Grimms Fairy Tales | Page 7

the old fox met him, and
besought him with tears in his eyes to kill him, and cut off his head and feet. And at last
he did so, and in a moment the fox was changed into a man, and turned out to be the
brother of the princess, who had been lost a great many many years.

HANS IN LUCK
Some men are born to good luck: all they do or try to do comes right-- all that falls to
them is so much gain--all their geese are swans--all their cards are trumps--toss them
which way you will, they will always, like poor puss, alight upon their legs, and only
move on so much the faster. The world may very likely not always think of them as they
think of themselves, but what care they for the world? what can it know about the matter?
One of these lucky beings was neighbour Hans. Seven long years he had worked hard for
his master. At last he said, 'Master, my time is up; I must go home and see my poor
mother once more: so pray pay me my wages and let me go.' And the master said, 'You
have been a faithful and good servant, Hans, so your pay shall be handsome.' Then he
gave him a lump of silver as big as his head.
Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief, put the piece of silver into it, threw it over his
shoulder, and jogged off on his road homewards. As he went lazily on, dragging one foot
after another, a man came in sight, trotting gaily along on a capital horse. 'Ah!' said Hans
aloud, 'what a fine thing it is to ride on horseback! There he sits as easy and happy as if
he was at home, in the chair by his fireside; he trips against no stones, saves shoe-leather,
and gets on he hardly knows how.' Hans did not speak so softly but the horseman heard it
all, and said, 'Well, friend, why do you go on foot then?' 'Ah!' said he, 'I have this load to
carry: to be sure it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can't hold up my head, and you must
know it hurts my shoulder sadly.' 'What do you say of making an exchange?' said the
horseman. 'I will give you my horse, and you shall give me the silver; which will save
you a great deal of trouble in carrying such a heavy load about with you.' 'With all my
heart,' said Hans: 'but as you are so kind to me, I must tell you one thing--you will have a
weary task to draw that silver about with you.' However, the horseman got off, took the
silver, helped Hans up, gave him the bridle into one hand and the whip into the other, and
said, 'When you want to go very fast, smack your lips loudly together, and cry "Jip!"'
Hans was delighted as he sat on the horse, drew himself up, squared his elbows, turned
out his toes, cracked his whip, and rode merrily off, one minute whistling a merry tune,
and another singing,
'No care and no sorrow, A fig for the morrow! We'll laugh and be merry, Sing neigh
down derry!'
After a time he thought he should like to go a little faster, so he smacked his lips and
cried 'Jip!' Away went the horse full gallop; and before Hans knew what he was about, he
was thrown off, and lay on his back by the road-side. His horse would have ran off, if a
shepherd who was coming by, driving a cow, had not stopped it. Hans soon came to

himself, and got upon his legs again, sadly vexed, and said to the shepherd, 'This riding is
no joke, when a man has the luck to get upon a beast like this that stumbles and flings
him off as if it would break his neck. However, I'm off now once for all: I like your cow
now a great deal better than this smart beast that played me this trick, and has spoiled my
best coat, you see, in this puddle; which, by the by, smells not very like a nosegay. One
can walk along at one's leisure behind that cow--keep good company, and have milk,
butter, and cheese, every day, into the bargain. What would I give to have such a prize!'
'Well,' said the shepherd, 'if you are so fond of her, I will change my cow for your horse;
I like to do good to my neighbours, even though I lose by it myself.' 'Done!' said Hans,
merrily. 'What a noble heart that good man has!' thought he. Then the shepherd jumped
upon the horse, wished Hans and