Table-Be-Set, Gold-Donkey, and Cudgel-out-of-the-Sack

　　Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　There was once upon a time a tailor who had three sons, and only one goat. But as the goat supported all of them with her milk, she was obliged to have good food, and to be taken every day to pasture. The sons did this, in turn.

　　Once the eldest1 took her to the churchyard, where the finest herbs were to be found, and let her eat and run about there. At night when it was time to go home he asked, "Goat, have you had enough?"

　　The goat answered, I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!

　　"Come home, then," said the youth, and took hold of the cord around her neck, led her into the stable, and tied her up securely.

　　"Well," said the old tailor, "has the goat had as much food as she ought?"

　　"Oh," answered the son, "she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch."

　　But the father wished to satisfy himself, and went down to the stable, stroked the dear animal, and asked, "Goat, are you satisfied?"

　　The goat answered, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!

　　"What do I hear?" cried the tailor, and ran upstairs and said to the youth, "Hey, you liar2, you said the goat had had enough, and have let her hunger." And in his anger he took the yardstick3 from the wall, and drove him out with blows.

　　Next day it was the turn of the second son, who sought a place next to the garden hedge where nothing but good herbs grew, and the goat gobbled them all up. At night when he wanted to go home, he asked, "Goat, are you satisfied?" I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!

　　"Come home then," said the youth, and led her home, and tied her up in the stable.

　　"Well," said the old tailor, "has the goat had as much food as she ought?"

　　"Oh," answered the son, "she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch."

　　The tailor would not rely on this, but went down to the stable and said, "Goat, have you had enough?"

　　The goat answered, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!

　　"The godless wretch4!" cried the tailor, to let such a good animal hunger, and he ran up and drove the youth out of doors with the yardstick.

　　Now came the turn of the third son, who wanted to do his duty well, and sought out some bushes with the finest leaves, and let the goat devour5 them. In the evening when he wanted to go home, he asked, "Goat, have you had enough?"

　　The goat answered, I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!

　　"Come home then," said the youth, and led her into the stable, and tied her up.

　　"Well," said the old tailor, "has the goat had her full share of food?"

　　"She has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch."

　　The tailor was distrustful, went down, and asked, "Goat, have you had enough?"

　　The wicked beast answered, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!

　　"Oh, the brood of liars6!" cried the tailor, "Each as wicked and forgetful of his duty as the other. You shall no longer make a fool of me!" And quite beside himself with anger, he ran upstairs and tanned the poor young fellow's back so vigorously with the yardstick that he leaped out of the house.

　　The old tailor was now alone with his goat. Next morning he went down into the stable, stroked the goat and said, "Come, my dear little animal, I myself will take you to feed." He took her by the rope and led her to green hedges, and amongst yarrow and whatever else goats like to eat. "Here you may for once eat to your heart's content," he said to her, and let her browse7 till evening. Then he asked, "Goat, are you satisfied?"

　　She answered, I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!

　　"Come home then," said the tailor, and led her into the stable, and tied her fast. When he was going away, he turned around again and said, "Well, are you satisfied for once?"

　　But the goat behaved no better for him, and cried, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!

　　When the tailor heard that, he was shocked, and saw clearly that he had driven away his three sons without cause. "Wait, you ungrateful creature," he cried, "it is not enough to drive you away, I will brand you so that you will no more dare to show yourself amongst honest tailors." He quickly ran upstairs, fetched his razor, lathered8 the goat's head, and shaved her as clean as the palm of his hand. And as the yardstick would have been too honorable for her, he grabbed a whip, and gave her such blows with it that she bounded away with tremendous leaps.

　　When the tailor was thus left quite alone in his house he fell into great grief, and would gladly have had his sons back again, but no one knew where they were gone.

　　The eldest had apprenticed9 himself to a joiner, and learned industriously10 and tirelessly, and when the time came for him to be on his way, his master presented him with a little table which was not particularly beautiful, and was made of common wood, but which had one good property. If anyone set it out, and said, "table be set," the good little table was at once covered with a clean little cloth, and a plate was there, and a knife and fork beside it, and dishes with boiled meats and roasted meats, as many as there was room for, and a great glass of red wine shone, so that it made the heart glad.

