“I will lay myself across the stream, and then you cross over me; but be very careful.” So the straw made a bridge of itself across the stream.
The coal started over, but being hot it was very much frightened at the water and stopped in the middle of the straw. When the coal stopped the straw began to burn and soon was half in two. Plump! went the coal into the water and was drowned. The straw floated on down the stream in two pieces.
The bean saw all this and laughed so that it split wide open. A tailor came along and sewed the bean up with black thread. The bean thanked the kind tailor for this; but to this very day all beans have black seams down their backs.
HANS IN LUCK
One had better hold on to what he has, than be forever seeking to exchange it hoping to better his condition.
Hans had worked for seven long years and had not been paid a cent. So one day he said to his master, “Give me all you owe me, for my time is up, and I wish to see my mother.”
So his master paid him all in silver. It was a big bag, as large as a cabbage, and very heavy for Hans to carry; but he tied up the bag and slung it over his shoulder and then started off home. As he trudged along a man came by riding a fine horse.