|
Check out children's author Rick Walton's books. |
| These stories provided by children's author Rick Walton's Online Library. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Three Dogs |
|
THERE WAS ONCE UPON a time a shepherd who had two children, a son and a daughter. When he was on his deathbed he turned to them and said, `I have nothing to leave you but three sheep and a small house. Divide them between you, as you like, but don't quarrel over them whatever you do.'
When the shepherd was dead, the brother asked his sister which she would like, the sheep or the little house. When she chose the house, he said, `Then I'll take the sheep and seek my fortune in the wide world. I don't see why I shouldn't be as lucky as many another who has set out on the same search, and it wasn't for nothing I was born on a Sunday.'
So he started on his travels, driving his three sheep in front of him, and for a long time it seemed as if fortune did not favor him at all. One day he was sitting disconsolately at a cross road, when a man suddenly appeared before him with three black dogs, each bigger than the other.
`Hullo, my fine fellow,' said the man, `I see you have three fat sheep. If you will give them to me, I will give you my three dogs:
to spite of his sadness the youth smiled, and replied, `What would I do with your dogs? My sheep at least feed themselves, but I should have to find food for the dogs.'
`My dogs are not like other dogs,' said the stranger. `They will feed you instead of you them and will make your fortune. The smallest one is called "Salt," and will bring you food whenever you wish. The second is called "Pepper," and will tear anyone to pieces who tries to hurt you. And the big strong one is called "Mustard," and is so powerful it will break iron or steel with its teeth.'
The shepherd let himself be persuaded and gave the stranger his sheep. To test the truth of his statement about the dogs, he said at once, `Salt, I am hungry.' Before the words were out of his mouth the dog had disappeared and returned in a few minutes with a large basket full of delicious food. Then the youth congratulated himself on the bargain he had made and continued his journey in the best of spirits.
One day he met a carriage and pair, all draped in black; even the horses were covered with black trappings, and the coachman was clothed in crape from top to toe. Inside the carriage sat a beautiful girl in a black dress, crying bitterly. The horses advanced slowly and mournfully, with their heads bent on the ground.
`Coachman, what is the meaning of all this grief?' asked the shepherd.
At first the coachman did not answer, but when the youth insisted, he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the neighborhood and required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden. This year the lot had fallen on the king's daughter, and the whole country was filled with woe and lamentation.
The shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden and determined to follow the carriage. In a little while it halted at the foot of a high mountain. The girl walked slowly and sadly to meet her terrible fate. The coachman perceived the shepherd wished to follow her and warned him not to do so if he valued his life; but the shepherd would not listen to his advice. When they had climbed about halfway up the hill they saw a terrible monster, with the body of a snake and huge wings and claws, coming toward them, breathing forth flames of fire and preparing to seize its victim.
Then the shepherd called, `Pepper, come to the rescue,' and the second dog set upon the dragon, and after a fierce struggle, bit it so sharply in the neck that the monster rolled over and in a few moments breathed its last. Then the dog ate the dragon, all except its two front teeth, which the shepherd picked up and put in his pocket.
The princess was overcome with terror and joy and fell fainting at the feet of her deliverer. When she recovered she begged the shepherd to return with her to her father, who would reward him richly. But the youth answered that he wanted to sec something of the world, but would return in three years, and nothing would make him change this resolve. The princess seated herself once more in her carriage and, bidding each other farewell, she and the shepherd separated, she to return home and he to see the world.
While the princess was driving over a bridge, the carriage suddenly stood still and the coachman turned round to her, and said, `Your deliverer has gone and doesn't thank you for your gratitude. It would be nice of you to make a poor fellow happy. Therefore you may tell your father it was I who slew the dragon. If you refuse, I will throw you into the river and no one will be the wiser, for they will think the dragon devoured you.'
The maiden was in dreadful fear, when she heard these words, but there was nothing for her but to promise she would say the coachman was her deliverer and not to divulge the secret to anyone. So they returned to the capital, and everyone was delighted when they saw the princess return unharmed. The black flags were taken down from all the palace towers and gay-colored ones put up in their place, and the king embraced his daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of joy, and turning to the coachman, he said:
`You have not only saved the life of my child, but you have also freed the country from a terrible scourge. Therefore, it is only fitting you should be richly rewarded. Take my daughter for your wife, but as she is still so young, do not let the marriage be celebrated for another year.'
The coachman thanked the king for his graciousness and was then led away to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and graces befitting his new position. But the poor princess wept bitterly, though she dared not confide her grief to anyone. When the year was over, she begged so hard for another year's respite that it was granted. But this year passed also, and she threw herself at her father's feet and begged so piteously for one more year that the king yielded to her request, much to the princess' joy, for she knew her real hero would appear at the end of the third year. And so the year passed away like the other two, and the wedding day was fixed, and all the people were prepared to feast and make merry.
But on the wedding day a stranger came to the town with three black dogs. He asked the meaning of all the feasting and fuss, and they told him the king's daughter was going to be married to the coachman who had slain the terrible dragon. The stranger at once denounced him, but no one would listen, and he was seized and thrown into a cell with iron doors.
While he was lying on his straw pallet, pondering mournfully on his fate, he heard the low whining of his dogs outside. Then he called out as loudly as he could, "Mustard, come to my help!" In a second he saw the paws of his biggest dog at the window of his cell, and before he could count two the creature had bitten through the iron bars and stood beside him. Then they both let themselves out of the prison by the window.
The poor youth was free once more, though he felt very sad when he thought another was to have the reward that rightfully belonged to him. He felt hungry too, so he called his dog, Salt, and asked him to bring some food. The faithful creature trotted off and soon returned with a table napkin full of delicious food, and the napkin itself was embroidered with a kingly crown.
The king had just seated himself at the wedding feast with all his court, when the dog appeared and licked the princess' hand in an appealing manner. With a joyful start she recognized the beast and bound her own table-napkin round his neck. Then she plucked up her courage and told her father the whole story.
The king at once sent a servant to follow the dog, and in a short time the stranger was led into the king's presence. The former coachman grew as white as a sheet when he saw the shepherd and, falling on his knees, begged for mercy and pardon. The princess recognized her hero at once and did not need the proof of the two dragon's teeth which he drew from his pocket. The coachman was banished, and the shepherd took his place at the princess' side, and this time she did not beg for the wedding to be delayed.
The young couple lived for some time in peace and happiness, when one day the former shepherd thought of his poor sister and expressed a wish to see her again and have her share his good fortune. So they sent a carriage to fetch her, and soon she arrived at the court and found herself once more in her brother's arms.
Then one of the dogs spoke, and said, "Our task is done, you have no more need of us. We only waited to see that you did not forget your sister in your prosperity." And with these words the three dogs became three birds and flew away into the heavens.
[Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm.]
(from The Green Fairy Book , by Andrew Lang)
   |
          |
|