　　The young journeyman thought, "With this you have enough for your whole life," and went joyously11 about the world and never troubled himself at all whether an inn was good or bad, or if anything was to be found in it or not. When it suited him, he did not enter an inn at all, but either on the plain, in a wood, a meadow, or wherever he fancied, he took his little table off his back, set it down before him, and said, "table be set," and then everything appeared that his heart desired.

　　At length he took it into his head to go back to his father, whose anger would now be appeased12, and who would now willingly receive him with his magic table. It came to pass that on his way home, he came one evening to an inn which was filled with guests. They bade him welcome, and invited him to sit and eat with them, for otherwise he would have difficulty in getting anything.

　　"No," answered the joiner, "I will not take the few morsels13 out of your mouths. Rather than that, you shall be my guests."

　　They laughed, and thought he was jesting with them. He but placed his wooden table in the middle of the room, and said, "Table be set." Instantly it was covered with food, so good that the host could never have procured14 it, and the smell of it ascended15 pleasantly to the nostrils16 of the guests.

　　"Fall to, dear friends," said the joiner, and the guests when they saw that he meant it, did not need to be asked twice, but drew near, pulled out their knives and attacked it valiantly17. And what surprised them the most was that when a dish became empty, a full one instantly took its place of its own accord.

　　The innkeeper stood in one corner and watched the affair. He did not at all know what to say, but thought, "You could easily find a use for such a cook as that in your household."

　　The joiner and his comrades made merry until late into the night. At length they lay down to sleep, and the young journeyman also went to bed, and set his magic table against the wall. The host's thoughts, however, let him have no rest. It occurred to him that there was a little old table in his backroom which looked just like the journeyman's and he brought it out, and carefully exchanged it for the wishing table. Next morning the joiner paid for his bed, took up his table, never thinking that he had got a false one, and went his way.

　　At midday he reached his father, who received him with great joy. "Well, my dear son, what have you learned?" he said to him.

　　"Father, I have become a joiner."

　　"A good trade," replied the old man. "But what have you brought back with you from your apprenticeship18?"

　　"Father, the best thing which I have brought back with me is this little table."

　　The tailor inspected it on all sides and said, "You did not make a masterpiece when you made this. It is a bad old table."

　　"But it is a table-be-set," replied the son. "When I set it out, and tell it to set itself, the most beautiful dishes immediately appear on it, and wine also, which gladdens the heart. Just invite all our relatives and friends. They shall refresh and enjoy themselves for once, for the table will fill them all."

　　When the company was assembled, he put his table in the middle of the room and said, "Table be set," but the little table did not move, and remained just as bare as any other table which does not understand language. Then the poor journeyman became aware that his table had been changed, and was ashamed at having to stand there like a liar. The relatives, however, mocked him, and were forced to go home without having eaten or drunk.

　　The father brought out his scraps19 again, and went on tailoring, but the son found work with a master joiner.

　　The second son had gone to a miller20 and had apprenticed himself to him. When his years were over, the master said, "As you have conducted yourself so well, I give you a donkey of a peculiar21 kind, which neither draws a cart nor carries a sack."

　　"What good is he then?" asked the young journeyman.

　　"He spews forth22 gold," answered the miller. "If you set him on a cloth and say 'Bricklebrit,' the good animal will spew forth gold pieces for you from back and front."

　　"That is a fine thing," said the journeyman, and thanked the master, and went out into the world. When he had need of gold, he had only to say "Bricklebrit" to his donkey, and it rained gold pieces, and he had nothing to do but pick them off the ground. Wherever he went, the best of everything was good enough for him, and the more expensive the better, for he had always a full purse. When he had looked about the world for some time, he thought, "You must seek out your father. If you go to him with the gold-donkey he will forget his anger, and receive you well."

　　It came to pass that he came to the same inn in which his brother's table had been exchanged. He led his donkey by the bridle23, and the host was about to take the animal from him and tie him up, but the young journeyman said, "Don't trouble yourself, I will take my nag24 into the stable, and tie him up myself too, for I must know where he is."

