安徒生童話:Little Claus and Big Claus小克勞斯和大克勞斯

Little Claus and Big Claus小克勞斯和大克勞斯

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.

從前有兩個人住在一個村子裏。他們的名字是一樣的——兩個人都叫克勞斯。不過一個有四匹馬，另一個只有一匹馬。爲了把他們兩人分得清楚，大家就把有四匹馬的那個叫大克勞斯，把只有一匹馬的那個叫小克勞斯。現在我們可以聽聽他們每人做了些甚麼事情吧，因爲這是一個真實的故事。

小克勞斯一星期中每天要替大克勞斯犁田，而且還要把自己僅有的一匹馬借給他使用。大克勞斯用自己的四匹馬來幫助他，可是每星期只幫助他一天，而且這還是在星期天。好呀！小克勞斯多麼喜歡在那五匹牲口的上空啪嗒啪嗒地響着鞭子啊！在這一天，它們就好像全部已變成了他自己的財產。太陽在高高興興地照着，所有教堂塔尖上的鐘都敲出做禮拜的鐘聲。大家都穿起了最漂亮的衣服，胳膊底下夾着聖詩集，走到教堂裏去聽牧師講道。他們都看到了小克勞斯用他的五匹牲口在犁田。他是那麼高興，他把鞭子在這幾匹牲口的上空抽得啪嗒啪嗒地響了又響，同時喊着：“我的五匹馬兒喲！使勁呀！”“你可不能這麼喊啦！”大克勞斯說。“因爲你只有一匹馬呀。”

不過，去做禮拜的人在旁邊走過的時候，小克勞斯就忘記了他不應該說這樣的話。他又喊起來：“我的五匹馬兒喲，使勁呀！”“現在我得請求你不要喊這一套了，”大克勞斯說。“假如你再這樣說的話，我可要砸碎你這匹牲口的腦袋，叫它當場倒下來死掉，那麼它就完蛋了。”“我決不再說那句話，”小克勞斯說。但是，當有人在旁邊走過、對他點點頭、道一聲日安的時候，他又高興起來，覺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揮起鞭子來，喊着：“我的五匹馬兒喲，使勁呀！”“我可要在你的馬兒身上”使勁“一下了。”大克勞斯說，於是他就拿起一個拴馬樁，在小克勞斯唯一的馬兒頭上打了一下。這牲口倒下來，立刻就死了。“哎，我現在連一匹馬兒也沒有了！”小克勞斯說，同時哭起來。

過了一會兒他剝下馬兒的皮，把它放在風裏吹乾。然後把它裝進一個袋子，背在背上，到城裏去賣這張馬皮。

他得走上好長的一段路，而且還得經過一個很大的黑森林。這時天氣變得壞極了。他迷失了路。他還沒有找到正確的路，天就要黑了。在夜幕降臨以前，要回家是太遠了，但是到城裏去也不近。

路旁有一個很大的農莊，它窗外的百葉窗已經放下來了，不過縫隙裏還是有亮光透露出來。“也許人家會讓我在這裏過一夜吧。”小克勞斯想。於是他就走過去，敲了一下門。那農夫的妻子開了門，不過，她一聽到他這個請求，就叫他走開，並且說：她的丈夫不在家，她不能讓任何陌生人進來。“那麼我只有睡在露天裏了。”小克勞斯說。農夫的妻子就當着他的面把門關上了。

附近有一個大乾草堆，在草堆和屋子中間有一個平頂的小茅屋。“我可以睡在那上面！”小克勞斯擡頭看見那屋頂的時候說。“這的確是一張很美妙的牀。我想鸛鳥決不會飛下來啄我的腿的。”因爲屋頂上就站着一隻活生生的鸛鳥——它的窠就在那上面。

小克勞斯爬到茅屋頂上，在那上面躺下，翻了個身，把自己舒舒服服地安頓下來。窗外的百葉窗的上面一部分沒有關好，所以他看得見屋子裏的房間。房間裏有一個鋪了檯布的大桌子，桌上放着酒、烤肉和一條肥美的魚。農夫的妻子和鄉里的牧師在桌旁坐着，再沒有別的人在場。她在爲他斟酒，他把叉子插進魚裏去，挑起來吃，因爲這是他最心愛的一個菜。“我希望也能讓別人吃一點！”小克勞斯心中想，同時伸出頭向那窗子望。天啊！那裏面有多麼美的一塊糕啊！是的，這簡直是一桌酒席！

