The Golden Goose - German

My two older brothers, who were known for being quite clever, always called me Simpleton. I suppose I wasn't as quick-witted as them. While they practiced their sums or planned ways to get ahead, I much preferred to sit by the edge of the great, dark forest that bordered our little cottage, watching the squirrels chase each other up the ancient trees. They never shared their fine cakes or shiny apples with me, but that never bothered me much. I didn't have much to share back, except maybe a friendly smile or a story I’d imagined about the clouds. I was content with my simple life, never knowing that my simple kindness was about to lead me on the most extraordinary adventure of all. This is my story, the tale people now call The Golden Goose. I learned that what's in your heart is far more important than what others think is in your head.

One morning, my oldest brother announced he was going into the forest to chop wood. Mother gave him a fine, sweet cake and a bottle of wine for his lunch. Deep in the woods, he met a peculiar little gray-haired man who looked terribly hungry. "Please, sir," the little man chirped, "could you spare a crumb of cake and a sip of wine?". But my brother scoffed, "If I give you my food, I'll have none for myself! Begone!". Shortly after, as he swung his axe, he missed the tree and struck his own arm. The very next day, my second brother went out with an equally delicious lunch, met the same little man, gave the same selfish answer, and ended up injuring his leg. When it was my turn, all I had was a dry, crumbly cake baked in the hearth's ashes and a flask of sour beer. But when the little gray man appeared and asked me the same question, I smiled and said, "Of course! It isn't much, but you are welcome to all of it.". Can you imagine what happened next? The moment we sat down, my dreadful cake turned into a fluffy pastry and the sour beer became the sweetest wine! As a thank you, the man told me to chop down a specific old tree. I trusted him and swung my axe. There, nestled amongst its roots, was a breathtaking goose with feathers made of pure, shining gold.

Clutching my magnificent new friend, I decided I couldn't just go back home. This golden goose was my ticket to see the world! That evening, I found lodging at an inn run by a man with three daughters. Their eyes grew as wide as dinner plates when they saw my goose. Each one, consumed by greed, plotted to pluck just one golden feather for herself. The eldest snuck into my room while I slept and reached for a wing. But the instant her fingers touched it, she was stuck fast! She couldn't pull away, no matter how hard she tried. Her sister came to help and grabbed her hand, only to find herself stuck too. Finally, the youngest sister tried to pull them both free and, you guessed it, she also became glued to the chain. The next morning, I picked up my goose and set off, completely unaware of the three shrieking girls trailing behind me. A parson walking by saw their predicament and tut-tutted, "For shame, running after a young man like that!". He tried to pull the youngest girl away, but his hand got stuck too! Soon, his curious sexton joined the sticky line, and then two farmers carrying their hoes. What a bizarre procession we must have been!

Our strange, unwilling parade stumbled into the capital city of a grand kingdom. In this kingdom lived a princess who was so serious and somber that she had never, not once in her entire life, let out a laugh. Her father, the king, was heartbroken and had made a royal proclamation: any man who could make his daughter laugh could marry her. As I walked toward the castle with my goose, the princess was gazing sadly out her window. Can you picture the sight? There I was, a simple boy with a golden goose, followed by a bobbing, stumbling, grumbling chain of three girls, a parson, his sexton, and two farmers, all stuck together and tripping over each other's feet. The sight was so utterly ridiculous, so fantastically silly, that a little giggle escaped her lips. Then another. Soon, she burst into a beautiful, ringing laugh that echoed through the castle courtyard. I had done it! The king, however, took one look at my simple clothes and scowled. He was certainly not pleased to have a "simpleton" for a son-in-law and declared I had to complete three impossible tasks first.

My heart sank. The king demanded I find a man who could drink an entire cellar full of wine, another who could eat a mountain of bread, and finally, to bring him a ship that could sail on both land and sea. How could a simple boy like me ever accomplish such feats? Feeling defeated, I wandered back toward the forest where my adventure began, and there he was—my friend, the little gray man. I told him my troubles, and he simply smiled. With his incredible magic, he summoned a thirsty man who drank the cellar dry, a hungry man who devoured the mountain of bread, and he produced the most amazing ship I had ever seen. I proudly presented these successes to the king, who could make no more excuses. I married the lovely princess, and when her father passed away, I became king. I ruled with the same simple kindness I had always shown, proving that a generous heart is the greatest treasure of all. This story, first written down by the Brothers Grimm centuries ago, reminds us that compassion is its own reward, and that the simplest things—a shared meal, a good laugh, a kind heart—are often the most powerful magic in the world.