　　This struck the host as odd, and he thought that a man who was forced to look after his donkey himself, could not have much to spend. But when the stranger put his hand in his pocket and brought out two gold pieces, and said he was to provide something good for him, the host opened his eyes wide, and ran and sought out the best he could muster25. After dinner the guest asked what he owed. The innkeeper did not see why he should not double the bill, and said the journeyman must give two more gold pieces. He felt in his pocket, but his gold was just at an end.

　　"Wait an instant, sir," said he, "I will go and fetch some money." But he took the tablecloth26 with him. The innkeeper could not imagine what this meant, and being curious, stole after him, and as the guest bolted the stable door, he peeped through a hole left by a knot in the wood.

　　The stranger spread out the cloth under the animal and cried, "Bricklebrit," and immediately the beast began to let gold pieces fall from back and front, so that it fairly rained down money onto the ground.

　　"Eh, my word," said the innkeeper. "Ducats are quickly coined there. A purse like that is not bad." The guest paid his bill and went to bed, but in the night the innkeeper stole down into the stable, led away the master of the mint, and tied up another donkey in his place.

　　Early next morning the journeyman traveled away with his donkey, and thought that he had his gold-donkey. At midday he reached his father, who rejoiced to see him again, and gladly took him in.

　　"What have you made of yourself, my son?" asked the old man.

　　"A miller, dear father," he answered.

　　"What have you brought back with you from your travels."

　　"Nothing else but a donkey."

　　"There are donkeys enough here," said the father, "I would rather have had a good goat."

　　"Yes," replied the son, "but it is no common donkey, but a gold-donkey. When I say 'Bricklebrit' the good beast spews forth a whole sheetful of gold pieces. Just summon all our relatives here, and I will make them rich folks."

　　"That suits me well," said the tailor, "for then I shall have no need to torment27 myself any longer with the needle," and he himself ran out and called the relatives together. As soon as they were assembled, the miller bade them make way, spread out his cloth, and brought the donkey into the room.

　　"Now watch," said he, and cried, "Bricklebrit," but what fell were not gold pieces, and it was clear that the animal knew nothing of the art, for not every donkey attains28 such perfection. Then the poor miller made a long face, saw that he had been betrayed, and begged pardon of the relatives, who went home as poor as they came. There was no help for it, the old man had to take up his needle once more, and the youth hired himself to a miller.

　　The third brother had apprenticed himself to a turner, and as that is skilled labor29, he was the longest in learning. His brothers, however, told him in a letter how badly things had gone with them, and how the innkeeper had cheated them of their beautiful wishing gifts on the last evening before they reached home. When the turner had served his time, and was about to set forth, as he had conducted himself so well, his master presented him with a sack saying, "There is a cudgel in it."

　　"I can take the sack with me," said he, "and it may serve me well, but why should the cudgel be in it. It only makes it heavy."

　　"I will tell you why," replied the master. "If anyone has done anything to injure you, do but say, 'Cudgel out of the sack,' and the cudgel will leap forth among the people, and play such a dance on their backs that they will not be able to stir or move for a week. And it will not quit until you say, 'Cudgel into the sack.'"

　　The journeyman thanked him, and put the sack on his back, and when anyone came too near him and wished to attack him, he said, "Cudgel out of the sack," and instantly the cudgel sprang out and beat the dust out of their coats and jackets, right on their backs, not waiting until they had taken them off, and it was done so quickly, that before anyone was aware, it was already his own turn.

　　In the evening the young turner reached the inn where his brothers had been cheated. He laid his sack on the table before him, and began to talk of all the wonderful things which he had seen in the world. "Yes," said he, "table-be-sets, gold-donkeys, and things of that kind —— extremely good things which I by no means despise —— but these are nothing in comparison with the treasure which I have obtained and am carrying about with me here in my sack."

　　The innkeeper pricked30 up his ears. "What in the world can that be?" he thought. "The sack must be filled with nothing but jewels. I ought to get them cheap too, for all good things come in threes."

　　When it was time for sleep, the guest stretched himself out on the bench, laying his sack beneath him for a pillow. When the innkeeper thought his guest was lying in a sound sleep, he went to him and pushed and pulled quite gently and carefully at the sack to see if he could possibly take it away and lay another in its place.

　　The turner, however, had been waiting for this for a long time, and now just as the innkeeper was about to give a hearty31 tug32, he cried, "Cudgel out of the sack!"

