The story is an epitome of a man’s life. Christopher in his boyhood had strength—he worshiped strength—he could not find normal means of recreation, so he did evil. His hero, the German Emperor, represents the interest of the child from eight to twelve years, with splendid physical health, with moral and religious nature undeveloped. Christopher followed the normal impulse in serving the German Emperor. The adolescent boy in high-school period, is represented, in a way, by the second hero that Christopher served, a devil, a mischief-maker, but as the boy grows out of that he catches a glimpse of the moral hero just as Christopher did when he heard of the man of Galilee.—Ed.
Once on a time, a long time ago, beyond the seas, there lived a boy named Christopher. As he grew up he was unusually strong and giant like. He drove the cattle to field and lived in the mountains and on the plains. Being alone much of his time he had little opportunity for play or sport with other children, and when he came home his parents did not play with him or entertain him, and so he sought recreation where he could find it in other places. He was full of energy and his parents frequently scolded him, which drove him off to himself in bad moods. On one occasion he tied the cows’ tails together, just to hear them bellow. On another occasion he set fire to a forest, all in sport, because he had no one to join him in better things. His stepmother scolded him and punished him so that he would frequently go away alone or join bad companions in mischief. Finally, one day, quarreling with a man, he killed him because of his greater strength.
Fearing to return home, he wandered in strange lands, sometimes working for his living, and sometimes living on what was given him. Wherever he went people admired his broad shoulders and manly form, for he was giantlike in size.
One day he heard of the Emperor of Germany, who was king and the mightiest man in all the world. As Christopher admired and worshiped strength, he wanted to see and to serve the Emperor. At last after long journeys he came and stood before the German Emperor and offered his services. The Emperor was at that time waging wars for his kingdom, and when he saw Christopher, giantlike and strong, he admired him and readily accepted his services, taking him along as a bodyguard. Christopher was delighted and threw his whole strength into the service of the Emperor and did many wonderful deeds.
So strong was Christopher that frequently he would bear on his shoulders great logs, place them across gullies and ravines and build a bridge for the army to pass over. The Emperor frequently talked with him and encouraged him, all of which immensely pleased Christopher, for he thought, “I have at last found him who is most worthy of worship and service.”
But on one occasion as the Emperor was riding near a forest, Christopher noticed that the Emperor made the sign of the cross and turned aside from the dark forest and went in another direction. Christopher said to the Emperor: “Why did you turn back from the forest?” The Emperor said: “The devil lives in that forest and I fear him.” “What,” said Christopher, “afraid? I thought that you were afraid of nothing!” But the Emperor said: “This demon of darkness is very strong and I fear him.” Then Christopher said: “If you are afraid I wish to leave your service and join myself to the devil, because I do not want to serve any but the strongest.” Whereupon the Emperor paid Christopher his wages and reluctantly parted with him.
Christopher turned his face toward the dark forest, plunged into its depths, and finally found a black altar, whereon the devil had sacrificed the bodies of people. Hard by he found the devil and offered his services to him. Right gladly the devil took him into his fellowship, and straightway took him on trips of deviltry and mischief. But one day they came along by a hill in an Eastern land. On the top of the hill there stood three crosses. The devil turned aside as if in fear. Christopher was quick to notice this and he said to the devil:
“Why are you afraid?”
Then the devil said: “On that middle cross was crucified a man who is greater than I, and I fear him.”
“What,” Christopher said, “you afraid? Why, then, I am done with you; I want to serve him who is not afraid.”