Little Claus and Big Claus小克劳斯和大克劳斯

by Hans Christian Andersen（1835）

　　IN a village there once lived two men who had the same name. They were both called Claus. One of them had four horses， but the other had only one； so to distinguish them， people called the owner of the four horses， “GREat Claus，” and he who had only one， “Little Claus.” Now we shall hear what happened to them， for this is a true story.

　　Through the whole week， Little Claus was obliged to plough for GREat Claus， and lend him his one horse； and once a week， on a Sunday， Great Claus lent him all his four horses. Then how Little Claus would smack his whip over all five horses， they were as good as his own on that one day. The sun shone brightly， and the church bells were ringing merrily as the people passed by， dressed in their best clothes， with their prayer-books under their arms. They were going to hear the clergyman preach. They looked at Little Claus ploughing with his five horses， and he was so proud that he smacked his whip， and said， “Gee-up， my five horses.”

　　“You must not say that，” said Big Claus； “for only one of them belongs to you.” But Little Claus soon forgot what he ought to say， and when any one passed he would call out， “Gee-up， my five horses！”

　　“Now I must beg you not to say that again，” said Big Claus； “for if you do， I shall hit your horse on the head， so that he will drop dead on the spot， and there will be an end of him.”

　　“I promise you I will not say it any more，” said the other； but as soon as people came by， nodding to him， and wishing him “Good day，” he became so pleased， and thought how grand it looked to have five horses ploughing in his field， that he cried out again， “Gee-up， all my horses！”

　　“I'll gee-up your horses for you，” said Big Claus； and seizing a hammer， he struck the one horse of Little Claus on the head， and he fell dead instantly.

　　“Oh， now I have no horse at all，” said Little Claus， weeping. But after a while he took off the dead horse's skin， and hung the hide to dry in the wind. Then he put the dry skin into a bag， and， placing it over his shoulder， went out into the next town to sell the horse's skin. He had a very long way to go， and had to pass through a dark， gloomy forest. Presently a storm arose， and he lost his way， and before he discovered the right path， evening came on， and it was still a long way to the town， and too far to return home before night. Near the road stood a large farmhouse. The shutters outside the windows were closed， but lights shone through the crevices at the top. “I might get permission to stay here for the night，” thought Little Claus； so he went up to the door and knocked. The farmer's wife opened the door； but when she heard what he wanted， she told him to go away， as her husband would not allow her to admit strangers. “Then I shall be obliged to lie out here，” said Little Claus to himself， as the farmer's wife shut the door in his face. Near to the farmhouse stood a large haystack， and between it and the house was a small shed， with a thatched roof. “I can lie up there，” said Little Claus， as he saw the roof； “it will make a famous bed， but I hope the stork will not fly down and bite my legs；” for on it stood a living stork， whose nest was in the roof. So Little Claus climbed to the roof of the shed， and while he turned himself to get comfortable， he discovered that the wooden shutters， which were closed， did not reach to the tops of the windows of the farmhouse， so that he could see into a room， in which a large table was laid out with wine， roast meat， and a splendid fish. The farmer's wife and the sexton were sitting at the table together； and she filled his glass， and helped him plenteously to fish， which appeared to be his favorite dish. “If I could only get some， too，” thought Little Claus； and then， as he stretched his neck towards the window he spied a large， beautiful pie，—indeed they had a glorious feast before them.

　　At this moment he heard some one riding down the road， towards the farmhouse. It was the farmer returning home. He was a good man， but still he had a very strange prejudice，—he could not bear the sight of a sexton. If one appeared before him， he would put himself in a terrible rage. In consequence of this dislike， the sexton had gone to visit the farmer's wife during her husband's absence from home， and the good woman had placed before him the best she had in the house to eat. When she heard the farmer coming she was frightened， and begged the sexton to hide himself in a large empty chest that stood in the room. He did so， for he knew her husband could not endure the sight of a sexton. The woman then quickly put away the wine， and hid all the rest of the nice things in the oven； for if her husband had seen them he would have asked what they were brought out for.

　　“Oh， dear，” sighed Little Claus from the top of the shed， as he saw all the good things disappear.

　　“Is any one up there？” asked the farmer， looking up and discovering Little Claus. “Why are you lying up there？ Come down， and come into the house with me.” So Little Claus came down and told the farmer how he had lost his way and begged for a night's lodging.

　　“All right，” said the farmer； “but we must have something to eat first.”

　　the woman received them both very kindly， laid the cloth on a large table， and placed before them a dish of porridge. The farmer was very hungry， and ate his porridge with a good appetite， but Little Claus could not help thinking of the nice roast meat， fish and pies， which he knew were in the oven. Under the table， at his feet， lay the sack containing the horse's skin， which he intended to sell at the next town. Now Little Claus did not relish the porridge at all， so he trod with his foot on the sack under the table， and the dry skin squeaked quite loud. “Hush！” said Little Claus to his sack， at the same time treading upon it again， till it squeaked louder than before.

　　“Hallo！ what have you got in your sack！” asked the farmer.

　　“Oh， it is a conjuror，” said Little Claus； “and he says we need not eat porridge， for he has conjured the oven full of roast meat， fish， and pie.”

　　“Wonderful！” cried the farmer， starting up and opening the oven door； and there lay all the nice things hidden by the farmer's wife， but which he supposed had been conjured there by the wizard under the table. The woman dared not say anything； so she placed the things before them， and they both ate of the fish， the meat， and the pastry.

　　then Little Claus trod again upon his sack， and it squeaked as before. “What does he say now？” asked the farmer.