　　Instantly the little cudgel came forth, and falling on the innkeeper gave him a sound thrashing. The innkeeper cried for mercy, but the louder he cried, the harder the cudgel beat the time on his back, until at length he fell to the ground exhausted33.

　　Then the turner said, "If you do not give back the table-be-set and the gold-donkey, the dance shall start again from the beginning."

　　"Oh, no!" cried the innkeeper, quite humbly34, "I will gladly give everything back, only make the accursed kobold creep back into the sack."

　　Then the journeyman said, "I will let mercy take the place of justice, but beware of getting into mischief35 again" Then he cried, "Cudgel into the sack," and let him rest.

　　Next morning the turner went home to his father with the table-be-set, and the gold-donkey. The tailor rejoiced when he saw him once more, and asked him likewise what he had learned in foreign parts. "Dear father," said he, "I have become a turner."

　　"A skilled trade," said the father. "What have you brought back with you from your travels?"

　　"A precious thing, dear father," replied the son, "a cudgel in the sack."

　　"What!" cried the father, "A cudgel! That's worth your trouble! From every tree you can cut yourself one."

　　"But not one like this, dear father. If I say, 'Cudgel out of the sack,' the cudgel springs out and leads anyone ill-disposed toward me a weary dance, and never stops until he lies on the ground and prays for fair weather. Look you, with this cudgel have I rescued the table-be-set and the gold-donkey which the thievish innkeeper took away from my brothers. Now let them both be sent for, and invite all our relatives. I will give them to eat and to drink, and will fill their pockets with gold as well."

　　The old tailor had not much confidence. Nevertheless he summoned the relatives together. Then the turner spread a cloth in the room and led in the gold-donkey, and said to his brother, "Now, dear brother, speak to him."

　　The miller said, "Bricklebrit," and instantly the gold pieces rained down on the cloth like a cloudburst, and the donkey did not stop until every one of them had so much that he could carry no more. (I can see by your face that you would have liked to be there as well.)

　　Then the turner brought out the little table and said, "Now, dear brother, speak to it." And scarcely had the joiner said, "Table be set," than it was spread and amply covered with the most exquisite36 dishes. Then such a meal took place as the good tailor had never yet known in his house, and the whole party of relatives stayed together until after nightfall, and were all merry and glad. The tailor locked his needle and thread and yardstick and pressing iron into a chest, and lived with his three sons in joy and splendor37.

　　What, however, happened to the goat who was to blame for the tailor driving out his three sons? That I will tell you.

　　She was ashamed that she had a bald head, and ran to a fox's hole and crept into it. When the fox came home, he was met by two great eyes shining out of the darkness, and was terrified and ran away. A bear met him, and as the fox looked quite disturbed, he said, "What is the matter with you, Brother Fox, why do you look like that?"

　　"Ah," answered Redskin, "a fierce beast is in my cave and stared at me with its fiery38 eyes."

　　"We will soon drive him out," said the bear, and went with him to the cave and looked in, but when he saw the fiery eyes, fear seized on him likewise. He would have nothing to do with the furious beast, and took to his heels.

　　The bee met him, and as she saw that he was ill at ease, she said, "Bear, you are really pulling a very pitiful face. What has become of all your cheerfulness?"

　　"It is all very well for you to talk," replied the bear. "A furious beast with staring eyes is in Redskin's house, and we can't drive him out."

　　The bee said, "Bear, I pity you. I am a poor weak creature whom you would not turn aside to look at, but still, I believe I can help you." She flew into the fox's cave, lit on the goat's smoothly39 shorn head, and stung her so violently, that she sprang up, crying "meh, meh," and ran forth into the world as if mad, and to this hour no one knows where she has gone.