這時他聽到有一個人騎着馬在大路上朝這屋子走來。原來是那女人的丈夫回家來了。

他倒是一個很善良的人，不過他有一個怪毛病——他怎麼也看不慣牧師。只要遇見一個牧師，他立刻就要變得非常暴躁起來。因爲這個緣故，所以這個牧師這時纔來向這女人道“日安”，因爲他知道她的丈夫不在家。這位賢慧的女人把她所有的好東西都搬出來給他吃。不過，當他們一聽到她丈夫回來了，他們就非常害怕起來。這女人就請求牧師鑽進牆角邊的一個大空箱子裏去。他也就只好照辦了，因爲他知道這個可憐的丈夫看不慣一個牧師。女人連忙把這些美味的酒菜藏進竈裏去，因爲假如丈夫看見這些東西，他一定要問問這是甚麼意思。“咳，我的天啊！”茅屋上的小克勞斯看到這些好東西給搬走，不禁歎了口氣。“上面是甚麼人？”農夫問，同時也擡頭望着小克勞斯。“你爲甚麼睡在那兒？請你下來跟我一起到屋子裏去吧。”

於是小克勞斯就告訴他，他怎樣迷了路，同時請求農夫准許他在這兒過一夜。“當然可以的，”農夫說。“不過我們得先吃點東西才行。”

女人很和善地迎接他們兩個人。她在長桌上鋪好檯布，盛了一大碗稀飯給他們吃。農夫很餓，吃得津津有味。可是小克勞斯不禁想起了那些好吃的烤肉、魚和糕來——他知道這些東西是藏在竈裏的。

他早已把那個裝着馬皮的袋子放在桌子底下，放在自己腳邊；因爲我們記得，這就是他從家裏帶出來的東西，要送到城裏去賣的。這一碗稀粥他實在吃得沒有甚麼味道，所以他的一雙腳就在袋子上踩，踩得那張馬皮發出嘰嘰嘎嘎的聲音來。“不要叫！”他對袋子說，但同時他不禁又在上面踩，弄得它發出更大的聲音來。“怎麼，你袋子裏裝的甚麼東西？”農夫問。“咳，裏面是一個魔法師，”小克勞斯回答說。“他說我們不必再吃稀粥了，他已經變出一竈子烤肉、魚和點心來了。”“好極了！”農夫說。他很快地就把竈子掀開，發現了他老婆藏在裏面的那些好菜。不過，他卻以爲這些好東西是袋裏的魔法師變出來的。他的女人甚麼話也不敢說，只好趕快把這些菜搬到桌上來。他們兩人就把肉、魚和糕餅吃了個痛快。現在小克勞斯又在袋子上踩了一下，弄得裏面的皮又叫起來。“他現在又在說甚麼呢？”農夫問。

小克勞斯回答說：“他說他還爲我們變出了三瓶酒，這酒也在竈子裏面哩。”

那女人就不得不把她所藏的酒也取出來，農夫把酒喝了，非常愉快。於是他自己也很想有一個像小克勞斯袋子裏那樣的魔法師。“他能夠變出魔鬼嗎？”農夫問。“我倒很想看看魔鬼呢，因爲我現在很愉快。”“當然嘍，”小克勞斯說。“我所要求的東西，我的魔法師都能變得出來——難道你不能嗎，魔法師？”他一邊說着，一邊踩着這張皮，弄得它又叫起來。“你聽到沒有？他說：”能變得出來。“不過這個魔鬼的樣子是很醜的：我看最好還是不要看他吧。”“噢，我一點也不害怕。他會是一副甚麼樣子呢？”“嗯，他簡直跟本鄉的牧師一模一樣。”“哈！”農夫說，“那可真是太難看了！你要知道，我真看不慣牧師的那副嘴臉。不過也沒有甚麼關係，我只要知道他是個魔鬼，也就能忍受得了。現在我鼓起勇氣來吧！不過請別讓他離我太近。”“讓我問一下我的魔法師吧。”小克勞斯說。於是他就在袋子上踩了一下，同時把耳朵偏過來聽。“他說甚麼？”“他說你可以走過去，把牆角那兒的箱子掀開。你可以看見那個魔鬼就蹲在裏面。不過你要把箱蓋子好好抓緊，免得他溜走了。”“我要請你幫助我抓住蓋子！”農夫說。於是他走到箱子那兒。他的妻子早把那個真正的牧師在裏面藏好了。現在他正坐在裏面，非常害怕。

