Nowitsohappenedthatinalittlecorneroftheking’sdominions，besidethesea，therelivedapoorfisher，whohadthreesons，andtheirnameswerePeter，Paul，andJesper。PeterandPaulweregrownmen，whileJesperwasjustcomingtomanhood。
Thetwoelderbrothersweremuchbiggerandstrongerthantheyoungest，butJesperwasfarthecleverestofthethree，thoughneitherPeternorPaulwouldadmitthis。Itwasafact，however，asweshallseeinthecourseofourstory。
Onedaythefishermanwentoutfishing，andamonghiscatchforthedayhebroughthomethreedozenoysters。Whenthesewereopened，everyshellwasfoundtocontainalargeandbeautifulpearl。Hereuponthethreebrothers，atoneandthesamemoment，fellupontheideaofofferingthemselvesassuitorsfortheprincess。Aftersomediscussion，itwasagreedthatthepearlsshouldbedividedbylot，andthateachshouldhavehischanceintheorderofhisage:ofcourse，iftheoldestwassuccessfultheothertwowouldbesavedthetroubleoftrying。
NextmorningPeterputhispearlsinalittlebasket，andsetofffortheking’spalace。HehadnotgonefaronhiswaywhenhecameupontheKingoftheAntsandtheKingoftheBeetles，who，withtheirarmiesbehindthem，werefacingeachotherandpreparingforbattle。
’Comeandhelpme，’saidtheKingoftheAnts;’thebeetlesaretoobigforus。Imayhelpyousomedayinreturn。’
’Ihavenotimetowasteonotherpeople’saffairs，’saidPeter;
’justfightawayasbestyoucan;’andwiththathewalkedoffandleftthem。
Alittlefurtheronthewayhemetanoldwoman。
’Goodmorning，youngman，’saidshe;’youareearlyastir。Whathaveyougotinyourbasket？’
’Cinders，’saidPeterpromptly，andwalkedon，addingtohimself，’Takethatforbeingsoinquisitive。’
’Verywell，cindersbeit，’theoldwomancalledafterhim，buthepretendednottohearher。
Verysoonhereachedthepalace，andwasatoncebroughtbeforetheking。Whenhetookthecoveroffthebasket，thekingandallhiscourtierssaidwithonevoicethatthesewerethefinestpearlstheyhadeverseen，andtheycouldnottaketheireyesoffthem。Butthenastrangethinghappened:thepearlsbegantolosetheirwhitenessandgrewquitedimincolour;thentheygrewblackerandblackertillatlasttheywerejustlikesomanycinders。Peterwassoamazedthathecouldsaynothingforhimself，butthekingsaidquiteenoughforboth，andPeterwasgladtogetawayhomeagainasfastashislegswouldcarryhim。
Tohisfatherandbrothers，however，hegavenoaccountofhisattempt，exceptthatithadbeenafailure。
NextdayPaulsetouttotryhisluck。HesooncameupontheKingoftheAntsandtheKingoftheBeetles，whowiththeirarmieshadencampedonthefieldofbattleallnight，andwerereadytobeginthefightagain。
’Comeandhelpme，’saidtheKingoftheAnts;’wegottheworstofityesterday。Imayhelpyousomedayinreturn。’
’Idon’tcarethoughyougettheworstofitto—daytoo，’saidPaul。’Ihavemoreimportantbusinessonhandthanmixingmyselfupinyourquarrels。’
Sohewalkedon，andpresentlythesameoldwomanmethim。’Goodmorning，’saidshe;’whathaveYOUgotinyourbasket？’
’Cinders，’saidPaul，whowasquiteasinsolentashisbrother，andquiteasanxioustoteachotherpeoplegoodmanners。
’Verywell，cindersbeit，’theoldwomanshoutedafterhim，butPaulneitherlookedbacknoransweredher。Hethoughtmoreofwhatshesaid，however，afterhispearlsalsoturnedtocindersbeforetheeyesofkingandcourt:thenhelostnotimeingettinghomeagain，andwasverysulkywhenaskedhowhehadsucceeded。
Thethirddaycame，andwithitcameJesper’sturntotryhisfortune。Hegotupandhadhisbreakfast，whilePeterandPaullayinbedandmaderuderemarks，tellinghimthathewouldcomebackquickerthanhewent，foriftheyhadfaileditcouldnotbesupposedthathewouldsucceed。Jespermadenoreply，butputhispearlsinthelittlebasketandwalkedoff。
