Once when the father was going out to plough, the
little one said, "Father, I will go out with you." "Thou wouldst go
out with me?" said the father. "Stay here, thou wilt be of no use out
there, besides thou mightest get lost!" Then Thumbling began to cry,
and for the sake of peace his father put him in his pocket, and took
him with him. When he was outside in the field, he took him out again,
and set him in a freshly-cut furrow. Whilst he was there, a great giant
came over the hill. "Do thou see that great bogie?" said the father, for
he wanted to frighten the little fellow to make him good; "he is coming
to fetch thee." The giant, however, had scarcely taken two steps with
his long legs before he was in the furrow. He took up little Thumbling
carefully with two fingers, examined him, and without saying one word
went away with him. His father stood by, but could not utter a sound
for terror, and he thought nothing else but that his child was lost,
and that as long as he lived he should never set eyes on him again.
The giant, however, carried him home, suckled him, and Thumbling grew
and became tall and strong after the manner of giants.
Pages:
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647