After Hans had had her some time, he said, wife, I am going out to work and earn some money for us, go into the field and cut the corn that we may have some bread. Yes, dear Hans, I will do that. After Hans had gone away, she cooked herself some good broth and took it into the field with her. When she came to the field she said to herself, what shall I do, shall I cut first, or shall I eat first. Oh, I will eat first. Then she drank her cup of broth, and when she was fully satisfied, she once more said, what shall I do. Shall I cut first, or shall I sleep first. Iwill sleep first. Then she lay down among the corn and fell asleep. Hans had been at home for a long time, but elsie did not come, then said he, what a clever elsie I have, she is so industrious that she does not even come home to eat. But when evening came and she still stayed away, Hans went out to see what she had cut, but nothing was cut, and she was lying among the corn asleep. Then Hans hastened home and brought a fowler's net with little bells and hung it round about her, and she still went on sleeping. Then he ran home, shut the house-door, and sat down in his chair and worked. At length, when it was quite dark, clever elsie awoke and when she got up there was a jingling all round about her, and the bells rang at each step which she took.
Then she was alarmed, and became uncertain whether she really was clever elsie or not, and said, is it I, or is it not I. But she knew not what answer to make to this, and stood for a time in doubt, at length she thought, I will go home and ask if it be I, or if it be not I, they will be sure to know. She ran to the door of her own house, but it was shut, then she knocked at the window and cried, Hans, is elsie within. Yes, answered Hans, she is within. Hereupon she was terrified, and said, ah, heavens.
Then it is not I. And went to another door, but when the people heard the jingling of the bells they would not open it, and she could get in nowhere. Then she ran out of the village, and no one has seen her since.
There was once upon a time a tailor who had three sons, and only one goat. But as the goat supported all of them with her milk, she was obliged to have good food, and to be taken every day to pasture. The sons did this, in turn. Once the eldest took her to the churchyard, where the finest herbs were to be found, and let her eat and run about there. At night when it was time to go home he asked, goat, have you had enough. The goat answered I have eaten so much, not a leaf more I'll touch, meh. Meh.
Come home, then, said the youth, and took hold of the cord round her neck, led her into the stable and tied her up securely.
Well, said the old tailor, has the goat had as much food as she ought. Oh, answered the son, she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch. But the father wished to satisfy himself, and went down to the stable, stroked the dear animal and asked, goat, are you satisfied. The goat answered, how should I be satisfied.
Among the ditches I leapt about, found no leaf, so went without, meh. Meh.
What do I hear, cried the tailor, and ran upstairs and said to the youth. HI, you liar, you said the goat had had enough, and have let her hunger, and in his anger he took the yard-measure from the wall, and drove him out with blows.
Next day it was the turn of the second son, who sought a place in the fence of the garden, where nothing but good herbs grew, and the goat gobbled them all up. At night when he wanted to go home, he asked, goat, are you satisfied. The goat answered, I have eaten so much, not a leaf more I'll touch, meh. Meh.
Come home, then, said the youth, and led her home, and tied her up in the stable. Well, said the old tailor, has the goat had as much food as she ought. Oh, answered the son, she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch. The tailor would not rely on this, but went down to the stable and said, goat, have you had enough. The goat answered, how should I be satisfied.
Among the ditches I leapt about, found no leaf, so went without, meh. Meh.
The godless wretch. Cried the tailor, to let such a good animal hunger, and he ran up and drove the youth out of doors with the yard-measure.
Now came the turn of the third son, who wanted to do his duty well, and sought out some bushes with the finest leaves, and let the goat devour them. In the evening when he wanted to go home, he asked, goat, have you had enough. The goat answered, I have eaten so much, not a leaf more I'll touch, meh. Meh.
Come home, then, said the youth, and led her into the stable, and tied her up. Well, said the old tailor, has the goat had her full share of food. She has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch. The tailor was distrustful, went down and asked, goat, have you had enough. The wicked beast answered, how should I be satisfied.
Among the ditches I leapt about, found no leaf, so went without, meh. Meh.
Oh, the brood of liars, cried the tailor, each as wicked and forgetful of his duty as the other. You shall no longer make a fool of me, and quite beside himself with anger, he ran upstairs and belabored the poor young fellow so vigorously with the yard-measure that he sprang out of the house.
The old tailor was now alone with his goat. Next morning he went down into the stable, stroked the goat and said, come, my dear little animal, I myself will take you to feed. He took her by the rope and conducted her to green hedges, and amongst milfoil and whatever else goats like to eat. There you may for once eat to your heart's content, said he to her, and let her browse till evening. Then he asked, goat, are you satisfied. She replied.
I have eaten so much, not a leaf more I'll touch, meh. Meh.
Come home, then, said the tailor, and led her into the stable, and tied her fast. When he was going away, he turned round again and said, well, are you satisfied for once. But the goat behaved no better to him, and cried, how should I be satisfied.
Among the ditches I leapt about, found no leaf, so went without, meh. Meh.