　　“He says，” replied Little Claus， “that there are three bottles of wine for us， standing in the corner， by the oven.”

　　So the woman was obliged to bring out the wine also， which she had hidden， and the farmer drank it till he became quite merry. He would have liked such a conjuror as Little Claus carried in his sack. “Could he conjure up the evil one？” asked the farmer. “I should like to see him now， while I am so merry.”

　　“Oh， yes！” replied Little Claus， “my conjuror can do anything I ask him，—can you not？” he asked， treading at the same time on the sack till it squeaked. “Do you hear？ he answers 'Yes，' but he fears that we shall not like to look at him.”

　　“Oh， I am not afraid. What will he be like？”

　　“Well， he is very much like a sexton.”

　　“Ha！” said the farmer， “then he must be ugly. Do you know I cannot endure the sight of a sexton. However， that doesn't matter， I shall know who it is； so I shall not mind. Now then， I have got up my courage， but don't let him come too near me.”

　　“Stop， I must ask the conjuror，” said Little Claus； so he trod on the bag， and stooped his ear down to listen.

　　“What does he say？”

　　“He says that you must go and open that large chest which stands in the corner， and you will see the evil one crouching down inside； but you must hold the lid firmly， that he may not slip out.”

　　“Will you come and help me hold it？” said the farmer， going towards the chest in which his wife had hidden the sexton， who now lay inside， very much frightened. The farmer opened the lid a very little way， and peeped in.

　　“Oh，” cried he， springing backwards， “I saw him， and he is exactly like our sexton. How dreadful it is！” So after that he was obliged to drink again， and they sat and drank till far into the night.

　　“You must sell your conjuror to me，” said the farmer； “ask as much as you like， I will pay it； indeed I would give you directly a whole bushel of gold.”

　　“No， indeed， I cannot，” said Little Claus； “only think how much profit I could make out of this conjuror.”

　　“But I should like to have him，” said the fanner， still continuing his entreaties.

　　“Well，” said Little Claus at length， “you have been so good as to give me a night's lodging， I will not refuse you； you shall have the conjuror for a bushel of money， but I will have quite full measure.”

　　“So you shall，” said the farmer； “but you must take away the chest as well. I would not have it in the house another hour； there is no knowing if he may not be still there.”

　　So Little Claus gave the farmer the sack containing the dried horse's skin， and received in exchange a bushel of money—full measure. The farmer also gave him a wheelbarrow on which to carry away the chest and the gold.

　　“Farewell，” said Little Claus， as he went off with his money and the GREat chest， in which the sexton lay still concealed. On one side of the forest was a broad， deep river， the water flowed so rapidly that very few were able to swim against the stream. A new bridge had lately been built across it， and in the middle of this bridge Little Claus stopped， and said， loud enough to be heard by the sexton， “Now what shall I do with this stupid chest； it is as heavy as if it were full of stones： I shall be tired if I roll it any farther， so I may as well throw it in the river； if it swims after me to my house， well and good， and if not， it will not much matter.”

　　So he seized the chest in his hand and lifted it up a little， as if he were going to throw it into the water.

　　“No， leave it alone，” cried the sexton from within the chest； “let me out first.”

　　“Oh，” exclaimed Little Claus， pretending to be frightened， “he is in there still， is he？ I must throw him into the river， that he may be drowned.”

　　“Oh， no； oh， no，” cried the sexton； “I will give you a whole bushel full of money if you will let me go.”

　　“Why， that is another matter，” said Little Claus， opening the chest. The sexton crept out， pushed the empty chest into the water， and went to his house， then he measured out a whole bushel full of gold for Little Claus， who had already received one from the farmer， so that now he had a barrow full.

　　“I have been well paid for my horse，” said he to himself when he reached home， entered his own room， and emptied all his money into a heap on the floor. “How vexed GREat Claus will be when he finds out how rich I have become all through my one horse； but I shall not tell him exactly how it all happened.” Then he sent a boy to Great Claus to borrow a bushel measure.

　　“What can he want it for？” thought GREat Claus； so he smeared the bottom of the measure with tar， that some of whatever was put into it might stick there and remain. And so it happened； for when the measure returned， three new silver florins were sticking to it.

　　“What does this mean？” said GREat Claus； so he ran off directly to Little Claus， and asked， “Where did you get so much money？”

　　“Oh， for my horse's skin， I sold it yesterday.”

　　“It was certainly well paid for then，” said GREat Claus； and he ran home to his house， seized a hatchet， and knocked all his four horses on the head， flayed off their skins， and took them to the town to sell. “Skins， skins， who'll buy skins？” he cried， as he went through the streets. All the shoemakers and tanners came running， and asked how much he wanted for them.

　　“A bushel of money， for each，” replied GREat Claus.

　　“Are you mad？” they all cried； “do you think we have money to spend by the bushel？”

　　“Skins， skins，” he cried again， “who'll buy skins？” but to all who inquired the price， his answer was， “a bushel of money.”

　　“He is making fools of us，” said they all； then the shoemakers took their straps， and the tanners their leather aprons， and began to beat GREat Claus.

　　“Skins， skins！” they cried， mocking him； “yes， we'll mark your skin for you， till it is black and blue.”

　　“Out of the town with him，” said they. And GREat Claus was obliged to run as fast as he could， he had never before been so thoroughly beaten.

　　“Ah，” said he， as he came to his house； “Little Claus shall pay me for this； I will beat him to death.”

