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There was once a wood-cutter who had three sons. He was very proud of the two older boys, but he thought the youngest son was a simpleton.
One day the oldest son started out to cut wood in the forest.His mother gave him some fine, brown pancakes to take with him for his lunch. He had not gone very far when he met a little old man who said, “Good morning, friend! I see you have plenty of food there. Will you give me a little?”
“Not I,” replied the oldest son, “I might not have enough for myself.” So he went on, leaving the little man by the roadside. Soon he began his work, but at the very first stroke, his ax cut his arm.
The next day the second son started out to cut wood, and his mother gave him a nice cake to take with him. In the forest he met the same little old man, who begged for a piece of cake.
“No!” cried the second son, “I might not have enough for myself.” So he turned away and began to chop at a tree. The very next moment he struck his leg such a blow that he shouted with pain.
In the morning the youngest son went to his father and said,“There is no wood for our fire, and both my brothers have cut themselves. Let me take an ax and see what I can do.”
“You!” cried his father, “You do not understand wood-cutting.”
“Let me try.” said the boy so eagerly that at last his father told him that he might go. His mother made him a little, plain cake, and off he started.
In the forest he met the same little man, who said, “I am very hungry. Please give me some cake.”
“Gladly,” replied the boy, “The cake is very plain, but you are welcome to a share of it.” Then they sat down together,and what was the boy’s surprise to find that the cake in his basket was a rich one!
When they had eaten it, the little man said, “You are kindhearted and shall have your reward. Cut down that tree, and at the roots you will find something worth having.”
Then the little man disappeared. The boy took his ax and cut down the tree. At the roots he found a goose with feathers of pure gold! Taking it under his arm, he went to an inn for the night.
Now the inn-keeper had three daughters, and when they saw the golden goose, they wanted it.
In the middle of the night, the oldest daughter got out of bed and crept to the room where the boy had left the goose. She said to herself, “At least I will have one golden feather.” But no sooner had she touched the goose than her finger and thumb stuck fast, and she could not get them away.
Soon the second daughter came to the room, and, seeing her sister, cried out, “You greedy girl! You want all the feathers for yourself!” But when she tried to pull her away from the goose,her fingers stuck fast to her sister, and she could not get them away.
Then the third daughter came into the room, and saw her two sisters there. She was very angry, for she had intended to take some of the golden feathers, herself. So she took hold of her second sister, and at once found herself a prisoner. In this position the three sisters were obliged to stay for the rest of the night.
Early in the morning the boy put the goose under his arm and set out for home. The three daughters of the inn-keeper were obliged to follow, because their hands were stuck fast.
They had not gone far when they met two lads, who called to the boy, “Stop! Set those girls free!” As he made no answer,they took hold of the sisters to pull them away. But their hands stuck fast, too, and they were obliged to follow.
Many others whom they met tried to help them. But all found themselves stuck fast! At last there was a long line of men and women following the golden goose—all stuck together as if they had been glued. It was the most amusing sight that anyone had ever seen.
In this way they came to a large town, where there lived the richest King in the world. Now this King had a daughter who was so unhappy that no one had ever been able to make her laugh. All day long she sat at her window, looking out sadly.
At last her father became so troubled about her that he cried out, “Whoever is able to make the princess laugh shall have her for his wife!”
It so happened that the princess was at her window when the boy came down the street with the golden goose. When she saw the long line of people walking after him and trying to break loose, she laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks.
At once her maid rushed to the King to tell him the news.The king was so pleased that he sent out his servants to bring the boy before him. In he came, with his precious goose under his arm, and the wedding was held soon afterwards.
In this strange way the wood-cutter’s youngest son became a great prince, and lived in wealth and happiness for the rest of his life.
(Peter Christian Asbjornsen )
stroke : to hit with an ax or other tool
precious : very important or expensive
wealth : having a lot of money or expensive things
A) Answer the following questions.
1) How did the third son treat the old man in comparison to the first and second sons?
2) What happened to each of the sons?
3) How was the third son rewarded?
4) Why did the princess finally laugh
5) How was the youngest son able to become a great prince?
B) What’s the word? Using the clues, write the correct words from the story.
1) someone who is not smart-s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2) a tool for cutting wood-a _
3) simple, not fancy-p _ _ _ _
4) a kind of bird-g _ _ _ _
5) more than enough of something-p _ _ _ _ _
C) True, False, or Not Given—Read these sentences carefully. Write T (true), F (false), or NG (not given) for each.
1) _____ All the sons cut themselves with an ax.
2) _____ The goose made the princess laugh.
3) _____ The third son found a golden goose in the roots of the tree.
4) _____ The golden goose was very smart.
5) _____ The cake that the youngest son shared with the old man was very good.