Little Claus and big Claus

LITTLECLAUSANDBIGCLAUS

1872
FAIRYTALESOFHANSCHRISTIANANDERSENLITTLECLAUSANDBIGCLAUSbyHansChristianAndersen

INavillagethereoncelivedtwomenwhohadthesamename.TheywerebothcalledClaus.Oneofthemhadfourhorses,buttheotherhadonlyone;sotodistinguishthem,peoplecalledtheownerofthefourhorses,"GreatClaus,"andhewhohadonlyone,"LittleClaus."Nowweshallhearwhathappenedtothem,forthisisatruestory.
Throughthewholeweek,LittleClauswasobligedtoploughforGreatClaus,andlendhimhisonehorse;andonceaweek,onaSunday,GreatClauslenthimallhisfourhorses.ThenhowLittleClauswouldsmackhiswhipoverallfivehorses,theywereasgoodashisownonthatoneday.Thesunshonebrightly,andthechurchbellswereringingmerrilyasthepeoplepassedby,dressedintheirbestclothes,withtheirprayer-booksundertheirarms.Theyweregoingtoheartheclergymanpreach.TheylookedatLittleClausploughingwithhisfivehorses,andhewassoproudthathesmackedhiswhip,andsaid,"Gee-up,myfivehorses."
"Youmustnotsaythat,"saidBigClaus;"foronlyoneofthembelongstoyou."ButLittleClaussoonforgotwhatheoughttosay,andwhenanyonepassedhewouldcallout,"Gee-up,myfivehorses!"
"NowImustbegyounottosaythatagain,"saidBigClaus;"forifyoudo,Ishallhityourhorseonthehead,sothathewilldropdeadonthespot,andtherewillbeanendofhim.""IpromiseyouIwillnotsayitanymore,"saidtheother;butassoonaspeoplecameby,noddingtohim,andwishinghim"Goodday,"hebecamesopleased,andthoughthowgranditlookedtohavefivehorsesploughinginhisfield,thathecriedoutagain,"Gee-up,allmyhorses!"
"I’llgee-upyourhorsesforyou,"saidBigClaus;andseizingahammer,hestrucktheonehorseofLittleClausonthehead,andhefelldeadinstantly.
"Oh,nowIhavenohorseatall,saidLittleClaus,weeping.Butafterawhilehetookoffthedeadhorse’sskin,andhungthehidetodryinthewind.Thenheputthedryskinintoabag,and,placingitoverhisshoulder,wentoutintothenexttowntosellthehorse’sskin.Hehadaverylongwaytogo,andhadtopassthroughadark,gloomyforest.Presentlyastormarose,andhelosthisway,andbeforehediscoveredtherightpath,eveningcameon,anditwasstillalongwaytothetown,andtoofartoreturnhomebeforenight.Neartheroadstoodalargefarmhouse.Theshuttersoutsidethewindowswereclosed,butlightsshonethroughthecrevicesatthetop.
"Imightgetpermissiontostayhereforthenight,"thoughtLittleClaus;sohewentuptothedoorandknocked.Thefarmer’swifeopenedthedoor;butwhensheheardwhathewanted,shetoldhimtogoaway,asherhusbandwouldnotallowhertoadmitstrangers.
"ThenIshallbeobligedtolieouthere,"saidLittleClaustohimself,asthefarmer’swifeshutthedoorinhisface.Neartothefarmhousestoodalargehaystack,andbetweenitandthehousewasasmallshed,withathatchedroof."Icanlieupthere,"saidLittleClaus,ashesawtheroof;"itwillmakeafamousbed,butIhopethestorkwillnotflydownandbitemylegs;"foronitstoodalivingstork,whosenestwasintheroof.SoLittleClausclimbedtotheroofoftheshed,andwhileheturnedhimselftogetcomfortable,hediscoveredthatthewoodenshutters,whichwereclosed,didnotreachtothetopsofthewindowsofthefarmhouse,sothathecouldseeintoaroom,inwhichalargetablewaslaidoutwithwine,roastmeat,andasplendidfish.Thefarmer’swifeandthesextonweresittingatthetabletogether;andshefilledhisglass,andhelpedhimplenteouslytofish,whichappearedtobehisfavoritedish."IfIcouldonlygetsome,too,"thoughtLittleClaus;andthen,ashestretchedhisnecktowardsthewindowhespiedalarge,beautifulpie,-indeedtheyhadagloriousfeastbeforethem.