農夫把蓋子略爲掀開，朝裏面偷偷地瞧了一下。“呵唷！”他喊出聲來，朝後跳了一步。“是的，我現在看到他了。他跟我們的牧師是一模一樣。啊，這真嚇人！”

爲了這件事，他們得喝幾杯酒。所以他們坐下來，一直喝到夜深。“你得把這位魔法師賣給我，”農夫說。“隨便你要多少錢吧：我馬上就可以給你一大斗錢。”“不成，這個我可不幹，”小克勞斯說。“你想想看吧，這位魔法師對我的用處該有多大呀！”“啊，要是它屬於我該多好啊！”農夫繼續要求着說。“好吧，”最後小克勞斯說。“今晚你讓我在這兒過夜，實在對我太好了。就這樣辦吧。你拿一斗錢來，可以把這個魔法師買去，不過我要滿滿的一斗錢。”“那不成問題，”農夫說。“可是你得把那兒的一個箱子帶走。我一分鐘也不願意把它留在我的家裏。誰也不知道，他是不是還待在裏面。”

小克勞斯把他裝着幹馬皮的那個袋子給了農夫，換得了一斗錢，而且這鬥錢是裝得滿滿的。農夫還另外給他一輛大車，把錢和箱子運走。“再會吧！”小克勞斯說，於是他就推着錢和那隻大箱子走了，牧師還坐在箱子裏面。

在樹林的另一邊有一條又寬又深的河，水流得非常急，誰也難以遊過急流。不過那上面新建了一座大橋。小克勞斯在橋中央停下來，大聲地講了幾句話，使箱子裏的牧師能夠聽見：“咳，這口笨箱子叫我怎麼辦呢？它是那麼重，好像裏面裝得有石頭似的。我已經夠累，再也推不動了。我還是把它扔到河裏去吧。如果它流到我家裏，那是再好也不過；如果它流不到我家裏，那也就只好讓它去吧。”

於是他一隻手把箱子略微提起一點，好像真要把它扔到水裏去似的。“幹不得，請放下來吧！”箱子裏的牧師大聲說。“請讓我出來吧！”“哎唷！”小克勞斯裝做害怕的樣子說。“他原來還在裏面！我得趕快把它扔進河裏去，讓他淹死。”“哎呀！扔不得！扔不得！”牧師大聲叫起來。“請你放了我，我可以給你一大斗錢。”“呀，這倒可以考慮一下，”小克勞斯說，同時把箱子打開。牧師馬上就爬出來，把那口空箱子推到水裏去。隨後他就回到了家裏，小克勞斯跟着他，得到了滿滿一斗錢。小克勞斯已經從農夫那裏得到了一斗錢，所以現在他整個車子裏都裝了錢。“你看我那匹馬的代價倒真是不小呢，”當他回到家來走進自己的房間裏去時，他對自己說，同時把錢倒在地上，堆成一大堆。“如果大克勞斯知道我靠了一匹馬發了大財，他一定會生氣的。不過我決不老老實實地告訴他。”　　　　因此他派一個孩子到大克勞斯家裏去借一個鬥來。“他要這東西幹甚麼呢？”大克勞斯想。於是他在鬥底上塗了一點焦油，好使它能粘住一點它所量過的東西。事實上也是這樣，因爲當他收回這斗的時候，發現那上面粘着三塊嶄新的銀毫。“這是甚麼呢？”大克勞斯說。他馬上跑到小克勞斯那兒去。“你這些錢是從哪兒弄來的？”“哦，那是從我那張馬皮上賺來的。昨天晚上我把它賣掉了。”“它的價錢倒是不小啦，”大克勞斯說。他急忙跑回家來，拿起一把斧頭，把他的四匹馬當頭砍死了。他剝下皮來，送到城裏去賣。“賣皮喲！賣皮喲！誰要買皮？”他在街上喊。