　　Meanwhile the old grandmother of Little Claus died. She had been cross， unkind， and really spiteful to him； but he was very sorry， and took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to see if he could bring her to life again. There he determined that she should lie the whole night， while he seated himself in a chair in a corner of the room as he had often done before. During the night， as he sat there， the door opened， and in came GREat Claus with a hatchet. He knew well where Little Claus's bed stood； so he went right up to it， and struck the old grandmother on the head. thinking it must be Little Claus.

　　“there，” cried he， “now you cannot make a fool of me again；” and then he went home.

　　“That is a very wicked man，” thought Little Claus； “he meant to kill me. It is a good thing for my old grandmother that she was already dead， or he would have taken her life.” Then he dressed his old grandmother in her best clothes， borrowed a horse of his neighbor， and harnessed it to a cart. Then he placed the old woman on the back seat， so that she might not fall out as he drove， and rode away through the wood. By sunrise they reached a large inn， where Little Claus stopped and went to get something to eat. The landlord was a rich man， and a good man too； but as passionate as if he had been made of pepper and snuff.

　　“Good morning，” said he to Little Claus； “you are come betimes to-day.”

　　“Yes，” said Little Claus； “I am going to the town with my old grandmother； she is sitting at the back of the wagon， but I cannot bring her into the room. Will you take her a glass of mead？ but you must speak very loud， for she cannot hear well.”

　　“Yes， certainly I will，” replied the landlord； and， pouring out a glass of mead， he carried it out to the dead grandmother， who sat upright in the cart. “Here is a glass of mead from your grandson，” said the landlord. The dead woman did not answer a word， but sat quite still. “Do you not hear？” cried the landlord as loud as he could； “here is a glass of mead from your grandson.”

　　Again and again he bawled it out， but as she did not stir he flew into a passion， and threw the glass of mead in her face； it struck her on the nose， and she fell backwards out of the cart， for she was only seated there， not tied in.

　　“Hallo！” cried Little Claus， rushing out of the door， and seizing hold of the landlord by the throat； “you have killed my grandmother； see， here is a GREat hole in her forehead.”

　　“Oh， how unfortunate，” said the landlord， wringing his hands. “This all comes of my fiery temper. Dear Little Claus， I will give you a bushel of money； I will bury your grandmother as if she were my own； only keep silent， or else they will cut off my head， and that would be disaGREeable.”

　　So it happened that Little Claus received another bushel of money， and the landlord buried his old grandmother as if she had been his own. When Little Claus reached home again， he immediately sent a boy to GREat Claus， requesting him to lend him a bushel measure. “How is this？” thought Great Claus； “did I not kill him？ I must go and see for myself.” So he went to Little Claus， and took the bushel measure with him. “How did you get all this money？” asked Great Claus， staring with wide open eyes at his neighbor's treasures.

　　“You killed my grandmother instead of me，” said Little Claus； “so I have sold her for a bushel of money.”

　　“That is a good price at all events，” said GREat Claus. So he went home， took a hatchet， and killed his old grandmother with one blow. Then he placed her on a cart， and drove into the town to the apothecary， and asked him if he would buy a dead body.

　　“Whose is it， and where did you get it？” asked the apothecary.

　　“It is my grandmother，” he replied； “I killed her with a blow， that I might get a bushel of money for her.”

　　“Heaven preserve us！” cried the apothecary， “you are out of your mind. Don't say such things， or you will lose your head.” And then he talked to him seriously about the wicked deed he had done， and told him that such a wicked man would surely be punished. GREat Claus got so frightened that he rushed out of the surgery， jumped into the cart， whipped up his horses， and drove home quickly. The apothecary and all the people thought him mad， and let him drive where he liked.

　　“You shall pay for this，” said GREat Claus， as soon as he got into the highroad， “that you shall， Little Claus.” So as soon as he reached home he took the largest sack he could find and went over to Little Claus. “You have played me another trick，” said he. “First， I killed all my horses， and then my old grandmother， and it is all your fault； but you shall not make a fool of me any more.” So he laid hold of Little Claus round the body， and pushed him into the sack， which he took on his shoulders， saying， “Now I'm going to drown you in the river.

　　He had a long way to go before he reached the river， and Little Claus was not a very light weight to carry. The road led by the church， and as they passed he could hear the organ playing and the people singing beautifully. GREat Claus put down the sack close to the church-door， and thought he might as well go in and hear a psalm before he went any farther. Little Claus could not possibly get out of the sack， and all the people were in church； so in he went.

　　“Oh dear， oh dear，” sighed Little Claus in the sack， as he turned and twisted about； but he found he could not loosen the string with which it was tied. Presently an old cattle driver， with snowy hair， passed by， carrying a large staff in his hand， with which he drove a large herd of cows and oxen before him. They stumbled against the sack in which lay Little Claus， and turned it over. “Oh dear，” sighed Little Claus， “I am very young， yet I am soon going to heaven.”

　　“And I， poor fellow，” said the drover， “I who am so old already， cannot get there.”

　　“Open the sack，” cried Little Claus； “creep into it instead of me， and you will soon be there.”

　　“With all my heart，” replied the drover， opening the sack， from which sprung Little Claus as quickly as possible. “Will you take care of my cattle？” said the old man， as he crept into the bag.

　　“Yes，” said Little Claus， and he tied up the sack， and then walked off with all the cows and oxen.

　　When GREat Claus came out of church， he took up the sack， and placed it on his shoulders. It appeared to have become lighter， for the old drover was not half so heavy as Little Claus.