Atthismomentheheardsomeoneridingdowntheroad,towardsthefarmhouse.Itwasthefarmerreturninghome.Hewasagoodman,butstillhehadaverystrangeprejudice,-hecouldnotbearthesightofasexton.Ifoneappearedbeforehim,hewouldputhimselfinaterriblerage.Inconsequenceofthisdislike,thesextonhadgonetovisitthefarmer’swifeduringherhusband’sabsencefromhome,andthegoodwomanhadplacedbeforehimthebestshehadinthehousetoeat.Whensheheardthefarmercomingshewasfrightened,andbeggedthesextontohidehimselfinalargeemptychestthatstoodintheroom.Hedidso,forheknewherhusbandcouldnotendurethesightofasexton.Thewomanthenquicklyputawaythewine,andhidalltherestofthenicethingsintheoven;forifherhusbandhadseenthemhewouldhaveaskedwhattheywerebroughtoutfor."Oh,dear,"sighedLittleClausfromthetopoftheshed,ashesawallthegoodthingsdisappear.
"Isanyoneupthere?"askedthefarmer,lookingupanddiscoveringLittleClaus."Whyareyoulyingupthere?Comedown,andcomeintothehousewithme."SoLittleClauscamedownandtoldthefarmerhowhehadlosthiswayandbeggedforanight’slodging.
"Allright,"saidthefarmer;"butwemusthavesomethingtoeatfirst."Thewomanreceivedthembothverykindly,laidtheclothonalargetable,andplacedbeforethemadishofporridge.Thefarmerwasveryhungry,andatehisporridgewithagoodappetite,butLittleClauscouldnothelpthinkingoftheniceroastmeat,fishandpies,whichheknewwereintheoven.Underthetable,athisfeet,laythesackcontainingthehorse’sskin,whichheintendedtosellatthenexttown.NowLittleClausdidnotrelishtheporridgeatall,sohetrodwithhisfootonthesackunderthetable,andthedryskinsqueakedquiteloud."Hush!"saidLittleClaustohissack,atthesametimetreadinguponitagain,tillitsqueakedlouderthanbefore."Hallo!whathaveyougotinyoursack!"askedthefarmer."Oh,itisaconjuror,"saidLittleClaus;"andhesaysweneednoteatporridge,forhehasconjuredtheovenfullofroastmeat,fish,andpie."
"Wonderful!"criedthefarmer,startingupandopeningtheovendoor;andtherelayallthenicethingshiddenbythefarmer’swife,butwhichhesupposedhadbeenconjuredtherebythewizardunderthetable.Thewomandarednotsayanything;sosheplacedthethingsbeforethem,andtheybothateofthefish,themeat,andthepastry.
ThenLittleClaustrodagainuponhissack,anditsqueakedasbefore."Whatdoeshesaynow?"askedthefarmer.
"Hesays,"repliedLittleClaus,"thattherearethreebottlesofwineforus,standinginthecorner,bytheoven."Sothewomanwasobligedtobringoutthewinealso,whichshehadhidden,andthefarmerdrankittillhebecamequitemerry.HewouldhavelikedsuchaconjurorasLittleClauscarriedinhissack."Couldheconjureuptheevilone?"askedthefarmer."Ishouldliketoseehimnow,whileIamsomerry."
"Oh,yes!"repliedLittleClaus,"myconjurorcandoanythingIaskhim,-canyounot?"heasked,treadingatthesametimeonthesacktillitsqueaked."Doyouhear?heanswers’Yes,’buthefearsthatweshallnotliketolookathim."
"Oh,Iamnotafraid.Whatwillhebelike?"
"Well,heisverymuchlikeasexton."
"Ha!"saidthefarmer,"thenhemustbeugly.DoyouknowIcannotendurethesightofasexton.However,thatdoesn’tmatter,Ishallknowwhoitis;soIshallnotmind.Nowthen,Ihavegotupmycourage,butdon’tlethimcometoonearme."
