1.The Golden Bird

In olden times there was a king, who had behind his palace a beautiful pleasure-

garden in which there was a tree that bore golden apples. When the apples were

getting ripe they were counted, but on the very next morning one was missing. This

was told to the king, and he ordered that a watch should be kept every night beneath

the tree.

The king had three sons, the eldest of whom he sent, as soon as night came on, into

the garden, but when midnight came he could not keep himself from sleeping, and

next morning again an apple was gone.

The following night the second son had to keep watch, but it fared no better with him,

as soon as twelve o'clock had struck he fell asleep, and in the morning an apple was

gone.

Now it came to the turn of the third son to watch, and he was quite ready, but the

king had not much trust in him, and thought that he would be of less use even than

his brothers, but at last he let him go. The youth lay down beneath the tree, but kept

awake, and did not let sleep master him. When it struck twelve, something rustled

through the air, and in the moonlight he saw a bird coming whose feathers were all

shining with gold.

The bird alighted on the tree, and had just plucked off an apple, when the youth shot

an arrow at him. The bird flew off, but the arrow had struck his plumage, and one of

his golden feathers fell down. The youth picked it up, and the next morning took it to

the king and told him what he had seen in the night. The king called his council

together, and everyone declared that a feather like this was worth more than the

whole kingdom. If the feather is so precious, declared the king, one alone will not do

for me, I must and will have the whole bird.

The eldest son set out, and trusting to his cleverness thought that he would easily

find the golden bird. When he had gone some distance he saw a fox sitting at the

edge of a wood so he cocked his gun and took aim at him. The fox cried, do not

shoot me, and in return I will give you some good counsel. You are on the way to the

golden bird, and this evening you will come to a village in which stand two inns

opposite to one another.

One of them is lighted up brightly, and all goes on merrily within, but do not go into it,

go rather into the other, even though it looks like a bad one. How can such a silly

beast give wise advice, thought the king's son, and he pulled the trigger. But he

missed the fox, who stretched out his tail and ran quickly into the wood.

So he pursued his way, and by evening came to the village where the two inns were,

in one they were singing and dancing, the other had a poor, miserable look. I should

be a fool, indeed, he thought, if I were to go into the shabby tavern, and pass by the

good one. So he went into the cheerful one, lived there in riot and revel, and forgot

the bird and his father, and all good counsels.

When many months had passed, and the eldest son did not come back home, the

second set out, wishing to find the golden bird. The fox met him as he had met the

eldest, and gave him the good advice of which he took no heed. He came to the two

inns, and his brother was standing at the window of the one from which came the

music, and called out to him. He could not resist, but went inside and lived only for

pleasure.

Again some time passed, and then the king's youngest son wanted to set off and try

his luck, but his father would not allow it. It is of no use, said he, he will find the

golden bird still less than his brothers, and if a mishap were to befall him he knows

not how to help himself, he's not too bright at the best. But at last, as he had no

peace, he let him go.

Again the fox was sitting outside the wood, and begged for his life, and offered his

good advice. The youth was good-natured, and said, be easy, little fox, I will do you

no harm. You shall not repent it, answered the fox, and that you may get on more

quickly, get up behind on my tail. And scarcely had he seated himself when the fox

began to run, and away he went over stock and stone till his hair whistled in the

wind. When they came to the village the youth got off, he followed the good advice,

and without looking round turned into the little inn, where he spent the night quietly.

The next morning, as soon as he got into the open country, there sat the fox already,

and said, I will tell you further what you have to do. Go on quite straight, and at last

you will come to a castle, in front of which a whole regiment of soldiers is lying, but

do not trouble yourself about them, for they will all be asleep and snoring. Go through

the midst of them staight into the castle, and go through all the rooms, till at last you

will come to a chamber where a golden bird is hanging in a wooden cage. Close by,

there stands an empty gold cage for show, but beware of taking the bird out of the

common cage and putting it into the fine one, or it may go badly with you.

With these words the fox again stretched out his tail, and the king's son seated

himself upon it, and away he went over stock and stone till his hair whistled in the

wind.

When he came to the castle he found everything as the fox had said. The king's son

went into the chamber where the golden bird was shut up in a wooden cage, whilst a

golden one stood by, and the three golden apples lay about the room. But, thought

he, it would be absurd if I were to leave the beautiful bird in the common and ugly

cage, so he opened the door, laid hold of it, and put it into the golden cage. But at

the same moment the bird uttered a shrill cry. The soldiers awoke, rushed in, and

took him off to prison. The next morning he was taken before a court of justice, and

as he confessed everything, was sentenced to death.

The king, however, said that he would grant him his life on one condition - namely, if

he brought him the golden horse which ran faster than the wind, and in that case he

should receive, over and above, as a reward, the golden bird.

The king's son set off, but he sighed and was sorrowful, for how was he to find the

golden horse. But all at once he saw his old friend the fox sitting on the road. Look

Join now!

you, said the fox, this has happened because you did not give heed to me.

However, be of good courage. I will give you my help, and tell you how to get to the

golden horse. You must go straight on, and you will come to a castle, where in the

stable stands the horse. The grooms will be lying in front of the stable, but they will

be asleep and snoring, and you can quietly lead out the golden horse. But of one

thing you must take heed, put on him the common saddle ...

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