Hans in Luck (Grimm)
Short summary
Medieval German countryside. After seven years of service, Hans received from his master a lump of gold as big as his head as payment.
Finding the gold too heavy to carry, he traded it with a horseman for a horse. When the horse threw him off, he happily exchanged it with a countryman for a cow, thinking he would have milk daily. The cow gave no milk and kicked him, so he traded it with a butcher for a pig. A boy warned him the pig might be stolen, so Hans exchanged it for the boy's goose. Meeting a scissors-grinder, he traded the goose for a grindstone, believing he could earn money as a grinder.
Tired and thirsty, Hans stopped at a well to drink. He carefully placed the heavy stones beside him, but accidentally pushed them into the water.
When Hans saw them with his own eyes sinking to the bottom, he jumped for joy, and then knelt down, and with tears in his eyes thanked God for having shown him this favour.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Hans receives his wages and exchanges gold for horse
After seven years of faithful service, Hans approached his master to request his wages so he could return home to his mother. The master praised his dedication, saying:
You have served me faithfully and honestly; as the service was so shall the reward be; and he gave Hans a piece of gold as big as his head.
Hans wrapped the heavy gold in his handkerchief, placed it on his shoulder, and set off for home. As he walked along the road, he encountered a rider on a lively horse. Admiring the ease of riding, Hans exclaimed loudly about what a fine thing it was to ride without stumbling over stones or wearing out shoes. The rider stopped and asked why Hans traveled on foot.
Hans explained that he had to carry the heavy lump of gold, which hurt his shoulder and prevented him from holding his head straight. The rider proposed an exchange: his horse for Hans's gold. Hans readily agreed, warning the rider that he would have to crawl along with the heavy burden. The rider dismounted, took the gold, helped Hans onto the horse, and gave him riding instructions, telling him to click his tongue and call 'Jup! Jup!' to make the horse go faster.
The horse throws Hans off; he trades it for a cow
Hans was delighted as he rode away boldly and freely. After a while, thinking the horse should go faster, he began clicking his tongue and calling out as instructed. The horse broke into a sharp trot, and before Hans knew what was happening, he was thrown off and landed in a ditch beside the road. A countryman driving a cow stopped the runaway horse.
Hans picked himself up, vexed and complaining about the poor joke of riding, especially on such a mare that kicks and throws one off with the risk of breaking one's neck. He declared he would never mount it again and praised the countryman's cow, noting how one could walk quietly behind her and have milk, butter, and cheese every day. The countryman, pleased to give Hans such pleasure, agreed to exchange the cow for the horse. Hans was delighted with this bargain, and the countryman quickly rode away on the horse.
The cow wont give milk; Hans trades it for a pig
Hans drove his cow quietly along the road, thinking over his lucky bargain. He reasoned that with just a morsel of bread, he could eat butter and cheese as often as he liked, and when thirsty, he could milk the cow and drink fresh milk. At an inn, he ate all his remaining food and spent his last few farthings on half a glass of beer, then continued toward his mother's village.
As midday approached and the heat became oppressive, Hans found himself crossing a moor. Feeling very hot and thirsty, he decided to milk the cow for refreshment. He tied her to a withered tree and, having no pail, put his leather cap underneath. Despite his clumsy efforts, not a drop of milk came. The impatient beast finally gave him such a blow on the head with its hind foot that he fell to the ground and lay stunned for a long time.
Concerns about the stolen pig; Hans trades it for a goose
Fortunately, a butcher came along with a wheelbarrow containing a young pig. He helped Hans up and gave him his flask to drink from, explaining that the old cow would certainly give no milk and was only fit for the plough or butcher.
Hans agreed, saying he didn't care much for beef as it wasn't juicy enough, but a young pig would taste quite different and could be made into sausages. The butcher, out of love for Hans, offered to exchange the pig for the cow. Hans thanked him for his kindness, gave up the cow, and received the pig with its cord.
Hans continued on his way, thinking how everything was going just as he wished. Soon he met a lad carrying a fine white goose under his arm.
They exchanged good mornings, and Hans told of his good luck and successful bargains. The boy explained he was taking the goose to a christening feast, describing how heavy and fat she was after eight weeks of fattening. However, the lad then looked suspiciously around and warned Hans that his pig might be stolen property, as the mayor of a nearby village had just had one stolen. He feared Hans would be caught and imprisoned. The terrified Hans begged for help, and the lad, though reluctant to risk trouble, took the pig and gave Hans the goose before quickly departing.
Hans trades the goose for a grindstone and loses it in the well
Free from care, Hans walked homeward with the goose, calculating his gains: good roast meat, fat for his bread for a quarter year, and beautiful white feathers for a pillow. In the last village, he encountered a scissors-grinder with his barrow, singing merrily as his wheel whirred.
The grinder explained that his trade had a golden foundation - a real grinder finds gold in his pocket whenever he reaches for it. After learning about Hans's series of exchanges from gold to goose, he convinced Hans that becoming a grinder would make his fortune. Hans eagerly traded his goose for a grindstone, and the grinder gave him an additional heavy stone for hammering and straightening nails.
Hans loaded himself with the stones and continued with a contented heart, his eyes shining with joy. However, having been on his legs since daybreak, he grew tired and hungry. The heavy stones weighed him down dreadfully, forcing him to stop every minute. He crept like a snail to a well in a field to rest and drink. To avoid injuring the stones while sitting, he carefully placed them on the edge of the well. As he stooped to drink, he slipped and pushed against the stones, causing both to fall into the water. When Hans saw them sink to the bottom, he jumped for joy and knelt down with tears in his eyes, thanking God for delivering him from the heavy burden without reproach.
There is no man under the sun so fortunate as I, he cried out. With a light heart and free from every burden he now ran on until he was with his mother at home.