　　很久以前有個(gè)裁縫，他有三個(gè)兒子。家里養(yǎng)了一頭羊，全家人靠羊奶生活，所以必須把它喂好養(yǎng)好。三個(gè)兒子輪流去放羊。一天，大兒子把羊趕到了教堂的院子里，因?yàn)槟抢锏牟蓍L(zhǎng)得十分茂盛。羊一邊吃草一邊歡蹦亂跳，傍晚，該回家了，大兒子問(wèn)羊：「你吃飽了嗎？」羊兒回答：

　　「我已經(jīng)吃了許多，一根都不想再碰。

　　咩……咩……」

　　「那我們回家吧?！鼓泻⒄f(shuō)著就拉起繩子，牽著羊回家，并把它拴進(jìn)棚里。

　　老裁縫問(wèn)：「羊吃飽了沒(méi)有？」

　　「它吃得很飽，一根都吃不下了。」父親想證實(shí)一下，於是來(lái)到羊圈，撫摸著心愛(ài)的牲口問(wèn)：「羊啊，你吃飽了沒(méi)有？」

　　「我哪里能吃得飽？

　　跳越小溝一道道，沒(méi)見(jiàn)到一根草。

　　咩……咩……」

　　「太不像話了！」老裁縫喊著跑上樓質(zhì)問(wèn)兒子：「你這小子！你說(shuō)羊吃飽了，可它明明餓著！」一氣之下，他從墻上取下板尺，將兒子一陣痛打趕出了家門(mén)。

　　第二天輪到二兒子放羊。他在花園的籬笆旁找到一片肥嫩的鮮草，羊兒一點(diǎn)一點(diǎn)的全吃光了。傍晚，男孩想回家，就問(wèn)羊：「你吃飽了嗎？」羊兒回答：

　　「我已經(jīng)吃了許多，一根都不想再碰。

　　咩……咩……」

　　「那我們回家吧?！鼓泻⒄f(shuō)著就拉起繩子，牽著羊回家，又拴好了。

　　老裁縫問(wèn)：「羊吃飽了沒(méi)有？」

　　「它吃得很飽，一根都吃不下了?！沟赣H不信，於是來(lái)到羊圈，撫摸著心愛(ài)的牲口問(wèn)：「羊啊，你吃飽了沒(méi)有？」

　　「我哪里能吃得飽？

　　跳越小溝一道道，沒(méi)見(jiàn)到一根草。

　　咩……咩……」

　　「這個(gè)壞蛋！難道想把這溫馴的牲口餓死嗎？」他叫著跑上樓，用板尺將年輕人趕了出去。

　　現(xiàn)在輪到第三個(gè)兒子去放羊了。他想把事情做好，於是找到一片水草茂盛的灌木叢，讓羊在那里吃個(gè)夠。晚上他想回家時(shí)問(wèn)：「你吃飽了嗎？」羊兒回答：

　　「我已經(jīng)吃了許多，一根都不想再碰。

　　咩……咩……」

　　「那我們回家吧。」男孩說(shuō)著拉起繩子，牽著羊回家，也拴好了。

　　老裁縫問(wèn)：「羊喂飽了沒(méi)有？」

　　「它吃得很飽，一根都吃不下了?！共每p不信，於是來(lái)到羊圈，問(wèn)：「羊啊，你吃飽了沒(méi)有？」

　　「我哪里能吃得飽？

　　跳越小溝一道道，沒(méi)見(jiàn)到一根草。

　　咩……咩……」

　　「唉呀，這個(gè)騙人精！一個(gè)比一個(gè)不負(fù)責(zé)任！別想再欺騙我！」他氣得不得了，跑上樓用板尺狠狠地抽打孩子，使他不得不逃出了家門(mén)。

　　家里只剩下他和羊了。第二天一早，他來(lái)到羊圈，撫摸著羊說(shuō)：「走吧，親愛(ài)的小羊。我要親自帶你上牧場(chǎng)。」他牽著繩子，帶著羊來(lái)到綠油油的草地。那里生長(zhǎng)著氏草以及各種羊愛(ài)吃的草?！高@下你可以吃個(gè)心滿意足了?！顾麑?duì)羊說(shuō)。他讓羊吃到夜幕降臨時(shí)分，然后問(wèn)：「羊啊，你吃飽了嗎？」羊回答說(shuō)：

　　「我已經(jīng)吃了許多，一根都不想再碰。

　　咩……咩……」

　　「那我們回家吧?！估喜每p說(shuō)著拉起繩子，牽著羊回家，并拴好了。

　　臨走，老裁縫回頭說(shuō)：「這下你總算吃飽了！」但是羊并沒(méi)給他滿意的回答，說(shuō)：

　　「我哪里能吃得飽？

　　跳越小溝一道道，沒(méi)見(jiàn)到一根草。

　　咩……咩……」

　　裁縫聽(tīng)了大吃一驚，他立刻認(rèn)識(shí)到自己錯(cuò)怪了三個(gè)兒子，便喊道：「等著瞧，你這沒(méi)良心的傢伙！趕走你也太便宜你了，我要在你身上做個(gè)記號(hào)，讓你沒(méi)臉見(jiàn)誠(chéng)實(shí)的裁縫！」

