Money I
have enough of, but I have a desire for the fruits of the earth." The
peasant agreed to the bargain. "In order, however, that no dispute may
arise about the division," said he, "everything that is above ground
shall belong to thee, and what is under the earth to me." The Devil was
quite satisfied with that, but the cunning peasant had sown turnips.
Now when the time for harvest came, the Devil appeared and wanted to
take away his crop; but he found nothing but the yellow withered leaves,
while the peasant, full of delight, was digging up his turnips. "Thou
hast had the best of it for once," said the Devil, "but the next time
that won't do. What grows above ground shall be thine, and what is under
it, mine." "I am willing," replied the peasant; but when the time came
to sow, he did not again sow turnips, but wheat. The grain became ripe,
and the peasant went into the field and cut the full stalks down to the
ground. When the Devil came, he found nothing but the stubble, and went
away in a fury down into a cleft in the rocks. "That is the way to cheat
the Devil," said the peasant, and went and fetched away the treasure.
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