The Valiant Little Tailor

One  summer's  morning  a  little  tailor  was  sitting  on  his  table  by  the  window.  He  was  in  good  spirits  and  sewed  with  all  his  might.  Then  came  a  peasant  woman  down  the  street  crying,  good  jams,  cheap.  Good  jams,  cheap.  This  rang  pleasantly  in  the  tailor's  ears.

He  stretched  his  delicate  head  out  of  the  window  and  called,  come  up  here,  dear  woman.  Here  you  will  get  rid  of  your  goods.  The  woman  came  up  the  three  steps  to  the  tailor  with  her  heavy  basket,  and  he  made  her  unpack  all  the  pots  for  him.  He  inspected  each  one,  lifted  it  up,  put  his  nose  to  it,  and  at  length  said  the  jam  seems  to  me  to  be  good,  so  weigh  me  out  4oz,  dear  woman,  and  if  it  is  a  quarter  of  a  pound,  that  is  of  no  consequence.  The  woman,  who  had  hoped  to  find  a  good  sale  gave  him  what  he  desired,  but  went  away  quite  angry  and  grumbling.

Now  this  jam  shall  be  blessed  by  God,  cried  the  little  tailor,  and  give  me  health  and  strength.  So  he  brought  the  bread  out  of  the  cupboard,  cut  himself  a  piece  right  across  the  loaf,  and  spread  the  jam  over  it.  This  won't  taste  bitter,  said  he,  but  I  will  just  finish  the  jacket  before  I  take  a  bite.  He  laid  the  bread  near  him,  sewed  on,  and  in  his  joy  made  bigger  and  bigger  stitches.  In  the  meantime,  the  smell  of  the  sweet  jam  rose  to  where  the  flies  were  sitting  in  great  numbers,  and  they  were  attracted  and  descended  on  it  in  hosts.

Hi.  Who  invited  you?  Said  the  little  tailor,  and  drove  the  unbidden  guests  away.  The  flies,  however,  who  understood  no  German,  would  not  be  turned  away,  but  came  back  again  in  ever  increasing  company.  The  little  tailor  at  last  lost  all  patience  and  drew  a  piece  of  cloth  from  the  hole  under  his  work  table,  and  saying,  wait,  and  I  will  give  it  to  you,  struck  it  mercilessly  on  them.

When  he  drew  it  away  and  counted,  there  lay  before  him  no  fewer  than  seven  dead  and  with  legs  stretched  out.  Are  you  a  fellow  of  that  sort?  Said  he,  and  could  not  help  admiring  his  own  bravery.  The  whole  town  shall  know  of  this.  And  the  little  tailor  hastened  to  cut  himself  a  girdle,  stitched  it,  and  embroidered  on  it  in  large  letters  seven  at  one  stroke.

What  the  town?  He  continued,  the  whole  world  shall  hear  of  it.  And  his  heart  wagged  with  joy  like  a  lamb's  tail.  The  tailor  put  on  the  girdle  and  resolved  to  go  forth  into  the  world  because  he  thought  his  workshop  was  too  small  for  his  valor.  Before  he  went  away,  he  sought  about  in  the  house  to  see  if  there  was  anything  which  he  could  take  with  him.

However,  he  found  nothing  but  an  old  cheese,  and  that  he  put  in  his  pocket.  In  front  of  the  door  he  observed  a  bird  which  had  caught  itself  in  the  thicket.  It  had  to  go  into  his  pocket  with  the  cheese.  Now  he  took  to  the  road  boldly,  and  as  he  was  light  and  nimble,  he  felt  no  fatigue.  The  road  led  him  up  a  mountain,  and  when  he  had  reached  the  highest  point  of  it,  there  sat  a  powerful  giant  looking  peacefully  about  him.

The  little  tailor  went  bravely  up,  spoke  to  him  and  said,  good  day,  comrade.  So  you  are  sitting  there  overlooking  the  widespread  world.  I  am  just  on  my  way  thither  and  want  to  try  my  luck.  Have  you  any  inclination  to  go  with  me?  The  Giant  looked  contemptuously  at  the  tailor  and  said,  you  ragamuffin,  you  miserable  creature.

Oh,  indeed?  Answered  the  little  tailor,  and  unbuttoned  his  coat  and  showed  the  Giant  the  girdle.  There.  May  you  read  what  kind  of  a  man  I  am.  The  Giant  read  seven  at  one  stroke,  and  thought  that  they  had  been  men  whom  the  tailor  had  killed  and  began  to  feel  a  little  respect  for  the  tiny  fellow.

Nevertheless,  he  wished  to  try  him  first,  and  took  a  stone  in  his  hand  and  squeezed  it  together  so  that  water  dropped  out  of  it.  Do  that  likewise,  said  the  giant,  if  you  have  strength.  Is  that  all?  Said  the  tailor.  That  his  child's  play  with  us.

And  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket,  brought  out  the  soft  cheese  and  pressed  it  until  the  liquid  ran  out  of  it.  Faith,  said  he,  that  was  a  little  better,  wasn't  it?  The  Giant  did  not  know  what  to  say,  and  could  not  believe  it  of  the  little  man.  Then  the  Giant  picked  up  a  stone  and  threw  it  so  high  that  the  eye  could  scarcely  follow  it.  Now  little  might  of  a  man  do  that  likewise.

Well  thrown,  said  the  tailor,  but  after  all,  the  stone  came  down  to  earth  again.  I  will  throw  you  one  which  shall  never  come  back  at  all.  And  he  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket,  took  out  the  bird  and  threw  it  into  the  air.  The  bird,  delighted  with  its  liberty,  rose,  flew  away  and  did  not  come  back.  How  does  that  shot  please  you,  comrade?

Asked  the  tailor.  You  can  certainly  throw,  said  the  giant,  but  now  we  will  see  if  you  are  able  to  carry  anything  properly.  He  took  the  little  tailor  to  a  mighty  oak  tree  which  lay  there,  felled  on  the  ground,  and  said,  if  you  are  strong  enough,  help  me  to  carry  the  tree  out  of  the  forest.  Readily,  answered  the  little  man.  Take  you  the  trunk  on  your  shoulders,  and  I  will  raise  up  the  branches  and  twigs.

After  all,  they  are  the  heaviest.  The  Giant  took  the  trunk  on  his  shoulder,  but  the  tailor  seated  himself  on  a  branch,  and  the  Giant,  who  could  not  look  round,  had  to  carry  away  the  whole  tree  and  the  little  tailor  into  the  bargain.  He  behind,  was  quite  merry  and  happy  and  whistled  the  song.  Three  tailors  rode  forth  from  the  gate  as  if  carrying  the  tree  were  child's  play.  The  Giant,  after  he  had  dragged  the  heavy  burden  part  of  the  way  could  go  further  and  cried,  Hark  you.

I  shall  have  to  let  the  tree  fall.  The  tailor  sprang  nimbly  down,  seized  the  tree  with  both  arms  as  if  he  had  been  carrying  it,  and  said  to  the  giant,  you  are  such  a  great  fellow  and  yet  cannot  even  carry  the  tree.