The Devil With the Three Golden Hairs

There was once a poor woman who gave birth to a little son. He came into the world with a caul on his head, and it was predicted that in his fourteenth year he would marry the King's daughter.

Soon after, the King came to the village disguised as a stranger. He asked the people what news there was, and they answered, "A child has just been born with a caul on. Whatever he undertakes turns out well. It is prophesied that in his fourteenth year he will marry the King's daughter."

The King had an evil heart and was angry about the prophecy. He went to the parents and pretended to be friendly. "You poor people," he said, "let me have your child, and I will take care of it." At first they refused, but when the stranger offered them a large amount of gold, they thought, "He is a luck-child. Everything must turn out well for him." So they consented and gave him the child.

The King put the baby in a box, rode away until he came to a deep river, and threw the box into the water. He thought, "Now I have freed my daughter from her unlooked-for suitor."

But the box did not sink. It floated like a boat, and not a drop of water entered it. It floated to within two miles of the King's chief city, where a mill stood, and came to a stop at the mill-dam.

A miller's boy saw it, pulled it out with a hook, and thought he had found a great treasure. When he opened it, a pretty boy lay inside, fresh and lively. The miller and his wife were childless and glad to take him in.

They said, "God has given him to us." They cared for the foundling, and he grew up in all goodness.

One day, during a storm, the King came to the mill and asked the miller if the tall youth was their son. "No," they answered, "he is a foundling. Fourteen years ago, he floated down to the mill-dam in a box, and the mill-boy pulled him out."

The King knew it was the luck-child he had thrown into the water. He said, "My good people, could the youth take a letter to the Queen? I will give him two gold pieces as a reward." They agreed, and the boy got ready. The King wrote a letter to the Queen saying, "As soon as the boy arrives with this letter, let him be killed and buried. All must be done before I come home."

The boy set out with the letter but lost his way. In the evening, he came to a large forest. He saw a small light and went toward it, reaching a cottage. An old woman sat by the fire alone.

She started when she saw him and asked, "Where do you come from, and where are you going?" "I come from the mill," he answered, "and I am taking a letter to the Queen. I lost my way in the forest and would like to stay here overnight." "You poor boy," said the woman, "you have come into a den of thieves.

When they return, they will kill you." "Let them come," said the boy. "I am not afraid. I am so tired I cannot go farther." He lay down on a bench and fell asleep.

Soon after, the robbers came home. They angrily asked about the strange boy lying there. "Ah," said the old woman, "it is an innocent child who lost his way in the forest. Out of pity, I let him in.

He has to take a letter to the Queen." The robbers opened the letter and read that the boy should be killed as soon as he arrived. The hard-hearted robbers felt pity. Their leader tore up the letter and wrote another saying that as soon as the boy came, he should be married at once to the King's daughter.

Then they let him sleep until morning. When he awoke, they gave him the letter and showed him the right way.

The Queen received the letter and did as written. She prepared a splendid wedding feast, and the King's daughter married the luck-child. The youth was handsome and agreeable, and they lived in joy and contentment.

After some time, the King returned to his palace and saw that the prophecy was fulfilled. The luck-child was married to his daughter. "How has this happened?" he said. "I gave quite another order in my letter." The Queen gave him the letter, and he saw it had been exchanged. He asked the youth, "What became of the letter I gave you? Why did you bring another?" "I know nothing about it," answered the youth. "It must have been changed in the night when I slept in the forest."

The King said angrily, "You shall not have everything your own way. Whoever marries my daughter must fetch me three golden hairs from the devil's head. Bring me what I want, and you shall keep my daughter." The King hoped to be rid of him forever. But the luck-child answered, "I will fetch the golden hairs. I am not afraid of the devil." He took leave and began his journey.

The road led him to a large town. The watchman at the gate asked, "What is your trade? What do you know?" "I know everything," answered the luck-child. "Then you can do us a favor," said the watchman. "Tell us why our market fountain, which once flowed with wine, has become dry and gives no water." "You shall know that," answered he. "Only wait until I come back."

He went farther and came to another town. The gatekeeper asked, "What is your trade? What do you know?" "I know everything," he answered. "Then you can do us a favor. Tell us why a tree in our town that once bore golden apples now does not even put forth leaves." "You shall know that," he answered. "Only wait until I come back."

He went on and came to a wide river. The ferryman asked, "What is your trade? What do you know?" "I know everything," he answered. "Then you can do me a favor," said the ferryman. "Tell me why I must always row back and forth and am never set free." "You shall know that," he answered. "Only wait until I come back."

