The Peasant and the Devil (Grimm)
Division into chapters is editorial.
The encounter with the Devil and the bargain
In a rural village, there lived a clever farmer whose reputation for cunning schemes was well known throughout the region. One evening, as twilight descended and he prepared to return home from working in his field, he discovered an extraordinary sight: a heap of burning coals glowing in the middle of his land. Approaching with curiosity and amazement, he found a small black figure sitting directly upon the live coals.
The peasant observed that the mysterious being was sitting upon what appeared to be a treasure. The dark creature confirmed this observation with enthusiasm, boasting about the riches beneath.
Yes, in truth, replied the Devil, on a treasure which contains more gold and silver than thou hast ever seen in thy life!
The peasant boldly claimed ownership of the treasure since it lay within his field. The Devil agreed to share it, but proposed a deal that would last two years. He explained his unusual desire for earthly produce rather than monetary wealth.
The first harvest: turnips trick
It is thine, answered the Devil, if thou wilt for two years give me the half of everything thy field produces. Money I have enough of, but I have a desire for the fruits of the earth.
The clever peasant proposed a specific division to avoid future disputes. He suggested that everything growing above ground would belong to the Devil, while everything below ground would remain his. The Devil readily accepted this arrangement, satisfied with what seemed like a fair deal. However, the cunning farmer had already planned his strategy.
The Devil was quite satisfied with that, but the cunning peasant had sown turnips.
When harvest time arrived, the Devil appeared eagerly to collect his portion of the crop. To his dismay, he discovered that all he could claim were the yellow, withered leaves of the turnip plants. Meanwhile, the peasant delightedly dug up the valuable turnip roots from beneath the soil. The Devil realized he had been outsmarted, acknowledging the peasant's victory in this first round. However, he was determined not to be fooled again and proposed new terms for the following year.
Thou hast had the best of it for once, said the Devil, but the next time that won't do. What grows above ground shall be thine, and what is under it, mine.
The peasant appeared to agree to these reversed conditions, seemingly giving the Devil the advantage for the second year.
The second harvest: wheat trick and victory
When the time came for the second planting season, the shrewd peasant once again demonstrated his cleverness. Instead of sowing turnips as he had the previous year, he chose to plant wheat. This strategic decision would prove to be another masterstroke in his ongoing battle of wits with the Devil.
I am willing, replied the peasant; but when the time came to sow, he did not again sow turnips, but wheat.
As the growing season progressed, the wheat grain ripened beautifully in the field. When harvest time arrived, the peasant went into his field and cut down all the full stalks right to the ground level, claiming everything that grew above the earth according to their agreement. The Devil arrived expecting to collect the valuable underground portions, but found himself with nothing but useless stubble and roots.
When the Devil came, he found nothing but the stubble, and went away in a fury down into a cleft in the rocks.
Defeated twice by the peasant's superior wit and planning, the Devil retreated in rage to the rocky crevices below ground. The peasant had successfully outwitted his supernatural adversary in both rounds of their agreement, proving that human cleverness could triumph over otherworldly powers. With the Devil gone and the bargain fulfilled, the victorious farmer was free to claim the treasure that had started their entire arrangement.
That is the way to cheat the Devil, said the peasant, and went and fetched away the treasure.