　　“How light he seems now，” said he. “Ah， it is because I have been to a church.” So he walked on to the river， which was deep and broad， and threw the sack containing the old drover into the water， believing it to be Little Claus. “There you may lie！” he exclaimed； “you will play me no more tricks now.” Then he turned to go home， but when he came to a place where two roads crossed， there was Little Claus driving the cattle. “How is this？” said GREat Claus. “Did I not drown you just now？”

　　“Yes，” said Little Claus； “you threw me into the river about half an hour ago.”

　　“But wherever did you get all these fine beasts？” asked GREat Claus.

　　“these beasts are sea-cattle，” replied Little Claus. “I'll tell you the whole story， and thank you for drowning me； I am above you now， I am really very rich. I was frightened， to be sure， while I lay tied up in the sack， and the wind whistled in my ears when you threw me into the river from the bridge， and I sank to the bottom immediately； but I did not hurt myself， for I fell upon beautifully soft grass which grows down there； and in a moment， the sack opened， and the sweetest little maiden came towards me. She had snow-white robes， and a wreath of GREen leaves on her wet hair. She took me by the hand， and said， 'So you are come， Little Claus， and here are some cattle for you to begin with. About a mile farther on the road， there is another herd for you.' Then I saw that the river formed a great highway for the people who live in the sea. They were walking and driving here and there from the sea to the land at the， spot where the river terminates. The bed of the river was covered with the loveliest flowers and sweet fresh grass. The fish swam past me as rapidly as the birds do here in the air. How handsome all the people were， and what fine cattle were grazing on the hills and in the valleys！”

　　“But why did you come up again，” said GREat Claus， “if it was all so beautiful down there？ I should not have done so？”

　　“Well，” said Little Claus， “it was good policy on my part； you heard me say just now that I was told by the sea-maiden to go a mile farther on the road， and I should find a whole herd of cattle. By the road she meant the river， for she could not travel any other way； but I knew the winding of the river， and how it bends， sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left， and it seemed a long way， so I chose a shorter one； and， by coming up to the land， and then driving across the fields back again to the river， I shall save half a mile， and get all my cattle more quickly.”

　　“What a lucky fellow you are！” exclaimed GREat Claus. “Do you think I should get any sea-cattle if I went down to the bottom of the river？”

　　“Yes， I think so，” said Little Claus； “but I cannot carry you there in a sack， you are too heavy. However if you will go there first， and then creep into a sack， I will throw you in with the GREatest pleasure.”

　　“Thank you，” said GREat Claus； “but remember， if I do not get any sea-cattle down there I shall come up again and give you a good thrashing.”

　　“No， now， don't be too fierce about it！” said Little Claus， as they walked on towards the river. When they approached it， the cattle， who were very thirsty， saw the stream， and ran down to drink.

　　“See what a hurry they are in，” said Little Claus， “they are longing to get down again，”

　　“Come， help me， make haste，” said GREat Claus； “or you'll get beaten.” So he crept into a large sack， which had been lying across the back of one of the oxen.

　　“Put in a stone，” said GREat Claus， “or I may not sink.”

　　“Oh， there's not much fear of that，” he replied； still he put a large stone into the bag， and then tied it tightly， and gave it a push.

　　“Plump！” In went GREat Claus， and immediately sank to the bottom of the river.

　　“I'm afraid he will not find any cattle，” said Little Claus， and then he drove his own beasts homewards.

从前有两个人住在一个村子里。他们的名字是一样的——两个人都叫克劳斯。不过一个有四匹马，另一个只有一匹马。为了把他们两人分得清楚，大家就把有四匹马的那个叫大克劳斯，把只有一匹马的那个叫小克劳斯。现在我们可以听听他们每人做了些甚么事情吧，因为这是一个真实的故事。

　　小克劳斯一星期中每天要替大克劳斯犁田，而且还要把自己仅有的一匹马借给他使用。大克劳斯用自己的四匹马来帮助他，可是每星期只帮助他一天，而且这还是在星期天。好呀！小克劳斯多么喜欢在那五匹牲口的上空啪嗒啪嗒地响着鞭子啊！在这一天，它们就好像全部已变成了他自己的财产。太阳在高高兴兴地照着，所有教堂塔尖上的钟都敲出做礼拜的钟声。大家都穿起了最漂亮的衣服，胳膊底下夹着圣诗集，走到教堂里去听牧师讲道。他们都看到了小克劳斯用他的五匹牲口在犁田。他是那么高兴，他把鞭子在这几匹牲口的上空抽得啪嗒啪嗒地响了又响，同时喊着：“我的五匹马儿哟！使劲呀！”“你可不能这么喊啦！”大克劳斯说。“因为你只有一匹马呀。”

　　不过，去做礼拜的人在旁边走过的时候，小克劳斯就忘记了他不应该说这样的话。他又喊起来：“我的五匹马儿哟，使劲呀！”“现在我得请求你不要喊这一套了，”大克劳斯说。“假如你再这样说的话，我可要砸碎你这匹牲口的脑袋，叫它当场倒下来死掉，那么它就完蛋了。”“我决不再说那句话，”小克劳斯说。但是，当有人在旁边走过、对他点点头、道一声日安的时候，他又高兴起来，觉得自己有五匹牲口犁田，究竟是了不起的事。所以他又啪嗒啪嗒地挥起鞭子来，喊着：“我的五匹马儿哟，使劲呀！”“我可要在你的马儿身上”使劲“一下了。”大克劳斯说，於是他就拿起一个拴马桩，在小克劳斯唯一的马儿头上打了一下。这牲口倒下来，立刻就死了。“哎，我现在连一匹马儿也没有了！”小克劳斯说，同时哭起来。

