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MINNIKIN
THERE was once upon a time a couple of needy folk who lived
in a wretched hut； in which there was nothing but black want；
so they had neither food to eat nor wood to burn。 But if they had
next to nothing of all else they had the blessing of God so far as
children were concerned； and every year brought them one more。
The man was not overpleased at this。 He was always going about
grumbling and growling； and saying that it seemed to him that
there might be such a thing as having too many of these good
gifts； so shortly before another baby was born he went away into
the wood for some firewood； saying that he did not want to see the
new child； he would hear him quite soon enough when he began to
squall for some food。
As soon as this baby was born it began to look about the room。
‘Ah； my dear mother！' said he； ‘give me some of my brothers' old
clothes； and food enough for a few days； and I will go out into the
world and seek my fortune； for； so far as I can see； you have children
enough。'
‘Heaven help thee； my son！' said the mother； ‘that will never
do； thou art still far too little。'
But the little creature was determined to do it； and begged and
prayed so long that the mother was forced to let him have some
old rags； and tie up a little food for him； and then gaily and happily
he went out into the world。
But almost before he was out of the house another boy was
born； and he too looked about him； and said； ‘Ah； my dear mother！
give me some of my brothers' old clothes； and food for some days；
and then I will go out into the world and find my twin brother； for
you have children enough。'
‘Heaven help thee； little creature！ thou art far too little for that；'
said the woman； ‘it would never do。'
But she spoke to no purpose； for the boy begged and prayed
until he had got some old rags and a bundle of provisions； and then
he set out manfully into the world to find his twin brother。
When the younger had walked for some time he caught sight
of his brother a short distance in front of him； and called to him
and bade him to stop。
‘Wait a minute；' he said； ‘you are walking as if for a wager；
but you ought to have stayed to see your younger brother before
you hurried off into the world。'
So the elder stood still and looked back； and when the younger
had got up to him； and had told him that he was his brother； he said：
‘But now； let us sit down and see what kind of food our mother has
given us；' and that they did。
When they had walked on a little farther they came to a brook
which ran through a green meadow； and there the younger said that
they ought to christen each other。 ‘As we had to make such haste；
and had no time to do it at home； we may as well do it here；' said he。
‘What will you be called？' asked the elder。
‘I will be called Minnikin；' answered the second； ‘and you；
what will you be called？'
‘I will be called King Pippin；' answered the elder。
They christened each other and then went onwards。 When they
had walked for some time they came to a crossway； and there they
agreed to part； and each take his own road。 This they did； but no
sooner had they walked a short distance than they met again。 So
they parted once more； and each took his own road； but in a very
short time the same thing happened againthey met each other
before they were at all aware； and so it happened the third time also。
Then they arranged with each other that each should choose his
own quarter； and one should go east and the other west。
‘But if ever you fall into any need or trouble；' said the elder；
‘call me thrice； and I will come and help you； only you must not
call me until you are in the utmost need。'
‘In that case we shall not see each other for some time；' said
Minnikin； so they bade farewell to each other； and Minnikin went
east and King Pippin went west。
When Minnikin had walked a long way alone； he met an old；
old crook…backed hag； who had only one eye。 Minnikin stole it。
‘Oh！ oh！' cried the old hag； ‘what has become of my eye？'
‘What will you give me to get your eye back？' said Minnikin。
‘I will give thee a sword which is such a sword that it can
conquer a whole army； let it be ever so great；' replied the woman。
‘Let me have it； then；' said Minnikin。
The old hag gave him the sword； so she got her eye back。
Then Minnikin went onwards； and when he had wandered on for
some time he again met an old； old crook…backed hag； who had only
one eye。 Minnikin stole it before she was aware。
‘Oh！ oh！ what has become of my eye？' cried the old hag。
‘What will you give me to get your eye back？' said Minnikin。
‘I will give thee a ship which can sail over fresh water and salt
water； over high hills and deep dales；' answered the old woman。
‘Let me have it then；' said Minnikin。
So the old woman gave him a little bit of a ship which was no
bigger than he could put in his pocket； and then she got her eye
back； and she went her way and Minnikin his。 When he had
walked on for a long time； he met for the third time an old； old
crook…backed hag； who had only one eye。 This eye also Minnikin
stole； and when the woman screamed and lamented； and asked
what had become of her eye； Minnikin said； ‘What will you give
me to get your eye back？'
‘I will give thee the art to brew a hundred lasts of malt in one
brewing。'
So； for teaching that art； the old hag got her eye back； and they
both went away by different roads。
But when Minnikin had walked a short distance； it seemed to
him that it might be worth while to see what his ship could do； so
he took it out of his pocket； and first he put one foot into it； and
then the other； and no sooner had he put one foot into the ship than
it became much larger； and when he set the other foot into it； it grew
as large as ships that sail on the sea。
Then Minnikin said： ‘Now go over fresh water and salt water；
over high hills and deep dales； and do not stop until thou comest
to the King's palace。'
And in an instant the ship went away as swiftly as any bird in
the air till it got just below the King's palace； and there it stood
still。
From the windows of the King's palace many persons had seen
Minnikin come sailing thither； and had stood to watch him； and
they were all so astounded that they ran down to see what manner
of man this could be who came sailing in a ship through the air。
But while they were running down from the King's palace； Minnikin
had got out of the ship and had put it in his pocket again； for the
moment he got out of it； it once more became as small as it had
been when he got it from the old woman； and those who came from
the King's palace could see nothing but a ragged little boy who was
standing down by the sea…shore。 The King asked where he had
come from； but the boy said he did not know； nor yet could he tell
them how he had got there； but he begged very earnestly and
prettily for a place in the King's palace。 If there was nothing else
for him to do； he said he would fetch wood and water for the
kitchen…maid； and that he obtained leave to do。
When Minnikin went up to the King's palace he saw that
everything there was hung with black both outside and inside； from
the bottom to the top； so he asked the kitchen…maid what that
meant。
‘Oh； I will tell you that；' answered the kitchen…maid。 ‘The
King's daughter was long ago promised away to three Trolls； and
next Thursday evening one of them is to come to fetch her。 Ritter
Red has said that he will be able to set her free； but who knows
whether he will be able to do it？ so you may easily imagine what
grief and distress we are in here。'
So when Thursday evening came； Ritter Red accompanied the
Princess to the sea…shore； for there she was to meet the Troll； and
Ritter Red was to stay with her and protect her。 He； however； was
very unlikely to do the Troll much injury； for no sooner had the
Princess seated herself by the sea…shore than Ritter Red climbed
up into a great tree which was standing there； and hid himself as
well as he could among the branches。
The Princess wept； and begged him most earnestly not to go and
leave her； but Ritter Red did not concern himself about that。 ‘It
is better that one should die than two；' said he。
In the meantime Minnikin begged the kitchen…maid very prettily
to give him leave to go down to the strand for a short time。
‘Oh； what could you do down at the strand？' said the kitchen…
maid。 ‘You have nothing to do there。'
‘Oh yes； my dear； just let me go；' said Minnikin。 ‘I should
so like to go and amuse myself with the other children。'
‘Well； well； go then！' said the kitchen…maid； ‘but don't let me
find you staying there over the time when the pan has to be set on
the fire for supper； and the roast put on the spit； and mind you
bring back a good big armful