　　他匆匆上樓，拿來(lái)一把剃鬚刀，在羊頭上抹上肥皂，將羊頭剃得像手掌心一樣光。裁縫認(rèn)為用板尺打它還太便宜了它，於是取出鞭子，狠狠地抽打起羊來(lái)，羊發(fā)瘋似地逃走了。

　　裁縫孤身一人在家，心里十分難過(guò)。想讓兒子們回來(lái)，又不知他們的去向。大兒子到了一個(gè)木匠那里當(dāng)學(xué)徒，他非常努力、刻苦，期滿之后，師傅在他臨行前送給他一張小餐桌。桌子是用普通木料做成的，外表也不漂亮，看不出有甚么特別。但是只要把小桌放在那兒，對(duì)它說(shuō)：「小餐桌，快撐開(kāi)」，聽(tīng)話的小餐桌就會(huì)馬上鋪好潔白的桌布，擺好刀叉，一盤(pán)盤(pán)煮的、烤的美味佳餚便擺滿小桌，還有一大杯美酒使人心花怒放。年輕人想：「夠我一輩子享用的了?！轨妒切那橛淇斓刂苡纹鹗澜鐏?lái)，根本不用考慮旅館是不是好，有沒(méi)有飯菜供應(yīng)。有時(shí)他乾脆不住客棧，在田野、森林或草原上隨便一個(gè)讓他高興的地方呆下來(lái)，從背上取下小桌擺在面前，說(shuō)一聲：「小餐桌，快撐開(kāi)。」愛(ài)吃甚么就有甚么。他就這么過(guò)了一段日子。后來(lái)他想該回到父親身邊去了，父親也早該消氣了，再說(shuō)他帶著這張會(huì)自動(dòng)擺酒菜的餐桌回家，父親一定會(huì)高興地接待他的。歸途中的一個(gè)晚上，他走進(jìn)一家旅店，那里剛巧住滿了，但人們歡迎他，請(qǐng)他一道吃飯，說(shuō)否則就沒(méi)吃的了。

　　木匠回答說(shuō)：「不用了，我不愿意從你們嘴里搶東西吃，寧可請(qǐng)你們跟我一塊兒吃?！孤每蛡児笮?，說(shuō)他真會(huì)開(kāi)玩笑。他將小餐桌擺到房間中央，說(shuō)：「小餐桌，快撐開(kāi)！」頓時(shí)，一桌豐盛的酒菜出現(xiàn)了，店主可沒(méi)法做到這樣。木匠說(shuō)：「朋友們，動(dòng)手啊！」客人們一看他是真心誠(chéng)意的，便不再客氣，挪近餐桌，拿起刀叉大吃起來(lái)。最讓他們驚奇的是每當(dāng)一碗吃完時(shí)，立刻就會(huì)有一只盛得滿滿的碗自動(dòng)替換空碗。店主站在一個(gè)角落里看呆了，簡(jiǎn)直不知道說(shuō)甚么好。他想：「假如我的店里也有這么個(gè)寶貝就好了?！?/p>

　　木匠和那些朋友們高興地吃喝著，直到深夜。后來(lái)大家都去睡覺(jué)了，年輕人把小魔桌靠在墻上，也睡了。店主卻無(wú)法入睡，他想起儲(chǔ)藏室里有張小桌樣子很像那張魔桌，於是拿出來(lái)，小心翼翼地將魔桌換走了。

