and don’t tell a creature where you come from, or who your Father is, for you will only bring me to shame.’
‘Just as you please, Father. If that is all you want, I can easily fulfil your desire.’
At daybreak, the Lad put his fifty thalers into his pocket, and went out along the high road, repeating over and over to himself as he went: ‘If only I could shudder, if only I could shudder.’
A Man came by and overheard the words the Lad was saying to himself, and when they had gone a little further, and came within sight of the gallows, he said: ‘See, there is the tree where those seven have been wedded to the ropemaker’s daughter, and are now learning to fly. Sit down below them, and when night comes you will soon learn to shudder,’
‘If nothing more than that is needed,’ said the Lad, ‘it is easily done. And if I learn to shudder as easily as that, you shall have my fifty thalers. Come back to me early to-morrow morning.’
Then the Lad went up to the gallows, and sat down under them to wait till night came.
As he was cold he lighted a fire, but at midnight the wind grew so cold that he did not know how to keep himself warm.
The wind blew the men on the gallows backwards and forwards, and swung them against each other, so he thought: ‘Here am I freezing by the fire, how much colder they must be up there.’
And as he was very compassionate, he mounted the ladder, undid them, and brought all seven down one by one.
Then he blew up the fire, and placed them round it to warm themselves.
They sat there and never moved, even when the fire caught their clothing.
‘Take care, or I will hang you all up again.’
The dead men, of course, could not hear, and remained silent while their few rags were burnt up.
Then he grew angry, and said: ‘If you won’t take care of