Page 38 [38]
18 GRIMM S FAIRY TALES.
* And the gold?"
“Oh, that was my wage for seven years’ service.”
“You seem to have fended for yourself very well,” said
the knife-grinder. "Now, if you could but manage to have
money in your pocket every time you put your hand in, your
fortune is made.”
‘“‘ How shall I manage that?” said Hans.
Vou must be a knife-grinder like me,” said the man.
‘“ All you want is a grindstone, the rest comes of itself: I have
one here; to be sure it is a little damaged, but I don’t mind
letting you have it in exchange for your goose ; what say you?”
“ How can you ask?” answered Hans. "I shall be the
luckiest fellow in the world, for if I find money whenever I
put my hand in my pocket, there is nothing more left to
want.”
And so he handed over the goose to the pedlar and
received the grindstone in exchange.
“Now,” said the knife-grinder, taking up a heavy common
stone that lay near him, " here is another proper sort of stone
that will stand a good deal of wear and that you can hammer
out your old nails upon. Take it with you, and carry it
carefully.”
Hans lifted up the stone and carried it off with a con¬
tented mind. “I must have been born under a lucky star!”
cried he, while his eyes sparkled for joy. “I have only to
wish for a thing and it is mine.”
After a while he began to feel rather tired, as indeed he
had been on his legs since daybreak; he also began to feel
rather hungry, as in the fulness of his joy at getting the cow,
he had eaten up all he had. At last he could scarcely go on
at all, and had to make a halt every moment, for the stones
weighed him down most unmercifully, and he could not help
wishing that he did not feel obliged to drag them along.
And on he went at a snail’s pace until he came to a well ;
then he thought he would rest and take a drink of the fresh
water. And he placed the stones carefully by his side at the
edge of the well; then he sat down, and as he stooped to
drink, he happened to give the stones a little push, and they
both fell into the water with a splash. And then Hans,
having watched them disappear, jumped for joy, and thanked