　　第二天早上，木匠付了房錢(qián)，背上小餐桌繼續(xù)趕路，他壓根兒沒(méi)想到這張小桌已是假的了。

　　中午時(shí)分，他回到父親身邊。父親見(jiàn)了他也格外高興，問(wèn)：「親愛(ài)的兒子，你都學(xué)了點(diǎn)甚么？」「我學(xué)會(huì)了做木工?！埂高@可是門(mén)有用的手藝，你學(xué)徒回來(lái)帶了點(diǎn)啥？」「我?guī)Щ貋?lái)的最好的東西就數(shù)這張小餐桌了。」裁縫把餐桌四面打量了一下，說(shuō)：「你做得不怎么樣呢。這是張又舊又破的桌子?！箖鹤踊卮鹫f(shuō)：「但是這張桌子會(huì)自動(dòng)擺出酒菜來(lái)呢。只要我擺好桌子，對(duì)它說(shuō)：'小餐桌，快撐開(kāi)！'小桌上就會(huì)擺滿美味佳餚和令人胃口大開(kāi)的美酒。把我們的親戚朋友都請(qǐng)來(lái)，讓他們也盡情享受一下吧，桌上的東西可以讓大家都吃個(gè)夠。」

　　大家都應(yīng)邀而來(lái)，他將桌子擺在房子中央，說(shuō)：「小餐桌，快撐開(kāi)！」可小桌毫無(wú)反應(yīng)，桌上仍是空空如也，和其他桌子一樣。這位可憐的小伙子這才發(fā)現(xiàn)桌子被人調(diào)包了。他萬(wàn)分羞愧，覺(jué)得自己好像是個(gè)騙子。親戚們也嘲笑他，然后既沒(méi)吃也沒(méi)喝就回去了。父親又重操舊業(yè)維持生計(jì)，小伙子也到一個(gè)師傅那兒干活去了。

　　再說(shuō)二兒子來(lái)到一個(gè)磨坊師傅那里當(dāng)學(xué)徒。期滿時(shí)，師傅說(shuō)：「因?yàn)槟惚憩F(xiàn)很好，我送你一頭驢。它既不拉車(chē)也不馱東西?！埂改撬鼤?huì)干甚么呢？」小伙子問(wèn)。「它會(huì)吐金子。只要你將它牽到一塊布上對(duì)它說(shuō)：'布里科布里特'，它前面吐的后面拉的全是金幣。」「這真是個(gè)寶貝。」於是他謝過(guò)師傅，就去周游世界了。每當(dāng)需要錢(qián)用時(shí)，他就對(duì)驢子說(shuō)「布里科布里特」，金幣就像下雨一般落下來(lái)，他只需要從地上撿起來(lái)就是了。不管走到哪兒，他總是要最好的、最貴的東西，因?yàn)樗腻X(qián)包總是鼓鼓的。這樣過(guò)了一段日子后，他想：我該回去看看父親了，我?guī)线@金驢子回去，他一定不會(huì)再生氣，而且會(huì)好好款待我的。

　　他剛巧來(lái)到他兄弟曾住過(guò)的那家旅店，就是偷換了小餐桌的那家。當(dāng)?shù)曛饕舆^(guò)他手中的韁繩拴牲口時(shí)，他緊緊抓住韁繩說(shuō)：「不用了，我自己牽它去牲口棚吧。我知道它必須拴在甚么地方?！?/p>

　　店主人感到很奇怪，認(rèn)為一個(gè)要親自照料牲口的人準(zhǔn)沒(méi)甚么錢(qián)?？墒钱?dāng)陌生人從口袋里掏出兩塊金幣，讓他去給他買(mǎi)些好吃的東西時(shí)，店主驚愕得瞪大了眼睛，然后跑出去為他買(mǎi)了最好的食品。吃過(guò)之后，客人問(wèn)還欠多少錢(qián)，店主想要雙倍的價(jià)錢(qián)，就說(shuō)還得多付幾個(gè)金幣。小伙子伸手到口袋里去掏，可錢(qián)剛好用完了。

　　「店主先生，請(qǐng)您稍等片刻，我去取錢(qián)來(lái)。」說(shuō)完就拿起一塊臺(tái)布走了。

　　店主不知道這是甚么意思，很好奇地悄悄跟在后面想看個(gè)究竟。因?yàn)榭腿税焉谂锏拈T(mén)閂上了，他只好從墻上的一個(gè)小孔往里看。只見(jiàn)陌生人將桌布鋪在地上，讓驢子站在上面，喊了聲「布里科布里特」，驢子立刻前吐后拉，金幣像雨點(diǎn)般落下。