TheKingoftheAntsandtheKingoftheBeetleswereagainmarshallingtheirhosts，buttheantsweregreatlyreducedinnumbers，andhadlittlehopeofholdingoutthatday。
’Comeandhelpus，’saidtheirkingtoJesper，’orweshallbecompletelydefeated。Imayhelpyousomedayinreturn。’
NowJesperhadalwaysheardtheantsspokenofascleverandindustriouslittlecreatures，whileheneverheardanyonesayagoodwordforthebeetles，soheagreedtogivethewished—forhelp。Atthefirstchargehemade，theranksofthebeetlesbrokeandfledindismay，andthoseescapedbestthatwerenearestahole，andcouldgetintoitbeforeJesper’sbootscamedownuponthem。Inafewminutestheantshadthefieldalltothemselves;andtheirkingmadequiteaneloquentspeechtoJesper，thankinghimfortheservicehehaddonethem，andpromisingtoassisthiminanydifficulty。
’Justcallonmewhenyouwantme，’hesaid，’where—everyouare。I’mneverfarawayfromanywhere，andifIcanpossiblyhelpyou，Ishallnotfailtodoit。’
Jesperwasinclinedtolaughatthis，buthekeptagraveface，saidhewouldremembertheoffer，andwalkedon。Ataturnoftheroadhesuddenlycameupontheoldwoman。’Goodmorning，’
saidshe;’whathaveYOUgotinyourbasket？’
’Pearls，’saidJesper;’I’mgoingtothepalacetowintheprincesswiththem。’Andincaseshemightnotbelievehim，heliftedthecoverandletherseethem。
’Beautiful，’saidtheoldwoman;’verybeautifulindeed;buttheywillgoaverylittlewaytowardswinningtheprincess，unlessyoucanalsoperformthetasksthataresetyou。However，’shesaid，’Iseeyouhavebroughtsomethingwithyoutoeat。Won’tyougivethattome:youaresuretogetagooddinneratthepalace。’
’Yes，ofcourse，’saidJesper，’Ihadn’tthoughtofthat’;andhehandedoverthewholeofhislunchtotheoldwoman。
Hehadalreadytakenafewstepsonthewayagain，whentheoldwomancalledhimback。
’Here，’shesaid;’takethiswhistleinreturnforyourlunch。
Itisn’tmuchtolookat，butifyoublowit，anythingthatyouhavelostorthathasbeentakenfromyouwillfinditswaybacktoyouinamoment。’
Jesperthankedherforthewhistle，thoughhedidnotseeofwhatuseitwastobetohimjustthen，andheldonhiswaytothepalace。
WhenJesperpresentedhispearlstothekingtherewereexclamationsofwonderanddelightfromeveryonewhosawthem。
Itwasnotpleasant，however，todiscoverthatJesperwasamerefisher—lad;thatwasn’tthekindofson—in—lawthatthekinghadexpected，andhesaidsotothequeen。
’Nevermind，’saidshe，’youcaneasilysethimsuchtasksashewillneverbeabletoperform:weshallsoongetridofhim。’
’Yes，ofcourse，’saidtheking;’reallyIforgetthingsnowadays，withallthebustlewehavehadoflate。’
ThatdayJesperdinedwiththekingandqueenandtheirnobles，andatnightwasputintoabedroomgranderthananythingofthekindhehadeverseen。Itwasallsonewtohimthathecouldnotsleepawink，especiallyashewasalwayswonderingwhatkindoftaskswouldbesethimtodo，andwhetherhewouldbeabletoperformthem。Inspiteofthesoftnessofthebed，hewasverygladwhenmorningcameatlast。
Afterbreakfastwasover，thekingsaidtoJesper，’Justcomewithme，andI’llshowyouwhatyoumustdofirst。’Heledhimouttothebarn，andthereinthemiddleofthefloorwasalargepileofgrain。’Here，’saidtheking，’youhaveamixedheapofwheat，barley，oats，andrye，asackfulofeach。Byanhourbeforesunsetyoumusthavethesesortedoutintofourheaps，andifasinglegrainisfoundtobeinawrongheapyouhavenofurtherchanceofmarryingmydaughter。Ishalllockthedoor，sothatnoonecangetintoassistyou，andIshallreturnattheappointedtimetoseehowyouhavesucceeded。’
