The Golden Goose

Illustrated By: Stella Wei

SIMPLETON WAS THE YOUNGEST of three brothers. Each brother chopped wood for a living. One day, the oldest brother went off to the forest and there he met a dwarf.

"Please," said the dwarf, looking hungrily at the oldest brother's basket, "Won't you share your lunch with me?"

"Why should I?" snapped the oldest brother.

The next day the middle brother ventured to the forest to chop wood, and he met the same dwarf.

"Surely you'll share your lunch with me!" said the dwarf.

"Get your own," growled the middle brother. 

On the third day the youngest brother went off into the forest to chop wood. Like his two older brothers, he met the same dwarf.

Like his two older brothers, he met the same dwarf.

"I don't suppose you'd share your lunch with me," sighed the dwarf, his head cast down.

"Why not?" says Simpleton. "I'd like the company." And so the two of them ate happily together.

"I am going to tell you a secret," whispered the dwarf. "There's an oak tree by the river near a very large rock. Chop it down. You will find among the roots something very fine."

Simpleton thanked the dwarf. He chopped the tree, looked down among the roots, and something bright sparkled in the sunlight. A goose emerged - a goose with feathers made of pure gold!

Delighted, Simpleton scooped up the goose. That night he stayed at a nearby inn, paying for his room with one of the feathers. You can imagine the excitement this stirred with the innkeeper and his family!  It's not everyday that someone pays for a room with a feather made of pure gold.  Poking their heads out into the hallway, each of the innkeeper's three daughters hatched a plan to steal the goose.

When Simpleton was sound asleep, the innkeeper's eldest daughter tiptoed into his room. As quietly as she could, she reached to grab the sleeping goose with the golden feathers.  But the moment her hand clasped the goose, it stuck! Try as she might, she could not pull her hand away. "I may as well fall asleep this way," she thought. "Hopefully by morning my hand will be free. Then I'll get back to my room before anyone finds out I came in here."

Later that same night, the innkeeper's middle daughter slowly opened the door. She also tiptoed into the room with the intention of stealing the golden goose. But much to her surprise, snoring in the corner was her big sister! She tapped her big sister on the shoulder to wake her up. Alas! The moment she touched her sister's arm she, too, was stuck!

I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised to hear that just minutes later, the innkeeper's youngest daughter also tiptoed into the room. Surprised to see both of her older sisters snoring in the corner, she tapped the arm of her middle sister and instantly her fingers stuck fast, too!

She tapped the arm of her middle sister and instantly her fingers stuck fast, too!

The next morning they all awakened.

Simpleton yawned.  He said, "Now that was a good night's sleep! It's time to get going." He took the golden goose and left the inn, not noticing the three sisters who were stuck, tumbling after him left and right, wherever his legs took him.

A farmer hoeing his field saw the young man with the shining golden goose and the three young women rolling behind.   He thought, "That golden goose is a treasure!  If those girls are going to get a piece of it, there's no reason I shouldn't, too." He grabbed the youngest daughter by the hand, whereupon his hand instantly became stuck to her hand, and he had to stagger along behind them.

A miller thought just the same thing, when the shining golden goose and parade the followed behind passed by his mill.  He reached for the farmer and the next thing he knew he was attached, too. When the five of them saw two woodcutters coming out of the woods, the farmer, miller and the three sisters called to the woodcutters to help set them loose. But the woodcutters thought they were being motioned to stay away from the golden goose. Of course, THAT they would not do. As soon as they touched the miller, they were stuck as well!  Now seven followers trailed behind Simpleton and his goose.

As soon as they touched the miller, they were stuck as well!

After awhile, Simpleton entered a kingdom where a large crowd was gathered in front of the King's castle.

"What's going on?" said Simpleton to someone standing there.

"They are all trying to make the Princess laugh," he said. "She hasn't laughed in years, and the King says the first worthy fellow who can make her laugh can move into at the castle.  You know what THAT means."

"What?" said Simpleton.

"Seeing the Princess every day in person, that's what! You can be sure these young noblemen are here for a reason, if you know what I mean!"

"Honestly, father!" Simpleton heard the voice of a Princess coming from the balcony. "If there's something that's NOT funny, it's a bunch of over-privileged rich dudes trying to be funny!"

"If there's something that's NOT funny, it's a bunch of over-privileged rich dudes trying to be funny!"

"But pumpkin!" Simpleton heard the King plead, "won't you give the next fine young man a teensy, weensy chance?"  He turned to the crowd. "Number #437!  Step up!"

The Princess threw up her arms in despair.  As she whirled around, she saw Simpleton with seven people tripping behind him, all attached to one another. It was hilarious! She laughed and laughed.

The King, however, saw at once where this could go.  He did not like it one bit.  He had personally invited all the young men, noblemen one and all.  The commoner leading the bizarre parade looked like a woodcutter.  "I said, a WORTHY young man," frowned the King, crossing his arms. "A NOBLEMAN. From a good family. Not that - that woodcutter!  Do not for one minute think he will be invited to stay at the palace!"

"Your Majesty," said Simpleton with a bow.  "I am not looking to stay at the royal palace, as lovely as the sound of the Princess' laughter may be."  He tipped his hat to the Princess in the palace window, and she broadly smiled back. 

"Yet I am happy to offer you a few of these golden feathers, and with them let us all have a feast.  Come one and all!" He spun around to make the announcement to the crowd.  When he did, all seven followers, who had been tugging and pulling with all their might to break free, suddenly came loose! Springing backward, they collapsed into a heaping pile of arms, legs, and spinning hats. The Princess roared with laughter once more.  Even the King could not hold back a whoop of laughter. 

The Princess roared with laughter once more.

"Oh father!" said the Princess, gasping from laughter, "he will keep me in stitches! Besides, he's the only fellow who ever offered US anything. Everyone else wanted to get something FROM us."

"You have a point," said the King, rubbing his chin. "And twice he's made you laugh. Not to mention he has that golden goose." 

So Simpleton was invited into the King's palace after all, and he gladly accepted.  The Princess was delighted by his kindness and natural warmth and the King was won over as well.  Even the skeptical court attendants were charmed.  Spending time together at the castle and sharing their hearts, Simpleton and the Princess soon fell in love.  They wanted nothing better than to be even closer together.

And so Simpleton and the Princess were married, and who sat in the front row at the wedding? Why, the dwarf from the beginning of the story, of course! And they all lived happily ever after.