Journeys Through Bookland, Volume 2 | Page 6

in
every direction. But try as he would he could not move one great rock
that stood right across his way. Though he sent waters that roared
around its base and pushed hard against it, yet it remained immovable.
Such a failure angered the man-cloud, and again he cried out, "Would
that I were a rock, so strong and immovable is it."
This time, also, his guardian angel interfered, and he found himself a
rock that withstood the sun, the wind and the waters. But then, one day,
there came along a rude stonecutter, who with chisel and heavy
hammer began to cut the great rock into small, regular building stones.
"What does this mean?" cried the rock. "Has this man power to cut me
in pieces? Surely I am weaker than he! Would I were a stonecutter!"
"As thou wishest, so shall it be," said his guardian angel, and
immediately he was again a stonecutter, working hard as before and for
small wages, but happy and contented with his lot.

DISCREET HANS
By Wilhelm and Jakob Grimm
Hans's mother asked, "Whither are you going, Hans?"
"To Grethel's," replied he.
"Behave well, Hans."
"I will take care; good-bye, mother."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans came to Grethel. "Good day," said he.
"Good day," replied Grethel. "What treasure do you bring today?"
"I bring nothing. Have you anything to give?"
Grethel presented Hans with a needle.
"Good-bye," said he.

"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans took the needle, stuck it in a load of hay, and walked home
behind the wagon.
"Good evening, mother."
"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
"To Grethel's."
"And what have you given her?"
"Nothing; she has given me something."
"What has Grethel given you?"
"A needle," said Hans.
"And where have you put it?"
"In the load of hay."
"Then you have behaved stupidly, Hans; you should put needles on
your coat sleeve."
"To behave better, do nothing at all," thought Hans.
"Whither are you going, Hans?"
"To Grethel's, mother."
"Behave well, Hans."
"I will take care; good-bye mother."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans came to Grethel. "Good day," said he.
"Good day, Hans. What treasure do you bring?"
"I bring nothing. Have you anything to give?"
Grethel gave Hans a knife.
"Good-bye, Grethel."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans took the knife, put it in his sleeve and went home.
"Good evening, mother."
"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
"To Grethel's."
"And what did you take to her?"
"I took nothing; she has given something to me."
"And what did she give you?"
"A knife," said Hans.
"And where have you put it?"
"In my sleeve."
"Then you have behaved foolishly again, Hans; you should put knives

in your pocket."
"To behave better, do nothing at all," thought Hans.
"Whither are you going, Hans?"
"To Grethel's, mother."
"Behave well, Hans."
"I will take care; good-bye, mother."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans came to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel."
"Good day, Hans. What treasure do you bring?"
"I bring nothing; have you anything to give?"
Grethel gave Hans a young goat.
"Good-bye, Grethel."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans took the goat, tied its legs and put it in his pocket. Just as he
reached home it was suffocated.
"Good evening, mother."
"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
"To Grethel's."
"And what did you take to her?"
"I took nothing; she gave to me."
"And what did Grethel give you?"
"A goat."
"Where did you put it, Hans?"
"In my pocket."
"There you acted stupidly, Hans; you should have tied the goat with a
rope."
"To behave better, do nothing," thought Hans.
"Whither away, Hans?"
"To Grethel's, mother."
"Behave well, Hans."
"I will take care; good-bye, mother."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans came to Grethel. "Good day," said he.
"Good day, Hans. What treasure do you bring?"
"I have nothing. Have you anything to give?"
Grethel gave Hans a piece of bacon.
"Good-bye, Grethel."

"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans took the bacon, tied it with a rope, and swung it to and fro, so that
the dogs came and ate it up. When he reached home he held the rope in
his hand, but there was nothing on it.
"Good evening, mother," said he.
"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
"To Grethel's, mother."
"What did you take her?"
"I took nothing; she gave to me."
"And what did Grethel give you?"
"A piece of bacon," said Hans.
"And where have you put it?"
"I tied it with a rope, swung it about, and the dogs came and ate it up."
"There you acted stupidly, Hans; you should have carried the bacon on
your head."
"To behave better, do nothing," thought Hans.
"Whither away, Hans?"
"To Grethel's, mother."
"Behave well, Hans."
"I'll take care; good-bye, mother."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans came to Grethel. "Good day," said he.
"Good day, Hans. What treasure do you bring?"
"I