No. 60.—The Old Soldier
There was a very old soldier; he was twelve years in military service. Then the colonel asked him, ‘My good man, what do you want for having served me so many years here? Whatever you want I will give you, for you have served me well so many years. I will give you a beautiful white horse, and I will give you three big tobacco-pipes, so that you’ll smoke like a gentleman. I will give you three rolls for your journey. The whole company never served as well as you have served me. I left everything to you; you have performed every sentry.’
‘If I went home on furlough, I should weep bitterly. How can I leave you, my good comrades? Now I go home, shall never see you more; I have none but my God and good comrades. I was a good soldier, the sergeant over the entire company. The major has given me a beautiful white horse to go home on. O God, I am going; but I have not much money, only a little.’
When he had come into great forests, there came a beggar and begs of the soldier. He said to him, did the soldier, ‘O God! what can I give you? I am, you see, a poor soldier, and I have far to go, yet my heart is not heavy. But, wait a bit, O beggar, I will give you a roll.’ Then he bade him farewell.
Afterwards the same beggar came again to the soldier, and begs of him, ‘O my soldier, give me something, make me a present.’
‘How can I make you a present, seeing I have given already to four beggars? But wait, here I’ll give you these couple of kreutzers, to get a drink of brandy with.’
Well, he went further. Again a third beggar met him; again he begs of him. ‘My God!’ he said to him, ‘I am a poor soldier; I have no one but God and myself. I shall [[251]]have no money; I shall have nothing for myself; I’m giving you everything. My God! what am I to do? I’m an old soldier, a poor man; and, being so poor, where shall I now get anything? I gave you everything—bread, money, and my white horse. Now I must tramp on alone on my old legs. No one ever will know that I was a soldier. But my Golden God be with you, farewell.’
Then the beggar said to the soldier, ‘Old soldier, I permit you to ask whatever you will. For I am God.’
The soldier answered, ‘I want nothing but a stick that when I say “Beat” will beat every one and fear nobody.’
God gave it him. ‘Tell me now what do you want besides.’