所有的皮鞋匠和製革匠都跑過來，問他要多少價錢。“每張賣一斗錢！”大克勞斯說。“你發瘋了嗎？”他們說。“你以爲我們的錢可以用斗量麼？”“賣皮喲！賣皮喲！誰要買皮？”他又喊起來。人家一問起他的皮的價錢，他老是回答說：“一斗錢。”“他簡直是拿我們開玩笑。”大家都說。於是鞋匠拿起皮條，製革匠拿起圍裙，都向大克勞斯打來。“賣皮喲！賣皮喲！”他們譏笑着他。“我們叫你有一張像豬一樣流着鮮血的皮。滾出城去吧！”他們喊着。大克勞斯拚命地跑，因爲他從來沒有像這次被打得那麼厲害。“嗯，”他回到家來時說。“小克勞斯得還這筆債，我要把他活活地打死。”

但是在小克勞斯的家裏，他的祖母恰巧死掉了。她生前對他一直很厲害，很不客氣。雖然如此，他還是覺得很難過，所以他抱起這死女人，放在自己溫暖的牀上，看她是不是還能復活。他要使她在那牀上停一整夜，他自己坐在牆角里的一把椅子上睡——他過去常常是這樣。

當他夜裏正在那兒坐着的時候，門開了，大克勞斯拿着斧頭進來了。他知道小克勞斯的牀在甚麼地方。他直向牀前走去，用斧頭在他老祖母的頭上砍了一下。因爲他以爲這就是小克勞斯。“你要知道，”他說，“你不能再把我當做一個傻瓜來耍了。”隨後他也就回到家裏去。“這傢伙真是一個壞蛋，”小克勞斯說。“他想把我打死。

幸好我的老祖母已經死了，否則他會把她的一條命送掉。“

於是他給祖母穿上禮拜天的衣服，從鄰人那兒借來一匹馬，套在一輛車子上，同時把老太太放在最後邊的座位上坐着。這樣，當他趕着車子的時候，她就可以不至於倒下來。他們顛顛簸簸地走過樹林。當太陽升起的時候，他們來到一個旅店的門口。小克勞斯在這兒停下來，走到店裏去吃點東西。

店老闆是一個有很多很多錢的人，他也是一個非常好的人，不過他的脾氣很壞，好像他全身長滿了胡椒和菸草。“早安，”他對小克勞斯說。“你今天穿起漂亮衣服來啦。”“不錯，”小克勞斯說，“我今天是跟我的祖母上城裏去呀：她正坐在外面的車子裏，我不能把她帶到這屋子裏來。你能不能給她一杯蜜酒喝？不過請你把聲音講大一點，因爲她的耳朵不太好。”“好吧，這個我辦得到，”店老闆說，於是他倒了一大杯蜜酒，走到外邊那個死了的祖母身邊去。她僵直地坐在車子裏。“這是你孩子爲你叫的一杯酒。”店老闆說。不過這死婦人一句話也不講，只是坐着不動。“你聽到沒有？”店老闆高聲地喊出來。“這是你孩子爲你叫的一杯酒呀！”

他又把這話喊了一遍，接着又喊了一遍。不過她還是一動也不動。最後他發起火來，把酒杯向她的臉上扔去。蜜酒沿着她的鼻子流下來，同時她向車子後邊倒去，因爲她只是放得很直，但沒有綁得很緊。“你看！”小克勞斯吵起來，並且向門外跑去，攔腰抱住店老闆。“你把我的祖母打死了！你瞧，她的額角上有一個大洞。”　　　　“咳，真糟糕！”店老闆也叫起來，難過地扭着自己的雙手。“這完全怪我脾氣太壞！親愛的小克勞斯，我給你一斗錢好吧，我也願意安葬她，把她當做我自己的祖母一樣。不過請你不要聲張，否則我的腦袋就保不住了。那纔不痛快呢！”