When he had crossed the water, he found the entrance to hell. It was black and sooty inside. The devil was not home, but his grandmother sat in a large armchair. "What do you want?" she asked, not looking too wicked. "I need three golden hairs from the devil's head," he answered, "or I cannot keep my wife." "That is a lot to ask," she said. "If the devil finds you, he will kill you. But I pity you and will see if I can help."

She changed him into an ant and said, "Creep into the folds of my dress. You will be safe there." "But I also need to know three things," he said. "Why a fountain that once flowed with wine has become dry; why a tree that once bore golden apples does not even put forth leaves; and why a ferryman must always row back and forth and is never set free." "Those are hard questions," she said. "Be silent and listen when I pull out the three golden hairs."

In the evening, the devil returned. He smelled man's flesh and searched everywhere but found nothing. His grandmother scolded him. "I have just cleaned and put everything in order. Now you are upsetting it again. You always have man's flesh in your nose. Sit down and eat your supper."

After eating and drinking, the devil was tired. He laid his head in his grandmother's lap and soon fell asleep, snoring loudly. The old woman took hold of a golden hair, pulled it out, and laid it beside her. "Oh!" cried the devil.

"What are you doing?" "I had a bad dream," answered the grandmother. "I dreamed that a fountain in a market-place from which wine once flowed was dried up. Not even water flows out. What is the cause?" "Oh, if they knew!" answered the devil.

"There is a toad sitting under a stone in the well. If they kill it, the wine will flow again."

He fell asleep again and snored until the windows shook. She pulled out the second hair. "Ha! What are you doing?" cried the devil angrily. "Do not be angry," she said. "I did it in a dream." "What did you dream?" he asked.

"I dreamed that in a certain kingdom there stood an apple tree that once bore golden apples but now will not even bear leaves. What is the reason?" "Oh, if they knew!" answered the devil. "A mouse is gnawing at the root. If they kill it, they will have golden apples again.

But if it gnaws much longer, the tree will wither. Leave me alone with your dreams. If you disturb me again, you will get a box on the ear."

She spoke gently until he fell asleep again and snored. Then she pulled out the third golden hair. The devil jumped up, roared, and would have hurt her if she had not calmed him. "Who can help bad dreams?" she said. "What did you dream then?" he asked curiously.

"I dreamed of a ferryman who complains that he must always ferry from one side to the other and is never released. What is the cause?" "Ah, the fool!" answered the devil. "When anyone comes who wants to cross, he must put the oar in the other person's hand.

Then that person will have to ferry, and he will be free."

Now the grandmother had the three golden hairs and the answers to the three questions. She let the devil sleep until daybreak.

When the devil went out, the old woman took the ant from her dress and restored the luck-child to his human shape. "Here are the three golden hairs," she said. "You heard what the devil said about your questions?" "Yes," he answered. "I will remember." "You have what you want," she said. "Now you can go your way." He thanked her and left hell, satisfied that everything had turned out so well.

When he came to the ferryman, the man expected the answer. "Ferry me across first," said the luck-child, "and then I will tell you how to be free." When they reached the other shore, he gave the devil's advice: "Next time someone wants to cross, put the oar in his hand."

He went on to the town with the unfruitful tree. The watchman wanted his answer. He told him, "Kill the mouse gnawing at the root, and the tree will bear golden apples again." The watchman thanked him and gave him two asses laden with gold.

At last, he came to the town whose well was dry. He told the watchman, "A toad is in the well under a stone. Find it and kill it, and the well will give wine again." The watchman thanked him and gave him two more asses laden with gold.

Finally, the luck-child returned home to his wife. She was overjoyed to see him and to hear how well he had succeeded. He gave the King the three golden hairs. When the King saw the four asses laden with gold, he was quite content and said, "Now all the conditions are fulfilled.

You may keep my daughter. But tell me, dear son-in-law, where did all this gold come from? It is tremendous wealth!" "I rowed across a river," answered the luck-child, "and got it there. It lies on the shore like sand." "Can I also fetch some?" asked the King eagerly.

"As much as you like," answered he. "There is a ferryman on the river. Let him ferry you over, and you can fill your sacks on the other side."

The greedy King set out in haste. He came to the river and beckoned the ferryman to take him across. The ferryman came and bade him get in. When they reached the other shore, the ferryman put the oar in the King's hand and jumped out. From that time on, the King had to ferry as a punishment for his sins. Perhaps he is ferrying still? If so, it is because no one has taken the oar from him.