Page:Grimm's household tales, volume 2 (1884).djvu/444

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
430
GRIMM'S HOUSEHOLD TALES.

called Ohnethee. The bridegroom Pichelpachelpaltrie, the mother Dorothee, the brother Ohnestolz, sister Kieseltraut, and the bride is Katherliese. The greetings, questions, and answers are the same as in our story, but the rhymes are rather different,

"Wo ist denn die Mutter Dorothee?"
"Sie ist in der Küche und kocht den Thee."
"Wo ist der Bruder Ohnestolz?"
"Er ist im Stall und hackt das Holz."
"Wo ist die Schwester Kieseltraut?"
"Sie ist im Garten und hackt das Kraut."
"Wo ist die Katherliese?"
"Sie ist im Hauf und pflückt Radiese."

After this the mother goes to the godmother and says, "I wish you good day, Mrs. Gossip." "Many thanks, Mrs. Gossip, where are you going?" "To Witzenhausen (in Hesse), Mrs. Gossip." "What are you going to do there, Mrs. Gossip?" "Fetch some rosemary, Mrs. Gossip." "What are you going to do with that, Mrs. Gossip?" "Don't you know my daughter is betrothed?" "Who has she got then, Mrs. Gossip?" "Just guess, Mrs. Gossip." "A doctor?" "Far better." "A Professor?" "Far better." "Perhaps even a broom-maker?" "You have guessed it." "What do you give with her, Mrs. Gossip?" "A peck of dried pears, a peck of sliced apples, and one farthing in hard cash. Isn't that enough, Mrs. Gossip? Does not a daughter cost one a great deal when she marries?" In Bremen too there is the rhyme,

"The Brushmaker's daughter and Broommaker's son,
They have promised each other that they will be one;
The mother came running and loudly she cried,
'Victory! victory! my girl is a bride!'
And if when they're married a home they're without,
Let them get in a basket and take a look out."

A popular song from the Kühländchen, Meinert, 1. 241, is conceived in the same spirit. Compare also No. 2. in Kuhn.

From Münster. The whole is allied to Old Sultan (No. 48). The 7th Fable, The Wolf and the Ass, in Steinhöwel's Extravaganten (1487, folio, 50, 51), which is printed in Reinhart Fuchs, 424, also belongs to this group.

From Münster. The incident of the soldier fastening a sponge beneath his chin into which he lets the sleeping-drink run down,