Thekingwalkedoff，andJesperlookedindespairatthetaskbeforehim。Thenhesatdownandtriedwhathecoulddoatit，butitwassoonveryclearthatsingle—handedhecouldneverhopetoaccomplishitinthetime。Assistancewasoutofthequestion——unless，hesuddenlythought——unlesstheKingoftheAntscouldhelp。Onhimhebegantocall，andbeforemanyminuteshadpassedthatroyalpersonagemadehisappearance。
Jesperexplainedthetroublehewasin。
’Isthatall？’saidtheant;’weshallsoonputthattorights。’
Hegavetheroyalsignal，andinaminuteortwoastreamofantscamepouringintothebarn，whoundertheking’sorderssettoworktoseparatethegrainintotheproperheaps。
Jesperwatchedthemforawhile，butthroughthecontinualmovementofthelittlecreatures，andhisnothavingsleptduringthepreviousnight，hesoonfellsoundasleep。Whenhewokeagain，thekinghadjustcomeintothebarn，andwasamazedtofindthatnotonlywasthetaskaccomplished，butthatJesperhadfoundtimetotakeanapaswell。
’Wonderful，’saidhe;’Icouldn’thavebelieveditpossible。
However，thehardestisyettocome，asyouwillseeto—morrow。’
Jesperthoughtsotoowhenthenextday’staskwassetbeforehim。Theking’sgamekeepershadcaughtahundredlivehares，whichweretobeletlooseinalargemeadow，andthereJespermustherdthemallday，andbringthemsafelyhomeintheevening:ifevenoneweremissing，hemustgiveupallthoughtofmarryingtheprincess。Beforehehadquitegraspedthefactthatthiswasanimpossibletask，thekeepershadopenedthesacksinwhichthehareswerebroughttothefield，and，withawhiskoftheshorttailandaflapofthelongears，eachoneofthehundredflewinadifferentdirection。
’Now，’saidtheking，’ashewalkedaway，’let’sseewhatyourclevernesscandohere。’
Jesperstaredroundhiminbewilderment，andhavingnothingbettertodowithhishands，thrustthemintohispockets，ashewasinthehabitofdoing。Herehefoundsomethingwhichturnedouttobethewhistlegiventohimbytheoldwoman。Herememberedwhatshehadsaidaboutthevirtuesofthewhistle，butwasratherdoubtfulwhetheritspowerswouldextendtoahundredhares，eachofwhichhadgoneinadifferentdirectionandmightbeseveralmilesdistantbythistime。However，heblewthewhistle，andinafewminutestheharescameboundingthroughthehedgeonallthefoursidesofthefield，andbeforelongwereallsittingroundhiminacircle。Afterthat，Jesperallowedthemtorunaboutastheypleased，solongastheystayedinthefield。
ThekinghadtoldoneofthekeeperstohangaboutforalittleandseewhatbecameofJesper，notdoubting，however，thatassoonashesawthecoastclearhewouldusehislegstothebestadvantage，andnevershowfaceatthepalaceagain。ItwasthereforewithgreatsurpriseandannoyancethathenowlearnedofthemysteriousreturnoftheharesandthelikelihoodofJespercarryingouthistaskwithsuccess。
’Oneofthemmustbegotoutofhishandsbyhookorcrook，’saidhe。’I’llgoandseethequeenaboutit;she’sgoodatdevisingplans。’
Alittlelater，agirlinashabbydresscameintothefieldandwalkeduptoJesper。
’Dogivemeoneofthosehares，’shesaid;’wehavejustgotvisitorswhoaregoingtostaytodinner，andthere’snothingwecangivethemtoeat。’
’Ican’t，’saidJesper。’Foronething，they’renotmine;foranother，agreatdealdependsonmyhavingthemallhereintheevening。’
Butthegirl（andshewasaveryprettygirl，thoughsoshabbilydressed）beggedsohardforoneofthemthatatlasthesaid:
’Verywell;givemeakissandyoushallhaveoneofthem。’
Hecouldseethatshedidn’tquitecareforthis，butsheconsentedtothebargain，andgavehimthekiss，andwentawaywithahareinherapron。Scarcelyhadshegotoutsidethefield，however，whenJesperblewhiswhistle，andimmediatelytheharewriggledoutofitsprisonlikeaneel，andwentbacktoitsmasteratthetopofitsspeed。