"Stop,Imustasktheconjuror,"saidLittleClaus;sohetrodonthebag,andstoopedhiseardowntolisten.
"Whatdoeshesay?"
"Hesaysthatyoumustgoandopenthatlargechestwhichstandsinthecorner,andyouwillseetheevilonecrouchingdowninside;butyoumustholdthelidfirmly,thathemaynotslipout."
"Willyoucomeandhelpmeholdit?"saidthefarmer,goingtowardsthechestinwhichhiswifehadhiddenthesexton,whonowlayinside,verymuchfrightened.Thefarmeropenedthelidaverylittleway,andpeepedin.
"Oh,"criedhe,springingbackwards,"Isawhim,andheisexactlylikeoursexton.Howdreadfulitis!"Soafterthathewasobligedtodrinkagain,andtheysatanddranktillfarintothenight.
"Youmustsellyourconjurortome,"saidthefarmer;"askasmuchasyoulike,Iwillpayit;indeedIwouldgiveyoudirectlyawholebushelofgold."
"No,indeed,Icannot,"saidLittleClaus;"onlythinkhowmuchprofitIcouldmakeoutofthisconjuror."
"ButIshouldliketohavehim,"saidthefanner,stillcontinuinghisentreaties.
"Well,"saidLittleClausatlength,"youhavebeensogoodastogivemeanight’slodging,Iwillnotrefuseyou;youshallhavetheconjurorforabushelofmoney,butIwillhavequitefullmeasure."
"Soyoushall,"saidthefarmer;"butyoumusttakeawaythechestaswell.Iwouldnothaveitinthehouseanotherhour;thereisnoknowingifhemaynotbestillthere."SoLittleClausgavethefarmerthesackcontainingthedriedhorse’sskin,andreceivedinexchangeabushelofmoney-fullmeasure.Thefarmeralsogavehimawheelbarrowonwhichtocarryawaythechestandthegold.
"Farewell,"saidLittleClaus,ashewentoffwithhismoneyandthegreatchest,inwhichthesextonlaystillconcealed.Ononesideoftheforestwasabroad,deepriver,thewaterflowedsorapidlythatveryfewwereabletoswimagainstthestream.Anewbridgehadlatelybeenbuiltacrossit,andinthemiddleofthisbridgeLittleClausstopped,andsaid,loudenoughtobeheardbythesexton,"NowwhatshallIdowiththisstupidchest;itisasheavyasifitwerefullofstones:IshallbetiredifIrollitanyfarther,soImayaswellthrowitintheriver;ifitswimsaftermetomyhouse,wellandgood,andifnot,itwillnotmuchmatter."Soheseizedthechestinhishandandlifteditupalittle,asifheweregoingtothrowitintothewater."No,leaveitalone,"criedthesextonfromwithinthechest;"letmeoutfirst."
"Oh,"exclaimedLittleClaus,pretendingtobefrightened,"heisintherestill,ishe?Imustthrowhimintotheriver,thathemaybedrowned."
"Oh,no;oh,no,"criedthesexton;"Iwillgiveyouawholebushelfullofmoneyifyouwillletmego.
"Why,thatisanothermatter,"saidLittleClaus,openingthechest.Thesextoncreptout,pushedtheemptychestintothewater,andwenttohishouse,thenhemeasuredoutawholebushelfullofgoldforLittleClaus,whohadalreadyreceivedonefromthefarmer,sothatnowhehadabarrowfull.
"Ihavebeenwellpaidformyhorse,"saidhetohimselfwhenhereachedhome,enteredhisownroom,andemptiedallhismoneyintoaheaponthefloor."HowvexedGreatClauswillbewhenhefindsouthowrichIhavebecomeallthroughmyonehorse;butIshallnottellhimexactlyhowitallhappened."ThenhesentaboytoGreatClaustoborrowabushelmeasure.
"Whatcanhewantitfor?"thoughtGreatClaus;sohesmearedthebottomofthemeasurewithtar,thatsomeofwhateverwasputintoitmightstickthereandremain.Andsoithappened;forwhenthemeasurereturned,threenewsilverflorinswerestickingtoit."Whatdoesthismean?"saidGreatClaus;soheranoffdirectlytoLittleClaus,andasked,"Wheredidyougetsomuchmoney?"