　　过了一会儿他剥下马儿的皮，把它放在风里吹乾。然后把它装进一个袋子，背在背上，到城里去卖这张马皮。

　　他得走上好长的一段路，而且还得经过一个很大的黑森林。这时天气变得坏极了。他迷失了路。他还没有找到正确的路，天就要黑了。在夜幕降临以前，要回家是太远了，但是到城里去也不近。

　　路旁有一个很大的农庄，它窗外的百叶窗已经放下来了，不过缝隙里还是有亮光透露出来。“也许人家会让我在这里过一夜吧。”小克劳斯想。於是他就走过去，敲了一下门。那农夫的妻子开了门，不过，她一听到他这个请求，就叫他走开，并且说：她的丈夫不在家，她不能让任何陌生人进来。“那么我只有睡在露天里了。”小克劳斯说。农夫的妻子就当着他的面把门关上了。

　　附近有一个大乾草堆，在草堆和屋子中间有一个平顶的小茅屋。“我可以睡在那上面！”小克劳斯抬头看见那屋顶的时候说。“这的确是一张很美妙的床。我想鹳鸟决不会飞下来啄我的腿的。”因为屋顶上就站着一只活生生的鹳鸟——它的窠就在那上面。

　　小克劳斯爬到茅屋顶上，在那上面躺下，翻了个身，把自己舒舒服服地安顿下来。窗外的百叶窗的上面一部分没有关好，所以他看得见屋子里的房间。房间里有一个铺了台布的大桌子，桌上放着酒、烤肉和一条肥美的鱼。农夫的妻子和乡里的牧师在桌旁坐着，再没有别的人在场。她在为他斟酒，他把叉子插进鱼里去，挑起来吃，因为这是他最心爱的一个菜。“我希望也能让别人吃一点！”小克劳斯心中想，同时伸出头向那窗子望。天啊！那里面有多么美的一块糕啊！是的，这简直是一桌酒席！

　　这时他听到有一个人骑着马在大路上朝这屋子走来。原来是那女人的丈夫回家来了。

　　他倒是一个很善良的人，不过他有一个怪毛病——他怎么也看不惯牧师。只要遇见一个牧师，他立刻就要变得非常暴躁起来。因为这个缘故，所以这个牧师这时才来向这女人道“日安”，因为他知道她的丈夫不在家。这位贤慧的女人把她所有的好东西都搬出来给他吃。不过，当他们一听到她丈夫回来了，他们就非常害怕起来。这女人就请求牧师钻进墙角边的一个大空箱子里去。他也就只好照办了，因为他知道这个可怜的丈夫看不惯一个牧师。女人连忙把这些美味的酒菜藏进灶里去，因为假如丈夫看见这些东西，他一定要问问这是甚么意思。“咳，我的天啊！”茅屋上的小克劳斯看到这些好东西给搬走，不禁歎了口气。“上面是甚么人？”农夫问，同时也抬头望着小克劳斯。“你为甚么睡在那儿？请你下来跟我一起到屋子里去吧。”

　　於是小克劳斯就告诉他，他怎样迷了路，同时请求农夫准许他在这儿过一夜。“当然可以的，”农夫说。“不过我们得先吃点东西才行。”

　　女人很和善地迎接他们两个人。她在长桌上铺好台布，盛了一大碗稀饭给他们吃。农夫很饿，吃得津津有味。可是小克劳斯不禁想起了那些好吃的烤肉、鱼和糕来——他知道这些东西是藏在灶里的。

　　他早已把那个装着马皮的袋子放在桌子底下，放在自己脚边；因为我们记得，这就是他从家里带出来的东西，要送到城里去卖的。这一碗稀粥他实在吃得没有甚么味道，所以他的一双脚就在袋子上踩，踩得那张马皮发出叽叽嘎嘎的声音来。“不要叫！”他对袋子说，但同时他不禁又在上面踩，弄得它发出更大的声音来。“怎么，你袋子里装的甚么东西？”农夫问。“咳，里面是一个魔法师，”小克劳斯回答说。“他说我们不必再吃稀粥了，他已经变出一灶子烤肉、鱼和点心来了。”“好极了！”农夫说。他很快地就把灶子掀开，发现了他老婆藏在里面的那些好菜。不过，他却以为这些好东西是袋里的魔法师变出来的。他的女人甚么话也不敢说，只好赶快把这些菜搬到桌上来。他们两人就把肉、鱼和糕饼吃了个痛快。现在小克劳斯又在袋子上踩了一下，弄得里面的皮又叫起来。“他现在又在说甚么呢？”农夫问。

　　小克劳斯回答说：“他说他还为我们变出了三瓶酒，这酒也在灶子里面哩。”

　　那女人就不得不把她所藏的酒也取出来，农夫把酒喝了，非常愉快。於是他自己也很想有一个像小克劳斯袋子里那样的魔法师。“他能够变出魔鬼吗？”农夫问。“我倒很想看看魔鬼呢，因为我现在很愉快。”“当然喽，”小克劳斯说。“我所要求的东西，我的魔法师都能变得出来——难道你不能吗，魔法师？”他一边说着，一边踩着这张皮，弄得它又叫起来。“你听到没有？他说：”能变得出来。“不过这个魔鬼的样子是很丑的：我看最好还是不要看他吧。”“噢，我一点也不害怕。他会是一副甚么样子呢？”“嗯，他简直跟本乡的牧师一模一样。”“哈！”农夫说，“那可真是太难看了！你要知道，我真看不惯牧师的那副嘴脸。不过也没有甚么关系，我只要知道他是个魔鬼，也就能忍受得了。现在我鼓起勇气来吧！不过请别让他离我太近。”“让我问一下我的魔法师吧。”小克劳斯说。於是他就在袋子上踩了一下，同时把耳朵偏过来听。“他说甚么？”“他说你可以走过去，把墙角那儿的箱子掀开。你可以看见那个魔鬼就蹲在里面。不过你要把箱盖子好好抓紧，免得他溜走了。”“我要请你帮助我抓住盖子！”农夫说。於是他走到箱子那儿。他的妻子早把那个真正的牧师在里面藏好了。现在他正坐在里面，非常害怕。

