The Golden Goose

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Hans, the youngest of three brothers. Hans was kind-hearted, though often overlooked by his family, who thought he was simple-minded and clumsy. One day, his two older brothers went into the forest to gather wood, each hoping to find something of value. But they were both greedy and unkind, and returned home with nothing.

Hans then asked if he could try his luck. His family laughed but allowed him to go. As he walked through the forest, he met an old, wrinkled man who looked hungry and tired. Hans immediately offered him some bread and water. The old man thanked Hans warmly and, in return, told him about a special tree deeper in the forest. “Under its roots, you’ll find a surprise,” the old man promised.

Following the man’s directions, Hans reached the tree, dug near its roots, and found a magnificent golden goose! Its feathers glowed brightly, shimmering with real gold. Hans was overjoyed and carefully carried the golden goose back to the village.

As Hans walked through the village, curious townsfolk saw the goose and wanted its golden feathers for themselves. A greedy young woman tried to grab a feather but found her hand stuck tight to the goose. Her sister, seeing her predicament, tried to pull her free, only to get stuck herself. One by one, more villagers tried to pull them loose, but they all ended up stuck in a long, comical line, following Hans and his golden goose.

News of the strange procession reached the king’s castle, where the king’s daughter, a princess, had never once smiled in her life. The king had declared that anyone who could make the princess laugh would win her hand in marriage.

When Hans and the parade of stuck villagers reached the castle, the sight was so absurd that the princess burst out laughing! For the first time, she couldn’t stop giggling. The king was overjoyed and kept his promise: Hans, humble and kind-hearted, was given the princess’s hand in marriage.

Hans married the princess, and together, they shared their happiness with everyone. They used the golden goose’s feathers to help the poor, proving that Hans’s kindness had brought him true fortune and love.