"Oh,formyhorse’sskin,Isoldityesterday."
"Itwascertainlywellpaidforthen,"saidGreatClaus;andheranhometohishouse,seizedahatchet,andknockedallhisfourhorsesonthehead,flayedofftheirskins,andtookthemtothetowntosell."Skins,skins,who’llbuyskins?"hecried,ashewentthroughthestreets.Alltheshoemakersandtannerscamerunning,andaskedhowmuchhewantedforthem.
"Abushelofmoney,foreach,"repliedGreatClaus.
"Areyoumad?"theyallcried;"doyouthinkwehavemoneytospendbythebushel?"
"Skins,skins,"hecriedagain,"who’llbuyskins?"buttoallwhoinquiredtheprice,hisanswerwas,"abushelofmoney."
"Heismakingfoolsofus,"saidtheyall;thentheshoemakerstooktheirstraps,andthetannerstheirleatheraprons,andbegantobeatGreatClaus.
"Skins,skins!"theycried,mockinghim;"yes,we’llmarkyourskinforyou,tillitisblackandblue."
"Outofthetownwithhim,"saidthey.AndGreatClauswasobligedtorunasfastashecould,hehadneverbeforebeensothoroughlybeaten.
"Ah,"saidhe,ashecametohishouse;"LittleClausshallpaymeforthis;Iwillbeathimtodeath."
MeanwhiletheoldgrandmotherofLittleClausdied.Shehadbeencross,unkind,andreallyspitefultohim;buthewasverysorry,andtookthedeadwomanandlaidherinhiswarmbedtoseeifhecouldbringhertolifeagain.Therehedeterminedthatsheshouldliethewholenight,whileheseatedhimselfinachairinacorneroftheroomashehadoftendonebefore.Duringthenight,ashesatthere,thedooropened,andincameGreatClauswithahatchet.HeknewwellwhereLittleClaus’sbedstood;sohewentrightuptoit,andstrucktheoldgrandmotheronthehead.thinkingitmustbeLittleClaus.
"There,"criedhe,"nowyoucannotmakeafoolofmeagain;"andthenhewenthome.
"Thatisaverywickedman,"thoughtLittleClaus;"hemeanttokillme.Itisagoodthingformyoldgrandmotherthatshewasalreadydead,orhewouldhavetakenherlife."Thenhedressedhisoldgrandmotherinherbestclothes,borrowedahorseofhisneighbor,andharnessedittoacart.Thenheplacedtheoldwomanonthebackseat,sothatshemightnotfalloutashedrove,androdeawaythroughthewood.Bysunrisetheyreachedalargeinn,whereLittleClausstoppedandwenttogetsomethingtoeat.Thelandlordwasarichman,andagoodmantoo;butaspassionateasifhehadbeenmadeofpepperandsnuff.
"Goodmorning,"saidhetoLittleClaus;"youarecomebetimesto-day."
"Yes,"saidLittleClaus;"Iamgoingtothetownwithmyoldgrandmother;sheissittingatthebackofthewagon,butIcannotbringherintotheroom.Willyoutakeheraglassofmead?butyoumustspeakveryloud,forshecannothearwell."
"Yes,certainlyIwill,"repliedthelandlord;and,pouringoutaglassofmead,hecarrieditouttothedeadgrandmother,whosatuprightinthecart."Hereisaglassofmeadfromyourgrandson,"saidthelandlord.Thedeadwomandidnotansweraword,butsatquitestill."Doyounothear?"criedthelandlordasloudashecould;"hereisaglassofmeadfromyourgrandson."
Againandagainhebawleditout,butasshedidnotstirheflewintoapassion,andthrewtheglassofmeadinherface;itstruckheronthenose,andshefellbackwardsoutofthecart,forshewasonlyseatedthere,nottiedin.
Hallo!"criedLittleClaus,rushingoutofthedoor,andseizingholdofthelandlordbythethroat;"youhavekilledmygrandmother;see,hereisagreatholeinherforehead."
"Oh,howunfortunate,"saidthelandlord,wringinghishands."Thisallcomesofmyfierytemper.DearLittleClaus,Iwillgiveyouabushelofmoney;Iwillburyyourgrandmotherasifsheweremyown;onlykeepsilent,orelsetheywillcutoffmyhead,andthatwouldbedisagreeable."
