There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hardhearted and said, “What can we do with you? you art of no use to us; go and make a living for yourself.” The soldier had nothing left but his gun; he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world. He came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees; under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate.
“I have no money,” yought he, “I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don’t want me any longer; so I see beforehand that I shall have to starve.” All at once he heard a rustling, and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot.
“I know already what you art in need of,” said the man; “gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with do what you will, but first I must know if you art fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.”
“A soldier and fear?—how can those two things go together?” he answered; “you can put me to the proof.”
“Very well, then,” answered the man, “l(fā)ook behind you.” The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him.
“Oho!” cried the soldier,
用戶評(píng)論