　　农夫把盖子略为掀开，朝里面偷偷地瞧了一下。“呵唷！”他喊出声来，朝后跳了一步。“是的，我现在看到他了。他跟我们的牧师是一模一样。啊，这真吓人！”

　　为了这件事，他们得喝几杯酒。所以他们坐下来，一直喝到夜深。“你得把这位魔法师卖给我，”农夫说。“随便你要多少钱吧：我马上就可以给你一大斗钱。”“不成，这个我可不干，”小克劳斯说。“你想想看吧，这位魔法师对我的用处该有多大呀！”“啊，要是它属於我该多好啊！”农夫继续要求着说。“好吧，”最后小克劳斯说。“今晚你让我在这儿过夜，实在对我太好了。就这样办吧。你拿一斗钱来，可以把这个魔法师买去，不过我要满满的一斗钱。”“那不成问题，”农夫说。“可是你得把那儿的一个箱子带走。我一分钟也不愿意把它留在我的家里。谁也不知道，他是不是还待在里面。”

　　小克劳斯把他装着干马皮的那个袋子给了农夫，换得了一斗钱，而且这斗钱是装得满满的。农夫还另外给他一辆大车，把钱和箱子运走。“再会吧！”小克劳斯说，於是他就推着钱和那只大箱子走了，牧师还坐在箱子里面。

　　在树林的另一边有一条又宽又深的河，水流得非常急，谁也难以游过急流。不过那上面新建了一座大桥。小克劳斯在桥中央停下来，大声地讲了几句话，使箱子里的牧师能够听见：“咳，这口笨箱子叫我怎么办呢？它是那么重，好像里面装得有石头似的。我已经够累，再也推不动了。我还是把它扔到河里去吧。如果它流到我家里，那是再好也不过；如果它流不到我家里，那也就只好让它去吧。”

　　於是他一只手把箱子略微提起一点，好像真要把它扔到水里去似的。“干不得，请放下来吧！”箱子里的牧师大声说。“请让我出来吧！”“哎唷！”小克劳斯装做害怕的样子说。“他原来还在里面！我得赶快把它扔进河里去，让他淹死。”“哎呀！扔不得！扔不得！”牧师大声叫起来。“请你放了我，我可以给你一大斗钱。”“呀，这倒可以考虑一下，”小克劳斯说，同时把箱子打开。牧师马上就爬出来，把那口空箱子推到水里去。随后他就回到了家里，小克劳斯跟着他，得到了满满一斗钱。小克劳斯已经从农夫那里得到了一斗钱，所以现在他整个车子里都装了钱。“你看我那匹马的代价倒真是不小呢，”当他回到家来走进自己的房间里去时，他对自己说，同时把钱倒在地上，堆成一大堆。“如果大克劳斯知道我靠了一匹马发了大财，他一定会生气的。不过我决不老老实实地告诉他。”　　　　因此他派一个孩子到大克劳斯家里去借一个斗来。“他要这东西干甚么呢？”大克劳斯想。於是他在斗底上涂了一点焦油，好使它能粘住一点它所量过的东西。事实上也是这样，因为当他收回这斗的时候，发现那上面粘着三块崭新的银毫。“这是甚么呢？”大克劳斯说。他马上跑到小克劳斯那儿去。“你这些钱是从哪儿弄来的？”“哦，那是从我那张马皮上赚来的。昨天晚上我把它卖掉了。”“它的价钱倒是不小啦，”大克劳斯说。他急忙跑回家来，拿起一把斧头，把他的四匹马当头砍死了。他剥下皮来，送到城里去卖。“卖皮哟！卖皮哟！谁要买皮？”他在街上喊。

　　所有的皮鞋匠和制革匠都跑过来，问他要多少价钱。“每张卖一斗钱！”大克劳斯说。“你发疯了吗？”他们说。“你以为我们的钱可以用斗量么？”“卖皮哟！卖皮哟！谁要买皮？”他又喊起来。人家一问起他的皮的价钱，他老是回答说：“一斗钱。”“他简直是拿我们开玩笑。”大家都说。於是鞋匠拿起皮条，制革匠拿起围裙，都向大克劳斯打来。“卖皮哟！卖皮哟！”他们讥笑着他。“我们叫你有一张像猪一样流着鲜血的皮。滚出城去吧！”他们喊着。大克劳斯拚命地跑，因为他从来没有像这次被打得那么厉害。“嗯，”他回到家来时说。“小克劳斯得还这笔债，我要把他活活地打死。”

　　但是在小克劳斯的家里，他的祖母恰巧死掉了。她生前对他一直很厉害，很不客气。虽然如此，他还是觉得很难过，所以他抱起这死女人，放在自己温暖的床上，看她是不是还能复活。他要使她在那床上停一整夜，他自己坐在墙角里的一把椅子上睡——他过去常常是这样。

　　当他夜里正在那儿坐着的时候，门开了，大克劳斯拿着斧头进来了。他知道小克劳斯的床在甚么地方。他直向床前走去，用斧头在他老祖母的头上砍了一下。因为他以为这就是小克劳斯。“你要知道，”他说，“你不能再把我当做一个傻瓜来耍了。”随后他也就回到家里去。“这傢伙真是一个坏蛋，”小克劳斯说。“他想把我打死。