SoithappenedthatLittleClausreceivedanotherbushelofmoney,andthelandlordburiedhisoldgrandmotherasifshehadbeenhisown.WhenLittleClausreachedhomeagain,heimmediatelysentaboytoGreatClaus,requestinghimtolendhimabushelmeasure."Howisthis?"thoughtGreatClaus;"didInotkillhim?Imustgoandseeformyself."SohewenttoLittleClaus,andtookthebushelmeasurewithhim."Howdidyougetallthismoney?"askedGreatClaus,staringwithwideopeneyesathisneighbor’streasures.
"Youkilledmygrandmotherinsteadofme,"saidLittleClaus;
"soIhavesoldherforabushelofmoney."
"Thatisagoodpriceatallevents,"saidGreatClaus.Sohewenthome,tookahatchet,andkilledhisoldgrandmotherwithoneblow.Thenheplacedheronacart,anddroveintothetowntotheapothecary,andaskedhimifhewouldbuyadeadbody.
"Whoseisit,andwheredidyougetit?"askedtheapothecary."Itismygrandmother,"hereplied;"Ikilledherwithablow,thatImightgetabushelofmoneyforher."
"Heavenpreserveus!"criedtheapothecary,"youareoutofyourmind.Don’tsaysuchthings,oryouwillloseyourhead."Andthenhetalkedtohimseriouslyaboutthewickeddeedhehaddone,andtoldhimthatsuchawickedmanwouldsurelybepunished.GreatClausgotsofrightenedthatherushedoutofthesurgery,jumpedintothecart,whippeduphishorses,anddrovehomequickly.Theapothecaryandallthepeoplethoughthimmad,andlethimdrivewhereheliked.
"Youshallpayforthis,"saidGreatClaus,assoonashegotintothehighroad,"thatyoushall,LittleClaus."SoassoonashereachedhomehetookthelargestsackhecouldfindandwentovertoLittleClaus."Youhaveplayedmeanothertrick,"saidhe."First,Ikilledallmyhorses,andthenmyoldgrandmother,anditisallyourfault;butyoushallnotmakeafoolofmeanymore."SohelaidholdofLittleClausroundthebody,andpushedhimintothesack,whichhetookonhisshoulders,saying,"NowI’mgoingtodrownyouintheriver.Hehadalongwaytogobeforehereachedtheriver,andLittleClauswasnotaverylightweighttocarry.Theroadledbythechurch,andastheypassedhecouldheartheorganplayingandthepeoplesingingbeautifully.GreatClausputdownthesackclosetothechurch-door,andthoughthemightaswellgoinandhearapsalmbeforehewentanyfarther.LittleClauscouldnotpossiblygetoutofthesack,andallthepeoplewereinchurch;soinhewent.
"Ohdear,ohdear,"sighedLittleClausinthesack,asheturnedandtwistedabout;buthefoundhecouldnotloosenthestringwithwhichitwastied.Presentlyanoldcattledriver,withsnowyhair,passedby,carryingalargestaffinhishand,withwhichhedrovealargeherdofcowsandoxenbeforehim.TheystumbledagainstthesackinwhichlayLittleClaus,andturneditover."Ohdear,"sighedLittleClaus,"Iamveryyoung,yetIamsoongoingtoheaven."
"AndI,poorfellow,"saidthedrover,"Iwhoamsooldalready,cannotgetthere."
"Openthesack,"criedLittleClaus;"creepintoitinsteadofme,andyouwillsoonbethere."
"Withallmyheart,"repliedthedrover,openingthesack,fromwhichsprungLittleClausasquicklyaspossible."Willyoutakecareofmycattle?"saidtheoldman,ashecreptintothebag.
"Yes,"saidLittleClaus,andhetiedupthesack,andthenwalkedoffwithallthecowsandoxen.WhenGreatClauscameoutofchurch,hetookupthesack,andplaceditonhisshoulders.Itappearedtohavebecomelighter,fortheolddroverwasnothalfsoheavyasLittleClaus.