Notlongafterthisthehare—herdhadanothervisit。Thistimeitwasastoutoldwomaninthedressofapeasant，whoalsowasafteraharetoprovideadinnerforunexpectedvisitors。Jesperagainrefused，buttheoldladywassopressing，andwouldtakenorefusal，thatatlasthesaid:
’Verywell，youshallhaveahare，andpaynothingforiteither，ifyouwillonlywalkroundmeontiptoe，lookuptothesky，andcacklelikeahen。’
’Fie，’saidshe;’whataridiculousthingtoaskanyonetodo;
justthinkwhattheneighbourswouldsayiftheysawme。TheywouldthinkIhadtakenleaveofmysenses。’
’Justasyoulike，’saidJesper;’youknowbestwhetheryouwantthehareornot。’
Therewasnohelpforit，andaprettyfiguretheoldladymadeincarryingouthertask;thecacklingwasn’tverywelldone，butJespersaiditwoulddo，andgaveherthehare。Assoonasshehadleftthefield，thewhistlewassoundedagain，andbackcamelong—legs—and—earsatamarvellousspeed。
Thenexttoappearonthesameerrandwasafatoldfellowinthedressofagroom:itwastheroyalliveryhewore，andheplainlythoughtagooddealofhimself。
’Youngman，’saidhe，’Iwantoneofthosehares;nameyourprice，butIMUSThaveoneofthem。’
’Allright，’saidJesper;’youcanhaveoneataneasyrate。
Juststandonyourhead，whackyourheelstogether，andcry\"Hurrah，\"andthehareisyours。’
’Eh，what！’saidtheoldfellow;’MEstandonmyhead，whatanidea！’
’Oh，verywell，’saidJesper，’youneedn’tunlessyoulike，youknow;butthenyouwon’tgetthehare。’
Itwentverymuchagainstthegrain，onecouldsee，butaftersomeeffortstheoldfellowhadhisheadonthegrassandhisheelsintheair;thewhackingandthe’Hurrah’wereratherfeeble，butJesperwasnotveryexacting，andtheharewashandedover。Ofcourse，itwasn’tlongincomingbackagain，liketheothers。
Eveningcame，andhomecameJesperwiththehundredharesbehindhim。Greatwasthewonderoverallthepalace，andthekingandqueenseemedverymuchputout，butitwasnoticedthattheprincessactuallysmiledtoJesper。
’Well，well，’saidtheking;’youhavedonethatverywellindeed。IfyouareassuccessfulwithalittletaskwhichI
shallgiveyouto—morrowweshallconsiderthemattersettled，andyoushallmarrytheprincess。’
Nextdayitwasannouncedthatthetaskwouldbeperformedinthegreathallofthepalace，andeveryonewasinvitedtocomeandwitnessit。Thekingandqueensatontheirthrones，withtheprincessbesidethem，andthelordsandladieswereallroundthehall。Atasignfromtheking，twoservantscarriedinalargeemptytub，whichtheysetdownintheopenspacebeforethethrone，andJesperwastoldtostandbesideit。
’Now，’saidtheking，’youmusttellusasmanyundoubtedtruthsaswillfillthattub，oryoucan’thavetheprincess。’
’Buthowarewetoknowwhenthetubisfull？’saidJesper。
’Don’tyoutroubleaboutthat，’saidtheking;’that’smypartofthebusiness。’
Thisseemedtoeverybodypresentratherunfair，butnoonelikedtobethefirsttosayso，andJesperhadtoputthebestfacehecouldonthematter，andbeginhisstory。
’Yesterday，’hesaid，’whenIwasherdingthehares，therecametomeagirl，inashabbydress，andbeggedmetogiveheroneofthem。Shegotthehare，butshehadtogivemeakissforit;
ANDTHATGIRLWASTHEPRINCESS。Isn’tthattrue？’saidhe，lookingather。
Theprincessblushedandlookedveryuncomfortable，buthadtoadmitthatitwastrue。
’Thathasn’tfilledmuchofthetub，’saidtheking。’Goonagain。’
’Afterthat，’saidJesper，’astoutoldwoman，inapeasant’sdress，cameandbeggedforahare。Beforeshegotit，shehadtowalkroundmeontiptoe，turnuphereyes，andcacklelikeahen;
ANDTHATOLDWOMANWASTHEQUEEN。Isn’tthattrue，now？’
Thequeenturnedveryredandhot，butcouldn’tdenyit。
’H—m，’saidtheking;’thatissomething，butthetubisn’tfullyet。’Tothequeenhewhispered，’Ididn’tthinkyouwouldbesuchafool。’
’WhatdidYOUdo？’shewhisperedinreturn。