　　幸好我的老祖母已经死了，否则他会把她的一条命送掉。“

　　於是他给祖母穿上礼拜天的衣服，从邻人那儿借来一匹马，套在一辆车子上，同时把老太太放在最后边的座位上坐着。这样，当他赶着车子的时候，她就可以不至於倒下来。他们颠颠簸簸地走过树林。当太阳升起的时候，他们来到一个旅店的门口。小克劳斯在这儿停下来，走到店里去吃点东西。

　　店老闆是一个有很多很多钱的人，他也是一个非常好的人，不过他的脾气很坏，好像他全身长满了胡椒和烟草。“早安，”他对小克劳斯说。“你今天穿起漂亮衣服来啦。”“不错，”小克劳斯说，“我今天是跟我的祖母上城里去呀：她正坐在外面的车子里，我不能把她带到这屋子里来。你能不能给她一杯蜜酒喝？不过请你把声音讲大一点，因为她的耳朵不太好。”“好吧，这个我办得到，”店老闆说，於是他倒了一大杯蜜酒，走到外边那个死了的祖母身边去。她僵直地坐在车子里。“这是你孩子为你叫的一杯酒。”店老闆说。不过这死妇人一句话也不讲，只是坐着不动。“你听到没有？”店老闆高声地喊出来。“这是你孩子为你叫的一杯酒呀！”

　　他又把这话喊了一遍，接着又喊了一遍。不过她还是一动也不动。最后他发起火来，把酒杯向她的脸上扔去。蜜酒沿着她的鼻子流下来，同时她向车子后边倒去，因为她只是放得很直，但没有绑得很紧。“你看！”小克劳斯吵起来，并且向门外跑去，拦腰抱住店老闆。“你把我的祖母打死了！你瞧，她的额角上有一个大洞。”　　　　“咳，真糟糕！”店老闆也叫起来，难过地扭着自己的双手。“这完全怪我脾气太坏！亲爱的小克劳斯，我给你一斗钱好吧，我也愿意安葬她，把她当做我自己的祖母一样。不过请你不要声张，否则我的脑袋就保不住了。那才不痛快呢！”

　　因此小克劳斯又得到了一斗钱。店老闆还安葬了他的老祖母，像是安葬自己的亲人一样。

　　小克劳斯带着这许多钱回到家里，马上叫他的孩子去向大克劳斯借一个斗来。　　　　“这是怎么一回事儿？”大克劳斯说。“难道我没有把他打死吗？我得亲眼去看一下。”他就亲自拿着斗来见小克劳斯。“你从哪里弄到这么多的钱？”他问。当他看到这么一大堆钱的时候，他的眼睛睁得非常大。“你打死的是我的祖母，并不是我呀，”小克劳斯说。“我已经把她卖了，得到一斗钱。”“这个价钱倒是非常高。”大克劳斯说。於是他马上跑回家去，拿起一把斧头，把自己的老祖母砍死了。他把她装上车，赶进城去，在一位药剂师的门前停住，问他是不是愿意买一个死人。“这是谁，你从甚么地方弄到她的？”药剂师问。“这是我的祖母，”大克劳斯说。“我把她砍死了，为的是想卖得一斗钱。”“愿上帝救救我们！”药剂师说。“你简直在发疯！再不要讲这样的话吧，再讲你就会掉脑袋了。”於是他就老老实实地告诉他，他做的这桩事情是多么要不得，他是一个多么坏的人，他应该受到怎样的惩罚。大克劳斯吓了一跳，赶快从药房里跑出来，跳进车里，抽起马鞭，奔回家来。不过药剂师和所有在场的人都以为他是一个疯子，所以也就随便放他逃走了。“你得还这笔债！”大克劳斯把车子赶上了大路以后说，“是的，小克劳斯，你得还这笔债！”他一回到家来，就马上找到一个最大的口袋，一直走向小克劳斯家里，说：“你又作弄了我一次！第一次我打死了我的马；这一次又打死了我的老祖母！这完全得由你负责。不过你别再想作弄我了。”於是他就把小克劳斯拦腰抱住，塞进那个大口袋里去，背在背上，大声对他说：“现在我要走了，要把你活活地淹死！”

　　到河边，要走好长一段路。小克劳斯才够他背的呢。这条路挨近一座教堂：教堂内正在奏着风琴，人们正在唱着圣诗，唱得很好听。大克劳斯把装着小克劳斯的大口袋在教堂门口放下。他想：不妨进去先听一首圣诗，然后再向前走也不碍事。小克劳斯既跑不出来，而别的人又都在教堂里，因此他就走进去了。“咳，我的天！咳，我的天！”袋子里的小克劳斯歎了一口气。他扭着，挣着，但是他没有办法把绳子弄脱。这时恰巧有一位赶牲口的白发老人走过来，手中拿着一根长棒；他正在赶着一群公牛和母牛。那群牛恰巧踢着那个装着小克劳斯的袋子，把它弄翻了。“咳，我的天！”小克劳斯歎了一口气，“我年纪还是这么轻，现在就已经要进天国了！”“可是我这个可怜的人，”赶牲口的人说，“我的年纪已经这么老，到现在却还进不去呢！”“那么请你把这袋子打开吧，”小克劳斯喊出声来。“你可以代替我钻进去，那么你就马上可以进天国了。”“那很好，我愿意这样办！”赶牲口的人说。於是他就把袋子解开，小克劳斯就立刻爬出来了。“你来看管这些牲口，好吗？”老人问。於是他就钻进袋子里去。小克劳斯把它系好，随后就赶着这群公牛和母牛走了。

