Tales of Laughter — The Giant and the Tailor
_The Giant and the Tailor_ A certain tailor, who was a large boaster but a very small performer, took it once into his head to go and look about him in the world.
As soon as he could, he left his workshop, and traveled away over hills and valleys, now on this road, and now on that; but still onward.
After he had gone some way, he perceived in the distance a steep mountain, and behind it a lofty tower, which rose from the midst of a wild, dense forest.
“Good gracious!
” cried the tailor, “what is this?
” and driven by his curiosity, he went rapidly toward the place.
But he opened his mouth and eyes wide enough when he got nearer; for the tower had legs, and sprang in a trice over the steep hill, and stood up, a mighty giant, before the tailor.
“What are you about here, you puny fly-legs?
” asked the giant in a voice which rumbled on all sides like thunder.
“I am trying to earn a piece of bread in this forest,” whispered the tailor.
“Well, then, it is time you entered my service,” said the giant fiercely.
“If it must be so, why not?
” said the tailor humbly; “but what wage shall I have?
” “What wage shall you have?
” repeated the giant contemptuously; “listen and I will tell you: every year, three hundred and sixty-five days, and one besides, if it be leap-year.
Is that right?
” “Quite,” said the tailor; but thought to himself: “One must cut according to his cloth; I will seek to make myself free very soon.
” “Go, little rascal, and fetch me a glass of water!
” cried the giant.
“Why not the whole well, and its spring, too?
” said the tailor, but fetched as he was bid.
“What!
the well and its spring, too?
” bellowed the giant, who was rather cowardly and weak, and so began to be afraid, thinking to himself: “This fellow can do more than roast apples; he has a heap of courage.
I must take care, or he will be too much of a servant for me!
” So, when the tailor returned with the water, the giant sent him to fetch a couple of bundles of faggots from the forest, and bring them home.
“Why not the whole forest at one stroke, every tree, young and old, knotty and smooth?
” asked the tailor, and went away.
“What!
the whole forest, and the well, too, and its spring!
” murmured the frightened giant in his beard; and he began to be still more afraid, and believed that the tailor was too great a man for him, and not fit for his servant.
However, when the tailor returned with his load of faggots, the giant told him to shoot two or three wild boars for their supper.
“Why not rather a thousand at one shot, and the rest afterward?
” cried the boaster.
“What, what!
” gasped the cowardly giant, terribly frightened.
“Oh, well!
that is enough for to-day; you may go to sleep now!
” The poor giant, however, was so very much afraid of the little tailor that he could not close his eyes all the night, but tossed about thinking how to get rid of his servant, whom he regarded as an enchanter conspiring against his life.
With time comes counsel.
The following morning the giant and the dwarf went together to a marsh where a great many willow-trees were growing.
When they got there the giant said: “Seat yourself on one of these willow rods, tailor; on my life I only wish to see if you are in a condition to bend it down.
” The boasting tailor climbed the tree, and perched himself on a bough, and then, holding his breath, he made himself heavy enough thereby, to bend the tree down.
Soon, however, he had to take breath again, and immediately, having been unfortunate enough to come without his goose in his pocket, the bough flew up, and to the great joy of the giant, carried the tailor with it so high into the air that he went out of sight.
And whether he has since fallen down again, or is yet flying about in the air, I am unable to tell you satisfactorily.