"Howlightheseemsnow,"saidhe."Ah,itisbecauseIhavebeentoachurch."Sohewalkedontotheriver,whichwasdeepandbroad,andthrewthesackcontainingtheolddroverintothewater,believingittobeLittleClaus."Thereyoumaylie!"heexclaimed;"youwillplaymenomoretricksnow."Thenheturnedtogohome,butwhenhecametoaplacewheretworoadscrossed,therewasLittleClausdrivingthecattle."Howisthis?"saidGreatClaus."DidInotdrownyoujustnow?"
"Yes,"saidLittleClaus;"youthrewmeintotheriverabouthalfanhourago."
"Butwhereverdidyougetallthesefinebeasts?"askedGreatClaus.
"Thesebeastsaresea-cattle,"repliedLittleClaus."I’lltellyouthewholestory,andthankyoufordrowningme;Iamaboveyounow,Iamreallyveryrich.Iwasfrightened,tobesure,whileIlaytiedupinthesack,andthewindwhistledinmyearswhenyouthrewmeintotheriverfromthebridge,andIsanktothebottomimmediately;butIdidnothurtmyself,forIfelluponbeautifullysoftgrasswhichgrowsdownthere;andinamoment,thesackopened,andthesweetestlittlemaidencametowardsme.Shehadsnow-whiterobes,andawreathofgreenleavesonherwethair.Shetookmebythehand,andsaid,’Soyouarecome,LittleClaus,andherearesomecattleforyoutobeginwith.Aboutamilefartherontheroad,thereisanotherherdforyou.’ThenIsawthattheriverformedagreathighwayforthepeoplewholiveinthesea.Theywerewalkinganddrivinghereandtherefromtheseatothelandatthe,spotwheretheriverterminates.Thebedoftheriverwascoveredwiththeloveliestflowersandsweetfreshgrass.Thefishswampastmeasrapidlyasthebirdsdohereintheair.Howhandsomeallthepeoplewere,andwhatfinecattleweregrazingonthehillsandinthevalleys!"
"Butwhydidyoucomeupagain,"saidGreatClaus,"ifitwasallsobeautifuldownthere?Ishouldnothavedoneso?"
"Well,"saidLittleClaus,"itwasgoodpolicyonmypart;youheardmesayjustnowthatIwastoldbythesea-maidentogoamilefartherontheroad,andIshouldfindawholeherdofcattle.Bytheroadshemeanttheriver,forshecouldnottravelanyotherway;butIknewthewindingoftheriver,andhowitbends,sometimestotherightandsometimestotheleft,anditseemedalongway,soIchoseashorterone;and,bycominguptotheland,andthendrivingacrossthefieldsbackagaintotheriver,Ishallsavehalfamile,andgetallmycattlemorequickly."
"Whataluckyfellowyouare!"exclaimedGreatClaus."DoyouthinkIshouldgetanysea-cattleifIwentdowntothebottomoftheriver?"
"Yes,Ithinkso,"saidLittleClaus;"butIcannotcarryyouthereinasack,youaretooheavy.Howeverifyouwillgotherefirst,andthencreepintoasack,Iwillthrowyouinwiththegreatestpleasure."
"Thankyou,"saidGreatClaus;"butremember,ifIdonotgetanysea-cattledownthereIshallcomeupagainandgiveyouagoodthrashing."
"No,now,don’tbetoofierceaboutit!"saidLittleClaus,astheywalkedontowardstheriver.Whentheyapproachedit,thecattle,whowereverythirsty,sawthestream,andrandowntodrink.
"Seewhatahurrytheyarein,"saidLittleClaus,"theyarelongingtogetdownagain,"
"Come,helpme,makehaste,"saidGreatClaus;"oryou’llgetbeaten."Sohecreptintoalargesack,whichhadbeenlyingacrossthebackofoneoftheoxen.
"Putinastone,"saidGreatClaus,"orImaynotsink."
"Oh,there’snotmuchfearofthat,"hereplied;stillheputalargestoneintothebag,andthentiedittightly,andgaveitapush.
"Plump!"InwentGreatClaus,andimmediatelysanktothebottomoftheriver.
"I’mafraidhewillnotfindanycattle,"saidLittleClaus,andthenhedrovehisownbeastshomewards.

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