Fairy tales -- Germany -- Translations into English
“I thought you would prove a sensible fellow,” said Michael, “come, we
will have another glass of wine and then I will count out the money.”
They seated themselves in the next room and drank so much wine that
Peter fell asleep.
When he awoke it was to the friendly sound of a post horn, and see,
there he was, seated in a beautiful carriage. He put his head out of
the window and saw the Black Forest in the distance behind him. At
first he could not believe it was himself that sat in the carriage,
for his clothes were not the same as those he had worn the day before;
but he remembered everything so clearly that he could no longer doubt.
“Charcoal Peter am I, and no mistake,” he said.
He was surprised he felt no sadness at leaving his home and the Forest
where he had lived for so long. Even the thought of his mother whom he
was leaving alone, helpless and in dire poverty, provoked no feeling
of remorse in him, and he could not call up a tear nor even a sigh. He
felt perfectly indifferent.
“Of course,” said he, “tears and sighs, home-sickness, and grief, come
from the heart and, thanks to Dutch Michael, mine is now of stone.”
He put his hand to his breast, but nothing moved there. “If he has
kept his word as well regarding the hundred thousand dollars as he has
kept it respecting my heart, I shall have nothing to complain of;”
with that he began to search the carriage. He found everything he
could possibly require in the shape of clothing, but no money. But at
length he came across a pocket in the lining of the carriage which was
stuffed with gold and notes, and letters of credit to all the
principal cities.
“Now I have everything I can possibly want,” he said, and settling
himself comfortably in the corner of his carriage drove away out into
the world.
For two years he drove about the country, peering right and left from
the windows of his carriage at the houses and villages he passed. When
he came into a town he put up at an inn, then went round with a
courier, who showed him all the beautiful and interesting sights, not
one of which afforded him the least delight, for his heart of stone
prevented him taking pleasure in anything. Nothing, however beautiful,
appealed to his senses any longer. Nothing was left to him but to eat
and drink and sleep--and so he lived without interest or aim in life;
to amuse himself he ate and drank, and to prevent his being bored he
slept.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account