THE
VALIANT LITTLE TAILOR
One summer's morning a little tailor was sitting on
his table by the window, he was in good spirits, and sewed with all his
might. Then came a peasant woman down the street crying, good jams,
cheap. Good jams, cheap. This rang pleasantly in the tailor's ears,
he stretched his delicate head out of the window, and called, come up here,
dear woman, here you will get rid of your goods.
The woman came up the three steps to the tailor with
her heavy basket, and he made her unpack all the pots for him. He
inspected each one, lifted it up, put his nose to it, and at length said, the
jam seems to me to be good, so weigh me out four ounces, dear woman, and if it
is a quarter of a pound that is of no consequence. The woman who had hoped
to find a good sale, gave him what he desired, but went away quite angry and
grumbling. Now, this jam shall be blessed by God, cried the little
tailor, and give me health and strength. So he brought the bread out of
the cupboard, cut himself a piece right across the loaf and spread the jam over
it. This won't taste bitter, said he, but I will just finish the jacket
before I take a bite.
He laid the bread near him, sewed on, and in his joy, made bigger and bigger
stitches. In the meantime the smell of the sweet jam rose to where the
flies were sitting in great numbers, and they were attracted and descended on
it in hosts. HI, who invited you, said the little tailor, and drove the
unbidden guests away. The flies, however, who understood no german, would
not be turned away, but came back again in ever-increasing companies. The
little tailor at last lost all patience, and drew a piece of cloth from the
hole under his work-table, and saying, wait, and I will give it to you, struck
it mercilessly on them.
When he drew it away and counted, there lay before him no fewer than seven,
dead and with legs stretched out. Are you a fellow of that sort, said he,
and could not help admiring his own bravery. The whole town shall know of
this. And the little tailor hastened to cut himself a girdle, stitched
it, and embroidered on it in large letters, seven at one stroke. What,
the town, he continued, the whole world shall hear of it. And his heart
wagged with joy like a lamb's tail. The tailor put on the girdle, and
resolved to go forth into the world, because he thought his workshop was too
small for his valor.
Before he went away, he sought about in the house to
see if there was anything which he could take with him, however, he found
nothing but an old cheese, and that he put in his pocket. In front of the
door he observed a bird which had caught itself in the thicket. It had to
go into his pocket with the cheese. Now he took to the road boldly, and
as he was light and nimble, he felt no fatigue. The road led him up a
mountain, and when he had reached the highest point of it, there sat a powerful
giant looking peacefully about him. The little tailor went bravely up,
spoke to him, and said, good day, comrade, so you are sitting there overlooking
the wide-spread world. I am just on my way thither, and want to try my
luck. Have you any inclination to go with me. The giant looked
contemptuously at the tailor, and said, you ragamuffin. You miserable
creature.
Oh, indeed, answered the little tailor, and unbuttoned his coat, and showed the
giant the girdle, there may you read what kind of a man I am. The giant
read, seven at one stroke. And thought that they had been men whom the
tailor had killed, and began to feel a little respect for the tiny
fellow. Nevertheless, he wished to try him first, and took a stone in his
hand and squeezed it together so that water dropped out of it. Do that
likewise, said the giant, if you have strength. Is that all, said the
tailor, that is child's play with us, and put his hand into his pocket, brought
out the soft cheese, and pressed it until the liquid ran out of it.
Faith, said he, that was a little better, wasn't it. The giant did not
know what to say, and could not believe it of the little man. Then the
giant picked up a stone and threw it so high that the eye could scarcely follow
it. Now, little mite of a man, do that likewise. Well thrown, said
the tailor, but after all the stone came down to earth again, I will throw you
one which shall never come back at all. And he put his hand into his
pocket, took out the bird, and threw it into the air. The bird, delighted
with its liberty, rose, flew away and did not come back. How does that
shot please you, comrade, asked the tailor.
