the room.
“Don’t come over here! Don’t go near the goose” whispered the two eldest daughters.
But the youngest daughter thought they were just being greedy and that they didn’t want her to have one of the feathers. So she walked up to the bed and as she did, her foot brushed past her second sister and stuck. Feeling annoyed that she could not reach the feather, she started swinging her foot about, trying to become unstuck! But this sent the middle sisters foot flying about too, which made her yell out in a whisper. She then swung her hand forward to stop from falling, but in so doing, tugged her older sister down to the ground. Needless to say, they all ended up in a heap in the middle of the floor – all attached to each other and the goose – who was still sleeping like a baby!
The next morning Dummling was rather surprised the see the mess on his room floor. He hadn’t seen that the night before. But he took the goose under his arm and set out, without troubling himself about the three girls who were hanging on to it. They, of course had no choice but to follow behind in a line. One pulling the other by the hand, who in turn was pulling the last by the foot! And they twisted this way and that along the road; wherever Dummling and his goose wanted to go!
As they passed a church, the priest saw the group and called “For shame, you silly girls, why are you running across the fields after this young man? Is that seemly?”
He grabbed the youngest by the shoulder in order to pull her away. But, of course, he too became attached and he too followed the line along the road wherever Dummling and the goose wanted to go!
Before long the mayor came by and saw the priest running behind three girls. He was astonished at this and called out: “Your reverence, where are you going so quickly?” and running after him he grabbed him by the belt, but was also held fast to it. He was attached to the priest who was stuck to the youngest who limped behind her sister who was glued to the eldest who chased behind Dummling and the goose – wherever they wanted to go!
Whilst the five were trotting like this one behind the other, the mayor called to two young farmers working in the fields. He begged for help. One farmer grabbed the priest and the other grabbed the mayor…and couldn’t let go again!. So they joined the dance! Both having to walk sideways like crabs after Dummling and the goose – wherever they wanted to go!
Soon afterwards Dummling came to a city, where there was a King who had a beautiful daughter. But his daughter was so serious and sad that no one could make her laugh. The king had made a decree that whoever could make her laugh would be allowed to marry her.
When Dummling heard this, he went with his goose and all her procession before the king’s daughter.
She looked at Dummling who carried the goose, who was stuck to the girl who held fast the sister whose foot glued tight to the youngest who was held by the priest who was attached by his belt to the mayor both of whom had farmers clinging to their sides who walked like crabs!
And as soon as she saw these seven people all in a wonky line she began to laugh quite loudly, and as if she would never stop.
And so, Dummling and the princess were married. The line of followers were stuck to the goose for a whole week and had to sit in the garden until they all became unstuck.
The princess’ father was so glad to see her happy. Whenever she felt a little serious, she would remember the line of people all stuck together and she would smile. She told this story to their children and they all lived happily in the palace which was filled with laughter. The boy who used to be called Dummling was soon to be called King!