043-第1节

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poverty；　and　at　last　their　need　was　so　great　that　they　had　to　endure
hunger；　and　had　nothing　to　eat　or　drink。　Then　said　they；　it　cannot　go
on　like　this；　we　had　better　go　into　the　world　and　seek　our　fortune。
They　therefore　set　out；　and　had　already　walked　over　many　a　long　road
and　many　a　blade　of　grass；　but　had　not　yet　met　with　good　luck。　　One
day　they　arrived　in　a　great　forest；　and　in　the　midst　of　it　was　a
hill；　and　when　they　came　nearer　they　saw　that　the　hill　was　all
silver。　　Then　spoke　the　eldest；　now　I　have　found　the　good　luck　I
wished　for；　and　I　desire　nothing　more。　　He　took　as　much　of　the　silver
as　he　could　possibly　carry；　and　then　turned　back　and　went　home　again。

But　the　two　others　said；　we　want　something　more　from　good　luck　than
mere　silver；　and　did　not　touch　it；　but　went　onwards。　　After　they　had
walked　for　two　days　longer　without　stopping；　they　came　to　a　hill
which　was　all　gold。　The　second　brother　stopped；　took　thought　with
himself；　and　was　undecided。　　What　shall　I　do；　said　he；　shall　I　take
for　myself　so　much　of　this　gold；　that　I　have　sufficient　for　all　the
rest　of　my　life；　or　shall　I　go　farther。　　At　length　he　made　a
decision；　and　putting　as　much　into　his　pockets　as　would　go　in；　said
farewell　to　his　brother；　and　went　home。

But　the　third　said；　silver　and　gold　do　not　move　me；　I　will　not
renounce　my　chance　of　fortune；　perhaps　something　better　still　will　be
given　me。　　He　journeyed　onwards；　and　when　he　had　walked　for　three
days；　he　came　to　a　forest　which　was　still　larger　than　the　one　before；
and　never　would　come　to　an　end；　and　as　he　found　nothing　to　eat　or　to
drink；　he　was　all　but　exhausted。　　Then　he　climbed　up　a　high　tree　to
find　out　if　up　there　he　could　see　the　end　of　the　forest；　but　so　far
as　his　eye　could　pierce　he　saw　nothing　but　the　tops　of　trees。　　Then
he　began　to　descend　the　tree　again；　but　hunger　tormented　him；　and　he
thought　to　himself；　if　I　could　but　eat　my　fill　once　more。

When　he　got　down　he　saw　with　astonishment　a　table　beneath　the　tree
richly　spread　with　food；　the　steam　of　which　rose　up　to　meet　him。
This　time；　said　he；　my　wish　has　been　fulfilled　at　the　right　moment。
And　without　inquiring　who　had　brought　the　food；　or　who　had　cooked　it；
he　approached　the　table；　and　ate　with　enjoyment　until　he　had　appeased
his　hunger。　　When　he　was　done；　he　thought；　it　would　after　all　be　a
pity　if　the　pretty　little　table…cloth　were　to　be　spoilt　in　the　forest
here；　and　folded　it　up　tidily　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。　　Then　he　went
onwards；　and　in　the　evening；　when　hunger　once　more　returned　to　him；
he　wanted　to　make　a　trial　of　his　little　cloth；　and　spread　it　out　and
said；　I　wish　you　to　be　covered　with　good　cheer　again；　and　scarcely
had　the　wish　crossed　his　lips　than　as　many　dishes　with　the　most
exquisite　food　on　them　stood　on　the　table　as　there　was　room　for。　　Now
I　perceive；　said　he；　in　what　kitchen　my　cooking　is　done。　　You　shall
be　dearer　to　me　than　the　mountains　of　silver　and　gold。　　For　he　saw
plainly　that　it　was　a　wishing…cloth。　The　cloth；　however；　was　still
not　enough　to　enable　him　to　sit　down　quietly　at　home；　he　preferred　to
wander　about　the　world　and　pursue　his　fortune　farther。