’DoyousupposeIwoulddoanythingforHIM？’saidtheking，andthenhurriedlyorderedJespertogoon。
’Inthenextplace，’saidJesper，’therecameafatoldfellowonthesameerrand。Hewasveryproudanddignified，butinordertogetthehareheactuallystoodonhishead，whackedhisheelstogether，andcried\"Hurrah\";andthatoldfellowwasthe————’
’Stop，stop，’shoutedtheking;’youneedn’tsayanotherword;
thetubisfull。’Thenallthecourtapplauded，andthekingandqueenacceptedJesperastheirson—in—law，andtheprincesswasverywellpleased，forbythistimeshehadquitefalleninlovewithhim，becausehewassohandsomeandsoclever。Whentheoldkinggottimetothinkoverit，hewasquiteconvincedthathiskingdomwouldbesafeinJesper’shandsifhelookedafterthepeopleaswellasheherdedthehares。
[Scandinavian。]
THEUNDERGROUNDWORKERS
OnabitternightsomewherebetweenChristmasandtheNewYear，amansetouttowalktotheneighbouringvillage。Itwasnotmanymilesoff，butthesnowwassothickthattherewerenoroads，orwalls，orhedgeslefttoguidehim，andverysoonhelosthiswayaltogether，andwasgladtogetshelterfromthewindbehindathickjunipertree。Hereheresolvedtospendthenight，thinkingthatwhenthesunrosehewouldbeabletoseehispathagain。
Sohetuckedhislegssnuglyunderhimlikeahedgehog，rolledhimselfupinhissheepskin，andwenttosleep。Howlongheslept，Icannottellyou，butafterawhilehebecameawarethatsomeonewasgentlyshakinghim，whileastrangerwhispered，’Mygoodman，getup！Ifyouliethereanymore，youwillbeburiedinthesnow，andnoonewilleverknowwhatbecameofyou。’
Thesleeperslowlyraisedhisheadfromhisfurs，andopenedhisheavyeyes。Nearhimstoodalongthinman，holdinginhishandayoungfirtreetallerthanhimself。’Comewithme，’saidtheman，’alittlewayoffwehavemadealargefire，andyouwillrestfarbettertherethanoutuponthismoor。’Thesleeperdidnotwaittobeaskedtwice，butroseatonceandfollowedthestranger。Thesnowwasfallingsofastthathecouldnotseethreestepsinfrontofhim，tillthestrangerwavedhisstaff，whenthedriftspartedbeforethem。Verysoontheyreachedawood，andsawthefriendlyglowofafire。
’Whatisyourname？’askedthestranger，suddenlyturninground。
’IamcalledHans，thesonofLongHans，’saidthepeasant。
Infrontofthefirethreemenweresittingclothedinwhite，justasifitwassummer，andforaboutthirtyfeetallroundwinterhadbeenbanished。Themosswasdryandtheplantsgreen，whilethegrassseemedallalivewiththehumofbeesandcockchafers。ButabovethenoisethesonofLongHanscouldhearthewhistlingofthewindandthecracklingofthebranchesastheyfellbeneaththeweightofthesnow。
’Well！yousonofLongHans，isn’tthismorecomfortablethanyourjuniperbush？’laughedthestranger，andforanswerHansrepliedhecouldnotthankhisfriendenoughforhavingbroughthimhere，and，throwingoffhissheepskin，rolleditupasapillow。Then，afterahotdrinkwhichwarmedboththeirhearts，theylaydownontheground。ThestrangertalkedforalittletotheothermeninalanguageHansdidnotunderstand，andafterlisteningforashorttimeheoncemorefellasleep。
Whenheawoke，neitherwoodnorfirewastobeseen，andhedidnotknowwherehewas。Herubbedhiseyes，andbegantorecalltheeventsofthenight，thinkinghemusthavebeendreaming;butforallthat，hecouldnotmakeouthowhecametobeinthisplace。
Suddenlyaloudnoisestruckonhisear，andhefelttheearthtremblebeneathhisfeet。Hanslistenedforamoment，thenresolvedtogotowardstheplacewherethesoundcamefrom，hopinghemightcomeacrosssomehumanbeing。Hefoundhimselfatlengthatthemouthofarockycaveinwhichafireseemedburning。Heentered，andsawahugeforge，andacrowdofmeninfrontofit，blowingbellowsandwieldinghammers，andtoeachanvilweresevenmen，andasetofmorecomicalsmithscouldnotbefoundifyousearchedalltheworldthrough！Theirheadswerebiggerthantheirlittlebodies，andtheirhammerstwicethesizeofthemselves，butthestrongestmenonearthcouldnothavehandledtheirironclubsmorestoutlyorgivenlustierblows。