　　过了不久，大克劳斯从教堂里走出来。他又把这袋子扛在肩上。他觉得袋子轻了一些；这是没有错的，因为赶牲口的老人只有小克劳斯一半重。“现在背起他是多么轻啊！不错，这是因为我刚才听了一首圣诗的缘故。”

　　他走向那条又宽又深的河边，把那个装着赶牲口的老人的袋子扔到水里。他以为这就是小克劳斯了。所以他在后面喊：“躺在那儿吧！你再也不能作弄我了！”

　　於是他回到家来。不过当他走到一个十字路口的时候，忽然碰到小克劳斯赶着一群牲口。“这是怎么一回事儿？”大克劳斯说。“难道我没有淹死你吗？”“不错，”小克劳斯说，“大约半个钟头以前，你把我扔进河里去了。”“不过你从甚么地方得到这样好的牲口呢？”大克劳斯问。“它们都是海里的牲口，”小克劳斯说。“我把全部的经过告诉你吧，同时我也要感谢你把我淹死。我现在走起运来了。你可以相信我，我现在真正发财了！我呆在袋子里的时候，真是害怕！当你把我从桥上扔进冷水里去的时候，风就在我耳朵旁边叫。我马上就沉到水底，不过我倒没有碰伤，因为那儿长着非常柔软的水草。我是落到草上的。马上这口袋自动地开了。一位非常漂亮的姑娘，身上穿着雪白的衣服，湿头发上戴着一个绿色的花环，走过来拉着我的手，对我说：”你就是小克劳斯吗？你来了，我先送给你几匹牲口吧。沿着这条路，再向前走12里，你还可以看到一大群——我把它们都送给你好了。“我这时才知道河就是住在海里的人们的一条大道。他们在海底上走，从海那儿走向内地，直到这条河的尽头。这儿开着那么多美丽的花，长着那么多新鲜的草。游在水里的鱼儿在我的耳朵旁滑过去，像这儿的鸟在空中飞过一样。那儿的人是多么漂亮啊！在那儿的山丘上和田沟里吃着草的牲口是多么好看啊！”“那么你为甚么又马上回到我们这儿来了呢？”大克劳斯问。“水里面要是那么好，我决不会回来！”“咳，”小克劳斯回答说，“这正是我聪明的地方。你记得我跟你讲过，那位海里的姑娘曾经说：”沿着大路再向前走12里，“——她所说的路无非是河罢了，因为她不能走别种的路——那儿还有一大群牲口在等着我啦。不过我知道河流是怎样一种弯弯曲曲的东西——它有时这样一弯，有时那样一弯；这全是弯路，只要你能做到，你可以回到陆地上来走一条直路，那就是穿过田野再回到河里去。这样就可以少走六里多路，因此我也就可以早点得到我的海牲口了！”“啊，你真是一个幸运的人！”大克劳斯说。“你想，假如我也走向海底的话，我能不能也得到一些海牲口？”“我想是能够的。”小克劳斯回答说。“不过我没有气力把你背在袋子里走到河边，你太重了！但是假如你自己走到那儿，自己钻进袋子里去，我倒很愿意把你扔进水里去呢！”“谢谢你！”大克劳斯说。“不过我走下去得不到海牲口的话，我可要结结实实地揍你一顿啦！这点请你注意。”“哦，不要这样，不要这样厉害吧！”於是他们就一起向河边走去。那些牲口已经很渴了，它们一看到水，就拚命冲过去喝。“你看它们简直等都等不及了！”小克劳斯说。“它们急着要回到水底下去呀！”“是的，不过你得先帮助我！”大克劳斯说，“不然我就要结结实实地揍你一顿！”

　　这样，他就钻进一个大口袋里去，那个口袋一直是由一头公牛驮在背上的。“请放一块石头到里面去吧，不然我就怕沉不下去啦。”大克劳斯说。“这个你放心，”小克劳斯回答说，於是他装了一块大石头到袋里去，用绳子把它系紧。接着他就把它一推：哗啦！大克劳斯滚到河里去了，而且马上就沉到河底。“我恐怕你找不到牲口了！”小克劳斯说。於是他就把他所有的牲口赶回家来。

　　（1835年）

　　这篇童话发表於1835年，收集在他的第一本童话集《讲给孩子们听的故事》里。故事生动活泼，具有童话和民间故事的一切特点，小朋友们读起来只会感到有趣，还不一定会意识到它反映出一个可怕的社会现实，那就是：为了金钱，即使对亲兄弟也不惜谋财害命，相互残杀——不过作法“很有趣”而已。这里面还反映出某些“正人君子”的虚伪和欺骗，并且还对他们进行了“有趣”、但是严厉的讽刺和批判。小克劳斯请求那个农夫的妻子让他到她家过一夜，她拒绝说：“丈夫不在家，不能让任何陌生人进来。”但牧师却能够进去。她的丈夫素来看不惯乡下的牧师，认为他是个“魔鬼”，因此牧师“知道她的丈夫不在家”，“这时（夜里）才来向这女人道”日安“。”“这位贤慧的女人把她所有的好东西都搬出来给他吃。”不久丈夫忽然回来了，牧师就钻进一个大空箱子里去藏起来。丈夫揭开箱子，发现里面蹲着一个魔鬼，“跟我们的牧师是一模一样。”牧师表面上是满口仁义道德的人，但实际上却在这里做着不可告人的勾当。