One　night　he　met；　in　a　lonely　wood；　a　dusty；　black　charcoal…burner；
who　was　burning　charcoal　there；　and　had　some　potatoes　by　the　fire；　on
which　he　was　going　to　make　a　meal。　　Good　evening；　blackbird；　said　the
youth。　　How　do　you　get　on　in　your　solitude。

One　day　is　like　another；　replied　the　charcoal…burner；　and　every　night
potatoes。　　Have　you　a　mind　to　have　some；　and　will　you　be　my　guest。
Many　thanks；　replied　the　traveler；　I　won't　rob　you　of　your　supper；
you　did　not　reckon　on　a　visitor；　but　if　you　will　put　up　with　what　I
have；　you　shall　have　an　invitation。　Who　is　to　prepare　it　for　you；
said　the　charcoal…burner。　　I　see　that　you　have　nothing　with　you；　and
there　is　no　one　within　a　two　hours'　walk　who　could　give　you　anything。
And　yet　there　shall　be　a　meal；　answered　the　youth；　and　better　than
any　you　have　ever　tasted。　　Thereupon　he　brought　his　cloth　out　of　his
knapsack；　spread　it　on　the　ground；　and　said；　little　cloth；　cover
yourself；　and　instantly　boiled　meat　and　baked　meat　stood　there；　and
as　hot　as　if　it　had　just　come　out　of　the　kitchen。

The　charcoal…burner　stared　with　wide…open　eyes；　but　did　not　require
much　pressing；　he　fell　to；　and　thrust　larger　and　larger　mouthfuls
into　his　black　mouth。　　When　they　had　eaten　everything；　the
charcoal…burner　smiled　contentedly；　and　said；　listen；　your
table…cloth　has　my　approval；　it　would　be　a　fine　thing　for　me　in　this
forest；　where　no　one　ever　cooks　me　anything　good。　　I　will　propose　an
exchange　to　you；　there　in　the　corner　hangs　a　soldier's　knapsack；
which　is　certainly　old　and　shabby；　but　in　it　lie　concealed　wonderful
powers；　but；　as　I　no　longer　use　it；　I　will　give　it　to　you　for　the
table…cloth。

I　must　first　know　what　these　wonderful　powers　are；　answered　the
youth。

That　will　I　tell　you；　replied　the　charcoal…burner；　every　time　you　tap
it　with　your　hand；　a　corporal　comes　with　six　men　armed　from　head　to
foot；　and　they　do　whatsover　you　command　them。　　So　far　as　I　am
concerned；　said　the　youth；　if　nothing　else　can　be　done；　we　will
exchange；　and　he　gave　the　charcoal…burner　the　cloth；　took　the
knapsack　from　the　hook；　put　it　on；　and　bade　farewell。　　When　he　had
walked　a　while；　he　wished　to　make　a　trial　of　the　magical　powers　of
his　knapsack　and　tapped　it。　　Immediately　the　seven　warriors　stepped
up　to　him；　and　the　corporal　said；　what　does　my　lord　and　ruler　wish
for。

March　with　all　speed　to　the　charcoal…burner；　and　demand　my
wishing…cloth　back。　　They　faced　to　the　left；　and　it　was　not　long
before　they　brought　what　he　required；　and　had　taken　it　from　the
charcoal…burner　without　asking　many　questions。　　The　young　man　bade
them　retire；　went　onwards；　and　hoped　fortune　would　shine　yet　more
brightly　on　him。　　By　sunset　he　came　to　another　charcoal…burner；　who
was　making　his　supper　ready　by　the　fire。　If　you　will　eat　some
potatoes　with　salt；　but　with　no　dripping；　come　and　sit　down　with　me；
said　the　sooty　fellow。