Thelittleblacksmithswerecladinleatheraprons，whichcoveredthemfromtheirneckstotheirfeetinfront，andlefttheirbacksnaked。Onahighstoolagainstthewallsatthemanwiththepinewoodstaff，watchingsharplythewaythelittlefellowsdidtheirwork，andnearhimstoodalargecan，fromwhicheverynowandthentheworkerswouldcomeandtakeadrink。Themasternolongerworethewhitegarmentsofthedaybefore，butablackjerkin，heldinitsplacebyaleatherngirdlewithhugeclasps。
Fromtimetotimehewouldgivehisworkmenasignwithhisstaff，foritwasuselesstospeakamidsuchanoise。
Ifanyofthemhadnoticedthattherewasastrangerpresenttheytooknoheedofhim，butwentonwithwhattheyweredoing。
Aftersomehours’hardlabourcamethetimeforrest，andtheyallflungtheirhammerstothegroundandtroopedoutofthecave。
ThenthemastergotdownfromhisseatandsaidtoHans:
’Isawyoucomein，buttheworkwaspressing，andIcouldnotstoptospeaktoyou。To—dayyoumustbemyguest，andIwillshowyousomethingofthewayinwhichIlive。Waithereforamoment，whileIlayasidethesedirtyclothes。’Withthesewordsheunlockedadoorinthecave，andbadeHanspassinbeforehim。
Oh，whatrichesandtreasuresmetHans’astonishedeyes！Goldandsilverbarslaypiledonthefloor，andglitteredsothatyoucouldnotlookatthem！Hansthoughthewouldcountthemforfun，andhadalreadyreachedthefivehundredandseventiethwhenhishostreturnedandcried，laughing:
’Donottrytocountthem，itwouldtaketoolong;choosesomeofthebarsfromtheheap，asIshouldliketomakeyouapresentofthem。’
Hansdidnotwaittobeaskedtwice，andstoopedtopickupabarofgold，butthoughheputforthallhisstrengthhecouldnotevenmoveitwithbothhands，stilllessliftitofftheground。
’Why，youhavenomorepowerthanaflea，’laughedthehost;’youwillhavetocontentyourselfwithfeastingyoureyesuponthem！’
SohebadeHansfollowhimthroughotherrooms，tilltheyenteredonebiggerthanachurch，filled，liketherest，withgoldandsilver。Hanswonderedtoseethesevastriches，whichmighthaveboughtallthekingdomsoftheworld，andlayburied，useless，hethought，toanyone。
’Whatisthereason，’heaskedofhisguide，’thatyougatherupthesetreasureshere，wheretheycandogoodtonobody？Iftheyfellintothehandsofmen，everyonewouldberich，andnoneneedworkorsufferhunger。’
’Anditisexactlyforthatreason，’answeredhe，’thatImustkeeptheserichesoutoftheirway。Thewholeworldwouldsinktoidlenessifmenwerenotforcedtoearntheirdailybread。Itisonlythroughworkandcarethatmancaneverhopetobegoodforanything。’
Hansstaredatthesewords，andatlasthebeggedthathishostwouldtellhimwhatuseitwastoanybodythatthisgoldandsilvershouldliemoulderingthere，andtheownerofitbecontinuallytryingtoincreasehistreasure，whichalreadyoverflowedhisstorerooms。
’Iamnotreallyaman，’repliedhisguide，’thoughIhavetheoutwardformofone，butoneofthosebeingstowhomisgiventhecareoftheworld。Itismytaskandthatofmyworkmentoprepareundertheearththegoldandsilver，asmallportionofwhichfindsitswayeveryyeartotheupperworld，butonlyjustenoughtohelpthemcarryontheirbusiness。Tononecomeswealthwithouttrouble:wemustfirstdigoutthegoldandmixthegrainswithearth，clay，andsand。Then，afterlongandhardseeking，itwillbefoundinthisstate，bythosewhohavegoodluckormuchpatience。But，myfriend，thehourofdinnerisathand。Ifyouwishtoremaininthisplace，andfeastyoureyesonthisgold，thenstaytillIcallyou。’