因此小克勞斯又得到了一斗錢。店老闆還安葬了他的老祖母，像是安葬自己的親人一樣。

小克勞斯帶着這許多錢回到家裏，馬上叫他的孩子去向大克勞斯借一個鬥來。　　　　“這是怎麼一回事兒？”大克勞斯說。“難道我沒有把他打死嗎？我得親眼去看一下。”他就親自拿着鬥來見小克勞斯。“你從哪裏弄到這麼多的錢？”他問。當他看到這麼一大堆錢的時候，他的眼睛睜得非常大。“你打死的是我的祖母，並不是我呀，”小克勞斯說。“我已經把她賣了，得到一斗錢。”“這個價錢倒是非常高。”大克勞斯說。於是他馬上跑回家去，拿起一把斧頭，把自己的老祖母砍死了。他把她裝上車，趕進城去，在一位藥劑師的門前停住，問他是不是願意買一個死人。“這是誰，你從甚麼地方弄到她的？”藥劑師問。“這是我的祖母，”大克勞斯說。“我把她砍死了，爲的是想賣得一斗錢。”“願上帝救救我們！”藥劑師說。“你簡直在發瘋！再不要講這樣的話吧，再講你就會掉腦袋了。”於是他就老老實實地告訴他，他做的這樁事情是多麼要不得，他是一個多麼壞的人，他應該受到怎樣的懲罰。大克勞斯嚇了一跳，趕快從藥房裏跑出來，跳進車裏，抽起馬鞭，奔回家來。不過藥劑師和所有在場的人都以爲他是一個瘋子，所以也就隨便放他逃走了。“你得還這筆債！”大克勞斯把車子趕上了大路以後說，“是的，小克勞斯，你得還這筆債！”他一回到家來，就馬上找到一個最大的口袋，一直走向小克勞斯家裏，說：“你又作弄了我一次！第一次我打死了我的馬；這一次又打死了我的老祖母！這完全得由你負責。不過你別再想作弄我了。”於是他就把小克勞斯攔腰抱住，塞進那個大口袋裏去，背在背上，大聲對他說：“現在我要走了，要把你活活地淹死！”

到河邊，要走好長一段路。小克勞斯纔夠他背的呢。這條路挨近一座教堂：教堂內正在奏着風琴，人們正在唱着聖詩，唱得很好聽。大克勞斯把裝着小克勞斯的大口袋在教堂門口放下。他想：不妨進去先聽一首聖詩，然後再向前走也不礙事。小克勞斯既跑不出來，而別的人又都在教堂裏，因此他就走進去了。“咳，我的天！咳，我的天！”袋子裏的小克勞斯歎了一口氣。他扭着，掙着，但是他沒有辦法把繩子弄脫。這時恰巧有一位趕牲口的白髮老人走過來，手中拿着一根長棒；他正在趕着一羣公牛和母牛。那羣牛恰巧踢着那個裝着小克勞斯的袋子，把它弄翻了。“咳，我的天！”小克勞斯歎了一口氣，“我年紀還是這麼輕，現在就已經要進天國了！”“可是我這個可憐的人，”趕牲口的人說，“我的年紀已經這麼老，到現在卻還進不去呢！”“那麼請你把這袋子打開吧，”小克勞斯喊出聲來。“你可以代替我鑽進去，那麼你就馬上可以進天國了。”“那很好，我願意這樣辦！”趕牲口的人說。於是他就把袋子解開，小克勞斯就立刻爬出來了。“你來看管這些牲口，好嗎？”老人問。於是他就鑽進袋子裏去。小克勞斯把它繫好，隨後就趕着這羣公牛和母牛走了。

過了不久，大克勞斯從教堂裏走出來。他又把這袋子扛在肩上。他覺得袋子輕了一些；這是沒有錯的，因爲趕牲口的老人只有小克勞斯一半重。“現在背起他是多麼輕啊！不錯，這是因爲我剛纔聽了一首聖詩的緣故。”

他走向那條又寬又深的河邊，把那個裝着趕牲口的老人的袋子扔到水裏。他以爲這就是小克勞斯了。所以他在後面喊：“躺在那兒吧！你再也不能作弄我了！”