No；　he　replied；　this　time　you　shall　be　my　guest；　and　he　spread　out
his　cloth；　which　was　instantly　covered　with　the　most　beautiful
dishes。　　They　ate　and　drank　together；　and　enjoyed　themselves
heartily。　　After　the　meal　was　over；　the　charcoal…burner　said；　up
there　on　that　shelf　lies　a　little　old　worn…out　hat　which　has　strange
properties　…　the　moment　someone　puts　it　on；　and　turns　it　round　on　his
head；　the　cannons　go　off　as　if　twelve　were　fired　all　together；　and
they　demolish　everything　so　that　no　one　can　withstand　them。　　The　hat
is　of　no　use　to　me；　and　I　will　willingly　give　it　for　your　tablecloth。

That　suits　me　very　well；　he　answered；　took　the　hat；　put　it　on；　and
left　his　table…cloth　behind　him。　　But　hardly　had　he　walked　away　than
he　tapped　on　his　knapsack；　and　his　soldiers　had　to　fetch　the　cloth
back　again。　　One　thing　comes　on　the　top　of　another；　thought　he；　and　I
feel　as　if　my　luck　had　not　yet　come　to　an　end。　　Neither　had　his
thoughts　deceived　him。　　After　he　had　walked　on　for　the　whole　of　one
day；　he　came　to　a　third　charcoal…burner；　who　like　the　previous　one；
invited　him　to　potatoes　without　dripping。　　But　he　let　him　also　dine
with　him　from　his　wishing…cloth；　and　the　charcoal…burner　liked　it　so
well；　that　at　last　he　offered　him　a　horn　for　it；　which　had　very
different　properties　from　those　of　the　hat。　　The　moment　someone　blew
it　all　the　walls　and　fortifications　fell　down；　and　all　towns　and
villages　became　ruins。　　For　this　he　immediately　gave　the
charcoal…burner　the　cloth；　but　he　afterwards　sent　his　soldiers　to
demand　it　back　again；　so　that　at　length　he　had　the　knapsack；　hat　and
horn；　all　three。　　Now；　said　he；　I　am　a　made　man；　and　it　is　time　for
me　to　go　home　and　see　how　my　brothers　are　getting　on。

When　he　reached　home；　his　brothers　had　built　themselves　a　handsome
house　with　their　silver　and　gold；　and　were　living　in　clover。　He　went
to　see　them；　but　as　he　came　in　a　ragged　coat；　with　his　shabby　hat　on
his　head；　and　his　old　knapsack　on　his　back；　they　would　not
acknowledge　him　as　their　brother。　　They　mocked　and　said；　you　give　out
that　you　are　our　brother　who　despised　silver　and　gold；　and　craved　for
something　still　better　for　himself。　　Such　a　person　arrives　in　his
carriage　in　full　splendor　like　a　mighty　king；　not　like　a　beggar；　and
they　drove　him　out　of　doors。　　Then　he　fell　into　a　rage；　and　tapped
his　knapsack　until　a　hundred　and　fifty　men　stood　before　him　armed
from　head　to　foot。　　He　commanded　them　to　surround　his　brothers；
house；　and　two　of　them　were　to　take　hazelsticks　with　them；　and　beat
the　two　insolent　men　until　they　knew　who　he　was。

A　violent　disturbance　broke　out；　people　ran　together；　and　wanted　to
lend　the　two　some　help　in　their　need；　but　against　the　soldiers　they
could　do　nothing。　　News　of　this　at　length　came　to　the　king；　who　was
very　angry；　and　ordered　a　captain　to　march　out　with　his　troop；　and
drive　this　disturber　of　the　peace　out　of　the　town；　but　the　man　with
knapsack　soon　got　a　greater　body　of　men　together；　who　repulsed　the
captain　and　his　men；　so　that　they　were　forced　to　retire　with　bloody
noses。　　The　king　said；　this　vagabond　is　not　brought　to　order　yet；　and
next　day　sent　a　still　larger　troop　against　him；　but　they　could　do
even　less。　　The　youth　set　still　more　men　against　them；　and　in　order
to　be　done　the　sooner；　he　turned　his　hat　twice　round