The Golden Goose

There was a couple with three sons, and they called their youngest son “Dummling,” thinking he was quite foolish.

One day, they ran out of firewood at home, so the mother sent the eldest son to the forest to chop wood, giving him a delicious cake and some wine for when he got hungry.

While the eldest son was chopping wood in the forest, it reached noon, and he took out the cake and wine to have lunch.

At that moment, a dwarf appeared and said, “Your meal looks delicious, could you share a little with me? I’m very hungry and thirsty.”

The eldest son glared at him and said, “I barely have enough for myself. How could I share with you? Go away!”

After finishing his meal, he continued chopping wood, but with the first chop, he accidentally cut his own hand.

It turned out that the dwarf, displeased by the eldest son’s refusal and rudeness, decided to punish him.

With no other choice, the eldest son returned home, and the second son was sent in his place to chop wood.

The second son also encountered the dwarf and similarly refused to share his food, treating the dwarf rudely. He too suffered the dwarf’s punishment and got injured.

Seeing both his brothers return home injured, the youngest son, Dummling, said, “Let me go chop the wood.”

The father replied, “Your two brothers are so smart, and they still got hurt. You’re such a fool, what good would it do for you to go? You’re not allowed to go!”

But Dummling insisted, so the father finally agreed.

However, the mother only gave him a hard cake and some sour beer.

Dummling set off, and in the forest, he also met the dwarf.

When the dwarf asked if he could have some cake and beer, Dummling immediately said, “Of course! But my cake is a bit hard, and the beer is a bit sour. I hope you don’t mind.”

As he spoke, he shared his cake and beer with the dwarf.

Strangely, the hard cake suddenly turned soft and sweet, and the sour beer transformed into delicious wine.

After they finished eating, the dwarf said, “You are kind, and although some may see you as foolish, I will bring you good luck. There’s an old tree over there; chop it down, and you’ll find something good beneath the roots.”

With that, the dwarf disappeared.

Dummling then went to chop down the old tree.

The tree was tall and thick, and he thought it would take a lot of effort to cut it down. However, with just one chop, the tree fell as if someone had helped him.

At that moment, Dummling discovered a goose beneath the tree’s roots, and its feathers were made of pure gold.

He picked up the golden goose and left the forest.

As he passed by an inn, he went inside for some tea and rest.

The innkeeper had three daughters, who were fascinated by the golden goose.

They thought, “This goose’s feathers are so beautiful, and they’re made of gold! I want to pluck one.”

When Dummling wasn’t looking, the eldest daughter tried to pluck a feather.

But as soon as she touched it, her hand got stuck to the goose, and she couldn’t pull it away.

The second daughter came over, wondering why her sister was standing there. She touched her sister, and her hand got stuck too.

The same thing happened to the third daughter, who ended up stuck to the second daughter.

After his rest, Dummling picked up the goose and left, unaware that three women were stuck to the goose and trailing behind him.

The three women had no choice but to follow him, speeding up when he sped up and slowing down when he did.

Along the way, they met a priest. Seeing the three women running behind a man, he exclaimed, “How shameful! Is this appropriate?”

He tried to stop them but, as soon as he touched the third daughter, he got stuck as well.

More people joined the bizarre procession, each getting stuck for various reasons, forming a long and comical line.

They passed through a city where Dummling saw a notice.

The king’s daughter never smiled, so the king issued a decree: whoever could make the princess laugh would marry her.

As Dummling, holding the golden goose, passed by the castle where the princess lived, she saw the ridiculous procession stuck together.

She burst out laughing, bending over with laughter, her voice echoing loudly, and she couldn’t stop laughing, with tears streaming down her face.

The king, true to his word, gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to Dummling.

Dummling governed the kingdom with order and kindness, and the people marveled at his compassionate heart, wondering why anyone had ever called him  Dummling.