於是他回到家來。不過當他走到一個十字路口的時候，忽然碰到小克勞斯趕着一羣牲口。“這是怎麼一回事兒？”大克勞斯說。“難道我沒有淹死你嗎？”“不錯，”小克勞斯說，“大約半個鐘頭以前，你把我扔進河裏去了。”“不過你從甚麼地方得到這樣好的牲口呢？”大克勞斯問。“它們都是海里的牲口，”小克勞斯說。“我把全部的經過告訴你吧，同時我也要感謝你把我淹死。我現在走起運來了。你可以相信我，我現在真正發財了！我呆在袋子裏的時候，真是害怕！當你把我從橋上扔進冷水裏去的時候，風就在我耳朵旁邊叫。我馬上就沉到水底，不過我倒沒有碰傷，因爲那兒長着非常柔軟的水草。我是落到草上的。馬上這口袋自動地開了。一位非常漂亮的姑娘，身上穿着雪白的衣服，溼頭髮上戴着一個綠色的花環，走過來拉着我的手，對我說：”你就是小克勞斯嗎？你來了，我先送給你幾匹牲口吧。沿着這條路，再向前走12裏，你還可以看到一大羣——我把它們都送給你好了。“我這時才知道河就是住在海里的人們的一條大道。他們在海底上走，從海那兒走向內地，直到這條河的盡頭。這兒開着那麼多美麗的花，長着那麼多新鮮的草。遊在水裏的魚兒在我的耳朵旁滑過去，像這兒的鳥在空中飛過一樣。那兒的人是多麼漂亮啊！在那兒的山丘上和田溝裏吃着草的牲口是多麼好看啊！”“那麼你爲甚麼又馬上回到我們這兒來了呢？”大克勞斯問。“水裏面要是那麼好，我決不會回來！”“咳，”小克勞斯回答說，“這正是我聰明的地方。你記得我跟你講過，那位海里的姑娘曾經說：”沿着大路再向前走12裏，“——她所說的路無非是河罷了，因爲她不能走別種的路——那兒還有一大羣牲口在等着我啦。不過我知道河流是怎樣一種彎彎曲曲的東西——它有時這樣一彎，有時那樣一彎；這全是彎路，只要你能做到，你可以回到陸地上來走一條直路，那就是穿過田野再回到河裏去。這樣就可以少走六裏多路，因此我也就可以早點得到我的海牲口了！”“啊，你真是一個幸運的人！”大克勞斯說。“你想，假如我也走向海底的話，我能不能也得到一些海牲口？”“我想是能夠的。”小克勞斯回答說。“不過我沒有氣力把你背在袋子裏走到河邊，你太重了！但是假如你自己走到那兒，自己鑽進袋子裏去，我倒很願意把你扔進水裏去呢！”“謝謝你！”大克勞斯說。“不過我走下去得不到海牲口的話，我可要結結實實地揍你一頓啦！這點請你注意。”“哦，不要這樣，不要這樣厲害吧！”於是他們就一起向河邊走去。那些牲口已經很渴了，它們一看到水，就拚命衝過去喝。“你看它們簡直等都等不及了！”小克勞斯說。“它們急着要回到水底下去呀！”“是的，不過你得先幫助我！”大克勞斯說，“不然我就要結結實實地揍你一頓！”

這樣，他就鑽進一個大口袋裏去，那個口袋一直是由一頭公牛馱在背上的。“請放一塊石頭到裏面去吧，不然我就怕沉不下去啦。”大克勞斯說。“這個你放心，”小克勞斯回答說，於是他裝了一塊大石頭到袋裏去，用繩子把它繫緊。接着他就把它一推：嘩啦！大克勞斯滾到河裏去了，而且馬上就沉到河底。“我恐怕你找不到牲口了！”小克勞斯說。於是他就把他所有的牲口趕回家來。

（1835年）

這篇童話發表於1835年，收集在他的第一本童話集《講給孩子們聽的故事》裏。故事生動活潑，具有童話和民間故事的一切特點，小朋友們讀起來只會感到有趣，還不一定會意識到它反映出一個可怕的社會現實，那就是：爲了金錢，即使對親兄弟也不惜謀財害命，相互殘殺——不過作法“很有趣”而已。這裏面還反映出某些“正人君子”的虛僞和欺騙，並且還對他們進行了“有趣”、但是嚴厲的諷刺和批判。小克勞斯請求那個農夫的妻子讓他到她家過一夜，她拒絕說：“丈夫不在家，不能讓任何陌生人進來。”但牧師卻能夠進去。她的丈夫素來看不慣鄉下的牧師，認爲他是個“魔鬼”，因此牧師“知道她的丈夫不在家”，“這時（夜裏）纔來向這女人道”日安“。”“這位賢慧的女人把她所有的好東西都搬出來給他吃。”不久丈夫忽然回來了，牧師就鑽進一個大空箱子裏去藏起來。丈夫揭開箱子，發現裏面蹲着一個魔鬼，“跟我們的牧師是一模一樣。”牧師表面上是滿口仁義道德的人，但實際上卻在這裏做着不可告人的勾當。