　　「天哪！金幣轉(zhuǎn)眼就鑄好了，這樣的錢(qián)包可真不賴呢！」

　　客人付完房錢(qián)躺下睡了。夜里，店主偷偷溜進(jìn)牲口棚，牽走了「錢(qián)大王」，而在原來(lái)的地方拴了一匹普通驢子。第二天一大早，小伙子牽著驢子走了，以為自己牽的是金驢。中午時(shí)分，他來(lái)到了父親身邊，父親見(jiàn)到他十分快樂(lè)，很愿意讓他回家。

　　老人問(wèn)：「孩子，你現(xiàn)在做哪一行？」兒子回答說(shuō)：「親愛(ài)的爸爸，我是磨坊師傅了?！埂改懵眯谢貋?lái)帶了甚么回家？」「帶了一頭驢子?！垢赣H說(shuō)：「這里多的是毛驢，我情愿要頭溫馴的羊。」兒子說(shuō)：「可我?guī)Щ貋?lái)的不是普通驢子，而是一頭金驢。只要我對(duì)它說(shuō)：'布里科布里特'，這頭聽(tīng)話的牲口就會(huì)吐出滿滿一包金子。你把親戚們都找來(lái)，我讓他們都成為富翁?！共每p說(shuō)：「我很樂(lè)意。這樣我就不用再操針線勞頓了?！顾约号苋⒂H戚都找了來(lái)，等大家到齊后，磨坊師傅讓他們坐下，在地上鋪了一塊布，把驢子牽了進(jìn)來(lái)?！脯F(xiàn)在請(qǐng)注意！」說(shuō)著他對(duì)驢子喊了聲「布里科布里特」。然而驢子沒(méi)吐也沒(méi)拉出任何金幣，說(shuō)明這牲口對(duì)此一竅不通，因?yàn)椴⒎撬畜H子都能吐出金幣的。這位可憐的磨坊師傅拉長(zhǎng)了臉，知道被騙了，於是請(qǐng)求親友們?cè)?。他們散去時(shí)和來(lái)的時(shí)候一樣窮。

　　且說(shuō)老三在一個(gè)旋工那兒當(dāng)學(xué)徒，因?yàn)檫@門(mén)手藝技術(shù)性強(qiáng)，他學(xué)的時(shí)間也最長(zhǎng)。他的兩個(gè)哥哥在一封信中將他們的不幸遭遇告訴了他，說(shuō)他們?cè)诨丶仪白詈笠灰棺〉哪羌衣玫甑牡曛魅绾瓮祿Q了他們的寶物。出師時(shí)，因?yàn)樗麑W(xué)得好，師傅送給他一個(gè)口袋，對(duì)他說(shuō)：「口袋里有根棍?！埂缚诖蛟S有用，我可以帶上，可棍子除了增加我的負(fù)擔(dān)還有甚么用？」師傅回答說(shuō)：「我這就告訴你，如果有人欺負(fù)了你，只要說(shuō)聲'棍子，出袋！'它就會(huì)自動(dòng)跳出來(lái)，在欺負(fù)你的人背上亂敲亂打，讓他們一個(gè)星期都動(dòng)彈不得。直到你說(shuō)'棍子，回袋！'它才會(huì)打住。」

　　徒弟謝過(guò)師傅，背上口袋。如果有人逼近了想欺負(fù)他，他就說(shuō)：「棍子，出袋！」棍子立刻就會(huì)跳出來(lái)，在那人身上痛打一陣，直打得他們的外套掉下來(lái)。動(dòng)作那么快，往往不等對(duì)方反應(yīng)過(guò)來(lái)就已經(jīng)敲打上了，一直要等到主人喊：「棍子，回袋！」才罷休。

　　那天傍晚，他來(lái)到兩個(gè)哥哥受過(guò)騙的那家旅館。他將背包放在面前的桌子上，開(kāi)始講述世人千奇百怪的經(jīng)歷。他說(shuō)：「人們不難找到一張會(huì)擺酒菜的小餐桌，一頭會(huì)吐金幣的驢子，我也并不是看不起這些極好的寶物，可它們和我包里這寶貝比起來(lái)就差遠(yuǎn)了。這東西我是走到哪兒背到哪兒?！?/p>