InhisabsenceHanswanderedfromonetreasurechambertoanother，sometimestryingtobreakoffalittlelumpofgold，butneverabletodoit。Afterawhilehishostcameback，butsochangedthatHanscouldnotbelieveitwasreallyhe。Hissilkenclotheswereofthebrightestflamecolour，richlytrimmedwithgoldfringesandlace;agoldengirdlewasroundhiswaist，whilehisheadwasencircledwithacrownofgold，andpreciousstonestwinkledabouthimlikestarsinawinter’snight，andinplaceofhiswoodenstickheheldafinelyworkedgoldenstaff。
Thelordofallthistreasurelockedthedoorsandputthekeysinhispocket，thenledHansintoanotherroom，wheredinnerwaslaidforthem。Tableandseatswereallofsilver，whilethedishesandplateswereofsolidgold。Directlytheysatdown，adozenlittleservantsappearedtowaitonthem，whichtheydidsocleverlyandsoquicklythatHanscouldhardlybelievetheyhadnowings。Astheydidnotreachashighasthetable，theywereoftenobligedtojumpandhoprightontothetoptogetatthedishes。EverythingwasnewtoHans，andthoughhewasratherbewilderedheenjoyedhimselfverymuch，especiallywhenthemanwiththegoldencrownbegantotellhimmanythingshehadneverheardofbefore。
’BetweenChristmasandtheNewYear，’saidhe，’Ioftenamusemyselfbywanderingabouttheearthwatchingthedoingsofmenandlearningsomethingaboutthem。ButasfarasIhaveseenandheardIcannotspeakwellofthem。Thegreaterpartofthemarealwaysquarrellingandcomplainingofeachother’sfaults，whilenobodythinksofhisown。’
Hanstriedtodenythetruthofthesewords，buthecouldnotdoit，andsatsilent，hardlylisteningtowhathisfriendwassaying。Thenhewenttosleepinhischair，andknewnothingofwhatwashappening。
Wonderfuldreamscametohimduringhissleep，wherethebarsofgoldcontinuallyhoveredbeforehiseyes。Hefeltstrongerthanhehadeverfeltduringhiswakingmoments，andliftedtwobarsquiteeasilyontohisback。Hedidthissooftenthatatlengthhisstrengthseemedexhausted，andhesankalmostbreathlessontheground。Thenheheardthesoundofcheerfulvoices，andthesongoftheblacksmithsastheyblewtheirbellows——heevenfeltasifhesawthesparksflashingbeforehiseyes。Stretchinghimself，heawokeslowly，andherehewasinthegreenforest，andinsteadoftheglowofthefireintheunderworldthesunwasstreamingonhim，andhesatupwonderingwhyhefeltsostrange。
Atlengthhismemorycamebacktohim，andashecalledtomindallthewonderfulthingshehadseenhetriedinvaintomakethemagreewiththosethathappeneveryday。Afterthinkingitovertillhewasnearlymad，hetriedatlasttobelievethatonenightbetweenChristmasandtheNewYearhehadmetastrangerintheforest，andhadsleptallnightinhiscompanybeforeabigfire;thenextdaytheyhaddinedtogether，andhaddrunkagreatdealmorethanwasgoodforthem——inshort，hehadspenttwowholedaysrevellingwithanotherman。Buthere，withthefulltideofsummeraroundhim，hecouldhardlyaccepthisownexplanation，andfeltthathemusthavebeentheplaythingorsportofsomemagician。
Nearhim，inthefullsunlight，werethetracesofadeadfire，andwhenhedrewclosetoithesawthatwhathehadtakenforasheswasreallyfinesilverdust，andthatthehalfburntfirewoodwasmadeofgold。
Oh，howluckyHansthoughthimself;butwhereshouldhegetasacktocarryhistreasurehomebeforeanyoneelsefoundit？
Butnecessityisthemotherofinvention:Hansthrewoffhisfurcoat，gatheredupthesilverashessocarefullyinitthatnoneremainedbehind，laidthegoldsticksontop，andtiedupthebagthusmadewithhisgirdle，sothatnothingshouldfallout。Theloadwasnot，inpointoffact，veryheavy，althoughitseemedsotohisimagination，andhemovedslowlyalongtillhefoundasafehiding—placeforit。